Literacy testing results improve

Grade 10 South Grenville students near top of class

By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Editor

PRESCOTT - South Grenville District High School is above average when it comes to Grade 10 literacy test results announced last week by the Upper Canada District School Board.

Seventy-eight per cent of South Grenville students who wrote the tests in reading and writing passed both sections. Ninety per cent passed the writing section, and 80 per cent passed reading.

The tests were conducted in February as part of province-wide testing.

The Upper Canada District School Board set a target of 75 per cent in terms of students who pass the test on their first attempt. Overall, seventy-three per cent passed both the reading and writing components.

"While we can be proud of the students who succeeded, we continue to work to improve the literacy of all students across all subjects in all grades," stated Eleanor Newman, superintendent of education.

The results mark an overall improvement for the Upper Canada board. The previous Grade 10 literacy test was considered a practice run. Although Newman acknowledged overall results this time around are better than the first test, she added the board is being careful about making comparisons. South Grenville also improved on its results from the first Grade 10 literacy test.

At 89 per cent, Brockville Collegiate Institute had the highest percentage of students who passed both sections in February. Other schools that achieved pass rates of 80 per cent or higher were Almonte, Char-Lan, North Dundas and Seaway.

Newman told The Journal the Prescott area can be "very proud" of the results at South Grenville, especially the 90-per-cent pass total in the writing test. "People worked extremely hard to ensure the kids were prepared for the test," she said.

Students who did not pass both sections will have to take the test again; passing both sections is a graduation requirement. In addition to providing support through teaching strategies, the board is encouraging unsuccessful students to consider enrolling in a summer school literacy program.

Newman noted each school is different and there are some special issues at certain schools, but she adds it is pleasing to see the board came close to reaching its target for first-time pass rate.

"We've really taken the challenge seriously," Newman said.

Council appears reluctant to add youth groups to town hall plans

By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Editor

Final decision may follow meeting with project manager

PRESCOTT -Town council may be in a position next week to indicate whether renovation plans for the Dibble Street municipal building will include the local Air Cadet squadron and Prescott Youth Centre.

However, comments made at a town committee meeting Monday night suggest the youth groups will not be included in those plans.

In presentations to council last week, both groups indicated a desire to return to their former homes in the building. The cadet squadron is using four different sites at the present time; the youth centre is leasing space on King Street West.

Some councillors made it clear Monday they do not think the town can afford to give away space to the former tenants. Councillor Garry Dewar said the town should be seeking paying tenants for the third floor and a portion of the ground floor given the increased costs of maintaining the renovated building.

"We can't afford to give it away. It's just too much money," the councillor said.

If space were to be offered at little or no cost, he noted, there are other organizations in the community that may want to locate in town hall.

Dewar also pointed out council had yet to meet with its construction manager to review bids for the various components of the renovation project. "We don't know if we're going ahead," he said. Council established a cap of $800,000 for the project.

Councillor Terry McConnell also noted concerns about the cost of running the building, but he noted he told the groups last week council would discuss the matter and give them an answer.

None of the council members who attended the committee meeting spoke in favour of having either group return to a renovated town hall.

Council is expected to meet with construction manager Brad Snelling by early next week. Mayor Robert Lawn concluded council would wait until that meeting takes place before coming to a decision; however, at this point it appears the building will not necessarily be available to the former tenants.

Food bank gets financial boost at official opening

PRESCOTT - The Food for All Food Bank is now officially open.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house took place Friday afternoon at the community facility located across from the Prescott Legion on Henry Street.

The food bank opened for business Sept. 3 and has distributed more than 100 boxes of food and household items to residents of Prescott, Augusta and Edwardsburgh/Cardinal.

"This is a great Grenville South project," Prescott Mayor Robert Lawn said.

The time has never been better to provide support for people who "need a hand from time to time," according to Lawn. In acknowledging the volunteers who established the food bank over the course of the past several months,

the mayor said it is projects like this one that carry on the strong tradition of volunteering that has added to the quality of life in the Prescott area.

The food bank, which has been incorporated as a non-profit organization, is run by a board of volunteers representing the three municipalities and clients of the food bank. The food depot is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

Many businesses and individuals have contributed to the effort to establish and maintain the food bank, and the biggest donor to date had more good news for volunteers at the official opening. Dominique Pressault, operator of the Canadian Tire store in Prescott, announced donations of cash and goods totalling $8,000.

The retailer's Foundation for Families contributed $4,000, an amount that matches the $4,000 in supplies, materials and furnishings provided by the Prescott store.

Pressault also noted the foundation's 53-foot trailer would be coming to Prescott with additional items once the food bank obtains its charity number.

The number of clients who made use of the food bank declined after the initial rush experienced on opening week, according to Jennifer Wyman, co-ordinator of volunteers and services. However, the food bank continues to accept donations of non-perishable food items. There is also a need for items suitable for people who have diabetes or are on restricted diets.

Grave marker notes Prescott native's role with North West Mounted Police

By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Editor

BROCKVILLE - A North West Mounted Police marker has been placed at the grave of one of Prescott's most notable native sons.

Major James Walsh was one of the first members of what later became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Until recently, his final resting place did not acknolwedge Walsh's service to Canada in the 1870s and 1880s.

That came to an end Saturday at Walsh's grave in the Old Protestant Cemetery just west of Brockville.

More than 50 people ­ some of whom were in dress uniform ­ attended a ceremony at which a marker was placed.

The marker, which includes the crest of the North West Mounted Police, reads, "James M. Walsh Supt. Reg. No. 07 North West Mounted Police 1873 - 1883."

Brian Porter, a retired teacher who lives in Brockville and has taken an interest in Walsh's story, organized the service.

Porter credits retired RCMP officer Jack Wylie with making Walsh's marker become a reality.

A marker noting the name and rank of a pensionned officer and how many years he served may be provided by the RCMP. Walsh did not receive a pension when he left the North West Mounted in 1883; he received a gratuity of more than $1,100, Porter noted.

Upon hearing of the absence of a marker, Wylie contacted the RCMP in Ottawa; an exception was made in Walsh's case, and the marker was approved.

Current and former members of the RCMP and its association of veterans were on hand at the cemetery last weekend.

James Morrow Walsh was born in Prescott in 1840. He grew up in the Fort Town and served in a number of local militias. Walsh, who served in the Red River expedition of 1870, was appointed to the North West Mounted and sent with a number of recruits to Manitoba.

"Walsh was a man of action," Porter said. "I think he was the right man in the right place at the right time."

In noting the major was a strong believer of upholding British justice, Porter said Walsh appeared to be fair and respectful when it came to dealing with Indians.

This included a friendly relationship with legendary Sioux chief Sitting Bull, something that was frowned upon by some of his superiors in the nation's capital.

Walsh and the other members of the North West Mounted displayed "a great deal of courage going to this large, unknown land" and establishing law and order, according to Porter.

Major Walsh is the subject of an exhibit at the RCMP museum in Regina. A number of books and articles have been or are being written about him, Porter noted.

Walsh, who established a home in Brockville in 1873 and spent much of his time out west when he returned to civilian life, also served as a NWMP superintendent and the first Yukon commissioner. He died in 1905 at the age of 65.

Industry Canada funding aimed at job creation

By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer

BROCKVILLE - The Grenville Community Futures Development Corporation (GCFDC) has received an additional $125,000 to support a strategic new knowledge-based initiative that is expected to create jobs and improve the area's economy.

The Industry Canada investment funding was announced last Wednesday in Brockville. The total funding for the Prescott-based organization that supports community economic development in Grenville County was $410,000; of that, $285,000 is earmarked for the ongoing operations of GCFDC. Among other business-mentorship activities, the group administers an investment pool to assist small businesses with access to capital through loans.

The announcement was made jointly with Brockville-based 1000 Islands Community Development Corporation, which received $280,000 toward its continued operation.

Andy Mitchell, secretary of state for rural development, noted at the meeting the funding demonstrates the government of Canada's belief in working with community partners to foster economic development, diversity and job creation at the local level. "CFDCs have a proven track record of helping communities become more self sufficient," Mitchell said at Fulford Academy, a school for international students learning English as a second language. "(CFDCs) are an important facet of how we deliver government programming to all of rural Canada. It's one of the most successful federal government programs."

