From The Publisher August 1. 2013 will mark the 1st anniversary of the printed edition of YOUR KnowBrockville and baby we have come a long way! KnowBrockville is the most recognized media name is the area and we owe that to the tremendous success of our social media marketing on Facebook. Although now competitors are trying to convince readers that Facebook is not a good marketing tool but we have to remember where these thoughts are coming from, someone with only around 3000 followers whereas KnowBrockville has grown to over 7200 followers in our first year. So folks Social Media marketing and in particular Facebook marketing is not only effective but it is growing each and every day! We have had many great partnerships over the past year and a few we are sorry we even invested time and money in. Domino’s Pizza Brockville have been one board with us from Day 1 providing pizzas as contest prizes and we appreciate it all Rob and Trevor. I would also like to thank Box Office Entertainment they have been with us now for a while also providing FREE prizes for contests, thanks Kristen and your team. From Day 1 I have been fully involved with my business and a short time ago I had someone commend me on signing my name is my newspaper as publisher. Why shouldn’t I? This is my baby and I intend on KnowBrockville being around a very long time! Recently we started a great partnership with the Brockville Farmers’ Market and it was not until this partnership that I actually realized the importance of buying local. KnowBrockville is the only 100% locally owned media outlet and we support the local economy just as all the great local vendors at the Farmers’ Market. Each and every vendor at the Farmers’ earn their income from the sales they receive. Therefore, when you make a purchase at the Farmers’ Market you are helping local producers immediately! KnowBrockville visits as many local events as possible which is hard because we do have a limited staff but we do all best to bring you Brockville events. We are always open to having our readers submit photos of local events. Feel free to email any event photos that you have taken. And although I may not make it to all events I know I am trying and I do not have to share photos with other media outlets. KnowBrockville brings our readers what we see in our eyes. I am proud all the content we bring you is our own content and we do not find a need to share others just to get ahead. We are a truly locally owned media that stands on it’s own!
Emergency Services Day July 6th at Brockville Farmers’ Market
KNOWBROCKVILLE Be In The Know Brockville with KNOWBROCKVILLE Founded May 2012 by Tim Sharpe Publisher/Designer Tim Sharpe Web/Social Media Manager Tim Sharpe Brockville Ad Sales Tim Sharpe 613-803-0822 Photographer Don Corneill How To Contact Us Telephone: 613-803-0822 Email contact@knowbrockville.com Facebook facebook.com/KnowBrockvilleExpress KNOWBROCKVILLE is published monthly by Just One Man Media and is distributed through various locations such as libraries, corner stores, restaurants for FREE! The contents of this publication, website and Social Media accounts are protected by copyright. Reproduction of this publication in whole or in part without prior written permission of Just One Man Media is prohibited! KnowBrockville is an independent publication and in not affiliated with, partnered with nor funded by any corporation or public interest group! Letters and submissions are most welcomed and even encouraged! This is your community newspaper devoted to celebrating the stories, lives and events of the folks that live in the Brockville area. Get involved! Let us know what is happening in and around the Brockville area.
On Saturday July 6th the Brockville YMCA held their Car Wash and BBQ to support their Strong Kids Campaign. Snapped in this photo is (right to left) Ashley, Carlee, Jamie, Bridget, Willy, Steve, Tina, Carolyn and Christina and they are all part of the Childcare and Facilities crew at the Brockville YMCA!
St. John’s United Church held their Annual Summer Yard Sale on Saturday July 6th. They raised a total of $1,100.00. Snapped in this photo are these beautiful ladies (right to left) Rosemarie Dow, Jane Dargie, Jennifer Cullen, Cheryl Johnston and Joan Miller.
The Pink Bus Tour stopped for a visit at the Brockville Farmers’ Market on Saturday July 6th. The ladies took time out of their busy schedule to have a photo snapped by YOUR KnowBrockville. From left to right is Rennu, Leyla, Margaret, Carolyn (Owner of Shoppers Drugmart on King Street), Sandra, Joan and Sarpreet. Keep up the good work girls!
