Public will have a voice in filling council vacancy
Augusta council will allow input at Dec. 10 meeting
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
MAYNARD Augusta Township residents will be allowed input
on how a council seat - left vacant through the resignation of
former deputy reeve Morris Stark - will be filled.
Reeve George Vail made the announcement to a large crowd on
hand for a special council meeting Monday night.
Residents will have an opportunity at the Dec. 10 regular
meeting to express their opinions and views on which option council
should choose to select a councillor, Vail said Monday night.
Delegates must submit a written request stating reasons for wishing
to speak at the meeting prior to the close of the municipal office
Wednesday, Dec. 5.
The options available to council include selecting an unsuccessful
candidate with the highest votes in last year's municipal election;
advertising the position and then appointing a person following
an interview process; calling a by-election; or making an appointment
with the agreement of all councillors.
Council may make a decision on which option to choose following
the public input Dec. 10 if it can come to a consensus, Vail
said. Councillor Jane Fullarton indicated the council discussion
will be open to the public, although any discussion of "personalities"
would have to be closed.
It had previously been reported by The Prescott Journal
based on information received from Vail the Monday night meeting
would be open to deal with choosing an option to select a new
councillor. Since that article appeared in the Nov. 21 paper,
and prior to the meeting, Vail said in interviews the issue would
be discussed in closed session.
During the Monday night meeting, which began about 40 minutes
late, Vail told the gathering the article had been a "misconception"
and the issue "was not to be for discussion here tonight."
No explanation was given by council as to why the meeting began
late.
The meeting also dealt with resolutions to accept snowplow
tenders and an in-camera session to discuss a personnel issue
between management and council, Vail said.
However, some members of the audience were not satisfied with
the apparent change of council's direction on the selection issue.
"What's wrong with democracy with you people?" questionned
resident Gill Cyr. "It was advertised in the paper there's
an open meeting to choose a (councillor), and I was told that
too. This is wrong. We're here. Some of us missed our suppers
to come here for six o'clock.
"Excuse me, this is not democratic the way we think of
it because the past record here is not that good on democracy,"
Cyr said.
Cyr engaged in a heated argument with Vail on whether the
discussion was to be open to the public or not and on how the
process should work.
"You will not, sir, be telling us which process (to use),"
Vail told Cyr. "There are four options, and if one of those
options chosen isn't the one that you want, too bad; that's the
way it'll have to be."
Councillor Doug Barton, who will be bumped up to the deputy
reeve position Dec. 10, noted "it is not normal for a council
to have public input" in this type of situation. Under the
Municipal Act, a council can make an arbitrary decision
on filling a council vacancy, he said. "We think it would
be better if the people have an idea about the process and want
some input into it.
"That is even more democratic, I believe, once everyone
knows than just the group that's here tonight," Barton said.
"It's not something that's necessary, but it's something
that we chose to do."
Unsuccessful candidates in the last election were John McCrea,
who ran for reeve, Dwain Swerdfiger, who ran for deputy reeve,
and Bill Buckler and Wayne Reid canvassed for a councillor seat.
Vail noted Swerdfiger has indicated he would still be interested
in the deputy reeve position; however, according to the Municipal
Act, that vacancy must be filled from within the council, and
then the vacancy declared at the council level.
Buckler, who received the highest number of votes of the unsuccessful
councillor candidates, was the only other candidate to indicate
his interest in the council seat so far, Vail said.
Several members of the audience said Buckler should automatically
be chosen for the position. "If Mr. Buckler is interested
in that, why don't we just make it simple and appoint him right
now, instead of going through all this here arguing and carrying
on the way you are," Gail Stephenson said. "My vote's
for him," said another person who called out from the audience.
The only acceptable options for the people are the "traditional"
method of choosing the next candidate with the most number of
votes, or holding a by-election, Cyr said. "What we have
against this is four people making a decision of who's going
to be on council."
Vail has previously noted a by-election is estimated to cost
$10,000.
When asked following the meeting if he is still interested
in a council seat, Buckler said "Absolutely, because I'm
not a yes man. I didn't run up and down the roads last November
for nothing."