Leeds-Grenville MP Joe Jordan added the financial support "is a good example of how we can help communities build on the strengths of the regional economy. The knowledge-based initiative will result in the extension of the Ottawa technology cluster into our area."

Jordan noted CFDCs are a tremendous resource, and "the economic development instruments in rural communities. "I don't think there has been any economic development initiative in Leeds-Grenville that doesn't at least have their finger prints on it."

Stuart Leyenaar, chair of the volunteer GCFDC board, said the additional funds will go a long way in helping to attract unique businesses to the area. "It gives us more confidence to entertain additional applications for knowledge-based funding," he said.

In the past five years, CFDCs, through investment and business counselling activities, invested more than $185 million, created or maintained 22, 401 jobs and leveraged more than $290,000 million in investments from other sources. Last year, Grenville CFDC invested $864,000, assisted in creating 65 jobs and maintaining 241.

Although funding for business initiatives is provided by the federal government, the decisions on how the money is used is made by a local board of directors. These directors are "men and women who understand their local community, understand who they're doing business with, and understand what works and what doesn't work in their community," Mitchell said. CFDCs are comparable to chartered banks when it comes to recovering loans, Mitchell said, noting this is an example of understanding the local market place in which they operate.

Two-day OPP blitz targets aggressive driving on the 401

HIGHWAY 401 - The Ontario Provincial Police were out in full force on Highway 401 throughout Eastern Ontario last Thursday and Friday as part of Operation Corridor.

The initiative targeted aggressive driving: speeding, following too closely, passing improperly and operating unsafe vehicles. In all, 683 offence notices were issued during the two-day blitz.

Notices for 405 offences were issued on day one of the blitz. Most of the offences involved speeding, including five for exceeding the limit by at least 50 kilometres per hour; there were also 18 seat belt violations, five relating to commercial motor vehicles and 12 other provincial offences.

Seven charges involved Criminal Code of Canada offences, including driving while disqualified.

One man received two speeding tickets less than two hours apart ­ one near Prescott and the other in the Northumberland region.

Of the 278 notices issued Friday, 211 were for speeding.

Officers with the Grenville County detachment based in Prescott handed out 20 speeding tickets Thursday

Weather slowed down traffic Friday, resulting in fewer infractions.

Town considers review of infrastructure

PRESCOTT - A request for proposals to review Prescott' water and sewer infrastructure has been given the green light by town council.

Citing increased activity and inquiries relating to the industrial land to the north and south of Highway 401, as well as residential areas north of Mackenzie Road, Massie Drive and Wellington Woods, members of council agreed Monday to seek expressions of interest in a review of costs associated with developing unserviced lands. Council has not at this time agreed to actually hire any firm to conduct such a review.

Town CAO/Clerk Andrew Brown, who recommended the review, said a consultant ball-parked the cost of such a review at about $35,000. Money from existing water and sewer reserves could be used to fund the study.

"It will be worth it in the long run," Brown said.

Provincial legislation in the works will force municipalities to recover 100 per cent of the costs of providing water and sewer service from those who receive it. Prescott Mayor Robert Lawn said obtaining a more accurate assessment of costs would be fair to residents and neighbouring municipalities that may also be receiving those services in the future.

The mayor also said the review would help with long-term planning at the municipal level. He reminded council Prescott's official plan has not been reviewed in more than a decade, even though the town is required to do so every five years.

Brown noted council may choose not to proceed if bids received are too high or do not meet the town's needs. Municipal officials agreed any new study should not be a repeat of material covered in previous studies.

Disciplinary committee to hear case

Complaint against local doctor alleges misconduct

PRESCOTT - Allegations against a doctor who has operated a practice in Prescott have been referred to the disciplinary committee of The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario.

Dr. John Findlay will be the subject of a Nov. 4 committee hearing which will address a claim of professional misconduct.

"It is alleged that Dr. Findlay committed acts relevant to the practice of medicine that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional," according to the "Doctor Search" section of the college's Web site.

"It is further alleged that Dr. Findlay demonstrated incompetence in his care of a patient such that he is unfit to practice or that his practice should be restricted."

Findlay's registration with the college, the organization that oversees the licensing of doctors in Ontario, expired as of Aug. 2 of this year due to non-payment of an annual membership fee.

On Sept. 17, college spokesperson Kathryn Clarke told The Journal the college would still have jurisdiction to proceed with a hearing if Findlay's licence were not renewed.

The doctor has not been the subject of "past findings," according to the college's Web site.

Findlay has an office on Sophia Street in Prescott and in Brockville.

The doctor noted in an answering machine greeting earlier this week Dr. Davis would be filling in for him this week.

Two weeks ago, the answering machine greeting indicated Findlay would be out of the office for approximately two weeks. Patients were advised at that time to use walk-in clinics in Prescott or Brockville.

Disturbance at site of high school dance results in the arrest of male student

PRESCOTT - A 17-year-old male student was arrested Sept. 27 following a disturbance involving a dance at South Grenville District High School, according to the Prescott Police Service.

The investigating officer who responded to the complaint found a male in the parking lot who appeared to be intoxicated. An investigation revealed a teacher had been assaulted. The youth was placed in the back seat of the police cruiser; while in the vehicle, the youth damaged the rear door. He was charged with assault, mischief and breach of probation. He is to appear in youth court at a later date.

In all, town police investigated 81 general incidents and four motor vehicle accidents between Sept. 22 and Sept. 29.

A 15-year-old female advised police she had been assaulted and received minor injuries. A 14-year-old female was arrested and charged with assault; she is to appear in Brockville youth court at a later date. Constable Shawn Steinburg is the investigating officer.

Town officers investigated a number of thefts last week. A Prescott woman reported to police Sept. 24 money had been taken from her purse while she was at Boomers on King Street. The woman is not sure how much money was stolen. Constable Elaine Barr is the investigating officer.

An employee of D&D Mack electrical reported the theft of two spools of copper from the grocery store construction site. The theft was reported Sept. 24; the value of the stolen items is about $2,000. Constable Elaine Barr is the investigating officer.

On Sept. 25, Prescott's public works department reported the theft of a stop sign from the intersection of Victoria and Wood streets and a no motorized vehicle sign from the industrial park.

A 12-speed mountain bike (make unknown) was reported missing from a Hyde Street residence Sept. 27. The value of the bike is about $75.

The public is being advised to use caution when dealing with callers claiming to represent a bank and asking for credit card or other financial information. On Sept. 26, a male received a call from another male stating he was an employee of the TD bank. Town police suggest people should not provide any banking information over the phone.

Anyone with information on these incidents or other offences in town is asked to contact the Prescott Police Service at 925-4252 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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How to write a proposal

SOUTH GRENVILLE - A workshop on how to write a successful proposal for government funding will be held later this month in Brockville.

The comprehensive workshop is being presented by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food in conjunction with the Southeastern Ontario District Health Council

For more information, contact Barb Laidlaw at 1-888-595-4532, ext. 29 or www.seo-dhc.org by Oct. 7.

Seat belt campaign continues this week

SOUTH GRENVILLE - Police are continuing their annual fall seat belt campaign this week.

Members of the Grenville County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police checked 160 vehicles this past weekend and noted 100-per-cent compliance; however, some reminders on the proper use of the belts were issued.

Failure to wear a seat belt properly carries the same fine ($110) as failing to wear a seat belt, and also costs drivers two demerit points. Parents are reminded of the importance of ensuring proper fit and installation of child safety seats. Children who weigh more than 40 pounds are not required by law to ride in booster seats, but it should be noted seat belts are designed for adults who weigh 90 pounds or more, according to a police news release.

A child seat inspection clinic will be held this Saturday in the parking lot of Ideal Fasteners, corner of Churchill Road and Edward Street in Prescott.

The annual seat belt blitz runs until the end of next week. Officers will conduct both moving enforcement and RIDE checks throughout the county.

The local detachment also reported Monday officers responded to five motor vehicle collisions between Sept. 23 and Sept. 29. Minor injuries were reported in one of those accidents.

Top debating is all the talk at GCC

MAITLAND - Students from schools in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal will compete in the W. Victor George Invitational Debating Tournament this Saturday, Oct. 5 at Grenville Christian College (GCC).

Twelve teams of students in grades 9 through OAC will take part in the prestigious annual tournament;GCC will not be participating because it is serving as host.

