VOL. 175, NO. 1~ PRESCOTT, ONTARIO ~ January 5, 2005

Relief effort goes on

Support in wake of Asian disaster is phenomenal: local Red Cross official

By Tim Ruhnke, Journal Editor

LEEDS AND GRENVILLE ­ Residents of Leeds and Grenville are coming through in response to the Dec. 26 disaster in southern Asia.

A powerful earthquake in Indonesia triggered powerful tsunamis (tidal waves) which devastated coastal areas of several countries in the south of Asia and Somalia on the eastern coast of Africa. Entire communities were washed away by waves measuring as high as 10 metres or more.

As of Monday, the death count had risen to more than 150,000.

The Government of Canada has pledged $80 million to the ongoing relief effort. Contributions from Canadians totalled more than $40 million as of the weekend, according to reports.

Closer to home, the Red Cross is among the many relief agencies accepting contributions for the Asian relief effort. Maureen Shellard, community services co-ordinator at the Red Cross office in Brockville, said about $45,000 in donations had been processed by the Leeds and Grenville office as of Monday afternoon. The total does not include local online donations to the Red Cross.

Shellard told The Journal the local response does not surprise her "...because the people in this area are extremely generous."

The Red Cross has been open daily since Boxing Day to handle the contributions. The Brockville office at 80 Charles St. has returned to regular operating hours (weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm).

Shallard said there are fundraising events in the works. Examples include a Brockville Lions breakfast at C.J.'s this Saturday morning and an art auction in the Sheridan Mews in downtown Brockville Saturday afternoon.

"The best thing we can do is to raise money," Shallard said.

South Grenville District High School in Prescott is accepting donations for the relief effort this week. The school will forward contributions to World Vision and Unicef, according to teacher Rick Swift.

Asian relief donations made by Jan. 11 can be claimed on 2004 income tax returns, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced on the weekend.

THIS WEEK

Freezing rain creates poor driving conditions

SOUTH GRENVILLE ­ Provincial police responded to 37 collisions in the Prescott area between Dec. 27 and the morning of Jan. 3.

Nearly half of the incidents occurred this past Sunday when freezing rain produced hazardous driving conditions. However, officers commended motorists on Highway 401 for travelling at appropriate speeds and using their hazard lights when necessary.

Three of the collisions from last week resulted in injuries. In one case, a garbage/recycling truck involved in an earlier accident on Highway 416 was parked on the shoulder when it was struck from behind by a motorhome. The occupants of the motorhome were transported to Kingston General Hospital; a child was taken to CHEO.

The OPP reminds motorists to adjust their driving to match road conditions. Reducing speed is seen as a significant way to make winter driving safer.

Officers ring in new year with RIDE checks

PRESCOTT ­ Grenville County OPP conducted five sets of RIDE checks in Prescott at various times between Dec. 28 and Jan. 1.

More than 600 vehicles were checked. Although no impaired driving charges were laid at the RIDE checks, officers administered six roadside tests. Twenty-four Highway Traffic Act warnings and three seat belt warnings were issued.

As of Dec. 29, more than 13,000 vehicles had been checked in the OPP's Eastern Region. Nine impaired driving charges had been laid. There were also 20 12-hour suspensions and 91 other charges.

Prescott's health unit levy goes up 16 cents

PRESCOTT ­ If only all tax increases were this small.

Prescott's health unit levy for 2005 is only 16 cents higher than what the town paid last year. The town's share of the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit municipal levy is $74,269, up from the 2004 amount of $74,268.84.

"We don't mind raises of that magnitude," Mayor Robert Lawn said.

The province is now contributing slightly more than half of the health unit's funding.

Some crosswalk talk

PRESCOTT ­ Improvements to two pedestrian crosswalks on Edward Street will be installed soon, Prescott CAO/Clerk Robert Haller said Monday night.

It had been hoped upgrades (including overhead warning lights) to the crossings at Victor Road and near St. Mark School would be in place by the end of 2004. The crosswalk at Burger King will not be upgraded.

Prescott mayor has hope for the new year

By Tim Ruhnke, Journal Editor

PRESCOTT ­ Robert Lawn says he is "quietly optimistic" about 2005.

In an address to Prescott council Monday night, the mayor noted some of the municipality's achievements in 2004 and items of significance in the coming year.

Lawn is entering his fifth year as mayor. The current council has begun the second year of its three-year term.

"We've gotten off to a reasonably good start," Lawn told his colleagues. The mayor went on to say year two will be "even better" as newer members of council get a feel for the job.

Among the subjects from 2004 Lawn noted in his remarks were the renewed opportunity for the town to obtain infrastructure funding for a new waste water plant. Work began on a downtown revitalization plan and a review of Prescott's official plan, something Lawn said "no one has really looked at" since the mid- to late-1980s.

"For some people, that's a pretty dry topic," stated Lawn, who added "This is a critical happening in our new year."

As for the residential subdivision at the north end of Mackenzie and Massie, Lawn said he is hoping to see some construction there in 2005. Engineering work at the town-owned housing property should be wrapped up by the end of February, the mayor noted.

Lawn also referred to the proposal to establish a third year of Prescott Blossoms. The federally-funded job readiness program "has begun to make a difference" in the community, according to the mayor.

Lawn also said improvements to the public library are needed and will take place this year.

The mayor and councillors will sit down together Friday morning to conduct a planning meeting in which projects and priorities for council's second and third years are to be identified.

Lawn opened his remarks by wishing his fellow council members best wishes for a successful and rewarding new year.

Prescott council meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 7 pm on the second floor of the Dibble Street municipal building. Town hall renovations were completed in 2004, as was the disbandment of the Prescott Police Service in favour of municipal contract service by the Grenville County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police.

MP Gord Brown says economy tops list of priorities in 2005

By Tim Ruhnke, Journal Editor

LEEDS AND GRENVILLE ­ It was a busy year for Leeds-Grenville MP Gord Brown.

"Well, it was quite a ride," he told The Journal recently.

Not long after the new Conservative Party of Canada chose its leader, the amalgamation of the Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance parties found itself in the middle of an election campaign. Brown, who was the PC candidate in 2000 and lost to incumbent Liberal MP Joe Jordan by just 55 votes, carried the Conservative banner in the June 28 election and defeated Jordan by about 6,000 votes.

Six months later, Brown has served in his first House of Commons session, addressed parliament and set up his Ottawa office as well as a main constituency office in Brockville and satellite offices in Gananoque, Prescott and Kemptville.

"It's like starting a brand new business," he said.

On the subject of business, Brown said the economy is his main push as an MP. Although he is pleased the government is finally starting to flow money to the region through the $10-million Eastern Ontario Development Fund, Brown said he and his caucus colleagues intend to push the government to make more of a long-term commitment to economic development in this part of the province.

Brown said he will also continue to pressure the government to support the farming industry which continues to feel the effects of the BSE (mad cow disease) scare. He hopes beef exports to the United States will resume this March, although there is no guarantee that will happen.

"There needs to be a 'Made in Canada' solution to this," said Brown.

The MP noted he has heard from beef producers who are using up the equity in their farms because of low prices and decreased revenues. It has reached a critical point for some farmers, Brown noted. He said he is trying to get his colleagues in the House who represent urban areas to understand the impact the ongoing crisis is having throughout the entire agricultural community.

The MP acknowledged municipal officials are unhappy because they are unable to provide tax relief or offer other consideration in an attempt to attract businesses.

Brown said he understands the frustration of companies and civic leaders in Leeds-Grenville who are up against incentives and free trade zones that governments on the American side are able and willing to offer.

"We're competing with communities right across the river," he said.

Although he does not approve of so-called corporate welfare, Brown noted companies are going to move to New York unless there is a joint effort to do something on this side of the St. Lawrence River.

Other initiatives Brown said he has taken an interest in include lobbying the government to extend duty remission orders so the Hathaway plant in Prescott and companies in Canada's apparel and garment industries have a fighting chance to compete with cheap imports.

The MP has also expressed concern about the possibility of Coast Guard job losses in the Great Lakes region.

Brown is also putting together a private member's bill which would put a crime committed with a knife on equal footing with a crime committed with a firearm.

On the issue of same-sex marriage, Brown said he continues to support the traditional definition of marriage. He said there is nothing in the recent Supreme Court ruling to change his view. The MP also noted the response he has heard is overwhelmingly in favour of his position.

