Issue 40 2024 October 10 NG Times by The North Grenville & North Dundas Times

Kemptville Rotary celebrate 90 years of service

On a Monday evening in September, 1934, a group of local businessmen gathered at the Town Hall on Water Street in Kemptville to discuss a major move that would result in 90 years of service to the community of Kemptville and surrounding district. The men were members of the Kemptville 100 Service Club, ﬁrst established in the village in 1929, and they were considering transitioning from that organisation to Rotary. Earlier in the year, members of the 100 Club had heard a talk on Rotary by a local resident, James Morton, and had been impressed by his description of the Club and its work.

So, on that September evening in 1934, 120 members of Rotary clubs from Ottawa, Hull, Smiths Falls and Brockville had come

to Kemptville to help those interested in forming a new Rotary chapter. Cyril Washington, W. B. George, Os Beamish and Lorne Reddick, all members of the 100 Club, had made an application to form the new Rotary Club, and by the end of the meeting at the Town Hall that night, the decision was made. As Pam Gordon noted in her account of the meeting: “Rev. H.L. Morrison of the Kemptville 100 Service Club moved a motion: ‘We here and now proceed to form a Rotary Club in Kemptville.’ A.C. Thompson seconded the motion and stated ‘Kemptville needed Rotary because we want to tell the world what kind of town we have and if we are to form a Rotary Club we must do it now.’”

When a provisional meeting was advertised for September 28, thirty-five individuals attended at the

Allen House hotel at the corner of Prescott and Asa. It looked like Rotary could be oﬀ to a promising start. And so it proved. Elections were held for the new Executive on October 12, 1934, with Cy Washington becoming President, W.B. George, Secretary, J.A. Roke, Treasurer, and T.A. Robinson and Bert Whaley were elected Directors. At the Charter meeting of the Kemptville Rotary Club on November 23, at what the local newspaper called "one of the largest banquets of its kind ever held in Kemptville”, guests from fourteen Rotary Clubs watched the Charter presented to the new chapter.

Since then, this region has been blessed with so many different initiatives undertaken by Rotary for the beneﬁt of their community.

Anna Rochon of Kemptville Rotary named just a few of these:

“One of the things that we do is ensure that we provide four $1,000 bursaries to graduating students from local high schools. We work with the Kemptville Youth Centre in all of their fundraising efforts. We host a special meal event at Camp Merrywood, we provide funds to purchase smoke free stoves to families in Central America, and we took a leadership role in raising money in this community for the people in Ukraine. There are many times that we assist community groups with their efforts – pancake breakfasts, Kemptville Live, and parades. Look around at any special event in our community and you will likely find a Rotary member making a difference.”

On an international level, Rotary has been involved in an immunisation program

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THOMAS M. BYRNE

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against polio for decades, helping to reduce the number of cases worldwide by 99.9%, from 350,000 cases in 1988. The recent outbreaks in Gaza recently were remarkable and disappointing, given the success of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative thus far. The Short Term Exchange Program by Rotary is another initiative with an international focus. STEP is a short term student summer exchange between families. The student lives with a foreign student’s family for approximately one month and then both students return to Canada, where the foreign student lives with the student’s family for another month. This

year, Gavin Cloutier, a youth from North Grenville, embarked on a transformative journey through the program, spending three weeks immersed in the picturesque landscapes of Switzerland. In turn, his Swiss counterpart, Aaron, discovered life in Eastern Ontario.

613.258.1277

613.258.5943

Girls Inc. Annual Champions for Girls Breakfast

On October 16, we will celebrate the International Day of the Girl with our annual Girls Inc. Champions for Girls Breakfast. The International Day of the Girl highlights the very fundamentals of what Girls Inc. stands for. Every day, girls are taking action to realize a vision of a world in which all girls are protected, respected and empowered. With the right support, resources and opportunities, the potential of girls is limitless. And when girls lead, the impact is immediate and wide reaching: families, communities and economies are all stronger, our future brighter. We are pleased to invite the community to join us for this inspiring event in celebration of girls.

This year, we are hosting this special event at the Maitland Education & Recreation Centre in Maitland. Girls Inc. girls will host the event, and we’ll have an informative discussion with CAMH Program Oﬃcer and author of the children’s book “Body Image: Because All Bodies are Great Bodies”, Tierra Hohn, about her experiences at the intersection of mental health and body image. Tierra will provide practical, relatable, and insightful ways to support girls and young women on their journeys toward self-acceptance, selfcompassion, and self-expression.

Please join us for a full hearty breakfast, catered by Ambrosia Kitchen, a morning of learning, fun, and meeting new friends and old as we gather as a community for a day of celebration. All are welcome.

Visit us on social media @GirlsIncUC or at girlsinc-uppercanada.org for more information about registering or sponsoring the event. We are so excited to see you on October 16th!

Repair Café celebrates 15 years

On the October 18, 2024, it will be 15 years since “The Repair Café” movement ﬁrst started in Amsterdam. This year, they will celebrate with 100 repairers on hand in the Hague, (do you like that?) as well as many round the world repair cafes like ours. This quote explains the philosophy behind the idea:

“We will show what our movement stands for: for repair, but also for cooperation, voluntary commitment and a shared pursuit of a sustainable future.”

Here in Kemptville, we will have a repair cafe on October 19, which also happens to be International Repair Day. Noon to 2pm, North Grenville Public Library, 1 Water St in Kemptville. We encourage you to come out with your broken items, and we will endeavor to ﬁx them for free. We can also give advice about how to repair some items. Bring any broken toys, as we will have children on hand to check them out.

Please note our November repair Cafe will be on November 16, same time same place. Contact: Tricia 613 258 3683 pmjh@snowie.ca

But it is on a local level, here in North Grenville and surrounding areas, that Rotary has had the most obvious presence. Rotary Park, at the junction of Prescott and Clothier Streets in Kemptville, is a permanent reminder of Rotary’s contribution to the community. In addition to the outreach mentioned by Pam Gordon above, Rotary has made donations to both the House of Lazarus and Salvation Army foodbanks, as well as a presentation of $10,000 to the Shalom Small Homes project as reported in last week’s Times.

The local Rotary Club has been involved in these, and so many other local activities in their 90 years of service to the people of North Grenville. Those founding members back in 1934 would be proud, and maybe a little surprised, by the incredible fruit of their labours in the decades since.

It’s that time of year again when the leaves are turning, gourds are ready to pick, and the weather calls for you to dig out your cozy sweater. It’s also that time of year when North Grenville Scouting youth head to local shops to thank the community with their Apple Day event. Smiling little faces will greet you at many shops this Thanksgiving Saturday morning with bright and freshly shined apples from Smyths Apple Orchard. Please consider stopping by a Scouting table to talk to the youth and receive an apple and a big thank you. NG Scouting wouldn’t happen without the generous donations, support and volunteer hours received from those around us, and Apple Day is our way of giving back and letting everyone know we are thankful! Visit NG Scouting Youth at Canadian Tire, B&H Grocery, Johnsons Independent and Food Basics. Youth will be handing out apples and smiles, and if you feel in the giving mood, donations are greatly appreciated with all money collected staying right here in the community to help local youth. Apple Day is Saturday October 12 from 9am to 12pm.

Sponsor Twilux and light up the night!

by Lisa Poushinsky

As the leaves trade their summer greens for red/orange/yellow and the days grow shorter, it’s time to think about celebrating the changing of seasons in North Grenville with the Twilux Lantern Parade. On November 2 at 6pm, our free community lantern festival (featuring live music, circus performers, light installations, refreshments, a dance party, and more) is coming to Oxford Mills for our third year of magical merriment, but we need your help to light up Maplewood Park!

To keep this beloved festival going, we are looking for generous donors and community sponsors like YOU to bridge the gap caused by shrinking arts funding. Get in touch if you wish to sponsor a performer, artist, or lantern workshop – any amount can help! Charitable tax receipts now available courtesy of Triune Arts, contact us for details. E-transfers also accepted! twiluxarts@gmail.com

And what would a lantern parade be without lanterns? Make one with us on Saturday, October 12 and Saturday, October 19 at the North Grenville Public Library, when Twilux partners with the NG Art Challenge to lead two lantern making workshops. Show them oﬀ on November 2 by joining the parade and hanging them in the park in their twinkling glory for all to admire.

Visit www.twilux.art and look for us on Facebook and Instagram for details. Donate and receive a charitable tax receipt at www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/triune_arts/ and click on the Twilux campaign.

Supported by the Municipality of North Grenville and the Government of Canada.

Community mourns loss of Rowan Dean

by Brandon Mayer

North Grenville is in mourning following the tragic and sudden loss of one of our own. Rowan Dean – a 16-year-old student at North Grenville District High School – passed away on September 29 while out for a training run on local trails. He is being remembered not only as a dedicated athlete and track star, but as an exceptional human being as well.

A tribute from Ottawa Lions Athletics, of which Rowan was a former member, reads in part: “Rowan’s journey in athletics was marked by his exceptional dedication and persever-

ance, qualities that made him stand out both on and oﬀ the track. His love for running and his unwavering commitment to excellence were evident in every aspect of his life. Whether it was the early morning training sessions or the intensity he brought to every competition, Rowan’s passion for the sport was undeniable.”

A former hockey coach shared a tribute online as well: “Rowan was the kind of kid every coach dreams of. Asking for feedback, listening, trying to improve with every shift/run, he was a such a respectful kid as well. Outside of school or team he always made a point to say hi. For myself having only coached a few teams with my kids, this guy is by

far the most memorable and I had a huge soft spot for him from day one.”

The Municipality shared a tribute online as well, noting that staff had been eager to welcome him for what was supposed to be his first shift as a Ticket Sales Attendant on October 5. The municipal flags were lowered to half mast in Rowan’s honour, and a moment of silence was observed at the start of the Council meeting on October 1.

At a hockey match between the Kemptville Royals U18 Rep team and the South Grenville Rangers on October 1, players took a knee for a moment of silence in a tribute to Rowan before their game. Many friends and family have posted personal tributes as well.

Rowan’s accomplishments were many. On July 23, he set a course record in the Prince Edward Island Marathon, completing the 5K run with a record time of 17:17. Representing the Brockville Legion in the past season, Rowan achieved a national ﬁnalist position in the 2000-metre steeplechase at the Royal Canadian Legion Track and Field Championships.

