ND Times Issue 15 2023 July 27

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Winchester Dairyfest 2023

South Mountain rider participates in third Great Cycle Challenge Canada

When it comes to fighting childhood cancer, Ron Porteous is a familiar face. A resident of South Mountain, Ron is planning to ride 1,250 kilometres and raise $5,000 during the month of August for The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in support of its 8th annual Great Cycle Challenge Canada.

Founded in 2016, Great Cycle Challenge Canada has grown to become one of the biggest cycling events in the country. In just seven years, over 115,000 riders from all provinces and territories have ridden 20.1 million kilometres, raising more than $39.4 million for research, care and the development of better treatments and cures for

childhood cancer. This year, SickKids Foundation hopes that more than 15,000 riders will take part to support kids’ cancer research.

“Cancer is the largest killer of Canadian children from disease and over 1,400 Canadian children are diagnosed with cancer every year,” said Jamie Lamont, Director of Special Events at SickKids Foundation. “Thanks to riders like Ron, we’re fueling groundbreaking research to save lives and give kids the brighter future they deserve.”

“This is the third time I have participated in Great Cycle Challenge,” said Ron Porteous. “During those years, I rode 2,520 kilome-

tres and raised $11,055.53. This year, I am aiming to raise $5,000 and ride 1,250 kilometres.”

To learn more about Ron’s Great Cycle Challenge Canada and to make a donation, please visit greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/ RonPorteous. To participate in Great Cycle Challenge Canada, visit GreatCycleChallenge.ca.

About Great Cycle Challenge Canada

Great Cycle Challenge Canada encourages cyclists across Canada to challenge themselves and set their own personal riding goal throughout August to fight kids' cancer. Riders fundraise to save lives and give

kids the brighter future they deserve. For more information, visit greatcyclechallenge.ca.

About SickKids Foundation

Established in 1972, SickKids Foundation raises funds on behalf of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and is the largest charitable funder of child health research, learning and care in Canada. Philanthropy is a critical source of funding for SickKids – one of the world’s foremost paediatric health-care institutions. For more information, please visit sickkidsfoundation. com.

Wildfires update:

Will there be smoke all summer?

strikes. Unfortunately, the benefits of humans becoming more careful are being cancelled out by the dry, hot conditions that make it easier for lightning strikes to ignite forest materials.

concerns. The smoke may not noticeably affect some healthy, average people, but others who are more vulnerable can be seriously at risk when air quality is poor, particularly people with asthma.

Local residents may have noticed that it has been a while since several consecutive days of thick smoke adversely impacted both visibility and air quality. While the occasional haze can still be seen some days, more recently, the worst of the smoke seems to be gone –for now. What is happening with the wildfires in parts of Quebec, Ontario, and other

parts of Canada?

By last week, over 4,400 wildfires had been reported in Canada this year. Smoke has been so intense that it has been blown across the ocean, reaching Europe. Forest fires are certainly not new in Canada or in most other parts of the world, but their intensity is growing. Human-started wildfires are becoming less common, with more than half of all wildfires now being ignited by lightning

Climate change is happening. The magnitude of the impact that human behaviour has on it and the particular human activities that make a difference will always be up for debate, but recorded data shows without a doubt that the world is slowly becoming hotter and drier. These are perfect conditions for large, hard to control fires to ignite and rage on for weeks.

Locally, the consequences of the wildfires have been most significantly felt in air quality. Some outdoor events – including children’s sporting events and even recess time during some school days – had to be cancelled over air quality

Will there be smoke all summer? Thankfully, the worst of the smoke is likely behind us, at least for this year. To think that smoky fire seasons will not continue into the future, year after year, would be foolish. Specifically, regarding smoke in the Ottawa area, Peter Kimbell, a warning preparedness meteorologist for Environment Canada, told the CBC “We may have an episode or two, but they probably will become more and more spaced-out and less and less frequent.”

In the meantime, local residents will surely not take for granted the days when we can look out and see crystal clear skies.

Shroomfest raises $123,500 for local charities – including WDMH!

submitted by Jane Adams

Every year, a group of community-minded men come together for Shroomfest. It’s an evening of fun and fundraising. Once again this year, the Shroomfest team chose the WDMH Foundation as one of the charities to benefit from the event – and we are very grateful. In all, this energetic group raised $123,500 for local charities and initiatives.

Recently, the organizers presented the WDMH Foundation with a cheque for $5,000 for our General Equipment Fund. It will be used to purchase equipment such as the two new autoclaves that are used to clean and sterilize medical equipment and instruments at Winchester District Memorial Hospital.

“Many people are surprised to learn that the provincial government does not fund the purchase of medical equipment for Ontario hospitals. To help ensure that WDMH has the right tools to provide excellent health care for our patients, the Foundation works with donors who care about WDMH and who want to make an impact,” explains Justine Plummer, Manager of Direct Mail and Events. “Thank you to the Shroomfest Board members, sponsors, and volunteers - and to everyone who attended Shroomfest!”

Shown at the presentation are Justine Plummer, Manager of Direct Mail & Events, WDMH Foundation, and Daryn Hicks.

Handcuffs deployed successfully

by Brandon Mayer

It surprises me how many people don’t realize that they don’t need to submit to a receipt check in a retail store. Why not? I’ll answer with a question. Would you let a store employee unlock your cellphone to verify that it’s actually yours and not a stolen display model? Would you let a store employee inspect your wedding ring for

It’s your choice, choose local

an engraving to make sure it’s not from the store’s jewelry department? What about your sunglasses? Your purse or wallet? Would you let someone check the clothes you’re wearing for tags? No – because it’s YOUR stuff, right? A lot of people forget that once you pay for something, it’s yours. Which means that all that stuff in your shopping bag belongs to you as well, and no store employee has the right to

40th Anniversary Celebration

South Nation Archery Supply/Club invites you to join Kathleen and Larry to celebrate 40 years serving the needs of archers and bowhunters in eastern Ontario, western Quebec and northern New York State. On Saturday, August 26, 2023, there will be cake for everyone, national and provincial medal presentations to our indoor target archers, and 5% off in-store items. Drop in any time between 9am and 4pm to help us celebrate.