As for the possibility of an election this year if the Liberals' minority government were to fall, Brown said he has not seen any indication the political parties are seeking another federal vote. "Canadians aren't ready for another election," he said. "I don't see anything on the immediate horizon," he added.

However, Brown noted the upcoming federal budget will be a test for the Liberals. The Conservative MP hopes the government is willing to work with the opposition and avoid having to face the electors so soon after the last election. Just to be safe, Brown is preparing for the possibility Canadians will be heading back to the polls.

"I don't hope for an election in 2005, but I don't fear one."

U.S. to ease restrictions on beef from Canada

Second mad cow disease case not expected to affect American border reopening

LEEDS AND GRENVILLE ­ The American border will reopen to a large portion of Canadian beef exports in just over two months from now.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in late December it planned to allow live Canadian cattle under 30 months of age to enter the country as of March 7. News of the move came shortly before the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced it was checking into a second suspected case of so-called mad cow disease.

The first case, which involved an Alberta cow in May 2003, led other countries to ban Canadian beef. The loss of access to the American market has cost beef producers an estimated $4 billion.

Although the CFIA indicated Jan. 2 it had confirmed the second case (an Alberta dairy cow that had not entered the animal or human food chains), it was being reported the Americans would be proceeding with plans to reopen the border to live young cows. The move is the result of Canada being classified as a minimal risk for mad cow disease. The human equivalent of the disease can be fatal.

In a Dec. 31 news release, Leeds-Grenville MP Gord Brown said he is pleased the American agriculture department has recognized the efforts Canada has been making to ensure food safety. The Conservative MP noted the federal government still has a lot of work to do to meet its financial support commitments to the beef industry.

"Expanding our export markets, ensuring adequate slaughter capacity, the trade of live cattle over 30 months of age and dairy cattle, and the need for a significant cull cow program remain important issues that require this government's ongoing attention," Brown stated.

Local family thankful vacationing couple not in the path of tsunamis

By Blake McKim, Journal Staff Writer

ALGONQUIN - Ellen Bangma knows her daughter Nicole Solomatenko is fortunate to have not been seriously hurt or killed by the Dec. 26 tsunamis which killed more than 150,000 people in Asia and Africa.

"We were just so thankful to hear they (Nicole and husband Jeremy) weren't hurt," Bangma told The Journal Thursday. "They were so lucky it didn't affect the island they were on."

Nicole, 21, and Jeremy, 24, were vacationing on an island in the Maldives, an island nation which comprises more than a thousand islands off the coast of India.

Bangma mentioned her daughter and son-in-law initially didn't know of the danger when the tsunami hit. "They actually swam in the waves before they knew the extent of the disaster," Bangma explained.

She added the hotel where her daughter and son-in-law were staying allowed guests to briefly use the hotel's computers to e-mail relatives and assure them they were fine.

Bangma received the e-mail just as news of the earthquake and tsunami was getting out. "My parents (Nicole's grandparents) called and they were crying," explained Bangma. However, she said even though her family was initially reassured by the email, they still worried about Nicole and Jeremy being trapped in the Maldives.

"We heard the airports had been shut down," she stated.

The Solomatenkos left the Maldives on Tuesday, Dec. 28 for Bahrain, where they both teach primary students (Nicole teaches a Kindergarten class and Jeremy teaches a grade 3/4 class) at a Muslim school. Her daughter and son-in-law have been teaching in Bahrain since September. Nicole is a graduate of South Grenville District High School.

"They called us at 9:30 in the evening on Tuesday when they arrived back in Bahrain," said Bangma, adding her family was very relieved to hear Nicole and Jeremy were safe and sound.

Bangma also mentioned her son-in-law and daughter came in contact with people at the Maldives airport who weren't so fortunate.

"They saw injured people in the airport, people on crutches and with cuts and bruises, as they were leaving (the Maldives)," Bangma stated.

OPP ­ TOWNSHIPS NEWS

ATV stolen from residence

AUGUSTA ­ An all-terrain vehicle was taken from a Brown Road residence sometime between Dec. 25 and Dec. 30. The 2001 Honda TRX is orange and black and has Yamaha Big Bear tires and a winch. The Ontario licence plate is 42BR3. The value of the ATV is about $3,000. Constable Jones is investigating.

Anyone with information can call the OPP detachment at 925-4221 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Break-ins occur in Spencerville

SPENCERVILLE ­ Several break-ins and attempted break-ins in Spencerville were reported during the same general time period.

On Dec. 28 at about 3 am, an upstairs tenant was awakened by the sound of breaking glass at Myles Discount Store on Bennett Street. He observed two suspects leave the store and head north on Bennett. OPP officers responded, and a K-9 unit was dispatched. The dog followed a track to Beverly Street. All that was taken from the store was two boxes of pepperoni sticks. The damage to the front door glass had not been estimated at the time the OPP news release was issued. Constable Steinburg is investigating.

A cellular phone was taken from an unlocked vehicle parked on Irving Street between Cherry and Murray streets; the overnight occurrence was also reported Dec. 28. The investigating officer is Constable Large.

Two attempted break-ins were also reported. Nothing was taken from the shed behind the Spencerville Legion. A rear window at the Masonic Lodge had been pried off, but it did not appeared the building was entered.

Crash results in criminal charge

JOHNSTOWN ­ Charges have been laid in connection with a Nov. 16 collision in which a Pennsylvania woman was seriously injured.

A truck hauling an 85,000-lb. concrete bridge girder was turning onto Highway 16 northbound from a Highway 401 off-ramp when it was struck by a van driven by a 65-year-old woman. She had to be extricated from the van, which had become lodged under the trailer. She sustained a severe arm injury and a back injury and remains in Ottawa with family.

The truck driver, David Hallman, 50, of Tavistock, Ont., has been charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm, a Criminal Code offence. He is to appear in Brockville court March 4.

The trucking company, Active Transport of Milton, Ont., has been charged with the Highway Traffic Act offence of having an over-length load with no permit. A court appearance in Brockville is scheduled for March 1.

MERC Board still seeking volunteers

MAITLAND NEWS by Jane Fullarton

The first MERC Board meeting of the new year will be held Jan. 10 at 7:30 in the MERC Hall. The Board is looking for volunteers to fill the president's position as well as fill out the board.

Board member Geoff Noyes reports that things are looking good for MERC this year. MERC generated a profit in 2004 due to increased bookings at the hall and the success of a number of fundraising activities and programs. The Maitland Calendar has been printed and distributed with a few copies still available for sale at the Maitland Store. The Baseball program in Maitland was re-established this year after several years without a program. Noyes says the board's focus this year is on expanding its volunteer base, getting to know the volunteers it has and what their interests and talents are. The board hopes to strike committees to draft bylaws and work on special projects.

If you are interested in volunteering for MERC but cannot attend Monday night's meeting, contact Geoff Noyes at 348-1317.

Town council endorses third Blossoms bid

PRESCOTT ­ Town council has given its support to a federal funding application for a third edition of Prescott Blossoms.

The proposal being submitted to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada by Mike Laking calls for St. Lawrence College in Brockville to oversee the job readiness program that would involve up to a dozen young adults.

The town was a major partner in the 2002 and 2003 Prescott Blossoms programs.

Council voted Monday to support the funding application. Laking told the town's community and protective services committee last month he would like to see the program to run from May to October of this year. Laking has also been part of similar programs in Brockville and Perth.

The first two Prescott Blossoms focused on beautifying open spaces in town, especially the Heritage River Trail area on Parks Canada land east of the marina.

Collector knives taken from home; speeding leads to over-80 charge

PRESCOTT ­ Members of the Grenville County OPP detachment responded to 25 calls for service in the Prescott patrol zone last week.

Constable Moe Morrissette is investigating the theft of collector knives from a James Street East residence between Edward and East streets. The theft was reported on the afternoon of Dec. 27; however, it is unknown when the incident occurred. The 12 knives from the Franklin Mint have a total estimated value of $1,300.

On Dec. 29 at about 2:40 am, Constable Barr observed two vehicles speeding on Edward Street. They were stopped at McDonald's. The 22-year-old Augusta Township man who was operating a grey 1995 Pontiac Sunfire was arrested at the scene after failing a roadside screening device test. He was taken to the Prescott detachment and given a breathalyzer test, which police say he failed. The man was charged with driving while exceeding the legal blood alcohol limit and was issued an automatic 90-day licence suspension. He is to appear in Brockville court Jan. 21. The other driver was issued a warning.

