Youth groups want to return to town hall
Cadets, youth centre ask to be considered as part of renovation
plans
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Editor
PRESCOTT - Do not forget about the youth of the community
in plans to renovate the Dibble Street municipal building, Prescott
council has been told.
Representatives from the Air Cadet squadron and Prescott Youth
Centre appeared at a town committee meeting Monday night to ask
to be included in renovation plans. Both organizations had been
calling town hall home until deteriorating conditions and the
prospect of the building being renovated led them to seek other
locations within the last one to two years.
The renovation plans being considered by council do not include
the squadron returning to their former home on the third floor.
The same goes for the youth centre on the ground floor; the floor
of the old gymnasium is to be filled in, and that space would
be set aside for library expansion plans.
Both organizations described the limitations they face as
part of their current operations. Rev. Gerry Ring, who chairs
the squadron sponsorship committee, noted the Legion gives the
cadets $5,000 per year. However, $2,700 of that is being used
to pay to rent space once a week at the high school. The cadets
are also using space at the Legion, fire hall and Presbyterian
church; the squadron does not have a permanent home.
In noting they are operating the squadron out of the trunks
of their cars, leaders emphasized the need for adequate classroom,
storage and office space.
The youth centre, which is now located on King Street West,
is also seeking a return to the municipal building. Charles Street,
the new co-ordinator of the centre, told council about a 1998
report that praises Prescott's youth centre compared to four
similar organizations in Eastern Ontario. Street said the town's
youth centre continues to serve as a model, but council's actions
are undermining the organization. The current location is smaller
than previous ones and does not have a gymnasium.
In noting the centre could obtain $75,000 in funding from
one source if a five-year lease were in place at town hall, Street
urged council to consider youngsters as future citizens of the
community.
"Give us a chance; we'll show you what we can do,"
Street said.
Josh Rutter, a youth representative on the centre's board
of directors, said young people are looking for a place in which
they can hang out. Rutter asked council members to think of today's
youth as a reflection of how they were when they were kids and
not as "snot-nosed little brats."
McConnell said he would do just about anything for kids, but
council has limited resources with which to operate.
"The problem is we have to try to do something for everybody,"
McConnell said.
He said council will consider the requests; however, McConnell
noted council has set a cap of $800,000 on renovations. Town
officials are awaiting figures from contractors; McConnell said
council has not determined the extent of those renovations, but
the municipal offices on the second floor are a priority.
"I don't want to give you false hope," he said.
Councillor Jo-Anne Beckstead said there has not been much
discussion at the council table about the use of the building.
It is now up to council to make decisions and let the youth organizations
know what is happening, she added.
"We have a duty to relay it to you," Beckstead said.
Both groups noted they had made presentations to council in
the past but did not hear back from the town.
"I don't want to give you false hope."
Councillor Terry McConnell
Local group hopes new facilities will attract
more divers to area
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Editor
PRESCOTT - The Friends of the Rothsay are hoping to make a
big splash by offering better facilities to divers.
The new group has erected a structure on the south side of
County Road 2 at Merwin Lane. The structure offers divers some
privacy as they change into or out of their gear; until recently,
divers would have to change in the open in full view of passers
by.
The addition of a portable bathroom at the site is another
example of how the group is trying to improve conditions for
divers who represent what some believe is an important tourist
sector that has significant growth potential.
Graham Cudlipp, a member of the friends group, said the community
as a whole stands to benefit from these and other improvements
being planned at local diving sites.
Cudlipp, who operates a bed and breakfast west of Prescott,
acknowledged divers represent a small percentage of his guests.
"Yes, it's business for me... but it's good for the community,"
he commented.
"I believe divers are good for the area," added
Cudlipp, who noted he and other operators of bed and breakfasts
and motels are aware of the positive effect divers have on the
hospitality sector.
When Cudlipp read a statement about divers being rude and
not spending money in the area, most directors of the Prescott
and District Chamber of Commerce indicated Thursday they had
heard those sentiments from others. Some of the directors also
indicated they agree with the statement.
As for complaints about divers' attitudes, particularly in
dealing with local residents who fish or swim at the municipal
dock in Prescott, Cudlipp said he would take that under advisement.
At least a dozen divers some of whom do not reside in
the Prescott area took part in an underwater clean-up Saturday
at the municipal dock in Prescott. Everything from shopping carts
and tires covered in zebra mussels to bottles and scrap metal
was brought to the surface. The haul totalled well in excess
of 300 kilograms of garbage.
Sea n' Sky Scuba and Prescott Blossoms also took part in the
event, which included an on-land clean-up of the waterfront area.
Municipal councils in Augusta and Prescott were asked nearly
two years ago to support upgrades to the waterfront site at Merwin
Lane, but little or no action was taken. Cudlipp credits the
Seaway Men's Ecumenical Group with resurrecting the project.
