Big hockey tournament action this weekend
By Jeff Lee - Journal Staff Writer
SOUTH GRENVILLE Two tournaments, thirty teams, three
days means March Madness is about to start in Prescott and Cardinal
as the 29th Annual Midget 'AA/AAA' and the 2nd Annual Bantam
'AA/AAA' tournaments will begin Friday, March 23 to Sunday, March
25.
"Everything is coming to a head," said Tracy Swan,
president of the South Grenville Minor Hockey Association, which
hosts the tournaments.
Swan said all the pieces, from the volunteers to the food,
are coming together as the clock winds down on the start of the
two tournaments.
The midget tournament has 16 teams set to compete. Meanwhile,
the bantam team is formatted for 14 teams, with only one slot
left to be filled by an away team since two teams - the Mississauga
Reps and the Gloucester Rangers - pulled out of the tournament
Friday.
"All day Saturday was spent trying to get the slots filled,"
said Carolyn Mason, chairwoman of the bantam tournament committee.
She said calls have been made, and its wait and see for an
away team to fill the spot. Mason said Tuesday night was the
deadline before an area team would be asked to fill the remaining
slot. She said a local team, which she said she would not reveal,
is waiting in the wings if needed.
"We are hoping and praying an interested team will call,"
she said.
A precursor to what can be expected starting Friday at 7:30
am in Prescott and 9 am in Cardinal is the three free exhibition
games at the Leo Boivin Community Centre in Prescott. The South
Grenville Bantam Rangers will play Timmins Thursday, starting
at 5:30 pm. Next, the South Grenville Midget Rangers play the
Atlanta Fire at 7 pm. And then at 8:30 pm, the Rideau St. Lawrence
Kings take on the St. Louis Blues.
With the high calibre of hockey in both tournaments, it is
difficult to predict who is favoured to win; however, Mason said,
in the bantam touranment three bantam teams seem to stand a good
chance of at least making it to the final rounds.
"The Toronto Red Wings and the Buffalo (Saints) are two
pretty strong teams," she said. "And the Dartmouth
Whalers have been a tournament team this year. The team has been
all over the country and the manager said they have had pretty
good results."
To officially start the tournament, ceremonies will be held
Saturday afternoon, with local dignitaries as well as ODMHA representatives,
for example, also expected.
The opening ceremony for the midget tournament starts at noon,
and will run about 30 minutes, while at the bantam tournament,
the opening ceremony will be held Saturday at 3 pm, with the
next game set for 3:30 pm.both tournaments.)
Billets
Only York Simcoe in the bantam tournament is being billeted
in Cardinal, while two teams competing in the midget tournament
will be billeted.
To help ease the accommodations shortages, the result of running
two tournaments on the same weekend, next year, the tournaments
are going to fall on different weekends, Mason said. The bantam
tournament will take place at the beginning of March, and the
midget one will stay put at the end of the month. This year,
teams are said to be staying in Brockville through to Morrisburg,
with even some teams crossing the border to Ogdensburg.
Final Flood
Mason said fans can expect a few surprises for the tournament's
final flood. "We have a committee working on how to close
the tournament," she said.
While in the midget tournament, the Final Flood, as in past
years, should hold a few surprises of its own.
Townhouse proposal clears OMB hurdle
Water Street developer plans to put residential units
on the market in near future to gauge interest
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT A proposed townhouse development at 175
Water Street has finally cleared a major hurdle.
The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) has given the go-ahead for
an 18-unit development to proceed. The OMB conducted a public
hearing in March 2000 to hear an appeal of a 19-unit townhouse
proposal which had received the blessing of town council. The
town received notification from the OMB last week that a revised
site plan is acceptable.
The new council approved a bylaw Monday night similar to the
one the previous council had passed nearly 18 months earlier.
However, a new site plan agreement must be approved by council
before the project can proceed.
The owner of the Water Street property is Councillor Jim French,
who declared an interest in the matter at the beginning of the
council meeting Monday. French told The Journal after
the meeting it is nice to see some progress on the matter.
