ND Times Issue 32 2021 November 24

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MEMORIAL TREE LIGHTING

Tuesday, November 30th, 6:30 pm at Dundas County Hospice

Reaching by direct mail to over 5,500 homes and businesses in Winchester and area

The Voice of North Dundas

Vol 2, No 32

November 24, 2021

Vandalism problem growing worse in Winchester

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The vandalized property at Morgan Field it online. Township officials Local Journalism Initiative Reporter quickly took to social media as well, voicing strong conProperties in North Dun- demnation in a post of their das have once again been own. “Vandals have moved vandalized, the last two inci- on from spray painting mudent much more serious than nicipal property to simply some other recent incidents. destroying it,” the Facebook During the evening or over- post reads. “The Township of night hours of November 10, North Dundas is now on the vandals all but completely hook for the repair costs and destroyed a storage shed that replacement of the broken serves the Morgan Field base- contents.” Taxpayers in the ball diamond in Winchester. Municipality will ultimately A local Facebook user have to foot the bill for any rewas the first to notice the pair costs and the replacement damage and share news of of stolen property, meaning

by Brandon Mayer

Our Sales Representatives

that such vandalism affects everyone.

Pictures of the damage show multiple boards ripped off of the storage shed, leaving what appears to be about half of the shed without walls.

The broken pieces are strewn about on the grass around the shed, with the shed’s contents easily visible with no walls to hide then. Some of the board pieces are badly broken. It is not known what damage was done to the contents of the shed, or whether anything inside the shed was taken.

Social media users were understandably upset by the vandalism, with many calls for local parents to ask their children where they were on the night in question. Calls for serious consequences for the culprits, if caught, were also made. While some commentators suggested that security cameras would be good to install in the area, reports suggest that the area in question was, in fact, protected by video surveillance, but that the cameras were also either destroyed or stolen during the crime.

On November 17, the Township posted yet again, with news that the problem had become even more serious. A vandal had removed a manhole cover on Albert St in Winchester and thrown it down the sewer, leaving a dangerous hole. “Costing the Township manpower and money is one thing, but removing manhole covers is

just plain dangerous for drivers,” the post read. Luckily, a responsible resident marked the hole with an overturned bucket until the Township could respond, potentially preventing serious injuries or vehicle damage.

These new acts of vandalism come after a relatively uneventful period following two incidents of vandalism in Chesterville and Wincont'd on page 2

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The North Dundas Times

Memorial Tree Lighting

In Conjunction with Giving Tuesday 2021 Tuesday, November 30th, 6:30 pm at Dundas County Hospice 4353 CR 31, Williamsburg ON

You can have an ornament hung on the tree, personally labeled with your loved ones name for a donation to Dundas County Hospice (donations over $20 will receive a tax receipt). Call 613-535-2215 or visit www. dundascountyhsopice.ca and click on the memorial tree link to arrange this.

Limited attendance with social distancing measures in place (please register at 613-535-2215 if you wish to attend). The event will also be live-streamed on our Facebook page!

cont'd fron front page to the business.

As usual, the Township of North Dundas is encouraging anyone with information regarding the November 10 and November 17 incidents to reach out to the Ontario Provincial Police non-emergency telephone line at 1-888-3101122. However, an update to the original social media post on November 10 suggests that it may be too late for such reports to help.

“Please note: it is important to contact the OPP directly while concerns of vandalism are taking place,” the Township’s post reads.

“The OPP has advised that they need to catch the guilty parties in action. Please don’t wait – help us keep our community protected and vibrant.”

chester on September 21 and 23 respectively. Anecdotal reports of abuse of property have been circulating in Winchester for weeks, including an incident where a local landscaping company had dozens of snow markers stolen, frustrating the business owners who had taken the time to place them.

“The snow markers may only be a buck or so a piece, but when multiple are taken, it sucks,” the business posted to its Facebook page on October 25. “As snow contractors, we face the challenge of staffing, insurance rates going through the roof, and now stolen property making it increasingly difficult to make things worth it.” The markers were found in the yard of Winchester Public School and returned

Results for Stuff a Cruiser 2021 in Dundas County

by Jane Schoones, Team Leader, Community Food Share Shoppers and volunteers were happy to see the SD&G OPP Auxiliary Unit at the doors of Mike Deans - Chesterville, Laura’s ValuMart- Morrisburg, and Winchester Foodland – Winchester, on Saturday November 13.

The OPP Auxiliary officers and Community Food Share volunteers received a total of 3,495 pounds of non perishable food and $2,042.00.

Much gratitude to our local grocery stores, Mike Dean’s Local Grocer, Laura’s Valu-Mart, and Winchester Foodland for their amazing support in making this annual event such an amazing success!

Without the generous and continued support of local shoppers, volunteers onsite, couriers, sorters, and people weighing the donations, this event would not be the remarkable event that it is.

On behalf of residents facing food insecurity, thank you.

Spencerville Optimist Club celebrates 30th anniversary

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by Brandon Mayer

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Freshly baked ing Club to learn more about goods the Club itself, and how they

are celebrating Homemade frozen meals their recent Pizza & subs milestone.

The Club’s current The local Optimist Club LCBO/Beer Store convenience outlet Spence, told in Spencerville reached a President, Norie the Times that Optimist Clubs significant milestone in Sep613-989-1323 endeavour to off er activities tember,Hours: celebrating its 6am-7pm 30th Mon-Fri Sat&Sun 7am-7pm year in operation. The club and benefits to local children 1738 County Rd 1, Mountain Ontario was officially formed in 1991 and youth, operating under and has been continually the motto “Friend of You.” providing services to the com- An abundance of examples munity ever since. Of the 28 of these activities and benefits original members, eight are were provided to the Times by still involved with the club, Norie and by past President and membership now sits at and current Lieutenant Governor, Brian Purcell.

31 members.

These included a comThe Spencerville and Dismunity service bursary for trict Optimist Club was born from a collaboration between graduating high school stuLloyd Barter and James Pur- dents in Leeds and Grenville, cell. Lloyd was an existing a Tri Star Sports activity in member of the Forrest Park local elementary schools, an Optimist Club at the time, essay contest, a bike rodeo, which acted as the sponsor for a soap box derby and much the new club in Spencerville. more. The Club also helps out Clubs require members, of children whose families have course, so the groundwork been affected by fires or genfor the Spencerville Club eral financial need, and they consisted of James making have provided an outdoor some calls in order to gather skating rink in Spencerville for a number of years. The a sufficient member base.

The Times spoke with Club’s first, and perhaps most several members of the exist- popular activity, is its annual 2

Halloween event which is a party that takes place at the Spencerville Mill. In the past, the Club has also organized field trips for children and youth.

The Club holds a director’s meeting on the second Wednesday of every month and a dinner meeting on the fourth Wednesday of every month. The Club does not meet in July or August, and December often has schedule changes. After each meeting, Club members recite the Optimist Creed which provides a powerful and positive message. “My dad always says that if everybody lived by that creed, then it would be a pretty simple world,” Brian told the Times. “I always say that I’m involved in a pile of things in Spencerville, but the most enjoyable group is the Optimist Club.”

In terms of marking the 30th anniversary milestone, the Club members are not yet sure how to celebrate.

They had a large celebration for their 25th anniversary, so this new milestone will be more low-key. It will likely be worked into their volunteer appreciation dinner in June. The Spencerville Club

has achieved a good reputation as a forward-thinking club. Its first President and past Lieutenant Governor, Richard Woodland, told the Times that “We were one of the first Optimist Clubs to have men and women join at the same time and have equal status. Some of the clubs have struggled when the old boys had to accept girls into their clubs.” The Club prides itself on being local and is very tight knit. Immediate past President, Alison Steele, who is Brian’s daughter, told the Times “I’m a child who benefited from the Optimist Club in Spencerville, so that’s how I got connected to the Club.”

The Spencerville and District Optimist Club would be happy to help establish new Optimist Clubs in other local towns such as Kemptville or Winchester. Those interested in doing so can contact Brian Purcell via the Club’s Facebook page at www.facebook. com/SpencervilleOptimistClub.