Shell Canada Donates $10,000 to Brockville and Area Food Bank Operation Harvest Sharing Capital Campaign! Snapped in this photo is Myra Garvin - Co-Chair Brockville and Area Food Bank Board, Deb Major - Plant Manager Brockville Shell Canada, Catherine Deplaedt - Chair Capital Campaign Growing Bigger to Give Better and Brockville and Area Food Bank Board of Director, Gordon Day - Shell Canada Brockville Plant, JoAnne Sytsma - Co-Chari Brockville and Area Food Bank Board, Ken Lacey - Treasurer Brockville and Area Food Bank. Photo provided by Andrew Kizell of Andrew Kizell Photography
$75,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant Supports Making Play Possible. Pictured are, from the left, front row: MPP Clark, OTF representative Gordon Munroe, Making Play Possible sustainability contractor Elizabeth Green and Kevin Kapler, executive director for Children’s Mental Health of Leeds and Grenville. Back row: Making Play Possible recreation committee co-chair Krista Gill, Every Kid In Our Communities co-chair Jane Hess, Making Play Possible program co-ordinator Sue Kennedy, and Making Play Possible recreation committee co-chair Catherine Deplaedt.
Pike for a Fight Raises $1000 for Palliative Care. A pike fishing tournament in memory of Dawn Herbison recently raised over $1000 for local palliative care. Organized by Herbison’s nephew Kyle Jensen, the Pike for a Fight tournament attracted almost 90 participants and enjoyed the sponsorship of 19 local businesses and individuals. The Pike for a Fight was so successful that Jensen is considering making it an annual event. First place winner was Rick Fisher with a pike weighing six pounds, nine ounces.
Sears Brockville celebrated Canada Day Early on June 26th with their 1st Annual “Get Out of Town” Customer Appreciation Canada Day Event They had light refreshments, complimentary mini manicures featuring our favorite summer colors. They also offered 2 minute touch ups and...with your purchase of cosmetics of 45.00 or more receive a free gift! Snapped in this photo are the girls of the cosmetics department - in the back is Brenda, Stepheny, Tracey and in front Kristin and Tracy!
Contributors in This Issue Don Corneil Photographer
Wine Column Louis Gaal - Blue Gypsy Wines Hidden Homeless Leigh Bursey
Barbecuing
Shanna DaSilva Cover Photo Sweetwater Homes Bid $250 for the privilege of having the cover photo, 100% of these bid will be donated to Leeds Grenville Interval House
Pictured here with his catch of the day is Kyle Jensen.
When I was in high school I took a photography course. It was basic black and white film you developed in a dark room. It didn’t start out as a love of art. I was told that my projects didn’t grasp the concept of the assignments and that my photos lacked definition and depth. Needless to say criticisms can really hit home when your a teenager and I thought that photography was worthless for anything other than baby pictures and birthdays. I remember years later picking up a magazine called Juxtapose. It’s an art magazine that features more of an urban vibe. There was a specific issue that featured street photographers and it taught me to not look at a subject dead on but to look and get a sense of the emotions that subject can portray. They blew my creative mind. I went out an bought my first digital SLR from Nikon and got started. I took a small course at St. Lawrence College taught by Karen Atcheson just to help discover my camera and it elements. It was nice to have other people to bounce ideas and concepts off of and Karen really showed me how to focus better on my subjects and to take a picture with my mind before looking through my lens. I love what I do and sometimes all you need is a dream and a creative outlet. That’s what photography does for me. So to other amateur photographers like myself dream big, there’s no telling where we’ll end up. Dani McKenna https://www.facebook.com/dimphotos
LOCAL RESIDENTS SHINE AT VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS CEREMONIES. Volunteers from every corner of Leeds-Grenville were front and centre at the province’s Volunteer Service Awards ceremonies held here over three nights last week. Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark was in attendance for all three nights to personally congratulate each of the recipients, a remarkable group of citizens who ranged in age from their pre-teens to their 90s.
Justin Hines a Canadian singer-songwriter who has a rare genetic joint condition called Larsen’s Syndrome. Justin has brought his “Vehicle of Change” to Brockville June 22. Justin is giving a “Free Will Offering” in support of Wall Street Missions. This is Justin’s chance to give back to his fans and help contribute to amazing charities with 100% of the funds raised going back to the charity. Justin is pictured here with I-Zah Davis.
One of the great artists participating in Art In The City Brockville 2013 was Aleatha Aiken-Sherrer. Aleatha’s work was on display and for sale at the Artistic Hair Gallery at 47 Broad Street in Brockville! There were many other artists on showcase during the tour including artists featured at the Brockville Museum.