A letter sent home to NGDHS parents following Rowan’s passing expressed sadness and mourning, and assured that grief counselling would be available for students. A celebration of life will take place for Rowan on Saturday, October 26 from 1 to 3pm at the school.

Venturers visit Scotland; make new Beaver friends

Six youth from the SKBP Venturers, as well as a group of Venturers from the Ottawa area were lucky to enjoy an excursion to Scotland this summer, attending the 39th Blair Atholl Jamborette. All 16 Venturers agreed that they would love to go back in 2 years, and that they made many friendships and connections.

“At the last North Grenville Scouting all section activity late spring, I was blessed to win the beautiful Quilt the Kemptville Beavers put together,” explained Michele Bos, joking that many of the Beavers were sad to see it go.

Michele chose to bring the Quilt with her to Scotland. “I decided that it could be raffled off to a different Scouter and show the wonderful work our Beavers and their Scouters did,” said Michele. “[It] honestly was so loved by the person who won, even though he was young, he treasures things like this so much.”

The Scotland Beaver leaders were impressed by the Quilt, and expressed interest in being pen pals with the Kemptville Beavers. They sent “two of the cutest stuﬀed beavers” which are named Dougal and Donald, complete with neckties from two colonies in Scotland. Michele presented the stuﬀed beavers to the Kemptville Beavers on October 2, along with a letter from the Beavers colony in Scotland asking them to keep in touch.

Melanie (a Scouter for the Kemptville Beavers) planned a hike with Donald and Dougal, endeavoring to capture photos of the ﬁrst adventures with their new Beavers, to be sent to the Beavers in Scotland.

Michele added: “A quick laugh for you all, the beavers did not ﬁt in my luggage, so they were in either the Venturers’ arms or mine – you should have seen the looks we got!”

culverts

Buy me a rake

by Brandon Mayer

Mental Illness Awareness Week is upon us, from October 6 – 12. Without meaning to sound sarcastic or combative, I would like to point out the obvious: we’re all quite well aware of mental illness by now. We need to be more aware of how to help.

Mental illness is on the rise, and a lot of it may very well be for practical reasons. The economy sucks right now. Even households with two people, each earning a great salary, are still struggling to enjoy a basic normal life. Stuﬀ is expensive. Scams are everywhere, as people with no moral compass ﬁnd new ways to try and get by on the backs of others. It’s a tough time.

To further add to the issues of modern society, I believe that technology is melting our brains. Our attention spans are shot, and we are becoming far less self-reliant.

It’s possible to add on countless other reasons why mental illnesses are on the rise, but what are we actually doing to help? Yes, there are hotlines you can call. Yes, friends and family say

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I appreciate your paper’s presence in the community. It is full of goodwill news and events and remains open to many points of view. You oﬀer us a forum or a soapbox for public engagement. Thank you.

That said, I do wish to share with your readers my views on one aspect of our current Canadian political story. I create images in my head that help give dramatic eﬀect to the words on a page. In this case, I envision a guard dog, pacing back and forth behind a fence and jumping up against a gate in front of a house, that leads to the driveway. The dog is mean, it snarls and bares its teeth. If and when the gate fails, the dog will run amuck and do damage. And it wants out – or in.

I have been hearing the barking for some time now and wonder why people don’t do something about it – it’s disturbing the peace! If only I can get past this property before the gate fails. It will be the last time I walk this way.

Marc Nadeau Oxford Mills

“don’t hesitate to reach out”. Yes, counselling is available for those who can aﬀord it. But there is not enough emphasis on one critical point: mental illness treatment needs to be easily accessible. Why? Because a strong part of many such illnesses is a resistance to treatment or a lack of awareness that treatment is even necessary! Contrast mental illness with physical illness for a moment. Sure, there are times when physical ailments are not obvious, or when treatment is not appealing, but, more often than not, it’s clear when a person should see a doctor. When my son recently cut his leg open very badly, it was obvious that he needed stitches. Our completely broken and embarrassing healthcare system couldn’t stand in the way of stitches. We waited from 10pm until almost 5am to have him seen by a doctor for the 10 minutes it took to get 10 stitches in. Guess who pulled an all-nighter and then worked a 12 hour day on zero sleep the next day… this guy! But the nature of the illness and the required treatment were obvious, and so it made sense to brave Ontario’s complete disgrace of a healthcare system to access

medical help.

Mental illnesses are different. Take depression for example. About 5% of the adult population is clinically depressed. That’s huge! That’s 1 in every 20 people you meet. And depression is debilitating. It causes not only low mood, but also anhedonia (the loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities) and a general lack of motivation. A person with depression cannot therefore be simply told “here is the number for the depression hotline”. We need to think outside the box when it comes to new solutions for depression treatment. We need ways not only to create lasting change for depressed people, but also ways to get them into treatment to begin with!

Anxiety is another catch 22 illness. Anxiety about treatment can be a barrier to seeking treatment for anxiety. It’s circular, and not something that can be solved with a simple list of resources, or an oﬀer of “I’m here if you need me”. Then there are problems like anger, drug use, trauma, and any number of other things that people “get inside their own head” about, not realizing they need treatment,

or lacking the motivation or conﬁdence to seek treatment. Part of this comes from simple uncertainty. Everyone gets angry or anxious or sad sometimes. Moods change, and everyone has good days and bad days. How is a person supposed to know where the line is between mental illness and a bad day?

I hate buzz phrases. “Time for Action, Time for Change”. That is the Mental Illness Awareness Week motto this year. Tell me what the change is! Tell me how we can make a difference! Tell me how we can address these underlying issues that have been obvious to anyone trying to access mental health help for the last several decades! Many of us have experienced what it’s like to have friends or family say, “I’m here to talk if you need me”, only to have them react poorly in times of mental health need. Maybe instead of encouraging empty words of “I’m here to talk”, we should be encouraging people to openly identify their own feelings or actions that seem outside of the normal scope of bad days or bad moods. “I feel mentally ill” should be just as normalized as “I

Op-ed AI is still no replacement for local reporting

by Gordon Cameron

Did you read the one about the German court reporter who was convicted of abusing children, conning widowers and escaping from a psychiatric hospital? Likely not, as no human editor would ever confuse the writer of an article with people he was writing about. However, Microsoft’s Artiﬁcial Intelligence Copilot system did just that.

Now, unless you’re the poor German reporter, these sorts of “hallucinations” as they’re euphemistically called, may seem funny or the natural growing pains of a new technology. However, how would you feel if an AI told lies like that about you all the while touting how reliable its system is?

The truth is that, like a politician reading a speech in a language he doesn’t speak, AI doesn’t understand what it’s saying. It’s just a program that looks for patterns based on scanning billions of

words of text. To it, it’s a perfectly reasonable assumption that the reporter committed all those crimes because his name was associated with all those stories. But should we really be trusting an algorithm to tell us what’s true and what isn’t when it has no way of knowing itself?

Misinformation aside, I’d never actually tested any of the generative AI programs to see if they could actually be useful for local news, so I asked three of them something I was asked many times during my reporting days: “What happened at last night’s council meeting?”

Copilot gave me a rundown on a vote that took place last night in Aurora … Colorado. After telling me it had no updates, ChatGPT suggested that I add the city I was looking for. I typed in my hometown, and it still returned no answers, but I suggested that I could “ﬁnd summaries or highlights on the city’s oﬃcial

feel sick to my stomach” or “I have a headache”. That would be a ﬁrst step toward positive change.

On the ﬂip side, not every bad mood or bad action is mental illness. If I have a day where I am cranky and want to start yelling at squirrels to get oﬀ my lawn, don’t tell me I need a psychiatrist. Be a friend and go buy me a rake that I can wave around at them. Sometimes a person needs a friend more than a hotline. The point is that

mental health education is probably our best tool right now, because changes to the system are always made at government speed. To anyone experiencing mental illness: never be afraid to speak up, and remember that you may need to speak up more than once to make yourself clear and heard. Mental illness is a temporary problem, and your life, happiness, and well-being are worth a permanent solution.

website or local news outlets.” Gemini did actually pull up some local news, mostly because I had to login to Google to use it. However, the summary it spit out not only wasn’t for the most recent council meeting (which wasn’t actually last night), but after a quick search of a year’s worth of online minutes, I couldn’t ﬁnd a council meeting that matched the AI’s result.

Now, if you asked a local journalist the same question (even a tricky one) they’d give you an answer. Why? Because he or she was likely one of a very few people sitting there in the gallery observing the goings on. Was AI there? No. Did AI ask the diﬃcult question that the mayor was hoping to avoid? Not a chance. Can you rely on what AI tells you about local news? Apparently not.

And you don’t need to be a German court reporter to see that.

Production production@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735 Editor David Shanahan editor@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735

Brandon Mayer brandon@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735

Marketing/Sales Melissa Ottenhof marketing@ngtimes.ca 613 329 0209

Farmers urged to focus on ﬁre prevention as part of winter prep

by Brian Crews, Director, OFA

Every year, farm ﬁres result in tens of millions of dollars in losses to buildings, businesses and farm animals; and the financial losses don’t take into account the toll on farm families.

Fire is always a threat on Ontario farms, but the good news is that there are ways to reduce the risk the pose. Barn ﬁres in particular are a serious concern, especially during colder winter temperatures.

That’s because cold weather increases condensation on cold surfaces, and the corrosive mixture of

barn gasses and moisture invades the electrical system. The increased use of heating equipment also poses risks of ignition with gas heaters, for example.

Regardless of time of year, though, some of the biggest fire risks in farm buildings come from dust and cobwebs, extension cords and heaters, and electrical plugs, receptacles and panels.

The increasing size and high-tech nature of modern farm facilities, including livestock barns, also mean losses are higher when disaster strikes – according to Ontario Fire Marshal statistics, those range between

Consultation open for proposed updates to Mississippi-Rideau

Source

Protection Plan

Public consultation is now open for several policy amendments to the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan. Proposed policy changes apply to the management of road salt, fuel tanks, agriculture, pesticides, fertilizers, chemical storage, snow storage and other potential drinking water threats near municipal wells or intakes.

The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan is a locally developed plan to keep our municipal drinking water safe and clean. It is required under the Clean Water Act, 2006.

This Plan is overseen by the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region, and has been in eﬀect since 2015. This plan contains policies for activities that have been determined to be signiﬁcant drinking water threats (as determined by the Technical Rules under the Clean Water Act, 2006) in areas near municipal groundwater wells and surface water intakes. It is currently undergoing an update to align with recent legislative changes from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. The updates will only apply to a select number of properties located within designated drinking water protection zones.

