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By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT The French Immersion program at Boundary Street Public School is not in jeopardy, according to the chairperson of the Upper Canada District School Board.
School board chair Joan Hodge, who is also the trustee representing South Grenville, acknowledged in an interview Monday the board is considering the possibility of establishing a program at a third school in Brockville.
But that does not mean the future of the program based at Boundary school is in danger, according to Hodge. In fact, she described the local program as being "extremely healthy."
Now in its second year, Boundary's French Immersion program offers classes for grades 5 and 6 and takes in students from Prescott, Edwardsburgh/Cardinal and Augusta.
Twenty-eight students were expected to enroll in French Immersion in the first year of the program; Boundary ended up with just 16. The board continued to support the program despite low enrollment, according to Boundary Principal Laurie McElheran.
As of late last week, 42 students had been signed up for French Immersion next year. Hodge said the program at Boundary has "blossomed."
The board agreed recently with a program committee recommendation to examine the possibility of introducing French Immersion to Commonwealth school in Brockville, according to Hodge. If that were to happen, it would draw from Algonquin and Maitland schools. About 10 of the 42 students signed up for French Immersion at Boundary would be affected; Hodge said based on current projections there would still be enough students from the other feeder schools to make the program viable in Prescott.
Hodge noted there has been speculation the local program was in danger of being lost to Brockville. The board chairperson said she has heard from concerned parents who believed the Boundary French Immersion program was at risk. Hodge said it is unfortunate parents and students were upset by what she described as rumours and a lack of information. Even though she could not guarantee all programs will remain unchanged over the course of time, Hodge indicated parents will be consulted if and when changes are being contemplated.
"Nothing will be done without that consideration," she said.
McElheran said parents and students seem pleased they have the local option of choosing French Immersion. "It has definitely been a benefit to our school and our community," she said. "We are very proud of the program we run here."
Staff at the school have worked very hard to make the program a success, according to the principal. However, she added the board has to make hard decisions every day, something that has to be respected.
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT The number of incidents investigated by the Prescott Police Service rose last year, but the numbers were down for some types of offences.
In all, 3,042 incidents were logged by town police in 2000, according to statistics compiled by Police Chief Rick Bowie. The 1999 total was 2,836, an increase of 44 compared to the previous year.
Sixty-four assaults were reported to town police last year; 60 were reported in 1999. Twenty-three charges were laid in connection with the assaults reported in 2000.
Police Chief Bowie said in an interview Prescott does not have a problem when it comes to serious crime or random acts of violence. The assailant and victim in most assault cases know each other, according to the chief.
"This is a pretty quiet, law-abiding community," Bowie said.
In noting there was decreases in sexual assault cases and spousal assaults in 2000, Bowie said he would like to see the numbers fall to zero. There are other non-violent ways to solve problems, he added.
"People have to learn to keep their hands to themselves," the chief said.
There were twice as many break and enters reported in 2000 than in the previous year. Ten of the 44 incidents investigated by Prescott police last year were cleared, and 11 charges were laid. The chief noted break and enters are generally committed by transients. Little or no trace evidence is usually left at the scene of the offence, he said.
There were fewer theft cases in 2000 (93 compared to 98 last year); however, fraud cases rose from 14 to 18. Charges were laid in connection with the one case of auto theft reported last year in Prescott. There were eight cases in 1998 and three in 1999.
There was a sharp decrease in the number of persons injured in motor vehicle collisions. Four injuries were reported in 2000 compared to 19 the year before and 25 in 1998.
Bowie believes increased compliance with seat belt regulations may be a contributing factor. The benefits of holding child restraint seat clinics are also being realized, according to the chief.
Prescott police investigated 82 collisions last year, seven fewer than in 1999. For the second straight year, there were no fatal motor vehicle accidents in Prescott. No police pursuits occurred in 1998, 1999 or 2000.
More than 3,300 vehicles were stopped at 20 RIDE checks conducted by town police. Those RIDE checks produced 12 roadside tests and five 12-hour licence suspensions.
Four weapons-related offences occurred in 2000; there were two in 1998 and none in 1999.
PRESCOTT Residents of South Grenville will get a chance next week to give the gift of life.
Canadian Blood Services (CBS) will conduct a blood donor clinic Wednesday, April 4 from 2 pm to 7 pm at South Grenville District High School. A special session for high school students will be held from 1:15 to 2:30 pm.
CBS is strongly encouraging donors to call ahead for an appointment. The number to call is 1-800-264-0680. Blood donors who do not have appointments will be accepted at the clinic; however, this could affect the length of one's stay at the clinic. Donors are reminded to bring identification which includes a photo or signature.
The goal of the upcoming clinic is to collect 100 units of blood. All blood types are needed.
The most recent blood donor clinic to be held in Prescott took place Oct. 2. CBS collected eighty-four units of blood from the more than 110 people who attended the clinic. A strong demand from local residents prompted CBS to host next week's clinic, the third in less than a year to be held in Prescott.
The clinic is being sponsored by the high school in conjunction with the Grenville Fish and Game Club and Kinsmen/Kinettes.
Three per cent of eligible Canadians give blood on a regular basis.
PRESCOTT There are no major problems with Prescott's water system, according to an engineer's report prepared for the town.
The report by Kostuch Engineering Limited of Ottawa covers the water treatment plant, tower and other infrastructure operated by the town. The system had been operated by the Prescott Public Utilities Commission, but is now under the town's jurisdiction following the creation late last year of Rideau St. Lawrence Utilities.
The town's water works were found to be in compliance with Ministry of the Environment chlorination guidelines, according to the summary of the engineer's report. Although the summary notes there is the potential for microbiological contamination because water is being drawn from an unprotected surface water source, the town is providing water treatment that meets provincial standards.
"There have been no instances in recent years in which there was any indication of potentially adverse water quality," the summary states.
The report was to be presented Monday at a transportation and environmental services committee meeting, but the meeting was postponed.
Provincial legislation enacted last August in the wake of the Walkerton crisis requires owners of water treatment or distribution systems to have independent engineers conduct assessments of those systems once every three years.
PRESCOTT - Two proposed zoning changes will be the subject of a public meeting next month.
The town's planning and development committee has received two requests for rezoning and will have them presented at an April 9 meeting.
One proposal calls for a retail pharmacy to be established in a vacant section of the health centre at 555 King Street West. The zoning of that facility does not list pharmacy as a permitted use. The location in question is privately owned; Dr. G.S. Bhatt is involved in the application, town officials indicated.
The meeting will also cover an application by Wellington House to rezone a piece of land in front of the nursing home from commercial to institutional. The addition of a parking area and landscaping has been proposed for the area in question, town officials noted.
Any member of the public can speak for or against the proposals. The public meeting set for 6:30 pm will be followed by meetings of the town's finance and planning committees.
In another zoning-related matter, town council voted last week to approve a bylaw for a site plan agreement for the Ultramar service station at the corner of Edward Street and Churchill Road. The company is planning to expand its operations there to include a convenience store and self-serve gas pump area.
Councillor Garry Dewar, who also chairs the planning committee, said the company plans to demolish the existing building and replace it with one farther back on the lot. The entrances to Edward Street will be redesigned and the pumps will be turned the other way, he noted.
"This is a good-news bylaw for a change," Dewar said.
PRESCOTT The "for sale" signs have gone up on a Water Street property on which 18 freehold townhouses are to be built.
Prescott council adopted a zoning amendment bylaw last week enabling property owner Jim French to get on with the project. The town had been notified by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) that a modified plan could proceed. A proposed 19-unit townhouse development had been the subject of a 2000 OMB hearing.
A formal site plan agreement must still be adopted by town council, although the basic outline has already received OMB approval. French is hoping site plan approval will be a formality.
The three-storey building will include 11 three-bedroom townhouses and seven two-bedroom units. Each freehold unit will have its own entrance, driveway and garage. The property has an MLS listing.
