Soccer mentor Tom Carr scores service award
PRESCOTT - They call him Prescott's "Mr. Soccer."
Tom Carr has been given the Prescott and District Chamber
of Commerce Community Service Award for 2001. The award was presented
Monday night by Pat Dewar at the Prescott and District Chamber
of Commerce awards banquet held at St. Mark's Parish Centre.
Carr has been an integral part of the success of Prescott
& District Minor Soccer, which sees hundreds of youngsters
ages four to 17 from throughout South Grenville participate each
year. The native of Southport, England who arrived in Prescott
in 1962 has been referred to as the heart and soul of minor soccer
in the area since he was asked in 1967 to coach in a fledgling
league for boys.
The list of duties Carr has performed over the years is extensive.
In addition to handling registration, scheduling, equipment management
and fundraising, Carr has also cut grass, lined fields, refereed
and even washed soccer sweaters. He is credited with running
the youth soccer program single-handedly for many years.
Carr said he has enjoyed his involvement with Prescott minor
soccer. It has been a pleasure to see so many children of all
ages take up the sport, he added. There were 120 kids playing
soccer in 1967; that number has grown to 540 playing on 44 teams.
In thanking his family for its commitment to him, Carr also
noted the many businesses which have sponsored minor soccer over
the years. He also thanked his fellow executive members as well
as coaches, referees, children and parents.
Carr is still president of the minor soccer association; the
volunteers who serve on the executive are protective of Carr's
philosophy that the game should be available to and affordable
for each child who wants to play.
Many of the program's graduates now play on the Prescott Gunners
men's team; they have honoured him by naming a most valuable
player award after him. Carr has also worked as a volunteer with
soccer teams based at South Grenville District High School and
Boundary Street Public School.
Carr was inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall
of Fame in 1996.
Business Achievement
Award presented to 730 Truck Stop
PRESCOTT - A thriving business that started with one man and
two diesel fuel pumps has been recognized for its journey on
the road to success.
730 Truck Stop is the recipient of the 2001 Business Achievement
Award presented by the Prescott and District Chamber of Commerce.
Business owner Bob Lodge accepted the award from Lewis Beach
at the chamber's annual awards banquet Monday night at St. Mark's
Parish Centre.
Lodge opened 730 Truck Stop, located on Shanly Road just south
of Highway 401 and north of Cardinal, in July 1987. The original
site included two diesel pumps and a truck shop/garage. Bob was
the sole employee of the business for the first month. He worked
24 hours a day and actually slept in his car beside the pumps.
A diesel mechanic was hired for the truck shop in August,
and a fuel jockey was hired in September.
"We tried to get something going," Lodge told the
audience. "Everybody's given us a chance."
The main office was built in 1990, with the original store
being added in 1992. The 24-hour Road Ranger Restaurant was built
in May 1993. An addition was built on the east side of the restaurant
in March 1996; it housed the truckers' store on the main floor
and corporate offices downstairs.
The original office building now houses a barber shop, flower
shop, insurance office, permit services office; the truckers'
store also offers a CB radio sales and service department.
The original truck shop now houses Premier Peterbuilt trucks.
In all, 730 Truck Stop has more than 22,000 square feet of office
space on 24 acres of land, and employs more than 100 people.
In thanking those who have supported the business, Lodge said
it was very nice to move to this area.
In noting the business has been a boost to the local economy,
Beach said Lodge also contributes to various community groups.
Lodge recently opened a second truck stop near Woodstock that
employs 140 people.
Chamber speaker urges
against resisting change
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT - Resisting change may no longer be an option in
this day of amalgamation and mergers, according to the guest
speaker at the Prescott and District Chamber of Commerce annual
awards banquet.
The presentation by Ray Bushfield capped the banquet held
Monday night at St. Mark's Parish Centre. The event included
the presentation of awards for business achievement, community
service and youth.
Bushfield, who lives in Augusta township, is the owner of
Kaizen Systems. His experience with business mergers and his
assessment of an amalgamation of urban and rural municipalities
in the Chatham area provided the basis for his talk.
In noting the trend towards mergers and takeovers, Bushfield
pointed out things are much different than when our parents were
in the workforce and could expect to work at the same company
until retirement.
Accepting changes to career paths and employers also applies
to the amalgamation of municipalities, according to Bushfield.
