VOL. 173, NO.28~ PRESCOTT, ONTARIO ~ July 9, 2003

Big rate hikes are in the works

Doubling water and sewer charges would put town in break-even position

By Tim Ruhnke, Journal Editor

PRESCOTT ­ Town water and sewer rates would have to be doubled to reflect all the costs of providing those services, Prescott council has been told.

A proposed water and wastewater business plan was presented at a special council meeting last Wednesday night. Environmental Strategies Limited (ESL) of Markham was hired by the town to come up with a financial model with which the municipality could oversee its water and sewer infrastructure.

ESL representatives Andrew Keir and Marvin Stemeroff were on hand last week to outline the proposal.

As a result of Bill 175, Ontario municipalities will be required to pass on 100 per cent of the costs of providing water and sewer services to users.

Prescott has been subsidizing those services through municipal property tax levies that offset expenditures included in town budgets.

The town has not been putting aside enough money in reserves each year to handle major infrastructure costs such as replacing plants and maintaining existing services, the consultants noted.

"I think your circumstances are by no means unique in Ontario," Keir said.

Factoring in general operating costs as well as capital spending and the need to set aside reserves for future expenses, the consultants indicated current water rates would have to increase by about 100 per cent to achieve break-even status and provide a full cost accounting. This would mean an apartment unit paying $13.69 per month would face a monthly charge of $26.52.

The average household would see an increase of about $29 per month as part of the "break-even" scenario.

The largest commercial user of water in Prescott could end up paying $28,000 per month, the report notes. Council would have to consider whether to give discounts to large commercial users of town water that would face huge cost increases.

Customers also face bearing the municipal share (an estimated $5 million) of refurbishing the sewage treatment plant. ESL also estimates about 25 per cent of Prescott's water distribution system must be updated. Additional work to separate storm and sanitary sewers is also required.

Keir said the town's water system is "quite good." However, from a financial perspective, the municipality cannot afford to maintain the status quo when it comes to rates.

Councillor Garry Dewar said he would prefer to see a gradual increase to rates. The councillor also noted he is pleased with what ESL has given council to consider as it comes to grips with the water and sewer situation.

"This council realized we had a problem; that's why we hired you," Dewar said.

Keir and Stemeroff noted the business model contained in the report can be used by the town as a negotiating tool when dealing with the provincial environment ministry. The outline of current and future costs will make a compelling case for Prescott, according to the consultants.

From the management perspective, Keir indicated council should consider retaining the relationship the town has with Rideau St. Lawrence Distribution for water and sewer billing. The town's water and sewage treatment plants are operated on a contractual basis by the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA). Keir said OCWA provides "good service at a reasonable cost."

The ESL plan is expected to be discussed further at the July 14 meeting of Prescott council.

Keir also noted in the ESL presentation Prescott's water consumption rate was found to be about 50 per cent higher than normal. Use of pre-metered outdoor taps and major breaks at the filtration plant were among the factors cited.

THIS WEEK

Town library closed for sandblasting

PRESCOTT ­ The Prescott Public Library is closed this week due to sandblasting associated with the municipal building renovation project.

The library was closed as of Monday and is expected to remain closed until Monday, July 14.

Construction Manager Brad Snelling gave town council a brief update on the town hall renovation project Wednesday night. Council and Snelling continued to discuss the project during a closed-door session that followed the regular council meeting.

A notice that the library would be closed for the week was posted Thursday.

Water quality checked at public beaches

BROCKVILLE ­ Kelly's Beach in Prescott is on the list of beaches being monitored weekly by the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.

Five water samples will be taken at Kelly's and more than 20 other public beaches in the region each week until Labour Day. If test results exceed bathing water standards for E. Coli bacteria, the swimming area will be deemed "unsafe for bathing." High E. Coli levels have been shown to have a direct relationship with increases in ear, eye, nose and throat infections in swimmers.

As of June 27, the only closed beach on the tri-county list was in Smiths Falls. Up-to-date listings were not available at press time.

The beach listings are posted at www.healthunit.org or can be obtained by calling the Health Action Line at 1-800-660-5853.

Annual car show to be held Sunday

PRESCOTT ­ The St. Lawrence Valley Car Club show will be in high gear this weekend on the grounds of Fort Wellington.

The 16th annual show will take place Sunday, July 13 from 10 am to 3 pm. Visitors will have a chance to view antique, rare and unique cars that are competing for trophies and door prizes donated by merchants from throughout the area.

Admission is free.

Pre-registration of vehicles is being accepted; the registration fee increases the day of the show. To pre-register or for more information on the show, contact Mike Baril at 925-3751.

Washboard Hank to perform at concert

PRESCOTT ­ Washboard Hank will perform at the next Sunday evening concert July 13 at the Kinsmen amphitheatre on Prescott's waterfront.

The concert begins at 7 pm. Admission is free; donations will be accepted. In case of rain, the concert will take place at the Leo Boivin Community Centre.

Augusta Township considering four-per-cent property tax hike

Council expected to adopt 2003 budget Monday night

By Monica Whitney, Journal Staff Writer

MAYNARD ­ Augusta Township council wielded a heavy axe during recent budget deliberations, chopping more than $1 million in proposed spending this year.

The cuts mean residents will likely face an increase of 4 per cent on the municipal portion of their 2003 property tax bills, and not the 53-per-cent that would have been necessary without spending cuts.

A draft budget had indicated total spending of $4,985,682. Following budget deliberations June 17 and 24, council whittled spending to $3,692,393, which is an increase of 11.07 per cent over 2002. Council is expected to pass the budget at its next regular council meeting July 14, according to CAO Sharon Wilkinson.

If the budget is passed, homeowners can expect to pay $20.05 per annum more in municipal property taxes on a home assessed last year at $100,000. When the county and school levy is factored in, the bill will actually decrease by $19.03, if the property assessment did not increase. However, Wilkinson noted most assessments increased this year.

The majority of budget cuts were felt in the public works department, which had submitted proposed expenses of $2,287,508. Proposed spending in that department was chopped by almost $1.3 million.

Spending in general government, which includes council, administration, conservation authorities, planning, zoning, commercial and industrial, was cut from $673,256 to $616,573.

Expenditures for protective services, fire and community emergency management planning was reduced from $1,014,261 to $961,872.

The draft environmental services budget, which includes street lighting and waste disposal, will see a decrease in spending of about $133,000 to $607,000.

Recreation and cultural services will see an increase in its budget, from $141,270 to $221,270. The figure mainly takes into account the pay equity situation at the public library, which Wilkinson said is finally settled with this budget.

Reeve George Vail noted a four-per-cent increase is good planning on the part of the township, since it is not a hard hit for residents to bear and will allow a small amount to be put into reserves.

The reeve added he is "quite content" with the library, administrative and landfill budgets, although he regrets a major equipment purchase for the works department will not happen this year.

The public works department has taken some positive steps forward in recent years, Vail said, and it is important to see that momentum continue.

Shakespeare festival is still going strong

PRESCOTT ­ The St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival reaches the halfway mark today.

The ninth of 18 performances of William Shakespeare's romantic comedy The Tempest will be staged tonight at 7 pm at the waterfront amphitheatre.

Average attendance for opening week met the festival's goal of 100. However, last week's average attendance decreased slightly, according to Artistic Director Deborah Smith.

She said this is shaping up to be a typical run: a big opening followed by a moderate week and what hopefully will be stronger ticket sales as the festival nears an end.

Smith said the majority of audience members appear to be from outside town. There have been many visitors from the Ottawa area as well as Montreal, Toronto and Kingston.