As of last Thursday, the friends group had collected donations
in excess of $1,250 from local businesses, groups and individuals.
When asked if divers would be asked to provide financial support
for the new facilities, Cudlipp indicated it would be difficult
to administer a fee payment or donation system. In noting some
divers may not come to the Prescott area if they are forced to
pay user fees, Cudlipp said the area should have "a welcoming
attitude" when it comes to these visitors.
The Friends of the Rothsay plan to establish similar facilities
near the wreck of the Conestoga just west of the Cardinal
Legion, according to Cudlipp.
Maitland Terminal officially opens
Public invited to take closer look at Ultramar facility
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
MAITLAND - The two-year, $25-million redevelopment by Ultramar
at Maitland Terminal became a reality last week with open houses
for dignitaries, media and the public.
The refining, distribution and marketing company can now more
efficiently feed the growing demand for petroleum products in
Eastern Ontario and New England states with the state-of-the-art
terminal, explained Ultramar President Jean Bernier. The Montreal-based
company has a network of nearly 1,200 points of sale, distributes
heating oil to more than 250,000 customers and supplies 3,500
direct jobs.
Seven full-time employees now operate Maitland Terminal, with
an employee on duty 24 hours per day to ensure maximum security,
Bernier said. Surveillance cameras are in place, access to the
site is electronically monitored, and alarms have been installed
on petroleum tanks.
During the year-long construction phase of the redevelopment,
about 100 workers (many of them regional) in a variety of trades
were employed at the site.
Between 35 and 50 tanker trucks currently access the storage
and distribution facility each day, said Plant Manager Jim Wagar.
Product can also be received by Trans Northern pipeline and unit
train.
Finished products such as diesel fuel, gasoline and heating
oil are transported to the Maitland site primarily by unit train
from Quebec City for subsequent distribution to customers.
The terminal has a storage capacity of 168,000 barrels. Demand
for petroleum products in Eastern Ontario is steadily growing
and exceeds the Canadian average, Bernier said.
More than 3,000 metres of rail were added at the eastern end
of the terminal and train unloading racks were installed. Pierre
Leclerc, director of communications for CN, said issues of extended
waiting times of up to 22 minutes at the Maitland Road level
crossing have now been resolved. CN understands the concerns
of citizens and those operating emergency vehicles, Leclerc said,
and CN is "doing its best to ensure it does not happen again."
He added there would be no unit train noise on the Ultramar siding
between 11 pm and 7 am.
The unit train unloading facilities are designed with anti-noise
walls made of recycled material.
The company has also implemented fire-protection facilities,
including a reserve of 2.7 million litres of water, 3,000 litres
of foam and two fire pumps that can deliver 7,600 litres per
minute each. Three fire hydrants are compatible with Augusta
Township Fire Department equipment.
Augusta Township Reeve George Vail noted at the open house
the improvement to the facility is "astronomical" from
a time two years ago when it operated under a different owner
and was run down and shabby.
Ultramar has proven to be a good corporate citizen, Vail said,
and the company has always been prepared to do whatever it could
do alleviate public concerns. "It's a great facility and
welcome to Augusta," Vail told the Ultramar officials at
the gathering.
Dispose of hazardous waste
SOUTH GRENVILLE - Household hazardous waste can be taken to
a special depot this Saturday, Sept. 28 from 8:30 to 11:30 am
at the South Grenville patrol garage located on County Road 21
just east of Highway 416.
Residents of Edwardsburgh/ Cardinal, Augusta and Prescott
may dispose of items free of charge. Household hazardous waste
items include batteries, cleaning fluids, paints, solvents, motor
oil, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. Waste items should not be
mixed and should be transported to the depot in their original
containers whenever possible. Among the items that will not be
accepted are commercial and industrial wastes as well as PCB-contaminated
or radioactive wastes and explosives.
Household hazardous waste can also be dropped off from 1 to
4 pm at the North Grenville patrol garage on County Road 43 south
of Kemptville. For more information, call the Leeds and Grenville
Waste Management Office at 342-3840, ext. 307.
THIS WEEK
Blood donor clinic set for Thursday
PRESCOTT A blood donor clinic will be held this Thursday,
Sept. 26 from 2 to 8 pm at South Grenville District High School.
The clinic, presented by Canadian Blood Services (CBS), is
sponsored by the Grenville Fish and Game Club, Prescott Kinsmen
and the high school.
All blood types are in needed. CBS has set a goal of 153 donors;
130 donors attended the Prescott clinic held in May.
Although booking an appointment is recommended, walk-in donors
will be accepted. For more information on Canadian Blood Service
clinics, call 1-888-236-6283 (1-888-2 DONATE).
High school students old enough to give blood may also do
so Thursday between 1 and 2 pm.
Take tour of historic houses in Spencerville
SPENCERVILLE The sixth annual historic house tour presented
by the Grenville County Historical Society will be held this
Saturday, Sept. 28.