Realtor Frank Whiten said the property is being marketed from two perspectives. The freehold units are up for sale, and the property as a whole is also on the market. French explained he would be willing to sell if a buyer wished to go ahead with the townhouses. However, he added he is prepared to retain ownership and proceed with his plan.
Although stone and brick will be used, the design details have yet to be finalized. It is noted on the drawings that materials to be used for the building's exterior "...will reflect the historic architectural context of the Town of Prescott."
Whiten was a member of Prescott council when the proposed development received council approval prior to the OMB hearing.
"I thought (at the time) it was an excellent idea," he said of the plan. Development of the property has dragged on for many years, he noted. "I think it's going to generate a fair amount of excitement," Whiten said.
French said Monday he has received plenty of congratulations since word spread last week the project had finally cleared the OMB hurdle. French, a member of town council, declared an interest and did not take part in council's vote to approve the zoning bylaw.\
By Carla Kroot - Grade 12, SGDHS
PRESCOTT On Tuesday, March 20, George Chuvalo, the former Canadian heavyweight boxing champion, spoke to students at South Grenville District High School about drugs and how they have affected his life.
Speaking in honour of George Smith, a local police officer who died of cancer, Chuvalo delivered a powerful presentation.
Never having been knocked out or knocked down in the ring, Chuvalo has dealt with even harder situations. They may not have knocked him down physically, but emotionally instead. Chuvalo lost his three youngest sons to heroine overdoses. After his second son overdosed, his first wife took her own life by overdosing as well.
The presentation began with a biography about his life as a boxer and the repercussions it had on his own life and the rest of his family. Throughout the film photos were shown of all four of his sons including the three who are deceased. Chuvalo commented on how hard it was to see the film even though he has watched it so many times in the past.
At the time the film was made there was an interview with Steven, one of the deceased, who was in prison for robbing a drug store. When he was released he planned to travel with his father to visit different schools to help educate children and teens about drugs and the effects they have. Shortly after Steven was released he was found dead with a syringe stuck in his arm. All the dreams of travelling and speaking together were gone.
Chuvalo now travels alone delivering his anti-drug message. He described his sons' needs for heroine as being so strong that they lost all control over themselves, just at the sight of it. He urged people with drug or alcohol problems to pick up the phone and call someone who could help.
He believes the first cigarette you smoke is a sign that you disrespect yourself and that doing drugs is the same as hating yourself. Chuvalo also said that it was the love of family and friends that got him through the disaster. He emphasized going home and telling parents, brothers, sisters and anyone else who means something to you that you love them.
When asked what kind of effect the talk had, Heather Jenkins, a Grade 12 student, said, "It was very informative and scary to see how people with addictions live."
Having someone talk about their personal experiences really helped bring the message home. It has special emphasis when you can listen to someone talk about their life and what it was like to live through such an ordeal. It's not just about someone on TV or the radio telling you not to do drugs. It's personal, about someone you can reach out to and touch. Chuvalo's speech brought tears to some eyes and helped to open others. There wasn't a single person left in the gym who didn't have something to think about.
PRESCOTT A bill of $4,500 from a consulting firm hired to assist with Prescott's bid for a charity casino will be paid by four different parties.
Enterprise Canada was retained by the Friends of the Casino committee spearheaded by the Prescott and District Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Prescott Business Improvement Area. Prescott, Brockville, Leeds and Thousand Islands, and Gananoque are the four communities in the running for a charity casino to be operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
Although some money was spent on the consultant, the Friends group did not spend most of the money it had received in the form of contributions from businesses, individuals and organizations. Prescott council had agreed earlier this year to have the town cover half the amount charged by the consulting firm up to a maximum of $10,000.
With the town being responsible for $2,250 of the Enterprise Canada bill, the chamber of commerce, BIA and Grenville Community Development Centre will each pay one-third of the remaining $2,250.
ROEBUCK The future of the Limerick Forest may be in good hands given the turnout at a public meeting held last Saturday.
More than 140 people attended an information meeting and public input session held at the Roebuck Community Centre. Responsibility for the 14,000-acre forest has returned to the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville as part of downloading by the province. The Ministry of Natural Resources had been managing the forest since 1940.
The Grenville Land Stewardship Council organized the meeting. Council Co-ordinator Jack Henry said approximately 25 different groups everything from trappers and snowmobilers to conservation authorities made presentations relating to the forest and its future. He said he was encouraged by the response shown at the meeting.
Henry said it was agreed at the meeting to form a steering committee that will make recommendations to the counties on how the forest should be maintained. At least 18 groups have expressed an interest in having representatives serve on the committee, he added. The county has committed funds and staff resources to the initiative, according to Henry.
An organizational meeting is expected sometime within the next month.
Although Henry conceded the forest may not be in any immediate danger, measures should be taken to protect the forest from being lost to development. He noted it is going to be a long process, but "the ball has started rolling."
The goal is to be proactive and to keep the Limerick Forest and its future in the spotlight, Henry indicated.
PRESCOTT Nine Prescott Golf club staff members learned how to operate an automatic external defibrillator (AED) March 15 at the clubhouse.
AEDs are portable machines that can help save someone's life who has suffered a heart attack. Generally following a heart attack, abnormal heart rates occur, "de-calibrating" the heart's normal rhythm.
AEDs interrupt these uncoordinated impulses with a powerful electrical current, with the objective of reversing the state of fibrillation, which is fatal. The electrical shock looks to re-calibrate and restore the heart's normal electrical activity.
The chance of survival, said Marc Landriaeult of Heartsafe EMS, who ran the four-hour course, which included CPR training, decreases by 10 per cent with every passing minute following cardiac arrest. According to one ongoing study, the survival rate outside of a hospital is only three per cent.
The nine staff members learned, using an AED simulator, how to operate the portable machines. Two self-adhesive pads are attached to a person's chest. The AED monitors heart activity, talking the operator through the process of administering shocks if necessary.
"If something happens, we'll always have people on staff who can operate the defibrillator to possibly save someone's life," said Thom Miller, the club's golf pro and general manager.
He added the expectation is to have at least one staff person working at the club who knows how to use the AED.
Miller said learning how to use the AED was relatively straight forward.
The club should have a $6,000 AED by the start of the golfing season.
PRESCOTT Employers are being urged to provide work experience opportunities for high school students.
The district public and Catholic school board are among partners in the awareness campaign funded by the province and facilitated by the Upper Canada Learning Centre, a non-profit organization. Mike Bellinger, program facilitator, made a presentation at the March 15 directors' meeting of the Prescott and District Chamber of Commerce.
Bellinger is conducting information sessions throughout Lanark, Leeds and Grenville to outline the program and how students and the business community can benefit from various initiatives and partnerships aimed at providing work experience to youth and better workers to future employers.
Bellinger noted the workforce made up of people ages 33 to 55 will decrease by 25 per cent during the next five years. "We need to replenish that loss" and groom the next batch of workers, Bellinger said.
Talent, he noted, is quickly becoming the currency of the 21st century.
Among the programs already in place at high schools in the region are job shadowing, co-operative education, work experience and "school-work transition." Bellinger said these programs make it easier for young adults to make career decisions and "take charge of their futures." Some students may be motivated to stay in school to complete their education, he added.
Employers stand to gain from being involved in the programs because they build the talent pool, cost nothing and make economic sense now and in the future. The level of involvement can also vary; programs range from one day to four months.
Local employers willing to participate in work experience programs can call the learning centre or South Grenville District High School.
The awareness program ends in June, although Bellinger said the program may be offered again during the next school year.
An appreciation luncheon to be held May 10 in Brockville will provide school board reps, students and employers a chance to network.
The Augusta Public Library Board received word from Bell Canada that Bell will be unable to supply high-speed dedicated Internet connections for the library's Gates computers.
Last year the library applied for and received a grant of more than $30,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to purchase four computers, a printer and supplies, as well as additional funds to pay for high-speed dedicated Internet access.