In the case of Chatham-Kent, the provincial government forced
the community to make changes. Although he indicated local restructuring
ideas met with some success, Bushfield said being forced to do
something does not work well because people tend to push back
when they feel they are being pushed.
Bushfield noted people are all the same: they are a little
bit paranoid and worried about things, they have a deep and selfish
interest in things and they believe even their friends could
at some point take advantage of them.
But people need to understand they can no longer refuse to
accept change, according to Bushfield. In terms of municipal
amalgamation, there are advantages to being a small part of a
larger municipality. It is easier to deploy services and co-operation
is not the worry it was when smaller municipalities existed,
he noted. Bushfield used the example of a snow plow that will
plow a road and eventually pick up its plow when it reaches a
municipal boundary but continue down that road.
"We just have to get past that, don't we?"
Although he indicated he is not trying to tell everybody to
become one unit, Bushfield said people should not say no to some
opportunity just because they have not done it that way in the
past.
"I hope at least you are thinking about it," Bushfield
said.
Prescott Mayor Robert Lawn shares the view that municipalities
can no longer afford to be independent. He told the audience
it is almost impossible to be independent in this day and age;
interdependence is now the key to survival.
"I think we need to do more with our neighbours,"
said Lawn, who added the community must also work together more.
"We have to get away from this idea of taking sides."
Among those who attended the banquet was Leeds-Grenville MP
Joe Jordan, who said the chamber of commerce is "ahead of
the curve" when it comes to making sure governments represent
the interests of the business community. Jordan also praised
the chamber for its effort to recognize people who give back
to their community.
This year's awards banquet included a silent auction in which
dozens of donated items were up for grabs. Chamber Vice-President
Pat Dewar reported the generosity of donors and bidders enabled
the chamber to raise about $2,350.
The chamber of commerce used to hold its annual general meeting
in conjunction with the awards banquet. However, a decision was
made to separate the two functions; the AGM was held in January.
SGDHS student Emma Parrott wins youth of the
year honour
PRESCOTT - Emma Parrott says she has a great time doing what
she is doing.
The OAC student at South Grenville District High School is
this year's recipient of the Connie Dickey Youth of the Year
Award. The presentation was made Monday night at the Prescott
and District Chamber of Commerce awards banquet by Greg Modler,
who received the award in 1983.
Parrott was recognized for leadership qualities she has displayed
at school and at community activities. Whether it is her volunteer
work helping with meals and personal care of patients at Brockville
General Hospital, a blood donor clinic or as a director of Prescott
Youth for Life, Parrott has shown she can and will make a difference.
In addition to being co-president of the student council at
SGDHS, Parrott has been photographer for the school's yearbook
and a member of the Energizers booster club and the Spirit of
Giving initiative.
Parrott has managed to maintain an honour roll average throughout
her high school career even with her many volunteer commitments
and part-time job. She has also received subject proficiency
awards.
One of her many interests is painting; Parrott has won three
awards for her work at the Spencerville Fair. She also pitched
in at the North Augusta fire hall, an emergency response centre
during the ice storm of 1998.
In accepting the youth award, Parrott said she has enjoyed
the many activities in which she has participated. "Everybody
has been a great help," she added.
Emma is the daughter of Mel and Linda Parrott of Algonquin.
Modler told the audience he still has fond memories of when
he received the award more than 18 years ago.
"That was a night I still cherish and I will never forget."
The youth award was first presented in 1975 in honour of Connie
Dickey, an accomplished young woman from Prescott who was killed
in Toronto during her first year of university. The Caldwell
family established the award to recognize young adults who are
a credit to the community.
Former jet fighter pilot to speak at local high school
PRESCOTT Plans are being finalized for a motivational
speaker to speak in the afternoon of March 29 at South Grenville
District High School.
Maj. Deanne Brasseur (retired), one of the first of two women
in the world to be trained and qualified to fly the CF 18 Hornet,
Canada's supersonic jet fighter aircraft, will use her sense
of humour to "entertain, educate and motivate." Brasseur,
who has 20 years experience as a professional speaker, has appeared
on national television and been heard on radio talk shows.
Brasseur will also speak at 7 p.m., where a dinner meeting
will be held in the Drummond Building in Spencerville. The Spencerville
and District Optimists are sponsoring Brasseur's visit to the
area.