The tour features six stone houses that helped shape the village
of Spencerville; visitors are offered an afternoon of exploration
and education while strolling through another century.
A traditional afternoon tea will be served as part of the
tour at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
Tickets for the tour, which runs from 1 to 4:30 pm, can be
purchased in advance at Young's of Prescott and Flower World
in Prescott, Gilhooly's Antiques in Brockville and the Village
Pantry in Spencerville, or on the day of the tour at any of the
houses.
Proceeds from the event assist the historical society in its
goal of gathering and preserving the history of Grenville County.
Official opening marks launch of food bank
PRESCOTT The official opening of the Food For All Food
Bank will take place this Friday, Sept. 27 at 3 pm.
The food bank, located across from the Prescott Legion on
Henry Street, serves residents of Augusta, Prescott and Edwardsburgh/Cardinal.
The new facility opened earlier this month.
The public is invited to attend the official opening. The
board of directors, volunteers and special guests will be on
hand; a reception with desserts and coffee will follow.
Donations will be accepted at the opening. The food bank requires
a constant supply of non-perishable food items such as pasta,
sauce, soups, tuna, cereal and peanut butter. Cash donations
are also required.
Food donation barrels will be placed at a number of locations
in the area.
Cremation is now an easier option for local families
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
Roselawn Tribute Centre opens north of Maitland
MAITLAND - The Roselawn Tribute Centre and Crematorium, which
opened on County Road 15 just north of Maitland Sept. 14, offers
a service and options not previously available in this area.
Until now, the choice of cremation for local families has
involved transportation out of town, usually to Kingston or Ottawa.
The crematorium has been designed to provide a comforting
and dignified atmosphere, along with simplicity and convenience
for dealing with the death of a loved one, explained the centre's
service co-ordinator, Dawn Rodger.
This greater simplicity does not remove the importance and
value of gathering to pay tribute to a life and acknowledge its
conclusion, but provides a new option to those who feel the need
for closure in a more simple manner from traditional funerals,
she said.
The tower columbarium, a striking feature of the new complex,
is a wall of spaces known as niches, in which an urn containing
cremated remains is placed. The family receives an electronic
access card to allow for visitation.
The existing outdoor columbarium and a traditional cemetery
for burial offers additional choices for families.
The centre also provides an atrium for quiet time or family
conversation and an outdoor terrace for receptions or memorial
services. The gathering room is a multi-purpose, non-denominational
facility to accommodate visitations or services.
A witnessing room provides a quiet and private place to observe
the deceased prior to placement in the cremation retort.
The crematory offers the most technologically advanced safety
features and sophisticated scientific monitoring equipment, Rodger
said. It is fuelled by natural gas, and an intense temperature
of 1,000 degrees celsius must be achieved during the cremation
process. The crematory consumes as much natural gas in a year
as a small subdivision, Rodger noted.
The cremation is environmentally conscious, she added, and
emissions are sampled and verified that they are within specified
standards.
Roselawn is owned by Upper Canada Cemetery Company of Toronto,
and besides Rodger, employs General Manager Barbara Gemmill and
a grounds crew.
New production facility coming to Prescott
area
PRESCOTT - An Ottawa-based company has plans to open a production
facility in the Prescott area by the end of the year.
Tom Brancato, owner of TMX Products, told The Journal last
week he expects the plant will be open by Dec. 1.
TMX Products is a research and development company that produces
Slipstream FS, a clear aerodynamic coating applied to the rear
of a vehicle. The special coating reduces the "drag"
effect on larger vehicles. Brancato said the result is better
fuel economy; for example, panel vans on which the coating has
been applied use 18 to 20 per cent less gasoline. Other types
of vehicles range from seven to 40 per cent in terms of fuel
economy, according to Brancato.
"It's a unique technology," he said.
With the prospect of a big new contract in the works and the
fact the company's plant in Ottawa is now operating at capacity,
Brancato began to consider setting up an additional production
site.
The Prescott location is ideal given its proximity to highways
401 and 416 and the international border crossing, Brancato said.
Brancato became familiar with the Prescott area during the
past three summers as he and his wife docked at Bridgeview Marina
in Johnstown. "My wife fell in love with the area,"
he told directors of the Prescott and District Chamber of Commerce
at their monthly meeting Thursday.
He expects three full-time and three part-time workers will
be needed initially at the new facility. He expects most of those
positions will be filled by people who live in the area. The
patented product has the potential to generate $250 million in
sales each year if it were used on 10 per cent of commercial
vehicles, Brancato noted. Slipstream FS is marketed throughout
North America; TMX has licensees in Canada and the United States.
A second product may be produced at the new facility, according
to Brancato.
Orchestra to perform at GCC
MAITLAND - The Orchestra of Northern New York will perform
in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at Grenville Christian College
(GCC) this Sunday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 pm.