One of the conditions of the grant was that the library would provide a dedicated Internet connection so that the computers would always be ready with Internet access with no delays because of problems with a slow remote server or inability to establish a connection.
The Gates Foundation worked with the provincial government's Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation to administer the Gates Foundation Grants. The government also promised a grant to libraries so they could acquire dedicated Internet lines.
These Internet access funds were distributed through the Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) which entered into an agreement with Bell to provide all the libraries in this region with dedicated service lines (DSL). The Augusta library received its computers last fall and has been waiting for Bell to install the lines. Bell informed the library last week that because the North Augusta 926 interchange is not digital they will be unable to provide a DSL. The library board must now explore alternate service providers.
Parents trying to register their children for softball in Maitland on Saturday were surprised to see the door to MERC Hall locked and a letter attached. The letter read that regrettably, due to the lack of a local convenor there would be no softball in Maitland this summer.
MERC President Moira Taylor expressed surprise Monday morning that she had received no calls on the weekend about the program. The next registration date advertised is Wednesday, March 28, 7 to 9 pm at the MERC Hall, but if a convenor has not come forward, registrants will be met with the same sign. If you would like to help keep a softball program in Maitland this year, call Moira Taylor at 348-3140.
ALGONQUIN Spring is now upon us and that means yard work, home repair and gardening. You can find all kinds of books on these and related subjects at the Augusta Public Library, as well as the most recent magazines.
Easter is just weeks away and if you are crafty you can check out the many sites on the Internet. Using any search engine just type in easter+crafts and take your pick of sites. There's lots of free stuff to download and crafts for every age.
Story time for preschoolers is every second Wednesday at 10 am. Call the library at 926-2449 to register or sign up at the library.
The librarians are already planning for the summer reading program. Volunteers are needed. If you have an hour to spare during July or August, to either read stories, do sing-a-longs or puppet shows for groups of children ages three to eight, give us a call.
For ages eight to 12, we are looking for someone to do an easy craft with them. This would be the perfect opportunity for student volunteers working toward their volunteer requirement for school. Students may work alone or with a friend.
The library now has application forms for students interested in volunteering. A list of the different volunteer activities is also available, and students may indicate their areas of interest.
The Friends of the Library is active in our library and welcomes new members. Through their fundraising efforts, the library has received computer work stations, chairs, books and a first aid kit. The Friends group meets every second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm at the Augusta library.
Try to attend the ham and bean supper being served at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Saturday, March 31. They have two sittings, one at 4:30 pm and the other at 6 pm. Tickets will be on sale at the door. All are welcome; they need your support!
A board of management meeting is planned for April 5 starting at 10 am. These meetings are open to the membership. Come see and hear how Walker House is managed on your behalf.
Card game winners last week were: Monday bridge 1st, Kitty Wormington; 2nd, Harry Nesbitt; Audrey Kingston won the door prize. Cribbage has started again on Tuesday evenings beginning at 7:30 pm. The winners this past week were: high hand, Eleanor Gilligan; high score, Hugh Evely; 2nd, Eleanor Gilligan and Bea Hemsley; 3rd, Louie Bocsy; Wednesday bridge 1st, Sam Covey; 2nd, Findlay Hill; Charles Steiner won the door prize. Thursday evening euchre 1st, Mary Reynolds; 2nd, Myrtle Shahan; 3rd, Bea Hemsley; Pat McPhee won the door prize.
PRESCOTT A former St. Joseph Catholic School student and winner of a past science fair will be the keynote speaker at the Rideau-St. Lawrence Science Fair awards ceremony to be held Saturday, April 7.
Dr. Judy van Stralen, now a pediatric resident at Kingston General Hospital, serves on the Rideau-St. Lawrence Science Fair Committee. She sees a definite connection between her interests in elementary and high school to her life today, a science fair press release stated.
Van Stralen started doing science fair projects in Grade 4 at St. Joseph School when participation in the fair was mandatory. Her first project was called "Dyeing Wool with Garbage." She began winning awards in Grade 8 with her project "Blood Pressure."
Her Grade 9 project, "Are Your Hands Really Clean," and a Grade 10 project, "Is That Fish Mutagenic," also won top awards. In 1991, when she was in Grade 12 at South Grenville District High School, her science fair project, "A New Approach to DNA Separation," took top honours at the Rideau-St. Lawrence Science Fair. Van Stralen went on to sweep the Canada-Wide Science Fair with a gold medal in Senior Life Science, achieving the Chemical Institute Canada Award, Youth Science Foundation Award, Best Senior Project and Best of Fair.
After graduating Summa cum laude from McMaster University in 1996, van Stralen went on to receive her Doctor of Medicine from McMaster in 1999. She has received a number of awards and scholarships.
Spectators at the science fair at the 1,000 Islands Mall in Brockville April 7 will be able to see the results of the research done by students on a wide range of subjects. Students will be available to explain and defend their work.
The awards ceremony will be held at SCI on Strowger Blvd. in Brockville at 4:30 pm at the close of the science fair. Van Stralen will be speaking from the perspective of a past science fair winner and how her achievement sparked a life-long interest.
Crime Stoppers in conjunction with the Ministry of Natural Resources is seeking the public's help in reporting anyone fishing illegally.
Illegal fishing activity usually increases when sport fish such as walleye and northern pike migrate to their spawning areas each spring. Walleye usually spawn in shallow, fast-running streams or on suitable shoals; northern pike prefer shallow marshes.
In either case, these fish are quite vulnerable at this time of year, and the illegal taking of these fish can reduce fish stocks in the future.
Anyone who notices lights at night in these spawning areas or knows of persons taking fish illegally is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Callers do not have to identify themselves, and they may be eligible for cash rewards.
BROCKVILLE A regional talent competition for people of all ages is looking for participants.
The third annual Colonel Bill Watson Memorial Talent Contest will be held May 6 at the Legion auditorium in Brockville. The event allows young and old alike to show off their talents.
The contest is divided into three age categories: seven to 12, 13 to 18, and 19 and over. A limited number of contestants will compete in each group. The deadline to enter the contest is April 20. The top three finishers in each division will receive cash awards ranging from $40 to $175.
The contest is sponsored by several organizations and companies based in Leeds and South Grenville.
For more information or to enter the contest, call 345-0473.
AUGUSTA Charges have been laid in connection with break-ins that occurred earlier this month at D.L. Construction on Merwin Lane.
An investigation by Grenville County OPP and the Prescott Police Service resulted in two arrests. James Beach, 30, of Augusta township, is charged with one count of break, enter and theft and one count of breach of probation. Rodney Saunders, 36, of no fixed address, is charged with three counts of break, enter and theft, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime and one count of public mischief.
The investigating officers are constables Barry Johnston and Brad Wilhelm of the OPP and Constable Brian Somerville of the Prescott Police Service. Anyone with information is asked to contact the officers or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CARDINAL Two 17-year-old males have been charged following a routine traffic stop in Cardinal March 25 at about 5:20 am.
OPP officers stopped a vehicle on Lewis Street for a traffic infraction, according to police. The officers detected an odour of marijuana, conducted an investigation and seized a quantity of marijuana and narcotic paraphernalia. The two males were charged with possession of a narcotic and are to appear April 24 in Brockville youth court. OPP Constable Michael Mulkins is the investigating officer.
Prescott Police Chief Rick Bowie, commenting on assault cases investigated by the municipal police service
KEEP THE MILL ALIVE: The old mill at Spencerville needs a theme of some kind with enough universal appeal to provide visitors with a reason to visit and help preserve this valued part of Grenville County's heritage. It has to become more than just another old and attractive stone building rising like a rugged reminder of the scores of early settlers who brought their grains there for grinding into flour. If it remains as such it will have its peaks and valleys of community support, always needing infusions of money by local benefactors to keep its walls and foundation stable.