Volunteer firefighter recalls the early days
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
SPENCERVILLE When the Edwardsburgh Volunteer Fire Department
marked the 50th anniversary of its organization in February,
Helmer Reddick was able to feel some pride at the celebration.
He is the only one of 25 charter firefighters, and only one
of eight surviving members, still active in the department.
But Reddick takes it in stride, suggesting that his work for
the fire department and for several other community organizations
has been a routine part of life living in a small community.
"When you're in a small town, you get involved in things,"
he said simply.
While Reddick does not actively fight fires anymore, he responds
to fire calls by being on duty in the radio dispatch room at
the new fire hall just outside Spencerville. He is also involved
in administrative work, looking after the monthly bingos to raise
money for the department and attending meetings. Since 1955,
he has been the secretary-treasurer of the fire department.
Over the past five to six years, the department's bingos have
raised about $100,000 - money that was handed over to the township
for fire equipment purchases and for the new station.
Reddick recalls the first fire the department ever responded
to on March 20, 1951. It was a chimney fire at the stone home
of Stanley Broniszeski near Ventnor, and it wasn't easy for the
men and the new 1950 500-gallon Chevrolet truck to get there.
"The roads were terrible," he recalled. "There
wasn't much gravel on them in those days. It was just awful."
The ruts in the road were about a foot deep, and "the mud
was just flying, but we made it. We did our best."
That first fire truck, which cost $12,364, is still in use
by the department for parades and other ceremonies.
Since telephone service was limited at the time and pagers
did not yet exist, emergency calls were placed through the Leeds
and Grenville Telephone Company office located in Spencerville,
where the present Bell Canada building stands on Spencer Street.
The telephone operator recorded the call and activated the
siren on the top of McAuley's Garage. Herman Baker from the store
located where Hubbard's now stands would then run across the
road for the information slip with the details of the fire, and
then hand it to the fire truck driver as it passed.
Later, fire phones were installed in various businesses and
homes in the village, with the owner having the responsibility
of blowing the siren when a call came in.
The first fire chief was Newman Hammond, although he resigned
after a month. He was succeeded by Morgan Barnard, who had been
the first assistant chief. Charles Willard was the first captain.
The department dealt with nine fires its first year. Just
since January of this year, it has responded to 23 emergency
calls for such incidents as car accidents, carbon monoxide cases,
structural fires and medical assists.
Besides his work for the fire department, Reddick has been
the treasurer for the St. Andrew's Knox Presbyterian Church in
Spencerville since 1956, and was a member of the Spencerville
Fair Board for 23 years, looking after the show horse event.
He has also been the secretary for Nation Lodge No. 556 since
1967. For 37 years he was a village trustee, overseeing such
street maintenance as lighting, sidewalks and garbage collection.
He has been a member of the Grenville Hunt Club since 1967. In
1999, he was honoured by the Spencerville and District Optimist
Club for outstanding volunteer contributions.
Reddick said he's always enjoyed keeping the books for the
various groups, and plans to continue "until they kick me
out and as long as I'm healthy."
Since Reddick retired from CASCO as a laboratory technician
in 1988 after 32 years of work, he's been able to devote day
time hours to volunteer work.
His wife of 50 years, Connie, has also been involved with
the Presbyterian church through the Ladies Aid, and continues
her volunteer work with the Women's Missionary Society. The couple
also enjoys travelling, and have taken several trips, including
to Alaska and Western Canada, Germany and England.
Not content to sit idle, the Reddicks also look forward to
time spent with their family: granddaughters, Kaileigh, 9, and
Michelle, 11, and their children, Robert and his wife Patricia,
who are both teachers at Rideau District High School in Elgin,
and Marilyn Reddick, who is the director of human resources at
Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.
DuPont recognized for
emission reduction
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer
MAITLAND DuPont Canada continues to be recognized for
its ongoing effort to reduce nitrous oxide emissions at its Maitland
plant.
Ottawa-based Voluntary Challenge and Registry Inc. (VCR) awarded
DuPont Canada a Gold Champion Level Reporter certificate. VCR
Inc., a non-profit organization, records and documents the actions
of companies which voluntarily make an effort to address concerns
about global warming and the so-called greenhouse effect.