We look forward to seeing you.

11667 Holmes Road, Winchester

search your possessions without a warrant or consent.

I haven’t been asked to present a receipt in quite a long time, but I am firm in my decision that the next time it happens, I am going to simply keep walking and wish the store employee a nice day. If stores are paranoid about theft, they should ditch the self-checkouts. It already takes me longer to shop fumbling with those awful machines – I don’t

have time to stop and be searched like a criminal, too. One quip I read online recently was “I never signed up for the cashier’s job so if I did it badly… oh well!”

There are so many stores – good, local stores – that don’t use self-checkout and still provide great customer service. Yes, big box retailers that treat us like criminals will always be less expensive, and for some families, there is no choice but to shop

where the prices are low. This is understandable, and no judgement here. Those who can afford to spend their dollars at smaller, locally owned stores should do so to take a stand against the decline of customer service (and get a great shopping experience!).

This situation is either going to come full circle, with a return to real customer service when retailers realize it is cheaper in the long run, or more technology is going to be deployed to make customers’ lives even more miserable in the name

of loss prevention. Perhaps soon, it won’t be “thank you for using self-checkout” that we hear in a robotic tone reverberating around the store, but rather “handcuffs deployed successfully” as the self-checkout detains a suspected shoplifter. Heck, maybe they could even be loaded with tasers and pepper spray. Anything to make big bucks for big corporations, all while utterly humiliating customers and violating their rights. Enough is enough. Shop small, shop local.

The sun hidden behind wildfire smoke on June 6.

by Brandon Mayer

Kibble 4 Paws: A way to help those who help animals

goats and more.”

Other beneficiaries of the Kibble 4 Paws program include wildlife centres, foodbanks, women's shelters, Streetfriends and community hubs.

How does an idea like Kibble 4 Paws get started?

Extreme Fear

by Stephen Trolley

for Kibble 4 Paws are to obtain its Charity status, and expand into the world of helping seniors with their “Golden Paws” program.

by Brandon Mayer

It is not hard to find a deep respect for non-profit organizations that help animals. These non-profits are the epitome of humanity, and the caring individuals who run them pour their heart and soul into their work every day. But what happens when the helpers need help?

Kibble 4 Paws is a registered non-profit food distribution organization that is dedicated to helping rescues cut costs toward

food and supplies so that their funds can go toward veterinary care and other necessities, instead of worrying about the bare basics, such as food.

“We receive food donations from large suppliers which we then distribute to all types of rescues such as those supporting dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals,” explained Julie Bourdon from Kibble 4 Paws. “We also assist farm sanctuaries by purchasing feed with donations from our supporters at our local feed store, which includes food for pigs, alpacas, chickens,

Tid bit musings

by Elva Patterson Rutters RSSW

It is often not what you say but the tone in which you communicate that becomes the issue or even the terminology that is questionable. What are you meaning to say? Can you spell it out more concretely? Are you sincere? Do you only hear what you want to hear?

The expression "sorry for your loss" often reflects on the passing of an individual. But in reality, is that person lost? Or would it be more accurate to say "my condolences” or “my sympathy." Loss infers the essence of someone/something valuable missing. You can lose your keys, the ball, the patience required or the marbles. You have no idea where to find them or how to relocate them. Depending on your faith, the passing of someone clearly defines where they are. Generally, you know they are in heaven or hell depending on their spiritual commitment, or in the case of scientology's beliefs, the individual has returned to the sanctity of the earth. When you say "sorry for your troubles", are you referring to the ingrown toenail, hemorrhoid or the passing of a loved one? Being specific helps identify the issue, and reflects your feelings pertaining to that passage of life. Often, being uncomfortable speaking of death, despite the fact that no one gets out of life alive, results in one being cumbersome in what we say.

As recommended in public speaking and communication techniques, we should think of what we desire to say and practice how we can convey our message without being obscure or insecure. Insincerity at any time is as painful as any physical punch would be. Trust your instincts and remember that the tongue is kept behind two lips and a set of teeth, while a set of ears is on the outside of our head ready to listen. Sometimes saying nothing rather than placating the individual is the best move. Your response may mean the world to someone - whisper gently!

Like most ideas, it started small. “What started as a couple of skids of dog food delivered by myself to one local rescue has now grown to over eighty different organizations across Eastern Ontario and Western Québec,” Julie explained. “We are delivering as far south as Bowmanville, North to Parry Sound, East to Hawkesbury and all of the Ottawa and Ottawa Valley areas, West to Brockville, Kingston, Napanee and Cambellford.” The organization has also recently expanded its operations to Western Québec.

With 25 “amazing” volunteer drivers, Kibble 4 Paws delivers right to their clients’ doors, or they meet with clients in strategic spots to save time and mileage. With many of these logistical considerations already figured out, the next steps

Kibble 4 Paws held a local fundraising yard sale in Winchester on July 22 and 23. Stephen Trolly from the Times was on site.

“Julie greeted me at D&H Fencing with infectious enthusiasm,” said Stephen.

“Rows of tables lined with everything from Christmas ornaments to canning supplies – most with some kind of pet themed twist – and even an antique change table took up most of the parking lot. A beautiful raffle basket, donated by Upper Canada Vet and stuffed with goodies, sat prominently on the checkout table.”