We would like to see the Spencerville Mill and its immediate environs become a living agricultural museum, recreating the way of life in our Grenville pioneers. We would like to see volunteers in period costumes describing and demonstrating early agricultural skills. Unlike Upper Canada which discards its re-enactors and crafts people when they reach the age of 65, the Spencerville Mill could provide "old timers" with an educational platform for as long as they want to volunteer, thus keeping them active in the 70s and 80s.
What we do not want to see is a handsome old building filled with a mish-mash of agricultural and household antique utensils. We would like to see a cow being milked, butter being churned, a horse drawing a plow, maple sap being reduced to syrup in a large iron kettle, and eventually grain being milled into flour. While Ottawa is racing around the world on the internet, Spencerville could be teaching non-farm families about our heritage and pioneer culture which are on the verge of extinction.
Such a project could start off small with one or two volunteer re-enactors. We are quite sure the concept will spread until such time as the old mill volunteers and the Spencerville Agricultural Society volunteers can unite past and present in order to preserve the future.
TOWN HALL TANTRUMS: What is it about town halls in Grenville County that seem to pit councils against taxpayers? We just went through a year of angst in Prescott with council being bull-headed in its quest for a new town hall to be built on the town's only municipal parking lot. Nothing could deter them in this totally unpopular quest, so the majority decided to quit municipal politics.
Now it's Edwardsburgh/Cardinal mayor Dave Dobbie and his council lining up against taxpayers (especially those from Cardinal) to have the 140-year-old Edwardsburgh township hall renovated for continued use by the amalgamated municipalities, while there exists in Cardinal a brand, spanking new town hall with all modern amenities, including facilities to hook up to broadband communications when e-government becomes the way city hall does business with ratepayers within just a couple of years.
Council seems determined to stay on the path of renovations. We just hope community relationships are not demolished in this headlong rush into the past.
John A.H. Morris - Managing Editor
Back in the days of tall hair and New Coke, the provincial government declared provincial sales tax would no longer be applied to shoes costing up to $30 and prepared foods costing no more than $4. The move was supposedly aimed in part at reducing the burden on low-income families and individuals. Saving 25 or 30 cents every time you picked up a fast-food meal added up, especially for those of us who tend to do that a little too often for our own good. Saving a couple of bucks on a pair of running shoes may not fill that vacation piggy bank, but it was nice (and still is) to have an extra buck or two in hand after leaving the till. (By the way, have you noticed pants pockets haven't been lasting the way they used to since the introduction of the loonie and toonie?)
The problem now is these tax waivers have lost some of their punch. Try buying an adult-size burger, fries and drink for $4 at most fast-food joints! Even low-end brand-name running shoes go for more than $30 these days. Those of us who try to order food items separately to avoid paying the extra eight per cent often get puzzled looks from servers who seem to think we are just being cheap or causing them a bit of additional grief. I sometimes find myself feeling guilty about taking money out of the coffers of the government that funds our hospitals and schools, and that somehow my actions have contributed to the real or imagined crises that led the province to dump some services onto municipalities and cut or gut others.
The Tory government takes pride in listing dozens and dozens of tax cuts it has implemented during the past five-and-a-half years. Why can't it bring the food-and-shoe tax waiver into the 21st century? We keep hearing the premier and party faithful expressing a desire to put more money into the pockets of working Ontarians... upping the sales tax exemption for prepared food and shoes would be another way of achieving that goal. The other benefit would be shorter waits at your favourite eat-and-run establishment; after all, guys like me would no longer have to make two separate purchases in order to get the fat- and calorie-infested items they need to maintain their unhealthy lifestyles. For those of you who eat healthier prepared foods, the sales tax exemption also applies. Go to a restaurant and order a small salad, and you probably won't have to pay provincial tax unless you order something else. Order a large salad, and you'll probably get nailed for the sales tax.
Anyway, just some food for thought for the powers-that-be who rarely get asked if they'd like fries with that.
CBC Radio's 'Fresh Air' program a few weeks ago had a feature on the Perth Citizens Band which will be celebrating its 150th anniversary next year, which means the band was formed in 1852, about the same time as the original Prescott Citizens Band was formed.
We spent a considerable amount of time last fall researching the history of Prescott bands and this, along with our own family's involvement in Citizens bands in Chesterville and Prescott, sparked our curiosity, so we contacted Peter Code of Perth, a member of the Perth band.
There was an immediate bond when we found out Mr. Code was a 50-year member of the Perth band, having joined in 1952. We joined the Prescott band in 1948, and our instrument progression was almost identical to Mr. Code's. He started on an e-flat alto horn and we started on an e-flat tenor horn, then we both progressed to the euphonium.
This was the instrument played also by our father, Jack Morris, who was the leader of the Chesterville Citizens Band in the 1930s. We both agreed the euphonium (or the baritone horn) is the sweetest instrument in a band, brass or otherwise. We don't think we could ever get my Dad or Louis Santarosa and George Chabot of the Prescott band to agree with this, but the euphonium is a great instrument on which to learn to play counterpoint, the basic element of Dixieland music.
Whereas the Prescott Citizens Band died out in 1963, the Perth band, although it has had its ups and downs over the past 50 years, has a present membership of over 60 musicians. It has always had a paid leader (same as Prescott) but the band members are all volunteers and are a mix of high school and university students interested in continuing their high school music training, as well as veteran band members from the community. The band members are not all Perth residents, but come from the surrounding communities of Almonte, Carleton Place and Smiths Falls.
Another parallel we were able to draw between our two communities is that they were both seriously affected by TV when it started to replace home grown musical entertainment in the early 1960s. This caused the demise of the Prescott band and nearly did the same to the Perth band.
Both Prescott and Perth bands received early grants from their respective councils which was used mostly to cover the bandmaster's salary, and both had the convenience of town-owned rooms in which to store music and instruments and to hold practices.
One of the long-standing band room locations in Perth was up over the fire hall, while the Prescott band had a room in the market building next to the town hall, in the same building as the fire department, from about 1875 to 1960.
We noted that the Prescott band had been associated with the 56th Lisgar Rifle regiment during World War I and that we thought that members of the band had joined the militia.
The Perth band went well beyond this contribution to the war effort. The entire town band joined the active service and went overseas with the local regiments. In fact the band suffered two fatalities while fighting in Europe.
In comparing musical notes we found that much of the music the two bands played was the same, although the Perth Band's repertoire has expanded considerably since the demise of the Prescott band.
One of the prime sources of entertainment in Eastern Ontario in the summer months during the depression years of the 1930s and before, were community band rallies whereby once or twice a year a different small town would be host to several bands for an adjudicated concert.
Included would be bands from Morrisburg, Prescott, Chesterville, Kemptville, Winchester, Smiths Falls, Brockville, Cardinal, Gananoque, Perth, Almonte and Carleton Place. Perth, Prescott and Gananoque were usually among the top three finalists.
The Perth band is planning special concerts in 2002 to mark the 150th anniversary, and among these is an invitation from the Governor General to perform at Rideau Hall.
We add our congratulations to those Perth musicians who have kept their band playing, especially the past 40 years, when there has been so much competition for such homespun entertainment.
Probably as important in keeping interest in a town band alive is the quality, popularity and skill of the band leader. We were one of the fortunate Prescott youths who came under the tutelage of Band leader Walter Hofmann.
He took those leadership skills with him to South Grenville DHS in the mid-1950s and over the next 30-some years developed a music and band program that had few high school peers in Ontario.
The scores of young musicians who played in Mr. Hofmann's exceptional school bands are among the luckiest kids in the world.
The Editor;
Shame again on our Leeds-Grenville Liberal MP, Joe Jordan. Despite his mouthings for financial assistance and support to Canadian farmers, Joe failed to deliver when he had the chance to vote for increased assistance in the commons. The 151116 vote against a Canadian Alliance motion to boost the farm assistance package from $500 million to $900 million was dictated by Jean Chrétien, who has stated he doesn't believe there is a farm crisis. By his vote, Joe has obviously adopted the PM's position. His words mean nothing.