The theft of a chainsaw from a Henry Street West residence was reported on the morning of Dec. 31. The theft is believed to have taken place within the previous three days. Constable Blanchette is investigating.

Anyone with information on these or any other occurrences in Prescott is asked to contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 925-4221 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Committee says no home for Habitat at this time

PRESCOTT ­ Habitat for Humanity is still without a home in Prescott.

The community-based organization that builds houses and offers no-interest mortgages to buyers who might not normally be able to obtain financing had asked town council to consider offering a lot on which Habitat for Humanity could build.

Prescott's finance and corporate services committee discussed the request last month. The municipality cannot commit to a site at this time, Councillor and committee chair Suzanne Dodge reported to council Monday.

The minutes of the committee meeting note the request would be considered as development of the north-end subdivision progresses.

Health centre kitchen work gets approval from council

PRESCOTT ­ DL Construction has been awarded the contract to renovate the kitchen at the Prescott Health Centre.

Town council voted Monday to accept the company's bid of $4,444.85 plus material costs. DL Construction was one of five firms to bid on the contract.

The kitchen is being enlarged so the town can accommodate an adult day program offered by Providence Continuing Care Centre and St. Vincent de Paul Hospital.

The program, which provides social and recreational respite service to persons with physical and cognitive challenges, offers a weekly program at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Prescott and at other satellite locations in the region.

However, program officials have expressed interest in leasing the auditorium at the health centre on Tuesdays. The adjacent kitchen would be used to prepare meals for program participants.

The low bid of $3,745 was submitted by Terry's Renovations. Councillor Bob Pelda told council the low bidder had some omissions in the submission.

In a written report to council, Community Services Director Randy Pelehos stated he met with Terry's Renovations before Christmas and the bid was then withdrawn.

DL Construction provided the second-lowest bid price. The other bidders were Pross Construction ($5,136), DC Snelling ($5,831.50) and Barn Savers ($5,911).

Pelehos noted the town would recover its costs in just over one year; the adult program has funding for three years. The investment in the kitchen would also make the town-owned facility more attractive to other programs, according to the community services director.

The adult program would be able to supply appliances which could be made available to other users of the auditorium. However, Pelehos indicated the town would incur an additional expense to purchase a double stainless steel sink, faucet, countertop and cupboards. These items would cost in the range of $1,000.

Health care expected to dominate Queen's Park agenda, MPP says

By Blake McKim, Journal Staff Writer

BROCKVILLE - Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman believes 2004 was a positive year for people in the riding.

"It's been fairly stable from an economic perspective," Runciman told The Journal. "It hasn't been a bad year compared to other years."

Runciman points to staffing increases at area plants Proctor and Gamble and Trillium Healthcare Manufacturing in Brockville as an indication the Leeds and Grenville area is in a healthy economic position. While he does admit the area "would always like more industry," the Progressive Conservative MPP also concedes the industries here are doing well. In addition, he points to new retail outlets in Brockville and Prescott and strong housing sales as indications that area people "are feeling good about the state of the economy here."

In addition, Runciman mentioned several projects spearheaded by the former in-power provincial conservative government as being positive for area residents.

"We're seeing many benefits from the former conservative government," he said, adding new construction projects like the Interval House in Brockville, substantial renovations to Maple View Lodge in Athens, and a completely new St. Lawrence Lodge were all projects okayed by the Conservatives which are now coming to fruition.

However, Runciman did admit several challenges have also come to the forefront this past year. In particular, he said the provincial Liberal government "holding off on phase two" of the correction centre in Brockville is a huge blow.

"We're talking about 300 jobs with highly trained professionals still in limbo. They promised a decision by October but its still left twisting in the wind," Runciman stated. He added it's his hope a firm decision about the jail will be made in the new year.

Runciman points to other "hot button" issues which will loom large in 2005. "Health care will continue to be the number one issue in the province," he opined. "The hospitals still haven't received any provincial money. Their pressures are building and building."

He pointed to a recent meeting with staff and board members of a local long-term care facilities as highlighting the funding shortage which healthcare facilities currently face. He mentioned the facility has been told they have to hire more nurses, but doesn't have the funding. Runciman added "I expect health care will dominate the agenda at Queen's Park."

Another issue he expects will be debated thoroughly is the increase in youth crime. "Youth crime is coming back. It's re-emerging," he said. "There is a growing concern about youth being out of control."

Runciman puts the blame for the upswing in youth crime squarely on the Liberals. "This government has a different view (of dealing with young offenders) than we did." he stated. "They took young offenders out of the corrections system and made them the responsibility of the children's ministry."

In particular, Runciman points to the closure of the "boot camp" for teen offenders is a reason for the increase in youth crime. "We felt rehabilitation and strict discipline were working," he said. "A lot of people are having issues with the current system."

He also points to ongoing debates about water legislation (Bill 170) and increases in hydro rates as issues which will be dealt with in 2005.

On a more local level, Runciman points to his opening of a constituency office in Kemptville (along with Leeds-Grenville MP Gord Brown) as another way he hopes to better serve local residents. "To my knowledge, it's the first time an office is being shared by a provincial MPP and a federal MP," he stated.

Give up smoking and a car might be yours

LEEDS AND GRENVILLE ­ Someone will win a Ford Mustang for butting out for at least a month.

The Quit Smoking 2005 Contest is open to Ontario residents 19 years of age or older who have smoked for at least one year. To be eligible to win, participants must remain smoke-free for at least a month beginning Feb. 1.

Each participant is required to have a non-smoking support buddy who can verify the other person has steered clear of cigarettes during the contest period.

In addition to the car, participants are also eligible to win one of seven regional prizes of Sony home theatre surround sound systems. The winners' non-smoking buddies will each receive $250.

The deadline to register is Jan. 31. For more information, visit www.quitsmokingontario.ca.

The contest is supported by the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.

Leave room for snow removal

SOUTH GRENVILLE ­ Vehicle owners are being reminded by the Grenville County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police to respect overnight parking rules and to avoid impeding snow removal equipment.

Cars and trucks parked on public roadways during overnight hours (midnight to 7 am in Prescott) are in violation of a municipal bylaw. Other urban areas have similar regulations in place.

Parked vehicles that block plows could end up being ticketed and towed.

Property owners are also being asked not to plow or shovel snow onto roadways.

Additional snow, slush or ice on road surfaces might make driving conditions even more hazardous than they already are, according to police.

Augusta office complex discussed

By Blake McKim, Journal Staff Writer

ROEBUCK - As Augusta township heads into 2005, Reeve John McCrea believes the municipality is in better shape than it was a year ago.

"Of course, I think we're better off (then at this point last year)" stated McCrea. He adds council returning to a committee format after utilizing a committee-of-the-whole format was a good move for 2004.

McCrea added concerns involving waste management and parks and recreation are getting dealt with sooner and with less contention then they were when council employed the committee-of-the-whole format. Council returned to the committee format early in 2004.

The budget for the township is another area McCrea thinks is a source of pride for the current council. "We've got the beginning of a pretty sound budgeting methodology," he said. "We've definitely tried to be open with the budget." McCrea added the public's involvement and input is important with budgeting as well.

For the upcoming year, McCrea expects several issues will become important for the township. Particularly significant is the possible reconstruction or renovation and enlargement of the current Augusta municipal offices in Maynard. "We're talking about a new office complex - one which has to be very energy efficient," stated McCrea. "We need a wired, energy-efficient building, one with offices and a possible health clinic," stated McCrea.

"There is some money available for energy-efficient buildings from the provincial government," said McCrea. He also said council has spoken informally about the possibility of new municipal offices over this past year, and he hopes serious discussion about the project will commence early in 2005.

Another matter which McCrea expects to be vital for Augusta residents over the next year is waste diversion. "We've got to deal with waste management," said McCrea, adding the township would like to see 60 per cent waste diversion at the North Augusta Landfill Site and the Maynard Transfer station a year from now. McCrea estimates the current diversion rate for the Augusta waste sites could be as high as 40 percent.

He explains waste diversion as a process in which everything which can be broken down organically (such as mulch) as well as items which can be recycled or reused are diverted from landfill sites.

In regards to tourism, McCrea points to the conditional approval of $10,000 for a cycling study by the Grenville Community Futures Development Corporation with monies from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund to determine the benefits of cycling-related tourism in the township.

He hopes January and February will offer a chance to develop a marketing plan to promote cycling in the region.