Russell the Brockville owner/manager of Brockville’s Giant Tiger donated all the supplies that were need for a fundraising BBQ in support of Leeds Grenville Interval House on June 22. They were selling Hot Dogs, Chips and a Drink for only $2.00 and all funds are going to support the women’s shelter and all the great work they do. Snapped in this photo is Tammy, Noah, Kimberly and Dan.
The contestants 0f the Chartwell’s Senior Star 2013 competition which was held on June 20th were eager to get their photo taken by KnowBrockville prior to the start of the action. Nine contestants total competed. The top two performers will have a chance to compete in Chartwell’s National Senior Star and receive an all expenses trip to Niagara Falls where they will compete for the Grand Prize of $5,000. Snapped in this photo is (l-r) Harold Godwin, Sandra Hanna, David Dawson, Helen Latimer-Hanah, Len Goldfarb, Bill Claire, Tony Davy and Barry Greene. It was a great show to watch!
On July 7th the Brockville Braves Little League Minor Rep “A” Team came in first place in the Dave Hone Memorial Tournament this weekend hosted by Brockville and played at Brackenreid.
Brockville: Spectrum Brands Canada Brockville recently donated over $200.00 to the Brockville Cardiovascular Program (BCP) based at Brockville General Hospital. The staff held a barbeque and a raffle to raise funds for charity, and the BCP was one of the recipients of the donations.Presenting the donation are (l - r) Spectrum staff Linda Laushway and Nicole Kelly to BCP staff Helen Ostap and Jason Lafave.
McIntosh Road, hhis home has 3 spacious bedrooms, formal dining area, spacious and light family room. Basement is completely finished with kitchenette, bath, bedroom and rec room. Will not last. Private. Interlocking driveway. Mature trees and perennial beds. MLS # 875587 Price $279,900.
PRESCOTT 953 Massie Dr. Family bungalow on quiet road in Prescott. Thinking about summer? Inground pool. Completely finished basement. 2+1 Bedrooms, 2 Full Bath. Adjacent to Park area. Close to schools and shopping. 45 Minutes to Ottawa. MLS # 862154
IROQUOIS 10369 Hainsville Rd. Open Concept, Lofted 2nd Floor. Designer Kitchen. Large rural setting. Private. A FRAME Guildcrest still under Tarion Warranty. Balcony and Porch. Large Balcony from 2nd Floor Bedroom. 2 Full Baths. Main Floor Laundry. MLS # 850970
PRESCOTT 545 Duke Street. Quiet Neighbourhood, walking distance to all amenities, included Fort Wellington, arenas, and the Prescott Golf Club. Want a lovely bungalow? This back split is deceiving in size. 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bath. CALL for your private showing NOW. MLS # 861642
2 Bedroom Condo in PRESCOTT PLACE. WATERFRONT. $179,900. Enjoy the St. Lawrence river from this lovely condominium. All new kitchen, flooring, paint and bath. Plenty of storage. Common Room, and Laundry. Low Maintenance Fees include Water. MLS #87406
Century Farmhouse, Fully renovated. MLS #866996 Price $149000. On well travelled road, 2 bedroom farmhouse, with 25 acres of mixed wood. Hobby Farm? Horses? Small farm? ATV? Call me, will not last.
BRINSTON Henderson Rd. Large Corner lot with stately century home. Beautifully renovated, with all open concept main floor living area. Kitchen has lovely finishes. Bath is large with Sunken Claw Tub, Large Shower stall, and double antique vanity. Balcony and Front Porch. MLS # 864611
PRESCOTT Mackenzie Rd. SEMI -Detached NOW ready for Occupancy. Mapleview Homes presents the WATERFORD. 2 Bedroom, Main Floor Laundry. Woodlands Subdivision. Prescott. Deep Lot. Minutes and walking distance to shopping and all amenities. Call us. OPEN for SHOWINGS DAILY 11-4 pm. MLS # 854829 & 854809
PRESCOTT 3716 County Rd 2 Rd NEW WEXFORD. You can’t get more privacy than this. Large yard with entry onto back road. Mature trees. Detached garage. CENTURY HOME believed to be limestone. 5 Bedrooms. All original flooring, and embelishes.. Beside Golf Course. Irreplaceable. MLS # 845538
PRESCOTT 991 Mackenzie Rd. Large Semi Detached. NEW TO MARKET. 4 Bedrooms, Large Living area. Inground pool. Hot Tub. Fenced yard. 40 Minutes to Ottawa. Walking distance to all schools, and shopping. Perfect for growing family. MLS #871168
Wonderful established business franchise. Business only. Please inquire for more information. Purchase includes all fixtures, equipment, signage, office equipment and territory. MLS # 875587 Price $40,000.