VCR's mission statement is "To provide the means for
promoting, assessing and recognizing the effectiveness of the
voluntary approach in addressing climate change."
Nitrous oxide is a byproduct of an acid production process
at the plant.
But an initiative with origins dating back a decade enabled
the Maitland plant to cut nitrous oxide emissions by just over
93 per cent last year.
"It's got to be something we can all be proud of,"
said Steve Lauridsen, senior associate engineer, environmental
affairs.
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is considered "a
very potent greenhouse gas," according to Peter Chantraine,
energy and environment manager at the DuPont plant in Kingston.
Global warming gases have been assigned greenhouse potential
factors; in the case of nitrous oxide, is has been deemed to
be 310 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in relation to
global warming.
The company's initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
began in 1991, according to Chantraine. Modifications at the
Maitland plan began in 1996, with the new system going into effect
early in the summer of 1997. The plan was to separate nitrous
oxide back into nitrogen and oxygen and release those elements
into the atmosphere.
Achieving such a dramatic reduction in emissions did not happen
overnight.
The company had to overcome equipment problems in the early
stages of the program; the new technology was the second unit
of its type ever built, according to Lauridsen.
"We knew that we would be on a steep learning curve,"
he said.
But four years later the numbers indicate due diligence has
paid off for DuPont. Nitrous oxide output at Maitland has gone
from 30,000 metic tonnes a few years ago to just under 2,800
tonnes in 2000.
When the potency of nitrous oxide as a greenhouse gas is factored
into the equation, the Maitland plant has cut emissions by the
equivalent of nearly 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per
year.
Environment Canada studies indicate carbon dioxide emissions
in Canada a few years ago were in the range of 500 to 600 million
metric tonnes, Lauridsen noted. Reductions achieved at Maitland
would represent about two per cent of that national emissions
total, he added.
The reduction is nitrous oxide emissions at the Maitland plant
helps put DuPont and Canada in an enviable position, according
to Lauridsen. The local success marks "a substantial move
forward," he added.
The company also received a VCR leadership award in 1999 and
has been recognized by the federal office of energy efficiency.
Town deals with sewage plant problems
PRESCOTT - Town officials are coming up with a plan to deal
with the results of a recent inspection of Prescott's sewage
treatment facilities.
A Ministry of the Environment inspection conducted in late
January and early February included the plant as well as three
pumping stations located along County Road 2. Although the inspection
report sent to the town in late February notes town sewage works
complied with the guideline for primary works, the findings point
to a number of areas the ministry wants addressed.
The report was to be discussed by council at its meeting last
night.
The plant is owned by the municipality and operated by the
Ontario Clean Water Agency.
Recent data has indicated Prescott is at or near the top of
municipalities of its size when it comes to discharges of sewage.
Raw sewage was discharged from the treatment plant and three
pumping stations 42 times last year, according to the report.
Of the 13 incidents reported to the ministry's Spills Action
Centre, 11 were due to rain; one resulted from a motor vehicle
accident, and the other was caused by a pump failure.
"The discharge of raw untreated sewage has the potential
to impact on human health for downstream consumers," the
report states. "It is noted that the shoreline downstream
of this works is well developed with both seasonal and permanent
residences."
However, it goes on to note there were no indications during
the inspection of known or suspected violations of legal requirements
which could affect public health or the environment.
The municipality must initiate an action plan to upgrade its
outdated sewage works, the report states. In a Feb. 20 letter
to Town Engineer Clyde Solomon, Senior Environmental Officer
Robert Michea states the ministry requests municipal staff to
review the report and respond to it in writing within 60 days.
Michea states the number of "bypass events" must
be resolved, and several upgrades to the works are required.
The findings of the inspection do not necessarily come as
much of a surprise to municipal officials. "The report has
confirmed what we have assumed for a long time," Town CAO/Clerk
Andrew Brown said in an interview.
Brown noted the plant was considered state-of-the-art when
it was built in the late 1960s. But standards have changed and
effluent quality has become an integral part of ministry regulations.
Although the facility meets standards for primary treatment,
it does not meet minimum requirements for so-called secondary
treatment. Brown said that form of treatment tends to make less
use of chemicals and more use of filtering and screening to ensure
discharged water is as clean as possible.