Council's initial rezoning and site plan approval was appealed
to the OMB by Scott Hubbard, owner of the adjacent property which
houses the Moran-Hooker Building. French said one of the items
of contention, a laneway separating the two properties, is not
included in the revised plan. There will be off-street parking
in front of each of the free-hold townhouse units and additional
parking to the rear, he added. Plans for an underground parking
area were shelved.
With the project sitting in limbo for some time, French plans
to once again gauge interest in the residential units. "I
am going to put it on the market right away," he said.
Eight or nine parties had expressed interest in the units
when the development was first proposed, but French noted the
economic climate and development costs have changed in two years.
French added he is unsure when a new site plan will be presented
to the town's planning and development committee. French is a
member of the planning committee; however, he said he will declare
an interest when the site plan proposal is discussed and leave
the room if asked to do so.
Although he will not be able to take part in formal committee
and council discussions on the townhouse plan, French noted the
previous council and the OMB approved his proposal. "Hopefully,
this council will also approve this type of plan," he said.
French also agreed Hubbard should be given a chance to review
the new site plan and any changes considered by the planning
committee and council.
Boxing champ brings anti-drug message
to Prescott high school
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT George Chuvalo wants young people to understand
how much damage drugs can cause.
The Canadian boxing legend was in Prescott Tuesday to share
his story with students at South Grenville District High School.
Chuvalo was Canada's Heavyweight Boxing Champion from 1958
until his retirement in 1979. He fought such boxing greats as
Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Floyd Patterson,
and developed a reputation for being tough to knock out or knock
down in the ring.
But Chuvalo has been waging a tougher battle against drugs
and substance abuse. He has lost three sons and a wife to drug
use. Chuvalo has made hundreds of presentations to students,
parents and other groups since the inception of his "Fight
Against Drugs" program in 1996.
Chuvalo's appearance in Prescott was sponsored by Chuck Smith
in honour of his brother George Smith, a long-time police officer
and Prescott-area resident. Chuck said his brother spent his
whole life helping other people, and he was always concerned
about youth.
"My wife and I decided to do something special for my
brother," said Chuck, who has known Chuvalo for many years.
George Smith died last week at the age of 68. "I guarantee
you his spirit will be with us there today," his brother
said.
As for the presentations to high school and senior elementary
school students, the former boxing champ told The Journal
he is trying to bring some preventative medicine to young people
at an important time in their lives.
In addition to recounting his own family's tragedy, Chuvalo
stresses the need for young adults to be goal-oriented, build
self-esteem and think about the decisions they make.
Chuvalo also talks about how his one son died a month before
they were going to hit the road more than five years ago and
talk to groups about the pitfalls of drug use.
"I talk about what we were going to talk about,"
Chuvalo said
People need to express their feelings and their love to family
members and friends, according to Chuvalo. He believes it is
one of many ways to help reduce the risk of falling victim to
bad habits such as drug use. The champ said he does not want
other families to find themselves in his situation.
See next week's Journal for coverage of Chuvalo's presentation
at SGDHS.
Town officials will discuss requests for space in renovated
municipal building
PRESCOTT The issue of which groups will have access
to the renovated municipal building will be discussed at an April
9 committee meeting.
At least four parties, including two youth-oriented organizations
which have been based at town hall for many years, have expressed
interest in using portions of the Dibble Street building for
their operations. The local air cadet squadron and Prescott Youth
for Life would like to return to their homes on the third and
ground floors respectively when proposed renovations are completed
this fall.
In a March 14 letter to Mayor Robert Lawn, Prescott and District
Chamber of Commerce President Bill Pakeman asks the mayor to
consider setting space aside in town hall for a conference/meeting
room which could be used by the chamber as well as business groups
and other professional organizations in the area.
"We currently do not have this type of facility,"
Pakeman writes. "Going forth into the future I believe it
would be an asset to all concerned."
Mayor Lawn indicated at Monday's council meeting another group
is interested in using town hall, although he added he is not
at liberty to identify the group. Councillor Garry Dewar also
indicated he is aware of another interested party but conceded
it may be the one to which Lawn had referred.