PRESCOTT 919 Mackenzie Rd. Brick 2 Storey Semi Detached. Many renovations. Lovely finishing, and custom paint. 4 Bedroom, 1 Bath. Large backyard. Minutes to the #401 and the International Bridge. Walk to golf, water sports, gym, shopping, schools and churches. Not through road. MLS#871406
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On June 29th Mike Kelly and his quest to raise $25,000 in order for him to participate in a ride for Cancer across Canada in September stopped in at Sears Brockville. Sears is sponsoring Mike in this quest to raise funds to help fight Kids Cancer. Snapped in this photo with Mike is Gillian, Kristin, Mike Kelly, Jane (store manager) and Jaimie. There was also a great bbq plus other fund-raisers that included fresh made smoothies in the housewares department.
Village Voyces at Spencerville Mill On July 18th, Village Voyces from Spencerville are sponsoring an evening of Song and Music at The Spencerville Mill featuring themselves and four other performers. Village Voyces have been performing in the Spencerville and Brockville areas for a number of years. They are a cappella singers whose musical style features madrigals and other ancient musical styles. They have sung in Brockville before as part of the Chernobyl fund raising concerts. They are under the leadership of Sheila Fawcett. “The Riverside Singers have been performing in Brockville, for nearly 25 years. Their songs are primarily from Broadway show tunes but a few other genres are included for variety. They are currently under the direction of Brian Reid, with piano accompaniment by Patty Sugarman with Shirley Hellam skilfully turning the pages. In the second half of the show, The BOLDT dancers will join the Riverside Singers to provide a more visual presentation of the song “I Got Rhythm”. The BOLDT dancers are from Brockville and are under the leadership of Sam Crosby. Fine Tunin’ is a quartet featuring Dan Sunderland (lead), Ian Loughrey (baritone), Tom Hanson (bass) and Brian Reid (tenor). Their music features barbershop harmony with songs from the recent past as well as more familiar tunes. The members of Fine Tunin` were drawn from the former Melodymen Barbershop Chorus which had an illustrious life in Brockville. The quartet has been performing in the Brockville area for the last two years. The fourth group is Bella Borealis, another a cappella group featuring more modern songs. The group is lead by Leahbeth Hardy and is from the Spencerville area. Their quality in dealing with more modern music will add a variance to this musical evening that is bound to please audiences of all ages. Tickets are $10.00 each and can be purchased at the door. Seating is provided Doors open at 7:00 pm SEE YOU AT THE MILL. Submitted by Brian Reid and Ben Sugarman, The Riverside Singers “
1000 Islands Hydroplane Regatta
Bump up your bun Swap your white bun for specialty buns with different flavors such as onion or rosemary or substitute your bun for flat bread. No ordinary corn Time to spice up one of the easiest side-dishes to make - throw some corn on the barbie and add cheese such as Parmesan or feta cheese. If cheese isn’t your thing, chop up fresh herbs, garlic and mix with butter for a savory topping. Centerpiece No need to spend money on a centerpiece; fill up a metal bucket with ice or partially fill balloons with waTIPS FOR HOSTING YOUR NEXT BARBECUE The summer is upon us which means it is time to dust ter and freeze then add a few bottles of wine or chamoff our barbecues and enjoy outdoor feasts. I love pagne for a stylish centerpiece where your guests can hosting barbecues for friends and family with the treat themselves to a cool beverage of their choice. smell of delicious food wafting through the air as you relax by sipping on your favorite cold beverage. Many Pizza of you may put off hosting a gathering because, let’s It’s no longer just burgers and hot dogs we are serving face it, the pressure to host a unique and memorable these days - why not treat your guests to a grilled pizmeal can be overwhelming. Throw those insecurities za? Allow your guests to top their pizza just the way out the window by trying out a few tips I have learned they like it and I am sure this will be a crowd-pleaser for any age group. over the years to help spice up your next barbecue. Frozen fruit In lieu of your boring old ice cube added to your favorite beverage, enhance it by adding a few berries or mint leaves to your tray before freezing - this adds extra color and flavor. Add a topping station I love condiments and especially love when I attend a dinner where there is a wide array of this good stuff to choose from. Instead of your typical ketchup, mustard and relish combos expand your condiments by adding guacamole, BBQ sauces, salsa, hummus, tzatziki sauce, crumbled cheeses, crumbled bacon, hardboiled eggs and chopped veggies like onions and jalapeños to get your guests’ taste-buds watering. Pickled Veggies I love pickled veggies. Many think of pickles as mini cucumbers, but don’t be afraid to serve up pickled beets, carrots, cauliflower, onions and peppers. These unique flavors will add a punch to any barbecue palette. Burgers Many of us can vouch for automatically picking up ground beef to make our burgers with but it’s time to think outside the beef and try using turkey, lamb, salmon, tuna or chickpeas as your patties.
