Summit spawns beefed-up security
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer
JOHNSTOWN The Summit of the Americas may have been
held in Quebec City, but security measures associated with the
event were in plain view throughout much of South Grenville.
A co-ordinated effort involving federal and provincial agencies
resulted in a significant increase in the number of police and
customs officers working in or near border crossings in Quebec
and along the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) temporarily bolstered
its daytime staff at Johnstown by one-third and increased its
nighttime complement to a smaller degree, agency spokesperson
Sue Primeau told The Journal. She said everything was
back to normal as of Monday. No "significant seizures or
incidents" were encountered by customs officials at the
Johnstown border crossing last week, according to Primeau. She
said traffic was about three per cent higher than usual last
Thursday and Friday; the increase may have been due in part to
diversion of traffic from the border crossing at Cornwall where
protesters gathered and then proceeded to Quebec City.
The agency took those steps to protect its employees and the
travelling public, according to Primeau. Part of the agency's
mandate is to prevent goods and persons from entering Canada
illegally, she noted. She added it is the largest initiative
of its kind in her six years with the agency; similar efforts
will be made when circumstances warrant, Primeau noted.
Although motorists would not normally see police officers
alongside customs officers at border crossings, Primeau indicated
the questions being put to travellers remained basically the
same as at any other time.
Customs officers made 719 referrals to immigration officials
at Johnstown between April 1-21, according to Primeau. The total
is slightly higher than normal, she noted.
Rick Farmer, manager of the three immigration points of entry
along the St. Lawrence in Ontario, confirmed Tuesday there was
an above-normal number of persons who were referred to immigration
and who were refused entry. There were various reasons some of
those seeking admission to Canada to protest at the summit were
turned back, according to Farmer.
However, he added there were no incidents of note to report
in connection with the increased activity at crossings in the
area.
Residents of South Grenville may have noticed a marked increase
in the number of police cars in communities along the seaway.
In addition to several RCMP cruisers, OPP vehicles from Ottawa,
Hawkesbury, Renfrew and other detachments in Eastern Ontario
could also be spotted in the area.
A motorcade of protesters made its way east on Highway 401
Thursday. Although eastbound traffic was slower than usual at
the time, police did not report any major problems associated
with that initiative.
In addition to summit-related duties, visiting OPP officers
also assisted with general traffic enforcement during their stay
in the seaway valley.
Every breath holds a whisper of hope for a
healthy lung
By Monica Whitney- Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT Lorraine Pratt's life is measured by every
breath she takes through a plastic tube.
Without this clear tube that carries pure oxygen to her diseased
lungs, she will die. So she waits, buoyed by the attention and
love of her family and husband Larry, for a lung transplant that
will bring a normal life back to her.
Mrs. Pratt, now 60, previously had an active life, working,
travelling, walking, and playing golf. In 1995, disaster struck
when she was diagnosed with emphysema, a disease that had caused
extensive damage to her lungs.
Since 1997, she has been tethered to an oxygen machine 24
hours a day by up to 50 feet of plastic tubing. Her mobility
is restricted, and she tires easily.
For the past year and a half, Mrs. Pratt has been on a waiting
list to receive a lung transplant. A battery of tests and assessments
determined she was a suitable candidate for a transplant, if
one were available.
Mr. Pratt carries with him at all times a beeper that will
sound when the London Health Sciences Centre in London, Ont.
has a compatible lung for her. When the beeper sounds and it's
not a wrong number (which has happened three times so far), the
Pratts will need to get to London as quickly as possible.
If the lung has been retrieved from a person already deceased,
they will meet a plane in either Brockville, Ottawa or Kingston,
or a helicopter in another location, and be in London within
six hours. If the lung donor is on life support, they may have
a little longer to travel to London.
She worries her age is working against her though, and that
she might not qualify for a transplant by the time a new lung
becomes available.
This week, April 22 to 29, has been proclaimed Organ Donor
Awareness Week in Canada by Health Minister Alan Rock. The Pratts
are fervently hoping more people will become aware of the importance
of organ donation, and let their families and friends know they
wish to be donors. They stress organ donation will give someone,
like Mrs. Pratt, a second chance at life.