Weather conditions have been ideal most nights. As of the weekend, there had been no rainouts at the amphitheatre.

The festival is providing a wonderful opportunity for the professional actors in the cast who may not have that many opportunities to perform Shakespeare and work on their craft in a setting like the amphitheatre.

"Everybody is pretty keen," Smith said.

Interest may also be sparked by the recent announcement the festival has been awarded an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant of $15,000.

Subsequent performances of The Tempest will be presented this Friday and Saturday night as well as on July 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 25.

Tickets can be purchased at the amphitheatre on show nights as well as at a number of local outlets and from members of sponsoring organizations.

Report shows the value of tourism to St. Lawrence communities

LEEDS-GRENVILLE ­ Tourism is big business in St. Lawrence River communities.

About 4.5 million people visited the 1000 Islands/St. Lawrence Seaway valley (which includes South Grenville) in 2001, according to a recent report on tourism completed by a consulting firm. Close to three in five of the visitors (2.7 million) were in the area on same-day excursions, and the remainder were on overnight trips.

Members of the 1000 Islands/St. Lawrence Seaway marketing partnership that contributed to the study by Research Resolutions and Consulting Ltd. were 1000 Islands Community Development Corporation, City of Brockville, Prescott-based Grenville Community Development Corporation, Tourism Prescott, Cornwall and Seaway Valley Tourism, Gananoque, South Leeds Economic Development Commission, Kingston Economic Development Corporation, St. Lawrence Parks Commission and Parks Canada.

The area covered by the partnership includes Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Leeds and Grenville, and Frontenac.

Most same-day excursions were made by Ontario residents (1.6 million), although the 1000 Islands/St. Lawrence Seaway area is also a popular same-day destination for almost one million American visitors, primarily from New York, the study indicates.

Big spenders

Visitors spent $439.8 million on goods and services in the 1000 Islands/St. Lawrence Seaway area during 2001. Same-day visitors contributed almost one-quarter, or about $102.6 million, of all tourism spending in the region in 2001. The balance of the money spent on tourism on the area, or $337.2 million, was spent by overnight visitors.

Money spent by tourists in the region ripples through the economy, creating economic activity, jobs and associated wages and municipal taxes that benefit the residents of the area.

Spending by visitors in the area during 2001 generated 7,409 direct jobs and an additional 2,983 indirect jobs, for a total of 10,392 jobs in the region.

These jobs in turn generated about $108.4 million in direct wages and salaries for the area and $69 million in indirect wages for a total of $177.4 million.

Tourism Prescott Chairman Graham Cudlipp said the report shows just how valuable tourism is to the economy of the seaway region.

"This is big, big business," Cudlipp told Chamber of Commerce directors recently.

Main findings

* Most overnight visitors come to the region for pleasure purposes or to visit friends and family.

* Because so much of the tourism along the 1000 Islands/St. Lawrence Seaway is pleasure-oriented, considerable use is made of roofed commercial lodging, private cottages and campgrounds in the region.

* Sight-seeing, historic sites, shopping and outdoor activities are central to overnight visitors' activities in the region.

* Winter outdoor activities are not strong lures for the area.

Skate park ready to roll thanks to grant

St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival also receives funding from Trillium Foundation

By David Dickenson, Journal Staff Writer

PRESCOTT - Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman was on hand in Prescott June 30 to announce an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant of $25,000 for the construction of the Prescott Kiwanis Club Skate Park at Kriska Field.

For organizers who have been working for more than a year and a half at bringing a skate park to Prescott in order to give local youths somewhere to go, it was a day to remember.

"I'm just thrilled," said Nancy Lane, who along with the youngsters and the Prescott Kiwanis Club has been the guiding force on the campaign. "It came right on time, too. We said we would be breaking ground on June 30, and this breaking ground ceremony was pretty close."

Lane was quick to credit the long list of individuals and service groups in the community who helped the park get its start.

"The community has been just unbelievable," said Lane. "Every time we turn around there is someone else getting involved, which has helped the committee raise an additional $21,000 for the park."

Throughout their campaign, the kids have been hard at work to get this going.

"Every weekend they're out there holding a car wash and selling t-shirts to try and get this," said Lane. "The kids are at every meeting and trying to make it happen. They've told me how great it is to see some adults take them seriously."

Prescott Mayor Robert Lawn was happy to see the group be able to receive the grant which will get the project under way this summer.

"The success of anything is really dependent on the number of people who support it," said Lawn. "They've had lots of volunteers and sponsors, such as Kriska who owns the fields and let them construct on it."

For the skaters themselves, they had no doubts this day would come, even when they were using the skate equipment in the Lanes' back yard.

"I knew it would happen; I just didn't know when," said John Lane. "We tried a test project in the clock tower parking lot last summer and it worked pretty well."

Fellow skateboarder Sheldon Baldwin added, "We had kids coming down from everywhere for it, so we figured this would work."

Construction of the concrete park is expected to begin shortly, with the park estimated to be completed in about a month's time.

The park will feature a canteen, concrete skate area and lessons on skating available.

Shakespeare festival receives funding

While in Prescott, Runciman also stopped by the Kinsmen Amphitheatre to present the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival with a Trillium grant for $15,000. The festival opened its month-long run of The Tempest two weeks ago at the waterfront theatre and had presented Romeo & Juliet last year throughout Eastern Ontario, including a performance at Fort Wellington.

Runciman indicated much of the funding provided by the foundation comes from the proceeds of charity casinos, including the 1000 Islands Charity Casino in Gananoque.

Seeing Shadows at Fort Wellington

PRESCOTT ­ The new season of "Shadows of the Fort" opens next week.

The popular theatrical program at Fort Wellington debuts Thursday, July 17. Each Thursday at 7:30 and 9:15 pm until Aug. 14, visitors will travel back in time on a lively walk through fort buildings and grounds. Many different characters from different time periods appear to relive exciting moments in the lives of the fort's occupants. The hour-long interactive presentation is designed for audiences of all ages.

Reservations are highly recommended; there are a limited number of tickets for each show. To reserve tickets or for more information, call 925-2896.

Shadows of the Fort is sponsored by the Kinsmen Club of Prescott.

Proper use of sunscreen can make a difference

SOUTH GRENVILLE ­ Protection from the sun is key when it comes to preventing skin cancer, according to the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.

The number of cases of skin cancer in Canada has increased by 60 per cent in 10 years. The health unit notes 77 people in the tri-county area died from skin cancer between 1981 and 1996 ­ nearly half of those deaths occurred between 1992 and 1996.

Almost all skin cancers are preventable and curable if treated early. Cumulative exposure to the sun is something to consider from an early age. The more time spent in the sun without protection, the more skin damage is done and the greater the risk of developing skin cancer. The health unit reports there is generally a lag time of 10 to 30 years for the clinical appearance of skin cancer to occur.

The proper use of sunscreens (everything from umbrellas, hats and clothing to lotions, oils and creams that help protect the skin from UV radiation) is important. In terms of lotions and creams, sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher is recommended. (SPF levels range from 2 to 50.) Fair-haired and fair-skinned people are more likely to burn; they should use products with higher SPF numbers.

Sunscreen should usually be applied 15 to 30 minutes before going outside; this gives the sunscreen a chance to start working. Do not be afraid to use too much. Let the sunscreen soak in; do not rub it in. Apply it to all exposed skin, including the ears, nose and neck. Lip screen products are also available.

Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours or more frequently if sweating or swimming; keep in mind skin should be as dry as possible when applying sunscreen because it might roll off and not be as effective.

Lotions, oils and creams will allow some UV radiation to penetrate the skin, so tanning is still possible.

