Issue 1 2024 January 11 NG Times by The North Grenville & North Dundas Times

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January 11, 2024

Vol. 12 No. 1

Oﬃcial ribbon-cutting for NGTransit

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Last Monday, January 8, marked the oﬃcial launch of the new North Grenville local transit system - NGTransit. The Municipality now has its own on-demand bus service that connects Kemptville to Oxford Mills, Burritt’s Rapids, Heckston, South Gower, Bishops Mills, Oxford Station, and beyond. The transit bus has a capacity of six seats and places for two wheelchairs, and is planned to be just the ﬁrst of a gradually expanding system over time. As Mayor

Peckford said in her remarks at the ribbon-cutting event: “Tomorrow, NGTransit will evolve to meet the growing needs of our residents. We intentionally started small to emphasize the importance of taking this crucial first step. We anticipate that our community will outgrow this initial service in a matter of months, and we will view that as a positive sign of success”. NGTransit will officially commence operations next Monday, on January 15, 2024, significantly enhancing the existing limited service offered exclusively to seniors and persons with

disabilities since 2019. This current system will be maintained until the new service is providing a complete service to all the community. The reason why the new transit system was introduced was stated by Mayor Peckford: “Given the absence of any private taxi or rideshare options in North Grenville, and the size of our municipality, expanding our current service makes sense. After extensive consultation with rural transit experts, we are thrilled to be launching NGtransit so that we can better respond to the needs of more residents and businesses.”.

The basic start-up costs for NGTransit will come out of North Grenville’s share of the provincial Gas Tax revenue, which will be supplemented by fares paid by users of the system, which will in turn free up more funds from the Province. NGTransit will be available seven days a week, and is open to anyone in North Grenville who needs to travel within municipal boundaries, including travel for students aged 12 and above. The cost of using the service is $5 per ride for adults and $3 for young people aged Cont'd on page 3

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Healing Threads

A celebration of the ploughman poet

Finding Comfort in a Bereavement Support Knitting Group

In the midst of grief, the road to healing can often feel solitary and overwhelming. The Beth Donovan Hospice recognizes the profound impact that creativity and community can have on the healing process which is the motivating factor behind the upcoming bereavement support knitting group beginning in January, 2024. This unique gathering provides a safe and nurturing space for individuals navigating the turbulent waters of loss to come together, share their stories, and find solace in busy hands and warm hearts. The therapeutic benefits of knitting are well-documented, offering a meditative and calming experience that can aid in coping with grief. The act of creating something tangible, stitch by stitch, provides a sense of accomplishment and a physical representation of progress. Beyond the therapeutic aspects of the craft, a knitting group fosters a supportive community where participants can openly discuss their emotions and memories, knowing they are surrounded by empathetic listeners who understand. Facilitated by a senior Grief Care intern, the group will meet at the Hospice Monday mornings from 9:30 am to 11 am and will run weekly from January 8 to April 15, 2024. Participation is free. You may keep your creation or donate it to someone being cared for by the Hospice. New members are welcome to join at any time, and if you cannot make it every Monday, come when you can. You are always welcome. Registration required. Contact Teresa, intern@bethdonovanhospice.ca. 613-258-9611 x4.

Tripoly & the Grenville Troubadours: Glenna Hunter, James Clugston, Laura Drover, Elizabeth McNally, Helen MacGregor, Doug Hendry, John Baldwin & Arthur McGregor (not pictured - Bev McArthur). Photo credit Derek Langevin. Local musicians Tripoly team up again with the Grenville Troubadours to present an evening of Scottish music and poetry in honour of Scotland’s bard, Robert Burns. They will be presenting two shows, on Friday evening, January 26, at the Station Theatre in Smiths Falls, and 2pm on Sunday, January 28, at St John’s Church in Kemptville. The Troubadours held two well-attended fund-raising carol concerts in December which raised over $1,000 for the House of Lazarus Foodbank. This coming show features songs and poems by Burns, as well as other Scottish favourites, and the audience is encouraged to sing along with the familiar melodies. Tickets for the Smiths Falls show can be bought from the theatre website, smithsfallstheatre.com/music, and for the Kemptville show, from the B & H Grocery, the Crusty Bakers, from the Church itself, or online from eventbrite.ca. All are welcome and note that the wearing of tartan is not mandatory!

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A major donation to the KDH CT Scanner Campaign

Seated: Peter Van Adrichem, Standing: (l-r) Geraldine Taylor and Margret Norenberg, KDH Foundation Board Chair. Local Farmer, Peter why he donated $10K to Van Adrichem, has donated the CT Scanner Crossroads $10,000 to the Kemptville Campaign. District Hospital CT Scanner “I thought about the fact Campaign and is encourag- that we are all getting older ing others to give gener- and have different health ously. concerns. I know a year ago, Just before Christmas, I had kidney stones and was and over a cup of tea, do- taken to Ottawa for a CT nor Peter Van Adrichem Scan where there were long explained the many reasons line ups. It would be great January 11, 2024

to have a CT Scanner here, at KDH.” He added, “And the area is growing so much! The CT Scanner will provide more patient services locally. It is a lot easier if a CT is here in town instead of needing to commute to an Ottawa hospital.” Peter shared that his sister, Anna, donates a lot of volunteer time to the North Grenville community. ”I want to do my bit, so I decided to donate to the CT Scanner Campaign.” The Foundation is thrilled with his generous donation. Peter also threw down the gauntlet. “I am a local farmer and I want to challenge others - builders and developers - to step up and donate to the CT Scanner Campaign. They need to support this for the sake of the community.” Along with his partner, Geraldine Taylor, Adrichem is very grateful to have KDH in Kemptville. Geraldine recalled an accident she had on her property when she fell and ripped open her knee. It was bleeding profusely, and she found out later that she had also damaged nerves. Peter bundled her into the car and, within minutes, brought her to the ER at KDH. She emphasized that the urgent care she received made a diﬀerence in her recovery.

She also remembered the important role of KDH during the Great Ice Storm of January, 1998. The hospital was a warm oasis with its generators running, and staﬀ and volunteers making and distributing meals. The community was encouraged to come to the hospital for hot food or just a break from the cold. Some stayed longer and bedded down, especially if they required hydro for medical purposes. “It is an amazing community, which has always impressed me”, said Geraldine. “People just rise to the challenge. During the Ice Storm, some of us were without hydro for weeks. Peter’s family farm in South Mountain had a hydro outage for 19 days! But, you know, despite the bitter cold, the ice and the hardships, the community got closer.” This community has an urgent need for a CT Scanner at KDH. This diagnostic tool will save the long return commute to the Digital Imaging departments in Ottawa hospitals which are already in high demand. It will attract new physicians who expect a CT Scanner to confirm diagnosis and check the progress of medical treatment. Importantly, it will improve the patient and family experience when a loved one requires a CT Scan. 2

Every donation to the Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) Foundation Crossroads CT Scanner Campaign brings us closer to improving the patient experience at KDH with better patient care, faster care, closer to home care and ultimately, helping the Foundation reach its goal of $2.2 million. For more information, stories, and events about the Crossroads CT Scanner Campaign, including how you can donate, see: The Crossroads Campaign (kdhfoundation.ca).

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Historical Society and lost heritage Over the decades, North Grenville has lost some of its most historic buildings, either through ﬁre or demolition. A recent example was the loss of Leslie Hall on Clothier Street. In a public talk to the NG Historical Society next Wednesday evening, January 17, Society Historian, Dr. David Shanahan, will be speaking about some of this lost heritage in our community. The talk will be illustrated by photographs and maps showing the buildings as they were, and the way in which they formed an integral part of the community’s infrastructure and history. The talk is, as always, open to the public and is free of charge. Doors open at the History Hub at 148 Prescott Street, Kemptville, at 7 pm. All are welcome.

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The North Grenville Times Cont'd from front page 12-19, while children aged 11 and under ride for free. To encourage everyone to experience NGTransit, the Municipality is offering free passes for the ﬁrst ride, available at various locations across North Grenville. Booking a journey with NGTransit can be made in any one of three ways: by

phone, online, and a soon to be introduced Blaise app. Pre-registration is required to use the system, and riders can book trips up to a month in advance, with a minimum 30-minute advance notice. Given the limited number of seats available in these ﬁrst months, booking well in advance of planned trips

CAMSafe Program launches in Grenville County

is advised. Passes are available at the North Grenville Municipal Centre, North Grenville Public Library, Kemptville Youth Centre, Seniors Community Services and Community Living. Details about the transit system are available at www.northgrenville. ca/transit.

The Grenville County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has implemented the CAMSafe program. CAMSafe is a program aimed at creating a database of residential and commercial security cameras within a community that may act as a resource for police when investigating offenses/ crime. When a police officer uses the CAMSafe database, they will see a map of the local area. Officers can click on registered addresses to view further details, such as property owner contact information. Officers cannot access your security cameras or cloud-based accounts. If police would like to examine camera footage, they can make a request to the property owner using contact information from the database. Interested community members are only required to provide basic contact information and camera location, but can include more details if desired, such as the direction the camera faces, footage retention details, or screenshots of the camera view. Registrants can only

The North Grenville Public Library is active The traditional idea of a library as a place to borrow books has been transformed over the years, and the North Grenville Public Library is a centre of activity on so many fronts. The North Grenville Public Library (NGPL) is a hub and meeting place for the people of North Grenville, offering the resources and quality programming they need. More than that, it provides a safe and friendly space where people can come together, connect with others, and access such essential services as the Internet and printing. Our main Kemptville Branch is in the beautiful Norenberg Building, in the heart of Kemptville, and our Burritts Rapids Branch is in the historic Lockstation (Bridge House) by the Rideau River. The NGPL is overseen by a volunteer board of qualified community members. It works with provincial agencies, other library systems, and community partners to share resources and enhance its

January 11, 2024

services and programs. The Best of 2023! If you've been following along on our Facebook page or Instagram account, you would have seen that we highlighted some staff favourites for the past year. Join us again as we highlight the top 10 titles for 2023 in a variety of categories! These are the top titles that were the most popular in 2023 as determined by you, the patrons! Check to see what others were reading or see how many of the top titles you read last year, or maybe get some new recommendations to start off 2024! Visit www. facebook.com/NorthGrenvillePL. North Grenville Writers’ Workshops return Participants range from writers who are just thinking about becoming an author, aspiring novelists, and traditionally and/or self-published authors. The writing and reading interests are diverse, spanning the spectrum of fiction and non-fiction genres. The circle is primarily a social learning writers’

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group. They encourage and provide opportunities for networking, advice exchange, celebration, support, and collaboration. All are welcome to join these free workshops on Monday nights at 5 pm. Each week there is a different topic. To learn more,visit: https://northgrenvillewriterscircle.weebly.com. Other programs this January - Young Adult Book Club: 3rd Monday of the month, 4 pm - Knit 'n Natter: Tuesdays, 1:30 pm (12:30 pm on the 3rd Tuesday of the month) - NGPL Book Club: 3rd Tuesday of the month, 2 pm - Youngsters of Yore: Thursdays at 2 pm - NG Poetry Guild: 3rd Thursday of the month at 6 pm - Scrappy Bits Quilting Club: 1st Friday of the month, 1 pm - NG Art Challenge: Saturdays, 10:30 am

view their own information and can delete their account or change their information at any time. Inspector Stephan Neufeld advises: "CAMSafe is an excellent community safety program that allows residents and business own-

ers a part to play in keeping our communities safe through connected technology". To learn more about the CAMSafe program and to register security cameras please visit https://camsafe. ca.

