ND Times Issue 6 2024 March 21

Addicted to the thrill of the ice!

by Janice Lewis

In the quiet outskirts of town, my husband and I found our slice of paradise— a cozy home on sprawling land, surrounded by the familiarity of the countryside. Our neighbours, with their warm smiles and friendly waves, welcomed us into their midst, yet beneath

the surface, a longing lingered - a yearning for true belonging.

mention of the local curling club. With a shared glance, my husband and I made a spontaneous decision - we were diving headfirst into the world of curling at the Winchester Curling Club.

Under the guidance of the club’s passionate president and a team of dedicated volunteers, we embarked on a journey of discovery, a journey that would change our lives forever. From the Learn to Curl Program to mixed leagues and exhilarating bonspiels, we found ourselves hooked, addicted to the thrill of the ice and the camaraderie of our fellow curlers.

As the seasons passed, our love for the sport only deepened. We became regulars on the rink, trading lazy evenings on the couch for the exhilaration of sweeping stones and strategizing our next move. And in the process, we unearthed something far greater than a mere pastime; we discovered a sense of community, a family bound by laughter, support, and shared passion.

Determined to carve out our place in this close-knit community, I turned to the virtual realm, diving into the depths of the local Facebook page in search of connection and adventure. And there, amidst a sea of posts, a glimmer of curiosity sparked within me - a plea for winter activities that stirred something deep within.

Winter, with its icy grip and endless nights, had always left me itching for the solace of my couch after a long day’s work. But as I scrolled through the suggestions, one stood out - a

Now, as I sit on the Board, preparing to organize my very first bonspiel, I am filled with a sense of pride and belonging that I never knew existed. And as I glance around at the friends we’ve made and the memories we’ve shared, I know without a doubt - I can’t imagine my life without curling.

Correction Notice

Regarding the March 7 article, “A local artist beloved by all”, an error was made. Artist and muralist David Yeatman, of blessed memory, created the mural gracing the south wall of Sweet Corner Park, not Carrie A. Keller, as stated in the article. Carrie created the lovely mural on the Samantha's Emporium store wall on the west side of the park. The author of the article apologizes to the Yeatman family for this error."

Nanda Wubs Huizenga Marketing Consultant nanda@ndtimes.ca

12029

Phil Carkner, Owner

613.774.2733

www.dscollision.com

24 Hour Towing Assitance 1.800.663.9264

It’s your choice, choose local

New: Borrow a board game from the SDG Library

On March 5, 2024, the SDG Library announced its new collection of 32 board games, now ready to be taken home and enjoyed by the public.

The SDG Library’s new collection features games

for all ages and skill levels. Become a storyteller in a game of Disney Dixit, get your letter into Princess Annette’s hands in a game of Love Letter, or bluff your way into power in a game of Coup.

Board games are free to borrow for SDG Library cardholders. Don’t have a library card? Anyone who lives, works, or goes to

school in the SDG Counties can get one for free on SDG Library’s website or at their local library branch.

“Board games are a great way to spend time with friends and family, while also providing an enjoyable challenge and testing creativity,” said SDG Library’s Communications and Marketing Coordinator Cassie MacDonell. “We’re extremely excited to now offer these games to people in the SDG Counties.”

Two board games can be borrowed at a time, for up to fourteen days. When done, simply return the board game, in person, to your local Library branch.

To browse our new collection and place a hold on one of our board games, go to sdglibrary.ca/board-

Dundas County Players support the new Dundas Manor

The Dundas County Players have everyone curious – about their new play! And we can’t wait to see it! Even better, proceeds from one of the evening performances will support the new Dundas Manor!

Rehearsals are in full swing for Dundas County Players' next production, The Curious Savage. It’s a heartwarming comedy written by John Patrick and directed by Lynn Jolicoeur. The show will take the stage at the Old Town Hall in Winchester on April 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28.

Who exactly is the curious savage? The theatre group tells us it's the main character, Ethel Savage, who has been unceremoniously dumped at The Cloisters, a mental institution of sorts, by her three step-

101 King St W, Prescott, ON

$5 off. O´Heaphy’s Breakfast Plate

(Regular Price $15)

Includes 2 eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, beans, cretons, homefries, toast, fresh fruit and coffee.

Valid Friday March 22-Thursday April 4, 2024 from 8am to 11am*

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

$4 off the Two egg and bacon breakfast (Regular Price $10.49)

Includes 2 eggs, bacon, homefries, toast, fresh fruit and coffee.

Valid Friday March 22-Thursday April 4, 2024

WEEKDAYS ONLY *

613- 925-0006

*1 coupon per person per day

children – a senator, judge and socialite. It's all part of a plan to steal Ethel's $10 million dollar inheritance left to her by her late husband. What really irks the greedy stepchildren is the fact that their stepmother intends to set up a memorial fund to help people pursue their dreams instead of sharing the large fortune with them. The play unfolds with an assortment of endearing and colourful residents who appreciate Ethel for who she is, not for her millions.

Money raised from the April 20 show will help build the new Dundas Manor. “We are so grateful that the Dundas County Players have chosen to support the new Dundas Manor,” says Campaign Assistant Cindy Ault Peters. “For 28 years, this talented theatre group

has been entertaining local communities and we can’t wait to see their latest performance.”

Tickets are just $20 for adults and $10 for those under 18. If you’d like tickets for the April 20th performance, please call Cindy Ault Peters at 343-572-6345. You can also purchase tickets online at www.dcplayers.ca.

For more details about the Dundas Manor campaign, please visit www. dundasmanordream.ca or contact the WDMH Foundation team at 613-774-2422 ext. 6162 or 6169. If you would like to host a community event to benefit the new Dundas Manor, please reach out to Cindy Ault Peters at 343-572-6345 or cpeters@ wdmh.on.ca. Thank you for your support!

games/ or to your local Library branch.

ABOUT SDG LIBRARY

The SDG Library encompasses 15 library branches and four express depots across the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry.

For further information or to arrange for an interview with a member of SDG Library staff, please contact SDG Library Communications and Marketing Coordinator Cassie MacDonell at cmacdonell@sdglibrary. ca or (613) 577-1864.

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

If this is to be believed, then it is heart-breaking, to say the least. In too many cases, affordable health care is a matter of life or death. Our local hospital being so close by is also a matter of life and death sometimes.

Does this mean that people with lower incomes and no private health insurance are out of luck? Affordable housing, but no health care?

GOFundMe, anyone?

If something serious happens to someone without private insurance, I guess they are up the proverbial creek with no paddle. Be careful who you vote for. It might come back to haunt you. Or, if you think it doesn’t make any difference if you vote or not, maybe think again.

Kath Piché

Delayed but not forgotten

After about 9 months of Tony the Horse being nowhere in sight at his well-publicised future home on the lawn of Dundas Veterinary Services, North Dundas folks may be wondering where the Township’s iconic equine is.

Janet Smith – who spearheaded the saving of Tony and has taken on the project of his restoration – told the Times: “Tony is having a vacation in my garage for the winter.” Circumstances made it impossible for Janet to finish the restoration as early as originally planned, but she assured that the painting and installation will happen once the warmer weather is here for good.

We look forward to seeing Tony in his new home!

When responsibility is in eclipse

by Brandon Mayer

An extremely rare event is on the horizon – or at least somewhere in the sky – for our area next month. You likely know about it, since it has been highly talked about in the media. It’s an event that is exciting more due to its rarity than its glamour. I’m talking about the total solar eclipse set to occur in the afternoon hours of April 8. While most of North Dundas is not in the path of totality, it comes close – a drive just a few kilometres south from Winchester would do it.

Many people, especially parents, likely first became aware of the upcoming solar eclipse when local school boards announced that a planned PA day in late April would be moved to April 8, intentionally keeping children out of school during the eclipse for safety reasons. I recently came across a CBC article that seemed to question that decision. The article is called “Eclipse casts opportunity vs. safety debate over schools”, and it appears to be fishing for attention rather than presenting any kind of intelligent argument.

