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PRESCOTT The Prescott Police Commission is standing by its man.
Newly hired Constable Darren Davis is at the centre of a storm of controversy following newspaper reports saying he eluded a disciplinary hearing by resigning from the Ontario Provincial Police in May. The National Post reported Friday that by leaving the force, Davis avoided eight OPP discreditable conduct charges that stemmed from criminal charges that were dropped.
A story in the Lindsay Daily Post said the former Lindsay OPP officer was charged with sexual assault, common assault and unlawfully entering a home in alleged incidents between 1990 and 1992. The Lindsay paper reported that Davis was suspended with pay for six years.
On Monday evening, however, Prescott Coun. Frank Whiten, a member of the police commission, said the commission feels it did its homework in researching the officer's background before hiring him this year.
"At this point in time, the commission feels the information provided to them was satisfactory," Whiten said, adding that the commission stands by its decision to hire the officer.
"The so-called charges... have been withdrawn and dropped," he said. "The disciplinary charges have been dropped. It's a non-issue. We had no reason to doubt that our decision was anything but correct."
PRESCOTT Coun. John McAuley has announced that he will not seek re-election to town council this November.
"A large number of people have encouraged me to run for the position of mayor, but after much thought and deliberation, I decided not to run for any position," McAuley announced Monday evening. "At 61 years of age, it's time to spend more time with my family."
McAuley was elected for the first time in 1997 and since then has served the town on many council committees and volunteer boards of directors. He said he will continue to serve until the new council is elected this fall.
Last year, he was deputy mayor for a term of six months. He also served as a volunteer for the past 30 years in scouting and in minor hockey as a referee.
"I'm sure people in town will wonder if it's the town hall issue or the Wellington Woods issue. I can categorically say no. I knew there would be issues, and people have a right to disagree."
McAuley said his decision was simply based on a desire to spend more time with family. He and his wife Carol have two married sons and six grandsons.
McAuley retired from DuPont last year but has returned to the Maitland plant as a safety consultant on contract.
PRESCOTT Five people are dead and several more seriously injured after a gruesome motor vehicle crash on Highway 401 between Prescott and Maitland Monday evening.
Two people remain in critical condition at hospitals in Kingston and Ottawa, police reported Tuesday morning. At least one person was taken to the Ottawa General Hospital by air ambulance.
A 15-passenger Ford club van was travelling eastbound on the 401 at about 7 p.m., when it entered the median, Grenville OPP say. The van rolled several times and came to rest perpendicular in the passing lane of westbound Highway 401. Several people were ejected from the van as it rolled.
Personal effects and clothing lay scattered, with medical supplies mixed in with the debris on the highway. Three bodies were under blue tarps, and the people were pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner, Dr. Jonathan Wyatt. Two people were later pronounced dead in hospital. Three patients in critical condition and seven patients with non-life threatening injuries were also transported to Brockville General Hospital, police reported.
OPP Inspector Mike Quilty said at the collision scene that under normal circumstances in a rollover, people stay in the vehicle. Police said the van had seatbelts but it was still too soon to determine if they had been used.
The man driving the van, which had Quebec plates, was treated and released from Brockville General Hospital, OPP reported.
About a 10-kilometre stretch of Highway 401 in both directions remained closed for more than 14 hours until Tuesday morning, as OPP technical traffic collision investigators, an OPP reconstructionist and an identification unit worked at the crash site. Traffic was rerouted through Prescott between the Maitland and Edward Street ramps. Prescott Police directed the steady stream of truck and car traffic through town.
A secondary collision occurred when a westbound tractor-trailer travelling in the driving lane struck one of the occupants who had been ejected from the van.
The van from Essor Travel is a daily car pool that travels from Toronto to Montreal. OPP confirmed Tuesday morning there were 15 occupants, including the driver, in the van.
Police could not confirm the names of the deceased by press time but said three males and two females ranging in age from 10 to 70 years had died in the accident. OPP Const. Sandra Barr said the police were being "very cautious" with the identifications. It is difficult "to determine who's who," with the amount of baggage, purses and debris strewn about, she said.
Emergency personnel from several local municipalities responded.
By CHRISTINE ENDICOTT - Journal Editor
PRESCOTT Do the people of Prescott want a casino?
That question will be answered this November in a referendum taken as voters choose the new town council in the municipal elections.
On Monday night, Prescott councillors voted 4-1 in favour of putting the question on the ballot.
"We are just fulfilling our obligation to put it on the ballot... to at least let the people have a say," Deputy Mayor Jo-Anne Beckstead said.
Beckstead and fellow councillors Craig Worden, Frank Whiten and John McAuley all voted in favour of putting the question on the ballot, while Coun. Evelyn Dales voted against the motion. Mayor Doug Hayes did not vote but has publicly declared that he is in favour of bringing a casino to the Fort Town.
The councillors who supported the motion said they simply want the people of Prescott to have a vote and do not necessarily support bringing a casino to town.
"Let the people decide," said Coun. Craig Worden.
"The question should be on the ballot," said Coun. John McAuley. "I think the people of Prescott are wise enough to educate themselves on the pros and cons. I think there are people who would have liked to have had a referendum on the town hall.
"If we didn't go this way, the publisher of The Prescott Journal would probably say it was the second worst decision council has ever made," he added, referring to John Morris's statement that building a new town hall on the municipal parking lot by the clock tower was the worst Prescott council decision ever.
However, Coun. Evelyn Dales wondered aloud whether the voters would have enough time to educate themselves on the issue before the November election.
Dales, a social worker, said she agrees with Cliff Redman, a Tri-County Addiction Services counsellor who spoke at last week's public meeting in Prescott.
Redman said it's time to evaluate not just the economic but the social costs and questioned whether council had enough information to make a decision on the issue.
"I think there are a lot of unknowns," Dales said Monday. "We won't have enough information come November to make an informed, intelligent decision."
She encouraged people to "read up on this issue."
She said she had been struggling with how to vote on the issue of putting the question on the ballot. She decided only at the last minute that she would oppose it.
Prescott is one of four proposed sites for an Eastern Ontario casino and was ranked third of the four by the consulting firm KPMG.
Front of Leeds and Lansdowne and Gananoque were ranked ahead of Prescott as potential casino sites, while Brockville was ranked fourth, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation reported.
The provincial government announced June 19 that only one more government-run charity casino would be approved this year, pending voter approval, in one of the four Leeds-Grenville municipalities shortlisted.
At least 50 per cent of eligible voters must cast ballots and at least 50 per cent plus one must be in favour of having a casino in town in order for Prescott to be considered.
Once the referendums are held, one of the municipalities where voters support a casino will be chosen if there is also council support and a strong business case showing continued economic viability for the casino, the gaming corporation reported.
The corporation will also choose the location for a standalone casino.
Clerk-administrator Andrew Brown said a casino would require five to eight acres, including parking.
PRESCOTT Where oh where should the new town hall be built?
The issue will resurface at the next council meeting Aug. 21, when Coun. Frank Whiten intends to bring forward a previously defeated motion regarding the location of the town hall. If council allows him to reintroduce the motion, Whiten will again propose that the present town hall be demolished and that a new town hall be built on its Dibble Street lot, rescinding council's decision to build on the clock tower parking lot downtown. Whiten proposed the same motion earlier this year and it was voted down by all other councillors.
Whiten said he is not sure whether council will support his motion this time, but it's worth a try.
"I still don't believe downtown is the right place, and I'm not going to give up on it," Whiten said Monday.
Earlier this year, council chose the municipal parking lot by the clock tower as the site for a new town hall. Whiten was the only councillor to oppose the motion.