The town has already applied for provincial funding to cover
about two-thirds of the costs associated with building a new
sewage treatment plant, a project with an estimated cost in the
range of $15 million. The town would cover the remaining one-third
and recoup any upfront costs from users of the facility.
An answer to the funding request may be received shortly,
town officials have been told.
A proposed motion to be put to council last night calls for
a copy of the compliance inspection report be submitted with
the town's funding application. OCWA representatives are reviewing
the report.
The compliance report also indicates there is an unexplained
increase in water production last year at the town's water treatment
plant. It will become more difficult to comply with ministry
effluent requirements as the sewage treatment facility nears
capacity, the report states.
It is also noted chlorine, used as a disinfectant, is not
being added in proportion to the waste water flow leaving the
plant. There were also seven cases in 1998 and 1999 in which
phosphorous guidelines were exceeded.
Revisions being made
to emergency plan
PRESCOTT - Town officials are in the process of updating the
municipal emergency plan.
The plan of action outlines the steps to be taken by municipal
leaders and emergency response officials to co-ordinate services
in the event of a real or anticipated emergency.
Most of the expected changes to the plan involve names and
phone numbers of individuals and agencies listed in the plan.
However, one item being discussed is where the emergency operations
control group will be based when the plan is activated.
The existing plan notes the control group will assemble at
the fire and police hall at the corner of Centre and Henry streets.
The long-term status of the police station is in doubt as a result
of the proposed disbandment of the municipal police service in
favour of Ontario Provincial Police service. The town is also
proposing to contract out fire dispatch services.
Councillor Garry Dewar suggested at a Feb. 26 meeting of the
community and protective services committee the municipality
may wish to consider designating a portion of town hall as the
operations centre. Councillor Nancy McFarland agreed, adding
a move to town hall would make sense given the condition of the
police building. No formal recommendation was made about the
location of the centre, although it was noted a generator should
be acquired.
Under the existing plan, the mayor is responsible for overseeing
emergency operations. The control group consists of more than
15 individuals who will be responsible for specific emergency
services. Also listed are more than two dozen facilities in and
around Prescott which could be used for temporary accommodations.
The most recent activation of Prescott's emergency plan occurred
during the ice storm of 1998.
Talent show tonight
at high school
PRESCOTT The South Grenville District High School Energizers
Club is sponsoring a talent show at the school Wednesday, March
7 from 7 to 9 p.m.
All grade levels will be participating in the entertainment,
which consists of a variety of dance groups, vocalists and bands,
said organizer Lorna Thain, a Grade 11 student. All acts in the
show had to previously pass an audition.
Proceeds from the show will support a local charity and extra-curricular
activities within the school. Tickets may be purchased at the
door.
Upper Canada school board takes part in pilot project
By Jeff Lee - Journal Staff Writer
BROCKVILLE The Upper Canada District School Board has
been chosen to participate in a pilot project to develop a new
provincial transportation funding formula for school boards.
The UCDSB is part of the first phase of the project, which
includes four other boards throughout the province. The Ministry
of Education will apply the data collected from the participating
boards to several different models to see what the effects are.
Based on the findings, a funding formula will be applied to selected
boards in phase two of the project; the UCDSB participation in
that phase is not known at this time, said Colin Vickers, the
UCDSB's superintendent of education, planning and operations.
Ministry officials visited the UCDSB office in Brockville recently
to look at the board's computerized transportation system.
Currently, the board, which is one of the largest in the province,
still has to fill in gaps. The UCDSB covers 12,000 square kilometres,
bordering the St. Lawrence River to the south, Quebec to the
east, Ottawa-Carleton to the north and the lake district to the
west. And there are townships, for example, that don't use civic
numbers or the Geographic Information System (GIS).
The ministry is going to come up with a series of different
models and see what the effects of the models would be in the
region, taking into consideration such variables as incomplete
or wrong data.
"Sometimes the bridge isn't where you think it is,"
he said, "or there is a swamp at the end of that concession
road because that's the way roads were built, depending upon
who surveyed these things in the 1800s."
He said the expectation is the ministry will then come up
with a formula around the funding, for example, a board with
this density and set of circumstances should get 'X' number of
dollars, which would allow a satisfactory level of transportation.