Celebrating 10 years in business

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Editorial

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

The boys are back in town by David Shanahan Another year over, and a new one just begun... It used to be that a New Year involved looking back fondly on the year just gone, and looking forward with hope and optimism to what the new one might bring. I’m not sure that is the case this time around. Most people will be glad to see the back of 2023: wars and rumours of wars, ﬂoods, wildﬁres, drought, famine, countries leaning to the Right, others leaning in every direction. And, as usual, the Excited States of America leading the way with near-surreal behaviour at home and abroad. Not that our own nation(s) presents a completely benign example of democracy and tolerance; but let’s be grateful for what we have and who we are not, yet. As we look ahead to 2024, many of the horrors of 2023 come along for the ride. Wars in Ukraine

and Gaza, both of which, the perpetrators announce with some satisfaction, are expected to continue throughout this year, at least. COVID continues to be an unwelcome guest at the party, and as for the environment! Over and over again, we hear the experts tell us that this year, this time, we really have reached the point of no return, and if we don’t act quickly and radically, we are doomed, doomed! In response, the powers that be make big statements that reflect Shakespeare’s judgment: “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. Feeling a little dejected now? Not to worry: 2024 will see an amazing number of elections around the world, an opportunity for all of us to have a say in our collective future. That is what democracy is meant to provide, isn’t it? In 2024, there will be more than 60 elections worldwide, involving something like half the world’s population. These

include contests in Taiwan, which may or may not, upset China to a dangerous degree, a presidential election in Mexico, many such contests throughout Africa, and provincial elections here in Canada in B.C., Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. We in Ontario will have to wait another year to have our say provincially and municipally. The elections in Russia and Belarus are rather predictable, but those in Lithuania and Moldova could be significant in the context of the war in Ukraine. And then there’s the Excited States, where they love elections so much that they have many of them, just for the presidential contest, and then basically ignore the results in favour of the Electoral College. Classic American democracy, where an individual like the multiindicted, sex oﬀending, and business fraudster Trump is the leading candidate to be the next “Most Powerful Man in the World” ©.

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, If there was a need for any further evidence that the Ford government supports big business over the needs of those who elected them, here is yet another example. Enbridge Gas had applied to the Ontario Energy Board, the OEB, to increase consumer gas costs in order to cover the cost of the expansion of their natural gas system. The OEB ruled, rightly, in my opinion, that developers, not ratepayers, should bear the cost of Enbridge gas expansion. In keeping with their ideology of supporting big business over consumers, the Doug Ford government is pledging to override this decision. The OEB found that Enbridge's plan for a multibillion dollar gas grid expansion "is not responsive to the energy transition, and increases the risk of stranded or underutilized assets". No prizes for guessing who pays for the latter. The OEB also said that gas connections must be paid for immediately, some $4,400 per unit, rather than spread the cost over 40 years, a sum to be collected from residents through rate increases. A group of environmental organizations and concerned Ontario residents ﬁled a complaint with the January 11, 2024

Competition Bureau that accuses Enbridge of falsely claiming gas as the most cost-effective way to heat homes as part of its campaign to expand the gas grid. The complaint takes aim at claims made in a handful of Ontario communities, including that "switching to natural gas could save you up to 52% per year”, and that gas is "the most aﬀordable way to run appliances". Their complaint included analysis showing that customers in the communities that Enbridge is expanding into could expect to save $20,000 by switching to heat pumps instead of signing up with Enbridge. An energy strategist with Greenpeace Canada said: "The OEB is recognizing that the energy transition is real, and they are trying to protect consumers from bad decisions by gas companies. The Ford government is siding with property developers and gas companies to leave you and me on the hook for the cost and to continue pretending that climate change isn't going to force us to change business as usual". Energy minister Todd Smith's pledge to reverse the Board's decision has given Enbridge Gas a very expensive Christmas present, but it is the rest of us who will

be footing the bill. Was it ever thus. Colin Creasey, Kemptville

Dear Editor, MP Barrett votes against Bill to develop a national school food program. Food bank use in Ontario increased by almost 40% in 2023 as the cost of living soared. Being hungry at school reduces educational attainment, increases the risks of not graduating high school, and increases the likelihood of having children early in life, all of which reduce social mobility and perpetuate poverty. Bill C-322 was a first step in addressing the issue of hunger in schools, yet MP Barrett voted against this bill to develop a school food program. In emailed remarks, MP Barrett stated that he opposed the Bill as “the money is going to fund bureaucracy” and “The government could help reduce the increase in food prices right now by taking the carbon tax off right now. We will continue to fight to remove the carbon tax to make food more affordable and to bring home lower prices for all Canadians.” These lines of reasoning 4

Of course, all of this may be irrelevant given the sad condition in which we have put our planet. Across the world, experts have noted that 2023 was the hottest year on record, as reported recently in the Guardian: “The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration previously calculated that there was a "greater than 99% chance" that 2023 would be the hottest year in its 174-year dataset. This followed six record warm months in a row, including the northern hemisphere's warmest summer and autumn”. There are two ways of responding to all of this doom and gloom. We can claim that this is an unusual situation, and that the human race is smart enough to pull back from the precipice before it’s too late. As an historian, I have to say that this is a rather fanciful view: mankind has a sad track record of ignoring precipices until it’s far too late. The other response may be to ac-

cept the situation as it is and ﬁnd ways to adapt to what is probably a permanent change in the situation. The alternative, crawling into a corner and crying helplessly, is not really practical. We go on living day to day. We work, we have families, we go on vacation, we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, we continue to live our lives. Everything we can do to make things better, we should do. We start with the world as it is, not as it was, or as we wish it to be, and we work at change from here. Does that sound pessimistic to you? Perhaps. But change starts with a recognition of reality and goes on from there. It may be a matter of perspective. Is the glass half-full or halfempty? In reality, it is both. So we have to take a more balanced, less panicked view. There have always been wars, usually much worse than the ones we see today. There have always been ﬂoods (one really big one!), fires, plagues and

other disasters. Even the climate has changed radically over time throughout history, though this time we may have pushed it too far. You and I can do our part, but there’s not a lot we can do to change government policies and behaviours, other than vote. Our vote won’t aﬀect Putin, or Trump, or Xi, or Big Oil, but we do what is to hand and treat each other with respect, acceptance, and willingness to co-exist with those who think and believe diﬀerently from us. Perspective: some things are bigger than the various things that divide us. We are all in this together, whatever Facebook posters might like to think. Wars, climate change, fascism, climate disruption, terrorism, discrimination - for 2024, the boys are back in town. Oh, and so am I. Hello to all those who will cringe at my return as Editor, and to all the wellwishers too. Happy New Year!

sound reasonable but fall apart after closer examination. Bureaucracy is often maligned, but it is an essential part of government programs, ensuring that monies allocated to programs reach intended recipients and are used for their intended purposes. The carbon tax has been frequently attacked by Conservatives as making life more expensive for Canadians (and is also criticized by environmentalists as being far from sufficient to reduce emissions), yet this position is not supported by the data. Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem states that the carbon tax accounts for 0.15 percentage points of inflation when considering direct impacts on the cost of carbon-based fuels. University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe has analyzed data from Statistics Canada and concludes that the carbon tax has an overall effect on inflation of around 0.2 percentage points. Importantly, these figures do not account for the effect of the carbon tax rebate that households receive, a rebate that overwhelming benefits lower income households, with a Statistics Canada model showing that 94% of households with incomes under $50k received rebates that exceeded their carbon-

tax costs in 2023, while only 55% of households with incomes over $250k received more in rebates than they paid in costs. Childhood hunger concerns everyone and should

be tackled by society as a whole to ensure that children can reach their full potential. Steve Gabell Kemptville

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CAPP in focus

Pretzel Planning

by Victor Lachance As we continue the story of how the Province is fighting the Judicial Review case based on its failure to abide by the Provincial Policy Statements (PPS) and the Planning Act, we’ve covered Pretzel Logic, we’ve covered Pretzel Truth, and now we’ll look at Pretzel Planning. The “pretzel” part of the language is about the ways the Province is twisting itself into a pretzel with arguments that try to avoid answering the question of whether or not they abided by the law. You would think that if they had, they would say so – and provide the evidence. So now we’ll look at how they talk about their obligation to consider the PPS and Planning Act before making the decision to build a prison on prime agricultural land. The PPS talks about the importance of protecting agricultural land, and the guidelines that come with it talk about how other levels of government are supposed to implement it in their planning. They both note how Official Plans (OP) are the most important way to implement the PPS. In the Kemptville prison situation, there are two tiers of government: the United Counties, which includes Leeds Grenville, and the Municipality of North Grenville. Both of these levels have an Official Plan, which must be consistent with the PPS. Zoning is something that falls under the municipal Official Plan. So that’s the planning order: the PPS, the United Counties OP, the North Grenville OP, and local zoning by-laws. Now let’s look at what the Province is arguing. As we’ve noted in the previous columns, we don’t get to hear from the Ministry of the Solicitor General (SolGen) directly. Instead, SolGen is hiding behind Infrastructure Ontario (IO) which can’t always speak for SolGen. So what does IO say? Well, the simplest way to express it is that they completely reverse the order. They claim that a local zoning by-law trumps everything. In other words, the order is this: local zoning by-laws, the NG OP, the United Counties OP, and finally the PPS. But just in case that argument doesn’t work, the planning consultants working for IO say that the Province can just claim eminent domain to use the land they want. Only the concept of “eminent domain” is an American concept, not applicable to Canada or Ontario. Expropriation of land applies in Ontario, but doesn’t apply to this property because the Province owns it. So, when a representative of IO sees what the consultant wrote, he tells the consultant that this would be a good thing to put in the consultant’s report about the use of the land. Pretzel planning. Then the Province argues that the only question here is whether the proposed prison site is farmland, and whether SolGen is allowed to build on farmland. In fact, the JR is about whether they abided by the law when choosing Kemptville. Nevertheless, to answer their question we don’t need the courts. The proposed site is classified by the Canada Lands Inventory as Class 2 and 3 prime agricultural land, and the Province’s own AgMaps system has the same classifications. The PPS has rules about what you can build on such lands, and a prison isn’t one of them. The United Counties OP and the municipal OP follow the same restrictions. Finally, our local zoning by-law has a list of permitted uses on this land, and a prison is not one of them. That’s what pretzel planning looks like.