Rebuilding at the present site would be the "cheapest" option, Whiten said. He added that he will bring information to the next meeting to illustrate his point.
He suggested the library could be left standing and the town hall demolished, with a new, 3,000 or 4,000-square-foot town hall built in its place at a cost of roughly $500,000.
Whiten said he was disappointed with the June 22 public meeting organized by a committee of the Prescott and District Chamber of Commerce. At that meeting, 502 people filled out surveys to state their preferred option, and 72 per cent of them favoured renovating the present town hall. On the same survey, 27 per cent favoured rebuilding on the present site.
However, Whiten pointed out that no one gave a speech in favour of rebuilding on the present site. He said he could have spoken about that option himself.
Organizer Dan Throop said the committee could not find anyone to speak on that option. Throop also noted that councillors were informed about the meeting, and everyone in town was invited to put their names forward as speakers.
Whiten also questioned the estimate of $650,000 to renovate the present site. That number originated from a contractor's estimate based on Peter Martin's 1990 engineering report on the town hall, with the cost of an elevator added.
"Anyone can throw numbers out. I don't think it can be renovated for that money," Whiten said.
By NEVIL HUNT - For The Journal
PRESCOTT -- The first relief for some dust-weary Prescott residents may be just a week or two away.
Sewer reconstruction is on schedule, but the repaving of the town's streets has fallen behind after the installation of new underground pipes.
"None of the streets have been repaved yet," said municipal engineer Clyde Solomon. "I expect the asphalt work will start by the end of the month."
The rainy spring and early summer has affected the repaving, he said.
"The weather may have been good here, but the asphalt crews come in from out of town. They have work elsewhere that's been pushed back, and that pushes our schedule back."
Despite the delays, Solomon said he expects completion by November or early December, and the project is still on budget.
"That's one thing we have to do, we have to work to budget. If we encounter any unusual overruns, we'll have to eliminate doing some areas."
By the time the last layer of new asphalt goes down, the $9 million project will have seen sewer pipes -- some installed as long ago as the 1890s -- replaced on 64 blocks.
The spring rains have helped keep the dust down, although some homeowners would beg to differ.
"We have new windows and the screens are full of dust," said Park Street East resident Lyall Gilmour as he used his garden hose to soak the gravel in front of his house.
Gilmour said his section of the street was torn up more than six weeks ago. Last week he's tried to keep the dust in check with his hose. "My neighbours do it too," he said. "I don't understand why they can't go by every two hours with a water truck."
Solomon said the dusty streets have spurred a few calls to his office.
"We've had some complaints, but I think in general people are very understanding, considering the magnitude of this project and the rain every other day," he said. "We've asked the contractor to get his water truck out. If it gets drier we'll have to get on top of it."
PRESCOTT The 2000 Sunday Summer Concerts at the Prescott Kinsmen Amphitheatre are under way. The schedule is: Carm Aubé Band of Cornwall on July 23 and the local area's Daeladen Dixie Consort on July 30. July concerts begin at 7 p.m.
In August, as the days become shorter and the nights cooler, the Sunday concerts will begin at 6:30 p.m. Keyboard and accordion player Henry Schmuck of Maitland will perform Aug. 6, the Fabulous BelAirs on Aug. 13, Brockville's Tom Wilson and Border Bluegrass on Aug. 20 and the Codes-Running Kind on Aug. 27. Organizer Norm Fortier noted that Henry Schmuck, Tom Wilson and the Codes have large local followings, and the BelAirs are a new addition to the lineup this year.
All of the concerts are free to spectators, which is possible due to the donations of supporting organizations as well as private donors, Fortier said.
PRESCOTT Wellington Woods-area residents are encouraged to attend a planning and development committee meeting next week, when the proposed rezoning of land north of Wellington Woods and Massie Drive will be discussed.
Coun. Evelyn Dales, chairwoman of the committee, invited everyone to attend to hear an update on the proposal. Businessman Don Gibson has applied to rezone the land from residential to commercial. Earlier this summer when the proposed rezoning was first discussed during a public meeting, dozens of Wellington Woods residents complained that a commercial development would change the atmosphere of their quiet subdivision in the north end of Prescott.
The planning and development committee meeting will be held next Monday at 6 p.m. For more information, call town hall at 925-2812.
PRESCOTT The Fort Town will have a new parking enforcement bylaw officer next month. At a meeting Monday evening, Prescott council appointed Darwin MacIntyre to replace Tammy Lee Poirier, who is resigning. Poirier was appointed last year. MacIntyre will assume the position as of Aug. 21.
PRESCOTT MacEwen Petroleum has purchased the Econo Gas bar at 965 Edward Street and plans to upgrade the site. On Monday evening, Prescott council approved a site plan agreement for the gas station. Coun. Evelyn Dales, chairwoman of the planning and development committee, reported that MacEwen plans to put in new pumps and a new convenience store.
"It looks quite nice and I think it will help clean up Edward Street and modernize our town," Dales said.
PRESCOTT Join the staff of the Forwarders' Museum for a Heritage Craft Fair Saturday, July 29. Local artists, artisans and antique dealers will be present to sell and show their crafts. Among the artisans are local quilters, rug hookers and a professional blacksmith from out of town. The fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. behind the Forwarders' Museum. Stop by, rain or shine: The fair will take place under a tent, courtesy of the Prescott and Area Lions Club. Admission to the event will be free, but donations toward the museum's Setting Sail for 2000 capital campaign are gladly accepted. Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., help support the museum by buying lunch at the Royal Bank barbecue. All proceeds from the barbecue will go toward the capital campaign.
By MONICA WHITNEY - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT - Digging up other people's family roots has become an intriguing summer job for a summer student at Prescott's Grenville County Historical Society.
Cassandra Macintosh, an OAC graduate from South Grenville District High School, is working her third summer at the Archival Resource Centre, helping the public searching for a glimpse into the past. Located at historic Crane House at Dibble and Edward streets, Macintosh and a team of volunteers delve into days gone by, assisting researchers looking for a connection to their roots, and helping to unearth a home's past or a property's early start.
MacIntosh's summer career placement through Human Resources Development Canada ensures the historical society can remain open for researchers five days per week during July and August. The remainder of the year, the centre is open on Tuesdays.
The resource centre holds a wealth of information on Grenville County, MacIntosh explained. Birth, marriage and death records dating back to the 1830s, voter records, census lists from 1851, accounts of industries and organizations, maps, books, films, newspapers from the 1830s, municipal documents, publications, an extensive photograph collection, and more can all be accessed for a nominal fee.
People from across Canada, including New Brunswick and British Columbia, and from several points in the States, such as Florida, Washington, New Hampshire and Maryland, have come to Prescott searching for answers in their family backgrounds.
MacIntosh said people often want to know where their ancestors lived, where they were buried, and dates and places of births, marriages and deaths.
The historical society has acquired all the holdings of the now-defunct Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Commit-tee, giving it access to a cache of information on local historic buildings.
Some people looking for a safe place for their own collection of family history have been donating their paper records and scrapbooks, so they can be perused by other researchers.
An Industry Canada grant recently enabled the society to set up its own computer system with Internet access. The system draws more researchers' queries to its archives, and makes genealogical information more obtainable. The society's e-mail address is gchs@perth.igs.net.
Staff also welcome telephone and mail enquiries but there is an hourly charge if staff complete the research.
'It's like a big puzzle'
Christine Patten of Winfield, Alberta, was at the archives recently verifying information on her branch of the Stephenson family of Prescott. She calls the archives "a good little genealogy place" and tries to get in about every two years.