There is much to be gained from being a Club member. “The meetings are actually fun!” Norie joked.

“Your smile hurts when you leave the meeting!” www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

The Sisters for Life team are at it again!

by Jane Adams And a matching gift donor is making things even better. Their message is simple: ‘COVID-19 has stopped many things, but it has not stopped cancer. Together, we can make a difference’.

The Sisters for Life team is doing just that, raising funds to support cancer care close to home. And now they have three new ways that everyone can get involved. Visit the ‘Sister for Life – Choose Hope and Anything is Possible’ Facebook page - www.facebook.com/groups/438918486242509 - for all the details.

Check out the giant Raffle Basket filled with all things that ladies love. Tickets are $5 or 3 for $10 until November 20. The winner will be drawn on November 21 at noon.

Bid on the Facebook On-line Auction items. The auction runs from November 12 to 20.

Donate to the WDMH Foundation’s Digital Mammography Fund. A generous donor will be matching all donations up to $25,000. Visit www.wdmhfoundation.ca/onlinegiving/ Donation, and then select the Digital Mammography Fund. To be part of the match, please enter that information in the box asking what inspired your gift.

“Our anonymous matching gift donor is a long-time resident of South Stormont and understands the importance of supporting local health care,” explains Foundation Managing Director, Kristen Casselman. “WDMH has been their hospital of choice for care, and the WDMH Foundation has been a charity of choice for many years. Knowing that their generosity truly impacts the lives of people they know, their family, and strangers, is very rewarding for them.”

The donor shares more: “I feel very fortunate that I am able to support the fundraising efforts and hard work of the Sisters for Life volunteers. I wish them much success this year and am pleased to match up to $25,000 of all gifts raised through their efforts for a new mammography machine at WDMH.” “We are grateful to Sisters for Life,” adds Justine Plummer, WDMH Foundation Manager of Direct Mail & Events. “It is such a pleasure to work with this energetic and creative group and all of the wonderful donors who get involved!“

Eric Duncan reappointed to Conservative Leadership Team Erin O’Toole, leader of Canada’s Official Opposition, announced the names of members who have been appointed to his shadow Cabinet. Local Stormont-DundasSouth Glengarry Member of Parliament, Eric Duncan, has been retained in the Party’s parliamentary team.

Eric Duncan, re-elected this past September, will serve as Caucus Secretary to the Conservative Party. In his new role, he will serve as the liaison between the Conservative Parliamentary Caucus and the volunteer National Council of the Conservative Party of Canada. His responsibilities will include building positive Caucus relations with the Party, professional development training for Caucus and staff, and leading Caucus input on the redistribution of federal electoral districts in 2022. He will also continue to participate in Leadership Team meetings to advise on the Conservative’s Parliamentary agenda and national issues.

“I am honoured to continue serving on Erin O’Toole’s Leadership Team,” said MP Duncan. “I have had the chance to work alongside Erin as our leader for the past 14 months and I am ready to get back with him into the House of Commons to tackle the many pressing issues our country is facing. Canadians want us back to work- and we need to hold the Liberals to account for their many failures, particularly Canada’s rising inflation and our slow economic recovery. Erin has appointed a great Shadow Cabinet to do exactly that,” he concluded.

Send in your letters, stories, events to editor@ ndtimes.ca

Mountain resident gives thanks to good Samaritans tion would have just kept driving, which they did.”

The incident occurred on County Road 1, which is the main north to south roadway which passes through Mountain.

Va l e r i e w a s m o s t grateful for the help of the strangers because her grieving state of mind was making it difficult for her to keep herself safe at the time of the incident. The man who came to her aid reminded her to move off the busy roadway, as she was so wrapped up in what was going on, that she didn’t realize where she was standing. The female stranger guided Valerie across the street and back across her lawn to get home, and then offered to return a little bit later.

Valerie refused, however, as she did not want to be a bother. Now, she wishes she had asked the strangers for their names, but she didn’t at the time because of the stress of the situation. “I just thought it was so kind of them, and I wish there was some way to thank them,” Valerie

by Brandon Mayer

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Mountain woman is hoping to get a word of gratitude out to two good Samaritans who stopped to help her on November 8. The woman, who asked to only be identified as Valerie, had just discovered that her beloved cat had been hit by a car, when two passing motorists pulled over to make sure that she was okay.

Valerie was so distraught and inconsolable during the incident that she never got the names of the two people – a young man, and a woman who identified herself as living “the next road over” – who came to her aid. She reached out to the Times in hopes of getting the message out to them that she appreciated what they did for her.

“That was just the nicest thing,” Valerie told the Times. “They were kind to me. Chances are, 99% of the popula-

lamented.

The incident is just one of several acts of community support that caught the attention of North Dundas residents recently. Two fires in the Township were also met with heartwarming responses from neighbours and businesses this month, showing what hap-

pens when people from small communities come together.

“I know it seems minute or something, but it wasn’t to me,” said Valerie. “It’s part of the reason why I love living in this area, because everyone is so community-oriented and friendly.”

Hayley Bedford

Marketing Consultant

Phone: 343-777-2702 Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca www.ndtimes.ca

The Voice of Our Community

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Environmental Assessment of the Township of North Dundas Waste Management Plan Environmental Assessment of the Township of North Dundas Waste Management Plan TechnicalTechnical Bulletin #3 – ‘Alternative Methods’ Bulletin #3 – ‘Alternative Methods’ The Township of North Dundas (Township) is undergoing an environmental assessment (EA) for the Township’s Waste The Township of North Dundas (Township) is undergoing an environmental assessment (EA) for the Management Plan under the Environmental Assessment Act. The EA Study will evaluate long-term solid waste manageTownship’s Waste Management Plan under the Environmental Assessment Act. The EA Study will ment options for a 25-year planning period. evaluate long-term solid waste management options for a 25-year planning period.

The Township identified the preferred ‘Alternative To’ in thetechnical previous bulletin technical bulletin (February The Township identified the preferred ‘Alternative To’ in the previous (February 2021) as Boyne Road 2021) as Boyne Landfill Site Expansion.

As partwill: of the EA Study, the Township will:ofevaluate Landfill Site Expansion.

AsRoad part of the EA Study, the Township evaluate ‘Alternative Methods’ landfill site expan‘Alternative Methods’ Methods’ of landfill site ‘AlternativeMethod’, Methods’ and identify the measures, sion, compare the ‘Alternative andexpansion, identify thecompare preferredthe‘Alternative identify mitigation preferred ‘Alternative Method’, identify mitigation measures, and determine net environmental effects. and determine net environmental effects.

The Township has prepared a new Technical Bulletin (#3) presenting the different ‘Alternative

The Township has prepared a new Technical Bulletin (#3) components presenting the erent ‘Alternative Methods’ of landfill exMethods’ of landfill expansion, the environmental anddiff corresponding evaluation criteria considered, as wellcomponents as the preliminary results of thisevaluation evaluation.criteria considered, as well as the preliminary pansion, the environmental and corresponding results of This this evaluation.

Technical Bulletin #3 has been published on the project website for review by the public and a feedback form is also available to provide comments to the EA Study team. Both files can be

This Technical Bulletin #3 has been published on the project website for review by the public and a feedback form is also available to accessed at https://www.northdundas.com/municipal-services/environmental-assessments. A provide comments theanEAelectronic Study team.

Both les can be accessed hardcopytoor copy of fithese documents onat a https://www.northdundas.com/municipal-services/enviUSB drive can be made available upon ronmental-assessments.

Ahardcopy or an electronic copy of these documents on a USB drive can be made available upon request. request.