School boards have their reasons for not wanting students in their care on April 8, the glaringly obvious

among them being that virtually every school in the Province dismisses students some time near or between 2:11 pm and 4:35 pm. It isn’t easy for children and youth to obey an instruction like “don’t look at the sun while heading to your bus”. Children are curious. They also need an average of eight repetitions of an instruction for it to sink in, while replacing a habit with a new behaviour can take 28 repetitions, on average. We all know that in an eclipse situation, with hundreds of kids under the supervision of a couple dozen adults, there would be at least a large handful in each school looking at the sun. Nature’s usual cues don’t apply here. The retina has no pain receptors, and retinal damage can take hours to show any signs or symptoms (something I learned from reading the Times, thanks to a Health Unit submission). In other words, eye damage would be likely if schools attempted to herd Ontario’s 2 million youth home during a solar eclipse. An article hinting that there is any “opportunity” for teaching during dismissal time is very misguided. Teaching doesn’t occur on the walk home. There is only an “opportu-

nity” for risk.

I hold a belief that I am afraid to share, because sharing it means accepting it. The belief: an overabundance of technology has eaten away at our attention spans. Kids are finding it increasingly difficult to pay attention to anything that doesn’t have the stimulatory capabilities of a smartphone or a Fortnite match. I believe that 20 years ago, a group of children could have followed a teacher’s or parent’s instruction to not look at the sun without protective eyewear during an eclipse, simply because they would have quietly and intently listened to the teacher’s or parent’s instructions in advance. They would have been able to think about it, and realize that the blindness possibility is too real to risk.

I work with today’s youth. They are great at many things. They are compassionate, clever, respectful, and funny. We have done great at treating kids better than we did decades ago, and it’s showing in their regard for other human beings and their confidence in showing their independence and full potential. But one thing many kids today are not great at is focusing. I have even noticed a problem

with attention spans in some adults I encounter in my daily life. I rely on the tiny rectangle in my pocket as much as the next guy – and why wouldn’t I, considering it’s an exponentially more powerful computer than the one that guided NASA’s Apollo 11 mission in 1969. But I also like to think that my phone hasn’t melted my brain down to a screendependent mush.

The CBC article points to an institutional shift toward mitigating liability, which it suggests may be the reason schools are cautious about having students during an eclipse. I think the shift is elsewhere. I think that many parents rely too heavily on technology as a parenting tool, and wish to shift responsibility onto anyone but themselves. A parent decades ago finding out that their child suffered eye damage at school after looking at the sun during an eclipse would likely have the toughest questions for their own child, wondering why he or she disobeyed the teacher’s instructions. Today, the first questions would be directed toward the teacher, who would somehow be expected to constantly police the gaze of 20 curious children all at once.

If this is indeed an issue of liability concerns, then it isn’t just about a solar eclipse. Schools are concerned about liability because responsibility itself is in eclipse lately. A total solar eclipse will likely not pass our area for approximately 375 years after April 8. Perhaps school closures are a good thing on that day. It will give parents a chance to create some memories

by taking responsibility for their own child’s experience of the historic event, while also discovering just how difficult it is to enforce a simple instruction like “don’t look at the sun” for today’s youth. If one child is hard, just imagine 20. Sometimes, experience really is the best teacher, and not just for kids.

OPP Report

One Impaired Driver Is One Too Many:

The number of impaired drivers on eastern Ontario roadways, policed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), has declined compared to this time last year.

So far in 2024, OPP officers have investigated 184 impaired driving incidents in the area stretching from Quinte West to the Quebec border and up the Ottawa Valley. By this time last year, there had been 232 impaired driving cases.

OPP Inspector Walid Kandar, Regional Traffic and Marine Manager, stated: "The decline is positive news, but one impaired driver is one too many. Being impaired while driving, whether by alcohol or drugs, can have deadly consequences for the driver, their family or others on the road”.

OPP officers across eastern Ontario will continue to conduct RIDE programs, during the day and at night, in an effort to discourage impaired driving and to catch those who continue to make poor decisions. If you are drinking or consuming drugs, make smart choices. Have a designated driver, call a cab or use a ride-share service.

If you suspect someone is driving impaired, call 9-1-1. You could save lives.

Fraudsters impersonating RCMP Cyber Crimes Investigator:

The OPP is investigating an online scam in which one of the fraudsters claims to be a fraud investigator from the RCMP. A Hawkesbury resident recently received a pop-up message on her screen indicating that there was a virus on her computer and to contact "Apple" at a number provided. The victim called the number and was directed to download a popular remote entry software, allowing the fraudster, posing as a tech support employee, then gained control of the victim's computer.

The fraudster proceeded to tell the victim that her Internet Protocol (IP) address was associated to an international child pornography and money laundering investigation and quickly "transferred" the victim to a fake RCMP Cyber Crimes Investigator. The savvy victim challenged the fraudster with questions and was able to determine it was a fraud. The victim promptly notified the OPP, who provided the victim with resources and information allowing her to flag her financial accounts and mitigate any financial losses.

In 2023, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) received reports totaling $22.2 million in losses related to service frauds.

Warning Signs - How to Protect Yourself:

Be suspicious about unsolicited phone calls, emails or pop-ups stating your computer/device is infected with a virus, a threat has been detected or a subscription will be automatically renewed.

Look up the legitimate phone number for the company and communicate with them directly by always making the outgoing call.

Never allow an individual to remotely access your computer. If you are experiencing problems with your operating system, bring it to a local technician.

Never provide any personal or financial information over the telephone, unless you initiated the call.

Remember, if you become a victim to of a fraud or know someone who has, contact your local police service to report the crime and report it to the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or online on the Fraud Reporting System (FRS), even if a financial loss did not occur.

Follow our social media, using hashtags #FPM2024, #kNOwfraud and @canantifraud, as we will be posting on information on fraud prevention via social media each week during the month of March.

Council update

by Brandon Mayer

For eager “release date” readers of the Times, the next meeting of North Dundas Council takes place today –March 21 at 1pm. Due to obvious timing conflicts, this Council meeting will need to be covered in the next issue of the Times.

There have not been any other meetings since the update on the February 29 regular meeting, in which Council approved the 2024 budget. Appended to this article is a poster on page 3 of this issue, shared by the Township with some key budget highlights.

Following public outcry, the proposed tax increase was lowered. The original draft budget suggested a Townshipportion tax increase of 14.68% over last year

for residential properties. The final approved budget has a much lower increase of 9.86%. Since the Township’s cut of the total property tax bill is less than half, the effective increase – including the upper-tier Counties portion, and school support levy – sits at 5.9%.

While it may seem as though lowering the tax increase by nearly 5% should have been a low-hanging-fruit solution to public concern shortly after the first draft budget was released, it’s not that simple. Such a large cut in tax revenue means that money must come from somewhere else. Municipalities can borrow limited amounts of money when needed, but unlike the federal and provincial governments, they must be able to pay it back in a set period of time. Meanwhile, the

current federal debt in Canada sits at over $1.2 trillion, and continues to grow.

In the Township’s case, the deferral of some projects helped to balance the budget with a lower tax levy. Examples of deferrals include the Harmony Path project, a new generator for the Chesterville Fire Station, and some of the planned improvements to the Chesterville Arena.

The other method used to balance the budget was an increase in the amount of money taken from the Township’s reserves to cover projects. Almost $1.8 million will be taken out of the reserves, which is essentially a municipal savings account.

The Township is far from prospering financially, a fact which Council members seem to agree stems from North

Small town habits die the hardest

Dundas’ two arenas, two swimming pools, and other plentiful amenities serving a relatively small population. Council will undoubtedly have to continue pushing tax increases as high as public opinion will allow in the years ahead, in its attempt to get ahead of increasing expenditures and the installation and upkeep of new and existing amenities.

The March 21 Council meeting will be covered in the next issue of the Times.

by Brandon Mayer

From the makers of one-way street violations in Winchester, comes a similar problem in South Mountain. Since time immemorial, local motorists have used a paved area at the north end of Church Street to make right turns onto Maple Street. And why wouldn’t they? There is no distinction between the municipal roadway, and the section of pavement that resembles a turning lane, yet lacks the proper signage and markings to be used as one, or possibly even belongs to St. Daniel the Martyr Catholic Church. Like several of the lesser

used intersections in North Dundas, the intersection at Maple Street and Church street didn’t even have a stop sign for years. Since these streets are unlikely to be travelled by anyone besides locals, the lack of signage didn’t seem to cause issues.

When a stop sign was installed early last year, it became a running inside joke for South Mountain locals, because to those who were used to using the extra pavement as a yield-style turning lane, the stop sign appeared to be in the middle of the road. When the stop sign was knocked down by a motorist in May of last year, the joke continued,

with many social media users making comments such as “I was wondering when that would happen” and “You mean the one they put in the middle of the road?” Others commented that the sign lasted longer than they thought it would. The sign was quickly put back up with a traffic cone around the base as an extra visual aid.