Buckler stated his present employment as a building systems
specialist for the Upper Canada District School Board has enabled
him to "have a pulse on the community. I enjoy the community
and I'm proud of this township, but I don't like the garbage
that's going on. I feel like I can work with them."
Township has four options from which to choose
Light Up the Night shines
Great weather helps make Prescott parade and stage show
a huge success
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Editor
PRESCOTT It doesn't get much better than this.
The 2001 edition of Light Up the Night was an unqualified
success. Event organizers estimate between 10,000 and 15,000
people lined the parade route or watched the stage show Friday
night, by far the best turnout in the four-year history of the
nighttime version of the annual Santa Claus parade in Prescott.
Unlike the past three years in which Light Up the Night had
to deal with rain or cold temperatures, weather conditions this
time around were ideal. Above-seasonal temperatures and no precipitation
or wind made for a comfortable evening for event participants
and the thousands of spectators who lined the parade route.
The Prescott Fire Department has been hosting the parade for
more than half a century. Long-time firefighters noted they had
never seen such a good response to the event, according to Brent
Norton, parade committee co-chair.
Norton said 55 parade entries had already signed on when he
left for the parade formation area at South Grenville District
High School late Friday afternoon. By the time the parade started,
there were 80 entries.
The parade ran for more than an hour. Norton noted the Santa
Claus float at the end of the parade was still at the high school
parking lot as the fire truck leading the parade was heading
north on St. Lawrence Street.
There were "tons of lights" and no major glitches,
according to Norton. Organizers are receiving plenty of positive
comments, he added. The response from outside Prescott shows
word of the parade's success is spreading, Norton added.
"We put on a great product and people enjoyed it,"
he said.
Taylor McNeil, 9, of Johnstown, liked the float with Santa,
the marching bands and the entry from Boundary Street Public
School. Taylor looks forward to the parade each year, noting
Christmas spirit should begin in November because it is "...only
a month away from December."
Brockville resident Tony MacNeil said he was impressed by
the parade. "It was a good show. A lot of effort went into
this." He indicated he would be back next year and would
bring more people with him.
Parade judges awarded first place to the Central Public School
entry. Valu-mart placed second, followed by Al's Butcher Shop
and Countryman Gardens.
The stage show presented by the Fort Town Boosters featuring
Canadian recording artist Maren Ord drew a good crowd to the
clock tower area prior to the parade. The show hosted by Dawn
Adams and show co-ordinator Greg Adams included performances
by the Studio C Intermediate Dancers and a visit by Mrs. Claus.
Light Up the Night was Ord's first exposure to a night-time
Santa Claus parade. "It was a really neat experience,"
she said. Although she appeared near the beginning of the parade,
Ord was able to see much of it after she had completed the route.
The singer said the people she met in Prescott are "really
friendly." Spectators along the route were waving and saying
"Merry Christmas" even if they do not know who you
are, she added.
The festivities began at 4 pm with a spaghetti dinner served
at the Legion Hall. Hot dogs, drinks and karaoke were on the
menu at the Legion after the parade. Both events were well-attended.
Greg Adams said planning has already begun on next year's
event. The program will be fine tuned a bit, according to Adams.
A 5:30 start time for the stage show is being considered; this
year's show started at about 5 pm.
Light Up the Night has become something Prescott can be proud
of, according to Adams.
Thousands of Christmas cards to be sent overseas
JOHNSTOWN A local campaign to send Christmas cards to
military personnel stationed overseas is nearing a successful
completion.
Thousands of cards have already been received and many more
are on the way, according to campaign organizer Chantel Christensen.
Most of the cards are coming from outside Leeds and Grenville.
Christensen is not surprised by the local response; people may
have been affected by reports the card campaign had to be discontinued
because of concerns involving anthrax and the mail, Christensen
believes. Military officials have since indicated Christmas cards
could be delivered; Christensen is opening the envelopes as a
precaution prior to the cards being sent overseas.