The highly-acclaimed orchestra consists of more than 60 professional
musicians from Northern New York, Ottawa, Montreal, New York
City and New England, including a select group of musicians from
the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.
"It is a musical event that should not be missed and
one we doubt will be repeated in the immediate future,"
stated GCC Headmaster David Dargie.
Tickets for the Orchestra of Northern New York concert are
available by calling GCC at 345-5521.
A sold-out performance by Cambridge University's Collegium
Regale took place at GCC in July.
Car stolen from driveway of home in north
end of town
PRESCOTT - A late-model car was stolen from the driveway of
a Mackenzie Road residence, according to the Prescott Police
Service.
The 2001 Toyota Corolla was reported missing Sept. 20; the
vehicle had been taken sometime during the night. The car had
not been recovered as of earlier this week. Constable Mike Lapensee
is the investigating officer.
The Prescott Police Service investigated 73 general incidents
and two motor vehicle accidents between Sept. 15 and Sept. 22.
One of those accidents occurred Sept. 18 on Edward Street
near South Grenville District High School. A 16-year-old male
student was struck while crossing the street; the southbound
vehicle was being driven by a 17-year-old male. The pedestrian
sustained minor injuries and was transported to Brockville General
Hospital, where he was treated and released the same day. Charges
are pending; Constable Rob Prophet is the investigating officer.
Town police received a report Sept. 16 that five vehicles
parked in the lot of Herb Willer Car Sales had been damaged.
The vehicles had been scratched by a sharp object sometime during
the night, the investigation revealed. Constable Mike Lapensee
is the investigating officer.
On Sept. 18, a 32-year-old woman reported to town police she
had been threatened by a man. Scott Easter, of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal,
was arrested and charged with uttering a threat. Constable Rob
Prophet is the investigating officer.
A 55-year-old man faces a charge of theft under $5,000 as
a result of an incident Sept. 16 at valu-mart. The man was observed
taking an item and not paying for it; he was arrested by store
security and turned over to police, according to a news release.
Sergeant Garry Sluytman is the investigating officer.
A candy dispenser was reported stolen from Centre Town Cleaners
Sept. 21. The dispenser had been removed from its stand; the
value of the unit was unknown.
A Prescott man convicted on several counts dating back to
June 19 of this year was sentenced Sept. 20. Scott DesRosiers,
of Park Street West, was found guilty of two counts of possession
of a weapon dangerous to public peace, two counts of pointing
a firearm and a count of mischief to property. He was sentenced
to time served, which in this case amounts to 90 days in jail.
Anyone with information on these or any other occurrences
in town is asked to contact the Prescott Police Service at 925-4252
or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Child car seats will be inspected
PRESCOTT - A child car seat inspection clinic will be held
Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Ideal Building Fasteners parking lot
at Edward Street and Churchill Road.
The clinic, from 9:30 am to 1 pm, is being presented by the
Lanark, Leeds and Grenville District Health Unit in partnership
with local police and fire departments. Parents and guardians
are encouraged to bring their child and the car seat to ensure
it is properly installed.
Health Nurse Gael Bullard said statistics indicate 95 per
cent of car seats need some adjustment to make them completely
safe for children. All participants will have a chance to enter
a draw to win a booster seat.
Prescott policing proposal on hold while province conducts
review
Fate of Prescott Police Service and several civilian positions
remains unclear
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Editor
PRESCOTT The process by which Prescott has been seeking
a municipal policing contract with the OPP is now the subject
of a provincial review.
Public Safety and Security Minister Bob Runciman announced
Friday any new takeovers of municipal service by the OPP would
be put on hold pending the outcome of the review, which is expected
to take about two months.
Runciman, the Progressive Conservative MPP for Leeds-Grenville,
made the announcement Friday in Brockville as part of a meeting
for police service boards in the region.
Prescott council voted in Jan. 2001 to proceed with an OPP
contract, a move which would mark the end of the existing municipal
police service. Twenty months later, the future of policing in
Prescott appears to be even more uncertain than ever.
The Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services (OCCOPS),
an independent government agency, reviews applications for municipalities
seeking major changes in policing. OCCOPS conducted a public
hearing in Prescott more than a year ago.
After reviewing submissions, the commission issued a decision
in December. Disbandment of the municipal police department could
not be granted at that time, according to OCCOPS; however, the
decision would be reviewed if certain conditions were met by
mid-January.
The OPP announced in mid-January it would be seeking a judicial
review of the OCCOPS decision. As of last week, a date for the
review had not been set. Among those who heard Runciman's announcement
Friday was Prescott Mayor Robert Lawn, who said his initial reaction
was the town may not be part of such a review. However, the mayor
added he was told Monday Prescott would be directly affected
by the review.
"I'm deeply concerned about the time this is taking,"
Lawn said.
However, the mayor added there is something positive to take
from the announcement; a review might lead to action on the part
of the government, he noted.
Runciman could not be reached for comment at press time.