"Many alumni of secondary debating programs claim they learned more from this extra-curricular activity than from some of their academic courses," stated organizer Geoff Henderson, who noted it is hoped local interest in forming high school debating clubs will be created by the tournament.

The debates are open to the public. They begin at 10 am with prepared parliamentary debates taking place until noon, teams will present impromptu topics from 12:15 to 1 pm.

A model round will begin at 1:45, followed by the announcement of winners.

For more information, call GCC at 345-5521.

Sale of bulbs helps fundraising total grow

By Astrid Strader, Project Supervisor, Horticulturist and Garden Designer

Being out there to answer questions about the waterfront project was just one of the benefits of our bulb selling fundraising campaign (finished Sept. 30); Overcoming shyness to communicate with the public was one of the first job skills I learned, and it's still one of the most important.

But we also learned many people do not realize that this Youth Employment Strategy (YES) program is a training ground for young people to get as much on-the-job experience as possible. So, the Prescott Blossoms YES team thanks you for helping us raise $1,048.50 through bulb sales. We'll be sure to plant the free bonus bulbs we earned in our downtown planter boxes for some cheery spring colour.

All of the money will go towards planting shrubs and trees in the Prescott Heritage River Trail arboretum.

Donating a single tree for special recognition is still possible. Come to the municipal office to see which trees are available for purchase.

You'll see some of us out over the next week creatively painting the concrete wall on Water Street just east of Edward Street, in Prescott colours - did you know Prescott has a very unique flag of its own? Keep watching as the colours sail in.

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Old age benefit rates increase

SOUTH GRENVILLE - A slight increase in Old Age Security (OAS) benefits took effect yesterday.

Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) announced last Wednesday OAS benefit rates would increase by 1.2 per cent as of Oct. 1.

A maximum basic pension of $449.32 per month will now be paid to people 65 years of ages and over.

The increase also applies to the maximum guaranteed income supplement, which now stands at just under $534 per month. The regular allowance is just over $797 per month.

Open house at Maitland Terminal was well-received

MAITLAND NEWS - Jane Fullarton

Approximately 180 residents visited the open house at the Ultramar Terminal on Maitland Road, in Maitland Saturday, Sept. 21 between 10 am and 3 pm. Residents were able to board a bus and have a guided tour of the terminal, including the tank farm.

Jim Wagar, manager of the Maitland Terminal, said the open house was well-received by residents, and questions from the public were mainly related to safety concerns.

Wagar noted people in attendance seemed impressed with the improvements to the site and the precautions taken to protect the community and the environment. The site has an elaborate dike system to collect any spills that could occur at the loading rack or at the tank farm.

The site has 2.7 million litres of water stored on site, as well as foam to fight fires, and has a diesel generator to operate pumps in case of a power outage during a fire.

The site is manned 24 hours a day and has video surveillance to secure the site.

Yoga classes are being offered at Maitland Public School Thursday mornings from 8:45 to 10:15.

Carol Kleber is the instructor and teaches gentle yoga. For more information call Carol at 345-7519.

Anyone interested in taking an introductory meditation class can call Dianne Brown at 348-3165 for information.

All Maitland-area seniors are welcome to attend the monthly luncheon, which takes place the second Wednesday of the month, sponsored by VON Community Support Program and volunteers from Maitland.

The next luncheon takes place at MERC Hall Oct. 9 beginning at noon. Entertainment follows the meal most months.

Those who plan to attend must call Cheryl at the VON office, 342-3693, by the Monday before the luncheon. Transportation is available.

The MERC October Youth Dance for students in grades 5 through 8, will be held Oct. 4 from 7 to 10 pm. No one will be admitted after 8 pm. Parent volunteers are always welcome.

Please call Cindy at 348-1760 or Susan 348-3088 for more information or if you can help supervise.

Family egg operation adds state-of-the-art barn

By David Dickenson - Journal Staff Writer

VENTNOR - The egg business has the Dobbie family cracking into the new millennium with a new high-tech pullet barn ready to be the home for more than 30,000 new chicks.

The new 250' x 40' barn will house the newborn chicks up until 19 weeks when they are considered hens and moved to the laying barn across the street.

"The new barn is just part of updating and modernizing," says Jeff Dobbie. "Everything here is controlled, the temperature, lighting, feed and medication, it will help us keep the chickens more uniform and keep a healthier bird.

"The three most important things for a good bird are: air, water and environment.

"We'll start out with about 17 chicks in a cage," says Dobbie. "Then we spread them out as they grow to give them more room."

The chickens are kept in three layers of cages, with the birds' excrement falling onto conveyer belts which bring it to a barn where it will be used on the 1,200 acres of crops, which include corn, oats, soy, wheat and barley.

The system which controls the barn's environment is fully automatic with a manual override feature and two back-up generators to ensure power outages will not affect the chickens.

The barn is equipped with five temperature probes which constantly monitor the environment and adapt it to the proper settings according to the age of the bird.

"The business has really changed over the years," explains Dobbie. "Our birds used to be free range and I remember walking around the barn picking up eggs from the nest scattered all over the barn.

"Things are much easier now, especially in keeping things clean."

The Dobbie family's history is long steeped in chickens, as its first barn was built in the village of Ventnor by Frank Dobbie 70 years ago.

The business is currently run by Bert Dobbie and his four sons who look after the crop land, pullets, layers and the grading of eggs.

"Some people would call what we have here a factory farm," says Dobbie. "But it's what you have to have to compete in the market and sustain the business for all the families involved."

"Things are much easier now..."

Jeff Dobbie

Take steps now to detect cancer before it is too late

LEEDS AND GRENVILLE - Early detection can save a life when it comes to cancer, and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit reminds women of the importance of mammography and pap testing.

Breast cancer the size of a pinhead can be found on a mammogram two to three years before it can be felt. Studies show regular mammograms ­ one every two years after age 50 ­ help lower the chance of dying from breast cancer by up to 30 per cent, according to the health unit. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer found and treated at its earliest stage is 95 per cent.

Breast screening is a free service; a doctor's referral is not needed in order to make an appointment. Call 1-800-668-9304 to book an appointment at an Ontario Breast Screening Program clinic.

Breast self-examination on a monthly basis is also recommended.

Studies have also shown up to 70 per cent of women diagnosed with cervical cancer have not had regular pap tests. Testing can detect abnormal cells before they become cancerous and symptoms arise. Cervical cancer is up to 90 per cent preventable with routine pap testing once every two years after the person has become sexually active.

For more information on cancer screening, go to www.healthunit.org and click on the "cancer" link.

Air cadet recruits welcome

PRESCOTT - Youth between the ages of 12 and 19 are welcome to join the Lt. W.F. Sharpe Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

The Prescott branch of the national organization develops the attributes of good citizenship and leadership and promotes physical fitness.

Cadets meet Tuesdays from 6 to 9 pm at South Grenville District High School. Extracurricular activities planned for this training year include gliding, abseiling (which is similar to rapelling), canoeing, sharp shooting, sailing, bush survival exercises and regional competitions. The mandatory training, uniforms and some activities are provided at no charge through the Canadian Armed Forces, Air Cadet League of Canada, the Prescott Royal Canadian Legion as the squadron sponsor, and community donations.

For more information, call 925-0246, e-mail 661air@cadets.net, or visit the Web site at www.cadets.ca/.

Pastel quilt available in raffle

WALKER HOUSE NEWS - MARNIE LIPPIATT

The quilters have provided us with yet another beautiful nine-patch quilt to be raffled. This is a pastel quilt to lighten any room. Tickets will be available from any board member or at the office.

The board meeting will be held Oct. 3 at 10 am.

Thanks to everyone who came on our trip to Southern Ontario and helped make it such a good trip. If anyone has suggestions for another trip, please call and discuss them with me at 925-5300.

Card game winners: Monday bridge ­ 1st, Andy Britnell; 2nd, Ruth Britnell; door prize, Valerie Schulz. Tuesday night cribbage ­ high hand, Pete Lowry; high score, Hilda Hutton; 2nd, Hugh Evely; 3rd, Jean McCrady. Thursday euchre ­ 1st, Jean Annable; 2nd, Marie Shahan; 3rd, Eleanor Gilligan; door prize, Eddie Arcand.

Volunteers sought for water study

SOUTH GRENVILLE - Property owners in the South Nation River watershed are being asked to participate in a study on drinking water quality in Eastern Ontario.