The Maritime provinces have been far and away the most responsive
to the "Let Them Know We Care" campaign. One church
in Prince Edward Island sent 731 cards. She is expecting a shipment
of 1,000 cards from the Knights of Columbus in Dartmouth, Nova
Scotia. Christensen said she never expected her local campaign
would generate such interest in other parts of Canada.
"I don't think it's really dawned on me just yet,"
she said Monday.
Christensen expects the cards will be transported to Ottawa
sometime next week, although a date has not been selected. There
are plans to send the cards in "little red Santa Claus bags,"
she noted.
The task of deciding where the cards will be sent has begun,
according to Christensen. One thousand cards will go to troops
stationed in the Afghanistan region; cards will also be sent
to Canadian ships in the Middle East and personnel in Bosnia,
Germany, Belgium and England.
Christensen has found many of the cards to be touching. Cards
are being sent by children as well as adults who have loved ones
who serve or served in the armed forces.
There are still collection boxes at several locations in South
Grenville and Brockville. For more information, call 925-2074.
THIS WEEK
Santa's Workshop returns to Prescott
PRESCOTT Santa's Workshop will once again have a home
in downtown Prescott this holiday season.
The workshop, located beside Prime Time Video on King Street
West will be open Fridays from 4 to 7 pm, Saturdays from 10 am
to noon and 1 to 3 pm, and Sundays from noon to 3 pm. Santa's
Workshop will close for the season Dec. 23.
Kids and pets can get photos taken with Santa next month.
Photographer Christine Endicott will be at the workshop Saturday,
Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 15. A Christmas folder is included
in the cost of the prints. Photos can be picked at the Gift Lane
a week after they are shot.
Santa's Workshop is provided by the Prescott BIA. For more
information, contact the Gift Shop.
Church hosts bazaar and luncheon today
PRESCOTT St. Paul's United Church will present a Christmas
bazaar and luncheon today (Wednesday) at the church hall located
at the corner of George and Dibble streets.
The bazaar and bake sale will run from 10 am to 1:30 pm; lunch
will be served from 11 am to 1:30 pm. Crafts, gifts, knitting,
decorations and other items will be available.
Choir to perform tonight at St. John's
PRESCOTT The Brockville Community Choir will be in concert
this Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 8 pm at St. John's Anglican Church,
corner of Centre and James streets.
The program will include compositions by Handel, Rutter, Britten
and Vaughan Williams. The choir is under the direction of Jeff
Reusing and accompanied by Ann MacDonald.
Donations accepted at the door will go to the church fund.
Gift basket registration continues this week
PRESCOTT Registration for Spirit of Giving gift baskets
will continue this week at the tennis club building behind Walker
House at Centennial Park.
Kinsmen Club of Prescott members who organize the Spirit of
Giving campaign will be on hand Wednesday through Friday and
again Monday, Dec. 3 to register applicants for the distribution
process.
The program is open to residents of South Grenville. Applicants
will be asked to provide proof of address and should be prepared
to discuss their financial situation. They will also be asked
to sign a waiver form to cross-reference their name with other
gift basket providers.
The registration period will not be extended.
The gift baskets will be distributed Dec. 23 at South Grenville
District High School. The club's 2000 campaign helped provide
food and toys to more than 250 families.
Public will have a voice in filling council vacancy
Augusta council will allow input at Dec. 10 meeting
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
MAYNARD Augusta Township residents will be allowed input
on how a council seat - left vacant through the resignation of
former deputy reeve Morris Stark - will be filled.
Reeve George Vail made the announcement to a large crowd on
hand for a special council meeting Monday night.
Residents will have an opportunity at the Dec. 10 regular
meeting to express their opinions and views on which option council
should choose to select a councillor, Vail said Monday night.
Delegates must submit a written request stating reasons for wishing
to speak at the meeting prior to the close of the municipal office
Wednesday, Dec. 5.
The options available to council include selecting an unsuccessful
candidate with the highest votes in last year's municipal election;
advertising the position and then appointing a person following
an interview process; calling a by-election; or making an appointment
with the agreement of all councillors.