For best results, follow the manufacturer's instructions on the bottle or container. The public should consider purchasing sunscreen products approved by the Canadian Dermatology Association.

More information on sunscreens and sun safety can be obtained by visiting www.healthunit.org or calling the health unit at 345-5685.

Works of young artists to be displayed at mill

SPENCERVILLE ­ The Spencerville Mill is the place to sample the works of up-and-coming artists from the area.

The Young Artists' Show and Sale will take place Friday, July 25 to Sunday, July 27. At least 17 artists from Spencerville, Cardinal, Prescott, Kemptville and Mountain will be displaying a wide variety of their works; these include paintings, photography and film.

The artists range in age from 15 to 25. A few of the young artists were looking for an opportunity to exhibit their works.

The Spencerville Mill Foundation offered the mill as a venue and a much-needed place for the artists to begin to establish themselves as members of the arts community.

The exhibition will celebrate the young artists' vitality in an ever-changing world of fine arts, a news release stated.

The show will take place from 10 am to 4 pm on each of the three days.

There is a nominal admission fee.

Committee recommends St. Lawrence Lodge be rebuilt

BROCKVILLE ­ The management committee of St. Lawrence Lodge has recommended the construction of a new long-term care facility adjacent to the existing building.

In a news release issued Tuesday, the committee indicated construction could begin in late spring of 2004 and be completed in spring 2006.

St. Lawrence Lodge is a 240-bed facility owned and operated by the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, the City of Brockville and the towns of Prescott and Gananoque.

OPP NEWS

Vandals damage community centre

JOHNSTOWN ­ Vandals caused $2,000 in damage at the community centre in Johnstown this past weekend, according to Grenville County OPP.

Police responded to a mischief report Sunday at 9:45 am. Three picnic tables and several toys stored in a locker had been thrown into the pool. Three civic number (9-1-1) signs had been used to puncture the siding on the east and south sides of the recreation centre and punch holes in the security light. Paper towel dispensers had been torn off the walls. In addition to the damage, residents were inconvenienced because they were unable to use the facility Sunday.

Constable Large is investigating. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the OPP detachment in Prescott (925-4221) or Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-8477).

Man injured when aircraft strikes pole

NORTH AUGUSTA ­ A man was seriously injured when the small ultralight aircraft he was driving struck a telephone pole late Sunday afternoon. Grenville County OPP report the aircraft was on the ground and being operated by Wayne Francis, 64, when it went out of control, entered Main Street and struck the pole. Francis, believed to have been struck by the small propeller, was transported to Brockville General Hospital and then transferred to Kingston General Hospital for emergency surgery. As of Monday morning, he remained in ICU in stable condition. A police news release notes Francis had no intention of flying the plane; he was trying to accumulate the 10 hours of service necessary prior to flying. Sergeant Paul Bisson is the investigating officer.

Bad weather blamed for collisions

JOHNSTOWN ­ Storms that passed through the area and caused limited visibility and slippery roads contributed to a pair of two-vehicle collisions on County Road 2 Saturday afternoon.

The more serious crash occurred at about 3:30 pm in front of Bingo International. An eastbound 2002 Neon driven by Edith Shay, 78, of Spencerville, was stopped to make a left turn when it was struck from behind by a 2003 Sunfire driven by Anna Wright, 73, of Prescott. The Sunfire entered the south ditch and struck the rocks. The driver was taken to Brockville General Hospital after being extricated from the vehicle. No charges were laid.

Another collision took place in front of Bayview Convenience. There were no injuries, and no charges were laid.

Minor mischief cases should be reported

SOUTH GRENVILLE ­ Minor acts of mischief and vandalism are increasing in number. These acts may be related to other occurrences, which is why the OPP is asking the public to report them.

Man charged with aggravated assault

EDWARDSBURGH ­ A 31-year-old South Dundas man was charged with aggravated assault after repeatedly driving into another vehicle on County Road 2 last Tuesday night, according to Grenville County OPP.

A disagreement occurred when the man's wife arrived to retrieve a five-year-old child. The woman was accompanied by their six-year-old child and a 29-year-old male relative. The accused followed his wife and children eastbound on County Road 2. Using his vehicle, the accused repeatedly struck the vehicle in which they were travelling. The accused allegedly tried to strike the other driver when he exited his vehicle. Police indicate the occupants of a nearby residence called 9-1-1. There were no serious injuries; EMS personnel attended the scene.

The accused was located in Prescott the next morning and was arrested; his vehicle was towed. Further charges are pending, according to police. Constable Marty McConnell is the investigating officer.

Items stolen from cars and apartments

PRESCOTT ­ The Prescott Police Service investigated 87 general incidents during the week of June 30.

On July 6, police received a report from a man who indicated his wallet had been stolen from a vehicle parked near the corner of King and George streets. The wallet contained personal ID and $30 in cash. Constable Cindy Bisson is investigating.

A resident of 415 Churchill Road reported July 5 his red Supercycle had been stolen from the apartment building. Constable Rick Champagne is the investigating officer.

Two chainsaws and four grass trimmers were taken from a workshop/storage shed at the Prescott Golf Club. The theft was reported by the grounds keeper July 2. Three of the trimmers and a chainsaw were recovered in the area; however, a Stihl chainsaw and grass trimmer had not been found as of early this week. The missing items are valued at $600. Constable Mike Ostrander is investigating.

Public fight results in arrest

The municipal police department investigated 83 general incidents and four motor vehicle collisions during the week of June 23.

After receiving a report of a man and woman fighting on Water Street June 29, police found the couple on King and Edward streets. An investigation revealed the woman had an argument with her estranged husband. She was arrested and charged with assault; the woman was released on conditions to appear in court at a later date. The man received minor injuries, according to a police news release. Police are investigating an alleged mischief and assault on another man by the estranged husband. Constable Mike Lapensee is investigating.

Also on June 29, a King Street resident reported to police her apartment had been entered while she was at work. Entry was gained by removing an air conditioner. The missing items, a Sony Play Station and five games, have a total value of $200. Constable Darren Davis is the investigating officer.

A woman told police June 29 she had left her purse unattended for a short time at Centre Towne Laundromat; when she returned, her wallet was missing. The wallet contained personal ID, credit cards and two old American coins (a 50-cent piece and a dollar). A suspect was spoken to; the wallet (minus the coins) was found an hour later on King Street East.

A four-year-old boy was reported missing from a Dibble Street West residence June 28. Constable Lapensee, who was on bicycle patrol at the time, located the boy at Kelly's Beach. The boy was returned to his parents, who police indicated were visibly shaken by the ordeal.

Two thefts were reported to town police June 24. In one case, a wallet containing personal ID, bank and credit cards and a small amount of cash was taken from a Douglas Drive residence. Constable Terry Foster is investigating. The second case occurred in the parking lot of the Prescott Golf Club. The passenger window of a vehicle was broken out and a purse taken sometime between 11 am and noon. The purse contained ID, bank and credit cards and $75 in cash. Damage to the window is estimated at $250. Two males were observed in the parking lot at about the time of the theft. Constable Mike Ostrander is the investigating officer.

A shoplifter was apprehended by a security guard June 24 at O'Reilly's Your Independent Grocer. A 43-year-old Prescott woman was arrested and charged with theft; she was released and is to appear in court at a later date.

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.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I knew it would happen; it just didn't know when."

John Lane commenting on the fact a skateboard park is being built in Prescott

Editor's Notebook

RIDING THE WAVE OF RATE HIKES: One of the main issues incoming municipal councils in cities and smaller urban centres will face is the extent to which water and sewer rates will increase. In the case of Prescott, town officials have been told rates would likely have to double in order to account for all related costs as prescribed by provincial legislation. In other words, let the users pay the entire cost of the services directly instead of subsidizing them with property tax money.