When the roads are snow covered in the winter, the stop sign does not look out of place at all. It sits exactly where one would expect a stop sign to be at the north end of Church Street, since the extra patch of pavement is not visible. Yet old habits die hard, and

small town habits die the hardest. Even with snow cover, the “ad hoc turning lane” was still being used liberally, and it was almost certainly no coincidence that this winter, snowplows were piling their loads in such a way to block that section from being passable by car.

Now, without snow, the Township has been more direct in its measures. A barrier has been installed to redirect cars straight to the stop sign before completing their right turn. It’s a big yellow eyesore, no doubt, but also a necessary measure to break a pesky – and tempting – old habit.

The new barrier preventing drivers from “cutting corners”, so to speak, at the intersection of Church Street and Maple Street in South Mountain.

SNC and RRCA giving 10,000 free trees to Eastern Ontario residents

The Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) and South Nation Conservation (SNC) are looking forward to partnering once again with local municipalities to offer 10,000 free tree seedlings to residents in their watershed jurisdictions in Eastern Ontario.

“This year will be our 25th Annual Tree Give-

away and our fifth year joining SNC in this shared initiative with our municipalities,” says Lisa Van De Ligt, RRCA Communications and Stewardship Team Lead. “It’s so rewarding to connect with community members and help them improve their properties with native tree seedlings. Every tree planted helps make our watersheds healthier and more resilient.”

Several native or naturalized tree species will be available this year, including White Pine, Norway Spruce, White Cedar, White Spruce, Yellow Birch, Red

Maple, Sugar Maple, Red Oak, Mountain Ash, White Oak, Sycamore, Tulip Tree, Black Walnut, Highbush Cranberry, Nannyberry, and Pin Cherry.

Species availability will vary between municipalities.

“We are always eager to join our member municipalities and neighbours at the RRCA to increase our region’s tree cover and help all property owners become environmental land stewards,” says John Mesman, SNC’s Managing Director, Property, Conservation Lands, and Community Outreach.

Residents can visit their local Conservation Authority’s website or social media account to reserve their seedling bundles, while supplies last. Those successful at securing seedlings will receive an email confirmation with a pick-up date and location in their municipality in late April or May.

The Annual Tree Giveaway also helps introduce residents to their Conservation Authority’s various stewardship programs, which help improve the

area’s tree cover, flood resilience, wildlife habitat, and the overall health of local watersheds. Both RRCA and SNC provide full-service planting, which through various partnerships may include significant cost savings. For those with smaller projects in mind, an Overthe-Counter Tree Seedling program offers a variety of native tree and shrub seedlings at low cost.

In 2024, RRCA is gearing up to add 56,000 trees to the local landscape, while SNC will be planting over 108,000. Since their establishment decades ago, the two Conservation Authorities have planted millions of trees, improving tree cover in Eastern Ontario.

For information on RRCA’s forestry programs, go to rrca.on.ca/Trees or contact (613) 938-3611 or info@rrca.on.ca. For SNC’s programs, please visit nation.on.ca or contact 1-877984-2948 or info@nation. ca.

Rockets win the East in five games

by Murray Link

In what seemed like a rollercoaster ride of epic proportions, the North Dundas Senior Rockets have been crowned the EOSHL Eastern Conference Champions. The Rockets needed all five games to beat out their biggest rivals, the South Stormont Mustangs 3-2 in a series that saw home ice advantage become the deciding factor. The Mustangs, who play out of Long Sault, were the only team in the regular season to beat the Rockets and are considered one of the best teams in the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League.

The first game of the series took place on March 9 in front of a full house at home in Chesterville. Penalty trouble for the Mustangs resulted in 3 power play goals for the Rockets in the first period. With a final score of 6-1, the Home team won in

easy fashion and took to the road the next day back in Long Sault.

In game 2 of the series, the visiting Rockets had their own penalty issues when they accumulated 69 minutes worth of penalties in the game. As a result of being short handed most of the game, the Mustangs scored 6 power play goals to go on to beat the visiting team 9-5 at home and even the series up 1-1.

The Rockets were back at home on March 15 in a rare night game which saw the biggest crowd of the year.

In an evenly matched game, both teams tallied 46 shots a piece and goaltender #25, Matt Jenkins proved to be the deciding factor as the Senior Rockets won 5-0.

In game 4, the Rockets were back on the road in Long Sault, where a win would have closed out the se-

ries. In a twist of fate, it was the Mustangs goalie Adam Russo who turned the tables on the visiting team by only letting in 2 goals on 45 shots, allowing the Mustangs to win the game 4-2 and force a game 5 back in Chesterville.

In the third game of the weekend on Mar 17th, both the Rockets and Mustangs would be relying on a little St. Patrick’s Day luck to boost their team into the EOSHL finals. Once again, the faithful fans from North Dundas filled the rink, hoping to cheer their team onto victory. The Mustangs struck earl, scoring two goals in the first six minutes and taking a 2-0 lead. It wasn’t until late in the first period that a shift in momentum occurred and the Rockets scored two power play goals, evening up the score at 2. Four more unanswered goals for the home team would give the Rockets

Around Town with Nanda

Have an event or special occasion that you would like photographed for the paper? Let me know.

nanda@ndtimes.ca

a win, a final score of 6-2, and a chance to play for the EOSHL championship. The Rockets will take on the Gananoque Islanders in the finals which will start

Saturday, March 23rd at 2:15 in Chesterville. This will be a rematch of the past two finals where North Dundas has defeated the Islanders both times. To keep up to date with the Rockets, visit them, and follow on their Facebook page.

Protecting Eyesight with the Right Food

It was 200 years ago that Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, a French lawyer and culinary writer, first wrote “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.”

It’s a simple and enduring message. But people are not being watchful of what they eat, and it is having far-reaching consequences, not just around the middle.

Like other organs, the eyes are affected by diet. Many research teams have shown that a poor diet increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) of the eye.

Today AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss for those over the age of 65. By 75 one in three North Americans have early signs of AMD.

A command given to American soldiers at the

Battle of Bunker Hill was, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” But if these soldiers suffered from age-related macular degeneration, they would not have fired a single shot. AMD destroys the macular, a tiny spot at the back of the eye known as the retina that’s responsible for central vision. Without central vison it’s impossible to drive a car or see grandchildren clearly. It robs people of their independence, and often leads to depression.

In one study. researchers fed mice a low glycemic diet which is rich in slowly digested carbohydrates (whole natural grains). Another group of mice were given a diet high in rapidly digested carbohydrates (refined processed grains). They discovered the mice on the slowly

digested carbohydrates developed fewer retinal changes. More surprising was that switching mice from a high to slowly digested carbohydrates diet appeared to stop retinal damage.

Why the difference? A high glycemic diet, speedily absorbed, causes frequent spikes in blood sugar. The unhealthy consequences can lead to Type 2 diabetes.

The human gut contains a variety of bacteria, some being helpful and others harmful. How they act depends on whether the glycemic index is low or high.

These microorganisms produce chemical substances known as metabolites. Low quality diets produce metabolites that cause harm to the retina and increase the risk of AMD.

There are two types of AMD. The dry type affects about 90 percent of sufferers in which small yellow deposits cause dryness of the macula. The wet type, the more serious, occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula, distorting and affecting central vision.

What can you do to decrease the risk AMD? See an ophthalmologist at age 65 or sooner, then every two years to detect any visual changes.

The key message is to take a good look at the food on your plate, and remember

“you are what you eat”. For many decades, we have been eating more refined flour, devoid of vitamins and minerals, many packaged foods and too much sugar. What we need is more whole wheat, fruits, leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Our dietary failure has triggered an epidemic of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and now macular degeneration. Years ago, infection killed people in the prime of life. Now it’s degenerative diseases. But there’s a big difference.

Infectious disease killed quickly. Degenerative ones cause a slow painful way to the grave.

Learn more about the glycemic index and the hazards of high blood sugar. Diet is key, and if you want more guidance, stop into a natural health store where experts can point you to supplements that help with glycemic control.

Never forget the Gifford-Jones Law that states one bad problem leads to another and another. Poor diet leads to obesity, diabetes, heart attack, and now macular degeneration. Will we ever learn?

Sign-up at www.docgiff. com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @ docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones.