Julie reports that the event raised “a bunch of money”, which will be put toward a new and much needed storage facility for the organization.

Extreme Fear first opened at the Cardinal KOA Campground for Halloween in 2006. Seventeen years later, owner Daniel Parent has brought his oversized Halloween Spirit to a new location. With a cemetery on two sides, and foreboding forest behind, Extreme Fear couldn’t have hoped for a better spot than the old elementary school on Hwy 43 between Chesterville and Winchester.

With two months to go before doors open, Daniel Parent and his team are excited for the coming season. A 53-foot semi trailer packed with props and equipment waits for walls and scenes to be put together inside, while powerlines for animatronics are already taped down. Spaces inside are being cleared for party rooms that will be available for birthdays and other events. Extreme Fear is also excited to offer a fully wheelchair accessible venue.

One thing they do need: Student Volunteers. But these volunteer positions aren’t just the heavy lifting or the scaring. Makeup artists, costume designers, artists and actors, and yes, construction and engineering help are all wanted and welcomed.

Extreme Fear opens September 15th, with tickets costing $40 tax included. Proceeds from admissions will be going to support Camp Quality, a volunteer organization that runs camps for children with cancer.

Dundas County 4-H update

submitted by Ethan Velthuis

The first meeting of the Barn Quilting Club was held on July the 8th. We started off the meeting by sanding down our squares and painting them with primer. While we waited for them to dry, we were shown 3x3 and 4x4 quilt designs and learned the history of barn quilts. We chose which design we were going to do and what colours we would be using. We finished our meeting selecting this year’s executive from among the four remaining members: President Emma Hess, Vice President Emily Velthuis, Secretary Erika Mathers and this Press Reporter.

Pet Appreciation Month fundraiser collects over $3,000

preciation Month has raised more than $12 million. The event coincides with the pet store chain’s National Adoption Weekend, which helps local pets from rescue partners find their forever homes.

by Brandon Mayer

An annual fundraising event has raised an impressive amount of money – and it was members of the local community who did the donating! Every year since 2011, Pet Valu Canada holds its Pet Appreciation Month fundraiser. The goal is to raise money to help local pet rescues, shelters, and charities. While the fundraiser did not run in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s now back in full swing,

and recently raised some much needed dollars for a local cat rescue.

Each Pet Valu store chooses its own local recipient for Pet Appreciation Month donations, and South Dundas Cat Rescue has been the lucky recipient of the Winchester dollars – over $3,000 this year to be exact – for the last two years. The store also partners with the South Dundas Cat Rescue by caring for rescue cats and kittens in the store until they are adopted into their forever home.

Since 2011, Pet Ap-

The most compelling aspect of the fundraising is the fact that the dollars come from members of the local community, and get put right back into the community. The store sold paper “PAWs” during the month of June, purchased for a donation amount of the customer’s choosing. The “PAWs” are dedicated to a pet or loved one and pasted up in the store. Every last dollar of these donations went to South Dundas Cat Rescue.

The charity work does not stop at Pet Appreciation month for Pet Valu and its customers. In addition to the cats and kittens regularly hosted in the store for adoption, the store plans to hold a

Companions for Change fundraiser in October. This fundraiser allows customers to help fund projects across Canada that support pets and people. The Companions for Change grants go toward services such as rescue transport, community outreach including mobile spay and neutering clinics, plus larger projects including the construction of new shelters and wellness facilities, as well as sponsoring Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides teams. Great work, North Dundas pet lovers’ community!

Look ma, no hands!

by Brandon Mayer

The world and the people in it both have a funny habit of changing. To ignore this change would be unwise. To attempt to reverse this change would be even more unwise. By contrast, attempting to slow change to make it more within our control is reasonable and wise.

Lately, I have noticed, anecdotally and without evidence of course, that people seem to be changing. Could it be that we are finally seeing the effects of the “smartphone era”? Smartphones are very new, even in the realm of modern history. A small, massively powered rectangle that permits constant entertainment and connection with the entire globe is nothing short of a sociological experiment when its availability goes from basically non-existent to virtually pervasivelyowned in a span of 20 years. I am terrified by the prospect that the re-

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

We are always told to support local, but it should go both ways. Last month, when I was shopping at Mike Dean’s grocery store in Chesterville, I really needed to use the washroom. I was refused, and the reason I was given was because of COVID. It was one of the owners who didn’t want me to use the washroom.

Local businesses want us to support them, but they don’t want to support customers. I have consistently helped out the community by donating to the food bank through Mike Dean’s, but I definitely wasn’t supported in my time of need.

Hopefully this policy can be reconsidered. When seniors have to go, they have to go!

Anonymous

sults of this sociological experiment are in, and that they are not good.

Does it seem to anyone else as though adults and children alike are losing their ability to pay attention? Their ability to think rationally? Their ability to become interested in mental exercises and their willingness to apply themselves to their career or schoolwork? It’s as though anything that isn’t as stimulating as a smartphone gets blocked out. Our brains love stimulation. Have smartphones created a mental world similar to the physical world shown in the Disney film “WALL-E”? In that movie, humans become largely incapable of simple physical tasks due to having everything done for them. Maybe the ability to let smartphones do our thinking is doing the same to modern brains.

I don’t claim to be any different from the rest of the world. I work nearly 12 hours a day, Monday to Friday, and a few hours from home on weekends. I have more than one work email ac-

count programmed into my phone which I find necessary to stay on top of in real time to avoid piling on too many work responsibilities all at once.

I also have the Facebook app, banking apps, and of course messaging apps to stay connected. I do not use YouTube or TikTok or any other video streaming apps on my phone. Even so, just with work email and some social media browsing, my attachment to my phone has become real and strong.