The user-pay system may have its merits, but do not for a moment assume the tax bills will decrease when the water and sewer bills soar in the opposite direction. Will changing the system suddenly drop a million dollars from Prescott's budget? In theory, perhaps. Then again, there are a lot of roads and sidewalks that are in desperate need of attention.

The likely outcome is homes and businesses connected to municipal water and sewer will pay a lot more for those services and not see much or any break on their tax bills. Sure, adding new customers in Prescott through development or expansion into existing opportunities on the town's doorstep is one way to water down the effects of user-pay, but the reality is a few new homes or commercial developments will not wipe out the $5-million municipal share of the new sewage treatment plant or the millions needed to upgrade and maintain existing infrastructure and start planning for its eventual replacement.

Water conservation will soon become much more relevant when homeowners realize the cost of keeping that lawn green in the summer is being metered and measured in dollars and not cents.

THE CASE FOR TOURISM: A recent study has confirmed tourism means big bucks for the region that includes the Prescott area. Visitors number in the millions, and the money they spend is in the hundreds of millions. Even if one were to assume most of that money is spent to the west in the 1000 Islands and Prescott really is not located in the heart of the action, the importance of being so close to such a significant tourist draw cannot be underestimated. Prescott is a destination for divers, historical buffs and others who have found something about this community they like. Steps are being taken to make the town and some of its features more attractive to visitors, and there are a number of volunteers who are trying to make Prescott competitive with other communities that employ full-time staffs to promote and market their attractions throughout the year.

If Prescott and the other municipalities are serious about tourism, get together and come up with a viable plan. Without one, even the most dedicated and tireless volunteers will have trouble keeping pace with communities that are in the race to win.

Tim Ruhnke

I never expected to rewrite the history I wrote

FORWARDING COMMENTS by Monica Whitney

One of the challenges of working for a small town weekly newspaper where much of the news is cyclical and event oriented is finding ways to present that news with a fresh focus and an exciting twist.

When you've been there, done that, sometimes it's easy to fall into that groan mode when you realize you have to work that weekend again, and still be upbeat while writing about it.

Now this can be a positive, too. It makes the job easier to know the background and have the contacts without a lot of phone calls and leg work (or mouse clicking). It can be a good feeling to walk into a room filled with a crowd and the people assembled know exactly who you are, why you're there and what you need to do the job.

The scary part of all this is when what was written 20 years ago has suddenly become history and officially designated archives material. Each week, I prepare the archives that appears below this column, and I often pick up fascinating and useful bits of information that can be stored away for future use.

What never occurred to me 20 years ago was that I was writing history, and I would now be rewriting those same stories to be documented once again.

This month is an anniversary of sorts - 20 years since I walked into this building as a young, naive and immature (though I didn't think that then) almost 20-year-old looking for a cub reporter job.

I had no right to expect a job, since, after all, I didn't know my birthdate or even where I lived, apparently. These were the days when you put marital status, sex and date of birth on a resume, and I managed to get some of it wrong. I sent that resume with numerous typos to about 40 newspapers across Ontario before I had yet to graduate from my journalism program.

Many of those resumes were returned with an angry response from editors and publishers who wrote back saying if I thought I was born in 1983 and I couldn't spell my address correctly, how could I expect a job as a reporter that demands accuracy? My career was doomed before it began.

But one publisher saw beyond those nervous errors and put a call into the Stratford Beacon Herald where I was completing my work term.

I got that first job at The Prescott Journal, and though I stayed, that time, a little less than two years, half a life-time later, I'm happy to report, those other papers missed out and I got a good bargain. Thanks, John. The rest is history.

First television sets roll off assembly line at new RCA plant

FROM THE ARCHIVES

July 8, 1943

* An active charter member of the Prescott Rotary Club, Fred Delaney, is the newly-elected president of the group. Treasurer is R. Millar, and W. Crateau is secretary.

July 9, 1953

* Running ahead of schedule, RCA Victor Co. Ltd is now producing television sets at its new Prescott plant, Manager A.M. Patience reported. The third production line, assembling 17-inch screen console TV chassis, turned out the first parts Friday, and the fourth line, which assembles the chassis into cabinets, started work and the first shipment of completed instruments is scheduled to leave the plant this Friday.

The Nipper radio came off the line in May, and a second assembly line produces automobile radios. Of the 192 people employed at the plant, 52 are in engaged in TV manufacture.

July 11, 1973

* Ron Nolan accepted the gavel of office from retiring Rotary club president Gord Spafford. The new vice-president is Hal Grant.

July 13, 1983

* Patti Anderson is the 1983 Loyalist Days Queen. She was congratulated before a crowd of about 800 spectators by last year's winner, Lisa Cyr, moments after the crowning ceremony Monday night at the Prescott Community Centre. Anderson, 18, is a Prescott resident and a Grade 12 student at South Grenville District High School. First runner-up in the contest was Joanne Huton, and second runner-up was Pam Buker, who also won the Miss Congeniality award.

* The Loyalist Days celebration has reached the half-way ark, although there are still plenty of activities, including a children's fun day, a softball tournament, games and demonstrations at Fort Wellington and Forwarders' Museum, a tour of the Coast Guard building, a pancake breakfast and mock battles.

July 14, 1993

* Jennifer Purvis, 18, of RR 4 Prescott, was crowned Loyalist Days Queen in front of close to 700 spectators. She will be attending Queen's University in September. Ashley Barker, eight-year-old daughter of Hugh and Inga Barker of Prescott, was selected as Mini-Miss. Marsha Daw of Johnstown was first runner-up and Miss Congeniality.

Runciman tells voters to "make more noise" if they want better service

FORT TOWN DIARY by John A.H. Morris

Special thanks on behalf of the community go out this week to MPP Bob Runciman who apparently called upon heretofore unknown political influences to find Trillium grants for two deserving Prescott projects. The grants, proceeds from the Ontario government's profits from its casinos, include $25,000 toward the cost of building a skateboard facility in Prescott, and $15,000 toward the funding of the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, launched this summer in Prescott's first attempt to present summer theatre in our historic town.

The latter gift came as a complete surprise to festival organizers who had been informed earlier this spring that their application for funding through the Trillium program had been turned down.

*****

We were also surprised to hear about the theatre grant, especially after hearing Mr. Runciman announce a $2.2 million provincial government contract to pave the north and south lanes of about one mile of Hwy. 16 in Johnstown and Hwy. 416.

Calling a press conference and organizing a photo op for a paltry $2.2 million paving contract, we thought showed how desperate Mr. Runciman and Premier Eves have become in their search for votes in the next provincial election. Then when we heard Mr. Runciman's excuse for not paving this tiny stretch of highway prior to this time, we had to ask ourselves if all Tory MPPs, especially cabinet ministers, are this far out of touch with the basics of democracy as we have been practicing it for decades.

Runciman told the press at the Johnstown press conference that Hwy. 16 did not appear to be a high priority compared to other projects being considered by the MoT.

"Preliminary work had been done, but Hwy. 16 never seemed to make it to the top of the list. People perhaps were not making enough noise," he said.

So that's the rub? (that's Shakespeare's influence rubbing off). Never mind electing a hard-working, important cabinet minister like Brockville Bob to look out for your interests and to keep your needs before respective ministers ... "just make enough noise to attract the attention of the Ontario cabinet and leave me alone, I can't do anything for you, as you have seen..."