The two-year study is being conducted by a graduate student at the University of Ottawa in collaboration with South Nation Conservation. Tap water samples will be taken once this fall and again in early 2003.

Testing will be free of charge and results will be provided to participants.

Anyone who would like to volunteer is asked to call D. Carberry at (613) 228-3874 or (613) 859-5594.

Literacy is the focus for Central principal

PRESCOTT - The new principal of Central Public School in Prescott is a firm believer in strong literacy skills, and plans to make this his main objective for the school year.

"If the kids get a head start at that part of their schooling career, then it should pay off dividends down the road," said Frank Beckstead, who has started his first principal posting at Central in September. He comes to Prescott most recently from a term as vice principal at Pineview Public School in Athens. Other local terms included vice principal positions at Commonwealth and Westminster schools in Brockville, and teaching terms at Westminster, Maynard and Frankville schools, and Linklater school in Gananoque, where he was born and raised.

"Literacy is our primary focus, and helping all of the kids in the school reach their full potential as learners," Beckstead said.

As a method of promoting literacy, Beckstead is planning to organize family literacy nights for parents of children in Kindergarten to the Grade 3 to 4 level. The training session would offer instruction in effective reading and writing with children in the home, he explained. Involving the family more in early literacy is an "effective way to help children evolve as readers and writers," he said.

Central Public School has a history and reputation for sports involvement, and Beckstead plans to continue its excellent sports program in and out of school, he said.

The school also has a "fabulous group" of parent volunteers and supporters and Beckstead hopes more parents and community members will become involved in Central's activities. An active advisory committee has fundraised over the years, and has helped provide the school with new playground equipment and soccer nets. New basketball courts are still to come, he noted.

"I'm a firm believer that if children have things to do, they can be productive and they get along much better," Beckstead said. "The kids are well behaved, happy and productive."

There are 173 students in the school, allowing class sizes in the mid-20s. These are manageable numbers of students, he said, which allows "teachers to provide excellent programming and lots of group co-operative learning."

Beckstead has been in the education field for 26 years in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta. He also spent a year as a prison guard with Ontario correctional services in the late 1970s, and for three years was a head teacher at Joyceville Penitentiary.

His wife Julia, a nurse, is a unit co-ordinator for the operating room and day surgery at Brockville General Hospital and St. Vincent de Paul Hospital.

Maynard church hosts anniversary dinner today

MAYNARD - Victoria United Church will be hosting an anniversary dinner today (Wednesday, Oct. 2).

The turkey dinner will be served at 4:30 and 6 pm. Admission can be paid at the door. Take-out orders will be available. Proceeds go to church projects.

The Lindsays celebrate 65 years of marriage

PRESCOTT - Roy and Marg Lindsay celebrated their 65th anniversary recently at their daughter's house near Maynard. All five children and several grandchildren were on hand to celebrate the occasion.

Roy and Margaret (nee MacLean) were married Sept. 25, 1937 at Maple Row Farm, which is now home to part of the DuPont Canada Maitland site.

A report on the Lindsays' wedding was published in the Sept. 30, 1937 edition of The Prescott Journal. "Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a costume of royal blue velvet, designed on Princess lines, with accessories to match... she carried an arm bouquet of pink roses," the article stated.

The couple ran the Isle of Rest, now known as Dewar's Inn on the River. Mr. Lindsay also worked at DuPont for about 20 years.

The Lindsays raised five children: Mary, Bill, Fred, John and Jimmy. There are five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Mrs. Lindsay said the family has been fortunate never to have had a serious illness. The couple continues to live independently, although Mr. Lindsay noted the kids offer support when needed.

The Lindsay children indicated their parents provided a good home and showed the difference between right and wrong.

Hanna's Diary, 1938-1941

...the frightful, perilous life of a young Czechoslovakian girl who had to leave one life and one love behind and start anew in Canada where her "Dear Uncle" Louis Fischl of Prescott, had arranged a Schindler-like scheme to allow members of his family to escape Hitler's march through Europe.

Hanna's Diary 1938 - 1941, Czechoslovakia to Canada, By Dr. Hanna Spencer

McGill-Queen's Press - $32.95

For more than 50 years they lay untouched and unseen, safe within the solitude of an old, hand-carved wood box. These were the diaries of a young Dr. Hanna Fischl, written between 1938 and 1941, and today these diaries remain crisp and clear, untouched by age.

The author of these diaries would go on to become a professor emerita of the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Western Ontario. The man for whom she wrote them would become a soldier and fight and die in the Second World War.

Although the box contained several personal mementos of the life they once shared it is the diary that rekindles the past for Hanna Fischl-Spencer, the 89-year-old London, Ont. resident who started her new life in Canada in Prescott, and who wrote the diaries over 60 years ago.

"It is very personal and I wasn't sure it would be of interest to anyone else," she told a reporter for the Western News in April. "The diary wasn't written with the intention of ever being published."

The Western News reports that it was in the early 1990s, at the urging of her husband Elvins, that she opened the box for the first time since 1942. "Elvins thought I should translate it from the German for the sake of our grandchildren," she said. At the urging of her family and friends she was persuaded to publish the diaries, and started the translation task three years ago.

The result is Hanna's Diary 1938 - 1942, published late last year. It tells of the frightful, perilous life of a young Czechoslovakian girl, as a continent and eventually the world, sits on, and then becomes consumed by the Second World War.

It is the story of leaving one life and one love behind in Europe and starting anew in Canada and especially in Prescott.

The inspiration for the diaries, the Western News reports, was Hans Feiertag, Spencer's boyfriend at the time. With war on the horizon and with Hitler already taking over Austria and parts of Czechoslovakia, Feiertag knew they couldn't be seen together or even be in contact with each other.

Hanna was Jewish, an intellectual, a teacher, and born in Czechoslovakia. He was a Christian, a native of Austria, a musician and composer. By 1938 Hitler's anti-Jewish edicts made it too perilous for them to even acknowledge each other.

Feiertag suggested Hanna keep a diary as a keepsake they would share sometime in the future. Her diary reveals how perilous their liaison could be as Feiertag's name does not appear in it until she flees Czechoslovakia to England in March, 1939.

Hanna's Diary, according to the author... "is the day-to-day account of my life as a refugee and an immigrant during a very turbulent time in my life and in the world."

For Hanna and the rest of the Fischl family, being Jewish in their native Czechoslovakia had never been an issue. The family seldom ever attended synagogue, and Hanna attended a Catholic school where she recalls she studied catechism and her family and relatives adopted Christmas by decorating a tree and exchanging gifts. In fact, Hanna's husband, Elvins Spencer, didn't know Hanna was Jewish until several years after they were married, and her children didn't know until they were adults.

Her puzzlement over Canadians' need to be identified with a church over 60 years ago is recorded in her diary shortly after arriving in Prescott in June of 1939. "People here seem to assume that one attends church. ("Which church do you go to? is a common question.) Uncle Louis wants us to join this Canadian one. I'm told that it is called the United Church of Canada."

The first entry in Hanna's diary was made when she was visiting her uncle and aunt, Louis and Mana Fischl at their home in Barringen, in the Sudaten Mountains where Mr. Fischl had developed a successful leather glove manufacturing business. The entry is made Saturday, August 6, 1938. "I have been here for two days. Nice that no one takes any notice of me all day, except three-year-old little Johnnie, who is so sweet." (Johnnie is John Fischl of Maitland, her first cousin).

By this time the 24-year-old author had her doctorate in German and Slavic languages from Prague University and was teaching at a high school in the small city of Olomouc. She was later to be fired from this job because she was a Jew. Her diary entries for the next year deal with the frustrations of former colleagues shunning her and the frantic activities of the Fischl families and their relatives to obtain the necessary documents to allow them to flee England and eventually come to Canada.

The hero of their escape was "Uncle Louis", who was looked upon as the family leader because of his travels throughout Europe, England, Canada and United States, lining up customers such as Eatons of Canada, for his fine leather gloves. Early in 1938 he began a Schindler-like scheme to arrange moving his factory, his staff and his extended family to Canada. This included 21 family members. As well as "Uncle Louis", his wife Mana and children John and Lea; two of his brothers, one of whom was Hanna's father, as well as her mother, her mother's two sisters, one sister's husband and all their children. Non-family refugees included Anton and Rudolph Fischer, expert glove cutters who formed the backbone of the new plant in Prescott. "Uncle Louis" received special Canadian entry permits for his large family group by convincing Canadian authorities they were all expert glove makers and were necessary to the establishment of his new business in Canada.