If you want to do an experiment, try this: put your phone “away” somewhere in the house, and then go about doing a perfectly normal activity, and see how long it takes for you to absentmindedly reach for a phone that isn’t there. For me, it would even happen if I put my phone away while watching a movie. Why? Because as I remember things I must do tomorrow, I will want to jot them in my phone so I don’t forget. Then, I will be curious about whether I got a response to that important email, and I will reach over to check. Next,

questions about things in the movie will come up, and I will want to Google them. I am talking about random questions of curiosity. “That’s a tall water tower – I wonder what the tallest one in the world is” … “Does the German autobahn really have no speed limit?” … “Is this a real type of surgery, or is Dr. House just a nutcase?”

I have no idea if this type of impulsive reaching-for-one’s-phone is a cause for concern, but I feel like it must at least be unhealthy. The argument could be made that finding out facts in almost real time should make the world’s population smarter, but what if in reality, it is only serving to excuse our brains from the customary workouts that make them attentive, strong, resilient, and sharp?

Again, in this situation, it makes as much sense for me to point directly into a mirror as it does for me to point fingers at any other person. I am talking about society as a whole, rather than criticizing particular individuals.

Water main breaks cause temporary service interruption

by Brandon Mayer

A break in the municipal water mains occurred early last week, resulting in service disruptions for some Winchester residents. The breaks occurred on July 17, causing residents on Main St between house number 522 and Howard St to be without water during the repairs. A few side streets – Gladstone, Whitney, and Alexander – also had their water service disrupted. The repairs took place on July 18 and July 19 in two separate planned outages so that the work

I am as guilty of reliance on technology as the next person. It’s as though after years of learning and growing in environments that have worked, we’re suddenly screaming “look ma, no hands!” much like a kid who is proud of the hands-free bicycle ride that is about to plunge him toward a painful pavement wipeout. The bicycle can’t drive itself forever, and the hands need experience to be able to coast through life effectively.

To try and move society backwards would be foolish and irresponsible. To think that society is going to suddenly move from the connected smartphone era into the “let’s play chess by the glow of candlelight” era is totally laughable. Smartphones are here to stay. I love mine, and I feel it’s a wonderfully powerful tool that I am grateful to be able to carry around with me. But sometimes, I break out pen and paper and do things the old fashioned way. Sometimes, I disconnect from technology and let my brain do the work. Oftentimes, I enjoy nature

and give my mind a canvas for its own mental work.

Any young parents reading this who experienced a power outage recently – perhaps during the ice storm that took place late last winter –likely spent the entire outage dealing with kids who acted as though the world had run out of oxygen. I loved power outages as a kid. It meant we needed to figure things out. We had to find a way to heat our food, keep our basement from flooding, bring light to the house to be able to see, and communicate with family to ensure everyone was okay. It was fun, and it gave a sense of purpose that modern technology often takes away. Kids don’t seem to appreciate that magic anymore – at least not the ones I know.

Technology is here to stay, and will only evolve more. We can’t go back in time, nor should we, but there is nothing wrong with giving technology a break sometimes, and letting our brains show us what they are really capable of.

could be completed.

On July 18, many water customers in the west end of Winchester experienced a low water pressure event due to a “volume disruption” related to the water main repairs. The Township diverted water from Well #6 to combat the problem, with pressure being restored in a timely manner.

“We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate the continued patience as the Township and OCWA work diligently to repair and restore service to normal,” a Township social media post said.

As an act of goodwill, the Township opened the

Joel Steele Community Centre for impacted residents to draw municipal water to fill containers for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Water service has since been restored.

DairyFest 2023

DairyFest 2023!

Dairyfest Tractor Parade gearing up for its 19th year

by Brandon Mayer

A familiar sight at Dairyfest for the past 19 years has been the Tractor Parade, probably best known for its up close and personal visit to the Dundas Manor parking lot each year. John Cinnamon has been running the Parade since it was conceived, and this year is no different. With still more than two weeks to go, he already has his fleet lined up in a shed on his farm a few miles north of Winchester.

The Tractor Parade was created when the Dairyfest Committee called John all those years ago and asked

him if he would put on an antique tractor show as part of the festivities. He told them it would be no problem and that it didn’t sound too complicated. That is, until the Committee asked if John would be able to select a first, second, and third place “winner” for the show. “I said ‘well you can count me out’ because there’s no way I’m telling my neighbour that he’s got a nicer tractor than the other neighbour!” John joked.

It was at that point that John suggested a tractor parade instead of a tractor show, an idea which the Dairyfest Committee graciously accepted. The

annual Dairyfest Tractor Parade initially started as an event featuring antique tractors, and evolved over the years to accept tractors of all types, sizes, and ages. “A tractor all shined up, 50 years old and looking like new is beautiful, but there’s also nothing wrong with coming out in your work clothes,” John emphasized. “They are tractors, and they’re used on the farm!” John has about 10-12 antique tractors that he expects to have in the parade, and another dozen newer tractors as well if he can find enough drivers. As of last week, he was only missing three drivers. Of all of John’s tractors, he would

John Cinnamon poses with his antique tractor fleet, ready to go for the annual Tractor Parade.

only consider two of them to be “restored”. The others are in their original condition, some of them “rusty as blazes”, and that is John’s favourite way to see them.

There are significant financial costs of putting on a tractor parade, specifically tractor maintenance. There are often tune ups that need to be done in advance of the Parade, particularly for tractors that are mostly left sitting unused except to appear in the Parade or local fairs. These maintenance costs – and the time required to do the work – are picked up solely by the local farmers without whom the Parade would not go on. One of John’s tractors needed new tires, and three others needed new batteries this year. “Then you’ve got diesel fuel, antifreeze, and a top up of oil,” he added.