If you to be to our projectlist mailing listproject-related or have project-related questions, please If you would likewould to be like added to added our project mailing or have questions, please contact: contact:

Doug Froats Director of Waste Management Township of North Dundas 636 St. Lawrence Street, P.O. Box 489 Winchester, ON K0C 2K0

Trish Edmond, P.Eng. EA Project Manager Golder Associates Ltd. 1931 Robertson Road Ottawa, ON K2H 5B7

Telephone: 613-774-2105 ext. 235 Fax: 613-774-5699

Telephone: 613-592-9600 ext. 3246

E-mail: dfroats@northdundas.com

E-mail: trish_edmond@golder.com

If you require accommodations for a disability to reviewtothe ‘Alternative Methods’ Technical BulletinBulletin #3, contact If youany require any accommodations for a disability review the ‘Alternative Methods’ Technical #3, contact Doug Froats 613-774-2105 235 to make the appropriate arrangements.

Doug Froats at 613-774-2105 ext.at235 to make theext. appropriate arrangements.

Veuillez vous est de possible de nous communiquer vos commentaires ou vos questions sur en franVeuillez noter qu’ilnoter vousqu’il est possible nous communiquer vos commentaires ou vos questions sur le projet le adressant projet en français en Marcerou les adressant à Yannick Marcerou au 613-592-9600 3318 ou par courriel çais en les à Yannick au 613-592-9600 ext. 3318 ou par courrielext. à yannick_marcerou@golder. à yannick_marcerou@golder.com. com.

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November 24, 2021

November 17, 2021

www.ndtimes.ca

Editorial

The North Dundas Times

Both sides now

by David Shanahan

Have you noticed that the world is becoming a little grumpy these days? A little tetchy, prone to irritation and hitting out? The whole covid thing seems to be a major source of these negative vibes, as you might expect, as it seems to keep coming back just as you think you see daylight ahead. People are more than annoyed. In the Netherlands, police are firing water cannons at thousands of protesters who are angry about reimposed restrictions owing to the pandemic. This is being repeated in many countries, and patience is wearing thin, On the other hand, the crowded hospitals and ICU wards are mostly filled with unvaccinated people, and that is causing many medical professionals to start feeling a bit tetchy too. An article by a respiratory consultant who works in many hospitals in the UK has put the situation in rather stark terms.

“Covid-19 has largely become a disease of the unvaccinated. The man in his 20s who had always watched what he ate, worked out in

the gym, was too healthy to ever catch Covid badly. The 48-year-old who never got round to making the appointment. The person in their 50s whose friend had side-effects.

The woman who wanted to wait for more evidence. The young pregnant lady worried about the effect on her baby.

The 60-year-old, brought to hospital with oxygen saturations of 70% by the ambulance that he initially called for his partner, who had died by the time it arrived; both believed that the drug companies bribed the government to get the vaccine approved.

All severely ill with Covid.

All unvaccinated and previously healthy. All completely avoidable.”

The facts, the stats, are all pointing in the same direction: vaccinations work; in fact, they may be the only way out of this strange new world we’ve inhabited for so long now. But still, people are sceptical. They don’t trust anyone, any medical authority, only the individual nutcases they read on social media. To be honest, I’m getting more than a little tetchy with them myself. No, vaccinations do not prevent covid;

but they radically improve your chances of avoiding serious illness, hospitalisation and...of yes, death.

It seems that there has been a universal decline in the willingness of people to believe anything said by anyone, unless it involves “exposing” some deep and dark conspiracy to mess us up, mentally and physically.

Minds seem closed to any argument that refutes previously held ideas and beliefs.

And this is where the real danger lies. Once people, or society in general, stop questioning, things go wrong. But the questions have to be honest and the questioners have to be open to the answers they get to their questions. Too often, answers, good, solid answers based on evidence, knowledge, expertise and basic facts, are ignored, rejected, derided, because they aren’t the answers wanted.

In our part of the world, we’re going to see the fruit of this refusal to accept answers next year, when we will have, not one, but two elections to enjoy. In June, we’ll have the opportunity to vote in a provincial election. This may seem rather irrelevant,

since our communities have been solidly Conservative in their voting loyalties since time immemorial. And there may be very good reasons for that. But let’s hope that such loyalty is not blind; that it is based on track records, solid achievements, proven integrity and transparency in our political representatives. It is not good enough to vote the way your father and grandfathers did. Times change, the world has changed, and we need to reevaluate how we think and vote.

It may be that we continue with the traditional pattern, and that’s great, as long as it is an informed choice, and not unthinking repetition of the past.

There will also be a municipal election in October next year. Another opportunity to cast a ballot to change our communities for the better. That, again, may mean continuing with the present councils, or it may mean a time of change has arrived.

But let your vote be based on more than tradition, or on a single issue you happen to disagree with the current council on.

Yes, the coming year will

North Dundas Regular Council report

by Joselyn Morely Council members of the Township of North Dundas met in person for their regular meeting on November 9. The meetings are broadcast on the Township’s YouTube channel for anyone who would like to watch without heading out in person. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the Council chambers.

There was one delegation, Watson & Associates Economists, who presented the draft review of the Development Charges Background Study.

The Development Charges Act 1997 allows the Municipality to impose development charges to allow it to recover the capital costs associated with both residential and non-residential growth. Development charges are in addition to the costs normally associated with the construction of a subdivi-

sion, such as internal roads, sewers, water mains, roads, sidewalks, and streetlights.

There will be a public meeting regarding the Development Charges on December 14 at 6:00 pm prior to the regular meeting of Council.

An application for a zoning bylaw amendment has been received for a property in the former Mountain Township, at 10608 Sandy Row, in order to change the zoning from Rural (RU) to Rural Temporary Use None (RU-T9) to allow for a Garden Suite. The Planning Act allows for up to 20 temporary use structures to allow for affordable housing. Currently, the property contains a single detached dwelling, a pond, and an extensive forest. The applicant has consulted with South Nation Conservation. Calvin Pol, Director of Planning, says that the Township has

for the Chesterville pool, purchase and installation of three AODA compliant playground components for 100 Club Park in Winchester, the Rick Cauvier Memorial Park in South Mountain, and the Morewood Community Park, the replacement of 34 lights and mounting brackets for the ball field in Chesterville, and restoration of the Chesterville tennis courts which includes resurfacing of the courts, replacement of the perimeter lights and replacement of a section of fence. The Township applied for funding under the Municipal Modernization Program, Implementation Stream. The application was successful.

The Township will receive up to $20,624 to assist with Council Meeting Digitization implementation which must be completed by the end of September, 2022. The pro-

had several of these successful temporary use structures. The public meeting concerning this zoning bylaw amendment will be held on December 14 at 6pm.

Jacobs Consultancy Canada Inc was awarded a portion of the tender for bridge and culvert replacement. This includes the Coyer Road Bridge, the Nation Valley Road Bridge, and the Marrionville Road Culvert. The Township hopes to co-ordinate with the United Counties. The Township applied for a grant from Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program: Covid Stream and was successful in being awarded $100K to assist with four Recreation & Culture Department Projects, with 80% coming from the federal government and 20% from the provincial government. The four projects include: purchase and installation of a pool lift

Email: production@ndtimes.ca 613 215 0735

November 24, 2021

vincial funding covers 75% of the eligible costs, with the remaining 25% to be paid by the Municipality. Three projects to be funded include implementation of eScribe, the purchase of additional Zoom licenses and cloud storage to facilitate live broadcasting of Council meetings, and implementation of an electronic document management system such as FileHold, Efile, Cabinet, and Optix.

The next meeting of the Council was scheduled for November 23 at 7 pm in the Council Chambers (after the Times went to print), and broadcast on the Township’s YouTube channel. The next regular Council meeting on December 14 will be preceded by a public meeting at 6pm discussing both the Development Charges and the Zoning By-law Amendment for Sandy Row. The entire ISSN 2291-0301 www.ngtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times is published weekly by North Grenville Times Inc.

Production

be a fascinating one all round.

People will be making promises, claiming many achievements, arguing the case for their value as a chosen one.

But the election campaigns have, in many ways, already started. They started as soon as you started thinking about what’s happening in our neighbourhood; whether you think it’s been a good few years, whether things are going the way you think they should.