Council may make a decision on which option to choose following
the public input Dec. 10 if it can come to a consensus, Vail
said. Councillor Jane Fullarton indicated the council discussion
will be open to the public, although any discussion of "personalities"
would have to be closed.
It had previously been reported by The Prescott Journal
based on information received from Vail the Monday night meeting
would be open to deal with choosing an option to select a new
councillor. Since that article appeared in the Nov. 21 paper,
and prior to the meeting, Vail said in interviews the issue would
be discussed in closed session.
During the Monday night meeting, which began about 40 minutes
late, Vail told the gathering the article had been a "misconception"
and the issue "was not to be for discussion here tonight."
No explanation was given by council as to why the meeting began
late.
The meeting also dealt with resolutions to accept snowplow
tenders and an in-camera session to discuss a personnel issue
between management and council, Vail said.
However, some members of the audience were not satisfied with
the apparent change of council's direction on the selection issue.
"What's wrong with democracy with you people?" questionned
resident Gill Cyr. "It was advertised in the paper there's
an open meeting to choose a (councillor), and I was told that
too. This is wrong. We're here. Some of us missed our suppers
to come here for six o'clock.
"Excuse me, this is not democratic the way we think of
it because the past record here is not that good on democracy,"
Cyr said.
Cyr engaged in a heated argument with Vail on whether the
discussion was to be open to the public or not and on how the
process should work.
"You will not, sir, be telling us which process (to use),"
Vail told Cyr. "There are four options, and if one of those
options chosen isn't the one that you want, too bad; that's the
way it'll have to be."
Councillor Doug Barton, who will be bumped up to the deputy
reeve position Dec. 10, noted "it is not normal for a council
to have public input" in this type of situation. Under the
Municipal Act, a council can make an arbitrary decision
on filling a council vacancy, he said. "We think it would
be better if the people have an idea about the process and want
some input into it.
"That is even more democratic, I believe, once everyone
knows than just the group that's here tonight," Barton said.
"It's not something that's necessary, but it's something
that we chose to do."
Unsuccessful candidates in the last election were John McCrea,
who ran for reeve, Dwain Swerdfiger, who ran for deputy reeve,
and Bill Buckler and Wayne Reid canvassed for a councillor seat.
Vail noted Swerdfiger has indicated he would still be interested
in the deputy reeve position; however, according to the Municipal
Act, that vacancy must be filled from within the council, and
then the vacancy declared at the council level.
Buckler, who received the highest number of votes of the unsuccessful
councillor candidates, was the only other candidate to indicate
his interest in the council seat so far, Vail said.
Several members of the audience said Buckler should automatically
be chosen for the position. "If Mr. Buckler is interested
in that, why don't we just make it simple and appoint him right
now, instead of going through all this here arguing and carrying
on the way you are," Gail Stephenson said. "My vote's
for him," said another person who called out from the audience.
The only acceptable options for the people are the "traditional"
method of choosing the next candidate with the most number of
votes, or holding a by-election, Cyr said. "What we have
against this is four people making a decision of who's going
to be on council."
Vail has previously noted a by-election is estimated to cost
$10,000.
When asked following the meeting if he is still interested
in a council seat, Buckler said "Absolutely, because I'm
not a yes man. I didn't run up and down the roads last November
for nothing."
Buckler stated his present employment as a building systems
specialist for the Upper Canada District School Board has enabled
him to "have a pulse on the community. I enjoy the community
and I'm proud of this township, but I don't like the garbage
that's going on. I feel like I can work with them."
Township has four options from which to choose
Light Up the Night shines
Great weather helps make Prescott parade and stage show
a huge success
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Editor
PRESCOTT It doesn't get much better than this.
The 2001 edition of Light Up the Night was an unqualified
success. Event organizers estimate between 10,000 and 15,000
people lined the parade route or watched the stage show Friday
night, by far the best turnout in the four-year history of the
nighttime version of the annual Santa Claus parade in Prescott.