Required maintenance is understandable, considering the age of some of the tractors. John’s oldest one is 84 years old, originally owned by his wife’s great grandfather.

The parade route has not changed from previous years, but the pace of the parade might be slowed by the construction on Main Street this year, since the participating tractors al-

ways follow the rules of the road. The Parade departs from the Curling Club at 2:30pm, and aims to be passing through the Dundas Manor parking lot at 3pm. After that, the parade route passes the fire hall, the Lion’s Club building, and then up past the Legion if the road is open. “The parade route has been the same for 19 years – follow the tractors,” John joked.

“I don’t know how many more years I’m going to be doing this, but I hope to get at least one, I’d like to see 20 years doing this, for sure. And if the good Lord willing wants me to do it for 25, and my wife lets me, I will!”

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Housing Services asks Township to set aside vacant land

will be the officer assigned to North Dundas. She introduced herself briefly to Council, explaining that she has nearly 22 years of experience as an OPP officer, first being assigned to the Morrisburg detachment in 2002. Originally hailing from Winchester, Sgt Burtch is happy to be back serving in North Dundas.

by Brandon Mayer

At the regularly scheduled Council meeting on July 11 – the only one officially scheduled meeting for the month of July – Housing Services Manager Lisa Smith from the Cornwall SD&G Human Services Department made a presentation regarding some vacant Chesterville land. The land is located at 24 Industrial Drive, adjacent to the Canadian Pacific Railway line on

Chesterville’s eastern edge. The land is not currently serviced by water and sewer but could easily be hooked up. The presentation from Lisa was well-received. She explained the success of other projects, including City of Cornwall housing projects that provide muchneeded affordable housing during a time when housing prices are exorbitant. Mayor Fraser, who is also the Warden for the United Counties of SD&G, commented on having recently visited a

Baldwin’s Birds

completed housing project in Cornwall and being impressed. A few questions were efficiently asked and answered.

Other routine Council business

Another delegation, this time from the SD&G OPP, provided an update on policing in the area, including the fact that each municipality in SD&G will now have a specific officer assigned to it for members of the public to reach out to as needed. Sgt Alicia Burtch

A further update from the OPP revealed that there has been a significant increase in property crimes lately. In particular, there has been an increase in “mischief”, which is often a youth crime. The Mayor pointed out that these crimes are not a risk to safety, but they do impact the community. A plan to increase patrols is in place.

Later in the meeting, yet another housing related presentation took place, this time presented by CAO Angela Rutley in relation to a previous presentation from Habitat for Humanity in April. Several potential and available North Dundas lots were discussed.

After a closed session, Council then dealt with some housekeeping business, such

as reports on Township staff compensation and internal incident reporting procedures. Decisions on things such as municipal drains were made. Parking enforcement signs in the vicinity of Winchester Public School were discussed to bring public attention to the time limits in specified areas for the pick up and drop off of children. Issues with wrong way traffic on the one way streets in that area surrounding the school were also discussed.

spoke up as well, citing the negative history of some of the goings on at the event as his reason for not supporting the request. Council unanimously voted to deny the request. The party can proceed, but practically only until 11pm due to noise by-laws.

Once Bittern Twice Shy

I was just wondering what I was going to talk to you about this week when a friend contacted me with quite the avian surprise and what a beauty it was too. A "Least Bittern" had found its way onto his balcony and was on one of his wooden chairs. He was able to get a couple of good pictures of it and also a bit of a "movie" as it moved away from him. He then called me to see if I would like to see it which, of course, I did, but by the time I got to his house it had decided that the refuge of the "Hastas" was a bet-

ter place to be and, for me, making picture-taking a bit more of a challenge! I did get to see it, although not as completely as he had previously done, but it was still an exciting experience. We both wondered where it had come from but there is a water catch basin two properties away from his house, where there are most likely some reeds and some water creatures that it could catch, so we figured that that must have been where it had ventured forth from. Hopefully, it will find its way safely back there soon.

The subject of prevent-

ing bird window collisions has not gone away, as I have been informed that the UV Liquid is hard to come by locally. However, my informant has furnished me with another supplier who can readily get it in Canada – www.thebirdhouse.ca

A couple of my drinking buddies have told me of their sightings of birds recently. One of them spotted a pair of Scarlet Tanagers in his garden, and the other, who has a lakeside cottage beyond Perth, has got a Coopers Hawk nesting very close to his dwelling and has spotted some of the young ones too. Meanwhile, our everyday garden birds continue to keep us occupied and our interests up, as we try to figure out their next moves. "Fascinating" is the only word that I can use at the moment for watching what they all get up to and that also includes the odd roadside spottings that I get of the overhead nesting Ospreys alongside some of our local riverside roads. I hope that your own interest is still being piqued by our avian friends. Stay safe and well. Cheers, John Baldwin

Council was asked to consider a noise exemption for the night of the Farmer John Summer Party planned for July 29. The annual party has been a popular and historically wild party held just outside Chesterville town limits for the past 25 years. The request before Council was to exempt the party from noise by-laws until 3am, which pushes the limit further than previous requests of 2am. Councillor Annable spoke up against the request, stating that it does not make sense to have noise by-laws if people can “skirt around them”.

The final major item of discussion was the cost of water and sewer upgrades. With development and growth happening, water and sewer upgrades are routinely needed in both Winchester and Chesterville. The costs of this are enormous, and Council was tasked with determining who should pay for the upgrades. Many options were presented, with the basis for the discussion being whether developers should pay all related system upgrade costs, or whether this may risk scaring developers away from the area. Township staff will put together recommendations based on discussions with developers.

The July 11 meeting wrapped up after just over 2.5 hours.