And there’s the key word: think. It can’t be a last-minute decision. You and I have to think about it, take time to think about it, look at the facts and information you need to think about it. An informed decision needs informed citizens. Campaigns can carry voters away on immediate charm offensives, plausible claims, and superficial policy statements. Boy, this democracy thing is hard work! So, instead of getting tetchy and grumpy, maybe we need to try and be thoughtful, tolerant, understanding, and responsible. I know, easy for me to preach.

OFFICE 613-215-0735 Editor editor@ndtimes.ca 613-215-0735

Accounting Pat Jessop cfo@ngtimes.ca 613-258-4671

Marketing/Sales

Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca 343 777 2702

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Hayley Bedford Marketing Consultant

Phone: 343-777-2702

Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca

Send in your letters, stories, events to editor@ ndtimes.ca

meeting package, with agenda and all pertinent documents, is available prior to the meeting.

This is your Council and your Township.

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Mailing Address P.O. Box 1854 Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Staff Reporter Brandon Mayer brandon@ndtimes.ca

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The North Dundas Times

Dr. Marion Hilliard: Firefighters hero of women in Dundas County ‘Dare To Flash A ‘Stache’ and 1957. She certainly paved She was also extraorthe way for women’s health. dinarily successful in her in support of hospital

Dr. Marion Hilliard.

by Susan Peters, Dundas County Archives Dr. Marion Hilliard was born and raised in Dundas County, but her impact was felt nationwide. In fact, she impacted the lives of women throughout the world. And yet, not that many people are aware of her, or her place in Dundas County history.

As one of the first female gynecologists to be licensed in Canada, she earned her place in our history books.

She was part of the team that developed clinical testing for women’s cancers. She also helped to promote women’s health initiatives through her clinic in Toronto and her series of articles for women (and men) published in Chatelaine Magazine between 1954

In these articles, she wrote about topics that were simply not discussed in polite society at the time. They embraced topics such as female sexuality, menopause, postpartum depression, and parental fatigue. She was early to point out that a medical doctor’s role was to be a sociologist, as many ailments are rooted not in the physical, but in mental and emotional causes.

Her articles in popular press were important, as she realized how little most women knew at the time about their own health. Her articles were then combined into several books, translated into many languages and made available worldwide.

Dr. Marion Hilliard also played a role in the development of the PAP test to detect cervical cancer. The procedure was first developed

by George Papanicolaou in the 1920s, but Dr. Hilliard and a team of other doctors developed a more simplified form of the test in 1947. It was for this accomplishment that, in 2018, she was nominated to appear on the new $10 bill, but Viola Desmond was selected instead.

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, As a person who, as a child, survived measles, German measles, whooping cough, and chicken pox, I well remember these epidemics as well as epidemics of scarlet fever, diptheria, tuberculosis and the most frightening of these, polio. By the time I had my own family, vaccines were available for most, but still not all of these so-called childhood diseases and I was thankful for that.

Then came the Salk vaccine and polio was conquered. I, my children, and my friends with their children lined up happily for the polio vaccine. There were no anti-vax protests, just cheers that the summers to come would not bring the fear that your children could contract polio and be so paralyzed that they had to live in a machine called an "iron lung" just to breathe.

Perhaps one theory that I have read is correct, that anti vax protesters simply have no personal experience with epidemics. They know nothing about the hours spent nursing your children through fevers, sore throats, itching painful rashes, or the well named whooping cough. I November 24, 2021

can, to some extent understand that some do not know that these were not simple diseases but often had serious side effects that were fatal or they are simply incapable of relating to those fears of past years. However, most adults have themselves had to be vaccinated for these diseases before they could be registered for school so I have been puzzled by their anti-vaccination behaviour.

But when I read that some claim that being denied entrance to public places unless vaccinated is denying them the freedom that our veterans fought for, I am no longer bewildered by this anti-vaccination behaviour but feel downright angry. I am married to a veteran of WWII and the Korean War and have known many veterans and you can take this statement as a fact. Our veterans volunteered to go to war to fight against tyranny and for their country. The pettiness and the lack of any understanding of what happened under a fascist racist government that murdered over six million people is beyond belief.

Shirley Price

drive to make the Women’s College Hospital an accredited teaching hospital under the University of Toronto Medical School. She eventually became the head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department in 1947, a position she held until retiring in 1957.

Unfortunately, she did not enjoy a long retirement as she died of cancer in 1958. She was buried in her hometown of Morrisburg.

It is my hope that people will remember Dr. Marion Hilliard for her selfless dedication to women’s health.

It was a personal goal of mine to nominate her to the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. Its mission is to honour medical heroes – those of the past, present and future. In its description, a medical hero is one whose work has advanced health and inspires the pursuit of careers in health sciences.

That certainly describes Dr. Marion Hilliard. However, she was not one of the people selected for this honour. Dr. Marion Hilliard is my hero, and a hero to the women of Dundas County and those who have loved them.

Winchester firefighters are growing mustaches to raise funds for the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation.

The Winchester Fire Department is growing whiskers for good. Six local firefighters are participating in ‘Dare To Flash A ‘Stache’ and are raising funds for the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation and Ottawa Hospital Foundation. Organizer Dave Wilcox says supporting the hospitals is worth sporting a mustache for the month.

“Working with the fire department, we see firsthand how important the hospital is to our community. It’s there for people when they need it, and we should do what we can to make sure it stays that way.”

He notes that there’s a bet in place that could change the face of Winchester Fire – literally.

“If we raise $3,000, Chief Dan Kelly has promised to shave off his mustache,” explains Dave.

‘Dare To Flash A ‘Stache’ started November 1, and the Fire Department has already raised $1,085. Dave Wilcox is confident that the firefighters will hit their mark by the end of the month.

People can help out by donating to the cause and sharing the Winchester Fire ‘Dare To Flash A ‘Stache’ fundraising page on Facebook: www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/winchesterdistrict-memorial-hospital-foundation/p2p/DTFAS2021/team/winchester-fire-department.

Every dollar raised will be split equally between the two hospital foundations. The funds are earmarked for prostate cancer research, cancer care for all, and promoting prostate cancer awareness.

For more information about ‘Dare To Flash A ‘Stache, visit: www.daretoflashastache.ca.

Queen’s Park Update

by MPP Jim McDonell We are experiencing only a slight surge of COVID-19 cases locally and across the Province, despite our increased indoor activities brought on by the cooler fall temperatures. For the most part, we have not seen the hospitalizations and ICU occupancies increase of previous waves, and medical experts believe that is a testament to our high full vaccination rate, approaching 90%.

They point out that current COVID-19 vaccines are proving to be very effective.

Vaccines can’t stop you from contracting viruses; that can only be done by avoiding contact with the virus itself, which was the reason behind the government-mandated requirements to wear a mask, social distance, and restrict non-essential activities. In simple terms, the vaccine triggers your body to create antibodies that can immediately attack the virus, limiting its ability to multiply to levels that result in hospitalization or death and weakening its ability to mutate and spread to others. In many cases, levels may be kept low enough that the individuals don’t

5

even realize that they have contracted the virus at all.

Evidence shows that the vaccine effectiveness is reduced over time, especially in our more elderly population. As a result, a third dose is available for those 70 years old and older. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they are able, for it is the fastest and safest path back to a reopened Ontario, with all its benefits and activities that we enjoy. You can find vaccination times and locations at www.EOHU.ca.

Ontario’s reopening plan is lifting restrictions based on our science table’s review of data being collected worldwide. The latest reopening details can be found at www.ontario.ca/page/ reopening-ontario. The plan requires proof of vaccination to participate in many non-essential activities. It can be downloaded at covid19. ontariohealth.ca, obtained by calling 1-833-943-3900 or from a Service Ontario Centre, a public library, or my local office.

There is still a significant portion of unvaccinated Ontarians, some by choice, but many more because of their

young age. Health Canada now has approved the Pfizer vaccine for our children between 5-11 years old. Our local health unit has been developing plans to vaccinate this population segment and will be issuing details shortly.