The average age of farmers in Canada is 58. Most Cana dians aspire to retire by that age, yet we have men and women putting in the type of hours on the farm that put the rest of us to shame.
When Jane Stewart can misplace one billion dollars at HRDC and Sheila Copps can throw a couple of million at book publishers, how can we ignore, insult and discard the people who produce safe, pure food? The ability to be self-sufficient in food production is a matter of national security. If our farmers can't afford the seed to put in the ground this spring it won't take a rocket scientist to tell you where we will be this fall when there is no harvest.
Joe Jordan is not our representative... Repeat... not. He is a Liberal Party of Canada Choir boy... A 40-something boy soprano... Just the way the choirmaster likes them.
Doug Aldridge, Lombardy
Editor's note: Aldridge was the Reform party candidate who ran unsuccessfully against Jordan in the 1997 federal election.
The Editor;
It is with some amusement that I read a municipality can justify the harbouring and existence of an aggressive animal solely by a dollar amount (The Prescott Journal, March 14, 2001 issue: Aggressive dog bylaw is unjust, owner says).
Do they really think that sweetening the pot by such an enormous increase in dog licensing fees will make a dog's bite less painful? All too often the powers that be get very opportunistic when they see a chance to land some extra cash.
If a dog bites a person, should it not be the victim's right to sue or otherwise claim compensation? What right has a municipality to jump in with some exorbitant, money-grabbing scheme to cash in on the situation?
Sure, I will admit that I am familiar with this labelled dog and have found him to be a perfectly normal pet. I also note that to the best of my knowledge he has never been near a rabid raccoon or any other rabid animal as he is normally kept indoors.
The bottom line is that in my opinion it seems some individual ignorant of the facts is trying to win brownie points by causing monetary hardship where there is absolutely no justification.
Mike VanAlstyne
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
CARDINAL Most residents of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal want the township municipal office located at 618 County Road 2, the unconfirmed results of a petition to have the location changed indicate.
A petition started March 15 by Cardinal residents requesting the township council stop planned expenditures to renovate the township municipal building in Spencerville and designate the former municipal facility in Cardinal as the official office for the township has support from the majority of residents, petition organizer Sharan Mathieu said.
"The response from the whole township has been extremely positive," she said. Many residents are "highly opposed" to wasting money on renovating a structure to suit township needs when a facility built for the purpose already exists within the township, she added.
A transition board recommendation in April, 2000 indicated Spencerville should be the site of the township hall over Cardinal's office building, constructed in 1996. Amalgamation between the two municipalities became official last January.
"The focus of amalgamation was to save money at the municipal and provincial levels," not duplicate services, Mathieu said. "It does not make sense. It defeats the whole purpose of amalgamation. This is not a very complicated thing. It's logical."
On the weekend, 30 volunteer canvassers blitzed door-to-door, obtaining petition signatures from throughout the township. Mathieu said the entire township was divided into 20 canvassing zones, and canvassing continues. The results are now being tabulated by Mathieu in a computer database to avoid any duplication of names. While an up-to-date figure on the number of signatures obtained is not yet available, about 540 names had been collected within the first few days of the petition being circulated.
"The numbers are quite impressive," said canvasser Ann Gladstone. "I never had anybody turn me away."
As she canvassed door-to-door on the weekend, Gladstone said she discovered that people were not just concerned about the township hall issue but had other frustrations as well. "We're finding people are unhappy."
An information letter being distributed along with the petition indicates the township has already received $70,000 in transition funding from the province for renovations to the Spencerville building, and expenses for the work could reach $250,000.
Last August, the transition board received approval for $180,000 from the Municipal Restructuring Fund under the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for costs associated with amalgamation.
Tenders for the renovation project were sent out by invitation only by the township and are to be returned by March 28.
Mathieu said every attempt possible is being made to obtain all voters' opinions on the issue, and not just ratepayers. "This is an issue that relates not only to ratepayers and municipal tax dollars, but to everyone who pays provincial taxes as well. Transitional funding is provincial tax dollars."
The option for spending tax dollars on the Spencerville facility and have it remain the designated township office is also included in the letter.
"Our goal is to determine the feelings of all residents," Mathieu said. "The voice of the majority should prevail."
It is expected the petition group will be able to present the results to council at its meeting on Monday, April 2. Mathieu stressed the group is trying to help and work with councillors on the issue, by taking this work from them. "Council needs to make an informed decision," she said. "It's not malicious or vindictive. We're trying to work with them."
The petition can be signed at several businesses throughout the township. The deadline for signing is this Friday, March 30.
The Editor;
Do you hear that rumbling sound? It is the sound of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal constituents politically involved with an issue which directly affects their lives.
As a former resident of the Village of Cardinal, I am mystified by Mayor Dave Dobbie's arguments for the renovation of a municipal hall in Spencerville. To state the growing discontent from his constituents is some form of wish for a quick divorce from the new municipality is misleading because it ignores and dismisses the real cause of this fervour: cost.
Often common sense is the most difficult sense to come by. If the main point of amalgamation was to save taxpayer dollars, why is the existing building in the former municipality of Cardinal (which could be occupied at no additional cost) not good enough? Even conservative figures for the renovation in Spencerville approach one quarter of a million dollars.
Mr. Dobbie states the decision between the two facilities creates a "no-win situation." Realistically, using the existing facility in Cardinal would be a win-win proposition for all residents of the new Edwardsburgh-Cardinal since the money could be used for other necessary projects.
Mr. Dobbie states township headquarters have historically always been in Spencerville and that "somebody decided in 1860 the town hall should be here."
In 141 years the world has changed. In 1860, I assume that travel was conducted by horse and buggy. I imagine a trip between Spencerville and Cardinal would have involved a half-day journey. Today, on modern roadways with gas-powered vehicles, the same trip would take about 20 minutes. Furthermore, in 2001 modern communication methods include mail service, phone, fax, e-mail and the Internet which often make such travel unnecessary.
Mayor Dobbie also mentions the township is considering moving the Cardinal library to the municipal building because it is handicap accessible. It is important to clarify the current location has wheelchair accessible washrooms, a new gas furnace with air conditioning, new carpeting, an extra Internet phone line and a wheel chair ramp. Ironically, Mr. Dobbie tells the residents of the new municipality "we can't keep taking a step back all the time, we've got to start moving forward." Perhaps it is Mayor Dobbie who should start moving forward by forgetting about the distant past. Let's save taxpayer money by using an existing purpose-built municipal building which, fortunately or unfortunately, happens to be located in Cardinal.
This issue is more than the bravado of a "small but tough little street fighter." No one seems interested "to head the enemy off at the canal at all cost." (The Prescott Journal, March 21.) There is no enemy. Constituents in many parts of the new municipality see an opportunity for council to use an existing building rather than spending taxpayer dollars to create duplicate facilities.
Hopefully, the councillors will use common sense if this issue is brought to a vote in the near future. If you are concerned about this or other council issues, attend the next council meeting in Spencerville on Monday, April 2 at 7:30 pm.
Darren Black ,Toronto - (Former Cardinal resident)
The Editor;
I am writing this letter in response to the statements Mayor Dave Dobbie has been making to the press.
In my opinion it is because of the numerous statements specifically about Cardinal, that continues to prevent the marriage between Edwardsburgh and Cardinal from getting past the "I do's."
Mr. Dobbie continues to be quoted in newspapers regarding the lack of money Cardinal brought into the marriage and seems to be very surprised by this.
I have to ask the question: did anyone on the transition board think to ask for audited financial statements during the courtship which would have made very clear such things as the status of taxes as well as the arena account that Mr. Dobbie continues to discuss? Considering the magnitude of this merger I would have thought that would have been one of the first requests.
If money is the biggest issue, why would Mayor Dobbie and his council want to continue to spend money that we obviously don't have on extra renovations to buildings that they do not need to?