It will be interesting for the board, he said, to see what
the formula yields around this board's mix of rural and urban
student population. The UCDSB has about 25,000 elementary students
and just less than 14,000 high school students in its 12,000
square kilometres.
Once the funding formula is determined, he said, he anticipates
it will be applied to some or all of the boards in a second phase
of the project.
Vickers said he understands that one stipulation of the new
province-wide formula is that new levels will not be set lower
than current ones.
The UCDSB's transportation funding is more than $20 million,
which is generated on a per-pupil amount from 1997 numbers, funding
will be at least that under the new formula.
However, the board's transportation costs have been creeping
up, Vickers said. This year alone, the board took a big hit with
the sharp rise in fuel cost. The board did received a one-time
grant of about $ 1 million to offset this increase, which was
quickly used.
Vickers said there were three reasons why the UCDSB was chosen
for the project.
"One [reason] is both our trustees, as the sort of elected
politicians, and the administration kept telling the ministry
we need some help around this," he said. "Indeed we
had a shortfall in terms of what we spent in transportation and
what we got in revenue....I believe Joan (Hodge) (who is the
chairwoman and a trustee of the UCDSB) and others on the board
made the point to various people.
"It's not a new point, because it has been an issue for
several years, but I think that kind of advocacy around the issue
has helped move the strategy forward."
Also, because the board is diverse, with its mix of rural
and more urban geography. And the board also usessoftware called
Mapnet, which only a few boards in the province use.
"So if you start to add these things up," he said.
"We were advocating to be considered, they recognized the
board as having some unique features and third we had a certain
kind of software which would allow them [the ministry] test their
models using this software and another board could have their
software tested."
Town officials pleased with operations at
canteen
PRESCOTT The contract to operate the canteen at the
Leo Boivin Community Centre should be extended, a town committee
is recommending.
The current two-season deal with Brian and Dorothy Seeley
ends about a month from now. After reviewing a letter from Mr.
Seeley, the community and protective services committee decided
to recommend an extension.
Prior to the current contract taking effect, canteen operations
were handled by the municipality. Clerk/CAO Andrew Brown told
the committee he has been happy with the service provided by
the operators, adding there have been few if any complaints.
The canteen offers a wider selection and covers more hours then
when the town was running it, according to Brown. The municipality
did not always generate a profit when it ran the facility, it
was noted at the meeting.
Although it was suggested a so-called escape clause be added
to the contract as a safeguard for both parties, town officials
spoke favourably of the service being provided by the Seeleys
and the request for a long-term contract extension.
Under the current agreement, the operators of the canteen
pay the town a monthly rate of a minimum of $500 or 20 per cent
of gross sales, whichever is higher. The contract applies to
the months in which the arena is used.
In requesting a five-year extension to the contract, Seeley
noted in his letter there has been only one month in which a
minimum payment was made to council.
The recommendation was to be included as part of the committee's
report to council last night.
WALKER HOUSE NEWS By Willy Sieling Heuvel
Storyteller will be guest speaker at pot luck lunch
A board of management meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday,
March 8, starting at 10 am. Any concerns? Now is the time to
bring them up!
On Friday, March 9, a pot luck lunch is planned with Mary
Cook as guest speaker at about 1 pm. The lunch starts at noon.
You do not need to be a member of Walker House to attend; everyone
is welcome. Show Mary how much we appreciate reading about her
life in the Depression. See you there.
Our "Irish" dinner takes place right on St. Patrick's
Day Saturday, March 17 starting at 5:30 pm. Reservations must
be in by March 15 at 4 pm. Doug tells me Barb is making "Irish"
sex in the pan for dessert! Wow!
Card game winners last week were: Monday bridge 1st,
Ted Crosbie; 2nd, Andy Britnell; Isabel Locke won the door prize.
Wednesday bridge 1st, Bea Hemsley; 2nd, Audrey Kingston;
who won the door prize? Thursday evening euchre 1st, Jean
Annable; 2nd, Mary Reynolds; 3rd, Hugh Evely; Helen Barr won
the door prize.
PRESCOTT - A St. Patrick's Day celebration will be held Sunday,
March 18 at St. Mark's Parish Centre, corner of Edward and James
streets.
A social hour begins at 6 pm followed by a buffet dinner at
6:30 pm; the meal will include roast beef, potatoes, carrots
and dessert.