*****

In the 45-plus years that we have been voting Tory in provincial elections in Eastern Ontario, it never dawned on us why towns such as Prescott have been treated as the political rump of the province. It is because good, old Liberal-leaning Prescott has elected nothing but Tories to the Legislative Assembly since Christopher Fraser last won the seat for the Grits in 1875.

It's because Prescott and its neighbours in Augusta and sometimes Edwardsburgh/Cardinal consistently vote Tory that MPPs such as Mr. Runciman can feel comfortable with their attitude that it is not they, but those from outside the Legislature, who have to lobby for a bit of Tory largess.

*****

If that's the case, then why should we bother going to the polls in a provincial election? Or why shouldn't we vote Liberal in the next provincial election? Or why shouldn't we do none of the above but instead form a South Grenville lobby group whose main purpose would be to by-pass our provincial and federal politicians and go over their heads and directly to the appropriate cabinet ministers instead?

Hate to admit this but Brockville Bob is absolutely right in the assumption he expressed last week in Johnstown. Our South Grenville municipalities do not have a lobby mentality and therefore always get shuffled to the bottom of the deck. South Grenville should have a strong and permanent Standing Lobby Committee.

If you don't think a strong lobby works, just remember every time you use Highway 416, you are doing so courtesy of a county-wide lobby started and funded by the Prescott and District Chamber of Commerce!

*****

Last week's Journal contained some good examples of how great the people of this area are when it comes to volunteerism and community spirit. Leading this parade are the scores of volunteers who are providing invaluable service in helping to make our Shakespearean Festival work. Thanks and good luck to all of you.

One of our most deserving volunteers, Ed Greene, of Branch 97, RCL, was presented with the Canadian Volunteers Medal of Merit for his energetic leadership in raising funds and providing leadership in the project to have Prescott's Cenotaph relocated to Fort Wellington, one of the most beautiful memorial settings in all of Canada.

Thanks to you and your committee, Warrant Officer Greene.

With a substantial financial boost from Mrs. Flo Newell and family, the Rotary Club of Prescott is refurbishing the harbour lighthouse. This is an important part of our heritage and both the Newell family and participating Rotarians deserve thanks for preserving it.

Kudos to the local Kiwanis who have been instrumental in helping an energetic group of young citizens raise funds for a skateboard park. Last week's Trillium grant of $25,000 helped top the fund at $46,000. Who would have thought that this dream that started just two years ago would become a reality. Congratulations to all.

And a fitting conclusion to this unending list is a special thanks to Lawrence Levere who is donning period duds every Saturday afternoon this month to lead walking tours of historic Prescott. Call the Forwarders' Museum at 925-5788 for more information on these tours.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Shakespeare play is unforgettable

The Editor;

The best buy of the summer has got to be Prescott's Shakespeare by the St. Lawrence. I've been twice and I'm definitely going again, and I'm not even a Shakespeare "fan."

As the story unfolds, you get involved with each and every character. The actors are as good as we'll ever see on this stage.

The costumes are fabulous. Even the birds are enjoying it, as you'll hear.

We should bring our children and/or grandchildren soon to see and hear an exhilarating play on the edge of the prettiest harbour in Ontario. It's an unforgettable experience.

Elizabeth McCuaig Newton
Prescott

A perfect midsummer night's eve

The Editor;

How to spend a midsummer evening in an idyllic setting? Take yourself down to the harbour for a glass of wine or beer and beef on a bun served up by the Rotarians at the Lighthouse. Then, overlooking the St. Lawrence as the sun sets, enjoy The Tempest at the Kinsmen theatre and you will have given yourself a wonderful summer treat.

If that isn't to your liking, then bring your own picnic and take in The Tempest; it's fun and it's local. We did and we loved it.

Barbara Martin
Prescott

Library plans reading and reference room

MAITLAND NEWS by Jane Fullarton

The Augusta Township Library Board has submitted an application to be considered by the Trillium Foundation for the special one-time grant opportunity for public libraries. The application requests $15,000 for the updating and enhancement of reference material. The board hopes to turn the current little-used room that houses periodicals into the "Trillium Reading and Reference Room." Current encyclopedias as well as materials in large print, French books, classical music CDs and DVDs are all included in the request for funding. The board hopes that its application will be considered for priority because a great deal of revenue has been lost from the decline in bingo profits since the opening of the Thousand Islands Casino and the Rideau Carleton Slots.

A successful application would provide the library board with the seed money to develop a more complete reference department in the Augusta library. The application process required a detailed costing of the materials requested which was a big job undertaken by board Chairperson Lynda McKittrick and Librarian Angie Knights. Board co-treasurers Jacqui Kelly and Jane Fullarton provided help with the written part of the application. The deadline for applications was June 30, so now the board must wait and see.

Official plan

There was a public meeting and open house at MERC Hall June 26 to allow Augusta residents an opportunity to view and have input into the draft official plan. Thirty-five people attended the afternoon and evening sessions to hear Planner Glen Tunnock give an overview of the draft plan. The new draft plan makes changes to the severance policy that will be a factor in determining lot sizes in Augusta.

Residents have until July 18 to submit comments to the township which will be forwarded to the planner and considered in the preparation of the final draft due in September. Council will then review the final draft and can opt for another public meeting before adopting the plan and submitting the official plan to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for its approval.

Time to enjoy soup, sandwich and Shakespeare

WALKER HOUSE NEWS by MARNIE LIPPIATT

We are planning a soup, sandwich and Shakespeare evening July 23. If you have not seen The Tempest but would like company, come and join us. We will have a light supper and then go as a group to the amphitheatre. Call 925-5300 and leave a message. We will get back to you with the details.

We have the tickets to see two comedies at Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg. First, we will see Chapter Two at a matinee Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 2 pm. The second play, Self-Help, is on Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 8 pm. I have only reserved a limited number of tickets for our members, so please call as soon as possible.

Card game winners: Monday bridge ­ 1st, Ron Shannon; 2nd, Findlay Hill; door prize, Andy Britnell. Fun bridge ­ 1st, Joan Salmon. Wednesday night bridge ­ 1st, Margaret Nesbitt; 2nd, Richard Kingston; door, Kitty Wormington. Thursday night euchre ­ 1st, Hilda Hutton; 2nd, Eddy Arcand; 3rd, Bea Hemsley and Alice Crowder; door, Bernice Arcand.

COUNCIL NEWS

De-amalgamation poll concept rejected

By David Dickenson, Journal Staff Writer

SPENCERVILLE - The request from Spencerville resident Pat Grant to circulate an opinion poll regarding de-amalgamation was voted down at the June 25 Administration Committee meeting in Spencerville.

At the meeting, Administration Chair and Ward One Councillor Peggy Taylor noted she was in favour of Grant's idea of the poll in order to determine the residents opinion on the subject. Taylor stressed all the township could do would be to forward the results to the province as they have the final say on municipal restructuring.

Deputy Mayor Marie Thomson commented on how she saw no need to pursue the matter any further as long as the current government was in office, and it has communicated its position to the township. She noted how the matter continually divides the municipality and staff has expressed concerns about working to bring the municipality together as opposed to dividing it. Thomson felt if given a green light to include the poll with the tax notices it would give the residents the belief a positive vote would result in imminent de-amalgamation, which is not the case since it would still be up to the provincial government.

Ward Two Councillor Bill Sloan also expressed his concerns regarding the ability for Cardinal residents to handle the finances required for current and future infrastructure improvements.

Cardinal resident Sharan Mathieu's similar idea for an opinion poll was dismissed at the June 25 meeting after Grant's concept was voted down.