Councillor Lennox

North Dundas 1/4 p ad 4.92” wide x 7.75” deep

The property outlined in blue is currently owned by the Township. Council has been asked to set it aside for affordable housing.

Happy Birthday to Us!

Translation: Do Not Enter

the hospital. However, it is my estimate that 5-10 cars per day drive the wrong way down York and Louise streets.

My job involves spending about two hours per day in the adjacent soccer field, and I have observed an average of 2-3 vehicles driving the wrong way on York St each day during that two hour span. Given that it is a busy time of day, it would be unfair to extrapolate too extremely, but I think that an estimate of 5-10 violations per day is reasonable.

submitted by Jane Adams

On July 12th, the sun smiled down on Dundas Manor as residents, families, staff, and community members came together to celebrate 45 years of caring. The afternoon included a Manor Market of wonderful auction items, a quilt raffle – and, of course, strawberries, ice cream, and birthday cake. And did we mention that Elvis stopped by to entertain everyone?

During the event, Staff Service and Commitment Statement Awards were presented to deserving Dundas Manor staff. The following staff members were honoured: Kayla Boisvert, Personal Support Worker and Ursula Lamoureux, Director of Care, for five years of service; Marj Milne, Registered Nurse for 10 years of service; and Crystal Dowson, Personal Support Worker, for 35 years of service.

A highlight of the day was the presentation of a 40-year Service Award to Dietary Aide Hennie Joldersma. It was presented by Anne Durant who hired Hennie four decades ago.

Two Commitment Awards were also represented to Personal Support Worker Virginia Tovell and Executive Assistant/Human Resources Lead Kate Grimes.

“We celebrated with staff members from five years to 40 years today which is so impressive! I am so proud of their dedication,” said Administrator Susan Poirier. “Special kudos are extended to our Commitment Award Winners for ‘exceeding expectations and pursuing excellence’ in all they do. They were nominated for this award by their peers. It was wonderful to have this large gathering of residents, families, staff, and our community after many years of being unable to do so.”

The day also provided an opportunity to look back on four decades and look forward to the new Dundas Manor which is slated to begin construction this fall. “For 45 years, Dundas Manor Long-Term Care Home in Winchester has helped to keep families together – even when they are living apart due to health challenges. Dundas Manor is warm and cozy – but also crowded and dated,” notes Cholly Boland, CEO. “We can’t wait to have another celebration in our new home.” A fundraising campaign is now underway. For details, visit www.dundasmanordream.ca.

Happy Birthday, Dundas Manor! We have so much to celebrate!

by Brandon Mayer

A red circle with a horizontal white bar going across the centre. It’s a road sign. There is an entire chapter on road signs in Ontario’s driving handbook. There are unsurprisingly very many signs, and a great deal of them contain no words. Why? Road signs that exclusively use pictures and symbols can be adopted universally, to prevent language barriers from translating into driving barriers for those who don’t speak the language in which a country’s signs are written.

The red circle with a horizontal white bar going across the centre

translates into English as “do not enter”. It’s an important sign that is usually placed at the opening of one-way streets to indicate that proceeding forward or turning onto the street will result in driving the wrong way down a one-way street. These signs are visible at the intersections of York St and Louise St, looking east, and Louise St and Clarence St, looking south.

In a place like North Dundas, people are not accustomed to “city things” like one-way streets, but the respective sections of York St and Louise St S are exactly that, in order to permit parking for the elementary school and its new adjoining child care centre. The one-way traffic on the two streets has been in place for two years now. Drivers still drive the wrong way on these streets routinely. A handful of off ences per year would be understandable, especially in a section of Winchester where many “outsiders” who are unfamiliar with the territory visit to go to

There is a crosswalk on York St, and parents of any children who use that crosswalk should remind them to look both ways –not just the way traffic is supposed to come from. There is crosswalk signage for motorists travelling the wrong way, but it is not as thorough, and the warning light system appears only for drivers travelling the correct way. It is also reasonable to assume that drivers who did not notice two large “do not enter” signs may not notice children suddenly appearing from the visual cover of parked cars to cross the street. Since York St is only one lane, plus a painted notravel area and parking spaces, cars which drive the wrong way must pull over into the no-travel area when they meet an oncoming car. I have seen it happen far more times than any one person should. I often wonder how many of the wrongway drivers are screaming “stay in your lane!” to their fellow motorists coming at them from the only lane in the only legal direction of travel.

What do these frequent one-way-street violations mean? It’s possible that people are violating the law on purpose, but it’s also highly unlikely. More probable is that drivers don’t know what a red circle with a horizontal white bar going across the centre actually translates to in English. Would the actual words “Do Not Enter” written above the signage help? What about the words “Wrong Way”? I would enthusiastically support the argument that those who don’t know what road signs mean should not be driving, but unfortunately, confiscating the driver’s licenses of hundreds of thousands of road users would not be practical.

Council is aware of the issue, as Councillor Matthew Uhrig brought it up in the July 11 Council meeting after noticing the wrong way traffic himself when dropping off his own children. While Councillor Uhrig’s question of what additional measures could be put in place was not directly answered, it was suggested that the Township’s new liaison officer, Sgt Alicia Burtch, could be a good point of contact for anyone noticing violations. Additionally, Mayor Fraser suggested that people log and track incidents of one-way traffic that they witness to make the OPP’s enforcement duties easier.

A pickup truck drives east on York St, despite only westward travel being permitted in this section of the road. This is just one of dozens of examples of one-way street violations that the author of this article has observed in the last few months.

Dietary Aide Hennie Joldersma received her 40-year pin from Anne Durant who hired Hennie four decades ago.