McCrea added the cooperation of other area local governments (Edwardsburgh/Cardinal and Prescott) is important to the study. He anticipates a baseline measurement of cycling tourism will take place in July, and hopes the study will finish by September. "We're shooting for the 150th anniversary of the Spencerville Fair," he said.

"We have to get tourism dollars here," stated McCrea. "We've got to get people to see the potential (of the township.)" He points to the township's natural landmarks such as the St. Lawrence River and Limerick Forest and the abundance of wildlife as selling points the township should promote.

In regards to local jobs, McCrea is optimistic about 2005. "I see the future of Augusta as attracting talented young people," he stated. In particular, he points to the October announcement of the Eastern Ontario Centre for Advanced Technology (EASTCAT), a business incubator at St. Lawrence College in Brockville, as being a positive way to jump start local business.

"With the incubator at St. Lawrence College, you'd better have 'eggs' in the incubator (if the program is to be successful)," McCrea opined.

Training board session set for Brockville this month

BROCKVILLE ­ The Lennox, Addington, Frontenac, Leeds and Grenville Training Board will conduct a community consultation meeting in Brockville this month.

The session is aimed at building on community partnerships and initiatives which address local workforce issues.

The Brockville meeting (which includes the South Grenville area) will be held Tuesday, Jan. 18 from 9 am to noon at the fire hall on Laurier Boulevard.

To confirm attendance (by Jan. 14) or for more information about the training board, call Sandra Wright at 382-7462 or visit www.workforcedev.ca.

Local training boards are non-government, non-profit corporations which try to create highly-skilled, competitive workforces in the communities they serve.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The people in this area are extremely generous."

Red Cross official Maureen Shellard, commenting on local response to Asian disaster relief efforts

Editor's Notebook

BEING A GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN: December proved to be somewhat eventful for some of the Prescott area's main industrial employers. On-site incidents go with the territory; the key is to manage the risks, protect the safety of workers and the rest of the public and give the community the courtesy of offering timely information in the event of a problem.

Based on recent events, we acknowledge Nitrochem for being a responsible neighbour and corporate citizen. Not long after the incident at its facility, the company issued a news release which actually contained details and answered some of the questions reporters tend to ask. When we called the company for follow-up information, our call was returned promptly (the boss had left for the holidays, so his designate was given the message to return the call) and our questions were answered with a thoroughness rarely seen in a so-called risky industry.

We wish other companies would take Nitrochem's lead and give reporters and the public the respect they deserve. We realize there are limits to the information we should expect from a private sector firm, but company officials must keep in mind the public will want and should be given answers when an incident affects a community. By making it difficult to obtain even a modest amount of detail about a significant occurrence, we are bound to make assumptions or jump to conclusions that might be avoided with just a little bit of straight talk.

Perhaps the timing and potential magnitude of the first incident had something to do with the manner in which news of the second and less significant incident at a nearby site was distributed. Whatever the reason, we give Nitrochem full marks for giving the community the respect it deserves. We hope other companies and organizations take notice.

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING: There is nothing we can add to what has already been said about the devastation caused by the tsunamis that swept across parts of southern Asia and the eastern edge of Africa Dec. 26.

The death toll continues to rise and is unlikely to be an accurate reflection of the number of people whose lives were washed away. As much as video from the region and articles depicting the disaster offer westerners some idea of the horror of the situation, it is still difficult to comprehend the extent of the damage and what it must be like to have to get on with life in the face of such destruction.

In practical terms, all we can do for now is encourage governments, companies, service clubs and individuals to do what they can to assist with the monumental task of helping the injured and the survivors who lost everything in the natural disaster and the rebuilding of countless communities in several countries.

Tim Ruhnke

As my friends get older, all thoughts turn to marriage

BLAKE'S TAKES BY Blake McKim

I never really got into sending Christmas cards. In spite of this fact, every year I seem to get several of them from dear friends who don't seem to mind the fact I never send any back.

In particular, this year I received a number of cards from friends from my university days who are planning to get married or have already gotten married recently.

Even though I am resigned to the fact that I, just like everyone else, am getting older, the announcement of marriage from my peers comes as a surprise. After all, these were the same people with whom I debated both the pros and cons of marriage a few years ago. At that time, the consensus seemed to be that marriage was a well-meaning but outmoded institution which really didn't make sense anymore. To formally attach yourself to another just seemed so...1950s.

It didn't help the fact that marriage has taken a beating for many years in this country. In past discussions with now-hitched or engaged friends, the high divorce rate was seen as one of the main reasons not to get married.

However, even as I've seen the opinions of my friends change, it seems the opinions of the Canadian population have changed as well. Starting in 2000, the divorce rate begun declining. According to information collected by the federal justice department, the divorce rate fell 3.2 per cent between 2000 and 2002. Perhaps this is just a minor blip which doesn't mean anything, or maybe it means that marriage is becoming fashionable again.

At the risk of being perceived as a wet blanket, I recently asked a soon-to-be-married friend why she had chosen to get married.

She was a bit taken aback, but then explained her marriage was a declaration of she and her fiancé's love, a statement of their commitment, and a chance for family and friends to celebrate with them. Good reasons, I suppose, but again it made me wonder why a relationship should require a public declaration of love and commitment.

Maybe I'm just overly cynical. In any case, I congratulated my friend and promised I would attend her wedding reception in 2005. Perhaps attending it will even make me want to get married myself. (Not bloody likely!)

* * *

While I'm on the topic of marriage, it seems the time has come for looking back over the important 2004 events which have shaped the news in Canada. Many people seem to think same-sex marriage is one of the most notable stories of 2004. But even though I have a vested interest in this topic and believe it's important from an equal-rights perspective, I question whether or not it's the most important issue of the year. Certainly, the water guidelines set out by Bill 170, the lamentable state of the beef farming industry, or even the flawed property assessment system in Ontario have loomed large in the last year. Perhaps these stories aren't quite as "sexy" or controversial, but I would argue they are every bit as important and might even affect a greater number of people than does same-sex marriage.

Bell to charge 25 cents for directory assistance calls: 1975

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Jan. 8, 1975

* Nearly 100 people attended what is believed to be Prescott's first New Year's Levee. The gathering took place at the library and was sponsored by the Grenville County Historical Society. The levee will become an annual event.

* The new Edwardsburg council was inaugurated and got down to business during a five-hour meeting. Reverend Sydney Oakwell of Spencerville United Church inducted and blessed the new council, which consists of Reeve Stewart Cook, Deputy Reeve Jim Irving and councillors Dean Cook, Art Woodland and Irwin Adams.

* Starting Jan. 12, Bell Canada will begin charging for directory assistance in the Prescott 925 exchange area. A 25-cent charge will be assessed for each operator-provided number that is listed in the phone book. The first three directory assistance requests from a residential phone each month will be free.

Jan. 3, 1985

* Prescott Mayor Sandra Lawn is cautiously optimistic the hotel proposed for Prescott's waterfront could become a reality in 1985.

The hotel could be tied in with Parks Canada's waterfront redevelopment plans and the proposal to build a day-use marina to the west of the former CPR property. A study conducted in 1984 indicated 325,000 tourists travel through Prescott each summer, but only about one-fifth of them are tempted off the road.

* Augusta Reeve Carl Polite, who will serve as warden of Leeds and Grenville in 1985, believes 1985 will be a good year for industrial growth.

"It will be hard to keep taxes low, but we'll try," he said.

* A greater percentage of drivers is becoming aware of programs designed to curb impaired driving and needless tragedy on the roads, according to Prescott Police Chief Matt Hayes.

The municipal police department checked 160 vehicles between Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. No impaired driving charges were laid; however, two 12-hour licence suspensions were issued.

One way to butcher the English language is to "verbify" a person

FROM THE OTHER SIDE by Jeffrey Morris

With the dawning of a new year, we can't help but marvel about how quickly the world around us has changed in the past 12 months.

Do I need a cell phone with countless options I can't figure out how to use?

Are we so impatient that we need faster high-speed connections?

Does my self-esteem need to be squashed when I get dusted by my eight-year-old in every video game we play? Does he not know and respect that in the 1980s I was Space Fighter Jeff, ruler of the arcade?

I just can't keep up with it all.

But while we talk about the technology we can't keep up with, the language is even harder to keep up with.