Collision prompts discussion

SPENCERVILLE - After another motor vehicle collision at the corner of Newport Drive and County Road 2 just west of Johnstown, council is looking at the possibility of installing a flashing caution light.

Ward Two Councillor Peter Martin brought the idea to the table Monday night after hearing of an accident which took place at the intersection Saturday.

"This has been the second one right there in a short period," explained Martin. "I was thinking maybe we could put one of those flashing caution lights above the intersection to try and make a difference."

Despite the intersection being at the top of a small hill, Noccey indicated there are potential visibility problems at the intersection at different times of the day.

"The sun shines right in your eyes at that intersection," said Noccey. "Sometimes you just can't see a darn thing. It's hard enough turning there with everyone going along so fast."

Council agreed to send the matter to the public works committee and agreed to consult the united counties if the matter was going to be pursued further.

Committee will oversee public library move

SPENCERVILLE - Township Mayor Dave Dobbie has used his authority to appoint an ad hoc committee to oversee the relocation of the Cardinal Public Library.

The relocation of the library from its current home to the former village municipal hall which was approved at the June 2 council meeting, had previously been discussed at both the Library Board and Administration committees.

The mayor indicated Monday naming a committee would make the move easier.

"Because of the amount of work with the renovations and relocation of the library, we'll need someone to oversee it," said Dobbie. "So I will enlist my right to form an ad hoc committee."

Dobbie appointed himself, Cardinal Librarian Margaret Ann Gaylord, Library Board Chair Brenda Murray, council representative on the library board Frank Noccey and township CAO/Clerk Stephen McDonald to the board.

When questioned by Ward One Councillor and Administration Committee Chair Peggy Taylor about the committee's involvement with the move, Dobbie indicated the new ad hoc committee would take care of the matter.

"Administration is not a good fit for this," explained Dobbie. "This is something that needs to be handled and stickhandled with care in order to get it done quickly."

Indications from council after the approval of the library move June 2 were the move would take a little more than a month to complete.

Two canteens may be open during dance

SPENCERVILLE - Township council has adopted a recommendation from the Recreation Committee to give the organizers of the Spencerville Fair teen dance an okay to run their own canteen.

The Fair Board had asked council to close the township operated canteen at the Edwardsburgh Community Centre for the evening to allow for the teen dance to run a canteen of its own, but council had concerns about the request.

"If we do this for them, then we could leave ourselves open to other groups who rent the space asking us if they could hold their own as well," explained Ward Three Councillor Frank Noccey at Monday's council meeting. "If you do it for one then you have to do it for all."

Deputy Mayor Marie Thomson expressed concern whether the canteen would make enough money to warrant having staff on hand to run it.

After further discussion on the subject, council gave permission to operate a canteen on the ice surface area of the arena, with the community centre canteen also remaining open.

Ratepayers to hold water meter meeting

CARDINAL - The Cardinal Ratepayers and Tenants Association will be holding a follow-up meeting regarding water meters this Thursday at the Cardinal Legion.

The meeting is set to start at 7 pm, with further issues such as retaining legal counsel to investigate the matter and other actions which could be taken to be discussed.

Cardinal pool staff ready for summer fun and safety

Seasonal program includes Sea Sharks swim team and Aqua Fit classes

By David Dickenson, Journal Staff Writer

CARDINAL - The staff of the Cardinal Community Pool is ready to get a summer of safety, swimming and Sea Sharks practices under way.

The staff of the Cardinal Pool is once again led by Aquatics Co-ordinator Katie Mills, who returns for another summer at the pool, while Julia Jodoin, an instructor/lifeguard at the pool last year, will fill the role of assistant supervisor. Also returning are lifeguard/instructor Lindsey Kitchen and instructor/lifeguard Courtney Sullivan, who will be joined by first-year staff instructor/lifeguard Kalla Dobbie, instructor/lifeguard Brooke Jodoin and instructor/lifeguard Ryan Davy.

The heart of the pool's summer schedule is the Cardinal Sea Sharks Swim team

The Sea Sharks compete in multiple swim meets throughout the summer, including their host meet August 16. The team practises from Monday to Friday between 1 pm and 2 pm to prepare for the meets and improve swimming skills.

Public swimming takes place at the pool between 2 pm and 5 pm and family and lane swimming from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the pool will hold public swimming from 2 pm until 5 pm, followed by Aqua Fit from 5:30 pm until 6:30 pm and family and lane swimming between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm.

Public Swimming will also be available Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 5 pm.

Wednesday afternoons are sponsored by Tim Hortons for its Tim Swim program which provides free swimming for the afternoon.

The pool will offer four Red Cross, Aqua Quest levels 1-12, Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross sessions. The first session began June 30 and will run until July 15, with the second to run from July 17 until August 1, the third from August 5 until August 20 with the fourth session to run on Saturdays from June 28 until August 16 depending on registration.

The Aqua Fit classes will take place Tuesady and Thursday evenings between 6 pm and 7 pm, to be immediately followed by the Aqua Adults class running from 7 pm until 8 pm.

For more information, contact the pool at 657-4504.

Woman seriously injured in crash

CARDINAL ­ An Ottawa man has been charged following a motorcycle collision early Canada Day morning that seriously injured a young Cardinal woman.

Grenville County OPP report a motorcycle driven by Adam Crawford, 29, was southbound on Reid Street sometime after 3 am when the driver lost control. The passenger, Dana Evans, 19, was thrown from the motorcycle. Evans sustained head injuries and was transported to Brockville General Hospital and then transferred to Kingston General Hospital.

Neither the driver nor passenger was wearing a helmet, according to Community Services Officer, Constable Holly Howard.

Crawford, who was not injured, has been charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm.

Constable Kavanagh is the investigating officer.

OBITUARIES

George Drummond, 75

George Drummond, a prominent Spencerville-area man who made a significant mark on the local and Ottawa communities, died surrounded by his family Saturday, June 28, 2003 at the age of 75.

Mr. Drummond is survived by his wife Marilynne; daughter Heather; and sons and daughters-in-law Scott, Russell and Laurie and Robert and Kendra. He is also survived by his grandchildren Christine, Katherine, Caitlin, Eric, Victoria, Cameron and Dakota. He was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Lydia.

Mr. Drummond was the owner and founder of Geo. W. Drummond Ltd. and the former CEO of Drummond's Gas. He built the Crossroads Restaurant, a successful area landmark since 1972. George was also the current proud owner of Drummond's Sugar Bush on County Road 21 west of Spencerville which has been a family tradition since 1802.

The Drummonds came to this area from the United States in the mid-1790s as United Empire Loyalists.

Among his many volunteer and charity involvements over the years was the Spencerville Agricultural Society. He was a society director, and in Aug. 1998 he officially opened the Drummond Building and agricultural complex at the Spencerville Fair Grounds. Known for his generosity and his love for the community, Mr. Drummond built the structure as a family legacy and to ensure Spencerville is home to one of the largest year-round facilities for special events in Eastern Ontario.

The 28,500-square-foot multi-purpose facility was built with $1 million from his own pocket, while the community and businesses contributed an additional $500,000 to see the dream become a reality. The building houses offices, storage, kitchen, bar, washrooms, banquet hall and agricultural area for horse and cattle shows.

For many years, Mr. Drummond was chairman of the Flotilla Committee, and an active sponsor of the Glebe Collegiate Stage Band, CHEO ball tournament and the Boys and Girls Club. He was always very active in promoting a need for funding for the Salvation Army, Shepherds of Good Hope and the food bank. He was a member of the Ionic Lodge and Tunis Temple.