After years of Ontario families paying the country’s highest childcare costs under the previous Liberal government, the Ontario government is negotiating to get the best possible agreement to secure the federal government’s election promise of $10 a day childcare. Before this offer, Ottawa’s share only accounted for 2.5 percent of childcare costs. Meanwhile, the Province has supported the creation of 30,000 new childcare spaces and increased affordability with the $1,500-per-child Child Care Tax Credit.

Unlike other provinces, parents benefit from Ontario’s full-day kindergarten, which costs $3.6 billion. During the recent federal election, Ottawa promised $10 a day childcare, and we believe that it should include Ontario. As a result, Premier Ford is only asking for the same level of funding granted to Quebec.

The Government continues to implore the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) to return to negotiations and again begin offering OHIP services to our youth and seniors. The OAO has remained on the sidelines despite what Premier Ford has stated, “We showed good faith, we gave them $39 million, but you can’t negotiate by yourself.” I encourage patients to urge the OAO to come back to the table so they can get the services they deserve.

While we are making investments to support the agri-food sector, the Government is helping Eurasian wild boar farmers transition away from this breed. As we witnessed recently in Pickering, wild boar poses a risk to the public and domesticated breeds when they escape farms and spread into the countryside.

As always, stay safe and get vaccinated if you have not already done so.

Regards, Jim McDonell MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

GET READY FOR WINTER

Brace for snow by winterizing your home (NC) It’s no surprise that Canadian winter weather can be unpredictable.

That’s why it’s good practice to ensure that you — and your home — are ready for whatever rolls in with the cold temperatures.

With the Farmer’s Almanac calling for above-normal levels of rain and snow this year, make sure your home is ready by following these three tips: 1. Check your furnace.

Make sure your furnace is in good working order by booking a furnace inspection before the coldest part of winter hits. Wait times can be longer as we get deeper into the season, and that’s the worst time to make do without. Regular maintenance and inspections can save you money in the long run.

2. Insulate doors and windows.

Keep the warmth in by installing or replacing weather-stripping or weatherstrip film. When you turn your heaters on, ensure your baseboards are clean and test each one to see that they’re working properly. Heat rises, so start with the basement first.

3. Empty exterior pipes.

Water expands in the cold, so when severe cold snaps hit, pipes can be at risk of bursting. To avoid having your water pipes freeze and burst, empty all exterior taps, and shut off the valves until next spring With these tips, you’re well on your way to protecting your home. But if anything happens, insurance providers like Belairdirect will be there to support you along the way with 24/7 claims service and digital tools that make submitting and tracking a claim as simple as uploading photos. Learn more at belairdirect.com

Is your snow blower ready for winter?

Check the oil Inspect the belts Check scraper bars and skid shoes Check the spark plugs Check shear pins Check starter cord Fuel system maintenance Tighten the bolts, and more... ...

Three tips to choose and maintain your winter tires: 1. Choose quality over price; identify a brand that is durable and reliable 2. Check your tire pressure monthly; tires inflated to the required pressure will prevent uneven wear and make driving more comfortable.

3. Know when it’s time to buy new ones; tread depth is the first criterion to consider when checking your tire condition. A legal minimum tread of 2/32 inches is required

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Take care of the basics.

5 ideas for lowering your heating costs this winter

Don’t forget some preventative measures, including refilling antifreeze, following your oil change schedule, testing your heater and visually inspecting your battery for signs of corrosion, cracking or loose connections.

(NC) A cozy and warm space to relax in is a wintertime must for many Canadians. But cranking up the heat can really add up. Here are some ways you can stay toasty without incurring sky-high costs:

Cold and Flu

1. Change furnace filters.

If you have an oil or gas-burning furnace, remember that it must work harder if the filter is dirty. If your electricity bills seem unusually high, try changing your filter more frequently and/or getting your machine serviced.

2. Use a programmable thermostat.

Many of us know that turning down the heat at night or while we’re away all day can boost savings, but it’s inconvenient to constantly be making those adjustments and easy to forget. A programmable thermostat lets you set it to automatically turn up the heat gradually in time for your morning routine, or remotely manage your settings – turning on your heat as you drive back from the airport.

3. Audit your energy and take action.

An energy audit is a formal test to determine where energy is lost in your home. Maybe it’s through a thin roof, poorly insulated walls or drafts around your windows and doors. This kind of test can help you discover the and the amount of money you’re spending to make up for energy loss and offers ways to reduce it.

4. Install a heat pump.

A heat pump works by transferring heat from outside your home to the inside. It ’s more energy efficient than other types of heating, like electric heat since the pumps don’t have to generate heat from scratch.

Instead, they move and intensify the heat. This means you likely won’t be paying as much for your heat each month, though there can be higher initial buy-in costs.

5. Switch to solar.

While there is some upfront cost to this solution, it can be a major costsaver pretty quickly. Not only can this be better for your wallet, but it’s also better for the environment, helping reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and do your part to combat climate change.

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Some insurance providers, including Aviva Canada, may offer better insurance rates if you utilize green replacements. Whatever household updates you decide to make, be sure to let your insurer know — that way they’ll be able to update your coverage appropriately, and, who knows, you might just qualify for a better rate.

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The North Dundas Times

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GET READY FOR WINTER Tips for safe snow removal

Plan ahead and make sure you have what you need when those winter storms are at their worst.

Invest in a flashlight (or several!) to hold onto at all times. A few candles won't hurt either but flashlights or portable lanterns are definitely safer.

Your battery-operated safety devices (like your flashlight and radio) are no good if they don't have their source of electricity.

Warm blankets, warm jackets, hats, gloves, and really anything that will keep you toasty warm in the event that the power (and your heat!) go out. Also important to have in your car.

A three day supply of non perishable food: Think canned food, peanut butter, all the usual suspects. And don’t forget bottled water.

To help your tires track in the snow, you should invest in good Winter tires.

Keep a plastic shovel in the trunk of your car so you can shovel out your tires in case you get stuck.

Have your snow blower inspected to assure it is ready when those storms hit To keep your home warm, you’ll want to make sure your heating system is up to snuff. Clean air filters and vents will go a long way.

1. Treat snow removal like any other job. Identify and assess hazards before you start and take all possible steps to eliminate or minimize them.

2. Pile snow in safe locations so that sudden meltdowns don’t flood farm buildings, create run-off problems in nearby waterways, or re-freeze during freeze thaw cycles.

3. Keep up to date with all maintenance requirements. Putting it off is just asking for things to go wrong. 4. Conduct a circle check before starting up equipment.

4. Wear proper clothing and footwear. Dress in layers. Wear or keep within arm’s reach a winter jacket, winter boots, gloves, and toques.

"There is no winter without snow, no spring without sunshine, and no happiness without companions."

- Korean Proverb The hard soil and four months of snow make the inhabitants of the northern temperate zone wiser and abler than his fellow who enjoys the fixed smile of the tropics."

– Ralph Waldo Emerson "Winter is a season of recovery and preparation."

– Paul Theroux

w !

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South Mountain Fairgrounds Service available on all makes and models

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10510 Loughlin Ridge Rd, Mountain,Ontario November 24, 2021

8 float categories in our float contest. Winners receive a basket full of local goods.

Community Food Share will be collecting donations of cash and non perishable food items at the entrance for the food bank and the North Dundas Christmas Fund.

Southgate Church (Winchester Campus)

will be handing out free coffee and hot chocolate!

Visit northdundasparadeof lights.ca for more details.

Register online or by emailing info@northdundasparadeoflights.ca

613. 209.3122 8

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The North Dundas Times

Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre is coming back

Fire emergencies bring heartwarming community response

It’s back! We are so excited to announce that the 1920s Murder Mystery Night in support of the WMDH Foundation will take place on February 12, 2022, at Matilda Community Hall in Dixon’s Corners.

“We are so happy to be able to welcome everyone back to the WDMH Foundation’s signature event,” notes Managing Director, Kristen Casselman. “It’s going to be a very fun night!”

The event has an upscale 1920s theme. Starting with a cocktail hour, the main meal will be a delicious plated dinner, which includes stuffed chicken and ham roast, by Traiteur La Bonne Bouffe Catering.