About 80,000 Czechs of Jewish descent died in Hitler's death camps, including many Fischl, Monk, Pollak and Steiner relatives. Only a handful of the nuclear family survived the Holocaust.

Among the first of the Fischl families to reach Canada were Hanna and her sister who, after three months in England working as nannies and maids, sailed to Canada, arriving in Prescott June 15, 1939. Part of her diary entry of that eventful day reads: "The Fischls (Uncle Louis, Mana, John and Lea) live in a big beautiful house, which is empty as yet except for pictures and Persian rugs and a few borrowed chairs. They seem to have been befriended by a lively circle of local dignitaries. Last night Mayor Horan's family (wife and two grown daughters) and father Briceland, the vivacious young Catholic priest, came to welcome Mimi and me.

SUNDAY, 18 JUNE We went to church today, the United Church of Canada. In order to qualify as Canadian immigrants we had to declare ourselves undenominational. I had no problem with that. I never did feel particularly Jewish.

MONDAY, 19 JUNE Last night Mimi and I called on the Fischers, Anton and Rudolph, who worked for Louis in Barringen. As Social Democrats they had to run from the Nazis too. Met a young high school teacher, Mr. Sheevers and his wife. He said I should have a good chance of getting a teaching position at his university, the University of Toronto.

SUNDAY, 25 JUNE Enjoyed hearing Mr. Cobourn preach ­ he had called on us a few days ago. Yesterday his daughter Margaret, about our age, came with her car to pick us up for a drive. Two days ago the Davidsons drove up and packed me and Mimi into their car to show us the countryside. Mr. Davidson is the local banker. They have a daughter just a little younger than us.

SUNDAY, 13 JULY Letter from John Pollak saying that our people are expecting their exit visas soon. Each family will be receiving a thousand dollars from the Czechoslovak Committee in London towards buying a farm in addition to having their passage paid. Dear Uncle Louis has obtained entry permits.

TUESDAY, 1 AUGUST Isabel Elliott, a high school teacher, called to invite us for a drive. Mimi, Lea, Johnnie and I have just returned from a beautiful outing.

MONDAY, 25 AUGUST A reporter arrived. Made a great to-do about me. Story that appeared in the local newspaper was headlined: "PhD Happy Making Gloves". Bit of an overstatement. I don't exactly rejoice at sitting behind a sewing machine from 8 am to 6 pm with an hour off at noon, literally glued to the chair with perspiration while fending off mosquitoes and flies, and trying to cope with a machine that won't work.

MONDAY, 28 AUGUST (We now own) A beautiful farm: ninety acres of meadow and bushland, two horses and two cows, twenty chickens and soon, we hope, more goats and lots of rabbits. We have bought a car. John and Fred (Pollak) are so far the only drivers. The farm is on the road to Spencerville (Weir Road) and eleven of us will be living there. We will call it New Haven.

SATURDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER Dear me, what a celebrity I have become through the article in the Recorder and Times! Several days in a row, strangers have come to the office and asked to see "the educated lady". I was called out to meet them and didn't know what to say.

TUESDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER John Pollak learned from Dr. Smellie that a medical student from Brockville wanted to meet him and that a university professor near Brockville expressed an interest in me. A reporter from Ottawa came to the factory to interview me. Most of the farm work falls to John and Fred (Pollak). Fred is beginning to cope with English. After driving us to work he has to do the shopping. He does it with zest and ingenuity and with very limited English.

WEDNESDAY, 8 NOVEMBER Uncle Louis returned from Ottawa with a surprise for me. Grinning from ear-to-ear he reported that the much-feared Mr. Blair of the Immigration Dept. had asked him if he would agree to my giving a talk in Ottawa. Two days later I was invited to address the junior branch of the League of Nations Society in Ottawa, Nov. 25, and the Business and Professional Women's Club invited me to speak at a luncheon the same day.

MONDAY, 27 NOVEMBER More invitations to speak at church and youth groups in Prescott, Brockville, Easton's Corners and Maynard.

CHRISTMAS DAY, 1939 Wilson MacDonald, a Canadian poet who currently lives in Prescott, invited me to supper and, a few days later, to a large party. Besides writing poetry he is a composer, he draws, cooks and knows magicians' tricks.

JANUARY 31, 1940 In September a large wooden container arrived with some of our belongings; furniture, linen, dishes, etc., including our skis. What's missing are proper hills, only the Sand Hills between our farm and Prescott offer any type of elevation. It has become a popular activity, with several novices taking it up. Last week the Prescott Ski Club was founded and the town of Prescott dumped some additional sand on our minuscule hills. We'll change Canada's contours yet!"

Throughout 1940 the youthful Dr. Fischl was in constant demand as a speaker at several important clubs and social groups in Ottawa which resulted in her joining the faculty of the prestigious girls school, Elmwood School, in Ottawa in January 1941.

At Elmwood she formed a very close friendship with another new teacher, Edith Spencer of Alberta, who attended Elmwood for a few years when her father was an MP in Ottawa. The last entry in her diary was in December, 1941. It read: I have invited Edith of New Haven for Christmas. Since her brother will be visiting her from Toronto, she will bring him too.

The reason the diary ends so abruptly is that Edith brought her brother Elvins to New Haven for Christmas in 1941 and he and Hanna fell in love and were married six months later. It would be 20 years before she found out what had happened to her first love Hans Feiertag and that he too had met and married another love and that their only child has become friends with Hanna and Elvins Spencer.

Hanna Fischl-Spencer will be reliving her three memorable years in Prescott as Hanna Fischl, the educated lady, on Saturday, October 12, when she returns here for a book signing from 11 am to 2 pm at The Gift Lane on King Street. The signing is being sponsored jointly by The Gift Lane and The Prescott Journal.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"We felt good about things going in, but came up flat."

Dave Corney, coach of the South Grenville DHS senior football team, commenting on Friday's home-opener loss to Gananoque

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Editor's Notebook

There is nothing earth shattering about the findings of a recent report on economic development planning in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Calling on municipalities in the region to work together as one unit instead of competing against each other or doing their own thing to attract new business is not a revelation, but it appears to be something that needs to be stated again and again.

There are those who will write off this initiative as being just another process that gives consultants work and produces a thick document that gathers dust on someone's shelf. Time will tell if such cynicism is warranted; until then, politicians and the community as a whole can digest the report and consider the next move.

As has been noted in the past, just about everyone is in favour of economic development. The problem is coming up with a plan that involves all parties and actually achieves its goals. Some ratepayers are bound to question any municipal council which spends money on economic development and cannot show a direct benefit ­ especially when roads are in bad shape and civic leaders claim there is not enough for repairs.

However, the fact remains communities that do little or nothing to promote themselves cannot expect businesses to come running. It can be a delicate balancing act that often pleases no one and fails to produce much in the way of new businesses and jobs or better roads and sidewalks, but at least some municipalities try to make their presence felt in a very competitive marketplace.

Proposed changes to federal and provincial electoral boundaries have raised the ire of local politicians who question the value of splitting Grenville County by placing North Grenville and Edwardsburgh/Cardinal with municipalities to the east and keeping the rest of Leeds and Grenville together in one riding (while adding a portion of Frontenac County). In fairness, though, some of those same politicians have also noted they have more in common with their colleagues to the east or west than they do with their neighbours to the north or south.

A unified plan that includes the various components of the united counties may seem simplistic, but it must be given a chance. No matter where the lines on the map are drawn, the communities in the Leeds and Grenville area must set aside their differences and work together as a team.

This may seem like some old cliche, but the reality of the situation dictates a collective effort has a much better chance of giving each community a fighting chance in a global economy that is not exactly waiting for the shy, reserved types to work up the nerve to play the game.

Tim Ruhnke

FORWARDING COMMENTS

Monica Whitney

Team approach needed Happy Birthday Sue, I'm proud to call you my big sister

There's a lot of great things about having brothers - especially when you're all grown up and they don't tease their little sister anymore. But what's really swell is to have a big sister, no matter what age you are. Sue and I are the bookends for those three boys in the middle - she being 11 years older than I.