For more information on organ and tissue donation call 1-800-263-2833,
or visit the Web site at www.OrganDonationOntario.org.
Mrs. Pratt is upfront about the reason for her illness. From
a young age she smoked cigarettes and continued smoking for 35
years. When she finally quit, she enjoyed five years of good
health. Her deterioration began in 1994, when she started experiencing
breathlessness. In 1997, her condition "hit the wall,"
as her husband describes the situation.
She spent five weeks at the Ottawa Civic Hospital pulmonary
rehabilitation centre, where she learned how to breathe again.
Every six months, the James Street West couple travels to London
for her check-ups.
"There was a time when I was as stubborn as a mule,"
Mrs. Pratt said. "Nobody was going to tell me if I could
smoke or not smoke." But now, "I wouldn't take a cigarette
for all the tea in China."
She is also strongly discouraging her granddaughters, who
live across the street, from taking up the habit. "I hope
they will never take a cigarette and I don't think they ever
will."
Mrs. Pratt's activities are now severely restricted by her
plastic lifeline. A longer 50-foot tube allows access to their
yard, and a portable canister of oxygen lets her leave the home
for up to six hours to enjoy a favourite pastime - boating.
Mr. Pratt modified their bungalow home so his wife of 40 years
could continue to live as independently as possible. All kitchen
cabinet handles were removed so the tubing would not become snagged,
and carpeting was replaced with hardwood flooring to minimize
dust in the house. A main-floor closet was converted to accommodate
a washer and dryer, to ease the exertion of Mrs. Pratt having
to go to the basement to do the laundry.
The traditional-style tub is gone from the bathroom, replaced
with a walk-in floor-level shower unit with a seat if Mrs. Pratt
needs to rest. A new deck at the back of the house was designed
for access to the driveway with minimal steps to negotiate. The
family car was replaced with an easy-access van. A comfortable
sunroom has everything she needs - television, crochet materials,
books, photo albums and treadmill within reach.
A homemaker service and nursing care to check such vitals
as blood pressure and circulation has been arranged through the
Access Centre for Community Care for Mrs. Pratt. Respite care
is offered for Mr. Pratt, who continues contract computer work
for various firms after a 37-year career with DuPont in instrumentation.
Despite her oxygen line, Mrs. Pratt must take regular medication:
she has three inhalers, takes antibiotics and steroids so potent
Mr. Pratt said they "would grow hair on a rock."
The disease "has altered our whole way of life,"
said Mr. Pratt. "Things are going to get worse before they
get better unless she has a transplant."
Mrs. Pratt has been included in a book written by her doctor,
Richard Hodder, a professor of medicine at University of Ottawa
and chief of the department of critical care at the Ottawa Hospital.
"Every Breath I Take, a Guide to Living with COPD,"
describes some of his patients' struggles and triumphs with the
disease. Since the book was published, two of the eleven patients
have died, and Mrs. Pratt is the only patient eligible for a
transplant.
COPD is described in the book as being a grab-bag term for
a collection of diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Three per cent of the population suffers from COPD, at a cost
of several billion dollars annually to the health care system.
It is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada.
Meanwhile, the Pratts wait for the beeper to sound to tell
them it's time for a second chance. Mrs. Pratt has little strength,
and she said her nerves are wrecked by the stress of waiting.
And there's no guarantee it will ever happen, "because they
don't get donors," she said. "It could happen now,
next year, or never."
Amnesty day Saturday at Augusta landfill
MAYNARD The annual spring amnesty day at the Maynard
landfill site will be this Saturday, April 28.
Augusta residents will be able to deposit up to two appliances
and four tires free of charge on the one day only.
Farmers market opens next week
PRESCOTT The Prescott Farmers Market will begin its
2001 season Tuesday, May 1.
The market, which is located in the municipal parking lot
at the corner of King and Centre streets, will be open Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday mornings.
Town officials are considering a request to abolish fees for
vendors at the market. The request was made by the Downtown Prescott
Business Improvement Area. BIA Executive Director Mike Boyles
states in a recent letter to the town the removal of the fee
would attract more vendors and ultimately draw more people to
the market.