The committee meeting will come one week before council is
expected to finalize its renovation plans and put the project
out to tender. Robyn Demeule, a Youth for Life director, said
in an interview Monday she is disappointed by how council is
dealing with the youth group's requests.
"It doesn't seem to be a priority at all," she said.
"The town should be trying to develop a better working relationship"
with all groups in the community, Demeule added.
Youth for Life moved to what was to be a temporary location
on King Street West in late December because of a lack of heat
in the portion of the municipal building which serves as home
to the group's drop-in centre, "The Cave." In noting
the loss of the rent-free space at town hall, Demeule said extra
funding from the United Way to cover the rent was a temporary
solution. Youth for Life will not know until next month whether
basic United Way funding will continue, and knowing whether the
group will have a home to return to at town hall could affect
that decision.
"Basically, we're in a holding pattern right now,"
she said.
The Youth for Life board is scheduled to meet tomorrow. Although
she is not optimistic about the group's prospects at town hall,
Demeule said she has yet to give up hope. She believes the time
has come for supporters of groups such as Youth for Life and
the cadets to express their views to council.
As much as she would like to see the drop-in centre remain
at the municipal building, Demeule dreams of having the concept
of a community recreation centre which was looked into a few
years ago become a reality.
Seaway shipping season set to open Friday
PRESCOTT It will not be long before the big ships will
once again be seen on the St. Lawrence.
The 2001 shipping season is scheduled to open Friday, the
earliest start in the 42-year history of the seaway. Billions
of dollars worth of goods will pass through the system between
now and the end of the season in December.
The Prescott Base of the Canadian Coast Guard has been busy
preparing for the upcoming shipping season. Chuck Lemaire, review
officer with the marine aids to navigation program, said maintenance
of buoys and other equipment is carried out during the winter
months.
The Simcoe has been used recently to break ice on Lake Ontario
at the Bay of Quinte, near Toronto and along the south shore.
Although there has been plenty of open water at Prescott, Lemaire
noted the river from Morrisburg down has been solid ice. Weather
and ice conditions this winter were more in keeping with seasons
past and not those of the last few years, according to Lemaire.
"This is the norm right here," he said of conditions
this past winter.
Lemaire said he expects the first ship will pass Prescott
Sunday or Monday. Travel will be restricted to daylight hours
during the first days of the shipping season until sufficient
floating aids are in place, he noted. There is no point commissioning
them when weather and ice conditions are still unfavourable,
according to Lemaire.
"There is a lot of money tied up in each floating aid,"
he said.
Two corporations one based in Canada, the other in the
United States oversee seaway operations. Sylvie Moncion,
spokesperson for the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management
Corporation, said $15 million has been spent this winter on maintenance
and upgrades; most of the work has been carried out on locks,
bridges and other infrastructure in the Welland Canal.
A new binational Web site that centralizes all seaway-related
information was launched earlier this month; everything from
obtaining clearance to enter the seaway and paying bills to getting
environmental data can be handled through the Web site.
The seaway was open for 275 days in 2000. Cargo traffic on
the Montreal/Lake Ontario section of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence
Seaway System totalled 36 million tonnes when the season ended
Dec. 26, a decrease of 1.3 per cent from the 1999 total.
Traffic has remained at healthy levels despite drops in grain
shipments and water levels in the Great Lakes, according to Guy
Véronneau, president of the St. Lawrence management corporation.
Police switch expected this fall, officials say
PRESCOTT The transition in municipal policing may not
take place as quickly as some town officials had hoped.
Prescott council voted in early January to seek an agreement
with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), a move which would
lead to the disbandment of the Prescott Police Service.
Council accepted a cost estimate from the OPP, although terms
of a formal long-term agreement have not been finalized. Now
comes word the process may take longer because the OPP must first
come to grips with the need to expand its Edward Street office
to house the additional officers coming over from the town's
existing police service.