Back by popular demand will be Celtic Canucks, a group that
will provide old-fashioned Irish music in honour of the special
occasion.
Proceeds from the event go to Knights of Columbus community
projects.
For advance tickets call 925-3610 or 925-3446.
St. Patrick's Day party at parish hall School
alumni invited to centennial
Indian Road Crescent Junior Public School (formerly Western
Avenue Public School) in Toronto will celebrate its centennial
this October. We are currently preparing for this event and would
like to notify all alumni about this celebration. We welcome
them to attend the celebration and to assist in the planning
phases. Alumni are asked to spread the word so as to reach as
many other alumni as possible.
The celebration will be held at the school, Indian Road Crescent
Junior Public School, 285 Indian Road Crescent, Toronto, on Oct.
20, between noon and 4 p.m.
Alumni and friends who would like to help or who have photographs
and memorabilia to share can reach us by calling (416) 338-4838,
or by e-mail at irc100yrs@aol.com
Maitland summer activities planning now underway
MAITLAND NEWS Jane Fullarton
The next Maitland Seniors' luncheon will be held Wednesday,
March 14, from 12 to 1:30 pm at the MERC Hall. The menu will
be apple juice cabbage rolls, tossed salad, mixed vegetables,
rolls and cupcakes.
In keeping with the Irish theme, entertainment will be provided
by musicians from the Irish Cultural Society and storyteller
Valerie Kines. Call VON Home Support at 342-3693 to confirm your
attendance.
Plans are underway for many summer activities in Maitland.
MERC will be offering a summer parks program again this year.
Volunteers are needed to sit on a committee to organize this
program. If you are interested call Suzanne Jensen at 348-3074.
Tina Atchison will be co-ordinating this summer's backyard
swim program. If you have a pool and would like to be part of
this program call Tina at 348-1894.
A new session of fitness classes will be held in Maitland
at MERC Hall on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8 pm starting March
22. This 10- week session will feature a half-hour of tae box
for cardiovascular health and a half-hour of stretch and strength
with Level 1 yoga. Barb Johnson will be the instructor. Call
Toni Price at 348-3175 for more information or to register.
The MERC Board will have opportunities for summer employment
in the canteen, at the ball diamond and for swim instructors
as it plans summer activities.
Fledgling school program takes flight
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT A new program designed to increase students'
awareness of wetlands and their importance is taking flight in
local schools.
The Ducks Unlimited (DU) Greenwings Adopt-a-Class program
has been recently introduced in elementary schools to instill
in young people an understanding and appreciation of the natural
world, said Prescott Ducks Unlimited chapter organizer Jim Holmes.
"It's important they (students) understand and respect
mother nature and what needs to be done to take care of it,"
he said. "They're our future caretakers." The program
lays the foundation for establishing a life-long commitment to
conservation, he noted.
The Greenwings program has been in existence for about six
years, but is new in this area. Provincial Greenwing liaison
Rick Robb said he's impressed by how the Prescott DU chapter
"has been able to do big things in a small area."
A major component to bringing the program into schools is
the securing of sponsors who may be businesses or service clubs,
who pay $10 for each child participating in a class.
The schools currently on board locally include Boundary Street
Public School, St. Joseph Catholic School, Central, Maynard,
Maitland, Algonquin and Centennial '67 public schools, South
Edwardsburg Public School, and Benson Public School.
The organizations' sponsorship of the program provides each
student with membership in Greenwings, the junior division of
DU, a subscription to Puddler, a wetland wildlife magazine, a
certificate of participation, stickers and the Wetlands Wizard
adventure comic book. They also receive Marsh World, an educational
book on waterfowl and waterfowl biology, marsh vegetation, and
the birds, animals and insects that make their homes in productive
ecosystems.
Response to the program in the schools has been very positive,
Holmes said. "Not one school said no once they saw the program,"
he said. "But it takes the teachers and the sponsors to
make the program possible."
Grade 7 teacher at St. Joseph school in Prescott, Tracy O'Brien,
said Greenwings co-ordinates well with the Grade 7 curriculum
on ecosystems in the science program. "It fits in absolutely
perfectly with the Ontario ministry guidelines," she said.