Vendors at the market are required to pay a fee of $75 for
the season which runs from May until mid-autumn.
The BIA's request was referred to an upcoming committee-of-the-whole
meeting.
Boyles suggests waiving vendor fees and implementing new features
and activities at the market "...could possibly bring back
some life to the downtown area."
Legion breakfast Sunday
PRESCOTT Bring the family out for a home-style breakfast
this Sunday, April 29, at the Prescott Royal Canadian Legion.
Each breakfast is a hearty serving of two eggs, toast, home
fries, bacon or sausage and all the coffee you can drink. Tickets
are available at the door. Breakfast will be served at the Henry
Street West branch from 8 to 11 am.
Parking meter revenues decrease
PRESCOTT Parking meter revenues are down compared to
returns at this time last year, Town Engineer Clyde Solomon reported
to the transportation and environmental services committee Monday.
Net revenue for the first three months of 2001 was $7,844.
Money collected from the meters totalled just over $10,000 (after
taxes); the cost of commissionaires was just under $2,200 for
the same period.
Revenue is about 14.8 per cent lower than last year, according
to Solomon. He noted the first three months of the year are the
slowest in terms of meter use.
Town officials are considering a Business Improvement Area
request to have meters removed. The town is awaiting a BIA response
to a draft proposal on how to implement the removal and deal
with lost revenue and the cost of enforcing a two-hour free parking
regulation.
Town opts not to dump paper garbage bags
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT Town residents can expect to pay more for paper
garbage bags distributed by the municipality.
Members of council who attended a transportation and environmental
services committee meeting Monday support having both paper and
plastic as options. However, it was noted the cost of buying
paper bags is now three times higher than plastic.
It costs the municipality 17 cents to buy plastic bags and
50 cents for each paper bag. Residents are charged $1.25 per
bag; the difference is supposed to cover other costs associated
with Prescott's waste management service.
Town Engineer Clyde Solomon indicated the town needs to purchase
additional paper bags; the order would be for 50,000 units. The
committee discussed whether the municipality should dump paper
bags in favour of the cheaper plastic ones.
Councillor Jo-Anne Beckstead received support from some of
her colleagues when she said she would prefer to see both options
retained in exchange for a higher-priced paper bag. In noting
she prefers using paper bags, Beckstead pointed out a lot of
other people prefer them and it was a previous council that made
the pitch for paper.
Terry McConnell was on council at the time, and the current
councillor and committee chair acknowledged there were and still
are reasons to provide residents with both options.
It was noted paper bags can hold more, cut down on odour and
keep animals out of the garbage better if the bag is tied properly.
However, there appeared to be consensus among the councillors
the price of paper bags will have to be increased, something
that may be decided as part of upcoming budget deliberations.
Solomon was asked by the committee to order more paper bags.
Based on current sales, it would take more than one year to sell
the bags to be ordered.
Solomon said Prescott was the first municipality in North
America to provide its residents with both paper and plastic
bags. He indicated the current split in terms of sales is 54-46
in favour of paper.
Condition of Churchill Road tops list of public
concerns
PRESCOTT Mayor Robert Lawn says he is keenly aware of
concerns about the condition of Churchill Road.
The mayor told chamber of commerce directors at their April
19 meeting the deteriorating state of the road is "...the
most talked-about issue in the community" based on his interaction
with town residents, including his door-to-door election campaign
last fall.
"Nothing else, absolutely nothing else is on the radar
screen," Lawn remarked.
Although he said repairing the road is a priority to council,
Lawn noted "...it may not be done in its entirety in 2001."
Town officials discussed the state of Churchill Road and other
problem areas during a transportation and environmental services
meeting Monday.
One estimate pegs the cost of reconstructing Churchill Road
between Edward and Boundary streets (including catch basins and
improved drainage) at about $700,000.
Town Engineer Clyde Solomon said the estimated cost of grinding
that stretch of the road and resurfacing it is just over $302,000.
He referred to that option as "a 10-year fix."