"It's interesting because it's your family," said Patten, who has discovered that a Perrin ancestor of hers was a chemist from Worcestershire, England, and replicated an original sauce recipe from India to develop Lea and Perrin's Worcestershire Sauce.
"You kind of get hooked" on history when you discover a valuable piece of information, she said. "It gets you excited, and gets you going to do more. It certainly keeps you motivated. Sometimes you luck out and find a relative you didn't know you had."
Patten said she's always been interested in history and learning more about her Prescott family. "It's a hobby. It's like a big puzzle I'm trying to put together."
Through the historical society, Patten has been able to learn that she is a direct descendent of a United Empire Loyalist, and that copies of wills are available at the land registry office. She said her research would have taken a lot more time and money to accomplish without the resources available at GCHS.
During the summer, the historical society is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Active volunteers assisting with research include Fern Deschamps, Bonnie Gaylord, Sandra Shouldice, Tim Hemsley, Valerie Schulz, Norma Moug and Gordon Swoger.
The centre has its roots in the Grenville Pioneer and Historical Society, which was established in 1891.
BROCKVILLE The Ministry of Natural Resources and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are seeking public input on a plan to develop the first-ever Fish Community Objectives for the St. Lawrence River.
"We want the public and key stakeholders to help us as we develop up-to-date fisheries objectives for this valuable resource," Natural Resources Minister John Snobelen said in a press release.
A series of six public meetings will be held in Ontario and New York State between July 18 and Aug. 3 to review the direction of fisheries management for the St. Lawrence River, from the Thousand Islands area to Lake St. Lawrence.
MNR shares responsibility for managing part of the St. Lawrence River fishery with NYSDEC. Representatives of both groups will be at the six meetings.
Three meetings will be held in Ontario. The first is Wednesday, July 19 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Caiger's Resort and Fishing Lodge on the Thousand Islands Parkway, and another is planned for the Brockville Rowing Club Tuesday, July 25. There will also be a meeting Aug. 3 at the McIntosh Country Inn and Conference Centre east of Morrisburg. Background material outlining current fisheries issues and relevant scientific information is available at the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission website at www.glfc.org/lakecom/loc/lochome.htm.
PRESCOTT Several activities are planned for area youth this week. Youth for Life has organized a movie night for Wednesday evening, July 19, from 6 to 9 p.m. and a craft day will be held Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. Basketball is scheduled for Central School Friday from 1 to 4 p.m., and you can cool off at the Prescott pool July 24 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Central School will be the scene for a baseball game July 25 from 1 to 4 p.m., and a trip to the YMCA is on July 26. Anyone age 6 to 17 is able to participate in the events. Call 925-2004 for more information.
PRESCOTT The Poker Run will be held on Saturday, Aug. 26 this year. Already, 140 high-speed boats are registered for the event, which usually draws hundreds of spectators to the Fort Town and other Poker Run stops.
"Nothing under 30 feet will be accepted this year," said Mike Boyles of Tourism Prescott. "There's going to be some fancy machines."
Usually, crowds line the harbourfront to watch the speedboats roar into Prescott then leave later the same afternoon.
Also, Tourism Prescott is already beginning to plan another highland band tattoo next year.
ROEBUCK - The Grenville County Plowmen's Association will hold its 81st annual Plowing Match on Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Hall family's Fairview Farm, just west of Roebuck on County Road 21. Augusta township council recently donated $100 toward the event.
Jane Fullarton
At the most recent MERC board meeting, Brad Somers and Wayne Brohman made a presentation on the Millennium Rink located at the MERC Hall.
Somers and Brohman outlined their committee's plans for the rink and the costs involved. The rink group hopes to raise $12,000 to upgrade the rink and make it easier to maintain. Its wish list items include a well, electricity, pump house, spot lights, snow blower, grooming for the banks surrounding the site, and fill and excavation for the site.
Somers explained that the rink is presently part of a natural water course, causing the level of water in it to rise and fall. Some days last winter, the rink flooded itself with rising ground water only to have the ice drop again a few days later as the water underneath ran away.
Somers says the plan is to fill in the hole with sand or crushed stone and level the area, leaving a flat, well drained area that will be dry in spring and summer and will provide a level solid surface that can be flooded to make the rink. The committee was successful in getting $2,500 to do the fill and excavation part of the project. It will receive the $1,600 grant from Augusta council and MERC approved another $900 to complete the work.
Ken Millar, who donated much of the labour and equipment to clear the site last fall, has agreed to help again with this second stage of the project, to be completed by the end of August if the ground dries sufficiently.
Somers says that the potential for this site is unlimited, and it could have year round appeal if it was eventually paved and basketball hoops installed. For now, though, he is pleased to see the funding for the second stage approved. "Rome was not built in a day," he said.
The rink committee consisting of Wayne Brohman, Bill Mitchell, Dean Young, Mike Humes, Fred Allport, Lorne Smith, Lloyd Chisholm, and Brad Somers plan to meet soon to bring everyone up to date and to plan future fundraising to move their project forward.
PRESCOTT Town council has supported a group urging the government to make improvements to create more railway traffic. The Rail Ways to the Future Committee suggests that for the province to remain competitive, "Ontario desperately needs to play railway catch up." Improving railways to increase rail traffic will provide improved market access, create economic development opportunities, improve geographic equity and reduce road and environmental costs.
Coun. Craig Worden said increased use of the railways would cut automobile traffic and be better for the environment.
PRESCOTT Fort Wellington National Historic Site is presenting the 2000 season of Shadows of the Fort. The history of Fort Wellington, guardian of the St. Lawrence River, comes to life in a series of historical vignettes portraying life in early 19th century Canada.
A guide will take visitors back in time when the fort was a lively site. Along the way, visitors will encounter soldiers, officers, farmers and soldiers' wives. Their hardships and victories will be brought to life.
The show will be offered once a week this season, on Thursday nights from July 13 to Aug. 24. Two performances will be held each evening, at 7:30 and 9:15 p.m. The evening walk through the fort is designed for the whole family. Tickets should be reserved in advance; call 925-2896.
Four teachers Whit Prophet, Bob Tucker, Doug Grant and Lyle Behnke retired from South Grenville District High School in June after working for three decades with local students. During interviews with editor Christine Endicott, they shared their thoughts on their careers and the changes in education and in students since the 1970s. Here are the stories of Whit Prophet and Bob Tucker. Doug Grant and Lyle Behnke will be profiled next week.'They want their dessert, but Grandma's rule was that you eat your vegetables first.'
Whit Prophet grew up in Prescott, graduated from South Grenville District High School in 1960, and initially worked at DuPont. During a downsizing at the plant, Prophet was offered a position in Northern B.C. but instead went to teachers' college.
He began teaching at St. Mary's 29 years ago, then accepted a position at an Oakville kindergarten-to-Grade-6 school. The school was open concept, with 400 people in one room, Prophet recalled. "That was unique, but it wasn't my style."
He later spent 13 years teaching at Thousand Islands Secondary School in Brockville before moving to SGDHS. He enjoyed coaching during his years as a math, science and physical education teacher, although he stopped about eight years ago when his schedule as a technology teacher became too busy.
Prophet excelled at teaching technology and helped set up the school's technology-enriched classrooms, in which Grade 10 students take most of their courses on computers. He was nominated for both the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence and the TVO Teaching Merit Award. As a technology teacher he was able to travel many times, a reward he savoured.
Prophet has witnessed many changes, and up until the past few years, "most of those changes were for the better." However, Prophet said under the new curriculum, students are no longer encouraged to study "arts and those other things you'll do the rest of your lives."
Students have changed as well and are now making "unrealistic demands" on their teachers and want rewards without earning them through hard work. "They want their dessert, but Grandma's rule was that you eat your vegetables first."