For example, a random press release arrived in the inbox announcing that the Merriam-Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year was "blog". A blogger is, obviously, one who blogs. For those of you that don't know the term, blog has nothing to do with what happens to your heart when you go off the Atkins Diet. Blog is short for weblog. A blog is an online journal that has become a tool for anybody with an e-mail address to become a website host. They have redefined communication and even journalism at many levels. The Dan Rather mess was unearthed by bloggers almost immediately. Mark Cuban, who owns the Dallas Mavericks, communicates daily with fans through his blog. Cuban made his billion-plus as a dot commer, which is also a new addition to this year's dictionary.

Looking at this release, I tried to think back over the year and try to recall all of the new words that were given regular rotation status in my vocabulary.

As many conversations start here, we will begin with Paris Hilton. She is America's "pre-achievement celebrity", a term describing someone famous though she has not done anything yet. You may have seen the famous "MPeg", which is also a new term in the dictionary this year, but we want to remain PG. If Paris Hilton were the party date of a gay man, she would be nothing but "arm candy".

Speaking of gays, the term "gaydar" also found its way into many conversations. A gaydar is one's ability to detect whether or not someone is "skating on the other side of the ice", which we heard a lot as a Canadian term for someone who is gay. Being gay became very fashionable last year. Carson Kressley from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy has given us some verbal gems to go along with the fashion tips, such as "you're closet is so Trajikstan".

Gays are getting married now, which has some conservatives thinking that marriage has been cheapened and is no longer meaningful. Then again, the term "serial bride" worked its way into our vocabulary. I would think Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears, both notorious serial brides, have done more to harm the concept of marriage than two gay people ever could. By the way, J-Lo and Britney both had popular MP3s this year, and MP3 is a new term in the upcoming dictionary.

Kobe Bryant has brought attention to a lot of words. This year, to Kobe your boss or a co-worker would be to have him fired and run out of town. Last year, if you Kobied (allegedly), then you were in the dog hizzy (house) with your wife and had to buy her some bling bling (expensive jewelry). But bling bling, along with hoochie, crack ho and phat, were all 2003 words. Thank goodness we are way beyond that now.

One way I like to butcher the English language is to "verbify" a person.

For example, a girl would get kicked out of school if she Janet Jacksoned in the school play. Janet Jacksoning is inappropriate behaviour in public, unless you are out Flames Girling on the Red Mile in Calgary after a hockey game.

If your golf game has "Tiger Woodsed", that would mean that you just got married, lost your touch, developed a hitch, and added five strokes to your handicap. Like my pal Steve Czaban on Fox Sports Radio says, no man has ever announced that his golf game has improved after getting married.

Any goalie who melts down, especially in a Game 7 against the Leafs, will have Patrick Lalimed his team out of the playoffs. As a Sens fan, I'm still bitter about that. No, I'm more than bitter. I'm Al Gored.

Don't make the common mistake of confusing a meltdown with choking. Lalime only let down Sens fans, but he didn't Perdita Felicien the hopes of the entire country.

That was probably a very inappropriate and ignorant thing for me to say. I didn't mean to Carolyn Parrish you.

And as for that faster Internet connection? Well, you'll be glad to know that DSL (Digital Service Line) is also being added to the 2005 Oxford dictionary.

Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to look for a sponsor for this column who will grossly overpay me for little or no work. Do you know anyone who might Chrétien-up?

Or maybe I'll just start a blog. You know, there are still some people out there who do not know what a blog is. They are so 15 minutes ago.

SCHOOL SCENE

Algonquin Public School: From artwork to musical finesse and a flair for the dramatic, Algonquin students impress audiences with their talents.

At the seniors Christmas luncheon, Nate Livingstone provided piano accompaniment for the singing of favourite Christmas carols.

At our Christmas celebration, grade 4/5 students eagerly accepted Mrs. Palmer's challenge to take lead roles as stage crew and production assistants. Working together, they provided support for masters of ceremony, Laura Laviolette and Cody Knapp. Kindergarten students performed Dear Old Santa, the grade 1/2s sang I Like Christmas and Jingle Bell Rock and the grade 2/3s sang The Little Drummer Boy. Under the direction of Ms. Grenkie, the grade 4/5 class treated parents to a skit called A Christmas Teddy Bear, and the grade 3/4 class performed its rendition of an old-time favourite, The Night Before Christmas.

Continued next week

Boundary Street Public School: Happy New Year!

Grades 5 & 6 will be participating in the École de Neige program this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge members of the community for supporting the gift basket raffle for this activity. The draw was held Dec. 17, and the two lucky winters were Ms. Marlene Myers of Prescott and Mrs. Marion McDougall of Brockville. Congratulations!

The health unit staff will be here Thursday, Jan. 6 to provide hepatitis B shots. Permission letters and information went home at the beginning of the week.

Mr. Johnston will accompany five of our grade 7 & 8 students to a puppet-making workshop in Kemptville Monday, Jan. 10, which is used to support character education.

There will be no pogos served this Wednesday. Hot lunch on Friday will be subs.

Maynard and Maitland Public Schools: Happy New Year to our students, staff and parents. As we look back at the many activities which took place before the Christmas holidays, we appreciate the support demonstrated by our parent community.

At Maitland, several parents take part in "Cupcake Tuesday" each month. Parents take turns baking cupcakes which the children then purchase. The children certainly look forward to their monthly treat. In December, the cupcakes were replaced with gingerbread cookies deliciously prepared by parent, Mrs. Phillips.

At Maynard, parents Mrs. Kippax, Mrs. Sargeant and Ms. Findlay, with the assistance of several parent helpers, have carried on the tradition of our Christmas Gift Shop. This shopping service to our children is stocked and managed by our parent "elves." Students were able to purchase gifts for their favourite people at very reasonable prices.

Research about what makes schools effective identifies parent involvement as a key characteristic. We appreciate our parents at Maynard and Maitland for their involvement!

Food bank operates two locations

PRESCOTT ­ Residents of Prescott, Augusta and Edwardsburgh/Cardinal are eligible to receive the services of the Food For All Food Bank.

The food bank's main location is on Henry Street across from the Prescott Legion. The Henry Street site is open to the public Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

The food bank also has a satellite office in the Cardinal library building on County Road 2. This office is open to the public Mondays from noon to 4 pm.

Food For All is a non-profit charity founded in 2002 and run by a volunteer board of directors representing the three local municipalities. For more information, call 925-2444.

New things are in the works for 2005

WALKER HOUSE NEWS BY MARNIE LIPPIATT

It's good to be back and have all the groups up and running. Our hours are 8 am to 4 pm Monday to Thursday and 8 am to noon Friday.

We have new things planned for this year, so come and spend some of the long winter days or evenings with us.

Board members are reminded of their meeting Jan. 10 at 10:30 am.

We have called our annual meeting for Jan. 21. We hope to have a short meeting at 11 am to discuss the various uses of Walker House. All members are encouraged to come and participate. Since the programs will reflect your interests, it is necessary to put forward your suggestions. If you prefer, you can present written requests and ideas at the office preceding the meeting. Following the meeting, we will have a pot-luck lunch and those who wish can stay for the afternoon to visit.

Monday afternoon bridge ­ 1st, Betty Morris; 2nd, Joyce Nesbitt; door; Findlay Hill. Fun bridge ­ Delia Seeley.

A lot of pleasant surprises in 2004, according to mayor

By David Dickenson, Journal Staff Writer

SPENCERVILLE - The last year has been seen as a learning experience, according to Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Mayor Peggy Taylor.

The mayor indicated 2004 was a good year for the township, which was marked by a number of accomplishments.

Taylor explained some of the township's biggest accomplishments came from collaborations with groups in the community which were trying to secure funding.

"It's been a pretty steep learning curve," explained Taylor. "There have been a lot of pleasant surprises. There's really been a some good things we've accomplished which could lead to bigger things later on. We did well working with groups like SERA (South Edwardsburgh Recreation Association), the South Grenville Economic Development Committee and the Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Business Association, helping them with their application for funding for its downtown revitalization program. There has been a lot of information flow back and forth between council and the groups and we hope to continue to work with them all to help continue to lay groundwork for the future to try and help bring in industry."

Taylor indicated despite the positives of the year, things for council started at a bit of a snail's pace.

"I think we got off to a bit of a slow start last year with our new committee system," said Taylor. "It was a bit of an eye opener, where I learned what was already in place was best. It was something I felt we had to try and it didn't cost us anything."

The mayor said she expects many of the same issues faced in the past year to once again pop up at the council table including clean water issues and "Spaghetti Junction" (intersection of Bridge, Lewis and Dundas streets in Cardinal).