Unlike the past three years in which Light Up the Night had
to deal with rain or cold temperatures, weather conditions this
time around were ideal. Above-seasonal temperatures and no precipitation
or wind made for a comfortable evening for event participants
and the thousands of spectators who lined the parade route.
The Prescott Fire Department has been hosting the parade for
more than half a century. Long-time firefighters noted they had
never seen such a good response to the event, according to Brent
Norton, parade committee co-chair.
Norton said 55 parade entries had already signed on when he
left for the parade formation area at South Grenville District
High School late Friday afternoon. By the time the parade started,
there were 80 entries.
The parade ran for more than an hour. Norton noted the Santa
Claus float at the end of the parade was still at the high school
parking lot as the fire truck leading the parade was heading
north on St. Lawrence Street.
There were "tons of lights" and no major glitches,
according to Norton. Organizers are receiving plenty of positive
comments, he added. The response from outside Prescott shows
word of the parade's success is spreading, Norton added.
"We put on a great product and people enjoyed it,"
he said.
Taylor McNeil, 9, of Johnstown, liked the float with Santa,
the marching bands and the entry from Boundary Street Public
School. Taylor looks forward to the parade each year, noting
Christmas spirit should begin in November because it is "...only
a month away from December."
Brockville resident Tony MacNeil said he was impressed by
the parade. "It was a good show. A lot of effort went into
this." He indicated he would be back next year and would
bring more people with him.
Parade judges awarded first place to the Central Public School
entry. Valu-mart placed second, followed by Al's Butcher Shop
and Countryman Gardens.
The stage show presented by the Fort Town Boosters featuring
Canadian recording artist Maren Ord drew a good crowd to the
clock tower area prior to the parade. The show hosted by Dawn
Adams and show co-ordinator Greg Adams included performances
by the Studio C Intermediate Dancers and a visit by Mrs. Claus.
Light Up the Night was Ord's first exposure to a night-time
Santa Claus parade. "It was a really neat experience,"
she said. Although she appeared near the beginning of the parade,
Ord was able to see much of it after she had completed the route.
The singer said the people she met in Prescott are "really
friendly." Spectators along the route were waving and saying
"Merry Christmas" even if they do not know who you
are, she added.
The festivities began at 4 pm with a spaghetti dinner served
at the Legion Hall. Hot dogs, drinks and karaoke were on the
menu at the Legion after the parade. Both events were well-attended.
Greg Adams said planning has already begun on next year's
event. The program will be fine tuned a bit, according to Adams.
A 5:30 start time for the stage show is being considered; this
year's show started at about 5 pm.
Light Up the Night has become something Prescott can be proud
of, according to Adams.
Thousands of Christmas cards to be sent overseas
JOHNSTOWN A local campaign to send Christmas cards to
military personnel stationed overseas is nearing a successful
completion.
Thousands of cards have already been received and many more
are on the way, according to campaign organizer Chantel Christensen.
Most of the cards are coming from outside Leeds and Grenville.
Christensen is not surprised by the local response; people may
have been affected by reports the card campaign had to be discontinued
because of concerns involving anthrax and the mail, Christensen
believes. Military officials have since indicated Christmas cards
could be delivered; Christensen is opening the envelopes as a
precaution prior to the cards being sent overseas.
The Maritime provinces have been far and away the most responsive
to the "Let Them Know We Care" campaign. One church
in Prince Edward Island sent 731 cards. She is expecting a shipment
of 1,000 cards from the Knights of Columbus in Dartmouth, Nova
Scotia. Christensen said she never expected her local campaign
would generate such interest in other parts of Canada.
"I don't think it's really dawned on me just yet,"
she said Monday.
Christensen expects the cards will be transported to Ottawa
sometime next week, although a date has not been selected. There
are plans to send the cards in "little red Santa Claus bags,"
she noted.
The task of deciding where the cards will be sent has begun,
according to Christensen. One thousand cards will go to troops
stationed in the Afghanistan region; cards will also be sent
to Canadian ships in the Middle East and personnel in Bosnia,
Germany, Belgium and England.
