Social services would be affected by work stoppage
Information picket held in Prescott; OPSEU local in strike position
next week
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT - The delivery of social and employment services could be affected
later this month if a sector of united counties employees decides to strike
for better benefits.
Approximately 83 unionized community and social services employees -
10 of whom are based in Prescott - will be in a legal strike position Aug.
11. An information picket staged outside the King Street West office last
Wednesday called attention to the employees' demands to have their benefits
remain as they are.
Union Steward Elizabeth Knapp, a volunteer/caregiver education co-ordinator
for the Prescott Early Years Centre, said employees are being punished for
joining the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) earlier this
year.
Negotiations for the first collective agreement for employees in the
community and social services division have stalled, she said. After several
rounds of negotiations over a three-month period, conciliation discussions
began June 20 between the counties and its unionized social services, community
housing and children's services employees.
On July 24, employees voted 86 per cent in favour of a strike. Mediation
talks were scheduled for today, Aug. 6.
"Sick benefits are a priority," Knapp said. "We have benefits
we want to keep," she added. A union bulletin noted the counties has
sought to reduce sick benefits while employees continue to fall ill from
excessive workload demands. Knapp also stated the employer has not been
willing to offer the same increases in benefits enjoyed by the non-union
or CUPE employees of the counties.
A strike by the employees will have a ripple affect through Leeds and
Grenville, Knapp said, since everything from job searches and paying for
rental housing to children's programs will be interrupted. Even landlords
and merchants will be affected if Ontario Works clients are not receiving
their cheques, she said.
"We want to feel we're supported by our employer," Knapp said,
just as the employees support families and programs for their betterment.
Knapp declined to give an example of a typical wage in the department,
noting pay is not being disputed in the disagreement. "It has nothing
to do with money. Pay isn't why we're striking."
The employees simply want to ensure a fair and equitable agreement, she
said.
"We're willing to do what we have to do and take as long as it needs
to take to get a fair collective agreement."
The united counties' director of community and social services, Dorothy
Theobald, was unable for comment before press time.
A field day for the family farm
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Editor
ALGONQUIN - The successes and challenges of agriculture were front and
centre at Grenville Farm Family Day.
The annual event took place last Wednesday at DeJong Hill Jersey Farm
on Algonquin Road.
More than 100 people attended the event, which included guided tours
of the farm, presentations, lunch and special activities for children.
Farm family day is an annual get-together co-sponsored by several organizations
including the Grenville Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Grenville
Federation of Agriculture and Grenville Holstein Club.
The farm, which has a dairy herd of about 40 cows, has been a family
operation since Siebold DeJong purchased it 50 years ago. The early days
of milking by hand and cooling the cans of milk in a water tank are gone;
a third generation of DeJongs now deals with advanced herd management practices.
Even as technology improves, there is still plenty of hard work and manual
labour associated with 21st-century agriculture.
Sheila James, Eastern Ontario consultant with the Farm Safety Association,
told the gathering that teenagers tend to be more at risk when they start
a farm-related job. They may not have developed a sense of their own mortality
and may not fully comprehend the risks associated with operating machinery.
"Make sure you send them to a job that's safe" and supervise
them, she said. "You are in the best position to tell them," James
added.
Youngsters learned about farm safety during an interactive children's
program led by James.
Cardinal-area farmer Gordon Dodge received an Award of Merit from the
Soil and Crop Improvement Association, which also presented soil and water
conservation farm awards. The holstein club presented leather show halters
to first-year 4-H club members with Holstein calves.
Those in attendance at farm day also received information about a provincial
compensation program to deal with the continuing effects of the BSE (mad
cow disease) scare. An agriculture and food ministry representative conceded
it is a tough time for everyone associated with the beef industry.
Work at skateboard park to begin next week
By David Dickenson - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT - Skateboarders will be completing kick flips and other tricks
before they know it at Prescott's very own skate park.
Work on the Prescott Kiwanis Club Skate Park is scheduled to start Monday,
Aug. 11 at the Kriska Fields on Sophia Street in Prescott.
One of the central figures getting the park for Prescott, Nancy Lane,
indicated they got the completed diagram from the engineer Thursday and
have given it to the contractor and his crew to review.
The group has raised $21,000 from their various fundraising projects
such as car washes over the last year. The group has also received as $25,000
grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to assist in the project.
Lane indicated the group has all the money needed for the project and
expects the project to be under way this week.