However, Prophet said, technology teachers have an advantage in that "the kids were always more interested in computers than math."
The best part of teaching has been meeting with former students 10 or 15 years later, talking to them "and finding out the impact that you really had."
Prophet will continue to teach part-time next fall, instructing an advanced computer-teaching course for Queen's University education students. The course will be offered via the Internet, so Prophet won't have to travel to Kingston. He also plans to spend many hours golfing, curling and reading.
Back in Grade 9 and 10, Bob Tucker was the "fat little kid that the captains didn't pick," he recalled. "Nobody ever wanted me on their team. I had a very low self-image."
However, one of his teachers changed his life forever. The teacher, a track coach, encouraged him to help out as a team manager and train a bit with the team.
This led to workouts, and over time, Tucker pared 50 pounds, dropping from 185 lb. to 135 lb., and he became a confident competitor at high school track and field and cross-country meets.
"I went from being a total non-athlete to being one of the best athletes in the province," he recalled.
Later, after graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce, he had opportunities in banking and accounting but chose teaching, remembering the teacher-coach who had done so much for him.
After two years at the blackboard at CCVS in Cornwall, Tucker accepted a job at South Grenville District High School, where he spent the past 27 years until his retirement in June. He was initially hired as a physical education teacher. About 10 years ago, he broke his leg showing students how to dunk a basketball at the school, was off on sick leave for months, and due to his injuries, he returned as a full-time computer teacher.
Over his 29 years in teaching, one of the most dramatic changes has been in students' behaviour, he said. "They have a concept now of, 'It's my right to do what I want to do.'"
Tucker added, "There are still good kids, but there are more of the other type."
He said he'll really miss "working with the really good kids, the kids who are keen."
Some students are in the computer lab at 7 a.m. and on weekends to do their homework, he noted. "Those kids want to be here, want to learn. They're like sponges."
However, Tucker says the highlight of his work has always been coaching track and field.
"Without being able to coach, this would be a deadly boring job at times. I've had some incredible kids to work with in coaching."
He gained a provincial reputation in coaching and spent on average 42 weekends a year with his track athletes, travelling with them to meets throughout Ontario. In fact, Tucker enjoys coaching and refereeing so much he plans to continue running the track club in Brockville and working as a referee.
Tucker is upset by the Harris government's changes to the education system and would not recommend teaching to anyone.
His advice to new teachers? Find a job in the U.S.
"This is not going to be a very nice place to teach for the next four to five years. The environment has gone to the dogs, so to speak."
Bill 74 gives far too much authority to principals, and "eventually someone will abuse it," he said.
He also said giving teachers more courses and more students is a mistake and will hurt the students.
"I'm lucky to be retiring. If I had not been retiring, I would have worked in the States."
Instead, during his retirement, Tucker will continue coaching and refereeing and enjoy his hobbies, which include golf and cooking.
AUGUSTA Police were called to a break, enter and theft from a residence on County Road 2 in Augusta Township July 4 at about 11:55 a.m. A 9.9 Evinrude outboard motor, 12-foot Springbok aluminum boat and Broil King barbecue were taken from a storage building.
Grenville OPP Const. Holly Howard is investigating.
AUGUSTA Goods valued at almost $2,600 were stolen from a County Road 2 residence in Augusta sometime overnight on July 5.
Taken were a microwave, television, lock box containing personal papers, a compact disc player portable stereo, compact discs, a cordless whipper snipper, canned foods and jewelry.
Const. Mike Mulkins of the Grenville OPP is investigating.
AUGUSTA - A vehicle which had been reported stolen just a few hours earlier from Kanata was found damaged at a gravel pit near Limerick Forest July 6 at about 7:30 a.m. The black 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup was extensively damaged.
OPP Const. Tara Samis is investigating.
AUGUSTA - Grenville OPP were called to investigate a theft from a residence on County Road 15. A yellow and green John Deere riding lawn mower, valued at $5,000, was taken sometime between July 1 and 2. The mower is a model 185, with a 42-inch cut. Anyone with information is asked to contact Const. Chuck Doran at Grenville OPP.
AUGUSTA - Police and ambulance personnel were called to a motor vehicle collision on County Road 15 July 2 at about 12:19 a.m. However, the driver and occupants could not be found at the scene. The 1998 Toyota, four-door red vehicle involved in the crash had been stolen from Brockville July 1.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Const. Matt Robinson at Grenville County OPP or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
AUGUSTA - Grenville OPP were called in to investigate the theft of a snow machine from two outbuildings at a residence on Branch Road of Augusta Township June 28.
Taken was a red 1994 Bombardier Formula 583 STX, yellow ski skins, with new upgraded suspension SC10, studded track, valued at $2,700; an orange and black Poulin chain saw, 14 or 16-inch blade, valued at $300; and a yellow Homelite chain saw with a 14-inch blade, valued at $200. Const. Tara Samis is investigating.
I may be somewhat biased because my niece, Amber Windsor of Cardinal, and nephew, Kevin Beach of Johnstown, are part of the performance, however, if you are looking for an entertaining evening at the theatre, try to make it to the St. Lawrence Stage Company's performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream-coat.
This stage performance is exhilarating. Adam Furfaro has taken a group of 21 professional actors, combined them with 41 incredible (bias has been acknowledged) amateur performers, an orchestra of 10 and a production crew of 16. Eighty-eight people came together to create this amazing technicolour theatre experience. If you have never been to a theatre performance before, this is a great show for all ages.
What an evening! Children were bopping in their seats and adults were clapping to the beat! I watched the beaming face of a five-year-old, Alexandra Wy-nands, during this performance. You could not help but coming out of that theatre smiling!
Imagine taking 41 young amateur performers and co-ordinating their talents for a two-hour performance. These children did more than simply sing. They embellished spirit upon the truly professional performance of Paula Wolfson (narrator) and Steven Gallagher (Joseph). And the band never missed a beat.
If Joseph is any sign of what is to come this season in Brockville, the summer will be a great one for patrons. Adam Furfaro is directing all three plays this year, according to the theatre brochure, and if Joseph is any indication of the quality of future productions, they too should be great.
Margaret Taylor
Cardinal
Myron Dennis Beach, of 800 Claxton Terrace, Prescott, died July 3, 2000 at Brockville General Hospital in his 73rd year.
Mr. Beach was born Feb. 29, 1928 in Hyndman, the son of Myron Beach and Laurel Colbourn.
He is survived by his wife, the former Dorothy Marion Kirker, whom he married Nov. 5, 1955; three stepchildren, Douglas Kirker (Thelma) Duane Kirker, Lorna Ewart (Raymond) and 10 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents and an adopted brother, Robert Beach.
While living in Edmonton, Mr. Beach was the service manager for Boychuk Transportation. After retirement, the Beaches moved to Ontario, where Dennis became co-owner of a standardbred racehorse named Silent Patsea, which he enjoyed jogging. Mr. Beach was also an avid bingo player.
Friends called at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, July 4, 2000. The funeral service was held in the chapel July 5 at 2 p.m., with Rev. Blair Paterson officiating. Interment followed at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland.
The pallbearers were Lawrence Wallace, Lyle Simzer, Robert Kirker, Darin Kirker, Reg McIlvenna and Howard (Cap) Sayeau.
Memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated.
PRESCOTT The Forwarders' Museum staff is renovating the basement to create a new storage cupboard but needs one door. If anyone in the community has a door that could be donated, call 925-5788.