There will be an online auction the week leading up to the event. During the event, there will be a live auction with local auctioneer Brandon Scheepers, raffles and games, and a free photo booth. Fabulous music will be provided by Ice – No Slice. And get ready for a spectacular theatre production by Murder on the Funny Side Theatre Productions – “Clues Lead to Murder at the Down Town Abbey” © 2016 by Laurie McRae-Bingley.

“In addition to all the fun, funds raised will be directed to the Foundation’s Family Care Fund – to support families just like yours,” adds Justine Plummer, Manager of Direct Mail & Events. “We hope you will join us!”

Tickets are $100 each. Purchase online at www.eventbrite.ca/e/1920s-murder-mysterytickets-199281876457, or contact Justine Plummer at 613-774-2422 ext. 6172, or jplummer@ wdmh.on.ca.

The Judy Lannin Christmas Wish ber 10, drew as many as 24 farmer for comment.

Tree tradition continues at WDMH volunteer firefighters to a Large fires don’t occur

Destroyed shed near South Mountain

by Brandon Mayer

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two major fires in North Dundas this month demonstrated what can happen when community-minded people come together to help each other. On November 6, a large shed and trailer blaze on the western edge of South Mountain brought a response from the South Mountain and Winchester fire departments, among others. Firefighters from the nearby South Mountain station were on the scene quickly, but not before many members of the community who noticed the smoke and rushed to the scene.

By the time the firefighters were at work putting out the blaze, dozens of community members were parked in the parking lot of Nationview Public School, likely satisfying a combination of curiosity and a desire to help a neighbour. No injuries were reported, and a house on the same lot appears to have been spared any major damage. The frame of the shed remains, although irreparably burned, but the trailer was completely leveled by the fire.

Another fire, on Novem-

farm outside of Chesterville.

Firefighters responded to a corn dryer fire on Nation Valley Road, and worked for most of the day to stop the fire from spreading. Like the South Mountain fire, no injuries were reported and the fire was contained, thanks to the tireless efforts of the firefighters.

Social media posts were overwhelmingly positive regarding the response to the Chesterville fire, as concerned neighbours had stopped to check in, showing good community spirit. A local business – Louis Restaurant in Chesterville – also received commendation from the Township of North Dundas and from countless locals for providing free pizza for the firefighters as they worked to get the situation under control.

The farmer who owned the affected corn dryer posted a heartfelt message on social media, thanking, not only the local fire departments, but also many neighbours who stopped in to offer assistance, including some who lent needed equipment and stayed around throughout the day.

The Times could not reach the

often in small communities, but when they do, they can leave a heavy mark. The building that housed the once famous King’s Pizza Restaurant in South Mountain was completely destroyed by a fire on August 1 which drew a response from several fire departments. Over three months later, the lot remains fenced off and covered in rubble, presenting an unpleasant image in the centre of the small village of South Mountain.

The Times reached out to Calvin Pol, Director of Planning, Building, and Enforcement for the Township of North Dundas, to ask about by-laws that govern the cleanup of lots affected by fire damage. Director Pol referred the Times to By-law No. 202012 which provides a 30-day deadline for the cleanup of burned, partially burned, or demolished material after a fire. However, there is a catch.

“Factors such as an Ontario Fire Marshal investigation could delay cleanup,” Calvin told the Times. It is unclear whether such an investigation is ongoing at the old King’s Pizza location.

by Jane Adams Join us on December 14 for the Virtual Tree Lighting. It’s the most wonderful time of the year – despite COVID-19! The Judy Lannin Christmas Wish Tree provides a special way to honour or remember family and friends with a gift to the WDMH Foundation. Proceeds go to the Family Care Fund to help ensure that Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH) can continue to provide compassionate, ex-

the trees.

Due to the COVID-19 screening process in WDMH’s front lobby, the giant tree is being replaced by smaller trees located on the mezzanine above the lobby.

On Tuesday, December 14, at 5 pm, the WDMH Foundation will hold a virtual tree lighting ceremony. It will be live streamed on the WDMH Foundation Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wdmhfoundation.

“We hope everyone can tune in from home to see the trees lit up and enjoy the entertainment,” adds Justine Plummer, Manager, Direct Mail & Events.

For full details, visit www. wdmhfoundation.ca.

Special thanks to the many sponsors of The Judy Lannin Christmas Wish Tree.

Children aged 5 to 11 can be vaccinated Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General, issued the following statement regarding Health Canada’s approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11: “Health Canada’s approval of the pediatric Pfizer vaccine for ages five to 11 is encouraging news for the health and well-being of children across our province, especially as more people move indoors and attend family gatherings during the colder months this winter.

The federal government has provided assurances that we will receive enough doses to vaccinate all children aged five to 11. We are working with the federal government to confirm and finalize details on the specific timing of shipments, and we stand ready to begin distributing and administering doses as soon as they arrive.

Over the coming days, parents will hear additional details from their local public health units. Vaccines will be available through familiar channels such as select doctors' offices, hospitals, pharmacies and school-based clinics. In addition, public health units will continue to offer vaccines through successful mass vaccination clinics. Parents will be able to book appointments through the provincial online booking portal for mass vaccination sites, including school-based clinics in public health units using the provincial booking system, starting early next week once we have received final details from the federal government and can confirm allocations for each public health unit.

We understand that parents may have questions. That’s why we are working closely with public health units, children’s hospitals, children’s services and other health experts, including partnering with SickKids to allow for confidential, convenient and accessible vaccine consultation services for children, youth and their families. We are also working with Indigenous partners and community leaders to ensure equitable access to the vaccine.

Team Ontario is ready to ensure that every child is able to benefit from the strong protection offered by the COVID-19 vaccine.”

Hayley Bedford

Marketing Consultant

Phone: 343-777-2702 Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca www.ndtimes.ca

The Voice of Our Community November 24, 2021

cellent health care – close to home.

“For those of us who make an in-memoriam gift, we are missing someone from our lives. But they are always there, in our hearts and in the back of our minds. For those of us who choose to make a gift in honour of someone, we are grateful to know you, and we value you more than you will know,” explains Kristen Casselman, Managing Director. “We each have our own way of remembering, reflecting, showing appreciation, and caring. Thank you.”

Donors can donate online at www.wdmhfoundation.ca/ onlinegiving/donation/campaign, or call the Foundation office at 613-774-2422 ext.

6162. Names submitted with donations will be placed on ornaments and displayed on

9

www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

CROSSWORD

United Counties SDG Council report

by Joselyn Morley The Council of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry held their regular monthly meeting on November 15. The meeting began with four delegations presenting to the Council.

Budget decisions are coming up. On behalf of the Mobile Crisis Response Unit (MCRU), a joint programme of the OPP and the Cornwall Community Hospital Mental Health, Detachment Commander Marc Hemmerick, Staff Sergeant Malcolm McPherson, PC Jim Blanchette, Angel Quesnell, and Ann Zeren updated the Council on the status of their fundraising efforts, the success of the MCRU, and a request for another year of funding.

The MCRU has been an amazing success. The OPP has reported previously to both United Counties SDG and the Township of North Dundas on the huge benefits the programme has had.

The programme sees a fulltime mental health nurse ride with the OPP, and it has raised awareness about mental health, reduced the stigma, decreased the OPP’s time waiting in the hospital, reduced involuntary apprehension by 42.5%, and saved money and time. Council went out on a limb last year to fund this programme. Not everyone was immediately sold on it, as many feel it should be funded by the Ministry of Health, permanently.

Interim Warden, our own Deputy Mayor Al Armstrong, reminded his fellow county councillors that he was not initially in favour of this programme, but is extremely pleased and proud that the Council did go ahead with support. He congratulated his fellow councillors on taking that leap of faith and funding the programme, and told them that the MCRU would not have come to fruition without SDG funding it. Fulltime permanent funding has still not been secured for the upcoming year. The MCRU

seeks to expand its services and to hire a part time case worker to help ensure followup.

Ronald McDonald House of Ottawa also presented to Council, asking for $250k over 5 years to help fund an expansion which will add 22 rooms to the existing 14.