Are you making Medication errors

Winston Churchill said, “The only statistics you can trust are those you falsified yourself.” Unreliable statistics make it hard to know how many people die each year due to medication errors. How many more are taking harmful drug combinations or the wrong doses? The numbers are elusive because medical professionals don’t want to showcase errors and consumers may not realize their mistakes.

Yet, errors happen many ways and at different points.

It’s like the telephone game where people take turns whispering a message into the ear of the next person in line. When the last person speaks the message out loud, it has changed along the way. It’s a game that teaches how important details get altered when passed from person to person. The same is true as medication moves through production, packaging, labelling, dispensing, and use. It’s no game, and mistakes happen.

Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are stretched thin. It used to be dangerous when handwritten notes in patient files were illegible. Now errors can occur from a typo. A shift change by nurses elevates risk.

Some medical tragedies from mixed up medications are impossible to miss. Heartbreaking cases of infants administered the wrong medication are more common than you might imagine. So are situations where an elderly patient dies after being given the wrong drug or the wrong dose.

Accepting that “to err is human,” most hospitals, pharmacies, and care homes have layers upon layers of seemingly foolproof protocols, protections, and checks. But still, when people get tired, stretched, or sloppy, the best safety measures are not enough.

Medication mistakes are frequently called into poison control centres by consumers at home. What are the common crises? Husbands have taken their wives’ pills. People take their medication twice. Parents can’t tell how much medication they’ve succeeded in getting down the throat of a screaming child. Hundreds of thousands of these situations occur every year.

Labeling and dosage instructions can be confusing, and the print too small to read. Common abbreviations are among the cause of some errors. Micrograms (µg) can be mistaken for milligrams (mg) leading to an overdose. The Latin abbreviation for every day (Q.D.) can be confused with the shortform for every other day (Q.O.D.)

It's challenging enough when dealing with only one medication. When multiple medications are used it gets more complicated. How many readers engage in “polypharmacy”? It can refer to getting medications from more than one pharmacy or using more than one medication to treat a single problem. But most commonly, polypharmacy refers to the use of five or more medications at the same time.

This is not the time for complacency. You are not being rude by asking questions. You should ask for clarification until you understand completely. Take all your medications with you – or an accurate list of them with the doses you are using – to every visit with a healthcare practitioner. Use only one pharmacy. Communicate any effects of changes in medications. Dispose of old medication correctly.

If you or someone you know struggles to manage the timing and dosages of medications, reach out for assistance. A recent survey found that over two-thirds of low-income individuals taking medications daily are not taking them properly. They tend not to tell their doctor or they don’t have someone available to answer their questions. We can do better to help.

The safest way to avoid medication errors is comparatively easy. Do everything you can to avoid getting sick. It was Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, who said, “The greatest medicine of all is teaching people how not to need it.”

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

Farmers encouraged to reach out for mental health supports

by Sara Wood, Director, OFA

Summer is a busy time on the farm. Whether we’re cutting hay or silage to feed our livestock next winter, getting fresh fruits and vegetables to market or harvesting grain crops, there is no shortage of work to keep everyone busy.

Weather is also top of mind at this time of year. Not enough rain keeps crops from growing properly, but too much keeps us from harvesting them – and we’re also always keeping an eye on the latest weather warnings in hopes that we can be spared damage from severe summer storms.

And like many other Ontarians, farmers also worry about inflation, rising interest rates, and the high cost of living and running a business.

These aren’t new challenges. In fact, the tough financial times of the early 1980s caused many farmers at the time to discour-

age their children from a career in agriculture and it’s important that we don’t lose another generation of farmers. For too long, stress and mental health in the ag community have been accompanied by the stigma of perceived weakness.

In recent years, research coming out of the University of Guelph has drawn a lot of attention to the high levels of stress farmers face and the impact it is having on them and their families. It’s traditionally been something that was kept quiet, even in my own family as I grew up on my parents’ dairy and crop farm.

Now, however, the industry is finally talking about it and working together to take action.

Last year, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, with the support of the governments of Canada and Ontario, through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Ontario Division to develop and launch the Farmer Wellness Initiative.

It is the first step of a multi-year, province-wide program that provides free

counselling services virtually, in-person or on the phone by professional counsellors with agricultural backgrounds and training.

The confidential helpline is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in English and French, as well as up to 30 other languages, and the FWI website explains how to use the free service.

Counselling is available for any issue, not just farm-related matters, including financial pressures, health concerns, depression, troubles with family, friends, partners or spouses, feelings of stress or burn-out, bullying, trauma, abuse and other issues requiring support.

At OFA, we’ve been working hard to let farmers know that the service exists. I farm in Perth County and our local federation of agriculture, for example, has met with municipal councillors to let them know about the program, and they’ve been happy to make the information available to their rural constituents.

As awareness increases, so does use of the Farmer Wellness Initiative, and it’s making a difference. I attended various agricultural

Q&A with Sarah and Cyndy: Protection and Diversification –Whole Life Insurance

by Sarah Chisholm

Where can you find an asset that provides both protection and diversification for your retirement plan? Something that will provide a lifetime of protection? Consider Whole Life Insurance.

Normally, we think of life insurance for our short- and medium-term needs. We use personal life insurance to cover our liabilities and provide income replacement for our family if we pass away unexpectedly. In business, we use key person coverage to protect our revenue generators and share buyout coverage for our business partners. To provide even stronger foundations, we pair life insurance with living benefits such as Disability Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance to protect ourselves in case of serious injury or disease that has major impact on our lives or our ability to work. Remember that term insurance is temporary in nature, and when the policy renews, the premiums can become exorbitant, and many people cancel the policies at renewal. What is Whole Life Insurance?

Whole Life Insurance provides protection for life and is permanent. It covers the short and medium term needs above, as well as your long-term needs such as tax coverage, estate equalization, funeral costs and more. The insurance company will pay the death benefit regardless of when you pass away. The death benefit can be paid directly to your named beneficiaries which provides you a level of privacy in your wishes and allows the death benefit to by-pass probate.