Weekly sampling of the area's public bathing beaches by the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit began June 19. The beaches are monitored weekly throughout the summer season up to and including Labour Day. Public swimming areas to be monitored in Leeds and Grenville include: Camp Hyanto, Kendrick Park, Lyn Valley Park, Lower Beverly Lake Parks A and B, Mallorytown Landing, Portland Campbell Street Beach, Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Beach, Schur's Pond, South Crosby Beach, St. Lawrence Park, Westport Lion's Club Beach and Merrickville Beach.
Every week, five water samples are collected from each beach and the results analyzed for E. coli bacteria. If the bacteria level exceeds the bathing water standard, the swimming area will be posted as "Unsafe for Bathing" and the sign will remain until test results indicate the water quality has recovered, the health unit reported.
Research has shown there are more ear, eye, nose and throat infections in swimmers in water at beaches with high E. coli levels. Blue green algae bloom, poor water clarity and accidental spills of pollution are also assessed and evaluated to determine water quality.
Deputy Mayor Jo-Anne Beckstead, on holding a referendum on the casino question
It's a good thing we are not holding our breath for facts and figures on the town hall project from Mayor Doug Hayes. Two weeks ago, the mayor allegedly charged that he provided some figures or facts that the Journal has not published, but despite our requests for information, the mayor's letter to the editor has yet to arrive, and he breathed not a word to us about it at the meeting Monday night. We scoured other newspapers, thinking surely they had received the information we had not, but it is mysteriously missing.
This is not surprising, given how little information council has provided on the town hall issue since we began asking questions many months ago. The meagre information provided at the public meeting in June was printed in the Journal, and the architect's estimate of $900,000 to $1.7 million not including demolition costs has been the only figure provided by council at all, despite the Journal's requests for information. Indeed, we were the only newspaper to cover the entire public meeting in April and devoted considerable space to the information provided and the public's comments. We did the same in June.
One of our key arguments in editorials and columns (not articles, Doug) has been that the council has not provided enough information on the issue. In February, we called for public meetings. In April and again in June, huge numbers of residents turned out for both public meetings on the issue, indicating that taxpayers are very concerned about council's actions. We covered the mayor's speech and even quoted his figure of $1.34 million to renovate the counties building, which he said is similar in size. (See the June 28 issue, page 1, Your Worship. It's there.)
The truth is that the editorials and columns have helped stir public debate on the issue that's what newspapers are for and this debate has created heat for the mayor. In turn, he is doing what politicians in trouble often do: blaming the messenger. It's so much easier than answering the public's questions.
Before Coun. Frank Whiten reintroduces his motion to rebuild a town hall on the present Dibble Street site, before the mayor and other councillors vote on his motion, we'd like to see the information councillors are using for their decision. We'd also like a public statement about why council appears to be ignoring the 72 per cent of voters at the June 22 meeting who indicated they are in favour of renovating the present structure.
Councillors, you've been putting it off long enough. Do your homework. Release those figures, Doug.
Christine Endicott
Jeff Lee
When you are young, things just seem easier to learn, whether it's walking, talking, golf or tennis. For some reason, once you get "older," picking up a new racket just isn't like the old days.
Which I guess is, looking back, why my Dad would chant religiously, "Try this, try that." Because you have to learn it when you are young or it will be too late. Whether it is ever too late is another issue, but many feel that it's tougher to teach an old dog new tricks. It seemed Dad's incantation would drone on as I was carted to and from soccer, hockey, tennis or whatever.
'Whatever' seemed to be the mindset at the time. Whatever was fun was the sport that I was into at the time and stayed into, which I think is good for parents to remember when their child wants to learn ballet or the guitar or baseball. Obviously, children need guidance from their parents but the grown ups aren't the ones kicking the ball or spiking the ball. If they really are insistent about participation, then maybe they should think about lacing up the running shoes.
Often you can tell if someone had learned their game at an early age. It seems that they move differently, sense things differently, react differently.
But what is the point of all the sweat and toil, batting a ball around the court or crossing the finish line of a race, when your friends are hanging out on the jungle gym or at the corner store? Perhaps at one point there was the chance of a career in the sport, but that can't be the reason why sport is done.
Or is it? I guess that is part of the motivation, reaching the ultimate goal, whether it be the Olympics or the majors. But realistically, after the pinnacle of one's run in a sport, making it to a regional level or higher or staying in the minors, lessons are learned. There are the old clichés: It doesn't matter whether you win or lose, etc. Or, play hard or go home.
But it does matter if you win or lose, because at some point and the point varies from person to person, winning is important. Winning is fun, but yes winning isn't everything. At some point, you might end up losing more than you win.
Regardless if you started early or not, whether you are winning or not, as long as you are having fun, play hard and then go home.
John A.H. Morris
We were starting to piece together the history of the Prescott Golf Club last week and to find out who the initial Fort Town duffers purchased the land for the original course from, we had to contact our main living source of Prescott history, Theodore Shaver. And this produced an interesting vintage Prescott vignette.
Theodore not only knew that the farm known originally as The Pines was purchased from the CNR, and not only knew that the CNR owned large quantities of land on both sides of the tracks from Edward Street down past Charlie Leeder's farm, but also had an interesting story to tell us, circa early 1920s.
Guess we could say that Theodore had one of the earliest milk delivery routes in Prescott, but his was on the hoof, but it was twice a day.
For about three years, starting in 1920 when he was 11 years old, Theodore had a spring-summer-fall job of driving a small herd of individually-owned milk cows to and from The Pines twice a day for milking, to the homes of those who owned them.
The cows were kept in the barns on their owner's property during the winter months, and then pastured at The Pines from about the first of May until freeze-up in November. Not only was there good grazing in the pastures at The Pines, but there were also year-round springs providing a plentiful supply of cool water.
This farm bordering Boundary Street, on which the original nine holes were built, was rented from the CNR by Jack Woods, who in turn sublet it to Prescott residents for $5 per cow for the summer.
For his four trips a day from his home on Walker Street to Boundary Street, Theodore noted he was paid 50 cents a month for each cow.
"At the first of each month, I was the richest kid in town," he recalled with a chuckle, "but I had to do a lot of walking for that 50 cents and it was every day, rain or shine, from May to November, and without a day off."
The cows, he told us, were mostly Jerseys, with a few Ayrshires, and Fred Kelly had the only Holstein. After a week or two, Theodore recalled that the cows got to know the routine and where they lived, and this made his job a lot easier.
Like a paperboy recalling his east end route, Theodore remembered most of the milk cow owners of 80 years ago and where they lived.
His daily route would take him from the Park Street gate at The Pines up to Prince Street, and then north to Wood Street. His first 'drop off' was on Wood Street at the home of Dave Hall, the father of Bill Hall who worked at Wallace's Hardware for many years. Next customer was Mr. King, father of Alfie King who owned a pool room in Prescott prior to WWII. His next stop along Wood Street was at the home of Ellis Scott, grandfather of the late Bob Scott.
After crossing Edward Street, he delivered the Holstein to Fred Kelly's home. Mr. Kelly had one of Prescott's first taxis, located at the corner of Wood and Edward streets. It was then down to Park Street to leave another mobile milk dispenser at the home of Mr. M. Brasford, the first house west of where Margaret Morris lives today.
His last delivery was to his own family home on Walker Street where, after leaving Brasford's he continued west on Park to George, then north to Wood and west to Walker. When asked if he had to milk his own cow, he said he was allowed to rest while his mother did the milking, and then in about half an hour he was on his way again to reverse his route. He noted it was mostly the women of the households who did the morning and evening milking.
For families with a property large enough to accommodate an outbuilding that could house a cow in the winter months, this was an inexpensive and convenient milk supply.