Alison McDonald of the South Nation Conservation Authority presented Council with the completed Natural Heritage Study identifying important corridors linking areas of natural habitat. The information from this study will inform the official plan of the United Counties. Finally, Harold Kleywegt from Keystone Bridge Management presented on the state of the counties’ bridges. $36M will need to be spent on the bridges over the next 20 years.

The Improving Rural Education Report undertaken by Horizon Educational Consulting is now complete.

The report will be formally presented to the public by March, 2022. Interim Warden, Al Armstrong, told his fellow councillors that this could be the most important job that they accomplish as a council. There was interest expressed in creating a standing committee based on this report.

Affordable housing was discussed. Council has directed staff to initiate an Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan and to work with the six municipalities to create development-ready sites for affordable housing, develop a Housing First policy template, and work with Cornwall and SDG municipalities, local housing providers, and MPAC to improve the availability of data on housing in SDG, as recommended by the Dundas County Housing Initiative Committee. Incoming Council in 2022 is urged to establish an Affordable Housing Committee.

Speed limits have been reduced in Morrisburg and Winchester. The speed limit will be 60km/hr between

Highway 31 and Dawly Drive in Winchester, then change to 50km/hr at Dawly Drive due to development.

Our own Deputy Mayor, who has served as Interim Warden since June, was presented with a gift of appreciation from SDG for his work in stepping up when needed at a particularly challenging time for SDG. Carma Williams, the Deputy Mayor of the Township of North Glengarry, was elected in October to serve as Warden for 2020. There will be a budget meeting on December 8, and the regular meeting of

ACROSS 1. Honor fights 6. As just mentioned 10. Throat-clearing sound 14. Course around a star or planet 15. Roman emperor 16. Audition tape 17. An small olive-grey bird 18. Indian dress 19. Beasts of burden 20. Frugal 22. Alley 23. Storehouse 24. Woman's undergarment 25. Quaint outburst 29. Motorcoach 31. Held (someone's attention) 33. Idea

Send in your letters, stories, events to editor@ ndtimes.ca

37. Any unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon 38. Wiggle room 39. Streaked 41. Hillbilly 42. A game played with mallets 44. Tall woody plant 45. Type of connective tissue 48. Full-length 50. Chills and fever 51. Flashiness 56. Condemn 57. Foment 58. Imperial 59. Sweeping story 60. Parasitic insect 61. Alpha's opposite 62. Declare untrue 63. Tumbled

64. An analytic composition DOWN 1. Bird of peace 2. Relating to urine 3. River of Spain 4. Mortgage 5. Got up 6. Flavorless 7. Clergyman 8. Fickle 9. Drudgery 10. Callow 11. Sextuplet 12. Make improvements 13. Cash 21. Souvenir 24. Tweaked 25. God of love 26. Aureate 27. Anagram of "Rave" 28. Inadequacy 30. A genus of fungus 32. Crown 34. Pitcher 35. Rate 36. Kid 40. Even-tempered 41. Performance 43. Unwind 45. Washed-out 46. Slack-jawed 47. Aromatic seeds 49. Spasm 51. Spike 52. French for "Names" 53. Visual organs 54. Epic 55. Kill

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

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Phone: 343-777-2702

Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca

Easy

Medium

Hard

Solution to last week’s Crossword

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Interbreeding with Aliens

Everything Under

by Fred Schueler & Aleta Karstad, Fragile Inheritance Natural History so shouldn’t be foraged from the Evergreen Online centimetres.

Narrow-leaves thrive roadsides or potentially conin drier sites than Broad- taminated sites. The starchy Auction

Cattail species and hybrids from Lake Scugog, near Port Perry, Ontario, July 1975. (from Aleta Karstad’s Canadian Nature Notebook, 1979, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Toronto.

144 pp).

On the radio and internet, you often encounter pitches for stories or movies of unknown aliens living among us, but these are imaginary or fictional. It was quite unexpected to hear, in 1987, real news that the widespread and familiar Narrow-leaved Cattail, Typha angustifolia, had been shown to be a European species, with a documented spread across North America from a first record in 1820.

The first Ontario record was in 1880, and since then it has spread (which we’ve helped to document from the 1070s onward) across the Canadian Prairies.

The bombshell hypothesis that only the Broadleaved Cattail, Typha latifolia, was native to northern North America was dropped

by Ronald L. Stuckey & Douglas P. Salamon in an abstract in the Ohio Journal of Science, and has since been confirmed by fossil pollen records and genetic studies.

One of these studies even suggests (on the basis of genetic similarity, and I don’t know how plausibly) that in Europe their Broad-leaved species was an introduction from North America.

Since Cattails make up a major portion of wetland and roadside vegetation, and the two species have been well known to partition these habitats between themselves and their abundant hybrid, Typha x glauca, the idea November 24, 2021

that the Narrow-leaves were aliens was a pretty considerable reinterpretation of the landscape.

Cattails are among the plants that reproduce by seed only infrequently, but, once established, spread vegetatively by subsurface stems or rhizomes. This means that the genetically identical descendants of an original seedling or clone often come to dominate a patch of marsh or a few metres of a roadside ditch.

In Eastern Ontario, you can easily pick out these clones because they differ conspicuously from their neighbours. This is because many, perhaps most, of them are hybrids. Along with the width of the leaves (the basis of the English and scientific names) the species are distinguished by the length of the gap between male and female flowers on the Cattail spike. The female flowers make up the familiar brown club of the seed head, but before they thicken and turn brown, the pencil-thin green male spike fluffs out in yellow pollen for a few days. There’s a gap, exposing the smooth round stem, of a few to several centimetres between the male and female flowers of the Narrow-leaves, while in Broad-leaves there is no gap. Those are the parent species. The hybrids’ gap varies between one and two

root-like rhizomes can be cooked after removing the skin, the bases of the young leaves, plucked from the centre of the plants, can be used in a spring salad, and later in the spring cooked as “Cossack Asparagus.” The firm, unopened male flower spikes can be cooked as a sweet-corn-like vegetable (though not sweet at all) or later the pollen can be shaken into a container, and used as a golden flour in baking. The rhizomes can also be pounded to separate the flakes of starch from the fibres, and the starch then used in baking. Snapping off the male flowerheads from the hybrids, to freeze for the winter, is one of our major foraging activities - traditionally around Canada Day, but recently, with global warming, in midto-late June.

Like so many kinds of organisms, Cattails weave a complex pattern of nativity, invasion, hybridization, and utility over our young post-glacial landscape, and the major clue to tracing this pattern is the length of the gap between the female and male flowerheads.

leaves, but require more nutrients and like damp mineral soil rather than organic muck. The hybrid is taller than either parent, and forms floating mats in the deepest water of marshes, especially where the water level frequently fluctuates.

This means that many of our largest cattail marshes, especially around the Great Lakes, are almost entirely hybrids. In the Boreal Forest, Narrow-leaves, likely carried as seeds on construction equipment, exploited the mineral soil exposed in roadside ditches during paving and road-building in the 1960's and 1970's, but north of North Bay the colonies have seemed to gradually fade away as organic soil accumulated in the ditches. For us, the emblem of the triumph of this European invader came on 16 October 2014, at Pipestone Creek, near Broadview, in southeastern Saskatchewan, where we saw an entire valley marsh tan with Narrow-leaves, and none of the greyish patches which we’d have recognized as native Broad-leaves. Coming back from that trip, Fred submitted a manuscript which suggested that under the standard federal criteria, the native Broad-leaved Cattail now qualifies as a species-atrisk on the southern prairies.

Locally, in our database, within 20 km of the Oxford Mills dam, we find 95 mentions of Narrow-leaved Cattail, 77 of Broad-leaves, and 107 of hybrids, so only 28% of the mentions are natives, which falls in the formal 30% criterion for endangered status. Within a wetland, the Broad-leaves are often in the more interior areas away from roads and disturbance.

In the muskeg-like Long Swamp Fen, 7 km S of North Augusta (which is moving towards becoming a Provincial Park because of the rare species of plants that live there) we’re monitoring the spread of Narrow-leaved Cattails out from North Augusta Road into the fen. This invasion may eventually threaten the rare plants for which the site was protected.