"Issues surrounding clean water will always be there and be a costly issue," said Taylor. "We're going to have to continue to do whatever we can to make sure it doesn't put a crimp on taxes to residents."

Taylor added, "From what we've heard from the counties, Spaghetti Junction won't be done in 2005, but it will hopefully in 2006. The counties has applied for work to be done on the Spencerville Bridge in 2005 and it's a pretty extensive project. They are well aware the Spaghetti Junction has to be done and they want it to be done right. They have talked about having a public meeting in the new year, before any decisions are made, where all options will be there for the public to see."

Taylor indicated the next year shouldn't be much different than the last.

"Every year is a belt-tightening year, said Taylor. "We're not a city and don't have a large population and can't afford to waste dollars. We'll have to continue to work at reducing the amount of money spent and do what we can to keep rates down."

Taylor indicated she isn't too sure of how she is being received by the residents of the township, but indicated she's just focused on trying to do what she can for the municipality.

"I haven't really thought about it," said Taylor. "We've had a lot of challenges and I'm doing the best I can and our staff has been a big help to us and is doing a great job. If I'm not doing a good job, then I guess it will show in a couple years time."

Firefighters respond to blaze in Brouseville Road home

BROUSEVILLE - Edwardsburgh/Cardinal firefighters responded to a fire call at 11:30 am last Wednesday at 2314 Brouseville Rd.

More than 20 firefighters from stations 1 and 2 in Spencerville and Cardinal were at the scene to battle a small house fire which caused some damage to the home.

Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Fire Chief Jim Purcell indicated the fire started in the basement of the home and extended to the kitchen, which is where most of the damage occurred. Purcell added the rest of the house sustained smoke damage.

Firefighters were on the scene from 11:30 am until 1 pm.

The chief indicated no one was injured in the blaze and the homeowners were not home when their neighbours reported the blaze, but they arrived shortly before the fire department arrived.

Purcell indicated the cause of the fire had yet to be determined, but is not under investigation.

The chief could not provide an estimate of the cost of the damage.

Prescott #6 leads Seaway Interbranch Men's Dart League

CARDINAL - The Seaway Interbranch Men's Dart League has hit its mid-season point with Prescott #6 leading the standings with 124 points.

Prescott #6 posted a 124-41 record in the first half of the season and is out in first place by 30 points ahead of second place Prescott #1 with 94 points. Iroquois #5 with 91 points, Iroquois #3 with 73 points, Iroquois #7 with 70 points and Cardinal #4 with 60 points round out the standings.

The top five high finishers are; David Haynes, 138-102-93; Tim Gonczowski, 118; Bill Hutt, 100; Darren Tyo, 99 and Joel Adams, 92.

There have been five shooters to join the 180 club in the first half of the season: Haynes (3), Bob Juby (2), Jerry Carr, Tom Coville and Rick Sayeau.

Haynes is also tied for the lead in the top ten games won with Tom Rae with 42 apiece. Bernie Montroy sits in third place with 33, followed by Jeremy Adams, 29; Coville, 27; Juby, 22; Gonczowski, 21; Mark MacDonald, 20 and Randy Prophet and Carr, 19.

Montroy leads for the Tom Beach Memorial Trophy for bull finish with 82.

The top ten high scorers are, Haynes, 177, 140x11, 139, 137, 125x3, 123, 121x3, 120x2; Glen Adams, 174, 140x5, 125x2, 123x2, 121x2,120; Duane Kirker, 174, 140x3, 139, 125, 121; Jeremy Adams, 160, 140x5, 135, 125x2, 121, 120; Rae, 140x13, 137, 135, 133, 132, 130; MacDonald, 140x9, 120x3; Juby, 140x4, 139, 135, 134, 125, 123, 121; Coville, 140x4, 136, 125x2, 121x2; Sayeau, 140x3, 139, 135x2, 128, 125, 123x2, 121 and Hutt, 140x3, 139, 135x2, 127, 125x4.

Mixed dart tournament set to be hot stuff

CARDINAL - The Cardinal Mixed Dart League is preparing to host its Hot Stuff Dart Tournament at the end of the month.

The tournament is scheduled for Jan. 29, with registration beginning at noon and games starting at 1 pm. There is an entry fee.

The event is slated to be a fun event, which is involving local volunteer firefighters.

The dart league is looking for 20 teams, consisting of two women and one man, with a draw for the fourth member of the team from a pool of firefighters.

For more information or to pre-register a team, call Jeanne at 657-4558.

Club to meet

CARDINAL - The monthly meeting of the Cardinal Stamp Club will take place Wednesday, Jan. 19 at the Cardinal branch of the Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Public Library.

The meeting will start at 7 pm. Adults and children are welcome to attend.

For more information, contact John Dugan at 657-1081.

Some retailers say 2004 Christmas season was better than expected

SOUTH GRENVILLE ­ Businesses in the area are reporting a mixed bag when it comes to Christmas sales figures.

Some retailers and companies contacted by The Journal indicated they were faring better in the 2004 holiday season.

For Beach Home Hardware in Prescott, the 2004 Christmas season was better than the previous one.

"We're definitely up from last December," said store owner Lewis Beach. "We took a bit of a peak in early December, but it's been steady right through. I think people are getting more organized and there's not as much of a last minute rush as there used to be."

Beach indicated the weather had both helped them with the sales of snowblowers, but he also noted it was more of the specialty items which proved to be its bigger sellers.

"I would have to say it's been a lot of the TV type items, which are advertised as exclusively at Home Hardware," said Beach. "We sell a lot from our flyers."

For some retailers and providers of goods and services, the Christmas season represents a significant portion of the total revenue for the year.

According to the Stove Store in Spencerville, the Christmas season isn't really a strong sales period for the business, but the holiday season was busier than usual.

"Christmas isn't really a big selling season for us," said store owner Mel Shannon. "We usually get a bigger sales a month or two before Christmas to get things done for the holidays. Sales and installs have been a bit higher than usual, which means things are on an upswing which is a good thing."

Shannon indicated gas products have continued to be a big mover for them, as well as many of the low- to medium-range items.

As for one of the area's newest businesses, Liquidation World Manager Ron Hannaford reported the holiday season was very good. "Sales exceeded our expectations," he said.

Hannaford added interest in the store has remained constant since it opened on Edward Street in early December.

Networking guru to attend ad and sales club meeting Jan. 12

BROCKVILLE ­ The guru of networking in Canada will be featured at the January meeting of the Greater Brockville Ad and Sales Club.

Donna Messer is an author and speaker whose company, ConnectUs Canada Communications, was founded on the premise anyone can learn to network and get work; he or she just needs to find his or her own communication style.

The club's dinner meeting will take place next Wednesday, Jan. 12. Social hour starts at 5:30 pm; dinner is served at 6:30.

To attend, call Sandra Devaney at 342-7961, ext. 36, or Louise Severson at 498-2525 by Friday, Jan. 7.

New pastor at Shanliwood

EDWARDSBURGH ­ Shanliwood Community Church is marking the start of 2005 with a new beginning.

Jacques Côté is the new pastor at Shanliwood. It is with extreme pleasure the church family welcomes Côté and his wife Barbara, according to a release.

The inauguration of the new pastor will take place Sunday, Jan. 16 at 2:30 pm at the church on County Road 21 east of Spencerville. Worship services are held Sundays at 11 am.

CARDINAL LEGION

The Cardinal Legion will be a busy place in January with a wide variety of events.

On Saturday, Jan. 8, the Legion will play host to the Battle of the Sexes Dart Tournament. Registration will begin at noon, with games slated to start at 1 pm.

On Wednesday, Jan. 12, a VON foot care clinic will be held at 2 pm.

On Saturday, Jan. 15, there will be public euchre at the Legion beginning at 1:30 pm. There is a small fee to take part.

Every Wednesday evening, there will be Ladies Dart League play beginning at 7 pm. Public euchre will be held every Thursday evening at 7:30 pm.

Every Friday evening, there will be mixed dart league play beginning at 7:30 pm.

Jr. B Rangers extend regular season unbeaten streak to 14

CARDINAL - The South Grenville Jr. B Rangers continued to make their presence felt in the league as they extended their regular season unbeaten streak to 14 games after a pair of come-from-behind victories.

Last Wednesday, South Grenville got a bit of a wake-up call against the Amherstview Jets. The Rangers and Jets were tied 1-1 at the end of the first period, before Amherstview jumped ahead to take a 3-2 lead into the third.