Drinking water sources in the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region include groundwater drawn from aquifers underground, and water drawn from the Ottawa River, Rideau River, Tay River and Mississippi River. The Source Protection Plan sets out policies that use a variety of tools to protect municipal drinking water sources from contamination. These tools include education, risk management planning, prohibition, and land use planning. Visit the Source Protection Region’s local website at www.mrsourcewater. ca to ﬁnd out more.

The Source Protection Region is required to consult with the public on the proposed changes. Digital copies of the proposed updates can be found at www.mrsourcewater.ca under Consultation, or hard copies can be viewed by appointment at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority headquarters in Manotick. Members of the public can provide feedback on the proposed changes until November 22, 2024.

If you have questions or wish to provide comments about the proposed changes, please contact Marika Livingston at 613-692-3571 ext. 1148 or marika.livingston@ mrsourcewater.ca.

$20 – 30 million annually.

That’s why, earlier this year, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture began partnering with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs to share resources and promote ﬁre safety and prevention on Ontario farms.

I’m a dairy farmer just north of Trenton, and I also represent farmers in Hastings, Lennox & Addington, Northumberland and Prince Edward counties as a director on the board of the OFA.

Fire prevention is a 365-day-a year job, but as we are working to get our farms ready for winter, it’s a great time to put a little extra eﬀort into protecting

our businesses.

It can be hard to know where to start, so a fire prevention inspection by a professional from the local ﬁre department or your insurance provider can be a great help.

Nobody likes the idea of an inspection per se, but these individuals can offer a wealth of pointers and ideas about little things that can make big difference in fire prevention – and they are just as interested as you are in keeping your farm buildings, livestock and crops safe.

Easy steps farmers can take to reduce the threat of fire include hardwiring or

using waterproof plugs or outlets, keeping buildings clean of dust and cobwebs, replacing extension cords, and identifying potential hotspots with a thermal imaging camera.

A few dollars spent on electrical upgrades can make a big difference. For example, installing an arc fault breaker can prevent a heatcausing fault that could easily cause a ﬁre. And general tidiness to keep on top of dust and cobwebs is always a good idea.

Sometimes, however, despite our best efforts, fires do happen. This means it’s a good idea to be prepared. Have a few big fire extin-

CAMIMH honours 2024 champions of mental health

This week, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) marks Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), taking place from October 6 to October 12, 2024. This annual national campaign shines a spotlight on the realities of mental illness in Canada and aims to promote understanding, reduce stigma, and improve access to mental health and substance use health care across the country.

The 2024 theme, “Access for All: Time for Action, Time for Change,” highlights the need for equitable mental health services and addresses ongoing barriers to care. The campaign encourages Canadians to take part in conversations that prioritize mental health as a core element of well-being.

“This year’s theme highlights the urgent need to address the gaps in our mental health system,” said Florence Budden, Co-Chair of CAMIMH. “Our focus must be on creating a system where every Canadian can access the mental health care they need.”

In conjunction with MIAW, CAMIMH will celebrate this year’s Champions of Mental Health at a special awards ceremony on October 10, 2024, at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. This event will recognize seven outstanding individuals who have made signiﬁcant contributions to mental health advocacy in Canada.

The 2024 Champions of Mental Health include:

- The Sharon Johnstone Champion of Mental Health Award for Youth – Serena Habib

- Media – Stephen Hosier

- Workplace Mental Health – Jason Arneson

- Community Organization – Brighter Futures (Roxanne Pottle)

- Community Individual – Elder Noel Milliea

- Parliamentarian – MP Matt Jeneroux

- Innovation - Researcher or Clinician – Fondation CERVO (Maryse Beaulieu)

“These Champions are truly and inspiration, reminding us of the collective eﬀort needed to create a mental health system that works for all Canadians,” said Anthony Esposti, Co-Chair of CAMIMH. “Their achievements are a testament to the power of advocacy, and MIAW provides the perfect

Canadian Wollastonite partners with UNDO Carbon

by Brandon Mayer

Wollastonite is a form of crushed silicate rock that has two main beneﬁts. One is that when spread on farmer’s ﬁelds, it breaks down and releases calcium, magnesium, silicon, and other nutrients into the soil. The other is that it has the ability to capture carbon from the atmosphere.

The company Canadian Wollastonite, located in Seeley’s Bay, mines a large deposit of wollastonite as a for-proﬁt business venture. However, the potential positive environmental impacts of wollastonite have also drawn the attention of environmental organizations such as UNDO Carbon, which aims to remove 1 million tonnes of CO2 from the

atmosphere by 2025.

“Wollastonite has been getting a fair bit of attention over the past several months,” said Mike Kennedy on behalf of Canadian Wollastonite. “Our hope is to work with UNDO Carbon to progressively scale up operations as we believe it has the potential to make an important contribution to helping combat the climate crisis.”

A recent deal between Microsoft Corporation and UNDO Carbon will see 65,000 tonnes of wollastonite spread on farmland in the United Kingdom and Canada. As part of the deal, 25,000 tonnes will be sourced from Seeley’s Bay and will be spread on Ontario farmland.

The cost of the wol-

guishers handy in the barn or workshop and know how to use them. As well, ensure that you, your family and your employees know where those extinguishers are and what your emergency response plan is.

If you’re interested in learning more, join OFA on October 9, when we are partnering with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs to host a webinar focused on ﬁre prevention and insurance on the farm. Registration is available at ofa.on.ca.

lastonite is covered for the farmers who sign up to have it spread on their fields.

How? UNDO Carbon offers a sort of credit system whereby businesses can offset their carbon footprint by purchasing “credits”, essentially funding the spreading of wollastonite to capture carbon. This is done on a voluntary basis.

In the case of the 25,000 tonnes that will be spread in Ontario, the wollastonite will be purchased by UNDO Carbon with funds from Microsoft’s voluntary purchasing of the carbon removal credits. For 2024, UNDO Carbon is paying not only for the wollastonite itself, but also the spreading costs. The only cost to farmers is the trucking of the crushed rock from Seeley’s Bay,

with the invaluable beneﬁt of improved soil quality. Canadian Wollastonite has attracted some attention locally in North Grenville, particularly from those opposed to the sale of 13 acres of Ferguson Forest Centre land along County Road 43. The low-quality land could be revitalized with wollastonite, argued Heather Popazzi in a recent submission to the Times. Mike Kennedy was unaware of any plans in the works regarding such a partnership.

Laura Melnick’s story explains why KDH needs a CT Scanner

Sitting riverside on a beautiful sunlit September morning, Laura Melnick looked at me and said, “I am a walking miracle. My community needs some help and this is why it is my job to tell my story. We learn by hearing each other’s stories.”

Laura knows that without a CT Scan, she would not have known she had a brain tumor. She explained that she had had two accidents in recent years which involved head injuries. Initially, she had fallen and hit her head hard on the ice; this was followed by a vehicle accident which severely shook her head and bruised her body. On both occasions, she had declined having the paramedics or others take her to the hospital. “Knowing there was no CT Scanner at Kemptville District Hospital, what was

the point?” she said.

In 2023, her second brain injury presented like a concussion. She started to feel better but then, in January 2024, began waking up with daily headaches. Concurrently, vision in her right eye was deteriorating. Laura and her doctor agreed that a CT Scan might solve the mystery of her “post concussion” symptoms.

She waited four months for her appointment. On April 24, she went to the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa for the CT Scan.

On May 3 she learned that the CT Scan showed she had a brain tumour. A meningioma had developed in the menges, the soft tissue that protects the brain from the hard surface of the skull.

Four weeks later, on June 3, with evidence that the tumour was aggressively growing, she had neurosurgery. She was in the operating theatre for nearly eight hours.

Laura was told that the path back to feeling like her old self could be up to a year. She has made great progress since the surgery but there is still a long recovery road ahead.

Why did Laura reach out to share her story? She said with emphasis, “CT Scans save lives! It saved

me from further damage to my visual and cognitive capabilities. I might have complained earlier (to the doctor) knowing that a CT Scan was more easily available to me, in Kemptville.”

Laura continued, “I want people to understand the importance of a CT Scanner. What we cannot see with our eyes is informed by the Scanner’s imagery. Rarely is the problem determined without the imagery.” She added this plea: “Please do not dismiss a head injury and let your doctor truthfully know what is going on and how you are feeling.”

Laura said she is grateful to the neurosurgical team at the Civic Hospital who prioritized her problem, but she is “most grateful to her physicians in Kemptville for listening to my concerns and then moving quickly to help me!”

Joanne Mavis, KDH Foundation Executive Director, said, “Thank you, Laura for reaching out to the KDH Foundation and generously sharing your testimonial. Your experience fully supports why we need a CT Scanner here, close to home. It is an urgently needed diagnostic tool at Kemptville District Hospital.”

For more information and stories about the CT Scanner Crossroads Campaign and how you can donate, see kdhfoundation.ca

Recognizing our gratitude to First Nations

by Michael Whittaker

This is Anishinaabeg Algonquin Territory. The ﬁrst so-called explorers and surveyors were guided here, more than two centuries ago, by unnamed Anishinaabeg Algonquin people, and the successive European settlers followed the First Nation trials and river routes to what is now North Grenville.

We, of settler ancestry, owe thanks to the First Nations who shared their ancestral and cultural knowledge with settlers who arrived here.

Our colonial forebearers learned important survival competencies related to transportation (canoes & snowshoes); preservation of game meats and fish, and the proficiencies to efficiently harvest those animals; edible plants (maple syrup and sugar, wild rice, fruits and berries, edible roots and tubers); and cures and treatments for aliments and injuries (there are about 400 medicinal plants in the Indigenous pharmacopeia.)

With this and more in mind, the North Grenville Friends of Indigenous Trails seeks the guidance and advice of the Anishinaabeg Algonquin and locally resident First Nation men and women to honour and commemorate the unselﬁsh hands of cooperation that escorted the earliest colonial appointees to assess and survey their territory for future settlement.

The birch-bark canoe continues to be an important symbol of the Anishinaabeg Algonquin welcome, and cooperation given to European arrivals. The canoe, which was essential to transportation, trade, communication, and hunting and ﬁshing for millennia also represents the earliest touch point of cultures.

The canoe continued to be used by Europeans as they ventured into the hinterland confident with many of the essential life

skills acquired from First Nations. To this day, the canoe, generally considered for recreation, continues its role in hunting, ﬁshing, and as a means of travel and communication.