Prescott Mayor Robert Lawn told The Journal Friday the OPP
will likely have to build an extension to accommodate the 10
or more positions to be added to the Grenville County detachment
based in Prescott. There is an approvals process that must be
completed before the space issue is resolved, according to the
mayor.
Provincial police do not plan to use the Centre Street facility
in which town police are based.
The switch from the existing service to OPP will require the
approval of the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services.
Part of the approval process is a public hearing to be held by
the commission in the affected community. The commission will
determine whether the proposed arrangement would provide an adequate
level of police service.
"Until (the OPP's) plans are firm, there will be no hearing,"
the mayor said.
Councillor Jo-Anne Beckstead reported to directors of Prescott
and District Chamber of Commerce at their March 15 meeting the
changeover in police service is expected sometime in the last
quarter of 2001.
"I would hope it wouldn't be that late," said Lawn,
who added he remains optimistic the process will be completed
by September. However, the mayor added he regrets it could take
that long or longer to implement the change.
Town officials have maintained it will take several months
to complete the transition, although no firm completion date
has ever been offered.
Constables with the Prescott Police Service will be offered
jobs with the local OPP detachment and guaranteed they will not
be transferred for at least three years. Senior officers with
the municipal service will also be given an opportunity to apply
for positions with the OPP.
These offers do not apply to civilian employees of the municipal
police department, most of whom are dispatchers for both police
and fire services. The OPP will handle its own dispatching, and
the town plans to contract out fire dispatching.
Police Chief Rick Bowie acknowledged the proposed changes
to municipal policing have naturally created some anxiety for
some employees, but the service provided by municipal officers
has not been affected. The chief said he is trying to ensure
the transition "is as painless as possible" for department
staff. To that end, Bowie has arranged an information session
for his officers to hear from the OPP what they can expect when
the change is implemented.
Cardinal library volunteers
provide the extra frills
CARDINAL With an aim of improving the services and resources
of the local library, a group of dedicated volunteers works long
hours to ensure patrons have the best possible facilities.
The Friends of the Cardinal Branch of the Edwardsburgh/Cardinal
Public Library formed about two years ago with seven members
as a separate entity of the library board.
Those members work two to three bingos a month - clocking
about four hours of work for each bingo - to provide some enhancements
and frills not covered by the general library budget. The group
operates independently from the board and the municipality.
And all the members say simply they do it because, "We
love the library."
Among the extras provided to make the library more efficient
and comfortable include wheelchair accessible washrooms, the
installation of a gas furnace and air conditioning, a wheelchair
ramp at the front entrance, new carpeting throughout, an extra
Internet phone line and a computer program, and the building
of storage cupboards. When there was a water leak in the library
about a year and a half ago that destroyed two shelves of books,
the Friends were able to replace the books.
The library board provides the basic necessities, such as
books, heating and telephone service.
Two of the Friends members prefer to volunteer time in the
library, shelving books, shelf reading and processing books.
Jobs at the bingos involves selling cards, working behind the
counter and verifying bingo numbers.
On the wish list for the Cardinal library is obtaining more
memory for the computer to accommodate library book work.
Friends member Dorie Coons said when she moved to Cardinal
from Ottawa 13 years ago, she was happy to have such an excellent
library. Coons also volunteers her time in the VON home support
and foot care program, sells daffodils and canvasses for the
Cancer Society, and helps with the Presbyterian Church Women.
Howard Coughler, the chairman for the Friends, and his wife
Joan, volunteer with the Edwardsburgh Lions Club, the Multiple
Sclerosis Society, Meals on Wheels and the VON. "I do it
to keep young," Mr. Coughler said of the volunteer work.
Group member Catherine Hogan has volunteered with the St.
Vincent de Paul Ladies Auxiliary, and Marguerite Dodge quilts
with the United Church Women when she's not cataloguing books
and taking inventory at the library.
Librarian Margaret Ann Gaylord acts as liaison between the
Friends group and the library board. She noted the volunteers
are dedicated, and "ready to come anytime I call them."
Mill foundation has big plans for summer and beyond
SPENCERVILLE The Spencerville Mill Foundation will continue
to expand its summer program schedule as the restoration of the
mill churns along.