Seed and Forage Show a “growing” success

by Brandon Mayer

This year’s Seed and Forage Show, hosted in Chesterville by the Dundas Soil and Crop Improvement Association, proved that the event is a “growing” success – pun intended. The event saw excellent attendance on Friday, March 8, at the Chesterville Legion, with over 125 people through the door throughout the day.

“Overall, we had another excellent show in Dundas this year,” said event Chair, Adrian Lee. “There were 133 seed entries from 25 different seed show exhibitors, and 33 businesses for the trade show exhibitions.”

Adrian reported that the popular baking competition this year featured New York style cheesecake, with five different

Racine, Clare Alphonse

Peacefully at the Brockville General Hospital on Friday March 1, 2024. Clare Racine, age 88 of Prescott, Ontario. Beloved husband of Bertha (nee Shallow). Loving Dad of Allan (Heather Tremblay), Judy (Graham Houze), Linda (Herbert) Catt.

Cherished Grandfather of Stephanie, Matthew (Chantelle) Racine; John Patrick, Elizabeth (Sean Hubber) Houze; David and Michael (Emily Franzgrote) Catt and Great Grandfather to Ian and Gwen Racine.

Dear brother of Helen Robertson, Evelyn MacDonell, Theresa Leroux, Leonard Racine, and Marilyn Cave. Predeceased by a brother Tom Racine. Fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to acknowledge the excellent care given at the Brockville General Hospital, especially from Dr. Zumil Damji and Dr. Craig Holt as well as numerous dedicated nurses.

A private family service was held.

Donations in memory of Clare can be made to the Brockville & District Hospital Foundation – Palliative Care.

Arrangements entrusted to the Byers Funeral Home, South Mountain (613-989-3836). Online condolences may be made to www.byersfuneralhomeinc.ca

Housing Initiative offers perspective on search for basic needs

What’s it like to be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless? Dundas County Housing Initiative is hosting a Homelessness Maze event Friday, March 22 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Morrisburg Royal Canadian Legion (10 Legion St., Morrisburg ON).

cheesecakes that all “tasted and looked amazing!” After the competition, show organizers were able to sell off pieces of the remaining cheesecake to support the 4-H Club, raising $220 in total.

“I was very pleased with every aspect of the show,” Adrian added. “A lot of work goes into the show, and I’m very fortunate as Chair to have great volunteers and directors from DSCIA to help make this all happen.”

Other event organizers include Co-Chair Mark Tibben, Secretary Jess Menkhorst, and Directors Dave Barkley, Ron Toonders, Matt Spruit, Mike Roosendaal, Jason Byvelds, and Graham and Elaine Duke. The show is held annually, and continues to be a success year after year.

House of Lazarus will be facilitating the event, which begins with each attendee assuming the identity of a person who is experiencing homelessness. The maze activity will offer participants an opportunity to experience what many individuals face when navigating the “system” to gain food, housing and finances. More than 15 representatives from local agencies will be on hand to provide realistic experience for participants.

Following the maze activity, there will be a debrief where participants will have an opportunity to discuss the various obstacles they faced during the exercise, identifying the gaps that currently exist.

“Homelessness in rural areas is often hidden. People are living in sheds, in camping trailers (year-round), in their vehicles and living rough. As a community, we are not always aware of the resources that are available to help people who are experiencing homelessness,” Cathy Ashby, Executive Director of House of Lazarus said. “The idea behind the maze is to ensure that those who directly work with people in need understand the very real obstacles, frustrations, and hardships faced by those seeking access to shelter, food and income and that they understand the resources that are available in SDG.”

Registration is required. Please contact Kristina McDermott at kmcdermott@houseoflazarus.com or by phone at 613-989-3830 to register. This is a free event.

Nanda Wubs Huizenga Marketing Consultant nanda@ndtimes.ca

613.223.9785

ww.ndtimes.ca

Supporting Local: The value of shopping local and Chamber of Commerce membership

Chris Powers, President of the

Chamber

In a world dominated by big-box retailers and online giants, it's easy to overlook the profound impact that shopping local can have on our communities. Yet, the value of supporting local businesses extends far beyond mere transactions; it's about fostering thriving neighbourhoods, preserving unique identities, and building a stronger local economy. At the heart of this movement towards local prosperity often lies the Chamber of Commerce, acting as a beacon for small businesses and providing invaluable support. As we celebrate the bond between community and commerce, it's crucial to acknowledge and thank those who champion the cause of local businesses. Why shop local?

Shopping local isn't just a trend; it's a

conscious choice with far-reaching benefits. When you buy from a local business, you're not just purchasing a product or service; you're investing in your community. Local businesses are the backbone of neighbourhoods, providing employment opportunities, fostering entrepreneurship, and contributing to the vibrancy of our streets. They infuse character and personality into our towns, offering unique goods and personalized services that reflect the local culture.

Moreover, choosing to shop local often means reducing your carbon footprint. By supporting businesses in your own community, you're minimizing the environmental impact associated with longdistance shipping and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Local businesses typically source

their products locally as well, further reducing transportation emissions and supporting regional producers.

Additionally, when you shop local, more of your money stays within the community. Studies have shown that locallyowned businesses tend to reinvest a greater portion of their earnings into the local economy, circulating wealth and fostering economic resilience. This creates a positive feedback loop wherein increased local spending leads to job creation, higher wages, and enhanced quality of life for residents. What is a chamber of commerce?

At the heart of many communities lies a chamber of commerce, serving as a vital link between local businesses and the community at large. Chambers of commerce provide essential resources and support to small

businesses, acting as advocates, connectors, and educators. Through networking events, workshops, and promotional opportunities, they help local businesses thrive in a competitive market.

Membership in the North Dundas Chamber of Commerce (NDCC) offers numerous benefits for small businesses. From access to marketing tools and business development resources, to advocacy on legislative issues affecting local commerce, the North Dundas Chamber serves as a powerful ally for entrepreneurs. By fostering collaboration and collective action, the NDCC amplifies the voice of small businesses, ensuring that their interests are represented and protected.

Thank You!

As we reflect on the importance of shopping local and the role of the

NDCC, it's essential to express gratitude to the community for its support. Without the patronage of local residents, small businesses would struggle to survive and thrive. Every purchase made at a local shop or restaurant represents an investment in the future of our community, and for that, we are profoundly grateful.

In conclusion, shopping local isn't just about buying products; it's about investing in the well-being of our neighborhoods and fostering a sense of community pride. By supporting local businesses and engaging with our NDCC, we can create a more resilient, vibrant, and prosperous future for all. Let's continue to prioritize local commerce, celebrate our unique identities, and build a stronger community together.

Winchester 613.223.9765 theloftynest.ca

Proud members of ND Chamber

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is here

The federal government has begun to roll-out the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which will cover some of the cost of most basic oral health care services for uninsured Canadians.

Once fully implemented, the plan will offer dental coverage for up to nine million people in Canada. It’s targeted specifically towards Canadians with an annual family income under $90,000 who do not have access to dental insurance.

The application process is opening in phases, starting with seniors.

How to apply:

Individuals who may be eligible have begun receiving letters from the federal government, inviting them to apply for the plan.

Keep an eye out for one of these letters if you: will be 70 years old as of March 2024; have a family income of less than $90,000; and have filed your 2022 tax return.

The letter includes instructions on how to confirm your eligibility and apply by telephone.

Only seniors who receive a letter will be able to apply before May 2024. Here’s when seniors can expect to receive their letter:

- December 2023: ages 87 and above

- January 2024: ages 77 to 86

- February 2024: ages 72 to 76

- March 2024: ages 70 to 71

As of May 2024, applications shift from telephone only to an online portal and will open for eligible seniors 65 and older. More information on this portal will be available closer to its launch date.

Canadians with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and children under 18 will be able to apply online starting in June 2024.

All other eligible residents will be able to apply in 2025.

If your application is successful, starting in March, you will be sent a welcome package by Sun Life, the administrator managing the plan on behalf of the government. The package will include a member card and a start date for your coverage.

Seniors will be able to start seeing an oral health provider as early as May 2024, but start dates for coverage will vary based on when you can apply, when the application is received and when your enrolment is completed.

What’s covered:

The plan will help cover most basic dental services, such as check-ups, x-rays, teeth cleaning, fillings, dentures, root canals and some oral surgeries.