Mayor Lawn, who is also a member of Prescott's police services
board, noted the mandate of OCCOPS is to ensure the adequacy
of police service and that any employees of municipal police
departments being considered for disbandment are treated fairly.
A key stumbling block in Prescott's case has been the OPP's
position not to offer employment to Constable Darren Davis, a
former OPP officer who is now a member of the town's police service.
One of the conditions set out in the OCCOPS decision called
on the OPP and Davis to agree to binding arbitration. The OPP
maintains the commission does not have the authority to impose
such a condition.
"It could have been sent to mediation (away from the
process)," the mayor said of the situation involving the
OPP and Davis.
Although he acknowledged there is an issue that needs to be
addressed, Lawn insisted the process and the will of a municipal
council and duly-appointed police board should never have been
delayed indefinitely by this disagreement.
"There has to be a better way than having a hearing and
finding one issue unsolvable," the mayor said.
Councillor Jim French, who is also a member of the police
services board, said at town committee meetings Monday night
he hopes OCCOPS will now have a chance to review the Prescott
case because the commission will not be dealing with new applications.
"It's kind of a sad situation," he said of the ongoing
delay in the process.
"I guess you can't hurry up the court system."
In terms of any concerns about OPP taking over service in
other communities in Eastern Ontario, the mayor said he is aware
concerns have been raised. However, Lawn also noted there has
been far more negative reaction to the possibility of a switch
in other areas than there has been in Prescott.
The move to OPP service in Prescott would also result in the
loss of several civilian staff positions, most of which involve
police and fire dispatch. The OPP has its own dispatch system,
and town council has proposed contracting out fire dispatch.
The OPP has indicated it would hire one member of the dispatch
unit.
Fort Town concert series to feature contralto,
Carmen and Chinese violin
PRESCOTT - Another season of fine arts performances is coming
to the Prescott area.
The Fort Town Concert Association, in conjunction with Jeunesses
Musicales of Canada (JMC), is presenting the Desjardins Concerts
2002-2003 series.
Season tickets are now available for the four-concert series
to be held once again this year at St. Andrew's Presbyterian
Church.
The first concert of the season, "Voices at Play,"
will be held Thursday, Nov. 7. Contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux
and pianist Michael McMahon will present a dream-like exploration
of the possibilities of the human voice as an instrument for
speaking and singing. The intriguing dialogue is based on works
by Brahms, Rachmaninov and Schubert.
"The Acclaimed Master of the Chinese Violin" is
the title of the second concert to be held Tuesday, Dec. 3. George
Gao, a master erhu player, brings together the worlds of traditional
Chinese and folk melodies and classical Western music. The erhu
is a centuries-old, two-stringed instrument. Gao is accompanied
by pianist Jacynthe Riverin.
Cellist Benoit Loiselle and pianist François Zeitouni
will share the spotlight with some of the greatest romantic geniuses
in the history of music when "The Romantics" takes
to the stage Feb. 20, 2003. The works of Beethoven, Mendelssohn,
Schumann and Chopin are included in the presentation.
The series concludes with Bizet's Carmen, one of the
best-loved works in the operatic repertoire. The opera about
a solider who falls for a beautiful gypsy girl is co-produced
by JMC and the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal.
Carmen is scheduled to appear in Prescott April 15.
In addition to the performances at the church, the concert
association arranges for the performers to visit schools in the
Prescott area. Youngsters are given a chance to learn more about
the music and the instruments being played. Jeunesses Musicales
of Canada issues tax receipts for donations to the school performances.
The Fort Town Concert Association is a volunteer group which
consists of about 10 members.
For more information on the upcoming concerts, call 925-3200
or 925-5050.
Date set for Day of Caring
LEEDS AND GRENVILLE - The local United Way is hoping there
will be many helping hands at the upcoming Day of Caring.
The annual event will take place Saturday, Oct. 19. On that
day, businesses will pitch in by providing volunteers who will
assist not-for-profit organizations by painting, cleaning or
performing other tasks.
Volunteer teams will gather that morning at the United Way
of Leeds and Grenville office where coffee, orange juice, donuts,
T-shirts and job assignments will be provided. The work day for
volunteers will begin at 8:30 am and end by 3 pm.
The United Way is also seeking the not-for-profit groups which
would benefit from the Day of Caring. For more information, call
the United Way office in Brockville at 342-8889.
"United in more than one Way" is the theme of this
year's drive which has set a goal of $675,000.
New principal combines faith and learning
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT Providing the best learning opportunities for
students while encouraging the school community to follow the
example of Jesus is the objective for the new principal of St.
Joseph Catholic School in Prescott.
Deborah Zabloski has started her 30th year in the teaching
profession. Her entire career had been spent at elementary schools
in Cornwall; the past five years were as principal of St. Anne's
Catholic School there. She has taught all grade levels from Kindergarten
to Grade 8, and spent a year as president of the Ontario English
Catholic Teachers' Association. As well, she worked as a curriculum
consultant at the board office in Cornwall, when it was known
as the Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry Roman Catholic School Board
before amalgamation to become the Catholic District School Board
of Eastern Ontario.