I would like to suggest to Mr. Dobbie that he take a stance and show some leadership in a more respectable and positive way. Listen to the people who put you in the mayor seat. You were elected to represent the people, not to dictate to them. Show some leadership with your council and encourage them to make their own decisions
I believe the only way to move ahead is for council to admit to the fact that not all decisions made during the transition talks were correct decisions. Considering the time frame that the transition board had in their decision making process, it is understandable that decisions were made to get on to the next issue. Given that, it is now time to look at those issues again and make the correct decisions based on the correct information. If there is time to tender out the renovations to the municipal office in Spencerville, there should be equal time to listen to the facts the people have to offer.
While writing this letter it became very clear that this kind of politics is not new to the taxpayers in the former Township of Edwardsburgh. In the former township, it was always the front against the back and people were never heard. However, the difference in the new township is the front has a bigger voice and it is going to be a lot harder for council to ignore.
Gay Rust, Cardinal
The Editor;
I would like to address the residents of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal. It is time that we started to think as one, not people of Cardinal, Spencerville, Johnstown or rural Edwardsburgh. We are now one, and we should act as one. I do not want my taxes to increase unnecessarily, but the way Mayor Dave Dobbie is spending our tax dollars I am afraid it will happen.
First, there is a new fire hall in Spencerville, then a new library. I am not saying these things were not needed, but as soon as amalgamation came into effect all of these projects moved into high gear. As for the municipal building, what is wrong with you people?
Of course, Spencerville has a historic building; use is as a museum, or other function. Why spend thousands of dollars to upgrade a building when there is already a state-of-the-art building in the township? I do not and cannot understand Mayor Dobbie or the council's reasoning for spending money when it is not needed.
I was at a few of the meetings of the amalgamation committee and I also heard the statement that it would take about $1,000 to upgrade the Spencerville building. What happened to that figure? I feel Mayor Dobbie owes it to all of the residents to tell us what is going on before it is too late.
As for turning the building in Cardinal into a library, that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. It is another thing that will cost us taxpayers more money. We have a library that was just recently improved.
I have also been informed that a councillor is doing the blueprints for the renovations. Is this not a conflict of interest? I am begging the people of our township to stand up for their rights, or we will be so far in debt that our taxes will have to raised.
Mayor Dobbie has been making statements about back taxes, and now he wants to spend more on something that we already have. I do not understand; our representative of Ward One, I think it is time that you started to stand up for our rights as residents of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal. Where are you when all of these things are being said and done?
I am very upset about the state we are getting into, and I think we had better start thinking as one and stand together on these issues.
John Robichaud, Cardinal
At the March 19 meeting of council, it was noted the amendment to insert discussions of the $50,000 in the previous minutes of Feb. 19 had not been made in the March 5 minutes. I thought that I should detail the amendment at this meeting. Mayor Dave Dobbie indicated such detail was not necessary and the amendments would be noted.
Robert Heuvel asked council for funding on behalf of The Friends of Windmill Point. They have commissioned a book and need funds to get it published. Council will consider this request after budget reviews.
Dick Willis did not appear at the meeting but as an "action item" he asked council to allow him to sell the Cardinal history books at his retail store. It was thought that he wanted to sell them for $25 and keep $5 commission but no one seemed to know for certain. I suggested that in light of the fact the book was a community project, the proceeds from the sale of books should go back into community projects and not to any one individual. Heuvel expressed an interest in selling them. It might be that other community groups would be interested too. It will be brought up at the next meeting.
Councillor Dan McDonald reported the Cardinal & District Community Centre has remitted $150,000 to the township and another sum is expected in early May. Dan McLaughlin is president and Sharon Last is treasurer.
Other items included a report of the environmental services committee meeting; some taxes were written off due to bankruptcy; a bylaw was passed so employees could use OMER's for retirement planning; the Ault Subdivision was approved; and the Raycroft Drain was dealt with.
Council withdrew the resolution to approve the application of bio-solids within the township because approval was not needed. It was merely an information item.
The Cardinal Legion was granted approval to use lottery funds for upgrading its building.
The clerk reported $2.8 million has been billed in taxes. He estimated $1,075,000 would be the amount the township would have to work with.
Under "New Business" I moved and Councillor McDonald seconded a resolution that council not begin work on either municipal hall until 1. Recommendations of the transition board are reviewed by council; 2. The budgets are reviewed; and 3. A form of vision for the township as a whole is developed by council. The resolution stated we take at least one year before making any binding decisions.
Councillor Martin suggested we hold off on the resolution until we have the tenders in. Councillor McDonald and I agreed the resolution be deferred to that point in time. Mayor Dobbie stated "withdrawn" when handing the item over. I reiterated "deferred" and questioned as to whether he considered the terms to be synonymous in this instance. He advised that they were the same. The resolution was handed back to me for the next meeting.
I also brought to the attention of council that I had attended the fire department meeting held on the previous Monday. I was informed at that meeting that the chief had asked council if the station chiefs could attend a conference. I advised those present that council, to my knowledge, had received no such request. Chief Jim Purcell advised he had spoken to a number of council members and was told they were not supportive of the idea. I informed Chief Purcell that it is my view that "bringing the matter to council" meant bringing it up at a council meeting. Chief Purcell advised that he thought it would be a valuable experience for them to attend. I informed them I would bring it up at the next meeting if it was not on the agenda.
It was not on the agenda. Mayor Dobbie advised the decision was one to be made by the chiefs and not council as it would be part of their budget.
I expressed here my concerns regarding communication. I feel a council presence should be on the fire department just as there is one with every other service the township has: public works, recreation, water treatment, etc. I advised council I believed, from my conversations with the fire chiefs, that they felt that same way. This could help prevent misunderstandings such as this one from happening in the future.
I informed council that Chief Purcell outlined for the Firefighters Association a draft guideline for a first response system developed by the officers. They too were concerned about "over response." They are suggesting that each station have a general area to cover for first response, with some overlapping at Pittston and the 401/416. The system would allow for a station to respond initially to calls of a minor nature without having members from the other station leave their work places, homes, etc. to provide immediate backup. If backup is needed it would come in as a second response. When structures are aflame in a rural area, it was suggested the area station respond and a tanker respond from the second station. When fire erupts in areas where there are water hydrants, the second station need not attend the fire until called upon, but would attend at their station in case needed.
Mayor Dobbie advised that he would speak with Chief Purcell.
I am going to be present at the municipal office in Cardinal on Mondays from 9:30 am to noon commencing immediately. If anyone would like to speak with me please come in or call.
I can also be reached by e-mail at: pegon2000@yahoo.com, or by post at RR 1, Cardinal, Ont., K0E 1E0.
By Jeff Lee - Journal Staff Writer
SPENCERVILLE Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Councillor Dan McDonald said discussion will continue between the municipality and the Cardinal Community Centre arena board regarding the payment of back taxes to the municipality.
The arena board, which operates at arm's length from the municipality, had recently transferred $150,000 to the Village of Cardinal account for staffing arena bills, dating back to 1998, but the total bill for the three-year period is $239,000. The municipality covers the arena's staffing costs during the season, then bills the board. Bills had not been sent to the board for 1998, 1999 and 2000, and the transfer of funds require the signature of both the board's chairperson and treasurer.
McDonald, who is the council representative, said the amount will be discussed at the next board meeting planned for early to mid-March. He estimated the board payment will be an additional $55,000, adding the number will be nailed down once expenses are determined.
"The board needs to keep some money," McDonald said.
The municipality has sent a letter of intent to the SuperBuild Ontario Small Town and Rural Development Infrastructure Program to request partial funds for the replacement of the rink's acrylic plastic. Cost of replacing the acrylic glass surrounding the rink is estimated at $60,000. The board and the municipality shares would be between 10 to 20 per cent, McDonald said.
In the meantime, McDonald said efforts will be made to have a budget completed before the next meeting.
McDonald also suggested the board prepare quarterly financial reports in addition to the year-end financial statements.
When McDonald was looking over the board's accounts, he said it appeared it was running a deficit, but the information didn't contain the board's bank statement.