We intend to create a canoe monument with an historical interpretive panel honouring the Anishinaabeg Algonquin and acknowledging our gratitude for the cooperation extended to our settler predecessors. This is a project leading to and revealing the truth. Although this undertaking is in the earliest stage, the concept has been shared with the North Grenville Municipal Council, the Council’s Indigenous Advisory Circle, and the Arts, Culture, and Heritage Committee.

The Friends of North Grenville Indigenous Trails look forward to realising this project in the near future.

Photo caption: How to Be an Ally offers advice on how to ally with Ingidenous Peoples to become advocates for Reconciliation and addressing injustices. Contact The Legacy of Hope Foundation at www.legacyofhope.ca or 877-953-7177.

Laura Melnick required a CT Scan for her head injuries which revealed a brain tumor.

Volunteers needed to keep the Downtown Kemptville magic alive!

by Jennifer Hood

As you stroll through downtown Kemptville, the signs of autumn are unmistakable. The vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of the trees are echoed in the storefront displays, reflecting the

changing season in the windows of our local businesses. Over the past few months, I’ve had the chance to go door to door, attend meetings, and take part in workshops, and it’s given me a real appreciation for how much

Local schools

this town runs on the hard work of volunteers. They truly are the heartbeat of our community.

It’s amazing to see how much people give of their time and energy, all while keeping up with their everyday lives. You start to recognize the same faces at every event – whether they’re greeting visitors, helping out behind the scenes, or even stepping up to lead in our local organizations. But here’s the thing – we need more people to get involved! We can’t keep relying on the same dedicated group, so it’s time to call in some new folks to help keep the magic alive. There are lots of ways to contribute, whether

it’s welcoming guests at events, helping with planning, or even stepping into a leadership role. With fall festivities on the horizon, this is the perfect time to lend a hand. Learn more about how you can get involved by visiting downtownkemptville. com and signing up for our newsletter!

Or, you can jump right in and sign-up to be a volunteer at downtownkemptville.com/volunteer

threatened again

by Brandon Mayer

Parents of students at all public and Catholic schools in Kemptville, as well as two schools in Iroquois, were rattled by threats of violence in the early morning hours of October 3. An OPP re-

port confirms that the two schools specifically named were Seaway District High School in Iroquois and St. Michael Catholic High School in Kemptville. School oﬃcials and the OPP became aware of the threats some time prior to 2am, and made the decision to close all schools in both

towns out of an abundance of caution. This meant several school closures in Kemptville, while the only other school in Iroquois is Iroquois Public School. For Kemptville area schools, this was the second incident related to unrealized threats of violence leveled by anonymous individuals in the

span of a few weeks.

On September 13, a similar threat put St. Michael Catholic High School into lockdown for several hours while the school was searched. The situation on October 3 was different, with threats leveled before students were in the building, necessitating full closures of the multiple schools included in the area of the threats as a precaution.

St. Michael in particular appears unable to catch a break from the cowardly and serious threats, because once again on October 4, it was targeted. An October 4 email to parents reads: “At midnight, the board received a call from the OPP indicating that they spoke directly to an anonymous person who indicated that at the beginning of the school day on Friday, October 4, there would be an act of violence involving weapons that would take place at St. Michael CHS.” The email goes on to assure that support

will be available to students who need it, given the emotional impact of such threats.

By the evening of Sunday, October 6, authorities were still not comfortable about the safety of St. Michael CHS.

An email sent to parents read, in part: “As of this evening, a full evaluation of threats to St. Michael CHS has not been completed in order to accurately assess the risk to public safety.” The email goes on to explain that the school would once again be closed on Monday, October 7. Reactions from parents were mixed, with some suggesting that the best option would be to open the

school with enhanced security. As of the time of writing, there has been no information about who might be threatening area schools repeatedly, or why. There are more questions than answers. Who stands to benefit from the temporary closure of a handful of schools? Are more threats to come? Are the threats of violence real? It’s difficult to think of how these actions could beneﬁt anyone. We can only hope that the culprits are caught and punished in a manner consistent with the seriousness of making threats against our schools and by extension, our children.

Wild West Drone Fest: Farmers break the law to spray ﬁelds with drones

by Nelson Zandbergen courtesy of Farmers Forum

Canadian farmers are quietly rebelling against federal rules that prohibit spraying agriculture’s most important crop chemicals with drones, according to industry insiders.

Under the radar, some fed-up Ontario farmers are opting to spray with drones anyway.

For the better part of a decade, American farmers have been using drones to spray popular

herbicides and pesticides. They’re allowed as long as those chemicals are already approved for use with conventional aviation crop-dusting. Canadian regulators have resisted this blanket approach, insisting instead on a separate drone certiﬁcation for each product. It’s a go-slow, bureaucratic process that appears to be years away from allowing drones to apply the pesticides common in farming. That includes the crucial fungicides sprayed on Ontario corn

“Calling All Creatives”

– often by helicopter.

Markus Weber, an Edmonton based vendor of the biggest agricultural drones from manufacturer DJI, said that Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency is holding up approvals while proving unable to enforce its rules.

“This is a year full of drama,” Weber said. “The farmers are way out ahead of the regulators. The cat’s out of the bag.”

Weber, who emphasized that he doesn’t condone breaking the law, estimated that “hundreds” of people in Western Canada are having crops drone-sprayed with products not currently approved for use with drones. The Ontario number would be in the “tens,” he suggested, with most being farmers using their own drones.

One operator – a Southwestern Ontario farmer who agreed to speak with Farmers Forum on condition of ano-

Explore your creative side.

Join us for a FREE Arts Materials workshop presented by Andrea from Golden Paints at the library.

Saturday Nov 30th 11:45 am - 1:45 pm FREE!!!

RSVP Tammy Keith at ktakeith@gmail.com

The Art Challenge Community & Creativity is excited to let you know about the Saturday Art Social Every Saturday morning at the NG Public Library. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just beginning your creative journey, this is the perfect opportunity to connect, share ideas and explore new techniques. Try your hand at Lantern Making with Susanne, or Drawing with Jayne. Bring your creativity, we'll provide the space and materials. Join us for relaxed and inspiring mornings at the Saturday Art Social . All skill levels are welcome!

Every Saturday, 10 am - 11:30 am at the NG Public Library Free with basic materials provided Come create, connect, and be inspired. See you there!

Art Challenge 2024

We’ve teamed up with the Friday Drawing Group at 400 Prescott Street, Kemptville (St.John’s United Church) for a great new art challenge North Grenville. It’s designed for beginners to intermediate artists eager to improve their drawing skills. The lessons will focus on the fundamentals of drawing, with an emphasis on the human form. Participants will have the opportunity to

nymity – has been spraying crops with a large drone that he’s owned for the last two years. Most of his work has involved spraying fungicide on his own corn ﬁ elds and on those of paying customers. He charges $16 per acre and covers about 35 acres per hour. This year, in his second season of operation, he sprayed 6,000 acres and served 15 customers.

“It’s my mid-life crisis. It’s better than a Corvette, or a bad habit,” he quipped. He hopes to build a customer base that sticks with him beyond the black market, assuming Canada ﬁnally legalizes the practice.

Markus Weber’s company, LandView, demonstrated the largest available drones at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock. Roughly as large as a tractor tire, a DJI T-50 drone flew low over a cornﬁeld. The $40,000 unit zipped along over the tassels, trail-

ing a tantalizing mist of nothing but plain water. “Of course, it’s a tease,” Weber acknowledged, in light of the current restrictions.

In reality, an agricultural drone, because of its very low ﬂight path, should be regulated “as a backpack sprayer,” he said.

Meanwhile, civil aviation authorities at Transport Canada aren’t interested in enforcing Health Canada’s spraying rules, he added, and are actually making it easier for farmers to get into the drone game this year with reduced licensing requirements set to take effect this fall or next spring.

Drones are currently allowed to broadcast only fertilizer and seed in Canada. The only pesticides permitted to date have no use in agriculture: mosquito larvicides and a tree defoliant used by hydro crews.

Just how restrictive are the rules right now? Adrian Rivard, operator of a law-abiding, above-the-board drone company, found out that he’s even prohibited from spraying a completely natural substance. The Chatham-Kent resident noticed that one pesticide – used to kill mites – is 97% canola oil. So he inquired with Health Canada if he could potentially spray 100% canola oil from his drone instead. The answer was still no. “I can’t spray canola oil onto my canola ﬁelds,” Rivard remarked.

work with a live costumed model allowing for practice in portrait drawing and ﬁgure studies, from life!

What you will learn:

- Essential drawing techniques, including proportion, shading and design

- How to observe and capture the human form in a sustained pose

- Tips for creating dynamic and expressive portraits

Session Highlights:

- Free lessons tailored to your skill level, whether you’re just starting or looking to reﬁne your technique

- Live demonstrations

- Feedback to help you improve your work

Details:

- All materials provided, but feel free to bring your favourite drawing tools

- Open to residents of North Grenville

- All levels welcome, ages 12 years and up, with a focus on beginners and intermediate artists

Unleash your creativity and develop your drawing skills in a supportive and inspiring environment. It is a chance to learn, practice and create with fellow artists!

Friday Life Drawing

4pm - 7pm every Friday until Nov 22

400 Prescott Street (basement of St. John’s United Church)

Open Life drawing Studio

Uninstructed open costumed live ﬁgure drawing studio

All skill levels 12 years and up

$15 drop in

Art Challenge

Established in 2020, the Art Challenge is a series of weekly in-person drawing sessions focused on the foundations of drawing.

We began at the North Grenville Library on Saturday for an hour, with inperson sessions designed to learn new skills and grow your understanding of drawing theories, techniques, and practices.

The North Grenville Art Challenge is a multi generational art project, community driven – a way for local creatives to learn together, and empower one another.

“Drawing is a simple way to make sense of complex ideas”.

Email to jayne@jcouchmolony.ca

A drone with a 50 kg payload sprays water in a demonstration of its potential abilities (Nelson Zandbergen photo)

73’s take four points at home

Target launched...Gavin McDougall ﬁnds the middle top shelf to put Gatorade in space with helpers from his line mates Carter Graves and Emile Trottier on Friday evening against the Renfrew Wolves.

by G.J. the sportsguy

Friday evening was plagued with 65 minutes in the sin bin in a 60 minute masacre with Kemptville blanking the Renfrew Wolves 7 to 1.