The CDCP will reimburse a percentage of the cost at the plan’s established fees. These depend on the members’ income level, and some people may have to pay the rest of the expense amount out of pocket. For example: if you have a family income under $70,000, you can have 100 per cent of eligible costs covered; if your family income is between $70,000 and $79,999, 60 per cent of eligible costs can be covered; and with a family income between $80,000 and $89,999, 40 per cent of eligible costs can be covered.

You may have to pay fees in addition to the potential co-payment if: your oral health provider charges more than the CDCP fee, or you agree to receive care that the plan doesn’t cover.

Before receiving oral health care, you should always ask your oral health provider about any costs that won’t be covered by the plan.

Find more information at canada.ca/dental.

Let’s Talk Ticks

by Susan Healey, LG&L Health Unit

The ticks are out! When temperatures rise above 4 degrees celsius, ticks become active. Enjoy the benefits of being outdoors by going for a hike, working in the garden, or cleaning up leaf litter in the yard, but remember to be tick smart. Black legged ticks in our area may carry bacteria and other microscopic organisms which may cause several illnesses, the most notable of which is Lyme Disease. Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis are diseases which can also be passed on via the bite of an infected tick. These diseases are not new to the area, but they did become reportable to the Health Unit in July, 2023. It should be noted that one cannot tell if a tick is positive by looking at it.

Taking the following precautions will help to reduce your risk of infection:

Dress in light coloured clothing so you can see that a tick is on you (they are dark in colour).

Use an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin. You can apply this to clothing or your skin.

Put your outdoor clothes in a hot dryer for several minutes to kill ticks.

Wear clothing that contains a tick repellent.

Do a tick check when you return inside. If possible, have someone check you from behind. Check your pets for ticks as well.

Thoroughly check your body for ticks and nymphs and promptly remove them using tweezers or a tick twister.

You can take a quick shower and scrub well to help remove any unattached ticks.

Speak to your vet about ways to protect your pet.

Transmission of these diseases from a tick to a human depends on the length of time the infected tick is attached. Ticks that are removed quickly are less likely to spread disease. For Lyme Disease and Babesiosis, a tick needs to be attached for 24 hours or longer to pass on the illness, while 12 hours is required for Anaplasmosis. If the tick has been attached for longer than 24 hours, you may be at an increased risk and it is recommended that you consult your health care provider, or for Lyme Disease, you can also consult with a pharmacist who may be able to provide preventive medication in some circumstances.

Check any ticks you remove from your body to determine if they are fat or flat. A fat tick is an indication that it has been feeding for a longer period of time. Tick specimens are not used for diagnosis of disease so they are no longer accepted at the Health Unit. Individuals can submit a photo to the website, eTick – for tick identification.

Lyme disease symptoms can range from a bull’s eye rash around the bite area, to headache, fever and muscle/ joint pain. Symptoms can appear from three days to several weeks following a tick bite. Even if you have had Lyme disease before, you can be re-infected. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

Symptoms for all three diseases may include fever, headache, chills, sweats (Babesiosis), fatigue, and muscle and joint pain. A bull’s eye rash around the area of a tick bite may occur for Lyme Disease. Symptoms may appear from a few days (1 week for Babesiosis) to several weeks after the bite of an infected tick. It is recommended that you consult with a health care provider if you experience any of these symptoms.

Lyme Disease in particular, but also Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis, can lead to serious, long-lasting health effects, and it remains important for residents to continue to take precautions to prevent tick bites.

For more information about ticks and Lyme disease, visit the Insect Bites and Diseases section of our website, or call 1-800-660-5853. You can also e-mail us at contact@heathunit.org, or connect with @LGLHealthUnit on Facebook and X or @lglhealthunit.z on Instagram.

Finding credible nutrition information

by Danielle Labonte, LG&L District Health Unit

March is Nutrition Month and this year's theme is "We Are Dietitians". With all of the information available to us about nutrition and health, it is important to be able to spot misinformation. Dietitians of Canada created a list of five questions to ask when you read or hear about nutrition information:

1) Is the person or product promising a quick fix or miracle cure? If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Making changes to health means a commitment to eating a variety of foods, including lots of vegetables and fruit, getting regular physical activity, and managing stress.

2) Are they trying to sell products such as special foods or supplements?

3) Do they provide information based on personal stories rather than facts? Although it's nice to hear about a success story, it's not proof that something works or is necessarily true. Nutrition advice should be based on the best available scientific research. Dietitians are university trained, regulated health professionals who use evidencedinformed tools to give advice.

4) Is their claim based on a single study or limited research studies? Were the studies done with animals or humans? If the conclusions come from many well-designed studies, then there is strong evidence that something is true.

5) What are the person's qualifications? The title "dietitian" is protected by law, just like a nurse, dentist or pharmacist. Look for the initials "RD" to identify a registered dietitian.

For more information, visit www.healthunit.org, connect with us on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) or call 1-800-660-5853.

Tid bit musings

by Elva Patterson Rutters, RSSW

"Beggars can't be choosers!" This is a carte blanche statement worth further exploration. On the surface, one would think that if you have nothing or little, anything would be acceptable and welcomed. Understanding the complexities of humans, this then becomes a time of self-realization of preconceived ideas. Opening your mindset to new considerations develops one's perspective. Perhaps we are operating under a subtle misconception that the needy are judged on social-economic status and are in fact being discriminated against unfairly.

Have you given thought to the fact the recipient may have food insensitivities, allergies or food intolerances? Offering a tuna sandwich or Worcestershire sauce to someone with a fish allergy is deadly. There are so many health concerns to be factored into the selection process. Diabetics have to read the ingredients to determine sugar levels (check label on tomato soup), while those with milk allergies also need to scan the contents list as so many foods have milk or milk products in them. Ingesting the product is not pleasant. For others, particular scents can trigger migraines or even PTSD. Invisible disabilities such as gastric issues caused by Crohns, diverticulitis or gluten intolerance makes refusal of a particular item logical. Nut allergies are a prime example of how even the smell can trigger breathing problems and anaphylactic shock.

Environmentally, people with reactions to particular materials such as latex, wool, and various herbs or spices need to exercise judgement for their benefit. It is not a slight against you, the giver. Offering a wool blanket or a downfilled coat can have the adverse reaction you had hoped for when asthma or allergies exist. It is not that the recipient is picky but has to be selective out of necessity.

You alone will evaluate a situation and make judgement based on the information you have. Don't be afraid to inquire about their choices. Yes, there are a few who discriminate just because they feel they can. So be it. There is no acceptable reason to diminish quality simply because of social standing. If you wouldn't eat it, why should someone in need be expected to? Unfortunately, most of my mistakes are made in the kitchen and someone has to eat them!!

Thank you for being willing and able to help those in need. Thank you for being sensitive and understanding to each individual's plight. Thank you for taking a moment to consider the underlying factors that may initially seem immaterial. Thank you for your acceptance and tolerance. Thank you for being you.

Brick - Block - Stone - Chimneys - Parging - Repairs Foundation Repair

The Harp and the Maple Leaf

Edward Blake, who expressed Canada’s right to be heard by the Empire. He later moved to Ireland to be an M.P. at Westminister.

by David Shanahan

Last Sunday was St. Patrick’s Day, when people from all backgrounds celebrate Ireland’s National Holiday: a unique event. But the Irish have had deep and historic links with Canada over centuries. The impact of the Irish on Canada goes well beyond the immigrants who arrived here in droves throughout the Nineteenth Century. Most of those immigrants had arrived before the Great Hunger of

the 1840's, but they continued to settle in Canada in the decades afterwards also. In North Grenville, many of the business and political leaders were immigrants from Ireland, or children of immigrants. Men like Robert Bell, who was a founder of the Bytown and Prescott Railway Company and owner of the Ottawa Citizen newspaper. Elected politicians at both federal and provincial levels, such as Dr. Charles Ferguson and his son, G. Howard, or Francis Jones. But the impact of the Irish, and Ireland, on Canadian constitutional development was enormously important.

613-215-0735

By the 1880's, no Canadian Government could do without an Irish Catholic representative in Cabinet, such was the power of the Irish Catholic vote, especially in the older Provinces east of Manitoba. Irish Protestant influence was equally powerful, particularly through the Orange Order, which could list most leading politicians, including, it is said, Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, among its members. And it was the influence of the Irish Members of Parliament that led to Resolutions being passed in the House of Commons in favour of Home Rule for Ireland in 1882.