"The summer programs are coming together," said
Bill Hopson, the foundation's secretary. "There is just
about something going on every week."
Ceramic and painting classes and the fishing derby will, for
example, be held again this year. Also, a two-day quilting event
has been nailed down for July 14-15. About 40 quilters from the
Kemptville area will take part in the event, which will include
the raffling of a quilt. The Farmers Market, which had a trial
run last year, will be back Saturday mornings.
Landscaping will continue on the mill's park this year. Hopson
said the garden will have to be expanded by 200 per cent because
of the amount perennials donated.
The mill plans to hire six people again this at the start
of the season to handle the landscaping, gardening and general
maintenance. They will start at the beginning of May on six-month
contract.
A student will also be hired as a tour guide/program facility
for the summer. Hopson added the mill also accepts any volunteers,
including students who may have interests tourism or gardening.
With the mill's park opened last summer, Hopson said, it is
a nice place to bring to bring the family and enjoy a picnic
and bird watch.
A new floor in the basement was recently installed, covering
the race way, an open channel running under the mill. New stairs
from the basement to the first floor are currently being built.
A mill project scheduled for the spring is to reproduce a
12' x 14' front porch dating back to 1906. Algonquin College
students in the Carpentry and Millwork - Heritage Program from
the Perth campus are expected to get to start the project as
soon as possible, Hopson said. The plans call for the porch to
accommodate a wheelchair ramp.
In addition to a new roof planned for the seed room, 20 white
pine windows which were donated by Spencerville carpenter and
cabinet maker Bill Hooper will be painted, glazed and installed.
A longer-term project, Hopson said, is to have washrooms installed.
"If we have money available, we may want to put in washrooms,"
he said. "The major drawback is not having washrooms at
a historic site. We hope to raise the ($30,000 to $40,000) needed
in the next year or two."
With the garden open, Hopson said, it and the mill can be
booked for family reunions and wedding receptions.
At the annual general meeting was held Tuesday night, the
Board of Directors was acclaimed. The directors are Louise Burchell,
J.P. Connell, Al Gillis, Doug Hall, Tim Hemsley, Bill Hooper,
Bruce Hopson, Peter Martin, Ross Somerville and Bill Woodhead.
A new position was created - Honourary directors. Earl Connell
of Spencerville and Eric Baker of Long Sault were appointed as
directors. A special meeting to elect the officers will most
likely be held to prior the April 10 regular meeting, to be held
at the Legion in Spencerville starting at 7:30 pm.
The Spencerville Mill is located on the South Nation River
in Spencerville.
The Spencerville Mill Foundation, previously known as the
Eastern Valley Heritage Foundation, was formed in July 1982 and
is a non-profit organization.
Debris from overpass smashes windshield of
moving car
EDWARDSBURGH Debris thrown from an overpass on Highway
416 damaged a vehicle, Grenville County OPP reported this week.
The incident occurred in the southbound lanes at the Ventnor
Road overpass just before 9:30 pm March 16. Police say a group
of youths threw bottles, cans and other debris; the windshield
on the driver's side of a passing vehicle was smashed, sending
glass into the passenger's side of the vehicle. None of three
occupants of the car was injured. Police and involved parties
conducted an extensive search of the area.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact
the investigating officer, Constable Cindy Bisson, at the OPP
detachment in Prescott (925-4221), or call Crime Stoppers at
1-800-222-8477.
Crime Stoppers features
break-ins at school portable
ALGONQUIN Crime Stoppers and the Grenville County Detachment
of the Ontario Provincial Police are seeking the public's assistance
in solving two break-ins at Algonquin Public School on County
Road 15 in Augusta township.
Sometime between approximately 9:30 pm and 10 pm Jan. 25 and
Jan. 26 someone entered a portable classroom located behind the
school and took a Citizen stereo recorder and CD player as well
as a Xylog Pentium computer. Police believe the same thieves
returned the following night for a Daewoo 14" monitor and
Canon printer.