There you have it folks, a few simple ideas to change your ordinary barbecue into something extraordinary. I would love to hear what other readers are doing to add a little punch to their barbecue... Happy Grilling! Shanna DaSilva Blogger at www.inlovewiththesmallthings.com Follow on Twitter @thesmallblog Join me on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ inlovewiththesmallthings
Wining About The Weather Is it not amazing how the weather is timed perfectly to rain every weekend? A friend of mine in Real Estate responded to one of my Facebook (or Twitter) posts on our BlueGypsyWines site in which I went on about how it only seemed to rain on weekends. Her response was: “You think that’s bad, try holding an open house when it’s raining.” Having spoken to many in the tourist business this year, it seems that everyone is pretty tired of the rain. Driving to the winery, I can see the effect it has had on several fields along Highway 43. Acres of corn are struggling to survive in several inches of standing water. I’ve seen acreage that is completely bare because the seeds likely drowned.
Every problem is relevant. When I consider the issues these farmers are facing (to say nothing of the massive flooding in Calgary), I realize that a rainy day may impact my traffic, but at least people can still come out. Eventually, people will brave the rain and visit, right? On the subject of things that have gotten under my skin, for the first time ever, someone stole one of our A-Frame signs from the side of the road. I filed a police report, but I guess that the occurrence is so frequent and the value so ‘trivial’ that it simply doesn’t warrant much attention. Either way, a nice sign that cost us close to $100 and took 2 weeks to make is now gone and likely in someone’s basement. As bad as the weather has been, it seems to have been a boon to the strawberry growers as they say this is the best crop in quite a while. This is good because we make strawberry wine and use it as the base to our sangria. When faced with a growing inventory (read: not selling very fast) of strawberry wine, we decided to experiment with sangria recipes. Like a snowball, the sangria popularity grew until its sales were rivaling those of cranberry wine. In fact, we sell more sangria in July and August than we do cranberry. The light, fruity flavor comes from a combination of the Strawberry wine, cranberry juice, orange juice, lemonade, triple sec and rum. This unlikely combination produces a grapefruit-like flavor that is refreshing and dangerously easy to drink. The one downside is that it does not have a very long shelf life. The fruit juices we use begin fermenting after 6 or 7 weeks. As a result, we only make 10 cases at a time. his is an excellent patio drink. We prefer it chilled, served in a pitcher with frozen sliced fruit. At 10% alcohol, it is slightly less than most of our wines, but if you want to cut that down even further, you can add a carbonated lemon-lime soft drink to taste. So raise a glass and ask the weather gods to cut us all a little slack, at least during vacation time and weekends. May the adage “Into every life a LITTLE rain must fall” be interpreted literally. Have a safe summer and if you are looking for something to do, please Google “Ottawa Wineries”, get in the car and come visit. You may be amazed at what you find. Louis Gaal is the wine maker and husband to the ever-patient Claire Faguy (nominated twice for Sainthood after having been married to this man for 25 years). Together they run an off-grid fruit winery they call Blue Gypsy Wines in Oxford Mills, ON. Their wines are made using the most natural processes available, without the added sulphites. You can learn more about Blue Gypsy Wines by visiting their website www.BlueGypsyWines.com, or by checking them out on Facebook and Twitter.
Above Photo Supplied by The Salvation Army
Does Homelessness exist in our area? Written By Leigh Bursey
Leigh Bursey - 26 year old Brockville City Councillor, TVCogeco talk show host, and community advocate!