"Some early numbers suggest a financial deficit with the arena," he said. "I called a meeting, but the missing person was the former arena treasure (John Walsh, who was also the Village of Cardinal's clerk/treasurer.). Dan McLaughlin (the board's chairman) had to chase him down."
SPENCERVILLE The council of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal passed a resolution to accept the engineer's report on improving the Raycroft Award drain, but the decision was complicated by a South Nation Conservation report which included the possible installation of a weir if water levels dropped.
The drain, which is located about 0.9 kilometres north of the Ventor Rd., starts at the east fence line of Highway 416 right-of-way and follows the existing Raycroft Award drain. It continues east and crosses under County Road 44, continuing in a south easterly direction until it eventually reaches the Slobaggan-Malcomson Municipal Drain.
To improve drainage, the report recommendations include the channelling of about 200 metres and the removal of dams and blockages at different locations along the drain.
Mayor Dave Dobbie said the South Nation Conservation may install a weir at a later date, which complicated the decision for council to accept the report along with the SNC stipulations. Taxes for those along the drain will have to be levied without knowing if down the road what the ratepayers paid for may have little effect if a weir is built.
The Ministry of Transportation petitioned the municipality to have the drain channelled to improve drainage along that stretch of Highway 416.
The resolution was passed at the March 12 regular council meeting at the municipal hall in Spencerville.
Evan McRoberts Lawrence, 37 Center Street, Spencerville, died Friday, March 16, 2001 at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital, Brockville. He was 78.
He was born June 14, 1922 at Spencerville, the son of Elias Lawrence and Lillian Wells, who predeceased him. He married Anna Lawrence (nee Bolton) Jan. 31, 1950 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Kingston.
Mr. Lawrence had been employed in hardware sales, and enjoyed birds, gardening, travel and his family.
Besides his wife, Mr. Lawrence is survived by daughters Sally (Mrs. Terry Simms) of RR 1 Cardinal and Dallas (Mrs. David Perka) of Annapolis, Maryland; sons, Joe (Guylaine) of Spencerville and Lyle (Linda) of RR 2 Prescott; six grandchildren; two great grandchildren; two step grandchildren; two great step-grandchildren; his sister Ida (Mrs. Ted Barnard) of Johnstown; and his brother Paul (Jean) of Ottawa.
He was predeceased by his brothers Harle, Garnet and Jack, and by sisters Eleanor Horgan and Irma Hart.
Visitation was held at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, March 17 from 2 to 4 pm and from 7 to 9 pm. Cremation took place at the Cataraqui Crematorium March 17. The funeral service was held March 18 at 1:30 pm in the chapel of the funeral home, with Father Rob Arsenault officiating.
The pallbearers were Mark and Laurie Shipclark, Bryan Cook, Lisa Cook, Emilie Lawrence, and Rebecca Lawrence. Honourary pallbearers were James Berry, Bill Lockhart, Lawrence Francis and James Irving.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Vincent Palliative Care or the Canadian Cancer Society.
CARDINAL The Cardinal Community Festival Committee is inviting poster contest submissions that depict the theme "Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Building on our History Together for a Better Tomorrow."
Three age categories will be judged: eight years and under; nine to 18 years; and over 18 years. Each category will be judged on originality, interpretation of theme and artistry. The winner from each category will receive a cash prize of $100, donated by the Cardinal Royal Canadian Legion.
The submissions must depict the festival theme on paper 11 by 17 inches. The posters must be in colour and be done by hand; no computer-generated art will be accepted. The artist's name, age group and phone number must be included.
Entries can be dropped off at the General Dollar store in Cardinal, or at the municipal office in Spencerville. The deadline for submissions is May 31.
One of the suitable winning posters may be incorporated into a logo to be used on T-shirts that will be sold as a fundraiser for the festival.
SOUTH GRENVILLE The Kitchener Midget 'AAA' Greenshirts Stars repeated as midget tournament champions by beating the Toronto Marlboros Midget 'AAA' team 4-1 Sunday night at the Leo Boivin Community Centre.
The Greenshirts faced off against the Marlboros in a rematch of the 1999 final, which saw the Marlies skate away with the tournament win.
Meanwhile, at the bantam tournament in Cardinal, the Buffalo Saints defeated the Richmond Hill Stars by the same 4-1 score.
Midget committee chairman Lorne Raycroft said it was another successful tournament, with good hockey and good hockey fans.
Sixteen teams competed for the tournament championship trophy of the 29th Annual Midget 'AA'/'AAA', which started March 23 and ended March 25 in Prescott.
The Buffalo Stars won the Dr. Peters consolation trophy 3-2 over the Junior Canadiens in a double shootout scenario.
The Rideau St. Lawrence Kings claimed the Dr. Peters Championship 4-2 over the Oakville Rangers.
On the 'A'-side, the Buffalo Stars beat Team Ohio 5-2, while the Greenshirts beat the Marlies 4-1.
The South Grenville Rangers had a strong showing at the tournament, starting with a 6-4 exhibition win over the Atlanta Fire Thursday in Prescott.
In the Rangers' first tournament game, the winning ways continued, with the Rangers beating the York Simcoe Express off three quick goals 11:43, 11:17 and 10:59 in the first for the 3-1 win. Assistant captain Ted Livingston scored first, assisted by Josh Kirkby and Matt Hands. Then Derek June scored the first of his two goals, assisted by captain Matt Gibson. Still in the first, June scored at 10:59, assisted by assistant captain Adam Lawrence.
After the win, Rangers coach Kevin Harrison said his team was playing good tournament hockey, something the team had been playing this season year. He said they come up big in tournaments all season long.
Harrison said his team hadn't changed its style for the tournament, but he did tell the players to enjoy the experience.
The Rangers were edged out 4-3 by the Blues. The Blues were first on the scoreboard. But the Rangers' Dustin Swan scored at 7:09.
In the second period, the Blues again scored first at 6:26. With less than two minutes left in the period, Rangers' Matthew Gibson scored.
The Blues scored, then jumped ahead again at 10:54 but the Rangers answered back at 7:16. The game winner was scored at 5:13 by Blues Jeff Gumaer.
In their next game, the Rangers lost 4-2 to the Buffalo Stars.
At the bantam tournament, 14 teams vied for the championship title, which Buffalo won 4-1 over Richmond Hill.
The consolation winners of the Todd Gill Trophy were the Toronto Red Wings, 2-1 over the York Simcoe Express. The game went to five overtime periods, with a short-bench ed Red Wings scoring at 1:27 of fifth overtime.
And the Rideau St. Lawrence Kings shutout the Markham Islanders 5-0 for the 'B' division trophy.
Bantam chairwoman Carolyn Mason said the turnout for the tournament was good this year. Although final numbers won't be in for a couple of weeks, she said the overall the numbers seemed up this year.
By Jeff Lee - Journal Staff Writer
SOUTH GRENVILLE We're in the book, said Rideau St. Lawrence Kings McLean Koekkoek, in reference to the midget/bantam book published each year listing the tournament winners.
The Kings beat the Oakville Rangers 4-2 to get into the book and claim the Dr. Peters Championship in Prescott Sunday afternoon.
The Kings aren't going to be the only 'AA' squad in the Rideau St. Lawrence organization to make the book next year as the bantams were crowned 'A'-side consolation winners, trouncing the Markham Islanders 5-0.
"It was a great way to finish the season," said Koekkoek,
"The season couldn't have ended better."
The Kings finished fifth out of eight in their division this season and were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.
"We played inconsistent throughout the season," Koekkoek said.
However, Koekkoek said the team had more success in tournaments, winning the Peterbourgh tournament at the start of the year.
The Kings' start to the 29th Annual Midget 'AA'/'AAA' tournament was a little rough, losing to the Atlanta Fire 3-2 in overtime Friday morning.
Koekkoek said losing to the Fire was disappointing since the South Grenville Rangers beat the Fire 6-4 in exhibition play Thursday night.