"It will probably be Tuesday before stuff gets going," Lane
said last Friday. "It's my understanding that it would take about a
week to complete. We're really thrilled it's just a matter of time."
A group of local skateboarders, including Lane's son John, has been working
towards the skate park for about a year with the entire complex to be concrete.
"I guess they build the frames and then pour the concrete,"
said Lane. "I really can't wait to see the hole in the ground showing
it's being built."
Lane said the park will have a 80-by-100-foot concrete surface, which
will be filled by a fun box, ramps, a stair case, an above ground quarter
bowl, numerous banks and a quarter pipe for which the skateboarders can
take advantage.
"It's going to be a good size area," explained Lane. "This
is just phase one; we've already started raising money for phase two next
year."
The second phase of the project will build on one of the most popular
pieces of skateboard parks, a half pipe, to the existing structure.
Despite the project being a little behind the estimated time table, everyone
is understanding of the delays.
"The engineer and planner are both working for free," explained
Lane. "They've had holidays and paying customers to do on top of this
and they've just been great.
"Unfortunately, it will not be done earlier for the kids to enjoy
it more, but it's only a couple of weeks behind and it will be there forever."
Hospital funding increases announced
BROCKVILLE - Funding increases demonstrate the Ontario government's commitment
to health care, according to Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman.
The MPP announced details Friday of new funding for hospitals in the
riding in 2003/04. Brockville General Hospital (BGH) will receive $29,155,000,
an increase of $1,740,000 or six per cent from the previous year.
Three-per-cent increases were approved for St. Vincent de Paul and Kemptville
District hospitals.
St. Vincent will receive an additional $179,000 this year for a total
of just over $6 million; Kemptville will see an increase of $194,000, bringing
its 2003/04 health ministry funding up to about $6,670,000.
"I am pleased that vital hospital services will remain accessible
for the people of Leeds and Grenville," Runciman stated in a news release.
BGH President and CAO Ray Marshall indicated the current fiscal year
will be tight even with the funding adjustment. However, Marshall also indicated
in the release he believes the hospital will be able to provide services
at the same level as in previous years.
Much of the $620-million funding increase announced by Premier Ernie
Eves last week was allocated as part of the 2003 Ontario budget introduced
earlier this year.
The province has also committed to covering revenue lost by hospitals
affected by the SARS outbreak and advancing an additional $150 million to
hospitals that incurred expenses relating to SARS.
See rural roots at Harvest Days
ROEBUCK - Relive the history of agriculture at the eighth annual Harvest
Day Demonstrations.
The event will be presented Saturday, Aug. 16 and Sunday, Aug. 17 on
the east side of County Road 18 north of McCully Road. Tractors and other
equipment from previous generations will be on display and working in the
field.
The main site will be open from 10 am to 4 pm each day. An old-time farmers
breakfast starts Sunday at 8 am. Plowing school will be in session from
10 am to 3 pm both days.
There will also be a craft show and live entertainment. There is a small
admission fee; children 12 and under get in for free.
Harvest Days is hosted by Antique Wheels in Motion, a non-profit group
that promotes the early days of Eastern Ontario agriculture.
For more information, contact Dale Countryman at 925-4866.
Sharpen job search skills at workshop for students
Student employment centre closes for season Aug. 15
PRESCOTT - Improving job search skills for the school year and beyond
will be the focus of a workshop tomorrow (Thursday) hosted by the Human
Resource Centre of Canada for Students in Prescott.
The resume, cover letter and interview workshop will begin at 1 pm at
the employment centre located on the second floor of 292 Centre St.
Summer Employment Officer Robert Turnbull said the event will include
tips on how to write a resume and cover letter, interview skills and a health
and safety information session.
"This event is just one way to highlight the importance of getting
that first job for some students, or finding career-related work experience
for others," Turnbull said.
This summer, 101 jobs were filled with secondary and post-secondary students,
Turnbull reported.
The positions ranged from short-term temporary positions such as lawn
mowing, painting and child care to the 10-week federal career placements.
The number of job placements this summer is down from last year; 196
jobs were filled in 2002. Turnbull noted more students visited employers
directly this year, and several potential employers contacted by Turnbull
stated they had already received early-bird resumes.
The employment centre for students links youth and employers and provides
young people with job postings, interview advice, resume building and job
search strategies. The office also provide employers with pre-screening
services and a location to post job openings. All services are free of charge.
The last day of operation for the student centre this summer is Aug.
15.
Employers interested in using the services, and students still looking
for summer employment, can contact the office at 925-2508.