Christensen has found many of the cards to be touching. Cards
are being sent by children as well as adults who have loved ones
who serve or served in the armed forces.
There are still collection boxes at several locations in South
Grenville and Brockville. For more information, call 925-2074.
THIS WEEK
Santa's Workshop returns to Prescott
PRESCOTT Santa's Workshop will once again have a home
in downtown Prescott this holiday season.
The workshop, located beside Prime Time Video on King Street
West will be open Fridays from 4 to 7 pm, Saturdays from 10 am
to noon and 1 to 3 pm, and Sundays from noon to 3 pm. Santa's
Workshop will close for the season Dec. 23.
Kids and pets can get photos taken with Santa next month.
Photographer Christine Endicott will be at the workshop Saturday,
Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 15. A Christmas folder is included
in the cost of the prints. Photos can be picked at the Gift Lane
a week after they are shot.
Santa's Workshop is provided by the Prescott BIA. For more
information, contact the Gift Shop.
Church hosts bazaar and luncheon today
PRESCOTT St. Paul's United Church will present a Christmas
bazaar and luncheon today (Wednesday) at the church hall located
at the corner of George and Dibble streets.
The bazaar and bake sale will run from 10 am to 1:30 pm; lunch
will be served from 11 am to 1:30 pm. Crafts, gifts, knitting,
decorations and other items will be available.
Choir to perform tonight at St. John's
PRESCOTT The Brockville Community Choir will be in concert
this Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 8 pm at St. John's Anglican Church,
corner of Centre and James streets.
The program will include compositions by Handel, Rutter, Britten
and Vaughan Williams. The choir is under the direction of Jeff
Reusing and accompanied by Ann MacDonald.
Donations accepted at the door will go to the church fund.
Gift basket registration continues this week
PRESCOTT Registration for Spirit of Giving gift baskets
will continue this week at the tennis club building behind Walker
House at Centennial Park.
Kinsmen Club of Prescott members who organize the Spirit of
Giving campaign will be on hand Wednesday through Friday and
again Monday, Dec. 3 to register applicants for the distribution
process.
The program is open to residents of South Grenville. Applicants
will be asked to provide proof of address and should be prepared
to discuss their financial situation. They will also be asked
to sign a waiver form to cross-reference their name with other
gift basket providers.
The registration period will not be extended.
The gift baskets will be distributed Dec. 23 at South Grenville
District High School. The club's 2000 campaign helped provide
food and toys to more than 250 families.
Local teens show
Christmas spirit
Friends decide to organize community dinner
PRESCOTT - In an era in which Christmas increasingly seems
to be merely a retail-driven holiday, two Prescott teens are
demonstrating the true spirit of the season.
Mackenzie Eaton and Kaitlynn Dodge, both 15-year-old students
at St. Mary High School in Brockville, are organizing a community
Christmas dinner for Dec. 23 at St. Mark's Parish Centre in Prescott.
The dinner, called "Soup for the Soul - A Christmas Cuisine,"
is free for anyone who wishes to attend, from the underprivileged
that might not be able to afford a nice Christmas meal to those
by themselves for the holidays that might appreciate companionship
during the season.
"It's about bringing people together for the holidays,"
Eaton says. "It's not just for the underprivileged."
The girls say they thought of the idea near the end of September
when they were planning to bring candy to the hospital for Halloween.
"We wanted to do one charitable thing every holiday,"
says Dodge, adding when the two realized Prescott did not have
a soup kitchen or food bank, the idea of a Christmas dinner seemed
perfect for the community.
"If someone gives me attitude when I'm at work, it dampers
my day," she continues. "I thought if we did the opposite
and just did a small thing for people, it might make their day."
Organizing such a large event would seem like a daunting task
for two high school students with part-time jobs, but the girls
have enjoyed the experience.
"It sounds like a lot of work but we haven't been overloaded,"
Eaton says. "One of the most rewarding things is all the
people wanting to help."
Help is one thing the girls have not been short of in this
project. Several community groups will help with the event, from
St. Mary and South Grenville District High School students assisting
with setup and cleanup of the dinner, to St. Mark Catholic School
grade 2 and 3 students making posters to advertise the event,
to members of the Catholic Women's League preparing the meal.