But he added after the loss, the team came really came together, going undefeated over the next four games.
Kings' Jarrod Whelan got the scoring started in the first, followed by Koekkoek's two goals, one at 5:12, 35 seconds after Whelan's, and then with 1:25 left in the period.
In the second period, the Kings increased their lead on a goal by Scott Morrison.
It wasn't until 8:41 of the third that Atlanta's Mike Reynolds was able to beat Jonathan Chant.
The Fire's second goal came 1:27 later.
Meanwhile, at the 2nd Annual Bantam 'AA'/'AAA' in Cardinal, the Kings the shutout the Islanders to get the 'A'-side consolation win.
James Hawkins led the charge with a hat trick to give the Kings the win.
In the first period, Hawkins scored two. Affiliate player Clay McFadden scored next to give the Kings the 3-0 lead.
Hawkins notched his third goal in the second; Neil Baker also scored for the Kings.
PRESCOTT The St. Louis Jr. Blues spent several weeks nailing down their routine.
Twenty player practiced keeping the letters, one for each of the players' backs, in order for timeouts or skates around the rink, whenever there was a chance for the crowds at the Leo Boivin Community Centre - and particularly The Row - to read what it spelled out: "St. Louis salutes The Row."
The Blues, who wooed The Row last year to snare the Critics Choice Award, impressed members again this year with their hockey and tournament spirit, which included going to the second best-of-three shootout against the Kitchener Greenshirts to decide who would face the Toronto Marlboros in the midget tournament championship game at the Leo Boivin Community Centre later Sunday afternoon.
After regulation, the Blues/Greenshirts' game was tied at 2-2. The Greenshirts scored first, and the Blues tied it up at three. In the second round, the Greenshirts again broke the tie but this time the Blues weren't able to tie the game up on their last shot. The score went 4-3 in favour of the Greenshirts on the second goal of the second shootout.
So tough was the competition this year in deciding the team which would get the coveted award, members for the first time in The Row's history gave a co-Critics Award to the Blues and the South Grenville Midget Rangers, who won two games, an exhibition 6-4 win over the Atlantic Fire Thursday night and a 3-1 win over the York Simcoe Express in the first game Friday night of the 29th Annual 'AA'/'AAA' Midget tournament. That win bumped the Rangers into the 'A'-side of the tournament.
The Rangers gritty performance earned them the nod, said committe Row member Dale Byrd.
"We choose Prescott's (Rangers) because of the team's performance on the ice," said Dale Byrd, a Row committee member. "They showed good skills for being a 'B' club and playing against high-calibre teams. They gave a 100 per cent effort."
Byrd said despite an incident between a Ranger and a Buffalo Star as the clock wound down in the Rangers' 4-2 loss to the Stars Sunday, the votes were split between the hometown team and the Row's adopted one.
For the Blues, meanwhile, the experience for both the families that billeted the team and the players last year created a chemistry that was still evident this year.
Last year, for example, three parents tagged along with the team in the Blues first appearance at the tournament, but this year, because of word-of-mouth from players and parents, that number jumped to 20, Byrd said.
He said the team reciprocating the "little town on the St. Lawrence's hospitality" and their hockey also made them worthy recipients of the award.
RUSSELL A Prescott rink travelled to the Ladies Invitational Curling Bonspeil Feb. 10 and brought home the trophy for a second time.
The K.E. Bush Contruction Prescott rink consisted of Amanda Bush, Cindy Smith, Maggie Bush and Sheila Bush won the Glendon Loucks Trophy with a two-game point high.
In the team's first game at the Russell Curling Club, they defeated a rink from Navan, and in their second game they captured the trophy by beating a Carleton Heights rink from Ottawa.
This is the second time the trophy was won by a rink from the Prescott Curling Club. In 1983, a rink consisting of Jean Smith, Ruth Gilmer, Wanda Bittner and Shirley Barkey brought home the trophy.
The South Grenville Atom 'C' relied heavily on some timely goaltending from affliate Chris Irving in sweeping the Morrisburg Lions in semi-final playoff action.
Irving had help from his teammsates in shutting down the Lions with victories of 2-0 and 3-0.
Chris Noonan and Zach Stitt paced the Rangers in the two-game series with two goals and one assist each.
Jamie McFarlane also picked up a goal. Dylan Hayes, Jacob Temple, Ryan Joudoin, Adam Patrick and Adam Kelly picked up the assists.
The Atom 'C' Rangers finished the league with a 14-8-2 record.
The Rangers received strong goaltending from Kurtis Merkley who recorded three shut-outs in the last six games.
On Jan. 6 and 10 the Rangers played a home and home series with the North Dundas Demons.
The Rangers came away with victories in both games by the identical score of 1-0.
On Jan. 17, the Rangers hosted the Morrisburg Lions and handed the Lions a 4-2 loss.
On Jan. 31, and Feb. 3, the Rangers played at home.
And there was a home series with the South Stormont Selects and won both with scores of 2-0 and 6-1.
On Feb. 7, the Rangers hosted the Kemptville Panthers and were unable to generate any offence, losing 3-0.
On Feb. 8, the Rangers played their final league game, travelling to Morrisburg and again were unable to score, losing 2-0. Goals and assists were recorded by Zach Stitt, four goals; Chris Noonan, two goals, one assist; Ryan Joudoin, Adam Patrick and Chris Bryden with one goal and two assists each; Marc Paquette, one goal, one assist; Jordan Grootjans and Jamie McFarlane one goal each; and Kyle Lavery one assist.
By Veronica King
ST. CATHARINES After only two years as an organized league, six local Prescott Branch 97 Legion youth dart players won their way into recent provincial playoffs held March 10 and 11.
The players and their chaperones travelled to St. Catharines Friday, March 9, where about 200 other players from across Ontario had gathered for the competition. They returned late Sunday afternoon, after surviving round-robin play in Sunday's elimination round.
Amy Beach, Harold Brewster, Sean Cleroux, Nellie Doherty, Marc Dupuis and Dustin Serwa all knew the competition was going to be tough. But each said they enjoyed the challenge, and the chance to meet other players from across the province.
Brewster and Serwa won five of their six matches Saturday, qualifying them to play in the elimination round for the nationals held Sunday morning. They performed well but were edged out since there was a three-way tie for first place. Only first- and second-place teams advanced to the national-level competition.
Beach and Cleroux also played in the doubles events, finishing only one game out of contention for Sunday's rounds.
The other Prescott players were all within a shot of defeating their opponents. Coaches agreed this was no small feat for a group which has only been playing together for two years. Some competitors had been playing in organized leagues for as long as eight years.
"There was some great dart players there, and I learned a lot," said Doherty. "I definitely had fun too, and I'm looking forward to going back someday."
Youth darts came to Prescott last year, under the guidance of Branch 97 Legion's Youth Sports Program. Between 16 to 18 children turn out every Saturday morning to play in the league. The league was started as an alternative to local sports and to teach children a new skill.
Ross King, youth sports chairman for Legion Branch 97 in Prescott, took on the job of organizing the league. Ron Flagel, King's counterpart in Brockville, introduced him to Darts Ontario. King later contacted the league's Vice-President Marjorie Smith for more information. Now, two short years later, his players have attended a championship-level competition.
The six players also attended a zone playoff in Collin's Bay in January to win their a berth at the provincials. At zones, they faced skilled players from ages 11 to 18.
"They played extremely well at zones, and again a provincials," said Tom Beach, who volunteers with the league as a coach and mentor. Beach, an accomplished dart player in his own right, went to St. Catharines as a chaperone, along with King and his wife.
Not all teams which join Darts Ontario come from Royal Canadian Legions, but several Legion teams meet the eligibility requirements.
"If our kids continue to play the way they have been, then they've got a great future ahead," said King. "They are good players, and they are definitely good sports.
"We just want them to remember the important thing is to have fun and meet new people. That's what the whole youth dart league is all about."