Her husband Richard's transfer to ScotiaBank in Brockville
allowed her to accept the transfer to St. Joseph and for the
couple to move to this area.
A welcoming and supportive home and school community and enthusiastic,
dedicated and professional teachers has made the transition to
St. Joseph smooth, Zabloski said.
"The children were so welcoming. The first day it was
wonderful."
Besides knowing all 222 students in grades 4 to 8 by name,
Zabloski plans to provide the children with greater learning
opportunities in literacy, arts and technology, with specific
emphasis on computers and the Internet.
There will also be a strong emphasis on Catholicity, with
the theme "Journey with Jesus" incorporated into all
aspects of the school, including celebrations, classrooms, bulletin
boards, lessons and even announcements, Zabloski explained.
"It just permeates the whole setting and environment
of the school," she said. "As Catholic people, we are
all called to follow Jesus... by listening to his words and acting
on them."
The school's mission statement follows in this theme, she
noted. St. Joseph is "a caring learning environment where
all are encouraged to grow in the image of Christ."
Zabloski added "we want our schools to be places to learn,
but also where they can experience their Catholic faith and share
it with others."
Chamber of Commerce adds members
PRESCOTT - Three new members have been welcomed by the Prescott
and District Chamber of Commerce.
Steven Turcotte of Road Tours, Portraits by Christine Endicott
and Eric Jansen of Prescott Building Centre were approved Thursday
by the chamber's board of directors.
The Prescott-area business organization boasts a membership
of about 150.
PRESCOTT LIBRARY NEWS
Needed: a few good books
Submitted by Christine Endicott
Do you have books in your home you no longer read? The Prescott
Public Library is calling for donations of quality, used books
for its annual fundraising Fall Book Sale. The sale will start
Oct. 21, and the librarians are looking forward to receiving
donations this month to prepare for the sale. Proceeds go to
library projects.
If you have hardcover or paperback books to donate, or stacks
of magazines in good condition, please drop by the library during
open hours. The library is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 2 to 5:30 pm and 7 and 9 pm; Fridays from 2 to 5:30 pm,
and Saturday from 1 to 5 pm. (On Wednesdays and Sundays, it is
closed.)
Keep in mind that the library always has good reading material
and video tapes to borrow and enjoy. Membership is free to town
residents and available at a nominal fee for those living outside
the town. Books can be borrowed for three weeks.
Come to the building on Dibble Street West and check out the
latest bestsellers or magazines, or surf the Internet on the
library's computers!
SCHOOL SCENE
BOUNDARY STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL: Our cross-country team will
travel to Iroquois Thursday to compete in a meet at Iroquois
Locks. Good luck, team!
The students have also begun soccer practices.
The hot lunch Friday is subs.
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL Welcome back to all students
and staff. We would especially like to welcome our new principal,
Mrs. Deborah Zabloski and new staff members Rod MacLean, Tracey
Shaver, Donna Pardy and Martha McKenna. A special welcome is
also extended to our new Grade 4 students.
Cross-country practices are well on their way, and the first
meet will be held Thursday, Sept. 26 in Iroquois. Soccer practices
have also begun and the team is practising very hard for upcoming
games.
St. Joseph will hold its first open house of the year Thursday,
Sept. 26 at 7 pm. All are welcome to attend.
Just a reminder Sept. 27 is a professional development day,
and students are not expected to come to school that day.
Congratulations to our students of the week: Tanya Rust, Steve
Campbell, Amber Gilmour, Mellissa West, Daniel Lamesse, Tristin
Amell, Damien Sturgeon, Chelsea Amell, Nick Francica, Katie Allard,
Lukas Henderson, Dustin Kester, Braeden Smith, Kourtney McNally,
Nick Beattie, Georges Piette, Stephanie Beatty, Andy Swerdfiger
and Shanly Beatty.
ST. MARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Thank you to all students, parents,
staff, volunteers and St. Mark community members who participated
in our curriculum night/BBQ Wednesday, Sept. 18. Little Ray's
Reptile Adventures was a resounding success and enjoyed by all
present.
Our All Star Reading Program strategies for the week are:
Grade 1 Book Awareness ("Which Way Do You Go");
Grade 2 Book Awareness ("I Like it. Let's Read it
Again," group reading); Grade 3 Unstuck Strategies
("Sound it Out).
We welcomed the first day of autumn Monday. The fantastic
weather continues as our Grade 3 students are currently training
for an upcoming cross-country meet to be held Oct. 2 at Grenville
Christian College. They are being coached by Mrs. Milks and Madame
Legault.
We will have hot lunch for our JK "A" and JK/SK
"A" class Wednesday, and on Thursday for the remainder
of the student body. The hot lunch this week is chicken chunks.