Recently, I was asked by the fine folks at KnowBrockville to provide my opinions on the current homeless shelter proposal that came before Brockville City Council just a few weeks back. I am grateful for this opportunity, and am happy to provide some background to the need for more affordable housing, and the need for poverty reduction safety-nets. The statistics on need in our country, and in our province are staggering. Many people in our community are living well beyond their means. And need is universal. Certain statistics tell us that our world spent ten times the amount to eradicate poverty worldwide, just on war alone. Other statistics reflect that nearly half of our American brethren are living in below the poverty line, while the richest one percent make more than the other 99% combined. Our province has the highest student debt load with one of the most unstable work forces for post-graduates. But we don’t have to look far and wide, and examine numbers that large to dissect human need existing in our city. All one has to do is watch the line-ups at the food bank, examine the waiting lists for affordable housing at the United Counties level, and challenge our own beliefs about why local poverty exists. What we have to remember is that social safety-nets are there to help people, not judge them. Hard times can happen to anyone! The best of us...and the strongest. So let’s put any misconceptions to bed. You are not less of a citizen if you are in need. You are just able to contribute less to our community....so let’s help you to get where you need to go. The less someone has to spend on housing, and the less someone has to worry about a warm bed, the more time they can spend on exploring career options, networking, parenting, building their resume’ and making a difference where they live.
First and foremost, I am a proponent of more affordable housing in our area, and across Canada. Affordable housing means contractors being put to work, students performing better at school, a reduction of wait times in our hospitals, and less money spent on court services. Housing costs are generally more economically viable than shelter costs. But the proposal in front of our council was for a volunteer run program through the Pier Christian Church. This is hardly the first time that the faith community has attempted to lend a much needed hand to the housing crisis, and I commend it. I wholeheartedly support this intention. When we reduce the structured operating costs of a facility like this, we make the project more financially viable for a community of our size, which does not have an easily defined need. Now, let’s try some role-playing. When you picture homelessness, what do you see? Do you see someone sleeping on the streets? Do you see someone in tattered clothes, hiding in a phone booth, sheltering themselves from the rain? We all know that stage of homelessness exists, but what about the recently divorced? What about those who fall through the cracks? What about those who face abuse, and need to leave their homestead? What about those who lose their home due to unforeseen circumstances? What about the couch surfers who come out of the closet, or have a falling out at home while in high school? Homelessness can happen to the best of us. Local statistics are hard to find, hard to quantify, and hard to prove. And anecdotal, circumstantial evidence is probably not enough for our community’s governing body to jump in with both feet with only a partial forecast. Is homelessness our council’s responsibility? Is solving this plight through social services not a provincially regulated issue? Does this not fall to the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville? Is a shelter the answer?
The fact is this proposal fell flat at council due to legitimate concerns and holes in the planning process. But that doesn’t mean we just give up. That doesn’t mean ignore this plight. That means go back to the drawing board, continue to formulate the conversation, and live to fight another day. What is important is this discussion continues, no matter whether the plan comes together overnight or not. If this shelter is established and does end up being underutilized, that is a great problem to have. What we have to remember is this is a problem that is already affecting people in our city, and surrounding areas too. Our local Interval House (which is mandated to serve abused women) often runs at 120% capacity, with all thirteen beds occupied. As long as there are 165,000 households on the affordable housing waiting list in Ontario, and as long as statistics tell us that food bank users in this province are spending over seventy percent of their income on housing alone, we have to be aware that this challenge will only grow. After all, our economy is not as strong it once was. I have outlined to you why I support this topic continuing to evolve, and why I am encouraged that this is in the public hemisphere and on our community’s radar. Let’s hope it stays that way. There is no simple solution to these problems, but I am grateful that there are community champions like those who put this proposal together. And I want to continually encourage our community’s leaders to educate themselves on the hidden faces of homelessness. After all, it could happen to you.
- If you’re traveling with food, pack raw meat separately from other foods to avoid contamination - Raw fruits and vegetables can cause problems if not properly washed and stored - Carry hand sanitizer to clean your hands before preparing food.