Lynda A. Harrison, Minister, St. John’s United Church, Kemptville

St. John’s United Church, Kemptville, On. is deeply saddened to announce the death of our dearly beloved minister and friend, Lynda A. Harrison on December 22, 2023. Lynda came to St. John’s in 2006 bringing her deep personal faith and her joy of service to God which was shown in every moment of her life. She saw the reﬂection and goodness of God in everyone she met. Her spirit and outlook were always of “light and love”. Her smile and outlook were always warming and saying welcome. In her hometown of New Richmond, Quebec, Lynda was discerning her call to ministry from an early age. She enthusiastically participated in the life of St. Andrew’s United Church – Sunday School, Explorers, C.G.I.T., many concerts, plays and talent shows. These experiences were the foundation for what Rev. Lynda was to become in her ministry. Lynda A. Harrison was ordained in 1994 and served pastoral charges in Saskatchewan and the Eastern Townships of Quebec before arriving in Kemptville. In these charges, her love of

all things motorized allowed her to drive a prairie combine and ride her motorcycle through the winding roads of rural Quebec. Kemptville presented a calmer side – a series of bicycles were her pastime here! The ability to quietly listen to conversations, both individually and in group settings and then provide a strong, reflective response was one of Lynda’s many attributes. A moment or two of silence, never ﬁlled with idle words, and then her wisdom would be shared with grace and love. Bible study comes to mind; her inquisitive nature and open mind allowed for many great conversations in a comfortable, safe environment. Lynda was a lifelong learner attending in person and virtually many Christian themed seminars, writing workshops and theologically focused events. She shared this knowledge with us in her weekly thought-provoking sermons and prayers. An avid reader, our community library was one of her frequent, favorite haunts. She displayed strong

Reminder to play it safe on the ice

The Grenville County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to remind the public that even though there is ice on some lakes and rivers in the area, you need to use caution if you choose to be on them. Not all lakes or rivers are the same and the current varying winter weather conditions and temperatures can rapidly change ice conditions. Always check the ice in several places before stepJanuary 11, 2024

ping or travelling onto it, wear a ﬂoatation suit, carry ice picks and if you are ice ﬁshing, at least 10 centimetres (4 inches) of clear blue ice is required for walking on, 20 centimetres (8 inches) for snowmobiles and 30 centimetres (12 inches) minimum is needed for most light vehicles. Double these amounts if the ice is white or opaque. Ice safety and weightbearing properties of ice

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can be affected by many factors, including thickness, currents, age of ice, pressure cracks and snow cover. Ice does not freeze at uniform thickness across bodies of water. Thickness should be checked regularly as you move further out onto the ice. The strongest ice is clear blue in colour. White or opaque ice is much weaker. A layer of heavy snow on a frozen lake or river can insu-

late the ice below and slow down freezing. Travelling on ice with snowmobiles or vehicles can be potentially very dangerous and added precautions must be taken. Avoid slushy ice, untracked ice, or ice near moving water or dock bubblers. It's important to let others know where you're planning to ﬁsh, and advise when you plan to return. If you are missing, rescue crews can narrow their search and, 5

leadership skills and she encouraged others to participate and provided many opportunities for them to share their talents. Because of this, our church family is resilient and has continued worshiping and serving our community through the pandemic, through structural issues and especially through Lynda’s illnesses. Her love of laughter and her sense of humour was contagious and often so memorable. Lynda was keen on any physical activity – a spontaneous jump into the pool at a church picnic, participating in cancer fundraisers such as Relay for Life and Neon Nights, playing a “friendly” game of softball, or joining in a church organized golf day. Hockey was yet another passion, stories of “taking out the opponent” were shared and are now remembered. Lynda was always game to participate. She did cross and weave all generations. She was never hesitant to venture into places, residences or other areas to meet/greet people. Lynda shared her love for people of all ages and stages in life. For the children, as an example, it was reﬂected in her active participation in youth run Halloween events, the annual church picnic at Rideau Hill Camp or simply listening as they shared their dreams. For the in- between generations, she showed sincere interest in their day-to-day lives such as their work situations and parenting challenges. Lynda treasured her time with the seniors. Time spent at their homes or in retirement and long-term care facilities was always full of stories and treasured memories. She had an incredible memory for details. The names of

children she baptized, the ability to remember situations and then respond with thorough conversation was always appreciated. Lynda was brave and strong – her recent illnesses were faced with courage and practicality. Her concern for the wellbeing of others always came before her own welfare. Even while facing medical care, Lynda quietly continued to make calls to those in need of conversation or encouragement. Her commitment to her ministry was boundless. She was remarkable and will be remembered with admiration. We were blessed with Lynda’s presence; we will deeply miss her thoughtfulness and genuine concern for others, and we shall continue in her footsteps to support each other and the community as we go forth into the future. To h e r f a m i l y a n d friends, we send our condolences, thoughts, and prayers. May you be able to take comfort in your many memories of Lynda. The funeral service was held on January 4, 2024, at 2 pm, at St. Andrew’s United Church, New Richmond, Quebec, Lynda’s home church family. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew’s United Church, New Richmond, Quebec, St. John’s United Church, Kemptville, or the House of Lazarus, Mountain, ON. A Celebration of Life service will be held January 14, 2024, at 2 pm in the sanctuary at St. John’s United Church, 400 Prescott St, Kemptville. All are welcome to come and share a time of remembrance and thankfulness for the gift of Lynda A. Harrison.

potentially, save your life. Parents are always reminded to be mindful while children are out of school, as they may venture out on frozen ponds, ditches, or waterways. The OPP and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) are reminding snowmobilers to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being this winter. Snowmobilers are advised to go online at

www.ofsc.on.ca to check the status of local trails. Those venturing onto the ice are reminded to keep safety in mind at all times and be prepared. Always remember that no ice is without risk, and to never venture out at night! For more information, please check out Red Cross for more safety tips: www. redcross.ca.

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Your Health & Wellness Guide for 2024 The secret is simple... keep moving! Get one-on-one support from a certified personal trainer in a private training facility.

The Interplay Between Healthy Lifestyles and Eye Health in Aging “As an optometrist at Pixel Eye Care Centre in Kemptville, Ontario, I have had the privilege of witnessing the profound impact that lifestyle choices can have on eye health, especially as individuals age. Our eyes are windows to the world, and ensuring their optimal function is not only a matter of clear vision but also a key component of overall well-being……….” Please visit our blog on our website: www.pixeleyecare.ca for the full article and on details how to stay in the best shape in 2024 and many years to come. •

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What are the stories you tell yourself? by Catherine FIT This isn’t one of those “new year, new you” articles. This isn’t me telling you that you can change your body in 30 days or less. This is me, Coach Catherine from Reborn Fitness Studio in Kemptville, asking you to look at your internal dialogue and how you can re-work it to serve you, not stop you from living the life you should be living. “The stories that we tell ourselves become the stories that we live”. You know what I’m talking about, right? Those stories that you tell yourself about the things that you can’t do because: you’re too old, overweight, too busy, not athletic enough, too tired etc. and then these reasons just become how you live. And you start to believe these reasons, and will adamantly use them as to why you cannot get up early, exercise, eat better, drink less or move more. Kinda like how your

thoughts start to become your actions. You let those stories dictate how you live and prevent you from becoming stronger, healthier, pain-free, independent or happy. A lot of times, these stories that we create in our minds come from old ways of thinking, someone else’s opinion, or excuses that we just started to believe over time. But are they true? What about if you flipped the script on your stories? Instead of "I'm too old", change it to "It's never too late to start". Or "I'm too tired" could turn into "Let's see if this gives me more energy" or "I'm too busy" could turn into "How can I unload something off my schedule to give me some time for myself?” We get caught up in what we think is true before we look at our circumstances. Could I get up just a bit earlier to do my training so that I don’t put it off later in the day? Could I fit in that twentyminute walk instead of

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watching another show on Netflix? Are your stories preventing you from playing with your grandchildren on the floor? Or carrying the groceries in from the car and up the stairs, lugging the holiday decorations up from the basement, getting up in the morning and not being in pain? Or feeling physically able to join a dart league, take dance lessons or play pickleball? Have you considered that the stories you are telling yourself are preventing you from living? What is that one story that you keep telling yourself? How can you change it to put you closer to where you envision your future self? If you’re interested in learning how a Personal Trainer can help you change your thoughts and your body — Reborn Fitness Studio is offering a January promotion: 10 sessions for the price of 8, and save $130.00! Contact Catherine: catherineptfitness@gmail. com.