This Friday, Sept. 27 is a PA Day; there will be no school
for our students. Our staff will be gathering for a retreat with
the focus on Monsignor Dennis Murphy's presentation "Catholic
Education at the Crossroads."
Youth centre hires new co-ordinator
Charles Street sees potential in hang-out for youngsters
By David Dickenson - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT - Former Prescott Town Councillor Charles Street
has been named co-ordinator of the Prescott Youth Centre.
Street a and life-long resident of Prescott is looking forward
to jumping back into the centre for which he was part of the
council that approved it.
"I've had a long standing interest in the centre,"
says Street. "and when the job came up I decided that's
my chance to get back involved.
"Ever since I was a councillor it's been a pet project
of mine. I was a kid that hung around on King Street myself,"
says Street. "I really could have used a place to go like
the youth centre provides when I was a kid."
Street said he was distressed when he returned to find the
gymnasium on Dibble St. which once housed the youth centre was
no longer the home of the centre.
Street has a whole list of ideas he is looking to bring to
the board for improvements and additions to the centre including
moving back to the old gymnasium.
"You never know until you ask," explained Street.
"Things like expanding staff hours, a skateboard park, a
mentoring program and getting kids involved in the community
through the centre are things we're looking at right now."
Street is looking to appeal to kids not regularly seen at
the centre. "Right now we are getting a solid 12-and-under
crowd which has always been here no matter what, but we'd like
to give the kids 13-18 year olds a place to hang out as well,
maybe have different hours or something."
"We are getting mostly good kids," says Street.
"But we'd really like to be there for the troubled ones
as well. We could get them involved in things they are good at
and give them a sense of pride and help the town at the same
time."
The new co-ordinator is looking at completing surveys at local
schools to see where there interests are and what they would
like the youth centre to have.
"Really, we'd like to have the kids make this a place
of their own," explains Street. "I would still be here
to help guide it, but they could run it to cater to their changing
interests and demands and teach them a little about business
and teamwork as well.
"Activities which we could have here could help break
down the stereotypes about the youth," says Street.
"The potential is here and it's really exciting."
The centre is located on King Street West and is open from
6 pm until 9 pm on weekdays.
Seasonal campers angered by what they say
is unfair treatment by park management
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Editor
JOHNSTOWN - Several seasonal campers at Grenville Park are
claiming they have been unfairly treated by park operators.
The campers who contacted The Journal say they were
given notice their deposits for next season would not be accepted
and were not given an explanation. They also claim one of the
managers of the park said at a residents' meeting last month
seasonal campers who do not volunteer at or attend at least some
park activities should not bother to pay a deposit for the 2003
season.
The notices were left at the trailers shortly after the Aug.
25 meeting, according to the four sets of campers affected.
Grenville Park is owned by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission
an agency of the Government of Ontario and is operated
on a lease basis by Larry and Marianne Cooper of Johnstown.
Mrs. Cooper told The Journal she would not go into
why the deposits would not be accepted, noting she considers
it a personal matter. The campers know the reason they were given
a letter, she added. It had nothing to do with a lack of participation
in park activities, according to Cooper.
She noted she told park residents at the August meeting she
hopes people will participate in activities. The park with its
hundreds of seasonal and short-term campers is like a family
and a community of its own, according to Cooper. "We're
not just here to collect their money," she remarked.
However, she acknowledged there is no contractual obligation
on the part of seasonal campers to volunteer their time or attend
community events at the park. "I'm not forcing them to do
anything," Cooper said.
The letters were delivered when they were instead of at the
end of the season to give those affected more time to find lots
at other camping facilities.
For her part, Cooper said there are no hard feelings.
Nancy Davidson, one of the campers who received a notice,
said she wants the parks commission and the public to know how
they were treated.
Repeated attempts to obtain comments from officials at the
parks commission were unsuccessful.
A seasonal camper at the park pays about $1,200 per year plus
utilities, according to the campers.
Harbour Lites to host dinner
PRESCOTT - The Harbour Lites Square Dancing Club will host
a roast beef dinner Wednesday, Oct. 16 at St. Andrew's Presbyterian
Church, corner of Dibble and Centre streets.
Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm. To order tickets or for
more information, call Susie Locke at 925-2746.
Shopping spree draw approaches
PRESCOTT - Time is running out to get tickets for a grocery
draw.
A three-minute shopping spree that will take place Oct. 7
at valu-mart is the top prize in the Prescott Legion's fundraising
draw for the Canadian-American Veterans Reunion Association reunion
to be hosted by the Prescott Legion branch in June 2003.; the
value of the items in the cart is not to exceed $1,000.
The draw takes place Sept. 27 at the Legion Hall.
For ticket information, contact Linda Wing at 348-3825 or
Marie Brown at 925-5771.