After a bit of a pep talk from the coaches, South Grenville came out fired up in the third to score six third period goals to finish the game with an 8-4 victory.

Adam Lawrence led the Rangers with a pair of goals including the game winner, while Brandon Kelley, Alex Rees, Eric Selleck, Derek Rupert, Matt Bailey and affiliate player Braeden Miller added singles. Skyler Hoar (3), Peter Veltkamp (2), Rees (2), Julien Francis, Trevor Gilmer, Ben Bowden, Mark Williams and Ryan Sullivan added assists.

Rangers coach Rod Simmons indicated the team did a good job bouncing back from deficits but needs to get back to its philosophy of playing three periods of hockey.

"We came out strong and played a decent half period (against Amherstview)," said Simmons. "In the second we got a bit out worked in our defensive zone and then we had a talk with the boys and they came out hungry in the third. We need to get back on pack and back to playing our style."

Rangers forward Adam Lawrence added, "It was pretty much a lackluster second period for us, but we made the comeback in the third. We picked up our skating and shot the puck more and tried to take the play to them."

On Dec. 22, the Rangers were able to pull together after trailing Alexandria 3-1 late in the second period to pull out a dramatic overtime victory.

South Grenville managed to score with less than four minutes left in the third period to tie the score and send the game into overtime, while Adam Tousant played the role of hero - scoring with one second left in overtime to give South Grenville the 4-3 win.

Skyler Hoar, Derek Rupert and David Lun scored the other Ranger goals, while Matt Bailey (2), Eric Selleck, Mark Williams, Hoar, Andrew Fortier and Peter Veltkamp added assists.

At the Boxing Day tournament the Rangers had a strong outing advancing to the final, before falling in the finals 5-2 to the underdog host team Westport Rideaus.

The Rangers opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over the South Ottawa Canadians.

In the semi-final, South Grenville needed a shootout to advance to the final in a 3-2 win over the Kemptville 73's.

Goal scorers for the boxing day tournament were unavailable as of press time.

Lawrence was thrilled with the experience of the tournament.

"Overall, it was a good feeling to be there and to do something against those teams," said Lawrence. "We adjusted all the way through and our goaltenders played really well and held us in every game."

The Rangers sit in top spot in the Rideau Division with a 25-3-3-0 record for 53 points, seven points ahead of the second place Brockville Tikis. The Rangers also have two games in hand on the Tikis.

South Grenville's game scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 2 in North Frontenac was postponed due to poor weather conditions.

South Grenville will travel to Cornwall Island Thursday to take on the Akwesasne Wolves at 8 pm. The Rangers will then host the Picton Pirates Saturday at 7:15 pm at the Cardinal and District Community Centre. The Rangers also play on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 pm in Napanee.

RSL minor peewee AA Kings enjoy first international game

CARDINAL - As far as the youngsters were concerned it was Team Canada against Team Austria when the Rideau-St. Lawrence minor peewee Kings took on the Vienna Jr. Capitals last Tuesday at the Cardinal and District Community Centre.

The exhibition game was a great experience for the 10 and 11 year olds who have been watching the World Junior Hockey Championships with pride.

"It was fun," said Kings player Anthony McVeigh. "It was my first time playing a European team."

Kings teammate Lee Charlebois added, "We really felt like we were representing our country."

For the Austrians the experience was the start of a memorable trip to Canada, which would continue in the Bell Canada Cup in Ottawa.

"We're very excited to be here in our first time in a big hockey country like Canada," said team manager Bellina Cirtek. "The kids are very tired from the long trip, but really happy to be here."

Vienna goaltender David Kickert added, "It was a good experience. I think we're really learning a lot from playing Canadian teams."

While the score ended up a lopsided 10-1 victory for the Kings, the game was very well-played by both teams, ending penalty-free and full of plenty of goodwill and sportsmanship. Before the game, the teams exchanged gifts; the Kings gave maple syrup from Drummond's Sugar Bush, while the Austrians presented their Canadian counterparts with Austrian chocolate.

Both teams also enjoyed a social hour, as the Kings treated the Capitals families to dinner at the Cardinal Legion.

With all the kids enjoying the experience, the Kings and Capitals were each left in awe of what the other brought to the table.

"It was cool seeing how fast they can skate," said McVeigh. "They are really good stickhandlers."

Kings teammate Lee Charlebois added, "They have a very different style of play and they really move the puck better than most teams."

Kickert indicated his Austrian team really noticed a difference between the two teams.

"We did seem kind of like strangers here," said Kickert. "The rinks here are not as wide and are a bit longer, while their guys are a lot better conditioned and organized as a hockey team."

The Kings scored a 5-1 victory over Assabet/Concord, Massachusetts last Wednesday. Goal scorers were not available.

Members of the Kings include Richard Joudoin, Drew Lawson, Ben Hutton, Peter Klein-Swormink, Ronnie Harrison, Russell Hinch, Brett Costello, Tanner Benton, Josh Stubbings, Logan Giesbrecht, Ryan Scharze, Ryan Van Stralen, Clark Seymour, Jessie Brown, Jarrett Williams, McVeigh and Charlebois.

Prescott native making name for self in U.S. college hockey

By David Dickenson, Journal Staff Writer

PLATTSBURGH - Prescott native Jenn Clarke is poised for a breakout season in her junior year of women's hockey at Plattsburgh State University.

Clarke has made the most out of her college experience, playing hockey while also pulling off good grades as a childhood education major.

Last season at Plattsburgh, Clarke helped lead the team to a 19-4-2 record and a perfect 12-0-0 record in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West Division before losing to Elmira in the NCAA Division III Final Four championship game. Clarke was named to the second team all-conference following the season.

The former South Grenville District High School student has made a name for herself at the school in hockey. She currently sits third in career scoring at the school with 83 points in 51 games, with one year of eligibility left after this season. Last season she had 23 goals and 30 assists for 53 points.

Clarke has also gained the trust of both her coaches and teammates as she, along with senior Erin O'Brien, have been named co-captains of the Cardinals.

Clarke indicated the chance to further her education across the border was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.

"The opportunities across the border are a lot greater than they are at home," said Clarke. "I'm going to school and getting my degree while playing hockey and with the costs of school this was something I couldn't pass up."

Clarke noted her daily schedule is relatively hectic as she balances school and her obligations to the team.

"I would think hockey is a lot more competitive down there," said Clarke. "We get about 400-500 people a game, which is nothing compared to the men's team, but we'll take what we can get."

Clarke added, "Hockey is a big part of my life; I'm on the go every day and we have set study hours while on road trips. Also, the coaches set practices so we can schedule our classes around them. It can get pretty busy."

Plattsburgh State Coach and former Montreal Canadiens draft pick Kevin Houle indicated Clarke has been a key cog in the success of the club.

"This is her third year here and she's really been an impact player from day one," said Houle. "She's a two-year all-star, this is her second year as a captain and she's a team leader and one of the stronger players in the country."

Houle added, "Last year, our team made it to the national championships and we finished third and she was a very big part of that. She's a great young hockey player and also a great kid."

While at South Grenville, Clarke was an exemplary athlete, playing hockey for the Cornwall Typhoons, while also playing high school soccer, basketball and volleyball as well as winning junior and senior athlete of the year.

Clarke is the daughter of Ron and Anne Clarke.

Atom AA Kings have strong showing at Bell Capital Cup

OTTAWA - The Rideau-St. Lawrence atom AA Kings had a strong showing at the Bell Capital Cup last weekend in Ottawa.

In their opener, the Kings scored a 2-1 win over the Prince Edward Island Falcons. Slater Koekkoek and Chris Moss scored for the Kings, while Joey Sargeant and Koekkoek added assists.

In their second game, RSL had to settle for a 4-4 draw with the Chicago Young Americans. Sargeant had a pair of goals to lead the Kings, while Koekkoek and Tanner Casselman added singles. Koekkoek, Moss and Willy Fawcett chipped in with helpers.

In their third game, the Kings scored a 9-1 win over the Peterborough Nationals. Koekkoek scored six of the Kings goals, while Casselman netted a pair of goals and Adam Douma also scored. Fawcett (2), Casselman, Koekkoek, Sargeant, Spencer Lee and Cal Laforty added assists.

In their fourth game, RSL scored a 1-0 win over the North Jersey Avalanche. Koekkoek scored the game's lone goal, while Laforty chipped in a helper.

With the win, the Kings advanced to the AA quarter-finals but then dropped a 7-2 decision to the Littleton Hawks (Colorado). Koekkoek and Douma scored for RSL, while Koekkoek added an assist.