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Your Health & Wellness Guide for 2024 Building strength for daily triumphs

by Craig Pollard, AFitter.Me The benefits of weight training on everyday functionality In the pursuit of a healthier and more fulfilling life, weight training has emerged as a cornerstone for achieving not only physical prowess but also enhanced everyday functionality. Beyond just bulging biceps and chiseled abs, the benefits of weight training extend to improved posture, increased energy levels, and greater overall functionality that can transform the way we navigate our daily routines. One of the key advantages of weight training lies in its ability to enhance muscle strength and endurance. As individuals engage in progressive resistance training, muscles adapt by becoming stronger, leading to better support for the skeletal structure. This, in turn, results in improved posture, reducing the risk of chronic pain and enhancing the body's balance and stability. The functional benefits of weight training extend to the practicalities of daily life. Lifting heavy bags of groceries, carrying a toddler, or even simply maneuvering through crowded spaces becomes easier when one has a solid foundation of strength. Weight training doesn't just build muscles, it builds confidence and independence. The positive impact on mental well-being is equally noteworthy. Engaging in regular weight training sessions triggers the release of endorphins, which are natural mood enhancers. This can help combat stress, anxiety, and depression, allowing individuals to approach daily challenges with a more positive mindset. Incorporating weight training into one's routine need not be an arduous task. Consulting a fitness professional to design a personalized program based on individual goals and abilities is a prudent first step. With dedication and consistency, the rewards of weight training can be experienced by people of all ages and fitness levels. Weight training is not just about sculpting a magazine-worthy physique. It's about fostering strength, resilience, and confidence in our day-to-day lives. By investing in our physical well-being through weight training, we are investing in a future where each day is met with vitality and vigour. Craig is a Certified Personal Trainer and is certified in Nutrition for Sport and Performance. He operates AFitter.Me, a private weight training facility in Kemptville.

The beneﬁts of martial arts training for all ages

by Sensei Earl Horvath, Owner/head instructor Douvris Martial Arts I started my martial arts training in my late twenties. It was something I had always wanted to do and I found myself with some extra time on my hands. I saw an ad in the newspaper and went to try a class. I was hooked immediately. It was exactly what I needed at that time in my life. The exercise, the structure, learning a new skill. I was going two to three times per week, but eventually that wasn’t enough. I spent all my spare time driving from Kemptville to Ottawa to train, sometimes twice a day. I could go to class and clear my mind, work hard and come out feeling refreshed. It was, and continues to be, a huge part of my life. It’s allowed me to turn something I’m passionate about into a career. When kids are enrolling, I ask parents where they would like to see improvement in their child. There have been many answers, some say fitness, some say respect, but mostly it’s discipline. I take that not only to mean obeying rules, of which there are many in the dojo, but to train oneself to do something in a controlled and habitual way. When students start, they learn some basic techniques and do some low-level exercise; but with each stripe on their belt and each new belt, more is expected. They learn new skills and the exercise gets harder. If students want to advance, they need to not only do classes, but practice at home. Students are constantly reminded how far they’ve come. “Wow, remember when you started, and you could barely do a push up. Look at you now!”. When students start to achieve short term goals, they realize the long-term ones are reachable and start to work a little harder. A lot of adult martial artists are parents of students. Some, so that they can help their child to learn and have a common interest, others because they have seen firsthand the benefits of martial arts training. It’s never too early or too late to start training. I have students as young as four and some into their seventies. It can be what you want it to be. A way to get in shape, to learn some self defense skills, or even to compete. Martial arts training is also a great complement to any other sport, as it helps with speed, power, balance, and endurance. I’ve seen so many people achieve their goals and reach their potential. I’ve trained high level athletes and part time martial artists. I’ve met and created friendships with likeminded people from around the world. All because I took that first class.

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keeps children aged 7 to 12 active and helps balance & coordination, concentration, and self-discipline. Karate Youth - designed for teens 13-18 years of age. It is a complete approach to training in the martial arts. Karate Adult - improve ﬁtness levels, learn self-defense techniques, increase conﬁdence, and feel empowered.

200 Sanders Street, Kemptville, kemptville@douvris.com https://kemptville.douvris.com/ January 11, 2024

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SALE OF LAND FOR TAX ARREARS BY PUBLIC TENDER Form 6 MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001 Ontario Regulation 181/03 Municipal Tax Sales Rules

CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF NORTH GRENVILLE TAKE NOTICE that tenders are invited for the purchase of the land(s) described below and will be received until 3:00 p.m. local time, Thursday, February 8, 2024, at the Municipal Oﬃce, Box 130, 285 County Road 44, Kemptville, Ontario K0G 1J0

The Voice of North Grenville

North Grenville author’s book heading for the Moon

The tenders will then be opened in public on the same day at 3:30 p.m. Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.716.035.09901.0000 Part of Lot 27, Concession 8, as in PR168200, except Part 2, 15R5036 and Part 1, 15R5985, Geographic Township of Oxford, Municipality of North Grenville, County of Grenville PIN 68120-0278(LT) Known Municipally as: 842 County Road 44, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $67,000.00 Minimum Tender Amount $398,946.34 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.716.040.20001.0000 Part of Lot 29, Concession 2, as in PR86585;T/W PR86585, Geographic Township of Oxford, Municipality of North Grenville, County of Grenville PIN 68130-0214(LT) Known Municipally as: 210 River View Lane, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $177,000.00 Minimum Tender Amount $16,833.39 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.716.035.19303.0000 Part of Lot 27, Concession 10, being Part 1 on Plan 15R6328, Geographic Township of Oxford, Municipality of North Grenville, County of Grenville PIN 68137-0106(LT) Known Municipally as: 1055 MacKenzie Road, Oxford Station, ON K0G 1T0 According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $66,000.00 Minimum Tender Amount $84,481.40 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.716.020.12100.0000 Lot 6, NE/S, Water Street, Lot 8 NE/S Water Street, Plan 4, Geographic Township of Oxford, Municipality of North Grenville, County of Grenville PIN 68117-0175 Known Municipally as: 8 Water Street, Oxford Mills, ON K0G 1S0 According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $244,000.00 Minimum Tender Amount $77,310.02 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.719.010.25200.0000 Part of Lot 4, Block 17, Plan 11 Kemptville as in PR178772; S/T an Easement in Gross Over Parts 1 & 2, 15R11976 as in GC56932, Municipality of North Grenville, County of Grenville PIN 68127-0144(LT) Known Municipally as: 239 Asa Street, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $430,000.00 Minimum Tender Amount $89,292.00 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.719.015.20000.000 Part of Lot 95, NW/S North Street, Part Lot 96 NW/S North Street Plan 11 Kemptville as in PR149638; Municipality of North Grenville, County of Grenville PIN 68128-0198(LT) Known Municipally as: 205 Maley Street, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $235,000.00 Minimum Tender Amount $20,816.74 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.719.015.30400.0000 Part William Fannin Lot, Plan 11 Kemptville as in PR173178, Municipality of North Grenville, County of Grenville PIN 68128-0347(LT) Known Municipally as: 409 James Street, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $240,000.00 Minimum Tender Amount $24,796.99 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.716.035.16701.0000 Part of Lot 23-24, Concession 10, Part 1 on Plan 15R7038, Geographic Township of Oxford, Municipality of North Grenville, County of Grenville PIN 68137-0051(LT) Known Municipally as: 2111 Totem Ranch Road East, Oxford Station, ON K0G 1T0 According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $53,000.00 Minimum Tender Amount $162,806.07 Tenders must be submitted in the prescribed form along with the address or roll number of the property noted on the outside of the envelope and must be accompanied by a deposit of at least 20 per cent of the tender amount, which deposit shall be made by way of a certiﬁed cheque/bank draft/money order payable to the municipality. Except as follows, the municipality makes no representation regarding the title to, existing interests in favour of the Crown, environmental concerns or any other matters relating to the lands to be sold. Any existing Federal or Provincial Crown liens or executions will remain on title and may become the responsibility of the potential purchaser. Responsibility for ascertaining these matters rests with the potential purchasers. The assessed value, according to the last returned assessment roll, may or may not be representative of the current market value of the property. This sale is governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Tax Sales Rules made under that Act. The successful purchaser will be required to pay the amount tendered plus accumulated taxes and any taxes that may be applicable, such as Land Transfer Tax, Non-Resident Speculation Tax and HST. The municipality has no obligation to provide vacant possession to the successful purchaser. A copy of the prescribed form of tender is available on the web site of the Government of Ontario Central Forms Repository under the listing for the Ministry of Municipal Aﬀairs. Further information regarding this sale and a copy of the prescribed form of tender can be viewed on the Municipality of North Grenville web site www.northgrenville.ca or if no internet access available, contact:

Karen Macpherson, Tax Collector Corporation of the Municipality of North Grenville 285 County Road 44, P.O. Box 130 Kemptville, Ontario K0G 1J0 613-258-9569 x 104

January 11, 2024

by David Shanahan On January 8, last Monday, the Peregrine 1 lander carrying Nasa scientific equipment took off on top of the Vulcan Centaur rocket at Cape Canaveral on its way to the Moon, the first attempt at a soft landing there in fifty years. And inside the lander is a copy of Kemptville author Mike Blouin’s novel, “Skin House”. As Mike says, it’s “a little bit of Kemptville leaving our Earth for the surface of the Moon”. The novel is set in Kemptville, and was named the Best Novel in Canada in the national ReLit Award for Best Novel for 2020. He had won the same award in 2009. Peregrine is set to land on February 23 and will seek to gather data about the lunar surface ahead of planned future human missions. Mike’s novel is one of a number of non-scientific payloads on board the lander, including a Japanese “lunar dream capsule” that contains 185,872 messages from children from around the world. Congratulations to Mike. Other people have managed to put North Grenville on the map, but this is the first time someone put it on the Moon!