Local farms and businesses have donated food for the dinner.
"We've had help from all ages, from separate and public
schools," says Eaton.
The girls hope the students that help will be credited with
hours towards the community service requirement at high schools.
"Our school has been very supportive," Dodge says.
With less than a month left before the dinner, the girls,
friends since their early childhood, are comfortable that everything
will be fine - with one exception.
"The toughest thing is numbers. We have to know how many
people will be there," says Eaton. "Our main goal is
to determine how many people will attend. Our biggest worry is
not having enough food for everyone."
Eaton and Dodge are considering a sign-up sheet to get an
idea of how many people might attend.
"If people were to show up and they weren't on the list,
we wouldn't turn them away," Eaton says.
If anyone is interested in attending or would like more information,
they are encouraged to call 925-4665 or 925-1383.
SPENCERVILLE Take a stroll this Sunday afternoon and
support a public library in the process.
The Friends of the Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Library (Spencerville
Branch) is hosting its annual Cookie Walk Dec. 2 at Spencerville
United Church. More than 30 varieties of freshly-baked homemade
cookies will be available from 12:30 to 4 pm. Customers can choose
the cookies they want, fill the containers provided and pay based
on the weight of the cookies.
There will also be Christmas crafts for sale and hands-on
demonstrations will add that festive touch to holiday baking.
A Teddy Bear Centre will be set up in the upstairs hall. There
will be cookie bear decorating, face painting, stories, games
and crafts. The centre is being hosted by the Spencerville Octagons;
tickets will be available at the door.
The Spencerville Pathfinders will be serving complimentary
tea and cookies in the small dining hall. Short musical interludes
will be provided throughout the afternoon. Door prizes will be
drawn each hour.
The Cookie Walk caps a year that has included a garden tour
and plant sale in June and monthly fundraising activities
Cookie Walk tickets are available at Baker's Gas Bar and the
library in Spencerville or from members of the Friends group.
Cookie Walk will raise dough for library in
SpencervilleFolk night will lift roof of church
PRESCOTT The roof will be raised once again this Sunday
at St. Paul's United Church.
A folk night begins at 7 pm. Featured will be the St. Paul's
Folk Choir and the third annual Christmas carol sing-along. A
good-will offering will be accepted; proceeds go to the church's
roof fund.
United Way copes
with sluggish economy
LEEDS AND GRENVILLE The executive director of the United
Way of Leeds and Grenville expects the 2001 fundraising campaign
will be extended in order to deal with a projected shortfall.
Judi Baril said Monday the current campaign may continue until
the end of December. The United Way board met last night and
was expected to discuss the possibility of extending the fundraising
drive.
More than $484,000, or almost 75 per cent of this year's target
of $650,000, had been collected or pledged as of last Friday.
The campaign is scheduled to end Dec. 7.
Baril said projections indicate a campaign shortfall of between
two and ten per cent. The agreement involving the United Way
and its 26 member agencies means all parties would share in any
deficit or surplus.
"We'll all take a loss right across the board,"
she stated.
Although a slumping economy has not helped the campaign, Baril
noted the magnitude of the slowdown in high-tech is beyond what
United Way officials had anticipated. People who are unsure of
their job status are often reluctant to donate, she added.
"When that happens, they don't give," Baril said.
"It's human nature."
The local campaign has also been affected by the aftermath
of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, according
to Baril. Some donations from individuals and employee groups
were earmarked for the relief effort in New York City; the United
Way is honouring their wishes, she said.
An 8,000-piece mailout was distributed Sept. 10. Baril said
under the circumstances many of those letters did not get looked
at. Although the campaign has tried to make up for lost ground
by sending reminder notices to people who were part of the mailout,
the United Way is also touching base with companies that have
already committed funds to the campaign.
Baril said this is the first time the local campaign has gone
back to donors "...and asked them to reconsider their cheques."
On a positive note, Baril said the campaign has received a
boost from the many special events and raffles held this fall.