Kemptville drew ﬁrst blood when Sweetapple transitioned to McDougall waiting in the weeds to ﬁnd Nicholas Bennett to launch a howitzer top shelf by Nick Kurtiak to open the gates at 4:13. Renfrew was awarded a penalty shot at 4:47 for Dylan Paron that Trenten Bennett slammed the door. Game winner on a power play from a com-

bination with Dumont and Esposito on a reverse to Avery Shaw PPG on the point to drive it home at 8:40. Insurance for Kemptville when Hopley with Redmond drove hard to the net and Matthew Montoni picked up the rubbish to bury it behind a discombobulated stopper without his twig at 9:29. Extra man for the Wolves as Brody Simpson PPG with helpers from Whitelaw and Attard into the ﬁve hole that Trenten Bennett couldn’t squeeze to spoil his SO at 11:50. Another man advantage for the 73’s as

Graves with Trottier ﬁnd

Gavin McDougall PPG to lift it under the iron at 19:23 to make it 4 to 1 to wrap up the ﬁrst.

Sydney Loreto showed his magic when he stripped the rubber from his opponent to pull the trigger six hole at 19:23 for a 4 point lead in the second. Last twenty with Kemptville on power player from Loreto with Shaw to Drew McIntyre PPG in the slot to chase a very frustrated Renfrew stopper at 3:31. North South attack from the Canevari guards unto Matthew O’Doherty

tape to punch it around a sprawling Luke Suys at 8:57 to cap a 7 to 1 victory.

Kemptville peppered Renfrew 40 to 13 with 3/9 PP to 1⁄6 PP. Coach thought his team played a solid 60 minute game rewarded with a win. Made it very diﬃcult for Renfrew with quick puck movement and skating throughout the game.

First place Brockville Braves in Kemptville’s barn for a Sunday matinee was end to end action with Kemptville controlling the pace with 1 to 0 victory. See saw battle with opportunities on both sides as ﬁrst twenty closed scoreless as the stoppers kept their team honest. A ﬁght broke out in the initial period that set the tone for the rest of the contest.

Kemptville broke the ice as Trottier on a tear to S. Canevari from the point to deflect off Gavin McDougall on the doorstep, top shelf over Ryan Gerlich 7:34. Last frame was an even battle without anyone finding the back of the net. Brockville pulled their goal tender at 18:03 and then Kemptville rode the slab at 19:09 to give the

#31

Braves a 6 on 4 advantage without success to give the 73’s a 1 to zip win and well deserved shutout for Trenten Bennett.

Coach felt this was a very gritty performance from his squad with stellar stopping power from his stopper. Brockville out shot Kemptville by

Cornwall Colts will gallop into Kemptville on Friday evening and the Smiths Fall Bears will be visiting for a Sunday matinee.

Hockey with EDGE... see you around the wall.

39 to

with 0/3 PP to 0/1 PP.

Senior Times

Meals on Wheels Special at Seniors’ Community Services

If you feel like the summer went by like the blink of an eye, you are not alone. It was a beautiful summer that has lasted into the glory of Autumn. Sunny days and cool nights, an abundant harvest and the ﬂowers keep on blooming. You just cannot beat that summer feeling. Even with the warmth of the sunshine, we know winter is on his way, and we want you to be prepared. Right now, we have a Meals on Wheels special that will get you ready for the cold nights. Meals delivered to your door (or you can pick them up) ready to pop into your freezer. Thanks to a grant from the United Way Leeds and Grenville we are oﬀering soup, an entrée, and a dessert for $5 (regularly $12.35). This is a limited time subsidy for registered clients of Seniors’ Community Services. Meals are prepared for delivery by volunteers and delivered within North Grenville, Monday to

Friday between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm. If you would like more information please contact us at 613-258-3203 or email Program Coordinator Antonia Reynolds at antonia.reynolds@seniorscs. ca.

In November, our Wreath and Planter sale will be back! Decorate your doors and porches in support of the creation of the SCS client subsidy fund. This fund will help provide ﬁnancial assistance to seniors and help cover essential services and improve their quality of life. Imagine the impact your purchase will have in your community! Beautiful, fresh wreaths with a red bow ($32) and gorgeous planters accented with dogwood and sumac ($35). Please order by November 13th by phone at 613-258-3203 or by email at jill.woodley@seniorscs. ca. Pick-up is the fun drive through event on Tuesday, November 19th from 2 to 6 pm at 215 Sanders. You

may see a special guest too! We look forward to another successful event and seeing your community spirit on every door and porch.

We would like to thank all the participants, two legged and four legged, who came out for our 4th Annual Photos in the Park. It was a beautiful day, and we had so much fun. One of our photogenic families have been coming since the beginning of this event, but this year they decided to have some

extra ghostly fun and we had to share the photo The day is pure joy, and we are grateful it continues to be so successful in support of the SCS Transportation Service. Keep an eye out for all the fun ahead, and don’t forget to mark your calendars! Please follow our website (www.seniorscs.ca), Facebook and Instagram pages to keep up to date on all the news. Happy Autumn!

4th Annual Wreath and Planter Fundraiser

Tuesday, November 19th

2 - 6 pm at 215 Sanders

Orders taken until November 13th 613-258-3203 or jill.woodley@seniorscs.ca In support of the SCS client subsidy fund. www.seniorscs.ca

Senior Times

The Power of Movement: Why seniors should stay active

By Nancy Morgan

Taking fitness classes designed for seniors offers many benefits. These can significantly improve overall well-being. They also enhance the quality of life.

As we age, maintaining an active lifestyle becomes more important than ever. For seniors, regular exercise is key to staying healthy, mobile, and independent. But, not all fitness programs are created equal, especially when it comes to the unique needs of older adults. That’s where our senior-specific fitness classes come into play.

1. Tailored to Your Needs • Fitness classes for seniors focus on improving balance, ﬂexibility, strength, and cardiovascular health. The movements are tailored to be safe and easily manageable. This applies whether it’s a low-impact mobility class, circuit class, or a dance ﬁtness program. This holds true even for those with mobility issues or chronic conditions.

2. Enhances Mobility and Balance • Falls are a major concern for seniors. They often lead to injuries that can significantly impact quality of life. Senior fitness classes target exercises that improve balance, coordination, and flexibility. These classes strengthen the muscles and improve joint health. They help reduce the risk of falls. This makes daily activities easier and safer.

3. Boosts Mental Health • Staying active doesn’t just help the body; it’s also great for the mind. Regular physical activity has been shown to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and combat depression. For seniors, group ﬁtness classes give an added mental health boost through social interaction. The camaraderie and sense of community in these classes can help combat feelings of isolation. They oﬀer a space to connect with peers and make new friends.

4. Promotes Cardiovascular Health • Cardiovascular exercise is essential at any age. It’s particularly important for seniors to keep the heart healthy. Senior ﬁtness classes often include light to moderate aerobic activities that get the heart pumping without overexertion. Regular participation can help lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

5. Supports Healthy Aging • Participating in regular exercise has the potential to slow down the aging process. It helps preserve independence for longer. Senior ﬁtness classes help build and keep muscle mass, improve joint performance, and increase energy levels. This not only enhances physical health. It also supports the ability to live an active, fulﬁlling life well into the golden years.

6. Here at The Workshop Dance Studio • Many of our clients in these classes face challenging conditions that limit their activities. Yet they join these classes to stay active and keep a positive outlook. In fact, my husband is 75 years old. He has undergone several major heart surgeries. He has always recognized the immense value of these specialized ﬁtness classes in aiding his recovery.

Conclusion • Fitness classes designed for seniors offer a wealth of benefits. These include improved mobility and balance. They also enhance mental health and cardiovascular fitness.

If you’re looking to stay active and healthy as you age, the classes at The Workshop Dance Studio can help you achieve your ﬁtness goals. The teachers are great and the people are fun. It’s a very enjoyable environment. So why not give it a try? Your future self will thank you!

Seniors for Climate Action

by Fred Schueler, Fragile Inheritance Natural History.

Most of what one hears of Seniors for Climate Action is cessation of use of, and subsidies for, fossil fuels, but the other side of the coin is sequestration of carbon. After 35 years have rambled by, this poem is a senior citizen, but there haven't been any significant initiatives to sequester carbon by raising the sills of wetlands, refilling coal mines with agricultural waste, planting groves of trees on unnecessary lawns, or managing agricultural land to maximize soil organic matter or forestry to maximize the carbon held in mature forest stands. The title is borrowed from the that of a 1989 article in Scientific American:

Evidence suggests that production of carbon dioxide and methane from human activities has already begun to change the climate, and that radical steps must be taken to halt any further change Reasoning from ﬁrst principles bought the Hemlock, All men are brothers hung upon the cross, Grave Malthus prophesied, And Father Darwin scanned the entangled bank. “And yet it moves” — No Concord jail Can hold the forests’ slashed succession or the loss From grim satanic mills, And coal and guns and butter all go blank. Deny it, Slashers — all of it was true.

Your acid smoke is drifting low The bodies of the trees you killed have melted ice to flood your bedroom suites. You cannot kill forever and take money for the dead — For soil and for Auks, for Pigeons and for Buffalo. The World is real and finite — but still your bloated economics grows and cheats. Able to think, perhaps, as well as we, You turned our Science to your selfish gains

Muskrats without predators, you ate the World’s sweet marsh and ran more madly as you stripped it — Slave ships and black lung mines, Valdez and Stalingrad — All summed into the greenhouse panes.

Thinking like men, you lived like Rotifers, Small swirling heads filtering the Earth for money profit. But now the World has warmed, the ozone thinned, The sky has summarized your lives. Your never-make-a-difference has come false. So let us, wimps and dreamers, undo Earth’s disrepair, Bind up your wounds with peat and flowers, Sequester carbon as the forest thrives, Living wood and leaf scour the skies, And orchids bloom where seething Sphagnum purifies the air.