And probably the last of the domestic herders in Prescott was Sarah "Sadie" Graham, a Mayfield Retirement Home resident, who recalled on the weekend that she guided Dr. Wm. Taugher's Jersey to and from the doctor's acreage on Boundary Street (now Fairways subdivision) on a twice-daily basis during the summer, from 1930 to about 1950. Dr. Taugher's residence was the large stone building on the corner of Dibble and Centre streets.
Although she could not remember their names, she said there were about five other people who kept milk cows at the same place during the 1930s and 40s.
These anecdotes of Prescott's past sounded much more labour-intensive, but more romantic than toting home a four-litre plastic bag of milk from Beckers today.
CARDINAL A local athlete with a passion for water skiing has overcome all the odds to once again participate in his favourite sport.
Just two years ago, Jim Pakeman was involved in a serious water skiing accident that would sink his plans to compete at the national level that season. His lower left leg was cracked in more than 30 places while running a slalom course he had set up in the old canal near his Centre Street home.
Pakeman explained the June 7, 1998 accident happened during a turn in the course. He had been skiing behind a boat driven by his friend with his girlfriend, Sarah Charbot, acting as spotter. His back foot came out of his boot, while the front stayed locked in the binding, causing the ski to twist. "The ski turned right around and so did my leg," he said.
The injured Pakeman couldn't be lifted into the boat since his leg was still securely attached to the ski by his boot, and he had to remain in the water for about 20 minutes before the boot could be unscrewed from the ski. Members of the Cardinal Fire Department and an emergency crew waited on shore, where his leg was splinted and Pakeman was transported up a large hill by stretcher to a waiting ambulance.
Pakeman spent a week in hospital, and couldn't put any weight on the leg for the next three months. He started extensive rehabilitation in Oct., 1998, which included stretching exercises, walking and swimming. He still carries the hardware in his leg - a plate and 15 screws to hold the leg together. A heavy scar stretches from his ankle to his knee.
The first year after the accident, Pakeman said he "took it easy" with the sport. But now at age 22, Pakeman is finally on his way to the national championships that had slipped out of his grasp.
"I was a little depressed about that," he said. "It's something you work a long time to get." The year of the accident, 1998, would have been the first year he could have qualified for the nationals. He started water skiing in Grade 2, slalom skiing in Grade 6, and had been training several days per week.
He started training again in February, 2000 with a water skiing camp in Texas, and in early spring with a one-week trip to a private ski lake in North Carolina. Pakeman regularly practices at a private water ski course east of Iroquois, and makes a weekly trip to the Gloucester Water Ski Association.
"A normal person would just rest until it's all healed," he said. "(My leg) is as good as it's going to get. It doesn't actually bother me a whole lot."
A strong showing at a tournament at Sunset Lake south of Ottawa four weeks ago qualified him to advance to the National championships, to be held in Winnipeg August 16 to 20. Pakeman and his friend Tim Mills of Prescott, both competed at a tournament in Cambridge just two weeks ago. Mills standing at that event allows him to move on the Ontario championships at Safari Lake in the Toronto area, to be held at the end of July.
Pakeman can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour while slalom skiing, and also trick skis, which is performed on a short, flat ski, with no fins on the bottom. He is a Water Ski Canada member, and also a member of the Ontario Water Ski Association.
Pakeman's high ratings have enabled him to secure a partial sponsorship with HO skis, giving him discounts on ski equipment. With the bindings, the equipment can cost over $1,000.
Pakeman skis behind a V-8, 300-horsepower professional ski boat, with the motor in the centre, rather than at the stern.
Since his accident, Pakeman has turned to a releasable binding, similar to a downhill snow ski binding. "If you have a hard fall, you release out of it," he explained.
Pakeman pursues his passion not for medals or trophies, but for personal pleasure and satisfaction. He said he enjoys the independence of the sport, where he can rely on his own performance, and not other team-mates for his ratings.
"I just love it. I don't think there's any better sport than this. It's just a lot of fun, and there's nothing better to do on a hot summer day."
Pakeman is a fifth-year electrical apprentice with his father's, James Pakeman's business, Iroquois Electric. In September, he's going on to Brock University in St. Catharines to study sports management, with a vision of a career in the sports equipment distribution industry.
By MONICA WHITNEY - Journal Staff Writer
CARDINAL - The village's swim team, in existence since about the late 1940's, will not be offered this year in Cardinal.
The recreation committee of council decided at a meeting last week the popular Sea Sharks program would have to cut because of a staffing shortage at the pool.
"Safety wise and liability wise, it was not feasible to do it," said committee member Donna Gladstone. "Due to the fact we normally have six (lifeguards), and we're only four strong this year, cuts had to be made."
The current pool staff each work between 43 and 45 hours per week now, just to keep lessons and public swims operational, Gladstone said. One additional lifeguard wouldn't be enough to allow proper instruction for the Sea Sharks daily practices and weekend swim meet times, she explained.
The municipal office did not receive any applications for another pool lifeguard position with the proper certification, she said.
Village councillor and recreation committee member Joe Scott said keeping the swim team this year would have been "just too hard on the present staff. You don't like to chop programs, but it's purely because we wouldn't have enough staff. We were lucky to open the pool this year.
"It's unfortunate," said Scott. "I hope in the future we get a better response" to advertisements for pool staff.
Louise Bonvie, a Cardinal parent who fought to keep the swim program afloat, said she was "very disappointed" by the decision to cancel the team. "I think it's something that could have worked.
"I was surprised they could vote down our plans sight unseen. I was very shocked at that." Bonvie explained a parent committee had offered qualified community volunteers and former pool staff with accreditations to run the program. "We certainly made that point to them."
Bonvie said she has registered her two boys, ages six and nine, for the Johnstown swim team. However, she said she was charged the out-of-town resident fee of $40 for each child, even though the pool is in Edwardsburgh Township. Under the new amalgamation agreement between Edwardsburgh and Cardinal, the village pool had waived the out-of-town fee for Edwardsburgh residents.
In a letter to the Editor of the Prescott Journal, Bonvie said the swim team was a community within the community. "Families from all over our village drew together to support the team, rain or shine," she stated in the letter. "There were no barriers or distinctions, for those few weekends each summer one colossal unit came out to cheer on its 50 or so children.
"It didn't matter if you placed first, last or somewhere in the middle, your parents and grandparents cheered, yelled and were proud of you," Bonvie wrote. "How empowering that must be. Can you imagine being able to spend your childhood weekends in such a safe, caring environment?
"Somehow that increasingly elusive sense of pride and community was captured at those meets and celebrated.
"I really don't think they (the council) know what they've done," Bonvie wrote in her letter.
Cardinal grandparent Marie Tousant is angry over the recreation committee's decision. "I feel it's time the council lets the children have this involvement in the community seeing it's their future.
"Half a dozen people have the say of our grandchildren's future," Tousant said. "It's not fair these people (the council) should have the say. It's the community who should have had a say when it's a community pool."
Tousant has organized a letter campaign with local children who have been members of the Sea Sharks. She plans to forward the letters to the council members.
Wrote 10-year-old Amanda Riddell: "Why did you take our swim team away? I look forward to seeing my friends at the swim team meets, and showing my parents and grandparents my swimming. My parents are very proud of me."
"I signed up for swimming lessons because I wanted practice for the swim team," wrote eight-year-old Brittney Myers. "I think it's wrong to take it away. My family is proud of me when I swim. The lifeguards want it too, so give it back!"
Other children shared thoughts on not wanting to join the Prescott or Johnstown swim teams because of the distance, and they felt a devotion to represent Cardinal at swim meets.