Home Rule meant that Ireland would have the equivalent of a Provincial Government, located in Dublin, rather like Ontario’s in Toronto. The old Irish Parliament had been dissolved in 1881 and Ireland had been ruled directly from London ever since. The original Resolutions, introduced by John Costigan, had been fairly strong, but Macdonald managed to water them down before being voted on, partly because he feared the response of the Imperial Government in London, and partly because he was no supporter of Home Rule. In fact, he once declared that “[T] he Celtic races have never taken to self or Representative Government”, a strange attitude for a Prime Minister born in Scotland.

The Resolutions passed in the House were transmitted to London, and Macdonald’s fears were realised when Prime Minister William Gladstone responded with a polite version of “Mind your own business!”. The colonies, it was made clear, had no right to offer advice to the Empire and should mind their place in the hierarchy of things. Macdonald was humiliated and furious, and was determined never to make that mistake again.

Imagine his confusion, then, when, just a few years later, in 1886, Gladstone “converted” to Home Rule, and introduced legislation in Westminister to bring Home Rule into being. The leader of the Liberal Party in Canada, Edward Blake, introduced new Resolutions in Ottawa supporting the British legislation. Once more, Macdonald attempted to refuse to have a vote on the resolutions, and when they passed in spite of more watered-down words, he even tried to prevent them

The 1953 murder of Marie Anne Carrier

by Susan Peters

Every now and then a story emerges that shocks a nation. It is even more notable when it happens within our jurisdiction. Just that happened on October 16, 1953, when 14-year-old Stanley Dale Hutt noticed a naked female body in a ditch near Dixon’s Corners. He immediately ran to tell his father Merle Hutt, who initially did not believe him. When he went back to the ditch with his son, Merle realized that it was very much true. At that point the police were called, and the eyes of the country were upon Dundas County. The story hit newsstands as of October 19 in the Ottawa Citizen and the Toronto Star. By October 20, the story was covered in Owen Sound, Hamilton, Niagara Falls and Kingston. It did not appear in the Iroquois Post or Morrisburg Leader until the 22nd since they were weeklies.

In the initial days, all that was known was that the naked body of a young lady was found face down in a ditch. She had been brutally murdered by an unknown assailant. Her identity was not yet known. According to local papers, the community was in fear of further attacks. Her body was moved by the Morrisburg Inspector Wright to the Leonard Keck Funeral

Home. A notice was placed in newspapers across the area asking if anyone could identify the deceased. As she had been declared missing by her family, her brothers traveled to Morrisburg to identify her body. She was identified as 22-year-old Marie Anne Carrier of Bienville Quebec. The ordeal of identifying their sister must have been traumatic as she was stabbed 5 times, in the left eye, twice to the heart, and twice to the abdomen. There was also evidence of strangulation. This was a crime of passion.

Marie Anne Carrier was last seen on October 14 when she headed to an army parade drill. Sergeant Carrier was a serving member in the Canadian Women’s Auxiliary Corps Reserve. She was also a bank employee at Levis Quebec. The alarm was sent out when she failed to appear for work, as well as missing the drill. When her body was found in a ditch near Iroquois, the police and Army were both on alert to identify her body. At the same time, the Carrier family had declared her missing.

The Carrier brothers were aware that their sister was dating a man named “Pete”. As a result, he was being sought for questioning. The newspapers all over Canada reported the story in salacious detail. The Army was

able to ascertain that Pete was 24-year-old second Lieutenant Peter Ernest Robin Balcombe. He was a serving member of the Canadian Army and had recently transferred to Valcartier Quebec from Wainwright, Alberta. By October 19, there was a warrant for his arrest. This is where the story gets complicated. While Peter Balcombe had been dating Marie Anne Carrier for some months, and had given her an engagement ring, he was arrested near London in the home of his wife’s parents. Yes, you read that right! He was a married man and was also the father of two children, a three-yearold and an 8-week-old infant. As the story unfolded, once Marie Anne was aware that he was married, she broke up her relationship with him. He apparently offered to divorce his wife. His 22-year-old wife, Jean, was not aware of any of this. Clearly, he was living a double life. Jean Grey had married Balcombe at a church wedding in London in May of 1949.

By December 1953, Morrisburg was filled to the rafters with reporters as a coroner’s inquest was held. It was eventually moved to Cornwall due to the large numbers competing for space in the gallery. There was also a need to control paparazzi. Balcombe professed his in-

being sent to Gladstone.

But something far more significant had happened. By welcoming Canadian resolutions in support of Imperial legislation, and accepting the right, if not the duty, of colonial governments to comment on Imperial legislation, Gladstone had transformed Canada’s constitutional position. It was a tentative first step towards what would become the Commonwealth, the Empire as a Family of Nations, rather than a collection of colonies. And it was in the context of Irish Home Rule, and through the activism of the Irish in Canada, generally, and in Parliament in particular, that this change came about. The definition of a Dominion would continue to develop from there.

nocence, while the Iroquois based coroner, Dr. C. R. Marcellus, testified to the shocking brutality of the crime. The wound to the heart was likely what killed her, but she had five stab wounds including one to her left eye. She had multiple cuts and abrasions indicating that she fought off her attacker. She was also strangled. This must have been unbearable to hear for Marie Anne’s mother and siblings who were present. It was suggested by a pathologist that the attacker must have studied anatomy as he was able to exert the most damage possible in a few strokes of the knife. It was brought up at the inquest that Balcombe was studying pre-med in university before he entered the army. Balcombe’s commanding officer noted that a stiletto knife was missing from his equipment. It was never recovered. It was also damning evidence that Balcombe had rented a cabin for a few hours, and blood stains along with his fingerprints and some women’s clothing were found there. The clothing was identified by Carrier’s family as belonging to her. There was also blood in Balcombe’s vehicle. Balcombe was remanded in custody in Cornwall and his trial was set for February.

The jury trial was held

In an interesting postscript, when Ireland achieved the freedom of most of its people in 1921, after years of war and agitation, the Treaty which resulted from the negotiations, and which defined the new Irish Free State in its relations with the British Empire, specifically gave it the same status as Canada. Ireland would have Dominion status within the Empire, a status which the events surrounding the Irish Home Rule Resolutions in 1882 and 1886 had done much to define. Following Independence, Irish officials worked closely with Canadian representatives in drawing up the Statute of Westminister in 1931, ending Britain’s right to legislate for the Dominions, and effectively establishing the Commonwealth. The Irish Free State changed its name to just Ireland in 1937 and left the Commonwealth, as it was believed a Republic could not be a member.

in a very crowded court in Cornwall. The six-day long trial heard 27 witnesses for the Crown and six witnesses for the defense. Balcombe did not testify. Apparently, he sat motionless when the jury declared him guilty of murder. He was sentenced to hang on May 25. Balcombe appealed this conviction. While the newspapers were vague on the grounds for an appeal, the Supreme Court of Canada case (1954 CanLii 75 (SCC) Peter E. R. Balcombe vs Her Majesty the Queen) states that it was based on the question of jurisdiction. While the body was dumped in a ditch in Dundas County, the question was whether the murder took place in Dundas County. Balcombe conjectured that if the murder took place in Quebec, he should have been tried in Quebec. Clearly this was a stalling tactic. The appeal failed.

The other issue raised by Balcombe was that the saturation of tabloid reporting on the case prior to trial ensured that he did not have a fair trial. There was an associated court proceeding in which the publisher of several magazines was charged with contempt for having published salacious and often embellished reports of the case. Edward Bryan was charged with contempt of court, sentenced to 10 days

The events in the House of Commons in Ottawa in 1886, explicitly, and for the first time, saw Canadians state their right to speak and act as members of the Empire, rather than subjects of Westminister.

in jail and fined $14,000 for having published and distributed the reports. This case came to its conclusion in the early morning hours of May 25. While some American newspapers claimed that Balcombe had pleaded his innocence, the Canadian papers all said he said nothing while a crowd of about 500 teenaged hooligans hooted and hollered outside the Cornwall Jail. Someone set off fireworks,causing a commotion. He died a civilian, as he was released from the Army by cabinet order. As no one claimed his body, he was buried in the prison courtyard. This was the last execution by hanging at the Cornwall Jail.

After this, the newspapers left this story well behind, and the other victims of this man went on with their lives.

One cannot begin to imagine the tragedy this all presented to the 15 siblings and mother of Marie Anne Carrier. The wife of Balcombe, Jean, was left with two very young fatherless children to raise. As quickly as the story lit up the headlines of papers across Canada, the story was forgotten.The Dundas County Archives has a collection of about 50 newspaper articles and other related documents available for researchers.