Seasonal safety tips for kids
The summer and fall are great for having outdoor fun with your kids, nieces and nephews or grandkids; but outdoor activities can also pose safety risks. According to Sherry Torkos, pharmacist and author of The Canadian Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, there are a few preventative tips to make this season a safe and fun one for the kids. Avoiding food poisoning: Food-borne illnesses peak during this time of year. This is because the hot, humid weather allows bacteria to thrive and outdoor refrigeration, cooking and washing facilities during picnics and cookouts, may not be ideal. Food-borne illness can resemble the flu: stomach pains, nausea, diarrhea and fever. Avoid food poisoning by following some simple guidelines: - Be sure food items that contain milk, eggs and meat aren’t kept at room temperature for more than an hour
Avoiding heat related illness: Prolonged exposure to high temperatures, direct sun and high humidity -- without sufficient rest and fluids-- can increase the likelihood of heat illness. Children are at a greater risk of heat-related illnesses compared adults. They also lose a lot of water through sweat. Symptoms of heat exhaustion can include: feeling thirsty, fatigue, dry lips and tongue and cramps. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke. Symptoms of heatstroke include: nausea and vomiting, seizures, disorientation, lack of sweating, shortness of breath and unconsciousness. To avoid heat illness, it is paramount that children drink water and stay hydrated when in the hot sun and doing outdoor activities. Carrying a 330 mL bottle of Nestlé Pure Life around throughout the day will prompt kids to drink up and help prevent dehydration. Avoiding sunburns: It is important that all children, regardless of skin type, wear sunscreen when outdoors. Apply a water-resistant sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays; don’t forget to apply to the lips, ears and back of neck. Re-apply sunscreen after
Saving a child’s life starts at home Just weeks after giving birth to a healthy baby boy, Shannon Bannenhad to test the limits of her courage to save him from losing his life. One April morning, seven-week-old Keegan started fussing and was struggling to breathe. Quick to act, Shannon told her husband to call 9-1-1. Then, within seconds, Keegan stopped breathing altogether and his heart stopped beating. “That’s when I started CPR on him.” Less than two minutes later, police arrived followed quickly by emergency personnel. Keegan survived after spending a month in intensive care. He was diagnosed with a virus that had shut down his lungs and stopped his heart. “We were so terrified we’d lose him that day.” Doctors told Shannon that performing CPR saved Keegan’s life. “He was never without oxygen as long as I was doing those CPR rescue breaths,” she says. “To look at him today, you’d never guess he experienced any trauma.” Shannon is happy to say he’s a very healthy little boy. CPR at home. Learning CPR takes very little time and can save a life. The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s new Infant CPR Anytime kit contains a DVD that follows a step-by-step process on a mannequin. In just 20 minutes you can learn the basic skills of infant CPR plus how to save a choking baby. Learn CPR for the love of your family As a parent of three children, Shannon reminds parents that it is vital to learn CPR. “CPR really gives you a sense of empowerment and confidence to handle any emergency situation,” she says. “All parents should take CPR.”
A larger system is better suited to being a primary work and entertainment hub that won’t leave home very often. Durability – Mobility increases the wear and tear on a laptop and nothing is more important than data to a hardworking student. Look for systems that feature hard drive shock protectors to shield data from accidental drops to ensure that files remain intact. • User-friendliness – The rise in popularity of touch screen tablets has led to a new generation of laptops featuring touch screen technology. With Windows 8 you can push and scroll through apps, documents and photo files with a swipe of a finger. These units let students operate in a touch screen environment, which they are increasingly familiar with, or opt for full keyboard functionality depending on their preference. • Convenience – Think about other devices you may need to connect to your laptop. Laptops with multiple USB and HDMI ports give you the ability to connect phones and music players, as well as secondary monitors, TVs and external drives. With multiple ports you don’t have to keep unplugging devices. Certain USB ports can remain functional even when the laptop is off to charge your cell phone or play music through the laptop speakers. Once you know the features you need it’s time to compare products in store or online and consider secondary factors such as price, brand and overall aesthetics.
Your new study buddy
With back-to-school around the corner, now is the time to research and make an informed decision about the right computer for the student in your life. A new PC can start in a flash, has the power to do everything faster and is less expensive than you may think. Whether you have a budding Picasso, track star or science champion, there’s no need to take a “one size fits all” approach when choosing the right PC for academic success. Make sure that you consider the following: Battery Life: The drama queen can take countless videos of herself practicing her latest monologue, without worrying about battery life running out. With a new computer, she can watch herself on video and change her acting cues instantly, without having to search for a power source.