"Why did you take our Cardinal swim team away?" wrote Amber Myers, 13, to the council. "Now there's not even half of the kids in swimming lesson because they have nothing to work towards and nothing to prove!
"Most of us meet lots of new friends there and that's the only chance we have to see them. And now this year you're going to be seeing everybody at the ramps and on the streets, when you could see them getting along, helping each other, and co-operating."
CARDINAL - Village and Edwardsburgh residents will be reaping the benefits of an active and strong Cardinal Public Library this year, thanks to a progressive support group and a healthy municipal budget.
The Friends of the Library group organize bingos twice monthly in support of the library. Recent projects for the group have included replacing books damaged by water from a leaky roof, the installation of a new furnace and central air conditioning, and a more accessible public washroom, new carpeting and additional storage cupboards are in the works.
Group members include Brenda Murray, Joan Coughler, Ed Hitchenson, Marguerite Dodge, Dorie Coons, Howard Coughler and Catherine Hogan.
The library offers one internet computer with word processing and e-mail capabilities, and two more computer stations are on the way through the Gates Foundation Library Initiative program and the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation.
No cuts were made to the library's budget by the municipality this year, so the facility can continue to offer readers new material, librarian Margaret Ann Gaylord said.
All books are now computer catalogued using the Athena program, and book-borrowing is completely automated through an electronic scanner.
The library can also offer the inter-library loan program through other libraries in Eastern Ontario. The collection of large-print books is changed every four months through the Southern Ontario Library System, and audio tapes are available as well.
Gaylord credits former librarian Madeline Kennedy for an extensive and complete reference/non-fiction section. "She had a good handle on buying reference books. There are very few holes in here unless it's a new subject. Very seldom someone comes in here and we can't find" the information, Gaylord said.
Kennedy was the librarian from 1957 to 1987, and continued as a board member until 1996.
The current library staff also includes clerk Joanne Graham and Rachel Walter, who runs the children's reading program.
Story times take place Saturday mornings from 11 a.m. to noon, and for the month of August the program will be offered Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m.
The library is open Monday and Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., and 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
IROQUOIS - A rumour that the terry towel production plant in Iroquois is closing could not be confirmed or denied this week by the vice-president of manufacturing, Walter Bailey.
The St. Lawrence Corporation company executive did say, however, the privately owned operation is "dealing with a legal issue" he was "not at liberty to discuss. It's a sensitive situation we're dealing with," Bailey said.
The issue will hopefully be resolved by the time employees head back to work at the end of plant shutdown Aug. 8, he said.
The company employs about 300 people and produces various sized terry towels for major department stores.
The plant at Bath and Carman Road has been called St. Lawrence Corp. for about two and a half years, Bailey said. Over the years it has been known as C.S. Brooks Corp., Caldwell a Division of Dominion Textile Inc., and Caldwell Linen Mills Inc.
The firm has been manufacturing textile products since 1923, and has been at its present location since about 1954, Bailey said. Terry towels were introduced in the mid-1940s, and after the late 1960s, the company began producing terry towels exclusively.
New adult fiction books purchased by the Cardinal Public Library since the spring, include:
Le Manage, by Diane Johnson
To Cut a Long Story Short, by Jeffry Archer
All or Nothing, by Eliz Adler
Saul, by Rosemary Kay
Riley, by Catherine Cookson
Death in Lover's Lane, by Carolyn Hart
Devils Food, by Janice Weber
Song of the River, by Sue Harrison
The Devils Cure, by Kenneth Oppel
Kidnap, by L.R. Wright
Special Circumstances, by Sheldon Siegel
The Edge, by Catherine Coulter
Listen to Your Heart, by Fern Michaels
The Empty Chair, by Jeffery Deaver
Off the Mangrove Coast, by Louis L'Amour
Beyond the Great Snow Mountains, by Louis L'Amour
Act of Faith, by Exica James
Marrying the Mistress, Joanna Trollope
Easy Prey, by John Sandford
Standoff, by Sandra Brown
Nightshade, by John Saul
Rainbow Days, by Josephine Cox
The Search, by Iris Johansen
Anil's Ghost, by Michael Ondaatje-
The Camino, by Shirley MacLaine
The Run, by Stuart Woods
Mystical Rose, by Richard Scrimger
Sinister Tide, by Colin Forbes
The Vineyard, by Barbara Delinsky
Second Silence, by Eileen Gouge
Circle of Three, by Patricia Gaffney
The House of Hope Street, by Danielle Steele
New books in the children's department in the What to Expect When series by Heidi Murkoff, include, Mommy's Having a Baby, You Use the Potty, and You Go to the Doctor.
Other new children's books are:
Franklin and the Baby and Franklin's Bicycle Helmet, by Paulette Bourgeois
White, by Rosie Thomas
My Leafs Sweater, by Mike Leonetti
MORRISBURG - Just in time for summer holidays, Upper Canada Village will open its Children's Activity Centre for July and August.
This added enhancement to an already fun-filled experience at Upper Canada Village offers hands-on fun for youngsters of all ages while learning about their past.
Located at the east end of UCV, the centre provides families with an entertaining stop during their trip around the site. Already in its 9th year of operation, the Children's Activity Centre has seen thousands of kids and adults alike join in its daily activity sessions, where friendly staff assist visitors as they explore a variety of historic props, clothing, games and activities.
Children can learn about and handle many of the tools they may have seen during their visit to other parts of the Village. A favourite activity is tin-punching, the art of punching decorative patterns into pieces of tin from the tinshop. Other pastimes at the centre include hand-carding wool that came from the same sheep in the pasture next to the activity centre, or sewing pin cushions. Little artists will enjoy drawing on slate boards typically used in the one-room schoolhouse, or mastering the art of writing with a quill pen.
Visitors can also dress up in clothing such as fancy hats, hoop dresses and button-flap pants, and learn the fun way about the fashions of the 1860's. Children can also play with the toys or games popular with families of the era.
The Children's Activity Centre makes a visit to Upper Canada Village an ideal day-trip for families, offering a fun, hands-on way to learn about the past during their stay. It is open seven days a week, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is included in the regular admission price to UCV.
Some of the games found at the centre are available for purchase at the Village Store. In addition to three food facilities on-site, Upper Canada Village Heritage Park also provides plenty of picnic area. Outside the village gates, families can hop aboard the ever-popular miniature train, or take a cruise on the St. Lawrence River on the Villager cruise boat.
PRESCOTT The South Grenville Jr. 'B' Rangers will be holding their 1st annual golf tournament on Saturday, August 12 at the Prescott Golf course.
The tournament format is a four person scramble. As well as golfing, there will be prizes and contests, including a Via Rail trip draw. The registration and entry fee is required by July 31. For more information, call Paul Irvine at 925-2630, Ron Gilmer at 657-3070 or George Willard at 925-3719.
In Under 6 (junior tyke) action on Saturday, July 15, Brent Scott Insurance played Beck's Construction to a 2-2 tie. Scoring for Brent Scott were Chris Hendriks and Moranda Campbell. Scoring for Beck's were Trevor Moore and Michaela Mills.
Tichborne Auto Supply beat Grenville Fish and Game 5-2. Tichborne's Paton Marriner scored three, while teammate Tobias Barkley scored two. Patrick Purcell scored two for Grenville Fish and Game.
Playit Star beat Lanes Smoke Shop 4-1. Playit's Alex Stephenson and Nathan Peters each scored two. Lane's Emily Colwell scored one. Tropical Pool Service sunk Hometown Heating 3-0. Scoring for Tropical Pool were Andrew Moulton with two and Brandon Hurlett with one.