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

Our family likes Mediterranean cuisine, and Tabouli (or Tabbouleh) Salad is a great, fresh take on the traditional greens. Everything in it is healthy and, unless you add some cold chicken breast or some shrimp pieces, it’s a superb vegetarian dish. We make use of Naan bread cut in triangles and warmed up to accompany the subtle flavours. While this is easier to make during the summer season, having it this time of year makes it a special treat. You’ll have to do a bit of hunting around for the fresh ingredients.

Tabouli Salad

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup of couscous

1 cup of finely chopped parsley

½ cup of finely chopped green onions

¼ cup of finely chopped fresh mint

3 tomatoes, finely chopped

¾ cup of feta cheese, crumbled

½ cup of chickpeas (canned)

½ tablespoons of lemon juice

2 ½ tablespoons of lime juice

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 tablespoon of crushed garlic

Black pepper to taste

Garnishes: 1 English cucumber, 1 lemon and/or lime, all thinly sliced, sliced black olives

Preparation:

Place the couscous in a bowl, cover with boiling water and let cool for 45 minutes

Drain and squeeze out the excess water from the couscous and fluff it up with a fork

Mix in the parsley, chives, mint, tomatoes, chick peas and feta

Whisk the lemon, lime, olive oil and garlic into a dressing

Mix the dressing into your salad

Pick out a really nice colourful platter and transfer your salad onto it. Garnish with whatever you’d like, such as the cucumber, the lemon-lime slices, or the black olives. You can also crumble more feta on top if you so desire. As for the Naan bread, just cut the round slices into triangles, place in a bowl and zap it in the microwave for a minute or so. Alternatively, you can serve with warmed up pita bread and have your guests make Tabouli Salad wraps. And voilà, you’re in business for a tasty Mediterranean treat.

Please feel free to let me know if you’ve tried this at pcormier@ranaprocess.com

ACROSS

1. Stringed instrument

5. Blown away

9. Detest

14. Holly

15. Short skirt

16. Hag

17. Certain chemicals

19. Like many a superhero

20. Plenty

21. Marksmen

23. Bids lower

25. Accumulated

28. Employ

29. Flowery verse

32. Respite

33. Supersonic transport

34. Cicatrix

35. Margarine

36. Aromatic solvent

38. Pertaining to flight

39. Forenoon

CHURCH

Directory

To have your Church listed here please contact Nanda at nanda@ngtimes.ca

sociation

6. Breathing laboriously

7. Go inside

8. Inform

9. Give in

10. Donkey sounds

11. Expect and wish

12. 1 1 1 1

13. Crimson

18. On edge

22. Territory

24. Have a bowel movement

25. Fragrance

26. A fruit of the gourd family

27. Ready for anything

29. Sea

40. Weep

41. Decorated

43. Picnic insect

44. Sheep sound

45. Study of the physical world

46. Drenches

48. Scholarly

50. Cirrus or cumulus

54. Beside

55. Pleasant

57. Condition

58. Connections

59. Accomplished

60. Frigid

61. Combines

62. 365 days

DOWN

1. Former Italian currency

2. Anagram of "Lyme"

3. Harvest

4. Deliberate act of omission

5. American Medical As-

Solomon’ Porch Nationside Pentecostal Church

Pastor Scott Sayers

Meeting Sunday 10:30am.

9 William St. Chesterville, Ont. ( The Nelson LaPrade Centre)

Box 292 Chesterville 613-448-2272

nationsidepentecostalchurch.ca

30. Old Persian coin

31. Wear away

33. Timid

34. Saleswoman

37. Injuries

42. Daughter of a sibling

44. Beleaguer

45. Holy

46. Father Christmas

47. Unbending

48. Countertenor

49. Anthracite

51. Double-reed woodwind

52. Arm bone

53. Elk or caribou

54. Viper

56. S

The Total Solar Eclipse

by Gary BoyleThe Backyard Astronomer

In a few short weeks on April 8, the long-anticipated total solar eclipse will be upon us. Standing on a specific 185-kilometre-wide path will result in witnessing the moon completely cover the sun. Standing along the centre of this path will result in a maximum of three to four minutes of totality. This path starts in Mexico and in Canada, residents in parts of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, P.E.I., and Newfoundland will also witness this amazing event. For the rest of Canada and the United States, only a partial eclipse will be seen.

Although favoured in the east, even Vancouver will see 17% of the sun covered at the maximum.

Never look at the sun without a solar filter. When purchasing certified eclipse glasses, always buy from a reputable telescope dealer but many are selling out of stock. Never use a do-ityourself hack seen online as this could be a recipe for eye damage if not blindness. Sunglasses are great when driving, walking, etc. but should never be used to look directly at the sun. If eclipse glasses cannot be found, a piece of number 14 welder's glass can also be used.

When using a telescope,

binoculars or camera, always place the filter in front to reduce the sun's glare before it is magnified or imaged. Never place a filter behind the eyepiece as the concentrated solar beam acts as a laser and melts the filter and unfortunately your eye. You will also damage or melt your camera or smartphone sensor.

If a solar filter or welder's glass is not available, you can use a simple spaghetti or vegetable strainer or virtually anything with small round holes. Hold the kitchen tool about a foot off the ground and look at the projection of numerous semi-circles as the moon moves in front of the sun. You can then take a picture of the projection safely as you are not looking directly at the bright solar disk. A pinhole camera made from a cereal box is a great project with children. Plans can be found online.

Many public viewing events with dedicated astronomers using solar telescopes will be planned so check your area for these gatherings. This is a great opportunity to look through telescopes and learn about the sun.

Once the moon completely covers the sun along the eclipse path, it will be safe to look at. Even though solar filters and solar telescopes are designed to examine the surface of our

Life with Connor the Weatherman

featuring Connor Mockett

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another week of Life with Connor the Weatherman. After not having a column in the last paper, I do have a few things to talk about this time in regards to the weather here in New Brunswick, and the weather at home in Eastern Ontario. I also have a couple of life updates.

Let me get started with the weather here in Moncton, New Brunswick. We’ve been on a fluctuating roller coaster it seems for the past couple of weeks. There have

been many beautiful days between 5 and 10 degrees, enough that it melted our 40cm snowpack in only a couple days about two and a half weeks ago. We had completely bare ground, the grass was out and the ground was beginning to thaw. Then, shortly after that snowpack melted, it got a little bit cold. It was comfortably below 0 degrees for a couple days, freezing the ground again, and then a system started to move through. That system shot our temperature way up, around 13 degrees, and in came the rain. I went to work the next morning in pouring rain and 11 degrees, and came out of work at the end of the day to my car covered in ice pellets and icicles because it was -7 outside. That was the same system as the flash freeze in Ontario.

Then, it warmed up again only a day or two

daytime star, the outer corona is only observed with human eyes during totality. This will appear as a halo around the sun. Look for the bright planet Jupiter up at the eleven o'clock position and Venus down at five o'clock. Be aware of how long the totality is listed for your area to know when to hold up the filter before the bright sun emerges from behind the moon.

With the above-mentioned safety precautions and a little luck in the weather, this will be a moment in time that you will never forget. Feel free to email me your questions via my website.

Clear skies!

Known as "The Backyard Astronomer", Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker, former monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada as well as a STEM educator. He has been interviewed on more than 55 Canadian radio stations as well as various television stations across Canada and the U.S. In recognition of his public outreach in astronomy, the International Astronomical Union has honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. Follow him on Facebook and his website: www.wondersofastronomy.com.

NVATVC 2nd Annual Food Drive

On Saturday, March 2, 2024, 111 ATV enthusiasts from near and far came together for the NVATVC 2nd Annual Food Drive in Support of the Community Food Share. The day began with registration at the North Dundas District High School, a silent auction and food and cash donations directly to the Community Food Share.

Last year had participants playing in 30 cm of fresh snow, where this year had a completely different style of weather conditions, with unseasonably warm weather meaning a much more wet and muddy adventure for the day!

The ride involved a 100 km tour of the Nation Valley ATV Club’s trail‐system. Some trails had to be bypassed this year due to weather conditions, but still lots of trails were hit. A BBQ lunch was served by Mountain Fire Department volunteers at their hall in South Mountain. After lunch, participants continued their tour around the system. The trail ride had its ups and downs due to the warm weather and poor ice conditions. However, with help from the trail warden volunteers, no person was left behind!