Tlell, Haida Gwaii, April & May 1989 - The truth-tellers alluded to in the ﬁrst stanza are Socrates, Jesus, Robert Malthus, Charles Darwin, Galileo Galilei, and Henry David Thoreau.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Proposed Amendments to the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan & Mississippi Valley and Rideau Valley Assessment Reports

Policies under the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan have been amended to align with provincial legislation updates. Proposed policy changes apply to road salt, fuel tanks, agriculture, pesticides, fertilizers, chemical storage, snow storage and more. If your residence or business is located near a municipal well or intake, these changes may impact you or your activities on your property.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

The public is invited to review and provide written comments on the proposed changes by November 22nd, 2024. Read the changes online at mrsourcewater.ca under Consultation, or request an appointment to view at the RVCA Head Office: 3889 Rideau Valley Drive, Manotick, ON K4M 1A5

SUBMIT COMMENTS TO: MARIKA LIVINGSTON Project Manager, Drinking Water Source Protection Tel: 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1148

Email: marika.livingston@mrsourcewater.ca

Mail: Attn: Marika Livingston PO Box 599, Manotick, ON K4M 1A5

How to decrease risk of large bowel hernias

Mention a hernia to anyone and they immediately think of a bulge in the lower abdomen or groin. But hernias also occur in the large bowel. If constipation or infection results, the individual will experience worsening pain, nausea, and sometimes the urgent need for a major operation. The good news is that a little prevention will decrease the risk of large bowel hernias. What’s the even better news? The same preventative action will also reduce the risk of diabetes and cancer, as well as cardiovascular, infectious, and respiratory diseases. And this is just the beginning.

It might sound like fake news if we were to add that studies show this same simple daily remedy is also proven to increase lifespan! Let’s not stop. It has been shown to improve the quality of life during those added years. When all this risk of disease is decreased, there is another important beneﬁt we desperately need, and that is a substantial reduction in societal health-care costs.

So what is this health-promoting preventative remedy? It’s nothing new. In fact, it's been repeated in this column many times over many years. The U.S. National Library of Medicine has numerous medical journals showcasing the evidence. Here’s the answer: it’s higher amounts of daily dietary ﬁber than most people are regularly getting.

Some research suggest we should aim to eat 50 grams of ﬁber a day. Other studies ﬁnd positive results with half that amount. But the reality is, most people are eating much less, only a small fraction of the amount they should be.

If you are not getting enough fiber, there are warning signs. But people aren’t making the connection. Constipation and hemorrhoids are not random problems. They are symptoms of an underlying problem, which could be insufficient fiber to help keep stools soft and moving with ease. Other signs could be irritable bowel syndrome and weight gain.

Doctors refer to small pouches in the colon as diverticulosis. These pockets gradually push out through muscle layers of the colon. Most people have no idea if they have this problem because they don’t experience major symptoms. But if hernias become infected, the diagnosis changes from diverticulosis to diverticulitis. This can result in bleeding, severe abdominal pain, and sometimes the formation of an abscess. Antibiotics might help, or the problem may require surgery.

We know that age and genetics can be factors in the development of small hernias. But the main culprit is chronic constipation, a major North American problem.

Deficient fiber intake is a factor. A Harvard University study followed 50,019 women between the ages 43 to70 for 24 years. Compared with women who ate the least fiber (13 grams), those who consumed the most (27 grams) were 14 percent less likely to develop diverticulitis requiring antibiotics or hospital care. Other studies have shown similar results for men.

The message is to eat more whole grains and fruit, like apples, raspberries, and prunes. Tomatoes are high in fiber. So are vegetables like celery, potatoes with the skin on, black beans and green peas, to name a few. Keeping your waste production line fueled with fiber helps keep your intestinal bacteria healthy too, and this decreases the risk of inflammation.

Readers often write asking, what’s the right amount? How much ﬁber should we eat? That’s a question medical authorities are considering afresh. Should the daily recommended dietary intake be moved from the current 25 to 30 grams a day upward to 50 grams? That’s a lot of baked beans!

But the point is, you are probably not eating enough ﬁber.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones.

RECURRING EVENTS

Monthly Suppers prepared by Knights of Columbus at Holy Cross Church Hall at 503 Clothier St W. Suppers will be held on the last Thursday of the month. Cost $10 per adult, $5 for children under 12 and $25 for families.

PROBUS: Fellowship, Fun and inFormed presenters are part of the PROBUS gathering on the third Wednesday of each month at St Paul's Presbyterian Church Hall at 9:30AM. For more information contact at n.g.probus97@gmail.com

Kemptville Legion: Fridays 3-9. Free Pool and Darts. Everyone Welcome BINGO, Kemptville Legion, Bingos run from the beginning of September until the end of June on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays.

NG Duplicate Bridge Club, Masonic Lodge 311 Van Buren Kemptville, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 12:15. All Levels of bridge players are welcome. Info call 613-795-7155

Friendship Lunches are oﬀered to everyone every Friday. Please join us in our lower hall by 11:30 for a free meal, companionship and fellowship at St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. and begin at 11:30. There is no charge. A free will oﬀering is appreciated. Everyone is welcome.

Friendship Café is open to the community Tuesday's from 10 to noon. All are welcome to stop by, enjoy a hot beverage, a sweet treat and some friendly conversation all at no cost. At St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. Spencerville Agricultural Society planning general meetings. If you are interested in joining our committee, please email info@spencervillefair.ca to receive all of the meeting details. Oct 21, Nov 11. The Drummond Building, 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville Ontario BID EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, October 22, November 5, 19, December 3 and 17. Registration starts at 6:00 p.m., play starts at 6:30 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, October 15, 29, November 12, 26, and December 10. Registration starts at 6:00 p.m., play starts at 6:30 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com

Kemptville Farmers' Market: Many local farmers, producers and makers. Every Sunday from noon til 4pm, May 12 - October 27. Located at 301 Rideau St, Kemptville, across the lot from B&H Grocers St. John’s Drawing Circle is every Friday at 4 pm. This is a 3 hour drawing studio with life drawing models (clothed) for artists of all ages and abilities. Cost is $120 for 12 weeks or $15.00 for drop ins. RSVP please Jennifer @ gowjb@msn.com. At St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. Tuesday Community Hub hosted by the House of Lazarus All are welcome to drop in. Advocacy, “make a meal, take a meal” cooking opportunities, community services assistance are just a few of the weekly programs. Stop by and visit or contact House of Lazarus directly at 613-989-3830 for more details. “Building Community, Sharing Hope”. Upstairs at St. John's United Church at 400 Prescott St. Winchester Open Mic Cafe, Sundays 2pm to 5pm at the Old Town Hall, 478 Main Street, Winchester. Free, accessible, everyone welcome. Modern Square Dancing in Kemptville with the Grenville Gremlins Square Dance Club. Monday Evenings 7:30 - 9:30pm. North Grenville Municipal Center County Road 44 For more info call Debbie at 613-795-3032 or Google "Kemptville Square Dancing" Saturday Art Social every Saturday morning at the NG Public Library! 10 am - 11:30 am at the NG Public Library. Free with basic materials provided

UPCOMING EVENTS

Apple Day Event: NG Scouting Youth will be handing out apples and smiles at Canadian Tire, B&H Grocery, Johnsons Independent and Food Basics. And if you feel in the giving mood, donations are greatly appreciated with all money collected staying right here in the community to help local youth. Apple Day is Saturday October 12. from 9-noon. October15

Rotary Club 90th: October15. Cordially invites you to our 90 Years of SERVICE in the Community Please R.S.V.P. by October 1ª Doors open at 5:30 for social time and dinner at 6:30 Cost $40 kemptvillerotary@hotmail.com Please advise special meal requirements. Catered Aﬀairs 820 Heritage Drive, Kemptville

National Association of Federal Retirees. Branch information and new member recruitment meeting. Guest speaker Lynn Nasralla, Medoc / Johnson Insurance. October 16, 2024 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. North Grenville Municipal Hall, Salon A. Kemptville Grand opening of our Fudge Kitchen at Cannamore Orchard, 1480 County Road 32, Crysler. October 17 at 11:00 am

Beef Supper: October 19 – Eat In Or Take Out Seatings at 4:15 pm & 5:30 pm , Advance Tickets ONLY – $25.00 each Order tickets before October 16th by calling 613-258-4695

Serving: Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Corn, Baked Beans, Turnip, Coleslaw, Roll and Pie. Bishops Oxford United Church, Bishops Mills Guiding Tails: October 19 at 6:30 pm

Celebrating dogs in stories and songs An event featuring Kim Kilpatrick, her dog Ginger, and musicians Mary Moore and Donnie Higgins. North Grenville Public Library

Touchdowns & Terrors: A Fundraising Gala for the GridIron - October 26. Cocktails at 6:30. Dinner at 7. Kids party starts at 6:30 at the North Grenville Municipal Centre. Get those costumes out and join us for a spooky evening of fun & fundraising to help support youth football in North Grenville. Get your tickets today!

https://app.teamlinkt.com/fundraisers/support/kemptville_minor_football_club_touchdowns_and_terrors_gala

The Merrickville and District Historical Society announces the October lecture, “Conserving Heritage Trees”. October 29 at 7:00 pm at the Merrickville Legion. Suggested donation at the door: $2. WIZARD CARD GAME TOURNAMENT on Sunday, November 10 at Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 12:30 and play starts at 1:00 p.m. $5 per player. For information contact debiar@ymail.com.

A Christmas on Campus

Join My Local Markets and the North Grenville Arts Guild as we celebrate the festive season at the Kemptville Campus.

November 16 & 17 from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Kemptville Campus, 75 Campus Drive, Kemptville, ON Free Parking | Free Admission

Donations to Beth Donovan Hospice are welcomed.

Occasional House Cleaning

Kemptville and Area Jackie 613-821-6161

SMALL TO MEDIUM JOBS

Framing - Drywall - Laminate Floors - Demolition - Decks - Painting - etc ...

Bill: 613.774.2922

FOR SALE

Dry stacked hardwood firewood. Located east of Kemptville. $115 per face cord incl HST. 613-258-7778 or millerak43@gmail.com

iPhone 12 in excellent condition for sale. Asking $275.00. call 613258-8000

3 Plastic Fuel Csns: 1.5 litre, 2.5 litre & 5 litre. Call Doug, Kemptville: 613 258-4573

4 winter tires on rims 225/60R/17, fits Hyundai. $500, Call 613258-1058

4 Snow Tires on rims - 225/65/17 - asking $600 - call Reg 2587606

Drill press on stand. Delta model 11-960C $150 Call 613-2582604

Table saw Delta model 36-325C $300 Call 613-258-2604

Pegasus mobility scooter, like new, $1400 or best offer, silver gray. Call 613-258-7020

Assorted sports memorabilia for sale 613-2150665

Canoe, Cedar and canvas, 15 1/2 feet. Comes with 3 paddles. $800 nadfudt@gmail.com

Electric fully-enclosed 4-wheeled scooter, lightly used, good price, 613-269-2432.