With both parents working full-time when we were young, Sue was the babysitter, cook, cleaner, hairdresser, driver, fashion consultant, counsellor, guardian, inspiration, tutor, peacekeeper, encourager, and all the etceteras possible.

When I needed to make a birthday card for Babci (Grandma), Sue told me it was perfect and she would love it. When I came home in Grade 1 having seen better days, Sue cleaned the mess and picked up the pieces. She had time to give me a hair-care lesson when her date - who was to become her future husband - was waiting at the door. Once I became a teenager, it was Sue who listened to my troubles and gave me advice without lecturing or ordering (and she's still doing that for me).

She raised and cared well for her own family, home and career (and continues to), but has time to worry about mine and help me along the rough spots.

I still cherish the book set and card she gave me as a gift when I graduated from Grade 6; the get well card her friend sent me when I had the mumps; the Pooh Bear that was a seventh birthday gift. (I still have that cuddly bear, much worn with love.) I remember the paper doll cutouts and the Barbie doll with the Hawaiian dress she presented to me at the hospital when I had my tonsils taken out - my own daughter now has that dress for her dolls. Even now, Sue never forgets a birthday or special occasion for anyone in my family.

With such an age difference, I find it amazing she could have even cared about what I did, how I did it or when. And Sue is always there to guide me along the right path.

She is the soldier in a family crisis; the bond that holds us all together. She always knows the right thing to do. Thoughtfulness and generosity seem to come naturally.

Sue's 50th birthday was last week, and I hope she has a million good blessings. She deserves the best. Thanks for always being there by my side, Sue, and for being a friend.

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FORT TOWN DIARY

John A.H. Morris

An emerging senior fights to get back into the checkout loop

The hot and humid summer months really took us out of circulation where daily contact with our peers had been allowing us easy entry into our golden years. Until life and our daily routine returned as near to normal as we could expect, two weeks ago, we didn't realize how much just a few weeks out of a summer could leave us out of the loop.

Trips to Prescott's largest convenience store, the Big V up on Edward St., used to be daily and very routine, even for an emerging senior. We didn't realize just how far we had strayed from the loop when we returned last week to pick up a few treats.

We found the large, sturdy (and clean!) grocery carts exceptionally easy to lean on when shopping and wondered why the LCBO couldn't be as caring in their selection of tiny tot carts. Fruit and vegetable specials were still displayed just inside the front door where you could cause gridlock with just a brief description of how your new water pill has been working in response to an enquiry about your health.

A quick drive-by of the meat counter showed the store's packaging policies hadn't changed over the summer months. Ever try to find a package of just two pork chops, or two breasts of chicken, or a package of hamburg suitable for making just two or maybe three hamburg patties?

Our sesame rice wafer supply was exhausted so we took a trip down the cookie and cracker aisle, only to find just two packages of rice wafers, both barbecue! and probably the same two that had been there during our last visit back in June. Next on our shopping list was diet Coke. No trouble finding what is probably the most popular soft drink product in the store, Coca Cola. There it was, same place as it was two months ago. On the very top shelf, just barely within the reach of a six-foot, slightly stooped senior.

Wonder if Coke ever wonders why sales of their product to seniors are limited to just those of us who drink rum. No such trouble at the King Street Provincial Dairy Bar where the Bacardi and Captain Morgan is at eye level or lower. In deference to fellow rum fiend Rodney who is slightly height challenged, the Woods Old Navy is on the bottom shelf.

We had to switch back to the fruits and veggies aisle to pick up bananas, which are always plentiful and at bargain prices at the Big V. Trouble is the green bananas out-number the ripe ones about 10 to 1 and we have to split about five bunches to get five ripe bananas. Fellow senior Mike Boyles lectures the Tim Horton Liars Club a couple of times a week on the poor investment of persons our age in ripe bananas.

The real senior challenge at not only Big V, but at other stores, is the check-out aisle. First of all you have to fight with the lady behind you who has a heaping cart of groceries to get your purchases on the counter. You no sooner have your nine items placed on the conveyor, in a row, on the cashier's side of the belt, than she starts unloading her cart with total disregard to your groceries, your arms or any other limb. You try to wedge one of the handy bars between your goods and her truckload at about the same time as she uncovers a rather grimy two-year-old wedged underneath the large box of Cheerios and four loaves of Betty bread at the front of her cart.

She cranks her cart into your left elbow as she lurches forward to catch her kid, who in the meantime, has zapped your clean sports shirt with a slimy sucker.

By this time the kid on the cash tells you your bill is $9.81 and the lady who just cart-ended you has started to nudge you down past the cash and credit card conveyance with her cart.

The kid on the cash has already bagged your few purchases, shoved them down the counter and is waiting impatiently for your cash. Mmm ... $9.81 you say to yourself, and reach into your right pocket where the jangling residue of about three months of sparse shopping is making a weightie statement. You can just see the kid on the cash deflate and the shopping cart lady behind you snarl as you poke your index finger into your right palm and separate five loonies.

"There's five dollars," you say.

More poking and picking and you retrieve eight quarters.

"That's seven dollars," you say with a slight quiver in your voice.

Then you discover a toonie amidst the remaining quarters, nickels and pennies and dimes and hand that to the kid on the cash.

"That's nine dollars," you say, just as he hands you back two nickels that you had mistaken for quarters.

"Oh, oh, sorry about that," you say as you hold your handful of coins up to bifocal range. You poke around and find two more quarters.

"That's nine dollars."

Then you pick out six nickels and five dimes and pour them into the kid on the cash's waiting hand. "That's nine, eighty," you sort of sigh.

Finally, you hand him over his last penny. He says "have a nice day" and you tell the lady with the sucker-smeared child to enjoy her day!

Christmas project promotes sharing

By David Dickenson - Journal Staff Writer

CARDINAL - The annual Operation Christmas Child is now under way

Over the last three years, the local operation centre in Cardinal has filled more than 3,200 boxes, after dispersing them to churches in Cardinal, Prescott, Iroquois and Morrisburg.

The shoe boxes which arrived Friday, are handed out with the understanding that people fill them with soaps, a toothbrush, toothpaste, hard candies, a small toy and any other little trinkets that people would take for granted and bring a smile to a child's face.

The boxes are then shipped overseas to third world countries where the children often have never had the luxury of receiving a present.

"It's a great way as adults to teach our children how fortunate we are and how much we have," says local organizer Donna Patrick. "It gives everyone regardless of how much they have a chance to share."

This year's boxes are white in order to allow them to be decorated by anyone who fills them.

The collection day for the boxes will be Nov. 15 and 16 and will be provided by Bob Lodge of 730 Truck Stop.

Shoe boxes can be picked up at local churches in Cardinal, Prescott, Spencerville, Iroquois and Morrisburg or by calling Patrick at 657-3604.

CARDINAL BRIEFS

Business association meets next Wednesday

CARDINAL - The Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Ward One Business Association will be holding its monthly meeting Wednesday, Oct. 9.

The meeting starts at 7 pm at the Cardinal Village Hall.

At the business association's previous meeting, Charlie Burrell was named president and Marj Kempffer was named secretary/treasurer.

For more information, contact the General Dollar at 657-1764.

Public meeting addresses growth and development

SPENCERVILLE - A public meeting to consolidate land use policies for Cardinal into the new Official Plan and Zoning bylaw for the Township of Edwardsburgh/ Cardinal has been scheduled for Oct. 16 in Johnstown.

The meeting will take place at the South Edwardsburgh Community Centre and will update policies to current standards and set out policies for growth and development in the planning area for the next 20 years.

A zoning bylaw amendment to implement the revised plan has been been drafted and will also be presented at the meeting.

Those who would like additional information relating to the proposed official plan or zoning bylaw amendments can get it from the Township Office in Spencerville during regular business hours.

Junior stamp club meets at new time

CARDINAL - The regular meeting of the Junior Stamp Club will be taking place Wednesday, Oct. 9.

The meeting will be held at 7 pm at the Cardinal Library; due to conflicts for members, the club will be holding its meetings on the second Wednesday of every month.

Rummage sale starts Friday evening

CARDINAL ­ The Fall Rummage Sale at St. Paul's Anglican Church on John Street, Cardinal, will start Friday, Oct. 4, from 6 to 9 pm. It will continue Saturday morning from 8 am to noon.

Baking, preserves, indoor plants, treasures and nearly-new clothing will be on sale in the church hall. Starting on Friday evening this year is in response to popular demand, explained Jane Stuart.