Friends visited at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair and McGarry, Ottawa, Thursday, July 3 and Friday, July 4. A Masonic Service took place in the chapel July 3. The funeral service was held at Spencerville United Church, Centre Street, Spencerville, Saturday, July 5, 2003 at 11 am. Interment followed at the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Cemetery.

Memorial tributes may be made to the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus.

Thomas Joseph Quigley, 70

Thomas Joseph Quigley, 445 Prince St., Prescott, died Friday, June 27, 2003 at Mayfield Residence in Prescott, surrounded by the love of his family. He was 70.

Mr. Quigley was born June 19, 1933 in Admaston, the son of Thomas Quigley and Ida Lynch. He married Marion Quigley (nee Montgomery) in 1957.

He is survived by his daughters Cathy (Mrs. Jim Cooper) of Maitland and Sharon Quigley of Prescott. Grandfather of Courtney and Justine Cooper. Brother of Louella (Mrs. Carmen Quinn) of Cobden, Margaret (Mrs. Martin Munhall), Pat (Mrs. Clayton Gallagher), Jim Quigley and his wife Liela all of Renfrew. Brother-in-law of Darlo (Mrs. Jim Lewars), Mae Grant (Floyd Dixon) all of North Augusta, Jean Harris (Duncan Campbell) of Kemptville, Joyce (Mrs. John Marshall) of Florida, Max McCallam of Prescott, and Harry Grant of Cardinal. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive him.

Mr. Quigley was predeceased by his parents, wife Marion, and parents-in-law, Clifford and Dorothy Montgomery.

Mr. Quigley came to Prescott in 1952 where he worked for Fraser-Brace. In 1953, he began working for RCA, where he met and married his wife Marion Montgomery in 1957. He retired from RCA in 1993 with many fond memories and good friends.

His main interests included his family, friends and his dog Sammy. He spent many hours with his granddaughters, teaching Courtney to drive and accompanying Justine to the riding stables. He enjoyed business travel with his son-in law-Jim. He visited China, England, Texas and other locations. Mr. Quigley and his 12-year-old collie Sammy were well known throughout Prescott, always stopping for a visit or offering a wave on their many walks around town.

He always continued his self-taught interest of fiddle playing, entertaining family and friends.

Visitation was held at Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, Sunday, June 29, 2003. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, June 30 at St. Mark's Catholic Church with Father J. Appelman officiating. Christian Burial followed at St. Mark's Cemetery, Prescott.

Pallbearers were nephews Michael and Brian Knapp, Blain and Blair Harris, Jeff Grant, Mark Lewars and friend Gary Pitkin.

Donations were made to the Canadian Cancer Society and Mayfield Retirement Residence.

Tom was a much-loved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, neighbour, and a great friend to all who knew him. He will be sadly missed but will always remain in our hearts.

Prescott Pool staff ready to help cure summertime blues

PRESCOTT - In order to beat the summer heat, the Prescott Pool has opened just in time to provide some relief.

This year's six person staff is led by pool supervisor Lesley Hubbard, who was last year's assistant supervisor, while returning lifeguard/instructor Eric Humes has assumed the duties of assistant pool supervisor. Lifeguard/instructors Katie Graham and Julie Putman return for another summer at the pool. This year's staff also will include two newcomers, lifeguard/instructor Sarah Wilson and lifeguard Wesley McFarlane.

A large part of the pool's season is devoted to the Prescott Piranhas swim team, which practises Monday to Friday from 4:15 pm until 5:30 pm to help improve swimming skills and prepare for the six swim meets the team will participate in throughout the summer. The team is open to anyone interested in competing and who is able to swim the length of the pool.

The pool will be offering four sessions of morning swimming lessons from Monday to Friday from 9 am until noon. The first session began June 30 and will run until July 15, the second will run from July 16 until July 30, the third will run from July 31 until August 15 and the final session from August 18 until August 28.

For those who can't attend morning sessions, two evening swim sessions will be provided Monday, Wednesday and Fridays between 5:30 pm and 7 pm. The first session began July 2 and will run until July 25. The second session will run from July 28 until August 20.

There will be lane swimming available Tuesdays and Thursdays between noon and 1 pm throughout the summer.

The pool will also feature numerous public swimming times throughout the summer, including from 1:30 pm until 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm until 7:30 pm Monday to Friday and 1 pm until 4:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Also the pool will be holding Tim Swims free public swimming Wednesday afternoons sponsored by Tim Hortons Prescott.

Numerous courses for all ages are offered at the pool including Red Cross, Aqua Tots, Aqua Quest and possibly Aqua Adults if there is sufficient interest.

Aqua Tots is for a parent and child experience which is available for children up to five years old and runs 30 minutes.

Aqua Quest provides swimming and water safety lessons for children above the age of three. Lessons for levels 1-8 will last 30 minutes, while lessons at levels 9-12 will last 45 minutes.

Aqua Fit is a low-impact water aerobics class which does not require strong swimming skills.

The pool also runs lifesaving society programs such as Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion and Bronze cross.

For more information contact the pool at 925-0762.

Junior B Rangers name new coach

CARDINAL - The South Grenville Jr. B Rangers have named their new coach for the 2003-2004 season.

The club announced Rod Simmons of Ogdensburg, New York will fill the head coaching void. The position was vacated earlier in the year by Doug Lawrence, who is expected to remain with the club helping out General Manager Dennis Van Luit.

"We were surprised with the number of resumes we received and want to thank all of those who applied," said Van Luit. "Mr. Simmons brings with him a lot of energy which will be great for the players and also the organization.

Simmons boasts a resume full of successes, including being selected as the head coach of Team New York for the 18-19 year old age group for 1999-2001. He was also head coach of the Bonnie Castle Kings peewee AA team in 2001-2002 when the team was the Pembroke Silver Stick champion before finishing second in the North American Silver Stick Tournament in Port Huron, Michigan.

Simmons will bring his wealth of experience as a head coach, manager and president to the Rangers in hopes of getting them to the playoffs after falling just short last season.

"After being so close last year, we need that extra jump to build on," said Van Luit. "We should have a good core of returning players which will give us experience and with local players that were taken in the CJHL draft, shows we have an excellent minor system that will definitely strengthen our team."

The 2003-2004 Rangers season will begin with tryouts on August 19 from 9 am until 10:30 am at the Spencerville Arena.

Coerver preparing for residential camp

MAITLAND - Coerver Coaching Canada East will be holding its second annual residential soccer camp from July 27 until August 2 at Grenville Christian College in Maitland.

The camp will feature a choice between the residential camp or day camp, with Goalkeeper Academy, Goalkeeper School, Future Stars, Jr. Academy and Sr. Academy programs available for both and Mighty Mites available for the day camp.

The camps are organized to teach individual and group soccer skills for youths between the ages of 5-16.

The program will feature drills, skill work, small group play, full games and classroom work, which will cover nutrition, game analysis and discussion on traits of a modern player.

The Australians will not be back for this year's camp, but the camp will still boast a very knowledgeable staff of coaches who will pass on their wisdom to the students.

As a special treat to the goalkeepers who will attend the camp, Les Cleevely, who is the goalkeeper coach for Fulham F.C. of the English Premier League, will be on hand to give instruction and help work on their games. Cleevely has trained two of the world's top keepers in Edwin Van Dar Sar of Holland and club teams Ajax and Juventus and Astrid Johannasson of Norway.

The camps will be accepting 100 students this year, with limited spots still available by calling 925-2653.

Caddy Club raises money for charity

PRESCOTT - The Caddy Club at Prescott Golf Club raised more than $2,000 Saturday during its charity putting contest.