The course materials are a valuable resource, she said, and
the school is appreciative of the community involvement in the
school. The program and lessons are carefully laid out with a
teacher's guide, and the suggested activities are interesting
and comprehensive, O'Brien noted.
Greenwings can be easily adapted to other grade levels, O'Brien
suggested, and the program suits disciplines besides science,
such as art and journal writing.
The program is an excellent supplement to the regular science
text book, she noted, and the lessons can be used for marks.
For an added bonus, the students love the "freebies,"
O'Brien said.
When a school comes on board with the program, parents of
students are sent a letter explaining that Adopt-a-Class is an
educational program for children aimed at developing an understanding
and appreciation of the natural world and ways that people can
help to conserve it for future generations.
In this way, parents also become familiar with the work of
local service organizations in the community, and the work of
DU to enhance wetlands for waterfowl and wetland species, said
Robb.
Suggested classroom activities in the program include making
rain and clouds, playing the ecosystem tag and the web of life
games, and exercises on habitats, marshes, migration, animal
and plant identification and conservation.
Education is the key to conserving wetlands and wildlife for
future generations, DU literature states. Unfortunately, many
people still view wetlands as wastelands and this continues to
contribute to the loss of critical wetland habitat across Canada.
Future wetland conservation efforts depend on people who are
knowledgeable and care about wetland habitats and the plants,
animals and people who rely on them, the course materials state.
Wetlands are important to a healthy environment and economy,
and the Greenwings program helps to create a commitment to wetland
conservation.
In some provinces, such as Nova Scotia, 80 per cent of the
Grade 4 classes are on board with the volunteer-based program,
Robb said. The goal is to have as high a participation rate in
Ontario.
Ducks Unlimited Canada has been conserving wetlands and associated
areas for the benefit of waterfowl, other wildlife and people
for more than 60 years.
Youth for Life to host dance this Friday
PRESCOTT - Prescott Youth for Life will host a dance this
Friday, March 9 from 7 to 10 pm at the drop-in centre located
upstairs at 196 King St. W.
Youngsters between the ages of eight and 18 are welcome. There
will be an admission fee at the door and a canteen at the dance.
Crime Stoppers, local police services ask public to help
cut down pot growers
KINGSTON Crime Stoppers of Kingston and District and
police services in the area are seeking the public's assistance
in locating and reporting marijuana that is being grown indoors.
The term "hydroponics" is used for all indoor growing
of marijuana, and it takes specific equipment and conditions
to grow these plants to produce the chemical content desired.
Sodium or metal halide lighting which produces simulated heat
and sunlight are needed, as well as electric transformers which
are required to enhance electrical output.
Walls are lined with reflective material such as aluminum
foil to produce the sunlight effect.
If you notice high-intensity lights, shiny wall coverings
or the buzzing of electrical transformers, then you probably
have found a hydroponic growing system.
The cultivation of marijuana is a crime. Crime Stoppers will
pay up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of persons,
the seizure of drugs or recovery of stolen property. Callers
do not have to give their names or testify in court.
Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display or any other
form of caller identification.
Call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Cadets take part in cold weather training
PRESCOTT The cadets of 661 Lt. W.F. Sharpe Squadron
have continued their busy schedule which started March 2 to 4
with a three-day exercise at Connaught Ranges. The cold-weather
survival exercise was aimed at teaching the cadets about the
best ways to look after themselves in the cold.
Regular training continued on March 6 with a sports night.
The squadron will be taking a March break trip to Toronto which
will include visits to several military sites, as well as a visit
to Much Music and Open Mike with Mike Bullard. The trip will
finish with a Raptors game.
Regular training resumes on March 20, with band practice on
the 22nd at the municipal building. On the 24th, the 661 Squadron
will host a Much Music Dance being held for the cadet squadrons
in the area at St. Andrew's Church hall that evening.
Exertion team practices continue on March 18 and 25, as well
as regular training on March 27 at South Grenville District High
School. We end our monthly activities with a day of orienteering
on March 31.
Our cadets competed in the Eastern Ontario Zone Shooting competition
on Feb. 18 and represented our squadron well by placing seventh
overall. Congratulations to our Range Team Cadets.
Don't forget we meet every Tuesday evening from 6 to 9 pm
in Gym C at SGDHS for youth age 12 to 19. Come see what we're
all about.
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