To arrange for pick-up of donated items for the sale, call Gary Linnen at 657-3372.

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Dart league players begin third week

CARDINAL - The Cardinal Legion Branch 105 Dart League has entered its third week of the season with the team of Hurt's Real Bad in first place with 15 1/2 points.

Behind Hurt's Real Bad in the standings are the Slow Shooters with 13 1/2, Magnificent Trio with 10 1/2, Rat Pack with 10 1/2, Don't believe, Pray! with 10, Bye-Bye Birdies with 7, Three Blind Mice with 6 and Naughty & Nice with 5.

High scorers for the opening night of Sept. 11 were Christine Veeley, 138; Ruth Hooke, 102; and Penny Fairfield, 100.

On Sept. 18, Joyce Menard scored the most bullseyes with two and Jean Greenough had the high three dart finish of 62 while the high scorers were Hazel Grant-Johnston, 127 and Dale Grant, 107.

On Sept. 25, Joyce Menard scored the most bullseyes with two and Jean Greenough had the high three-dart finish of 62, while the high scorers were Hazel Johnston, 127; Muriel Allard, 120 and Diana Hoy 100.

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Draft nutrient management regulation sets additional farm unit categories

WARD 1 UPDATE

Peggy Taylor

At the Grenville Federation of Agriculture meeting held this month, Geri Kamenz, an OFA director, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Food has prepared a draft of the regulation for the Nutrient Management Act and is now in the process of holding public consultations on the topic.

The draft regulation establishes categories for "farm units." Generally speaking, the categories are as follows: Category I is a farm handling no more than 30 nutrient units per annum; Category II handles more than 30 but not more than 150 nutrient units per year; Category III handles more than 150 and not more than 300 nutrient units per annum; and Category IV handles more than 300 nutrient units per year.

Under the old system "animal units" were used to calculate appropriate farm size to accommodate the livestock on each farm. One cow was one animal unit; fifty chickens was one animal unit. Nutrient units are different from animal units.

Nutrient units relate to the amount of manure capable of being generated at the farm unit or which the farm may handle. Nutrient units may be produced at the farm or brought onto the farm.

Kamenz advised one-sixth of a cow could be one nutrient unit, depending on the size/type of livestock.

Kamenz indicated farmers wanted to be sure scientific guidelines were established and the regulation does that. The end result may not be perfect, but it is scientific and farmers will have to adapt to the changes.

Under the regulation a farm unit will have to prove it can handle the nutrient units it brings onto the farm or produces on the farm. Some farmers do not have livestock; they crop only. If they decide to transport livestock manure onto their property for soil nutrition they will have to show that the nutrients are being properly managed. This is where a nutrient management plan comes into play.

If a farm exports nutrients, there must exist a written agreement for the export. The farm producing the manure must be able to show it will be removed from the farm and land applied at the farm unit receiving it in accordance with a nutrient management strategy if such a plan is required at the receiving end. A plan may not be required if it is a "solid nutrient" and a plan is not required under the regulation.

Nutrient Management Plans are required for all Class IV and III farm units (more than 150 nutrient units).

If you own a Category I or II farm and are expanding or you generate liquid manure you too will require a nutrient management plan.

A certification of a nutrient management plan remains in effect for three years. It covers manure produced, washwaters, leachates, biosolids, pulp and paper sludge.

It includes the name of each generator of nutrients, an analysis of nutrient content and various other items designed to ensure that what is applied to land, where it is applied, the nutrient needs of the land and the source of each application is known.

Eastern Ontario was overlooked in the initial government plans for consultations, but a session has now been arranged and will be held in Kemptville. Our OFA Representative, Jo-Anne High, will be advising those of us who indicated we wanted to know of the date as soon as she hears of the date set for Eastern Ontario consultations.

High also advised that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans addressed the latest summit meeting and outlined the rules and regulations for farmers to follow when working around water. The DFO will be at a Grenville Federation meeting in the future to speak to members about the regulations and how they are affected by them. The presentation given at the summit was informative and well received by members present.

Peggy Taylor is a councillor for Ward One and may be reached at 657-1728 or peggytaylor@ripnet.com.

Playhouse offers year-round programming

MORRISBURG - Upper Canada Playhouse here is launching an ambitious season to mark its 20th anniversary.

Billed "A Show for Every Season," the fall and winter program includes scheduled shows leading up to the flagship 2003 summer season.

Artistic Director Donnie Bowes cites an overwhelming audience interest for year-round shows as the major reason for extending the theatre's playbill.

Beginning the fall season is the hilarious Maggie's Getting Married from Oct. 25 to Nov. 3. The magic of the holiday season comes to life with a family show - A Christmas Carol - from Nov. 28 to Dec. 14. The 2003 season opens April 22 with Lucien. The April 26 performance is the Playhouse's anniversary gala event to benefit Winchester District Memorial Hospital. Call 543-3713 for more information.

Giants lose rain-soaked home opener to Gananoque 7-0

PRESCOTT - The weather wreaked havoc on the football field for the South Grenville Giants last Friday as they lost to the Gananoque Trojans in their home opener 7-0.

The Giants got their offence rolling early as quarterback Willie McKinnon broke free on a QB sneak through the middle for a 70-yard score that was immediately called back after an offside flag.

Despite the weather causing lots of fumbles and dropped passes, the Trojans were able to mark the only touchdown of the game taking advantage of the size of their receiving core and inexperience of the Giants pass defence.

Early in the second half, the Trojans added some security with a single from a kick into the end zone.

"It really was a tough loss for the boys," says head coach Dave Corney. "We felt good about things going in, but came up flat. We didn't come out with the same intensity of the previous week.

"A big part of the game was played in our end," says Corney. "We have to give it to Gan. as they took advantage of our mistakes and held tough."

The Giants powerful defensive corps led by linebacker Shawn Bradford and defensive backs David DeDekker and Blake Jackson kept things tight holding the Trojans offence in check and making some big plays to cause a fumble in the last couple minutes to give the Giants one last shot.

With 1:20 left in the game the Giants hard luck continued as receiver Kurtis VanHyning got open along the sidelines, but was not able to hold onto McKinnon's pass as the rain soaked ball slipped through his fingers.

The dropped pass ended the last ditch efforts to tie things up and get into the win column.

"Our offence really wasn't clicking," explained Corney. "In three down football you need to make some big plays in the first two downs and we weren't able to do that.

"We're going to take a look at re-working the offence and incorporating more big play passing to try to give things a boost."

The Giants junior squad also featured the similar fate as the seniors in their opener taking a close 6-0 loss to a strong Perth team.

"The juniors hung in tough and are improving greatly," says Corney. "Those kids are really on track to improve.

"These kids are getting used to the game and getting a passing attack going that they can continue later on as seniors."

The Giants hit the road looking for their first victory this Friday as they battle the undefeated Brockville Collegiate Institute Red Rams who have looked like a juggernaut in their past two games. The juniors start things off at Commonwealth Field at 1 pm and the seniors will follow at 2:30 pm.

Edwardsburgh starting to skate

SPENCERVILLE - The Edwardsburgh Figure Skating Club's winter season begins Oct. 15 and will feature Canskate, Starskate and Adultskate programs.

The programs will run Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in the Spencerville arena.

The Canskate program teaches people to skate and is open for all ages with lessons taught by a professional coach and assisted by program assistants.

Starskate is a new program introduced this year for skaters who have progressed competitive levels.

The Adultskate program is on Thursday nights and teaches skating skills while having fun.

The club features two new coaches this season, with experienced skater Young Soon Benoit and gold skater and level one coach Jody Toll.

Debbie Crowder, of RR2 Prescott, won the fundraising draw by the club for the Mamma Mia concert in Toronto drawn at the Spencerville Fair.

The club is still accepting skaters for the winter season.

For more information contact Sandra McNamara at 258-1646 or Catherine Miller at 658-3467.

Jr. B Rangers shut out Islanders 5-0 for first victory of season

CARDINAL - The South Grenville Jr. B Rangers made a good impression for their first win of the season defeating the Gananoque Islanders 5-0 Saturday.

"The boys played really well," says general manager Dennis Van Liut. "Gananoque is a tough team, they beat Westport, tied Brockville, but lost to Athens.

"Devin Payne got the shutout for us and was pretty much standing on his head all game with a lot of scrambles in front of the net."