Cattails are one of those plants of which it is said “Any parts which aren’t too tough to chew are edible.”

However, Cattails are also known to accumulate various environmental toxins,

by Sue Walker Beth Donovan Hospice is once again hosting it’s Everything Under the Evergreen Online Auction. This is the second year running for this successful event. The auction will take place from November 22 to November 29 at rideauauctions. com/online-auctions.

In the Fall of 2020, with the pandemic impacting everything we did, we were not able to host our usual Christmas fundraising event. Still needing to fundraise, we pivoted to “Everything Under the Evergreen” online auction. With the support of Hunter McCaig, owner of Rideau Auctions, who graciously offered to not only donate to the auction, but also to host the auction on his own web platform, we were able to raise the much-needed funds to support our free programs and services. Over 40 local businesses and individuals donated to the auction in a very financially difficult time, and we are eternally grateful for the generosity of this wonderful community.

The Fall of 2021 finds us in much the same position. With last year’s online auction being such a success, we decided to continue with “Everything Under the Evergreen.” When we reached out to local businesses, we were amazed by the responses from local merchants; everyone said yes! In fact, Kemptville Heat Source told us that they didn’t want to donate an item this year; instead, they wanted to give us a cheque for $500. So far, over 80 items have been donated and new items continue to trickle in. There truly is something under the evergreen for everyone. Items include artwork, seasonal crafts, gift baskets, knitted items, gift cards, and so much more.

To view and bid on items, head to https;//www.rideauauctions.com, and under the “Auctions” menu, select/click “Online Auctions”, scroll through the list of auctions and click on “Beth Donovan Hospice Charity Auction.”

Baldwin's Birds

There are not too many birds making themselves evident as the weather switches from warm, to cold, to wet, to cold, to colder still, as Fall departs and Winter introduces itself and the few remaining bird migrants head south! Yesterday, the desperate, plaintive calls of a lone Canada Goose reached my ears, as it tried to catch up with two of his clan who didn't seem to be too happy either! Bigger flocks of them had departed a day earlier, sensing that this isn't going to be the place to stay for the next few months, as many of our "Canadian Snow Geese" know and sense as well!

With these departures in mind, I was wondering where my weekly inspiration might 11

come from when I spotted, high up in a tree across the road, a bird that isn't too popular, although quite common throughout the world, and one we don't get to see in our particular neighbourhood very often - a European Starling. I saw, in a brief glint of sunlight, a flock of six or seven of them. Their beautiful iridescent green summer plumage was not really in evidence, but they still had quite a distinctive look to them. They sat swaying in the breeze for a few minutes and then were gone. It was during that time that I was able to get a couple of photographs of them from my front doorstep, accompanied by our Bluejays, Chickadees, and Mourning Doves as they pecked at the

seeds in the front garden feeders or on the ground.

Yesterday, whilst restocking one of my feeders, a Red-breasted Nuthatch joined me, busily moving up and down the tree the feeder is hanging on, awaiting a chance to get a sunflower seed for himself. Quite the treat for me to be that close to him and something to be enjoyed.

Maybe you will be able to have the same experiences in your garden even if you don't have a feeder; just look carefully and you will get to see some of these birds for yourself.

Enjoy and stay safe and well, Cheers, John Baldwin john.joelle@xplornet.com www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

Nation Valley Ranch wrapping up a successful season

Loralee Carruthers

Realtor, Independently owned and operated

Just Listed MLS 1270885

Off. 613.918.0321 C. 613.407.8869 51 King St W, Brockville, On

Single Family home, 5.5 acre

1696 Merwin Lane, Prescott. $399,000

loralee.carruthers @century21.ca

Vaulting at Nation Valley Ranch gymnastics and horses, all rolled into one for this Local Journalism Initiative Reporter unique and spectacular A unique sport has come sport!” Jen wrote to the to life at a Chesterville Times. “Our competitive ranch. Equestrian vaulting team shows against clubs in – otherwise simply known western Ontario, Saskatcheas vaulting – is an incredible wan, and British Colombia.” sport in which gymnastics This year marked the and dance are performed on first time vaulters got to horseback. The sport is rec- show off their talent in a ognized by Equine Canada, year-end recital. Jen told the and is one that is taught Times that each team got to locally in North Dundas at work on a choreographed Nation Valley Ranch. routine to perform at the Vaulting coach Jen recital, all working with the Byvelds corresponded with Disney movie “Frozen” as the Times regarding the a theme. While the show Ranch’s successful vaulting was only open the family members of the performers season.

“Our vaulting program due to COVID-19 restricis a combination of dance, tions, a videographer was

by Brandon Mayer

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED, LOCALLY EMPLOYED FINANCIAL PLANNING FIRM

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Shop Locally

and you can win!

Your chance to win one of six weekly $100 gift cards and a $500 grand prize gift card Three ways to enter: • Email a purchase receipt from any North Dundas business to shoplocal@northdundas.com • Email a selfie photo from inside any North Dundas business to shoplocal@northdundas.com • Post on Facebook or Instagram with the #shopnorthdundas showing your support to North Dundas businesses, including the text “Shop Local Contest Entry” in the description

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November 24, 2021

on site to make sure that all of the special moments were captured.

Amazingly, the vaulting program at Nation Valley Ranch is geared to participants as young as eight years old. Vaulting is known to have a positive impact on self-discipline in kids, likely because of its multi-faceted nature, and the dedication required.

“This is not an easy sport,” Jen explained. “It takes very special horses, and a lot of dedication. It's a sport you have to train for: stretch training, flexibility, and syncing to the horses’ movements while holding yourself in challenging

positions. [The performers] cross train with aerials, acro yoga, dance and gymnastics here at the Ranch. It takes quite a team of coaches.”

Jen certainly fits the role of an experienced coach, having coached the only Canadian women’s intercollegiate polo team for a number of years. She is also the founder and coach of the Capital Cowgirls Drill Team. She wrote about what it is like to be involved in such a unique sport.

“I love these team equestrian sports. The friendships it builds, the way the entire club comes together and supports each other, the care and love the teams give to the horses. It's such a different vibe than individual equestrian sports I’ve been a part of in my past. The vaulting is a younger crowd than I am used to, so we have an even larger community with amazing parents as well. It's a very special thing we have growing here.”

Those interested in learning more about the activities at Nation Valley Ranch can visit their website at www.nationvalleyranch.com.

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville Some folks have never tried some basic and fun recipes simply because they never thought of doing so. When we go to a restaurant and order Bananas Foster, for example, we might not think that it is simple to make and a great treat for a Sunday dinner dessert. Bananas Foster originated in New Orleans and was cooked up in honour of one Richard Foster, a friend of local restaurant owner Owen Brennan. Ok, so enough with the history, and let’s get on with the recipe. This recipe serves 4 people, so just scale up for a larger group. By the way, the making of Bananas Foster is a great spectator sport, so have people watch you while you fuss a little on their behalf!

Bananas Foster Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of butter 3 tablespoons of brown sugar 1 tablespoon of cinnamon ¼ cup 35% cream 2 bananas, peeled, sliced in half on their length and then across to create quarters ½ cup of rum, preferably dark 4 scoops of vanilla ice cream Preparation: 1. Melt your butter in a frying pan set at medium heat. Avoid burning the butter.

2. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and heat up for a couple of minutes.

3. Slowly add the cream and stir.

4. Add the rum slowly and stir, then lay down the bananas in the sauce.

5. Cook briefly (a couple of minutes just to heat up the bananas).

6. Place a generous scope of vanilla ice cream in a nice dish for serving one person.

7. Place 2 banana quarters around the ice cream. Do the other three dishes the same.

8. Top with the sauce and serve right away to your delighted family or guests.

If you wish, you can add ¼ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans. Something quite different might be adding ¼ cup of chopped Cashew nuts. This is as simple and as tasty as it gets. So, enjoy! Best, from pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

12 www.ndtimes.ca