Speed: Just like a sports star on the field going from the side line to the end zone, Knowing CPR alone can mean giving precious minutes to an infant or child in cardiac arrest. For more informa- speed is important. With updated procestion visit www.heartandstroke.ca/infantcpr sors and capabilities, the latest PCs will lower your wait times and bring you enter“Picking the right laptop doesn’t have to be a daunting tainment, faster. task,” says Toshiba’s education specialist Trevor Dantas. “There are many laptop options available for work and Power Up: The extra-curricular busy bee play; the key is to decide what the machine’s primary func- needs a laptop that powers on in seconds, tion will be and narrow down the features you require.” rather than minutes. With instant-on technology, be sure to choose a laptop that Functionality – Consider whether you are looking for a lap- won’t waste any time booting up at debate top that will be solely used for typing essays and research club before running off to student council. or for entertainment purposes as well. While word processing remains a necessity, students are known to watch Weight: The social butterfly requires a light the occasional movie on their laptop. Even with minimal laptop. No longer a heavy burden, PCs entertainment needs, certain programs such as graphic weigh as little as three pounds, making it design or architecture require students to run more graph- easier to zip from class to the coffee shop, As another school year draws closer, weighing ics-intensive programs and you need to be sure you have without weighing them down. technology options is probably the furthest things a machine that can keep up. For students hoping to use from the minds of parents and students. But with their laptop for work and play, intense gaming requires a Thickness: A studious student needs the laptops now a staple in most lecture halls, it’s hard faster-than-average processor and a quality video card. perfect study buddy. All-in-one PCs keep to shelve students’ needs for quality technology. textbooks, DVDs and the occasional video Mobility – Decide how portable you want the device to be game together in one thin console, mere Parents and students also have different views on and whether your laptop will be traveling to the classroom millimetres thin. what to look for in a laptop. According to a nation- or acting as a primary home computer. Laptops come in al survey of 1,000 Canadians, 23 per cent of stu- screen sizes of 14, 15, and 17-inches and screen size has a With these key ingredients, you can find dents considered support for gaming a priority in direct correlation with the unit’s size and weight. A smaller a computer perfect for academic success a laptop, compared to only 10 per cent of parents. laptop will fit easily and more comfortably in a backpack or in the year ahead. Need help? Visit www. on those small retractable lecture hall desks. pcmatchmaker.ca to help find the right match.
The Meadows at St. Lawrence Court in Brockville Sweetwater Homes invites you to visit their luxurious show home located at 27C Centre Street in Brockville. These homes have great floor plans, include walkout basements, gorgeous kitchen cabinets and bathrooms. Each house has approx. 1100 sq. ft. living area on main level. These homes are very reasonable priced from mid $200,000’s and the market response has been great so these units will not last long. You can also visit Sweetwater homes at www.sweetwaterhomes.ca or call Kevin @ 613-290-7227.
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At Sweetwater Homes, our priority is you! From Design to Planning. From Planning to Move in. We’re with you all the way! We’ll show you why Sweetwater Homes is the way to go for all your Custom Home and Renovation Needs!
Ways to beat the heat and still get your exercise So its humid, hot and sticky you sweat from just being outside. Sound familiar lately? This heat and humidity makes it hard to get motivated to get outside and for some exercise. Walking or jogging outside might seem unpleasant and some days even unsafe. Here are my tips to get some exercise and beat the heat on those days were its just TO HOT! 1. Go for a walk in the Mall, its air conditioned and you can window shop for fun 2. Go for a swim in the river, extremely refreshing. Try treading water to burn some calories. 3. Go to your local gym and use the equipment where its cooler then outdoors. There are no excuses not to get your workouts in even on the hottest days. There is family swim nights at the YMCA as well so you can include the entire family and even try out water aerobics. Sometimes of course its a great idea to get out and sweat a bit but make sure that you are well hydrated and dressed. Wear breathable, light clothing, make sure you have water with you to stay hydrated. Watch the weather and if there is a heat advisory do not push yourself. Make sure you know the signs and symptoms of heat stroke and if you show signs get medical attention. That being said stay fit and stay hydrated this summer.
I invite our readers to at the very least visit the exquisite show home located at 27C Centre Street in Brockville because photos really do not do these homes justice. I personally walked through the show home and you can witness the skill and care of detail that was taken when constructing these homes. Whether your a young family looking for your first home or retiring and looking for an affordable home, I strongly recommend that you visit The Meadows at St. Lawrence Court in Brockville.
You can visit Sweetwater Homes online at www.sweetwaterhomes.com or call them at 613-290-7227.