Changes are in the works at Brockville P&G plant, company
announces
BROCKVILLE - The Procter & Gamble company announced Tuesday
the Brockville manufacturing site will become the sole consolidated
supplier for all North American Swiffer electrostatic cleaning
sheets and Bounce and Downy fabric softener sheets.
The realignment means the Brockville facility will discontinue
production of Tide powdered laundry detergent and dry laundry
tablets. Production of these items will be consolidated in Georgia,
Louisiana and western Europe, a company press release states.
Job impacts will be managed through attrition, transfers and
voluntary separations. The number of employees affected by the
realignment was not available at press time Tuesday.
Brockville plant manager Jan Shroy stated she is looking forward
to the challenge of the local plant becoming the sole North American
supplier for three strategic and growing brands.
The change will increase the Brockville plant's exports from
50 to 90 per cent of its total manufacturing output, Shroy added.
Support kidney foundation by bailing the boss
out of jail
LEEDS AND GRENVILLE - Civic leaders and company bosses will
soon be spending time behind bars while supporting the Eastern
Ontario branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada.
The second annual Round-up for Research is taking place Sept.
24 and 25 at 1000 Islands Mall in Brockville. A roving posse
of sheriffs and their deputies will "arrest" bosses
and bring them before a judge who will find the accused guilty
of charges put forward by his or her colleagues at work.
The jailed bosses spend an hour in the mock cell calling colleagues
and friends in an effort to raise bail set by the judge.
Bail money will be used by the kidney foundation to support
medical research, provide services for kidney patients in Eastern
Ontario and fund organ donation awareness programs.
The fundraising event is open to the entire region, including
South Grenville.
For more information, call event co-ordinator Trish McNamara
at 345-5688.
Rotary club comes through with funds and mentoring for Prescott
Blossoms
PRESCOTT - The local Rotary club is now a partner in the Prescott
Blossoms project.
The organization of business and professional leaders has
donated $20,000 to the project aimed at beautifying the town
while providing experience and employment skills to participants.
The money was borrowed from the Town of Prescott and is to be
paid back in four annual instalments of $5,000.
The money will be used for the second phase of Prescott's
Heritage River Trail. Work began Monday and will include the
planting of an arboretum and creating a second trail on Parks
Canada land near Fort Wellington. This phase is expected to be
completed by late fall.
Candy Alexander has been appointed as the Rotary club's representative
on the Prescott Blossoms Committee which will oversee expenditures
relating to the $20,000 grant.
Rotary will also offer mentoring and personal growth opportunities
which "support youth and family values," according
to a club news release.
Rotary encourages other service clubs and organizations to
get involved in Prescott Blossoms and other community projects.
Operation Corridor targets drivers on the
401
HIGHWAY 401 - The Eastern Region of the Ontario Provincial
Police will be targeting aggressive drivers on Highway 401 as
part of Operation Corridor.
The two-day, province-wide blitz will take start Thursday,
Sept. 26, and run through Sept. 27.
"We want to ensure drivers get the message that speeding,
following too close and unsafe lane changes are not just illegal,
they are dangerous," says Inspector Bryan Pollard, the Regional
Traffic and Marine Program Manager. "We're bringing additional
officers onto the highway for this blitz which stretches from
the Quebec border to Windsor."
In Eastern Ontario, the OPP have investigated 66 fatal collisions
on highways this year.
Additional officers from each detachment along the 401 corridor,
regional traffic units, as well as officers from other Eastern
Region detachments have been assigned to patrol the 401 for the
two-day blitz.
Writers' guild presents annual poetry contest
MERRICKVILLE - The Valley Writers' Guild is now accepting
entries for the Ray Burrell Award for Poetry 2003.
Any number of poems up to 60 lines each may be submitted.
Entries shall include two copies of each poem one with
complete author information and one without. There is an entry
fee; for an extra fee, the judge will critique the submission.
The award includes a cash prize of $500 and a plaque. There
are also several secondary prizes and honourable mentions. The
six winning poems will be published in the 12th volume of The
Grist Mill; each of the winning poets will receive a one-year
subscription to the guild's newsletter.
Entries must be posted by Nov. 1.
For more information on the competition or the Valley Writers'
Guild, go to www.storm.ca/~vwg.
Art gala supports local United Way
BROCKVILLE - The fourth annual United Way of Leeds and Grenville
art gala will take place this Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Brockville
Yacht Club.
Original pieces of art and numbered prints valued at between
$125 and $1,500 will be featured at the event which runs from
7:30 to 9:30 pm.
A limited number of tickets will be sold. A fun-filled process
will enable ticket holders to select a piece of art valued at
greater than the price of the ticket. Refreshments donated by
local restaurants will be served.
The 2002 fundraising campaign was officially launched last
week; this year's theme is "United in more than one Way."
The campaign has a goal of $675,000. There are 25 non-profit
agencies currently receiving support from the United Way of Leeds
and Grenville.
For more information, 342-8889.
|