Councillors agreed something has to be done about Churchill
as well as portions of King Street. The public works department
is expected to report a surplus for the year 2000. However, Solomon
noted the reason for the surplus is scheduled work did not get
done. Priorities are being set as 2001 budget deliberations proceed.
On another roads-related subject, the committee voted to ask
the police services board to allow traffic signals at the St.
Lawrence-King intersection to be set at flashing yellow and red
during the fall, winter and spring months.
In suggesting the move, Councillor Terry McConnell also questionned
the need for green and red signals at night at that intersection.
Kriska receives big property tax refund from town
PRESCOTT A successful assessment appeal by a local company
has put a dent in the town's property tax base.
An assessment review board has ruled in favour of Kriska Holdings
Limited's appeal of the original assessment of its property at
850 Sophia Street, the former RCA plant which is now being used
mainly as a warehouse. The review board determined Kriska is
owed a total of $279,737 for 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Nearly $130,000 of the refund is for the education portion
of Kriska's property taxes. The municipality's share is just
over $150,000.
The town has issued the full refund payment to Kriska. The
education portion of that amount will be deducted from Prescott's
June 30 payment to the province.
The board concluded Kriska's assessment in each of the three
years in question was significantly higher than it should have
been. For example, Kriska's original assessment had been pegged
at about $3 million in 2000. The revised assessment totals less
than $900,000. Instead of having to pay $155,225 in municipal
and school board taxes, Kriska's reduced tax bill in 2000 amounts
to less than $40,000.
The total tax refund would have exceeded $380,000; however,
provincial regulations cap the reduction in a given year. Town
Treasurer Laurie Kirkby noted limits imposed by the province
prevent municipalities from approving significant commercial
tax increases.
Based on last year's rates, the town's commercial tax base
totals nearly $700,000. Kirkby acknowledged the Kriska property
is one of the largest in town from a taxation perspective.
Town officials say the Kriska refund will be handled as an
adjustment to be applied to the town's 2000 financial year and
will not be applied directly to this year's expenditure column.
The municipality plans on an annual basis to expect adjustments
in the form of tax write-offs. Town officials concede Kriska
or any other property owner has a right to challenge their assessment.
Even with the Kriska write-off, Kirkby expects the town will
be close to break-even when the audited financial statement for
2000 is presented later this spring.
Kriska has also submitted a request for reconsideration of
its current assessment which Kirkby reported is just under $2
million. Council may choose to keep that in mind as it sets the
town's 2001 budget, she added.
Town budget meeting postponed
PRESCOTT Town council's first formal budget meeting
of 2001 has been rescheduled.
The meeting was to have taken place Monday morning. However,
the meeting was postponed until Monday, April 30.
Town officials have indicated the budget may not be finalized
until late spring.
SCHOOL SCENE
ALGONQUIN PUBLIC SCHOOL On Wednesday, April 25, H and
S Express, a children's entertainment group, perform at 1:10
pm at the school. Friday, April 27 is the last pizza day of the
year.
On Tuesday, May 1, the school will hold its jump rope event
from 9:30 to 11:30 am.
BOUNDARY STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL On Thursday, April 26,
our primary, junior and senior choir travel to five schools to
show off their talents.
On Friday, April 27, the hot lunch is pizza. Our spirit assembly
will also take place Friday in the gym at 1 pm.
The winner of our Easter basket is Betty Buker. A great big
thank you to all who sold and bought tickets.
BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL Four of our students will attend
A Young Author's Conference Friday, April 27 at Centennial Road
Standard Church in Brockville. The students will be from grades
4 to 6.
CENTENNIAL '67 - NORTH EDWARDSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOL After
school track and field practices start this week for junior and
intermediate students.
On Friday, seven students from Grades 4 to 6 will participate
in a Young Author's Conference.
Our Jump Rope for Heart demo team visits more area schools
this week. Local celebrities will visit our primary classes to
read everyone's favourite stories as we celebrate Canada Book
Week.
CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOL This week the hot lunch is hot
dogs. There is a PTA meeting Monday at 7 pm.
The Jump Rope Demo Team visited here Tuesday, April 24.