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An active lifestyle is the right resolution

One week into the New Year, and how are you doing on your resolutions? Most people make ambitious plans at the end of December and by this point can’t remember what they were. A few people overdo it, like those who commit to running a marathon before they’ve had success with a daily walk. If you are constantly worrying about how to strike the perfect balance, that’s also a waste of your time and no help for your heart. The best habits for health are regular moderate exercise, a healthy diet, good sleep, and an upbeat outlook. First thing in the morning, every morning, is a natural time to check in with yourself. Step on a scale and make sure the number you see never goes above your set healthy weight. If it does, use intermittent fasting and moderate activity to get back in your zone. Take a moment to plan the good health elements of your day, making them enjoyable pursuits. People often set their goals too high. The classic examples are patients who have been told by their doctors that they have blocked coronary arteries. Anyone having experienced and survived the crushing pain of a heart attack will know how living with the threat

of impending doom drives a commitment to action. A myocardial infarction becomes an “ego infarction” and they simply overdo it. Too much, too suddenly is risky business. Regrettably, some patients become cardiac basket cases. Take the story of the doctor diagnosed with heart disease who lay in bed for hours on end listening with a stethoscope to the beat of the heart. No sane doctor would advise this, nor that patients take up marathons. A common funny line goes, “Whenever I feel like exercising, I lie down until the feeling passes.” Good marks for humour, but not the right approach. Being inactive is the same as being in decline. Muscles atrophy. Bones lose mass. Circulation weakens and less oxygen reaches vital organs. Mood is dampened. Social connections dissipate. Unless you are lying around outside in the sun, a vitamin D deﬁciency is probably involved. The list goes on. So yes, go out and buy a new pair of running shoes to carry you through the year ahead. But you might consider calling them walking shoes. There are a multitude of studies on how exercise impacts the human body, including those that compare intensive training with more moder-

House of Lazarus to hold an online auction ate efforts. The findings show that you don’t need to push it with strenuous exercise. A study at Guelph University found that moderate exercise five days a week had better results in terms of reduced body fat and improved blood pressure than shorter periods of more intense exercise three days a week. Regular moderate exercise is also known to help control blood sugar levels. Aerobic activities like going for a brisk walk will lower glucose levels, while weightlifting, for example, and other high intensity activities can have the opposite effect. Getting outdoors for exercise has other benefits. Researchers have found changes in brain chemistry from a walk in the woods. People suffering from depression report it’s a do-it-yourself form of therapy. The cost of a pair of shoes and some time out of your day are far better investments in well-being than resorting to pharmaceutical drugs designed to treat one problem or another. Here's a challenge for the new year. Ask your doctor to tell you their preferred approach to fighting heart disease or depression. If they start to list the latest drugs, then walk, don’t run, for the woods! 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.

When a transport truck rolls in with a special donation, you know that great things are about to happen. House of Lazarus was delighted to receive a truck load of staging items donated by Stage Fright Staging & Decorating Inc.. The items include bedding, throw pillows, accessory tables, dining tables, artwork, chairs and much more! All items are in great condition. Peter and Helen Ross and the staﬀ of Peter Ross Auction Services Ltd have graciously donated their time to organize a special online auction of these furnishings for HOL. “This auction comes at a time when housing insecurity is at an all time high,” stated Cathy Ashby, Executive Director of House of Lazarus,

“Revenue raised through the online auction will go towards our housing programs.” House of Lazarus offers several housing programs: Handyman Heroes provides urgent housing repairs; Heat for the Holidays provides wood to heat homes; Places for People provides affordable housing units; South Dundas Community Hub and Warming Centre offers resources locally and provides beds, showers and warm meals to those unhoused; Hope Bags contain essential items that are handed out by the OPP to people who are experiencing homelessness, and The Last Resort Program offers resources to keep people housed or to house people. “Unfortunately, there are people in our

community who are experiencing homelessness or at great risk of becoming unhoused. The funds raised through this auction will help us to continue to oﬀer support and resources to those with housing needs. We are grateful that we live in a community that is supportive to the needs of others,” said Cathy. The online auction will open on January 12, 2024 at 12:00 noon and close on Thursday, January 18, at 6:00 pm (staggered soft close). To access the auction, visit www.peterrossauction.hibid.com. House of Lazarus has food banks in Mountain and Ingleside and offers many outreach programs. For more information about HOL programming and resources, visit: https://hol. community.

Building Confidence, Discovering Potential. Register for Kindergarten today!

www.ucdsb.on.ca/register January 11, 2024

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73’s on the road take one of the three encounters their system, avoid visits to for extra man without results at 11:56. Kemptville moved

Under pressure...Owen redmond with line mate gavin mc dougall as matt thomas quarterbacked domination to overtake the brockville braves 4 to 2 in the last back-to-back battles of 2023. Brockville with a different perspective in front of a home crowd as they held on to a 3 to 2 squeaker to conclude their season. by G.J. the sportsguy Kemptville roadbound as they polish off a back-to-back set with the Brockville Braves obtaining redemption after their previous loss in the 73’s barn to squeeze a 3 to 2 win. Initial frame opened with Brockville spending more time in Kemptville’s end to double up on SOG and ended scoreless. Emile Trottier with his stick finesse sniped one past Dustin Riff while on PS to draw first blood for Kemptville at 8:57 to start the second go-around. Brockville with an extra man countered

when Watson with Coyle found Lucas Culhane to beat Jacob Biron at 16:32 to make it one all. The magic combination of Melvin onto Ryan Rutley streaming downtown to bury it home at 19:02 to close the twenty with the 73’s ahead by one. Lucas Culhane show continued into the ﬁnal period as he carried the Braves on his back with PPG from Biniaris and Watson at 6:39 to tie it up at two. Hat trick for Lucas Culhane as he punched in the game winner for Brockville at 16:37 for the tie breaker and a 3 to 2 victory. Kemptville

pulled their stopper without success at 19:29. Brockville outgunned Kemptville 30 to 27 SOG. Kemptville open January with two road contests with the Smiths Falls Bears and then up the valley to face the Renfrew Wolves. Kemptville’s coaching staﬀ were well aware that their troops would be facing the number one contender in their division as they entered the Den of the Bears of Smiths Falls for the first meeting of the new year Friday evening. Conﬁdent that if they focused on implementing their game plan utilizing

the sin bin, and capitalize on their PP they would be successful. Unfortunately, part of the plan was fouled as they handed the Bears two PP opportunities which fed and the 73’s had to dig deep to hold on to a 3 to 2 victory. First frame opened and closed without results as Jacob Biron was pummeled with 17 black discs to opposition only 3. Less than a minute into the second Smiths Falls with man advantage when Trevor Faucher combined from Heron at :59 to put the Bears on the board. Fennell held the line with Rutley to find Tyler Melvin in the slot to drive it by Dawson Labre to knot it at one at 9:07. Then Melvin rode the Kemptville pine to give Shaymus Stevenson PPG from Hails and Hamady at 16:45 for the tie breaker. Kemptville came out hot in the third with an aggressive push from Logue onto O'Doherty tape to Emile Trottier in the rocking chair to even it up at just :25 in. Bennett out of the trenches to set up Ryan Rutley for the game winner at 5:12. Smiths Falls pulled Labre at 19:07

Another great tournament for the Kemptville Storm U11HL2 team. After a narrow loss in the ﬁnals of the KIngston Ice Wolves Tournament they are taking home the silver medal. Go Storm Go!

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as Kemptville squeezed a 3 to 2 win. Smiths Falls hammered Kemptville 40 to 18 with PP to 0/1 for 73's. The 73’s, still on the road, ventured into another Den of the Renfrew Wolves for a Saturday night feeding frenzy as they were devoured by the Wolves 7 to 3. Renfrew counted ﬁrst of the night with Dane Carter with helpers from Morton and Letourneau to put it behind Dax Easter at 1:44. Still on the hunt as they were short a man to turn things around with Jack Dolan SHG from Paquin at 4:20 for a two point lead. Kemptville faced an extra two-minute infraction at 8:46 and the heads up transition from Fennell to catch Emile Trottier SHG on his horse to disrupt Dawson Labre SO at 10:36. Joshua Penney assisted from Vom Scheidt with Paquin to chase Dax Easter to the showers at 4:24 to open the second. Game winner for Renfrew assisted from Wilson and Smith as Kai Billey rammed one by Jacob Biron

to within two as Kozyra off the wall with Holmes to Tanner Fennell on the point to launch a howitzer at 16:58. At a buck or two into the final twenty the penetration from Loreto with Trottier to Matthew O’Doherty on the hash marks to put the 73’s one short 4 to 3. Then the wheels fell off as the Wolves opened the flood gates when helpers from Dolan and Robillard to Aaron Enright for the insurance at 8:57. Two power plays would continue the onslaught with assists from Morton and Carter to Jace Letourneau PPG at 13:29. Grainger and Paquin helping Noah Vom Scheidt PPG to make it a 4-goal lead at 16:14 for a 7 to 3 frenzy. Kemptville chased the game as they were outgunned by 46 to 32 with 0/4 PP that failed to take advantage. The 73’s face the Rockland Nationals at home on Friday evening seeking redemption in front of a home crowd. Hockey with EDGE, see you around the boards.

#18

Nicholas Bennett Nickname: Benny Born: Markham,On May 18,2004 Position: C/RW Previous Team: Kemptville 73’s Hockey Hero: Sidney Crosby Most Inspiring Person : Parents Favourite movie : Creed Favourite TV show: Outer Banks Favourite food : Penne alla Vodka Pasta Favourite sport (beside hockey): Golf Life as Jr. A player : Being able to play in a game with Mitch Marner One Word that Describes Me: Passionate