Vehicles that may have been used in connection with the thefts
are described as an older and small grey car, early '80s Sunbird
style with recessed head lights, and an early-'80s burgundy Mustang.
Both suspicious vehicles were in the area around the time of
the break-ins.
Anyone with information about these vehicles, the break-ins
or any other criminal activity is asked to call Crime Stoppers
at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). Callers may be eligible for a cash
reward and do not have to give their name.
Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display or other
forms of caller identification.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Air cadets deserve support of community
The Editor;
As a schoolboy I found that some pupils excelled in athletics.
I also found that I was not one that did, although I played the
usual sports of the times. Because our male teachers, supported
by their female counterparts, gave much of their devotion to
the military and became officers et al in the Non-Permanent Active
Militia (NPAM) many of my ilk were given the opportunity
to take disciplinary training through school cadets (which later
were "recklessly" abandoned by an uncaring and foolish
authority).
One outstanding teacher among many others was then Goddard
H. Christiansen who later commanded the SD&G Highlanders
during the last world war. He introduced me and many others to
the militia and hence all of us became members of the regular
forces and went on to serve our wartime duty. Owing to the dedication
of our mentors, our early training and discipline became a manteltree
for the masonry of our lives.
Fortunately, still with us but rapidly fading away is a nucleus
of a group, both old and young, who are still devoted to youth
and disciplinary training. The Royal Canadian Legion fully supports
the theorem of rules, principles and sound reasoning as they
pertain to the Air Cadet movement.
The Prescott Cadet Squadron is currently in need of help from
not only the Legion, but the community as a whole including our
governing authorities.
It would be my personal wish that government would use some
of its "reckless" funding to minorities and special
groups, rather as a "Loyal Allegiance" to our youth
and future leaders of our country. All of which harkens back
to our proud Air Cadets.
It is my firm belief that organizations like the Air Cadets,
the Royal Canadian Legion, hopefully our current struggling armed
forces and our militia will evolve finally into what we had at
the end of World War Two the finest military organization
in this world. Through allegiance sworn and properly applied
and not cast aside, we will succeed and conquer but not by useless
war but by discipline and loyalty. Support Our Air Cadets.
Bob Nuttall
Good insight that went too far
The Editor;
Wonderful explanation and insight about our multi-cultural
province (Editor's Notebook, March 14 issue), but no need to
blaspheme those of us whether or not we are Quebecers who have
faith (I.e. the reference to the Christ-O-Rama at Ste. Anne de
Beaupre).
Marilyn Campbell, Prescott
Dublin school classmates sought
The Editor;
A group of former students who attended Dublin Public School,
located on Sheppard Avenue West in Downsview, North York, and
who graduated from Grade 8 in 1953 with Mr. Quinn as our teacher,
are planning a reunion to be held Saturday, July 21, 2001.
If you are one of our alumni or if you know anyone else who
was and who might be interested in getting together, please contact
Jan Barton (nee McCormick) at 705-728-6593, or e-mail janbarton@sympatico.ca.
Jean Olivieri (nee Ledger), West Seneca, NY
Green buns added some colour to Irish dinner
WALKER HOUSE NEWS By Willy Sieling Heuvel
Barb and Doug Fraser did an excellent job on our "Irish"
dinner last Saturday. Talk about the green Irish. Barb made some
lovely green buns (just a bit of green food colouring added).
The beef and cabbage were great. Barb and Doug, thank you
for all your work, planning, cooking, serving etc. much
appreciated. Also thanks to Jean, Eleanor and Bea for helping
with the rest of the work that comes with a big dinner. You done
good!
A ham and bean supper is being served Saturday, March 31 at
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. They have two sittings, one
starting at 4:30 pm and the other at 6 pm. All are welcome.
Card game winners last week were: Monday bridge 1st,
Bea Hemsley; 2nd, Joyce Nesbitt, who also won the door prize.
Wednesday bridge 1st, Audrey Kingston; 2nd, Jim Campbell.
Thursday evening euchre 1st, Alice Crowder; 2nd, Lou Baldwin;
3rd, Pat McPhee; Jean McCrady won the door prize.
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