Thirty-five members of the Caddy Club (formerly the junior program) took part in the competition, draining 600 putts in
order to raise money for the Children's Make a Wish Foundation.

Each youth had five minutes to make as many putts as he or she possibly could, collecting pledges by the number of putts or a flat rate donation.

James King sank the most putts on the day with 41, while Michelle McDonald was the top girl making 25 putts.

The putting contest was part of the Caddy Club's annual charity endeavour to help teach the kids about giving back to the community and helping those less fortunate.

Caddy Club member Evan Modler was happy to take part in the contest.

"It would be awesome to be able to help them meet someone they look up to like Tiger Woods," said Modler. "It would help them take their mind off their problems and maybe make them fight harder."

Fellow Caddy Club member Ron Harrison agreed.

"It was fun," said Harrison, "and we got to held the Children's Make a Wish Foundation.

Fox puts up four goals and Purcell two in Windmill Web win

PRESCOTT - In a shortened week for the Prescott and District Soccer Association due to the Canada Day holiday, the kids showed
up and put forth strong efforts through the rain and shine as
25 players had multiple goal games.

Matt Fox turned in a four goal performance last Thursday as Windmill Web Inc. was able to score a 6-0 shutout victory over Hometown Heating in Under-8 soccer action.

Patrick Purcell also had a
multiple goal game in Windmill Web Inc.'s win as he scored a
pair.

Other notable games in the PDSA last week include:

Under-16

Watermark Printing 2

Robert Amell (2)

Grenville Towing 1

Joshua Beckstead

Southport 4

Joshua Rupert (2), Nick Gould, Colton Reid

DWJ Plumbing & Sons 1

Robert Deeks

Kriska Holdings Ltd. 4

Cody Warren (2), Kristian Knapp, Matthew Deeks

Canadian Tire 3

Matthew Hayes (2), Jennifer Torrance

Hartley Sports 3

Nicholas Wert, Andrew Wilson, Chad Hyland

Gateway Packaging 3

Vince Francica (2), Nick
Francica

Under-12

Giant Tiger 5

Devon Deschamps (4), Cody Keller

Seaway Valley Pharmacy 1

Mitchell Grant

B.W. Freer Electrical 3

Michael Thomas, Mason Ameil, Jordan Turcotte

Grenville Castings 3

Andrew Bernard (3)

Hansen's Kavity Kickers 2

Joshua Pitt, Colby Latocha

Beach Home Hardware 1

Cody Patenaude

Kriska Holdings Ltd. 1

Jesse Hyland

Shriners 1

Sean Perrin

Under-10

Prescott Kinsmen 5

Drew Johnston (4), Jeremy
Hough

Seaway Physiotherapy 3

Matthew Boyd, Jesse Boyd, Dylan Dobbie

TD Canada Trust 5

Trent Corney (4), Keith Smith

Kiwanis 1

Ryan Maggio

Royal Bank 4

Austin Murphy (2), Ethan Zahn, Patrick Spencer

Grenville Pharmacy 1

Ronald Harrison

Colour Pallette 3

Michael Morrell (2), A.J. Larocque

Mac's Convenience Stores 2

Jamie Sturgeon (2)

Splash Well Drilling 5

Victoria LaFontaine, Amber Warren, Amir-Reza Hajarii, Ryan Van Stralen, Skylar St. Croix

Danani Flooring 3

Payton Marriner (3)

Under-8

M.T.J.B. 7

Dillan Ault (4), Alex Boswall
(3)

Prophet's Trophies 4

Cristan Zahn (2), Nicholas Ladoucer, Shannon Jones

Windmill Web Inc. 6

Matt Fox (4), Patrick Purcell (2)

Hometown Heating 0

No goal scorers

Tropical Pools 1

Dakota Thauvette

Playit Star 0

No goal scorers

Prescott IDA 9

Zack Sukunda (5), John Lawless (4)

S.L. Printing Devils 1

Paul DeJong

Under-6

Star Security 5

Jonathan Noonan (2), Travis McAuley (2), Jess Lother

Playit Star 1

Cameron Beaver

Prescott Chiros 6

Zach Shankar (3), Mason Wyatt, Jacob Amell, Victoria Bradley Reader

Playit Star 0

No goal scorers

Tichborne Auto Supply 1

Drew Holmes

Beck's Construction 0

No goal scorers

Prescott Chiros 4

Zach Shankar (3), Jacob Amell

Chevron Construction 0

No goal scorers

Tichborne Auto Supply 2

Jacob Dixon (2)

Chevron Construction 1

Spencer Ross

Beck's Construction 1

Liam Bush

Grenville Fish & Game 0

No goal scorers

Men's Gunners remain undefeated

PRESCOTT - The Prescott Gunners men's recreation team 1 has kept its undefeated record in tact after a win and tie in recent league play.

In their first away game of the year, Prescott travelled to Almonte June 26 where they scored a 2-0 win after a strong two-way effort.

Wade Mooney created the first offensive opportunity for the Gunners with a cross for Wes Campeau, but the Almonte keeper was able to thwart the effort. Almonte pressured, but Jorge Caxaj was able to get his hands on the shot to keep the score tied. Jerry Martel gave Prescott the lead as he scored from in close.

In the second half, the Gunners sealed their victory as Scott Tedford managed to chip in a shot over the Almonte keeper before Josh Francis added insurance.

Martel, who had the game winner had a solid game on defence and was given the games MVP. Honourable mentions were given to Jason Beckstead, Danny Powers, Eric Humes and Tedford, who had good games on defence.

The Gunners came away with a 0-0 draw against the Spitfires June 19 at Wolfgang Noe Park.

The Gunners, under the watch of substitute coach Pete Armstrong, came close to taking the win on several occasions with Francis robbed on a low hard shot to the keeper's left. Powers and Steve McCurdy also came close but were not able to finish.

Martel, Humes and Mooney had strong defensive games, snuffing out the Spitfires offence. Powers was named MVP, with McCurdy and Humes getting honourable mention.

Fort Wellington to welcome cars for 16th annual car show Sunday

PRESCOTT - Cars of all shapes and sizes will invade Fort Wellington Sunday as the St. Lawrence Valley Car Club holds its 16th annual Car Show.

The show runs from 10 am until 3 pm at the fort, with more than 200 cars expected to be registered.

The show provides an excellent opportunity for the family to get out and see some rare and unusual cars and take in the history of the fort. Last year 175 vehicles were registered in the show.

Participants can register at the show or pre-register by calling Mike Baril at 925-3751.

Gunners soccer teams ready for week full of big games

PRESCOTT - The Ottawa Gunners rep soccer teams are preparing for a busy schedule after a shortened week due to the Canada Day holiday.

The Under-11 girls division 1 team will be hosting the Ottawa Internationals tonight at the Kriska Mini Field at 7 pm. The Under-14 boys regional team will travel to Kingston tonight to take on Cataraqui tonight at 7:30 pm. The men's rec team one will practise at Wolfgang Noe/Prince St. tonight at 6:30 pm, before hosting Capitol United Thursday at 6:30 pm at Wolfgang Noe Field. The men's rec team 6 will travel to Ottawa Sunday to take on the Royals.

Prescott Golf Club set for busy month of qualifying sessions

PRESCOTT - Preparation for a busy month of action is going on at Prescott Golf
Club.

Saturday will host senior's qualifying, while Sunday will feature the first of the ladies qualifying sessions. Ladies qualifying will continue July 20, while the annual member/guest tournament will take place July 26 and July 27.

The month will finish off with the ladies invitational on July 29.

For more information on any of the times and dates for events in July, contact the Prescott Golf Club at 925-5006 or the pro shop at 925-5370.

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