A variety show with participants from Grades 4 to 8 will perform
Wednesday, April 25 at 1 pm.
Both junior basketball teams travelled to Smiths Falls Wednesday,
April 18 and enjoyed their games.
Congratulations to Mr. Pratt on a successful tournament Saturday
at South Grenville District High School. The Junior Boys won
the 'B' championship. The junior girls lost a good game to St.
Francis Catholic School
MAITLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL Wow! Tuesday, April 24 was an
exciting day at Maitland PS. Not only did we have our monthly
cupcake sale but all of our students were treated to a performance
by the Pierre Vaillancourt Saxophone Quartet. Students were entertained
in two separate performances and learned many things about music,
performing and saxophones.
Our spring chickens continue to arrive! So far 13 have hatched,
and we hope for a few more. The brooder in Mrs. Grant's classroom
is getting pretty crowded, so if you are interested in adopting
"forever" a chick, contact Mrs. Grant or Mrs. Fenlong
at Maitland Public School (348-3436). We hope to find homes for
our chicks by the beginning of the week.
There will be a meeting of the Maitland parent council Thursday,
April 26 at 7 pm. All interested parents are welcome to attend.
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL Pizza is available Thursday,
April 26 and hamburgers Tuesday, May 1.
A confirmation ceremony will be Thursday, April 26 at 7 pm
at St. Mark's The Chess and Checkers Club's last day is Friday,
April 27. Trophies will be awarded.
ST. MARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL Strategy number three in our
All Star Reading Program has been presented to all students and
stars have been sent home.
Parents are asked to feature the new strategy "Look at
the Book" under their refrigerator magnet and to practise
with their children.
In preparation for "Jump Rope for Heart," which
takes place in late May, students enjoyed a "Heartbeats"
demonstration yesterday at St. Mark.
Pizza is the featured hot lunch this week. and hamburgers
will be on the menu next week. A happy May to all.
Local artist recreates her memories in watercolours
Fine art exhibition to feature hundreds of local
works
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT Water colour artist Rosaleen Carragher-Mallett
believes it is never too late to follow your dreams.
And because she never lost sight or gave up, the artist will
be exhibiting her works for the first time at the upcoming South
Grenville Guild of Fine Art 10th Annual Show and Sale.
In addition to Carragher-Mallett's canvasses with their gentle
reminders of her small and rural Prince Edward Island home town,
the show will feature the work of 25 local artists.
Painting was always something Carragher-Mallett had a desire
to try, but wasn't convinced she could until she viewed another's
works at a shop in Merrickville. She was so taken by the paintings,
she enrolled in her first art class in 1996 at St. Lawrence College
in Brockville. A whole new world opened up to her, she said,
and her dream became a reality.
Carragher-Mallett was born and raised on a potato and dairy
cattle farm in Kelly's Cross, P.E.I. Her watercolours depict
the landscapes, rural scenes and the seacoast of her youth. The
old barns, her school house and church, and the small local store
all play roles in her paintings. "Faded photographs filled
in with memories" form the basis for her artwork, she said.
The artist had been an elementary school teacher in P.E.I.
for nine years, until her family moved to Brockville in 1969.
She took up a teaching post at St. Mary Catholic High School
until her retirement in 1987. Carragher-Mallett and her husband
Bill now live in Riverview Heights, just west of Prescott.
Carragher-Mallett said she would like to spend entire days
painting, but gives herself a break for her volunteer work at
St. Vincent de Paul Hospital, where she assists in the office
and in the resource library.
The fine art show will be held Friday, May 4 from 7 to 9:30
pm, Saturday, May 5 from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, May 6 from
11 am to 4 pm at MERC Hall in Maitland.
Hundreds of works are expected to be on display, and will
include paintings in oil, watercolour and acrylic, as well as
sculpture and turned wood. Admission is free, and refreshments
will be served.
The South Grenville Guild of Fine Art was formed in 1992,
and has since grown to include 35 members. The members meet monthly
to exchange artistic views, ideas and interests. Periodic sketching
excursions are held and regular critiques take place among the
artists.