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The North Grenville Times

United Counties report

At the meeting of December 14, UCLG Council held a moment of silence to honour the late Mrs. Weedmark. In a statement from Warden Nancy Peckford, she said “I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mrs. Betty Weedmark, a community leader and local politician who held office from 1980 to 2000. In 1989, Mrs. Weedmark was the first female to hold the position of Warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. I have great admiration for Mrs. Weedmark's indelible contributions to the region and recognize how widely she was respected by her Counties' colleagues, community and business leaders. Given her long tenure as Reeve of the Village of Merrickville and Mayor of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford, in addition to her role as Warden and her lasting impact on those who knew her, I have ordered the flags at the Counties’ office be lowered to half-mast to honour the remarkable life of Mrs. Weedmark.” Mayor of Merrickville-Wolford, Michael Cameron, added, “Our community is all the better for what she accomplished.” Council Awards Tender for County Road 43 Rehabilitation Project Council awarded the tender for the County Road 43 Rehabilitation Project to R.W. Tomlinson, at the cost of $38,899,756.00, plus a $3,500,000.00 contingency. The total cost of the project, including the Municipality of North Grenville’s share, is projected to be $50,851,002.98. The joint project between the Counties and the Municipality of North Grenville will ensure better traffic flows, enable major commercial activity and provide a much safer road experience for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists in the Town of Kemptville. The project was also successful in securing an $8,000,000 grant under Improving Canada’s Infrastructure Project (ICIP) funding. Warden Peckford stated “The plans for the County Road 43 Rehabilitation Project are a reflection of the shared dedication of the United Counties and the Municipality of North Grenville to crucial improvements to our joint infrastructure, not just in North Grenville but throughout the Counties. The significant improvement and expansion of this extremely busy regional thoroughfare between Colonnade and County Road 44 in the Town of Kemptville has been a Counties’ priority for many years. The replacement of the current bridge with a four-lane one is also necessary given excessive wear and tear due to exceedingly high traffic volumes. Collectively, these improvements will contribute to strong economic development in North Grenville and the Counties for the decades ahead.” Council Approves Strategic Initiatives Framework This Strategic Initiatives Framework serves as a first step in the Counties’ long-term strategic journey and will act as a roadmap for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville in providing a clear direction for decision-making and action. This is the first time in the history of the Counties that Council has undertaken such an exercise. The Strategic Initiatives Framework includes the following three pillars: - Pillar 1: Invest in roads, bridges, infrastructure, and sustainable growth; - Pillar 2: Support key investments in the well-being of our residents; and - Pillar 3: Facilitate and promote the increase in supply of accommodation of all types. The three pillars are based upon the foundation to operate a responsible government built upon the strength of our employees. Upcoming meetings There are three Special Committee of the Whole meetings scheduled in January to discuss the 2024 Capital and Operating Budgets: - Wednesday, January 17 – Capital Budget; - Thursday, January 25 (following Counties Council) – Operating Budget; and - Monday, January 29 – Capital and Operating Budget discussions. All regular meetings start at 9:00 am in the Council Chambers at 25 Central Avenue West, Brockville. If you require more information, please contact County Clerk/ Manager of Legislative Services, Christina Conklin, at 613-342-3840 ext. 2456 or by email at Christina.Conklin@ uclg.on.ca.

January 11, 2024

Cowan, H. Marie

Passed away peacefully at the Wellington House Nursing Home on Monday, December 18th, 2023, at the age of 92 years. Beloved wife of the late Samuel Cowan and cherished mother of Penny (Wayne) Perrin, Shawn Cowan (Amy) and Evan (Nancy) Cowan. Sadly missed by her grandchildren Chantal, Amber, Steven, Amy and Olan and by her 6 great grandchildren. Also survived by her brother Preston (Muriel) Gilmer and by her nephews Perry and Roger. Predeceased by her daughter Marsha Oswald, her brother John Dean Gilmer in infancy, by her cousins Marion Froats (nee Stewart) and Bill Stewart, and by her parents J. Theressa (Briggs) and T. Hilliard Gilmer. Services were held at the Irvine Memorial Chapel at Roselawn, 2451 County Road 15, Maitland on Thursday, December 21st, 2023 with interment in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Canada will be gratefully acknowledged. Send messages of condolence online at www.irvinememorial.com.

Redmond, Mildred Jean (Nee MacIntosh)

Peacefully at the Winchester District Memorial Hospital on Sunday December 17, 2023. Mildred Redmond in her 95th year of Winchester. Beloved wife of the late Lyle Redmond. Loving Mom of Steve (Debbie), Barry (Janet) and Mark (Tammy). Cherished Grandma of Casey (Stephanie), Angela, Christina (Rob) Barber; Phillip, Christopher and great- grandchildren Owen, Cassidy, Kingston, Haven, Sydney and Addison. Predeceased by her parents Mabel and Thaddeus MacIntosh and her brothers Donald (the late Joan) MacIntosh & Ian (the late Glenna) MacIntosh. By Mildred’s request Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Mountain Township Agricultural Hall 2967 Lough Road, South Mountain on Saturday January 20, 2024 from 1 to 4 p.m. By family request donations may be made in Memory of Mildred to the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation –for the new Dundas Manor. Arrangements entrusted to the Byers Funeral Home, South Mountain (613-989-3836).Online condolences may be made at www.byersfuneralhomeinc.com

The Voice of North Grenville

Mary Ellen Roxanna Vibert (Ellen)

July 3 1934 -- December 16 2023 Daughter of the late James Vibert and Ethel Cleary of Corner of the Beach, Gaspe. Sister to Lindy and Rudy Vibert. Married to Allison Miller of Kemptville, Ontario. Mother to Nathen Aswell (Kim), Dwayne (Johanne), Karen and Todd(Catherine) Hill. Nana to Nathan, Nicholas and Matthew. Ellen was raised in Corner of the Beach Gaspe and spent her formative years helping her parents run their hotel/motel business. She went to boarding school and eventually attended secretarial school in Montreal. She did a small bit of modeling in her early 20's and then landed a job at Bell Telephone where she worked for over 40 years. Though she settled in Montreal, she never forgot her Gaspesian roots and remained close with as many members of her extended family as was possible. Ellen had 4 children with her first husband all before the age of 30. When that marriage came to an end she found herself in a one parent family situation and had to learn to stand on her own. She had to be strong, patient, understanding, caring and loving while holding down a full time job and dealing with all the day to day adventures of life with her family. She knew that to be strong for her children she had to get help from others. She got involved with "One Parent Families "and made friends with whom she could share her problems and hardships, joys and accomplishments. Life was not easy but Ellen was a survivor and with the help and encouragement of friends and family she grew stronger and more self assured. She made some big changes in her life when her children moved away from home : she bought her first home and got her driver's license. She finally had the freedom to grow a garden, relax by a river and build her nest. She even labeled her little piece of land, on the Chateauguay river, "Corner of the Beach" after her home town. Ellen was a breast cancer survivor and that home was where she found the peace and quiet she needed to recuperate and become whole again. One of her interests was golfing and it was at one of these tournaments where she met Allison - the love of her life. They were married in 2000 and she moved to Kemptville to live on his farm. They renovated their home and transformed part of it into a B&B which she ran for over 20 years. It was in Kemptville where she really put down her roots - literally. Her garden was a spectacular work of art and many of her guests had wedding pictures taken there. She volunteered at many of the retirement homes in town and helped out wherever and whenever she was needed. Ellen loved to entertain and hosted many family functions, parties, reunions, bridge games and weddings. She even organized a massive Vibert family reunion in Gaspe. She kicked up her heels at every opportunity. Ellen was also an advocate for several charitable organizations in Kemptville. She was actively involved with her cancer support group for several years and even did door to door canvassing to raise funding to help them out. Also, she had organized fundraisers for Make a Wish Foundation in hopes of helping children in need, hosted pot luck dinners for her support group and would offer her help to any local family in need. Ellen was a traveller - be it to visit family or friends or just to take a much needed vacation in a new spot to rest and recharge her batteries. She was many things to many people and she will be greatly missed by any who had the pleasure of meeting her or joining in one of her events. On behalf of the family I would like to express our appreciation to the staff at the Kemptville Hospital for the exceptional care given after her stroke during her final days. Your warmth and compassion meant more than words can say. Special mention also goes out to Dr. Luong -( her Family doctor) for listening and encouraging our Mom these last few years. It was a great comfort knowing you were just a phone call away. Visitation will take place on Sunday, January 14 at the Hulse, Playfair & McGarry Funeral Home, between 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm, 805 Prescott St, Kemptville.The Service will be on Monday, January 15 at 11:00am, at the Holy Cross Catholic Church located at 503 Clothier St W, Kemptville followed by a reception at the Royal Canadian Legion, located at 100 Reuben Crescent, Kemptville. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Kemptville Hospital or the Canadian Cancer Society. "God's Garden must be beautiful he always takes the best."

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33 years later: The “almost” Smiths Falls train collision of 1991

by Brandon Mayer Have you ever heard of the near-collision of two trains in Smiths Falls in 1991? The incident may not have a well-known name (like the “Hinton Train Collision” of 1986, for example), but it was undoubtedly a terrifying incident and one that warranted a Transportation Safety Board investigation all the same. The close call is known oﬃcially by the TSB as "Canadian Paciﬁc Limited and Via Rail Inc. near collision”, though a boring name certainly doesn’t mean a boring incident. Trains are fascinating. Some people are certainly more obsessed than oth-

Op-ed

ers. In fact, there is a huge population of the world that goes by the name of “railfans”, engaging in an activity called “railfanning” that involves waiting trackside to watch and photograph trains, in addition to learning all there is to know about these massive and historic machines which were critical in connecting and building our country beginning in the early 1800s. Although very safe, trains do get involved in accidents as with any other mode of transportation. Most commonly, this involves trains hitting cars or pedestrians at level crossings, or derailments involving a single train. In a world full of inexpensive video

filming technology (most people carry a smartphone with a camera right in their pocket, and dashcams are increasingly common in vehicles), it’s now possible to go online and see perhaps hundreds of videos of trains hitting vehicles, and even trains derailing suddenly at level crossings. One of the things that makes the Smiths Falls incident of 1991 stand out is that it was filmed during a time when something rare being “caught on tape” was a big deal, being so uncommon and coincidental. I have not been able to find any source to explain why the incident was filmed, but it seems a safe assumption that a “railfan” was in the right place at the right

time. This was an era where “videotaping” something quite literally meant using tape or film which had to be purchased (a bit of knowledge for younger readers), and filming trains would have been for personal enjoyment only since there was no social media on which to share them. The alternative explanation is that someone approaching the level crossing saw the potential for a collision and happened to have a camera on hand, managing to get it out and filming just in time! What actually happened? It was February 6, 1991, two days before the five year anniversary of the Hinton Train Collision, which was a massive and deadly head-on collision between a Via Rail train and a CN freight train outside Hinton, Alberta on February 8, 1986. In the Smiths Falls incident, Via Rail train 43 was travelling from Ottawa to Toronto on a track owned by CN Railway. Smiths Falls has a large CP Railway yard as well, with a section of CP track that connects with CN track. A three-person CP crew was working to build a “consist” of train cars by moving around small groups of cars on various tracks to build a

larger mainline train. At the critical point, the crew was moving 67 empty ﬂatcars that had a total length of 4,423 feet. In order for the train to clear a switch, the crew needed to “back up” onto the CN line due to the length of their train. They didn’t make a radio call to conﬁrm that the CN track was clear, and a signal that had been installed to protect the area was not yet operational. What happened next happened very quickly but must have felt like a heartstopping eternity for the crews of both trains. Via Rail train 43 was travelling at 93 mph (150 km/h) and had only 1.3 km of warning that the CP train was in its way since it was coming around a blind curve. The Via Rail crew applied the train’s emergency brakes, and then one engineer jumped from the train as it slowed down to avoid being inside the locomotive cab during what must have seemed like an inevitable collision. The CP Rail crew – whose train would have been at a crawling speed during a switching job – managed to stop their train and begin reversing. The extra track room meant that the Via Rail train was able to come to a stop just