The United Way is still waiting to hear from some companies.
It is hoped a benefit breakfast set for this Saturday in Gananoque
will draw corporate donations from that part of the region.
Baril expects to have a better handle on the potential shortfall
early next month. Although she hopes the member agencies which
serve an estimated 23,000 residents of the united counties would
not have to cut services if the campaign were to fall short of
its goal, Baril said it would be unrealistic to think cuts could
be avoided.
The United Way office is located at 42 George St. in Brockville.
The number to call is 342-8889.
Township official accepts position in North
Dundas
MAYNARD Augusta Township Chief Building Official and
Bylaw Enforcement Officer Greg Trizisky has tendered his resignation,
effective Jan. 4.
Chief Administrative Officer Nigel White confirmed Tuesday
morning Trizisky has accepted a position with North Dundas Township
as the chief building official. Trizisky also has responsibilities
for planning and Augusta landfill sites.
Trizisky has been employed by Augusta Township since July
1999, White said. The resignation is to be officially announced
at the Dec. 10 regular meeting of council, he said.
Roebuck Women's Institute
celebrates 75 years
ROEBUCK The Roebuck Women's Institute has reached a
milestone.
The institute celebrated its 75th anniversary Sunday afternoon
at the Roebuck Community Centre. About 50 people attended the
tea and social gathering.
The Roebuck Women's Institute was organized by Mrs. Warren
of North Augusta and founded Nov. 17, 1926. Meetings were held
the third Tuesday of each month at the Orange Hall in Roebuck,
according to minutes books from 1927.
Long-time institute member Velma Somerville noted most of
the meetings in the early years were held at homes of members.
The group raised money for crippled children and orphanages and
devoted much of its attention to helping needy families, she
added.
In addition to offering sewing courses, the institute knitted
items for use in the community and even by soldiers serving overseas
during World War II.
The women's institute joined forces with the local recreation
association to raise money to build the community hall in the
1970s. The institute meets there on the second Tuesday of each
month.
In addition to hosting information meetings, the institute
is involved in projects including paliative care, women's shelters
and the United Way. The group's latest initiative is a healthy
lifestyles program.
Somerville said the anniversary is a time to look back, "celebrate
who we are" and look ahead at the changing times.
President Lyn McCaw said she had not heard of the women's
institute when she moved to Roebuck. McCaw added she was surprised
and impressed by what she saw at the first institute dinner she
attended.
She said it is an honour and a privilege "...to know
the women of this community and work with them" as part
of the institute.
Former Prescott mayor Sandra Lawn was the guest speaker at
the anniversary tea.
Police seek vehicles
involved in collision
AUGUSTA Police are investigating an incident that occurred
Monday night on County Road 21 in the Township of Augusta.
Grenville County OPP report an eastbound vehicle was forced
off the roadway by two westbound vehicles racing side by side
on the highway. The eastbound vehicle rounded a sharp corner
and was forced to enter the north ditch to avoid colliding with
the oncoming vehicles, according to police.
However, there was contact between the eastbound vehicle and
one of the oncoming vehicles.
No one was injured in the incident.
Both westbound vehicles fled the scene. One of them is described
as being reddish in colour and having noticeable damage to the
driver's front corner and driver's side.
Anyone who has dealings with a vehicle fitting the description
or has information on the accident is asked to contact the investigating
officer, Constable Elaine Barr, at the detachment in Prescott
(925-4221).
A Festive RIDE
The arrival of the holiday season has also heralded the beginning
of another series of "Festive" Reduce Impaired Driving
Everywhere (RIDE) checks.
The Grenville County detachment of the Ontario Provincial
Police and the Prescott Police Service will be conducting numerous
RIDE checks throughout the next several weeks. The OPP will conduct
RIDE checks on a daily basis until the first week in January.
according to MacDonald.
Police received encouraging feedback at the first RIDE check
of the festive season, MacDonald said. "We usually get fairly
positive comments from people," she added.
The provincial government provides grants to communities to
offset the cost of Festive RIDE checks.
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