Each year, the guild donates books on the subject of the visual
arts to public venues, such as a local library and the high school.
Town asked to cough up money for physician
recruitment money
PRESCOTT The Town of Prescott is being asked to contribute
to the Brockville-based effort to recruit physicians to the area.
Ken Law, chairperson of Brockville General Hospital's board
of governors, emphasized in his April 17 presentation to town
council the doctor shortage is a Leeds-and-Grenville-wide problem.
The Ministry of Health has deemed the Brockville area including
Prescott, Augusta and a portion of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal
to be underserviced when it comes to physicians.
Hospital officials decided last year to spearhead a recruitment
program. Financial support is being sought from municipalities,
service groups and companies.
The Town of Prescott is being asked to contribute $6,000 each
year for the next five years. The amount represents about 10
per cent of the municipal share of recruitment drive funding,
according to Law. He described it as "a fairly reasonable
weighted average" given the number of Prescott residents
who use various services at the hospital.
The cost of maintaining the Leeds and Grenville recruitment
drive is between $150,000 and $200,000. Law noted $100,000 is
allocated for incentives and $40,000 goes for staffing. The local
figures pale in comparison to some communities which have amassed
large "war chests," according to Law.
"We're not intending to get into a bidding war because
we will not win," he told council.
Law pointed out there is a general shortage of physicians
in North America and Europe, and many communities in Ontario
are trying to cope with the same problem. In the case of the
Brockville area, a recruitment officer has been hired.
The local program has collected data, prepared promotional
material and developed contacts as part of its mandate. Law said
one of the program's upcoming initiatives will be to target people
from the area who are attending medical school. He noted it takes
10 years to create a doctor, and it could take that long for
the physician shortage problem to be solved.
Town officials will consider the request as part of their
2001 budget deliberations. Last year, the previous council committed
more than $20,000 per year for five years to BGH.
Save Stockade Barracks:
Chamber
PRESCOTT The Prescott and District Chamber of Commerce
is forming a committee to see what can be done about the impending
closure of the Stockade Barracks restaurant.
The restaurant, which has been offering heritage dining for
more than a decade, is scheduled to close this Saturday.
The idea to form a committee was suggested at the April 19
chamber directors meeting by John Morris, who said the closure
of Stockade Barracks will be a tremendous loss to Prescott. In
noting the need to come up with a plan for use of the property,
Morris indicated it will take more than one person to develop
and carry out such a plan.
The building dates back to 1810 and is one of the oldest military
facilities of its kind left standing in Ontario.
Business owner and former Prescott resident Paul Fortier indicated
in a press release last week declining business and the need
to focus on other ventures were factors in the decision to close
the restaurant.
Women's Institute elects
new officers
ROEBUCK The Roebuck Women's Institute held its annual
meeting and election of officers for 2001-2002 April 10.
The results are as follows:
President Lyn McCaw; Vice-President Tammy Carew;
Secretary Joan Anstead; Treasurer Edith Jenkins;
District Delegate Debbie Findlay; Public Relations
Gail Salmon; Curator Velma Somerville; Financial Examiners
Melba Francis, Mildred Hall.
Convenors of standing committees: Agriculture and Can. Industries
Ann Ruigrok; Citizenship and Legislation Margaret
Buckler; Education and Cultural Affairs Pam Perrin; Family
and Consumer Affairs Donna Hall; International Affairs
Cathy Williams; Lobbying Convenor Mildred Hall; Education
Co-ordinator Velma Somerville; Social Convenor Melba
Francis; Sunshine Convenor Nell Weststrate.
Roebuck W.I. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each
month at 7:30 pm. Please come and join our meetings, meet new
friends and learn how you can participate in helping to have
a healthy, happy community.
PRESCOTT Town council has given its consent to a pair
of rezoning requests.
A bylaw approved by council April 17 will add retail pharmacy
to the list of permitted uses at the former MDS xray imaging
office located at 555 King St. W. The bylaw also changes from
commercial to institutional the zoning of vacant lands in front
of Wellington House on Edward Street.
No formal objections to either request were received by the
town. However, council's decision could still be appealled to
the Ontario Municipal Board.
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