Are we beasts?: War, civilian casualties and Hamas by David J. Bercuson courtesy of the Aristotle Foundation There is only one way to avoid civilian casualties by aerial bombardment — don’t start a war in the first place. Early advocates of air power – Hugh Trenchard of the UK and Giulio Douhet of Italy – believed that the chief target of any bombing campaign had to be the morale of the enemy population. They believed that “morale bombing” – later called area bombing, and to some “carpet bombing”, would so undermine a population’s will to fight that victory would soon follow. Their followers in Italy, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom practiced the deadly trade in the wars of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The Japanese inflicted it

January 11, 2024

on China. Italy inflicted it on Ethiopia, Germany inflicted it on Warsaw, Rotterdam and London and other British cities. This was deliberate aerial murder, and it inevitably produced its counterstroke when the Allies resorted to the same tactics in bombing Germany and Japan in the Second World War. The Royal and Royal Canadian Air Forces killed some 70,000 German civilians in Hamburg in 1943 and Dresden in 1945. They studied and carried out bombing tactics that produced ﬁrestorms. The Americans – using the same tactics – killed some 100,000 people in Tokyo in early March, 1945. They then did the same to almost every other Japanese city ending with the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These attacks prompted Churchill to proclaim in 1943, after seeing

ﬁlm of German cities being bombed, “Are we beasts?” But of course, he himself was an architect of these bombing campaigns. From the early 1950s, after the 1946 publication of Hiroshima by American writer John Hersey – a book that followed the story of some of the victims of the atomic bombing – public opinion began to change in the west toward eﬀorts to avoid mass civilian casualties in bombing campaigns. In Korea (19501953) and Vietnam (19651975), the US sought to avoid mass slaughter of civilians (despite Communist propaganda to the contrary), although tens of thousands of civilians were killed anyway – collateral damage. That was also true in Libya, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In these cases, Sherman’s warning came true – it is war and war is

horrible and can only be described in harsh terms. Any country that attempted strategic bombing of purely military targets in this century – including the US, the UK, Canada, Israel – killed “innocent” civilians. There is no getting around it. When the Royal Canadian Air Force joined the campaign to bomb Serbia and Serbian troops in the Kosovo air war of 1999, representatives of the Judge Advocate General – the chief law enforcement officer of the Canadian Armed Forces – sat at the targeting briefing before Canadian jets went into action to pronounce on the “legality” of each and every target the RCAF intended to hit. Innocent people died anyway. We have precision guided munitions today, guided by lasers or GPS signals, but

innocent people still get killed. There is no bomb invented which can distinguish between a Hamas terrorist and a civilian medical worker. These considerations don’t apply to dictatorships. No one knows – or will ever know – how many Syrians were deliberately murdered by Russian bombers in the early days of the Syrian civil war to dislodge Hafez al Assad from the presidency of Syria. If Hamas had had a real air force, there is no telling how many Israeli civilians would have been killed on October 7 in addition to the1200 who did die. About half of the bombs that the Israel air force is using in Gaza are “dumb” bombs. These are gravity bombs that once released are subject to air pressure, humidity, and winds on their way

in time, and no collision occurred. The CP train crew was certainly in the wrong for encroaching on the CN track without authorization, but had they not reversed, a collision would have occurred. Another key factor was the season – without leaves on the trees, the Via Rail crew was able to spot the CP train earlier, otherwise the emergency braking may not have been applied in time. The Via Rail engineers did all they could by applying emergency braking. The decision by one engineer to jump was criticized by some, since his passengers did not have the same option. However, being in the cab during a head-on collision is certainly more dangerous than being in a passenger car, and the crew had already exhausted all their options. Regardless of the mistakes and decisions of the day, the only important thing is that the incident was only an “almost” collision. Readers are encouraged to view the video of this fascinating incident of local railroading history at https://churcher.crcml. o rg / c i r c l e / Wr e c k % 2 0

to the target. They cannot self-adjust as do precision guided munitions. PGMs were first used in large numbers in the closing years of the Vietnam war but they are still very expensive when compared to “dumb” bombs which are still widely used by most air forces. Dumb bombs will kill more innocent civilians than PGMs, but both cause wide collateral damage. There is really only one way to avoid civilian casualties by aerial bombardment – don’t start a war in the ﬁrst place. Either Hamas could not figure that out, or they didn’t care. David Bercuson is a Senior Fellow at the Aristotle Foundation and Director Emeritus of the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary. www.ngtimes.ca

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RECURRING EVENTS

For sale Ostomy supplies Hollister/Sensor Mio ect. Wrong size for us. Contact 613 25 8 0445 3/4 hp shallow well jet pump. $100. Call Ed at 613-282-1836 Tasco 675x power telescope. $100. Call Ed at 613-282-1836 Firewood $120 per face cord delivered. Call or text Jon 613-227-3650 Hay round bales stored inside $50 each. Call or text Jon 613-227-3650

FOR RENT Large bright bachelor apartment, 12 minutes south of Kemptville. Phone or text 613-8060211

Monthly Suppers prepared by Knights of Columbus at Holy Cross Church Hall at 503 Clothier St W. Suppers will be held on the last Thursday of the month commencing September 28. Cost $10 per adult, $5 for children under 12 and $25 for families. PROBUS: Fellowship, Fun and inFormed presenters are part of the PROBUS gathering on the third Wednesday of each month at St Paul's Presbyterian Church Hall at 9:30AM. For more information contact at n.g.probus97@ gmail.com Kemptville Legion: Fridays 3-9. Free Pool and Darts. Everyone Welcome BINGO, Kemptville Legion, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, doors open at noon NG Duplicate Bridge Club, Masonic Lodge 311 Van Buren Kemptville, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 12:15. All Levels of bridge players are welcome. Info call 613-795-7155 KLUB 67 EUCHRE Join us for fun, social euchre games taking place every 2nd and 4th Wednesday monthly at 1pm, September to May. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben Cres, Kemptville. Everyone welcome, $5. To play, cash prizes. Friendship Lunch every Friday at St. Johns United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. starting Oct. 6 th . The meal begins at 11:30 and is free of charge. A good will oﬀering is appreciated. Everyone is welcome. People of Action - Rotary Club of Kemptville meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7AM at the Long Reach Restaurant. Meet for breakfast and informal discussion. EUCHRE on Tuesday, January 9, 23, February 6 at Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 1:00 p.m. and play starts at 1:30 p.m. $5 per player. For information, contact debbie.amirault@hotmail.com. BID EUCHRE on Tuesday, January 16, 30, February 13 at Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 1:00 p.m. and play starts at 1:30 p.m. $5 per player. For information, contact debbie.amirault@hotmail.com.

ACROSS 1. An abandoned calf or lamb 5. Bit of parsley 10. Infant 14. Ends a prayer 15. Sporting venue 16. Component used as fertilizer 17. Carved up 19. Type of duck 20. Estimated (abbrev.) 21. Child 22. Ending in a piercing point 23. Comment at length 25. Thick woolen fabric 27. Ovum 28. More tangled 31. Omit 34. Not here 35. 56 in Roman numerals

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Easy

UPCOMING EVENTS

36. Workshop gripper 37. Type of ﬂower 38. Sleigh 39. S 40. Lower part of the abdomen 41. Beach 42. Doltishly 44. Life story 45. Archer's bolt 46. Fundamental 50. Craze 52. Of a pelvic bone 54. Color 55. Circle fragments 56. Skin diving 58. Prevaricates 59. Elicit 60. Against 61. Not diﬃcult 62. Aromatic compound 63. Hitching place

DOWN 1. Enclosed 2. Entertain 3. Arrears 4. Finish 5. Preserving 6. Publish 7. Overhaul 8. Immobility 9. Roam 10. Unit of dry measure 11. Nocturnal armored mammal 12. Ale or lager 13. Make a raucous noise 18. Picture 22. Arid 24. Yield 26. Cautious 28. Polished 29. Always 30. Fair attraction 31. Nights before 32. Itemize 33. Provisions 34. Breezes from behind 37. Birdbrain 38. Fired a projectile 40. Former Italian currency 41. Subsequently 43. Excessively prim and proper 44. Lab container 46. Sorceress 47. Rhinoceros 48. Parental sisters 49. In accordance with law 50. Not female 51. Diva's solo 53. Boor 56. Observe 57. Once around the track

Medium

Kemptville Horticultural Society Meeting, Jan 17, 2024 at 7pm. In-person + Zoom. At the Kemptville Pentecostal Church, 1964 County Road #43, Kemptville

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Hard

Solution to last week’s Crossword

Contact Nanda! Marketing Consultant Email: nanda@ndtimes.ca

January 11, 2024

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Baldwin's Birds

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BLACK OIL SUNFLOWER SEEDS FLYING BUFFET MIX GRENVILLE FINCH CUISINE PLUS PREMIUM INGREDIENTS TO DYI YOUR OWN SPECIALTY MIX CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK OR EMAIL AT BOULDERDUSTFARMS@GMAIL.COM

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Red Breasted Nuthatch with nut in beak.

Bluejay surveying the scene.