Friends for Life Bike Rally makes stop in Johnstown
By David Dickenson - Journal Staff Writer
JOHNSTOWN - More than 200 cyclists and crew members furiously set up
tents at Grenville Park in Johnstown to beat the rain Thursday afternoon
after completing the fourth of their six-day trip from Toronto to Montreal.
This is the fifth year for the Friends for Life Bike Rally, which has
made its way through South Grenville each year in its mission of raising
money and awareness for the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation.
Each year riders are required to raise $2,000 apiece for the charity
in order to take part in the ride.
For one of the co-founders of the ride, Danny Nashman, 36, of Toronto,
this is a special event each year.
"It's a truly incredible fun and rewarding experience," said
Nashman. "We get to help out with an organization which you see giving
direct help to people with AIDS."
For Nashman, the concept of the rally came from friends in Chicago which
had taken part in a similar ride seven years ago and were crazy about it.
"I was telling one of my neighbours about it and we liked the idea
so we proposed it to the Toronto People with Aids Foundation," said
Nashman. "We had 23 riders the first year and they raised $48,000.
We've continued to grow, but we've had to limit it to a 20-30 per cent increase
each year to ensure it doesn't lose its formula."
Other than the cause itself, Nashman finds many great assets from being
part of the group which makes the long trek each year.
"It's a great experience working towards a common goal," said
Nashman. "It's very uplifting and inspiring. I think the people who
choose to take part generally like to challenge themselves and are truly
extraordinary."
The Toronto People with AIDS Foundation is one of Canada's largest direct
support service organizations and since 1997 has promoted dignity and self-sufficiency
for more than 4,000 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS.
Festival needs continued support from community
PRESCOTT - Now that the first year of the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival
is in the books, it will soon be time to plan the next chapter.
The festival, which took place in the Kinsmen amphitheatre on Prescott's
waterfront, recently ended its month-long run.
Artistic Director Deborah Smith said the festival is "definitely
here next year," but added the inaugural production is "a stepping
stone" to something big that will require financial support to establish.
About 1,900 people attended the 18 presentations of The Tempest staged
between June 26 and July 25. Smith said the production "paid for itself"
eight times; the target was to average 100 people per night.
Among those who returned repeatedly was Prescott Mayor Robert Lawn. The
mayor, who attended eight performances of The Tempest, said he is
proud of the way his community supported the festival. "Not once did
I doubt it would be an artistic success," Lawn remarked at the Evening
of Sonnets fundraiser July 26.
The mayor told The Journal Monday the municipality played an important
role in the festival's inaugural year. The town contributed about $7,000
in direct funding for actors' salaries and the cost of membership in a provincial
association of outdoor festivals.
Lawn said the municipality can continue to play a key role by providing
additional support in the form of municipal facilities and personnel. However,
he added the town cannot afford to bankroll a production and take the risk
of being financially liable.
"The town is limited in what it can do in a financial sense,"
the mayor said. "Perhaps some seed money can be made available."
Lawn insists there is a place for classical theatre in Prescott, adding
Smith and General Manager James Peto deserve credit for "taking the
plunge" and bringing it to town.
Although the first year of the Prescott festival did not reportedly lose
money, costs are expected to rise as the event grows and deals with infrastructure
and salaries.
Smith said a meeting of volunteers to consider the future of the festival
will take place in September. She also has plans to visit town council that
month.
"The onus is on Prescott," she said. "We need people on
board."
Prescott resident Joan Glenn, who was also on hand at the sonnet-reading
event, echoed the positive remarks of many festival-goers. "I really
didn't know what to expect, but it really exceeded all expectations and
was just wonderful from end to end," Glenn said.
Break-ins occur at pool office, ball canteen
PRESCOTT - For the second time in two weeks, a break-in has occurred
at the pool office at Centennial Park.
On July 29, town police received a report the door to the office had
been pried open. About $75 in cash was taken; damage to the door is estimated
at $300. Constable Richard Champagne is investigating.
For the week of July 28, the Prescott Police Service investigated 99
general incidents and two motor vehicle collisions.
Another break-in was reported to police July 29. Someone had entered
the canteen at the Kriska ball diamonds through an open bathroom door. The
person or persons then climbed through an attic door and entered the canteen
area through the ceiling. Various items such as food and drinks were found
in the vicinity. Substantial damage to the building was reported. Constable
Terry Foster is investigating.
Thefts were also reported that day in the area of Zaire and Jessup streets.