Mixed hardwood firewood. $120 per face cord. Call or text Jon 613-227-3650.

4X4 round bales and small squares of hay, suitable for horses. Call or text Jon 613-2273650.

Womens hooded spring & fall coat front pocket beaded emblems med tall $40. Mens white cardigan sweater button front med.$10. contact Dan at nadfudt@gmail.com

Arborite countertop grey specs round front 22X38X 1.5 inches $15.00 Used kitchen sink stainless steel 20x18x7 inches $10.00 contact Dan at nadfudt@gmail.com

MISCELANEOUS

Looking to rent farmland in North Grenville & surrounding areas. Call or text Mitch @ 613-2621204.

FOR RENT

Beautiful 1400 sq.ft. Apartment for Rent in Chesterville. 2+1 bedrooms in a triplex. Bright kitchen with Laurysen cabinets, fridge, stove, laundry on site. Tenant controls energy efficient utilities. Lots of parking with snow removal. Large backyard with lawn mowed.References. First and last. $2000.00 monthly. 613448-2350

ACROSS

1. Flippant

5. Requests

9. Run for it

13. Not under

14. Boats

16. Teller of untruths

17. Plateau

18. Lustrous fabric

19. Abominable Snowman

20. Puncture

22. Change of life

24. Flower stalk

26. Goat antelope

27. Tentacled devilﬁsh

30. Water vapors

33. One in an ancient Jewish sect

35. Fastening

37. Anagram of "One"

38. Therefore

41. G

42. Specialty

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SHOP LOCAL

45. Shell fragments

48. Harvester

51. Not outdoors

52. Weary

54. Biblical garden

55. Series of short sharp notes

59. Water vapor

62. Approaching

63. Relating to audible sound

65. Europe's highest volcano

66. Away from the wind

67. Wear away

68. Asterisk

69. Annoyance

70. Tall woody plant

71. Peddle

DOWN

1. Ceremonial splendor

2. At any point

3. Opposition

4. Plow puller

5. Donkey

6. Fraud

7. Flying toys

8. Backbones

9. Flighty

10. In place of

11. Consumes food

12. A Great Lake

15. Haughty response

21. Visored cap

23. He writes in stanzas

25. Cornmeal dish

27. Not closed

28. Hymn singers

29. Observe

31. Reseda

32. Contemptuous look

34. N N N

36. Colloids

39. Fraternity letter

40. Coastal raptor

43. Short-handled ax

44. Majestic

46. Combines

47. Female verse writer

49. Eliminate

50. Comeback

53. Giver 55. Break in two 56. Floor covering 57. Long, long time 58. Adjacent 60. Nitpicky to a fault 61. Crumbling earthy deposit 64. C

-Support neighbourhood character -Keep Money in Your Community -Keep Small Communities Intact -Help the Environment

Beware of fake texts

A fake text message is a text that appears to be from a legitimate source, but is sent by a scammer, spammer, or another malicious party. The purpose of fake texts is typically to obtain your personal information, deceive you, or otherwise cause harm. Learning how to identify a fake text message can help you avoid falling victim to text message scams.

Fake texts can be sophisticated and creative, which can make it diﬃcult to spot them. Scammers may use everything, from phone number spoofing to fake news headlines, to get you to trust a fake message, give out your personal information, click a link, or open an attachment. One of the most common types of fake text messages involves scammers impersonating an organization like a bank or Canada Post.

Identifying a fake text message on an iPhone or Android is crucial to protecting yourself from scams, identity theft, or accidentally installing harmful software like adware. To determine if a text message is legitimate or not, pay attention to suspicious sender information, message content, and links or attachments included in the message.

The ﬁrst thing to look at when receiving a text message is the sender's phone number. Here are speciﬁc things to watch out for when identifying fake messages:

Number irregularities: Scammers may use numbers with extra or repeated digits (for example, 1234567890 or 9999999999). But, a fake blocked text message won’t let you see the number, since it comes from a blocked number. In this case, use the next two sections.

Alphanumeric senders: If you receive a spoofed message from an alphanumeric sender (e.g., "AMAZON"), be cautious. While businesses might use alphanumeric sender IDs legitimately, scammers also use them to make their messages appear valid by using a trusted name.

Foreign country codes: Be wary of text messages from foreign country codes, especially if you are not expecting communication from that location. Suspicious message

content: The next step is to closely examine the content of the message. Here are some key signs that you may be dealing with a fake text:

Urgent tone: Fake messages frequently try to create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to act immediately (e.g., "Your account has been compromised! Click here to secure it now!").

Bad spelling, grammar, or formatting: Scammers sometimes use poor language in a fake text conversation, either out of carelessness or to evade your carrier’s spam ﬁlter. They may also use mismatched fonts and inconsistent text sizing.

Request for personal information: Real companies and institutions will never ask for sensitive personal information via text message. If you receive a message requesting such information, be very cautious. Suspicious links or attachments: Watch out for text messages that contain links or attachments, especially if they come from unknown senders. Fake subscription texts or fake automated text messages often use embedded links to trick recipients into divulging sensitive information or downloading malware. If you receive a suspicious link, check the URL carefully for any discrepancies or misspellings. You can also preview the link (without tapping) to check the actual destination. But, the safest practice is to never open links or download attachments from unveriﬁed sources.

Some common fake spam text examples include: Smishing texts. A combination of "SMS" and "phishing,” smishing uses fake texts to target victims with phishing scams. Smishing texts often impersonate a trusted entity, like a bank, in an attempt to trick you into visiting a pharming website and revealing sensitive information such as passwords or banking details. Common formats include fake conﬁrmation texts and fake subscription texts.

Spear phishing is a type of phishing that involves a highly personalized cyberattack aimed at manipulating specific targets into divulging sensitive information or installing mali-

cious software. Romance scam texts. Some of the most deceitful of all fake text messages are romance scams. From catfishing to sugar daddy scams, these can lead to victims feeling hurt and humiliated. They can also be successful financial scams, causing victims to lose significant amounts of money. Catfishing involves a scammer creating a fake online persona to manipulate their target once they gain their trust. Once they’ve built rapport, they may fabricate a crisis, texting the victim to send money to help them — for instance, they could ask to borrow $500 to cover emergency vet bills for their cat.

Scareware texts. Scareware text messages use fear to manipulate you into taking action before you have time to think further. For example, you may receive a text claiming that your device has been infected with a virus and prompting you to download a fake antivirus app to "fix" the problem, which installs malware onto your phone. Under the scareware banner, scammers may also ask you to tap a dangerous link or visit an infected website. These actions could also lead you to inadvertently install malware like spyware or ransomware onto your device.

If you believe you’ve received a fake text message, follow these steps to protect yourself: Do not reply. Responding to a fake text message, even just writing “STOP,” may conﬁrm to the sender that your phone number is active, potentially leading to more messages.

Block the sender. Most smartphones allow you to block speciﬁc numbers or senders, preventing them from contacting you again. Report the message. If you receive a fake text message that appears to be part of a bigger scam or is particularly harmful, report it to your mobile carrier or the appropriate authorities. For example, https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/. Use security software. Ensure that your smartphone has updated security software installed to shield against malware and other potential threats.

Successful fundraiser for Beth Donovan Hospice

This year’s “Horseback for Hospice” event met its goal and raised $10,680 for the Beth Donovan Hospice, which was a combination of fundraising done by the riders as well as proceeds of their silent auction.

It was a beautiful day, and the ride was about 11 km through the woods and trails around the riders’ properties.

Next year’s event will take place on Sunday, September 28, 2025.

VOLUNTEERING IS THE

H eartbeat OF OUR COMMUNITY

Asperitas Clouds

“Asperitas” clouds are a new type of cloud – or at least newly named as a distinct type of cloud. Just like all clouds, they have been around since time immemorial. They are also considered a rare cloud formation.

Despite the storms that followed the Asperitas clouds display in our area on October 6, these clouds are not usually associated with storms or bad weather. Instead, they more commonly show up before or after a storm.

One of the most compelling things about Asperitas clouds is that we don’t yet fully understand how they form. One theory is that they form when sinking cold air interacts with winds that are changing direction. In any event, these clouds –which some may argue resemble angry mashed potatoes – drew much attention last weekend ahead of some equally rare October thunderstorms.

Local photographer Jane Rutter captures these crows ﬂying through last Sunday's gathering storm.

In Memory of

Rosemary Faye Dolan

Stovel, Stuart Mark 1959-2024

It is October 8. Five years have passed since God called you home. I am reading the inscription at the bottom of our tombstone. “The Rose and the Beaver a Love Story”

These are the Days I want to Relive

The day God parted the water in the river of my dreams so that one of his angels could walk straight into my life in July 1971.

The day I ﬁrst felt the softness of your lips as they teased mine.

The day I realized that God wanted me to experience real love, and He wanted you, Rose, to be the one to show me.

The day He let me have your hand in marriage on October 9, 1976 – it would be my best birthday present ever.

The days your words of inspiration brightened the darkest moments in my life.

March 13, 1955 to October 8, 2019 able wake up beside you for almost 43 years and

The days we wrapped ourselves in the warmth of each others’ arms so that I could feel your heart beating in unison with mine. Rose, thank you for creating a best life for me. My greatest privilege was to be able to wake up beside you for almost 43 years and hear you say “Let’s Live Today” Love always Jim (Beaver) PS: tomorrow I turn 75

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Stuart on August 28,2024 in his 65th year. He will be greatly missed by his daughter Lia, her partner Jason, his best friend Jo-Anne and his brother Daniel (Debra). Born in Columbus, Georgia Stuart was the loving son of the late Daniel E. Stovel and the late Maureen Sillers. Stuart was a very proud ironworker and teacher of welding at Algonquin College. Stuart loved music, spending time with friends and family and chilling by the pool at his home. A funeral service will be held at a later date. A special thank you to the nurses and doctors at the Kemptville District Hospital. Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be greatly appreciated. Condolences/Tributes/Donations Hulse, Playfair & McGarry www.hpmcgarry.ca 613-258-2435

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SHOP LOCAL

The many ways you can VOLUNTEER in North Grenville

VOLUNTEERING

IS THE H eartbeat

KD Hospital

Andre Rancourt andrerancourt16@gmail.com

SKBP Venturers skbp.venturers@gmail.com

Girl Guides theleangs@gmail.com

NG Art Challenge jayne.couch@yahoo.com

NG Art Guild northgrenvilleartsguild@gmail.com

Beth Donovan Hospice amy.tibben@bethdonovanhospice.ca

Oxford Mills Community Association susannelarner@gmail.com

Kemptville Youth Centre brucewehlau@hotmail.com

Sponsor a Seat !