In game two action Saturday, Grenville Fish and Game beat Hometown Heating 4-1. Joey Sargent scored three of Grenville's four goals. Rebecca Fillion picked up a single. Christian Saumier scored for Hometown.
Brent Scott Insurance edged out Tropical Pool Service 3-2. Chris Hendriks scored two for Brent Scott Insurance, while Erin Merkley picked up a single. Tropical Pool's Ryan Shannon and Andrew Moulton each picked up singles.
Prescott Chiros beat Playit Star 4-1. Chiros' Spencer Merkley scored two, while teammates Cameron Letts and John Heyman each scored singles.
Tichborne Auto Supply beat Beck's Construction 3-0. Payton Marriner was on fire, scoring all three goals for Tichborne.
Under 8 (senior tyke)
Windmill Web Spiders beat Johnstown Duty Free 2-0 in Monday, July 10 action. Spiders' Kurtis Lavery and Dillan Render each scored singles.
Playit Star burned SLP Printing Devils 3-0. Scoring for Playit were Scott Stephenson, Carli Joudoin and Jessica Dunnington, each with singles.
DBL Computing registered a 3-1 win against Prescott IDA. Ryan Van Stralen had two for DBL. Teammate John Jackson had one. Cory Wilson scored one for IDA.
Freer Electric beat Grenville Pharmacy 6-1. Mitchell Grant netted four goals, while Keith Ditchbourn scored two for Freer. Megan Graham scored for Grenville Pharmacy.
In Wednesday's action, DBL Computing notched their second win of the week as they beat Grenville Pharmacy 4-1. Josh Pitt scored three for DBL, while teammate Ryan Van Stralen scored the single. Michael Morrell scored for Grenville.
Freer Electric beat Johnstown Duty Free 4-2. Mitchell Grant scored two goals for Freer, while teammates Keith Ditchbourn and Lindsay Byers each scored singles.
Windmill Web Spiders beat the Colour Pallette 7-1. Windmills' Sean Perrin scored four. Singles went to Hayden Servage, Deanna Molson and Ronnie Harrison. Jacob Scott scored for the Colour Pallette.
It was lights out for Prescott IDA as Playit Star took the 6-1 win. Playit's Scott Stephenson scored four goals, while teammates Jessica Dunnington and Nathan Purvis scored singles. IDA's Corry Wilson scored a single.
Under 10 (atom)
TD Bank beat Splash Well Drilling 2-1. Collin Grand scored two for TD, while Josh Perrin picked up the single for Splash Well.
Kriska Transport rolled over Becker's 5-1. Kriska scoring went to Daniel Norton, Joel Smylie, Alanna Lasenba, Chris Noonan and Bradley Carrier, all with singles. Andrew Bernard scored Becker's lone goal.
Prescott Kinsmen beat Prescott Kiwanis 6-0. Torin Marcynuk scored five, while Dory Smith scored one.
Beach Home Hardware tied Bank of Montreal 3-3. Beach's Kristian Knapp scored two, Payton Williams scored the single. Jordan Grootjans scored three for Bank of Montreal.
In other Monday, July 10 action, Mac's Hansen Cavity Kickers played to a 2-2 tie. Mac's Evan Modler and Mason Amell each scored for Mac's. Jacob Temple scored for Hansen Cavity Kickers.
Prophet's Trophies beat Royal Bank 3-0. Prophet's Curtis Biccum scored two while Kelsey Dillabaugh.
In Wednesday's action, Becker's beat Splash Well Drilling 5-0. Andrew Bernard scored three for Becker's. Breanna Henry and Sam Brown each had singles.
Prophet's Trophies beat Prescott Kinsmen 7-0. Curtis Biccum scored six goals, while Samantha Dougherty one.
Kriska Transport tied Mac's 1-1. Bradley Carriere scored for Kriska. Mason Amell scored for Mac's
Royal Bank beat Beach Home Hardware 2-0. Brandon Spencer and Hank Heykoop each scored singles.
TD Bank beat Hansen Cavity Kickers 2-1. Jessica Rupert scored two for TD, while teammate Colin Grant scored one. Tyson Wilson scored Hansen's lone goal.
Bank of Montreal beat Kiwanis 8-1. Triples went to Reilly Grootjans and Trent Banchette. Singles went to Jordan Grootjans, Josh Beckstead and Josh Newton.
Megan Colwell scored for Kiwanis.
Under 12 (mosquito)
Delphi Solutions beat TechCan Titans7-0.
Melissa Foudet and Joel Haystead each had two goals, while Michell Mills, Chad Hyland and Amy Mills each scored singles.
The Shriners beat Giant Tiger 3-0. Dustin Curry scored two, while Clayton Dunnington scored one.
DWJ Plumbing beat Seaway Valley Pharmacy 6-2. Josh Joudoin scored three, Jennifer Lamoureux scored two and Jenna Whelan scored one.
For Seaway, Chris Farrell and Joel Jodoin each had one goal apiece.
Shriners beat TechCan Titans 2-1. Dustin Curry and Clayton Dunnington scored singles. Josh Whelan scored for the Titans.
Delphi Solutions beat Seaway Valley Pharmacy 5-2. Chad Hyland scored four for Delphi, while teammate Robert Turpin scored one. Seaway's Brittany McFarlane and Joel Jodoin each scored singles.
DWJ Plumbing and Giant Tiger played to a 4-4 tie.
Scoring for DWJ were Josh Joudoin with two, Jacob Casselman and Mark Wynands each with one. Giant Tiger's Nick Gould scored two, while teammates Rob White and Nick Francica each had singles.
Under 16 (peewee)
On Tuesday, July 11, Kriska Transport beat Gateway Packaging 8-0. Corey Van Hyning scored five for Kriska. Kurt Latimer scored two and Mark Jenkins scored one.
Nitrochem beat Watermark Printing 3-1. Logan Gillard scored two, while Tony Florio scored one.
In Thursday's action, Kriska beat Playit Star 3-1. Kriska's scoring went to Kory Van Hyning, Sherri Davidson and Mark Jenkins. Mike Todd scored for Playit Star.
Nitrochem beat Gateway Packaging 4-2. Logan Gillard scored three, while Ryan O'Brien scored one.
Johnathon McIntosh scored two for Gateway.
Rep Under 13 girls
In Ottawa Carleton soccer action, the Prescott Gunners lost 9-0 to the Nepean Hotspurs on Monday, July 10.
Under-11 boys
In Under 11 boys action, the Prescott Gunners smoked Osgoode-Rideau 9-2
JOHNSTOWN Despite a light rain, the Johnstown Bear Paw swim team were doing their laps at the Johnstown Pool recently.
The Bear Paws were working on their strokes, getting ready for the upcoming season.
The team is open to any age and the only requirement is that those interested in joining must be able to swim one length of the pool, says Brian Robertson, whose the team's assistant coach as well as a life guard/instructor at the pool.
While the overall goal is to increase endurance and skill, the underlying one is just to have fun, says Robertson.
The team trains Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 1 to 2 p.m. Over the course of the summer, it will be involved in a number of competitions, including their own meet on July 29, and other meets in the area pools in Prescott, Winchester and Chesterville.
This year so far the team's ages range from as young 4 to as old as 16 years of age.
For Josh Killick, 13, being part of the team is fun, a sentiment echoed by his teammates Shane McNeely and Rob Verstegen and brothers Ryan and Andrew.
They also agreed that they enjoy the competitive aspect of the team like aiming for the trophies and medals as well as helping pull the team along in the overall points competition during meets.
They are able to do this because of the smaller number of competitors in the older age groups, which enables them to generate relatively more points.
Also, they said, being part of the swim team allows them to meet new people and see old friends from school when they travel to the various meets over the course of the summer.