The Kings scored a 7-1 regular season victory over the Ottawa Sting Dec. 21 in Cardinal. Koekkoek had a hat trick to lead the Kings, while Laforty (2), Sargeant and Casselman also scored in the win.

Peewee Rangers #1 scores pair of victories

CARDINAL - The South Grenville peewee B Rangers #1 played host to Clayton (TIYH) Dec. 13 in Cardinal and came away with a 4-3 victory.

Michael Lawless and Sean Perrin each scored a pair of goals for South Grenville in the win. Pat Froom, Cory Robertson, Hunter McCarroll and Perrin chipped in with helpers.

Jacob Scott and Dustin Kester shared netminding duties for the Rangers.

On Dec. 29, the Rangers travelled across the border and scored a 10-1 win over Clayton. Perrin and Lawless led all scorers with a hat trick apiece,
followed by Froom, Dustin Miller, Josh Mintz and Taylor Garswood with singles. Mintz (4), Perrin (3), Miller (2), Garswood, Lawless, McCarroll and Colman Colpitts added assists.

Locals in Sr. all-star game

BELLEVILLE - Two South Grenville hockey players were named to the Eastern Ontario Senior A Hockey League All-Star Game Dec. 29 in Belleville.

Kevin Spero and Tyler Dukelow were named to the all-star game, while former St. Lawrence Falcons teammate Jason Hawkins was also named to the squad.

Spero, Dukelow and Hawkins all play for the Kingston Aces along with nine other players who were on the St. Lawrence Falcons Sr. A hockey team roster last season. The Falcons took a one-year leave of absence from the league.

SG peewee Rangers win B title of Char-Lan tournament

WILLIAMSTOWN - The South Grenville peewee B Rangers had a strong holiday season capturing the B championship of the Char Lan tournament Dec. 20 in Williamstown.

In the final, the Rangers
needed a sudden death overtime period to capture the B
championship. Lucas Stitt proved to be the hero as
he scored with 2:11 left in the frame to give South Grenville the 3-2 win. O.J. Knol and Trent Corney scored the other Rangers goals, while Quinton Selleck (2) and Scott Stephenson added assists.

In their opener, the Rangers skated to a 2-0 victory over the Alexandria Glens. Robbie Deeks and Knol scored for South Grenville, while Dylan Render, Zach Temple and Selleck added assists.

In their second game, South Grenville dropped a 2-1 decision to Potsdam. Cameron Symington scored the Rangers' lone goal, while Deeks and Selleck had helpers.

The goaltending tandem of Mason Williams and Mitchell Grant was strong throughout the tournament.

On Dec. 14, the Rangers scored a 4-0 regular season victory over Alexandria. Render scored a pair of goals to lead South Grenville, while Knol and Symington added singles. Jacob Hayes, Temple, Deeks and Selleck chipped in with helpers.

Peewee Rangers #2 capture pair of titles in holiday tournaments

LONG SAULT - The South Grenville Rangers peewee B house league team #2 had a successful month of December capturing the A and B championships in consecutive tournaments.

On Dec. 30 the Rangers #2 travelled to Long Sault and came away with the A championship after three hard-fought games.

In their opener, the Rangers needed overtime and a shootout to break a 2-2 tie with the Alexandria Glens. Cody Patenaude and Rik Champagne scored for the Rangers in regulation, while Cory Wilson, Mike Morrell and Champagne scored in the shootout.

The Rangers continued their tough play with a 3-2 victory over the North Dundas Demons in its second game. Danny Calhoun, Wilson and Patenaude scored for South Grenville. Sam Contant, Ian King and Calhoun added assists.

In the championship game, the Rangers #2 scored a 3-1 victory over arch rivals South Grenville #1. Wilson scored a pair of goals for South Grenville #2, while Shane McGuire added a single. Champagne, Morrell and Tim Kippax added assists. Sean Perrin scored South Grenville #1's lone goal.

On Dec. 11-12, South Grenville #1 travelled to Winchester and came home as B champion of the North Dundas peewee B house league tournament.

In their opener, the Rangers scored an 11-1 over Osgoode-Rideau. Patenaude scored four goals to lead South Grenville, followed by Wilson with a hat trick, King with a pair and Morell and Champagne with singles. Sydney Wehmeyer (4), Morell (2), McGuire, King, Champagne and Calhoun added assists.

In their second game, South Grenville had to settle for a 2-2 draw with the Char-Lan Rebels. Patenaude and Wilson each had a goal and assist in the draw.

A points format was used, putting the Rangers in the B championship against the South Stormont Selects. South Grenville outlasted the Selects 6-3 in the B final to come home with hardware. King and Morell each scored a pair of goals to lead the Rangers, while Champagne and Wilson added singles. Patenaude (3), Champagne, Morell, Wilson and McGuire chipped in with helpers.

Novice Rangers score victory at Corel Centre

KANATA - The South Grenville novice B Rangers got the thrill of a lifetime as they travelled to Kanata Dec. 20 to play an exhibition game at the Corel Centre.

The Rangers scored a 7-3 victory over Long Sault in the game, with David Armstrong playing a strong game in goal for South Grenville.

Tayler Mason and Tyson Kirkby led the Rangers with a pair of goals each, while Cameron Smith, Zachary Shankar and John Lawless added singles. Payden Selleck and Mason chipped in with helpers.

SG atoms shut out North Leeds

PRESCOTT - The South Grenville atom B Rangers continued
their strong play on the season with a 7-0 shutout over the North Leeds Stars Dec. 21 at the Leo Boivin Community Centre.

Nathan Peters and Devin Eaton shared netminding duties in the shutout, while Dylan Dorey (2), Matt Courtney (2), Brett Van Stralen (2) and Broyden Stufko scored for the Rangers. Houston Bujacz (3), Cody Adams (2), Nathan Hamilton, Dorey and Stufko chipped in with helpers.

The Rangers scored a 5-2 win over the Kingston City Cougars Dec. 16 in Prescott.

Dorey scored a pair of goals to lead the Rangers, while Bujacz, Alex Stephenson and Stufko added singles. Van Stralen (3), Stufko (2), Matt Courtney, Adams and Nathan Hamilton added assists.

Prescott Karate Club starting new session Jan. 10

PRESCOTT - The Prescott Karate Club will be running its next session from Jan. 10 until Mar. 28.

The sessions run Monday nights at Gym C of South Grenville District High School and feature introduction to karate/street proofing and youth/adult classes.

The club has been around since 1994 and is run by Sensei Jim Riddell, who has more than 23 years of martial arts experience.

For more information contact Riddell at (613) 534-2042.

Early lacrosse league registration scheduled for Jan. 15

BROCKVILLE - The Brockville Lacrosse Association, which is open to children from South Grenville, will be holding its early registration period Saturday, Jan. 15 at the Brockville Youth Arena.

The session will run from 9 am until noon with early bird draw prizes of free registration, a lacrosse stick and a sweat shirt.

Those wishing to register their kids are asked to bring their child's birth certificate and health card numbers.

For more information on the association or its registration session, call 345-0853 or visit www.brockvillelacrosse.com.

Women's rec volleyball looking for players for second season

PRESCOTT - The women's recreation volleyball league is beginning its new season Jan. 11.

The league is open to women over the age of 18. For more information, contact Suzanne McCurdy at 925-5102.

100% Nutrition Soccer League Standings

Team G W L T SW SL PTS

Leeds 12 9 1 0 1 1 30

Celtic 12 9 3 0 0 0 27

Real Madrid 12 8 3 1 0 0 25

Ajax 12 7 3 0 1 1 24

Chelsea 12 4 4 1 1 2 17

Bayern Munich 12 3 8 0 1 0 11

Manchester 12 2 10 0 0 0 6

Arsenal 12 1 11 0 0 0 3

Leading Scorers

Player Team G A PTS

Tim Sawyer Ajax 44 7 51

Danny Powers Real Madrid 32 18 50

Matt Speck Celtic 26 21 47

Mike O'Neil Leeds 32 12 44

Shamus Geraghty Celtic 20 18 38

Victor Totenkov Chelsea 27 10 37

Brian Gall Manchester 27 9 36

Josh Vanasseldonk Chelsea 20 16 36

Elijah Finley Leeds 21 14 35

Wade Mooney Real Madrid 18 17 35

All content is copyright 2004 The Prescott Journal. No reproduction permitted without written permission.