Back at North Dundas District High School, everyone was treated to a buffet dinner by Leatherworks Catering and the culmination of the silent auction and prize draws! Participants brought in 175 pounds of food with a cash value of $612.50 and $403.00 in direct cash donations to the Community Food Share.

Thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, landowners, and participants, we were able to raise $14,643.53 for the Community Food Share. Event Co‐Chair Gerard Savoie had this to say, “This event went as smoothly as we could have hoped with the weather conditions, our second kick at an event supporting the Community Food Share. Our community businesses and sponsors came out in spades to support this event for such a worthy cause. The events committee is proud to say we came within $120 of what we raised last year, and look forward to trying to beat that in 2025!”

after. Bare ground again, ground starting to thaw, the whole shebang. Then, a few days go by with sun and clear skies. It warms up once again to above 10 degrees, and in comes the rain. It pours rain for multiple hours, and then a transition to ice pellets happens for a couple of hours, so much so that the pouring of the ice pellets pelting my window (pun intended) woke me up from my nap I was having while I had a cold. After those ice pellets, the transition to snow happened. It came down so fast and hard that it only took about 2-3 hours to have about 7-10cm on the ground that had been warmed up and was wet, so you can imagine how much actually would’ve fallen if the ground was frozen and not wet. That snow continued for about 8-12 more hours, and ended up giving Moncton about 20-25cm of

wet snow, plastered to the ice pellets underneath it. That driveway cleanup was completely terrible.

As for back in Ontario, you guys have had anything but a normal end to your winter and beginning of spring. Temperatures have soared there on numerous occasions. Multiple instances of record breaking warmth, and aside from that flash freeze, there have been pretty much no cold days or nights, really. It’s bad that this is happening, mostly because of climate change, but I’m sure most people really have enjoyed the temperatures and the sunshine that’s been pretty regularly happening. There really aren’t any spring snowstorms of significance on the horizon, either. Early spring like this typically also means early summer temperatures, so we’ll see when those start to show up on the weather

Community Food Share started out as a smaller Dundas Food Bank in 1991, and since expanded its scope to offer a wide range of services. Community Food Share continues to develop and offer new services that provide clients a variety of supports to put more nutritional food on their tables.

Community Food Share’s other services include tax prep assistance, community gardens, community advocate, growing futures, and partnering with the North Dundas Christmas Fund, South Dundas Christmas Exchange, and Heat for the Holidays. For more information on how Community Food Share assists in our community please check out https://www.communityfoodshare.ca/.

models.

For me personally, I’ve got a couple things to talk about. Not only do I have my job with Sobeys in Moncton, I also now am an employee of FedEx Canada as a delivery driver! Super convenient job being able to pick which days I want to work each week, with any hours I want (max of 40 hours). With Sobeys unable to offer me more than 20-24 hours, I needed something else, so we’ll see how being a delivery driver goes.

Also for me (and a few

others): I am expecting to formally announce my 2024 Chasecation to the US Tornado Alley this May from May 15th to June 1st shortly on both Twitter (X) and Facebook. Look for that announcement graphic to be done in the coming days. I’m super excited! That will do it for this week's Life with Connor the Weatherman column. I hope you enjoyed reading it and I will see you all in a couple of weeks!

Baldwin's Birds

Competing for Food

The surprisingly warm weather prevails and our Spring birds are returning, as you yourself will probably have noticed when the migrating Canada Geese "honk" to each other as they pass overhead. A lovely sight and sound, as they hold their "Vee" formations, or are approaching some patch of water that they are descending down on to. This is so at the end of our road, where the small river, from Oxford Mills, meanders for its final few metres into the heart of Kemptville, on its way to the much bigger Rideau River. In the other direction, away from us, the horse stables fields have formed an impromptu, welcoming pond, formed by the melting snow, that the geese are delightfully taking full advantage of, whilst it is still there!

Meanwhile, the Red Winged Blackbirds in our garden are busy feeding, whilst "squeezing out" their own distinctive form of song! It is surprising, really, considering that they are more a marshland bird, than a garden one, that they

Driver

seem right at home in the pine trees by my feeders. In past years there has always been at least one or two of them that linger through the summer months in our garden, despite it not being their "normal" habitat. Of course, they don't get the feeders to themselves, as can be seen from my picture, when either the Chipmunks or Squirrels, get to have a say in the matter! Food isn't the only concern with the birds and other creatures, but, with the milder weather, their search for water is a lot easier, as

is demonstrated by a returning Cowbird, who sorts out the use of one of our water bowls. If you look carefully at it, you can see water droplets falling from its beak as it drinks. Hopefully, you too are spotting all the different birds and their activities as the Spring warmth encourages them back to your own little patch of the universe, for you to enjoy their presence once again. Stay safe and well.

Cheers,

John Baldwin

UCDSB Trustees Meeting report

Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) met on March 6. Key items discussed in the public session are as follows.

Director’s Work Plan Update – Student Success:

Executive Superintendent of Student Success and Innovation Eric Hardie, and Superintendent of Student Success and TR Leger Shelley Riddell gave an update to the Board of Trustees, specifically related to the 2023-24 Director’s Work Plan goal to improve student success to attain and maintain a 90 per cent student graduation rate within the UCDSB.

Executive Superintendent Hardie noted that graduation rates are trending upwards, from 85.8 per cent to 87.5 per cent and that 95.6 per cent of our secondary schools have a student credit attainment of over 90 per cent. Hardie was confident that all elements outlined in the Work Plan will be completed by the end of the school year and based on the data the 90% graduation rate goal should be met soon.

Superintendent Riddell highlighted some of the programs that have been implemented to help reach the goal. The SST Lift initiative offers personalized programming in a multi-grade/ multi-subject class that supports students attending regular courses that appeal to their strengths/interests (art, physical education, co-op, etc). Students can complete alternative assignments for other classes in SST Lift, and

access district workshops that promote mental health and wellness.

Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) enables students aged 14-17 to have alternative learning programs set up outside of the regular day school program while still staying connected to their home school. Riddell noted that the number of credits achieved through SAL has increased from 68.5 in 2022-23 to 129 in 2023-24, with opportunities for part-time employment, volunteering, counselling, and training/skills development also increasing year over year.

Looking ahead, Executive Superintendent Hardie outlined next steps for the Student Success Team including the continued pilot of the Recognition of Experiential Learning Credit (RELC), further expansion of tech and trades opportunities for students, professional development for Administrators and Student Success Leads, and expansion of Real-World Learning course development.

Math Achievement Action Plan Update: As required by the Ministry of Education, Principal of Teaching and Learning Amanda Nieman alongside Executive Superintendent Hardie presented a Math Achievement Action Plan update to the Board of Trustees. The Ministry focus on math for 2023-24 includes additional funding for system staff to support staff and students, additional funding for online tools to support

student practice of math concepts, and professional learning series for all boards across the province.

To emphasize the focus of the Ministry within the UCDSB Hardie and Nieman described the UCDSB Math Achievement Action Plan Pillars that includes a professional learning plan, math assessment tools, “How do I?” sessions, a focus on EQAO, and the implementation of various digital math tools.

Pulling from the data compiled though the UCDSB Math Assessment Tool, Hardie showed significant increases in students testing at grade level, with two schools showing an increase from 23 per cent and 46 per cent to 61 per cent and 96 per cent respectively, exemplifying the benefits of having this data readily available in instructor decision making.

Moving on to EQAO testing, Nieman spoke about the creation of EQAO resource packs that include practice questions connected to the curriculum, platform tips, common student misconceptions and distractors, and recommended manipulatives, models and strategies. Dedicated staff have also been visiting schools throughout the region, helping teachers understand the connections between the curriculum and EQAO.

Digital tools to support student learning in Math were also highlighted, with a significant uptake in software such as Knowledgehook and MathUP Classroom being seen throughout the board, with the UCDSB having the highest uptake rates of Knowledgehook in the province.

The victim of the collision was not identified. The Times extends its condolences to his family.

As usual, anyone who may have information related to the incident is asked to contact the SD&G OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Cowbird droplets

Chippie steals Redwings food

The Ontario Provincial Police reported on March 9 that a male driver was killed in a single vehicle accident sometime in the overnight hours. The collision occurred on Spruce Drive near Ormond Road, on the outskirts of Winchester. The vehicle left the road and struck a tree. It is not known exactly what time the collision occurred, given the low traffic volume on Spruce Drive in the overnight hours. The scene was discovered at approximately 6:30am.

killed in single vehicle crash