Coming Soon to the North Grenville Municipal Centre Arena!

We’re adding 500 brand-new seats to Arena 1 in the new year, and you can be part of it! For a $100 donation, have your name or business proudly displayed on a seat for everyone to see.

Come and check it out on STORM DAY - Saturday, October 12th!

Have any questions?

-Support neighbourhood character -Keep Money in Your Community -Keep Small Communities Intact -Help the Environment

Friend of the NG Library blrousseau26@gmail.com

NG Historical Society karenrepta@gmail.com

Rotary corabeking54@gmail.com

Christian Reformed Church sidypma@gmail.com

United Church gowjb5@gmail.com

House of Lazarus cashby@houseoﬂazarus.com

Youth Alliance: ng.rainbowyouth@gmail.com

Seniors' Community Services jill.woodley@seniorscs.ca

Shalom Small Homes shalomsmallhomeskemptville.org

The NG Library sjones@ngpl.ca

Friends of the Forestry Centre ldpaibomesai@gmail.com

Kemptville & District Community Assn. wdembleton@gmail.com BIA shelleybmitchell@gmail.com

Pride chair@ngpride.ca

Lions Club

mikeamirault@hotmail.com

Knights of Columbus, Council 5333

Leeds Grenville Big Brothers Big Sisters

Vanessa.martin@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca

Canadian Guide Dog Assoc Info@guidedogs.ca

Jags

kemptvillejags@gmail.com

Pentacostal Church kohls.s.m@gmail.com

United way Ed@uwlg.org

North Grenville Giving Garden michelleroussellemcevoy@gmail.com

Kemptville Farmers' Market kfmmanager1@gmail.com

Kemptville Restore kemptvillerestore@habitat1000islands.org

Email: parksrec@northgrenville.on.ca

Baldwin’s Birds

Feathers or Milkweed

Yesterday on walking out to my garden bird feeders, I came upon a collection of feathers on the ground in front of them. Immediately, rightly or wrongly, I jumped to the conclusion that a cat had gotten another kill. Today, I had a brief period where I thought that I might be wrong in this summation when catching, in the wind, the sight of a Milkweed plant blowing to and fro and distributing its fluffy florets onto the ground very near to what I had seen before. The similarities to each other are quite remarkable, except the feathers have a spine and the milkweed doesn’t. Much to my chagrin, I had been correct the first time as evidenced, unfortunately, in the two comparison pictures that I have provided for you to judge for yourselves. I shall therefore say no more, but to plead for Cat owners to be aware of what damage to the bird population your lovely furry friend can wreak! Our birds are still not plentiful here, at present, but some still come daily to visit, such as the Goldfinches, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jays, Downy Woodpeckers, Chickadees, and Mourning Doves, who have now got quite a darker look than their usual pinkish hue, so not quite so attractive. The Rock Pigeons are still very colourful, although they do not come in so large a flock as they no doubt will when it gets a bit colder and food is short. A few “honking” Canada Geese are starting to herald in the time when they are about to depart, so we have something to expect fairly soon I suspect. But until that happens, stay safe and well and enjoy what birds you can, before the inevitable happens and they disappear too, for a few months.

Cheers, John Baldwin

National Breastfeeding Week 2024

National Breastfeeding

Week is celebrated October 1-7 in Canada. Every year, the World National Breastfeeding Week is celebrated October 1-7 in Canada. Every year, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) selects a theme for World Breastfeeding Week. This year, WABA is showcasing the need to improve breastfeeding support to reduce inequalities that exist in our society. The World Breastfeeding Week 2024 theme is “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All”. National Breastfeeding Week is an opportunity to advocate for improved breastfeeding support for families in Canada. Every day, our society faces inequalities affecting breastfeeding. Indigenous and Black families, as well as families living in rural and remote areas, are particularly faced with more challenges to meet their infant feeding goals. A gap exists when there is a discrepancy between the support provided to breastfeeding families and current

evidence-based practices. Gaps occur for many reasons, including challenges within healthcare facilities, limited resources in certain communities, and workplace practices to name a few. The social determinants of health also impact care and can create gaps. Inequalities related to race, gender, and other factors such as socioeconomic status, education and age affect many perinatal families. The Health Unit is committed to ensuring that no family is left behind.

The Health Unit provides many diﬀerent levels of support for families in our community to help address these inequities, all free of charge. Prenatal education can be provided through our online prenatal program, and telephone support is available to families with any questions. For families looking for additional support, the Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program is a home visiting program available to prenatal and postpartum families in Ontario. Families will receive guidance, information,

and resources, and will be supported in connecting with other community resources. In January of 2024, the Health Unit launched the new Prenatal Breastfeeding Information sessions, available both virtually and in-person across our region. These services help families to make informed choices about feeding their baby, feel more prepared for the arrival of their baby, and help families to know where they can go for support with infant feeding after their baby arrives.

Free Infant Feeding Clinics are also available in 5 locations across Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark. Here, families will receive one-on-one support to help them meet their infant feeding goals. They will be supported with learning how to feed their baby, learning their baby’s feeding cues, recognizing the signs that their baby is feeding well, supporting them with any breastfeeding challenges, and having any of their questions answered. The Health Unit is committed to supporting all families to feed

Fundamentals: Just as I am

by David Shanahan

There seems to be a misconception about being a Christian. People seem to think that Christians are either especially “spiritual” people, or else they’re holier-thanthou idiots who blindly believe some unintelligent fairy tales about God, etc. There are other attitudes that are somewhere between those two opinions, but the general belief is that Christians are guilty of turning oﬀ their brains and “going on faith”. But the faith involved in being a Christian is not blind, not mindless, not willing to accept whatever one is told.

Jesus said that the greatest command of all involves loving the Lord your God with all your mind. That means thinking through things, examining, asking questions and not being satisﬁed with ignorance. It also means coming to know who you are in relation to God, and that is far from being a cosy and comfortable process. Christians are not, in that sense, holier than thou. They are people who know that they have been given a gift: forgiveness, love, salvation, that they do not deserve and have not earned.

Their only claim to any of this, is that Jesus died and rose for their sake, individually and personally. They have come to the Lord, not because they have any right to do so, but because he called them to come and made it possible by his death on their behalf. It really is amazing grace, as John Newton put it.

Perhaps in this age when so many Christians sing choruses, instead of solid and meaty hymns, we are missing out on the truth of this. So, let me invite you to read something that puts the entire gospel into a song of joy. Charlotte Elliott wrote it in 1835 to express her certainty about her position before God. It was not dependant on her feelings, her worthiness, or her activities. It was all because of Jesus, and her only claim to be conﬁdent in her salvation was because Jesus had assured her and called her, and given her his righteousness and salvation.

Every Christian can say or sing these words “ﬁlled with an inexpressible and glorious joy”, as Peter put it. If these seem foreign to you, think about what they are saying and realise that “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far oﬀ – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” [Acts 2.39]

Faith is not blind: it is simply trusting Jesus that what he says is true, what he did, he did for you, personally. Every time I start to feel like the undeserving moron I know I can be in my deepest self, I think of these words, and remember that God loves me as I am, knowing exactly who and what I am. He is not asking us to change and be better people before we can be acceptable to him, because he knows we can never be that good. But if we have the humility to agree with his verdict on us, then we know that we stand by grace alone.

their babies in a safe and nurturing way.

Beyond our healthcare system, workplaces that support breastfeeding and milk expression are important in the provision of breastfeeding support. Additionally, a welcoming atmosphere for breastfeeding in public places, and inclusion of comfortable spaces for breastfeeding and milk expression in the community provide further layers of support. National Breastfeeding Week 2024 asks individuals, health care facilities, and organizations to identify the gaps in breastfeeding support and take action to make breastfeeding easier for every person who wants to breastfeed.

Learn more about how the Health Unit supports families to reach their feeding goals by visiting https://healthunit.org/healthinformation/babies-children/ infant-feeding/

You can also call 1-800660-5853 or follow LGLHealthunit on Facebook and X or lglhealthunit.z on Instagram.

Too good to be true? I must say, for myself, that after ﬁfty-one years as a Christian, it is more true now than ever before. Just as it was the day I ﬁrst trusted him, so it is today:

“Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot;

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conﬂict, many a doubt;

Fightings within, and fears without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; sight, riches, healing of the mind;

Yes, all I need, in Thee to ﬁnd, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, Thy love unknown has broken every barrier down; Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Issue 40 2024 October 10 NG Times

Kemptville Rotary celebrate 90 years of service

THOMAS M. BYRNE

Girls Inc. Annual Champions for Girls Breakfast

Repair Café celebrates 15 years

Sponsor Twilux and light up the night!

Community mourns loss of Rowan Dean

Venturers visit Scotland; make new Beaver friends

Buy me a rake

Letter to the Editor

Farmers urged to focus on ﬁre prevention as part of winter prep

Consultation open for proposed updates to Mississippi-Rideau

Source

Protection Plan

CAMIMH honours 2024 champions of mental health

Canadian Wollastonite partners with UNDO Carbon

Laura Melnick’s story explains why KDH needs a CT Scanner

Recognizing our gratitude to First Nations

Volunteers needed to keep the Downtown Kemptville magic alive!

Local schools

threatened again

Wild West Drone Fest: Farmers break the law to spray ﬁelds with drones

“Calling All Creatives”

Friday Life Drawing

Art Challenge

73’s take four points at home

#31

Senior Times

Meals on Wheels Special at Seniors’ Community Services

4th Annual Wreath and Planter Fundraiser

Senior Times

The Power of Movement: Why seniors should stay active

Seniors for Climate Action

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

How to decrease risk of large bowel hernias

RECURRING EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

FOR SALE

MISCELANEOUS

FOR RENT

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SHOP LOCAL

Beware of fake texts

Successful fundraiser for Beth Donovan Hospice

H eartbeat OF OUR COMMUNITY

Asperitas Clouds

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SHOP LOCAL

The many ways you can VOLUNTEER in North Grenville

VOLUNTEERING

IS THE H eartbeat

Sponsor a Seat !

Baldwin’s Birds

Feathers or Milkweed

National Breastfeeding Week 2024

Fundamentals: Just as I am

Articles inside

Kemptville Rotary celebrate 90 years of service