The Rangers opened things up in the first period with a goal from swift moving defenceman Peter Veltkamp who was fed by Derek June for one of June's three assists to move into third place in league scoring.

South Grenville scored three more goals in the second from Dave MacKinnon, Tyler Shanks and Dustin Swan, while Swan, Liam Tyrell, Adam Lawrence, Josh Kirkby all got assists.

"Shanks, who's an overage veteran, really stepped things up on offence and our defence was very physical playing better than the previous games this season.

"Veltkamp really came through big for us on defence."

South Grenville continued to dominate play in the third to ensure the shut out and allow Matt Paul to pot another insurance marker from Veltkamp and Ruigrok putting the final stamp on their first victory of the season.

The Rangers earlier in the week made a road trip to Brockville to battle the Tikis losing the game 9-4.

The Rangers had a fast start out of the blocks controlling most of the play for the first period, while Tikis goaltender Matt Baribeau's play held the Rangers to three goals.

The Tikis got on the scoreboard first on a bouncing rebound over a sprawling Rangers goalie Spencer Utman.

Brockville kept up the pressure taking advantage of a screened Utman to let a low slapper go to put Brockville up 2-0.

A minute later South Grenville began a charge with Tyler Shanks potting a goal, assisted by Dustin Swan and Derek June.

A couple minutes later the Rangers pulled even as June scored on a wrister from Shanks and Jason VanLanan.

South Grenville took the lead in the game off a June shot which deflected off a Tikis player to put South Grenville ahead 3-2.

Late in the first Brockville regained some momentum when the Tikis' captain caught an airborne puck at the side of the net dropping it for a short handed marker which tied things at three.

The jump the Rangers showed in the first seemed to fizzle in the second as the Tikis jumped off to a quick start scoring three unanswered goals before June capitalized on a beautiful set play from Matt Paul for the Rangers last goal of the game and June's hat trick.

South Grenville continued to battle hard but was not able to capitalize on numerous scoring chances throughout the rest of the second and third as Brockville scored three more to end the game 9-4.

With less than five minutes left in the game Steven Brown of the Tikis was hauled down on a break, giving him a penalty shot.

On the shot Brown pulled the puck across the net for a backhand, but was denied as Utman slid across the net kicking his leg out to get a small piece of the puck.

Though the game was clearly in hand, the Rangers seemed to get a boost from the Utman's stop to finish the game with some of the jump showed early in the first.

The Rangers hope to continue their winning streak Friday in Westport at 8:15 and Saturday at the Cardinal Community Centre against the Athens Aeros at 7:15.

Prescott rink preparing for trip to Canada Winter Games

PRESCOTT - A year after doing well at the Ontario Winter Games, the bantam girls rink from Prescott Curling Club has begun preparations for the Canada Winter Games in February.

The rink of Laura Payne, Lauren Mann, Candace Johnston and Ryrie Brisco is excited about getting things rolling.

"We'll get to stay at an athletes village," says Johnston. "That should be really fun."

Brisco added, "Not only do we get to represent Ontario, we'll get to meet the other athletes and maybe get some autographs."

The girls are now working with a new coach, Brian Savill, as their former coach Jerry Cianocha stepped down for family reasons.

Savill comes with high notability as he coached John Morris' rink to back-to-back wins in the World Junior Championships in 1998 and 1999.

The team's long route to the Canada Winter Games began last year after finishing fourth in the Southern Ontario playdowns; the girls qualified for the Ontario Winter Games where the rink rallied in extra ends to defeat the rink from Unionville 9-4.

"This is the highest level to which the girls can go in Canada," explains Cianocha. "Ontario has the biggest contingent and is one of the hardest regions to make it out of."

The girls will be one of 13 rinks in the under-18 junior women's division of curling at the Canada Winter Games.

The Prescott rink is one of the most successful example of the merits of Cianocha's orphan clinics, where unattached curlers can meet other curlers to help organize a team together.

The Prescott Curling Club will be holding a fundraising bonspiel on December 7 to raise money for the team.

RSL bantam Kings AA come up short in series

PRESCOTT - The Rideau St. Lawrence AA Kings Minor Bantam team was defeated in a home-and-home series against the Gloucester Rangers Sept. 28 and 29.

In the first game the Kings lost a close match-up 4-3, with goaltender Clarke Saunders keeping the Kings in the game throughout.

Tyler Keicks drew first blood for the Kings while Tyler Drew scored the Kings' other two goals before falling short.

Sunday night, the Kings then battled the Rangers in Gloucester where they lost the game 7-1.

The Kings took the lead early off a goal by Mike Froom, but their wheels fell off in the second period as Gloucester put away five unanswered power play goals for the win.

The Kings continue their season on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Leo Boivin Arena in Prescott at 7 pm.

PeeWee Kings split pair of games to open season

SPENCERVILLE - The Rideau-St. Lawrence AA Minor PeeWee's opened their 2002-03 season with one win and one loss.

On Saturday, Sept. 21 the Kings were defeated by the Ottawa Sting 6-0, with Tommy Allan stopping 46 shots for the Kings.

The Kings redeemed themselves on Sunday, Sept. 22 by downing Seaway Valley in Cornwall 6-1. Kyle Pattemorel led the Kings with two goals, while Jay Keller, Brett Jackson, Scott Sommers and Doug Utting rounded out the scoring. Justin Seguin had a solid game in net.

On Saturday, Sept. 28 the Kings lost to Nepean 5-1, with Michael Skakum scoring the lone goal for the Kings with an assist from Jay Keller.

The following day the Kings travelled to Ottawa to battle Cumberland to a 1-1 draw.

Skakum scored on a pass from Marc Roy for the Kings only goal.

The Kings next game will be in Kanata this Thursday, Oct. 4 at 8 pm.

Atom Kings drop season opener to Ottawa Titans

SPENCERVILLE - The Rideau St. Lawrence Kings Atom team opened its season on Sept. 21 with a 6-3 loss to the Ottawa Valley Titans.

Scoring for the Kings were Cody Johnson, Lance Hodgson and Jayson Harmer. Goaltender Michael Lalonde made some nice glove saves in the loss.

The next day the Kings lost a road match-up against the Seaway Valley Rapids 8-2 in Maxville.

Johnson scored the Kings' first marker, while Josh Pitt netted the Kings' other goal while goaltender Tyler Gallinger had a solid game between the pipes.

Local player ready to join upstart league

MAYNARD - A former South Grenville Ranger and Brockville Brave player is making the leap to the deep south in hopes of continuing his hockey career.

Andrew Dickson of Maynard is set to leave for St. Petersburg, Florida Monday to join the St. Petersburg Parrots of the newly restarted Atlantic Coast Hockey League.

The 24-year-old Dickson played with the Rangers as a 15-year-old and played some games as a 16-year-old as he split time between the Rangers and Jr. A Hawksbury Hawks.

In his three years since playing junior A hockey, Dickson has spent a year in Europe playing and two in Kansas with a semi-pro team there.

"Every place you go is a new experience," says Dickson. "And this is one I'm really looking forward to.

"The league is full of former AA hockey talent and are just a bunch of young guys trying to make the AHL (American Hockey League) or NHL; it should be very competitive."

The six-team league is a revival of the old Atlantic Coast Hockey League which operated from 1981-82 through 1986-87 and was the home for sports world big wigs such as Florida Panther head coach Rick Dudley, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach John Tortorella and World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly WWF) promoter Vince McMahon.

The new league consists of teams in the southern states such as the Jacksonville Barracudas, Knoxville Ice Bears, St. Petersburg Parrots, Orlando Seals, Macon Trax and the Cape Fear Fire Antz.

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Two aces for local golfers

PRESCOTT - Ted Rafuse of Prescott scored a hole-in-one during the Senior's Closing Tournament Thursday, Sept. 19 at Prescott Golf Club.

Rafuse scored the ace on the 140-yard, 15th hole using his seven iron.

He was playing with Wayne Armstong, Hall Kirkby and Wendell Stanley.

Prescott Golf Club Manager Thom Miller also notched a hole-in-one on Sept. 29 while golfing at the 1000 Islands Golf Club in Wellesley Island, New York.

Miller scored the ace on the 145-yard, 15th hole using an eight iron.

He was playing with club champion Phil Patterson and Jeff Ferguson.