In one case, someone entered an unlocked 1987 Chevy parked in a driveway
and took the face plate off a Koss CD player. The other case involved the
theft of a purse from a residence. The purse contained credit cards, personal
ID, a passport and a small amount of cash. Constable Foster is investigating
both incidents.
That same day, a man drove off from an Edward Street business without
paying for $60 worth of gasoline. A licence plate number was obtained. Quebec
provincial police advised the Prescott service the vehicle had been reported
stolen. At about 2 am July 30, the vehicle was stopped at the U.S. border
near Lansdowne. A man was taken into custody by the OPP and transferred
to Brockville Psychiatric Hospital "with mental issues," according
to a town police release. The investigating officer is Sergeant Sluytman.
Two arrests were made in connection with separate domestic disputes.
A 35-year-old man was charged with assaulting his common-law spouse after
police responded to a call on Churchill Road July 31. Additional charges
are pending. On July 27, police responded to an incident at a Hyde Street
residence. An investigation revealed an assault took place the previous
day. A man was arrested and charged with two counts of assault. Neither
man has been identified.
A Centre Street business reported it had received a fraudulent cheque
for a substantial amount of money. Charges are pending. Constable Foster
is investigating.
A lock latch was removed from the back door of a Howe Terrace apartment
building, making the building accessible to anyone. The incident was reported
July 31; damage is estimated at $50. Constable Mike Ostrander is the investigating
officer.
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.
OPP NEWS
Driver sustains head injuries in crash
AUGUSTA - On Aug. 1 at about 11:30 pm, OPP Constable Will Kavanagh responded
to a single-vehicle collision on Skakum Road in Augusta Township. The incident
involved a 2003 Yamaha TWC driven by a 16-year-old male. The driver was
taken to Kingston General Hospital with non-life-threatening head injuries.
The investigation is ongoing; alcohol has been ruled out as a factor, according
to a police news release.
Man charged with impaired driving
SPENCERVILLE - A 25-year-old Spencerville-area man has been charged with
impaired driving and driving a motor vehicle while disqualified. The man
was arrested by Constable Kavanagh, who was on routine patrol Aug. 2 at
about 9:35 pm when he observed a vehicle being driven erratically. The vehicle
was impounded.
The man, whose name did not appear in an OPP news report, was released
on a promise to appear in court later this month.
Big increase in tickets reported
SOUTH GRENVILLE - Officers with the Grenville County OPP detachment issued
128 provincial offence notices in South Grenville during the holiday weekend.
Proactive patrols and responses to public concerns led to the high number
of tickets being issued. Speeding accounts for the most offences.
Three of the speeding offences involved speeds in excess of 165 kilometres
per hour. In all three cases, the drivers received summonses to appear in
Brockville court Sept. 2.
Time to pig out at RibFest
BROCKVILLE - Many people will be making pigs of themselves this weekend
at Hardy Park.
RibFest 2003 will feature "ribbers" from Canada (Kingston,
Toronto and Fort Erie) and the United States (Alabama and Florida).
Visitors can sample ribs Friday evening (Aug. 8), Saturday and Sunday
afternoon.
Live entertainment will be presented throughout the weekend at the gazebo.
Brockville Idol contest winners will appear late Friday afternoon.
The popular group Ambush will perform at the park on Sunday afternoon.
Saturday's activities will include a three-on-three basketball tournament
(registration from 9 to 10 am) and a horseshoe tournament starting at 11:30
am.
A volleyball tournament will take place Sunday beginning at 11:30 am.
Activities for children in "Pigland" will include face painting,
clowns, "pignics" and music by H & S Express.
RibFest is an annual event presented by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Leeds
and Grenville.
Carm Aube Band to play at next concert
PRESCOTT - The Carm Aube Band will perform at the next Sunday concert
Aug. 10 at 6:30 pm at the amphitheatre.
Admission is free; donations are accepted.
In case of rain, the concert will be held at the Leo Boivin Community
Centre.
The Sunday concert series ends its 2003 season Aug. 31.
Bacteria levels at beach remain acceptable
PRESCOTT - Kelly's Beach remains open following the latest round of water
quality testing conducted by the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health
Unit.
Testing is done weekly in July and August at Kelly's and more than 20
other beaches in the tri-county area. As of Thursday, none of the beaches
was closed.
The Prescott beach has yet to be closed this season because of high bacteria
levels or noticeable types of pollution.
To view the complete list of beaches and their status, visit www.healthunit.org. | 