A Hunter Returns

christmas. I'll leave you to distinguish between fact and ﬁction by yourself! Looking out of the window, the nearest relation that I can see to any of these birds on this cold winter day is a lovely Mourning Dove which stays with us all year round and doesn't need a "seasonal" excuse to be remembered by us at all! Of course, the hapless Turkey is also remembered, but for the wrong reason. It has a long history associated with it before it became traditional Christmas fare in the mid-eighteenth century, but I'll leave you to pursue that further if you so desire. My title might have been mis-leading during my bird ramblings, but it was refer-

You are, no doubt, reading this as a post seasonal activity, following another Christmas and New Year celebration. Our Avian friends, of course, don't participate actively in such events, but they are remembered and mentioned in many of our traditional songs and the related stories at this time of the year. How would we get through the 12 Days of Christmas without them? Here is some sort of explanation which I have gleaned from you-know-where! The first seven days’ gifts are all birds. That alliterative “partridge in a pear tree” was probably the Red-legged Partridge (Gray Partridge). Day Two’s Turtle

Doves, Eurasian Collared Doves. The three French Hens were domestic fowl (chickens).The four “calling birds” were originally “colly birds,” or birds as black as coal. This refers to Europe’s Blackbird (European Blackbird), an inky cousin of our familiar robin. Day Five’s “golden rings” were traditionally pictured as gold Ring-necked Pheasants. That leaves six domestic geese and seven waterloving Mute Swans. As a matter of interest, some folks trying to explain the number of birds in this song have actually made it to 13 by their "rational" deductions, Ref: www.discoverwildlife.com/animalfacts/birds/the-13-birds-of-

The Food Corner by Paul Cormier of Salamanders, Kemptville This recipe is adapted from a terriﬁc book entitled Out of Old Nova Scotia Kitchens, by Marie Nightingale. It contains some ﬁne heritage recipes, including some from Acadian homes. It is still available, by the way. Maple Johnny Cake, when served warm, is a highly satisfying winter treat when you come in from a brisk walk or from skating or cross-country skiing. It is also simple to make.

ring to the fact that my wife got a quick photograph of our Coopers Hawk yesterday, perching in a tree in anticipation of the pigeons; but, being unaware, they remained oblivious and safe as the Hawk was scared oﬀ by a car. With my camera still in her hand, my wife took advantage of the situation and got two good shots of the Rose Breasted Nuthatch on a window feeder and the Bluejay a little further away up in a tree. Happy New Year and best wishes to you all. Stay safe and well. Cheers, John Baldwin

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Maple Johnny Cake

Ingredients - 1 and 1/3 cups of flour - 2/3 of a cup of cornmeal - 3 teaspoons of baking powder - 2/3 of a cup of milk - 1/3 of a cup of maple syrup - 1/4 cup melted shortening - 2 beaten eggs Preparation 1. Preheat your oven to 425F 2. Blend the flour, cornmeal and baking powder in a bowl 3. Separately, blend the milk, maple syrup, shortening and eggs 4. Add the wet to the dry ingredients and mix well 5. Bake in a greased 8X8 inch pan for 20 or 25 minutes You can serve this Johnny Cake with more maple syrup or with just a dab of butter (I prefer the unsalted butter in this case). It begs for a nice cup of dark coffee or an English Breakfast tea. Please stay in touch, as always, at pcormier@ranaprocess.com. January 11, 2024

The Kemptville Storm U13HL2 are ending their Christmas break with a bang. At the Kingston Ice Wolves Tournament this past weekend they went undefeated through 6 games and are bringing home gold. Congratulations girls! 14

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Green Party statement on opioid crisis in Ontario

Tid bit musings by Elva Patterson Rutters, RSSW CONGRATULATIONS!! It is the time to celebrate before focusing immediately on new goals that are SMART: S-Specific, M-measurable, A- attainable, R- Relevant, T-time allotted. Knowing how much you want to lose in specific ounces or pounds/kg is more measurable than just "lose weight" But before you enter the new endeavours, what are you celebrating? The key priority is to celebrate that you are still on the green side of the grass. So many, it seems, lost their life to death from illness or accident or just aging gracefully. You also survived those losses in your life. Grief is the loneliest, most individual journey to navigate and you are doing it!! Kudos to you for plotting a different path in other areas of life. Perhaps your health, physical or mental, has taken a toll on your daily walk, but you are progressing by taking one step at a time. That is all you can do - just put one foot in front of the other to accommodate those baby steps. For others, finances or geographical relocation has impeded our sense of belonging. Perhaps you accessed resources you contributed to before - food bank, thrift stores, or just communicating your woes to someone. That defines you as a survivor! For others, interpersonal relationships have been up-side down with respect to expectations. You survived the alienation from friends and/or family. Their abandonment/estrangement is more about them than you. Their actions may qualify as abusive. It takes awareness/ resiliency and maturity to work through issues. Walking away without conversation is being cowardly. Reconciliation and forgiveness are not synonymous. Why would you want to reconnect with a rapist or murder or abusive person? You made it through one of the most sentimental times of the year. For others, your health took a beating this past year but you are here to share the experience. Kudos to you!!! Perhaps your recommendations have created change in the process of medical protocol. Factor in your good deeds, both small and large. You put a smile on someone's face just by waving at them. BRAVO to you!!! Celebrate you and your accomplishments regardless of how trivial. Going out for coffee is a challenge when you have social anxiety. Taking time to heal involves self-discipline and acknowledgement of your abilities. That takes intestinal fortitude. Kudos for doing self-care. Take the time to list the successful endeavours that you mastered in 2023 before setting new challenges. Take time to be definitive. What does better mean? How do you achieve the goals? I always pray to win the lottery and am disappointed when it is only $2.00. I must accept that God answered my prayers even if the dollar amount was not specified in my prayer. Take time to thank God for making you you! You are special and worthwhile just because God does not make junk! If you look hard and deep enough, there is good inside everyone. That includes YOU! Rejoice and be glad in what you have done in 2023!

by Steve Gabell, President, Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes Constituency Association, Green Party of Ontario Canada is in an opioid crisis and we are failing people in Ontario when they most need help. In the three months from September to November 2023, there were 856 suspect-drug related deaths in Ontario. Staggeringly, this is an 81% increase from the same period four years ago. Each death leaves behind a ripple of pain and loss, every person who uses drugs is someone’s son or daughter. Opioid agonist treatment with methadone or buprenorphine is the gold standard treatment for opioid use disorder. It reduces deaths from opioid overdoses, helps people to stabilize their lives and stop using illicit drugs, and brings them into the healthcare system. I’ve seen the benefits of opioid agonist treatment in my many years working as a community pharmacist. The Ontario government covers the cost of

some medicines for anyone who needs them. Flu shots and COVID shots are covered by the Province, regardless of any private insurance. Paxlovid for the treatment of COVID infections is covered by the Province, regardless of any private insurance. Mifegymiso for medical termination of pregnancy is covered by the Province, regardless of any private insurance. Naloxone kits for the treatment of opioid overdoses are covered by the Province, regardless of any private insurance. These are all sensible provisions and beneﬁt us all. Methadone and buprenorphine are not covered in the same way that paxlovid, mifegymiso, naloxone, or ﬂu and COVID shots are. Methadone and buprenorphine are only covered for individuals who qualify for coverage under a provincial program such as Trillium, or who are on ODSP or Ontario Works. This creates unnecessary barriers for people who are seeking help for their opioid use disorder, many of whom would likely

qualify for provincial coverage but who have not submitted claims for a variety of reasons – in one case I know of, a patient was released from a custodial sentence yet his OW claim had not been processed so they were faced with daily costs of $10 to $15 a day for their ongoing treatment. The risk of an opioid overdose is greatest when someone starts using again after a period of abstinence, and the cost of treating an overdose in an ER is far greater than the costs of providing methadone or buprenorphine. Treatment for opioid use disorder should be provided as a universal benefit for anyone in Ontario who requires it. The net cost would be minimal as many patients would qualify under existing programs, and removing barriers to care could literally be lifesaving.

Celebrating

Years

A new municipal-wide, on-demand transit is being launched on January 15th in North Grenville. This will provide residents with an affordable public transit option. This service will be provided anywhere within North Grenville’s boundaries.

The Blaise app

January 11, 2024

The web at ride.blaisetransit.com

Or by calling 613-368-5620

www.ngtimes.ca

COMMUNITY EVENTS

The North Grenville Times

NEW YEAR. NEW HOME!

The Voice of North Grenville

Why not both?

Men’s Shed

- coming to North Grenville?

by Peter Ivay Men’s Shed is a concept that began in Australia, spread to New Zealand, Great Britain, the U.S. and Canada. There are 55 Men’s Sheds in Canada with a strong local and national organization. The concept of Men’s Shed focuses on the mental health of men of retirement age who tend to enter

this phase with a sense of excitement and relief from the world of work. Once the honeymoon is over, a foreboding feeling of loss, depression and loneliness sets in - UNLESS something comes to displace the void. Call it “separation anxiety” if you will, but men who transition from a busy and sometimes rewarding work life, may

look forward to retirement and unless there is some form of replacement, a kind of “funk” or dark cloud forms from which, if not replaced, becomes a permanent mood of depression. Enter: “Men’s Shed”. Men need men! Around the world, and this is nothing new, men gather in little groups at Tim Hortons, McDonalds, or at the local

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sports bar to share stories, ideas and laughter. The best part of Men’s Shed is boys having fun together, building stuff, camaraderie, teaching each other skills and sharing personal stuff they never would share with wives or girlfriends. This is why Men’s Shed is exclusive to men. And it goes without saying, there are few things out there for men. You won’t find too many men out there at quilting bees and sewing circles! Darrel O’Shaughnessy, a ten-year veteran, co-ordinator and founder of the thriving Men’s Shed-Arnprior describes the movement as a “mental health initiative”. You may have seen the recent CTV news clip of the boys from Arnprior making and sending wooden toys to children devastated during recent flooding in Nova Scotia. Garden planters, picnic tables and bird houses are fun group activities. The Arnprior Men’s Shed has over 50 men signed up for their Shed and have struck a budget of $100,000 for 2024. Although Men’s Shed Arnprior was Hospital-funded at the beginning, it is no longer dependent on that source. Three retired gentlemen in Kemptville have been working at bringing Men’s Shed to Kemptville. Research into costs, finding a venue and assessing support has been extensive. The questions arise, “Is there a need for Men’s Shed in Kemptville? Do we follow the model

of other sheds in Canada and equip a wood shop or similar facility? After much research, the core team discovered that equipping a modern wood shop with new tools and equipment is likely ONE course of action. The cost of a startup wood shop with air ﬁlters and cleaners and new shop tools is in the $20,000 to $25,000 price range. BUT, if this is not what men want, there are other options! Most Men’s Sheds in Canada are publicly funded by municipalities and health departments with additional support from public or private support-

ers. The monthly participant fee is $20.00. Men’s Shed never refuses men without the cash. Where do we go from here? Our initial meeting will be held at the Amphitheatre at Kemptville Campus Tuesday, February 6 at 1:30 pm. ALL WELCOME. We are asking the men in the community to help us decide whether Men’s Shed is necessary to our community. Attendees will be asked to ﬁll in a questionnaire to determine personal interests, manual skills and experience.

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