Whole Life Insurance Policies create asset diversification within your investment portfolio. A policy has an immediate estate enhancement value (death benefit) and grows a cash surrender value over time.

How does the death benefit grow? When premiums are deposited, the insurance companies pool the life insurance premiums into a large investment account. Premiums go in, investment income grows the account and death claims come

events and trade shows last fall and winter where I heard from people about how relieved they were that a program like this is available for farmers, especially in rural areas where healthcare and mental health supports and resources can be very limited. This shows that we’re meeting a need and that the farm community is starting to embrace the help that is available.

Long-standing stigmas and perceptions can be hard to break, but we all need help at some point and recognizing that isn’t a weakness.

In fact, I believe it instead shows a person’s strength – and that’s something that should be recognized and supported.

For many of us, it’s not easy to ask for help, as I’ve learned firsthand recently in going through cancer treatments, but that shouldn’t keep us from reaching out.

To access counselling through the Farmer Wellness Initiative, call 1-866-2676255 or visit farmerwellnessinitiative.ca.

out over time. Each year, if the investment returns are higher than expected and the mortality is lower than expected, a dividend is distributed to all the policy holders. Most policies are structured so that the dividend is used to purchase additional permanent life insurance – in this way your death benefit and cash values grows over time.

The cash value provides asset diversification for your retirement. The cash value can be leveraged as a tax efficient source of income for retirement. It can pair nicely with the RRSP, pension, TFSA, rental properties, business dividends and other sources of income you have built up for retirement.

Protection and asset diversification are two of the many positive attributes of Whole Life Insurance. So, why doesn’t everyone have Whole Life Insurance? The simple answer is that Whole Life Insurance is typically more expensive, is a long-term investment and premiums are much higher than term insurance. Take the time to review your insurance needs and strategies with a trusted insurance advisor. Often a combination of term and whole life insurance will allow you to achieve both your shortterm and long-term goals. Review your plan regularly, as your insurance needs will change over time.

Sarah Chisholm is a Financial Advisor with Assante Capital Management Ltd. Please contact her at (613) 774 - 2456 or visit www.ofarrellwealth.com to discuss your particular circumstances prior to acting on the information above.

The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Assante Capital Management Ltd.

Insurance products and services are provided through Assante Estate and Insurance Services Inc.

Assante Capital Management Ltd. is a Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

The Weather with Connor

featuring Connor Mockett

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another week of The Weather with Connor. In my last column, I said at the bottom that I’d resume talking about the final 9 days of my Chasecation to Alberta. That will have to wait, as I’d like to talk about the events of last Thursday, July 13th, instead.

July 13th was the day when a couple of tornadoes happened in Barrhaven in Ottawa, and then a tornado-warned storm made its way across the region from Vernon and across the border into Quebec, where it put down another tornado north of Montreal. I want to talk about the day leading up to that day, and my chase day.

So let’s start with July 12th, a Wednesday, the day before things hit the fan. I started to look at models in the afternoon that day and started to see things that I haven’t really seen here much at all, if ever. The model runs were hinting at an environment rarely seen in this area, due to a low pressure system crossing through the region. This system was also responsible for tornadoes in the Chicago area, so going into Thursday, the system already had tornadoes in its DNA.

Throughout the evening, model runs kept coming in, all giving the signal that July 13th would be a day to remember. I kept reading the models and thinking to myself “is this for Eastern Ontario or Oklahoma?” Obviously, it was for Eastern Ontario and we were getting set for a very dangerous day.

The next morning, I once again pulled my phone out to look things over before making my morning Facebook post. That is when I began to get a little bit of worried

that something bad was going to happen that day. I knew that two major cities, Ottawa and Montreal, as well as everywhere in between, were under the gun in a significant way. So I sounded the proverbial alarm and told everyone to treat the day with respect and to pay attention to warnings and alerts.

Storms actually started very early; it was only around 9:00am when storms started to form into a line over to the west near Peterborough. Those storms would move to the east, into an environment very primed for potent severe weather. Storms then entered the Ottawa area around 11:30am, and by about 12:30-ish, a couple of tornadoes were reported in Barrhaven.

I started my chase day around that 11:30 time, but was unable to catch those tornadoes, as Ottawa was not my target area for the day. I went further east for my target, which was St. Isidore, and sat in the Esso parking lot with another chasing buddy of mine. We waited there for about 30 minutes until it was finally time to get out of the parking lot and head towards another section of the storm that had a tornado warning on it.

We traveled back west slightly before intercepting the storm in St. Albert, where it was incredibly beautiful. Don’t get me wrong, the storm was incredibly beautiful for its entire life cycle. After getting eyes on that storm, I turned back around to go back east again as it entered Casselman. Luckily for Casselman, the very strong rotation on the storm did not put down a tornado, because that rotation went right over top of town.

I then hopped on the 417 in Casselman for a short and quick trip down the highway towards the HWY 138 exit, where I got off and turned to the north for a 30 second drive until my next eastward turn. I turned east on those really nice back roads between Casselman and St. Isidore, which is probably my favourite area to chase in the entire region, and stopped to watch the storm for a

couple of minutes. This is where rotation on the storm became even stronger and was very very visible to the naked eye. I kept going east after a short stop, and then stopped between St. Isidore and Fournier. This is where rotation was at its peak, and the structure of the storm was at its peak too. I’ve never seen a storm that beautiful in this region before, it was unbelievable. I was pretty surprised I didn’t see a tornado near Fournier when I stopped on a gravel road to look at the storm, because rotation was one of the strongest I’ve seen here too. There could have been a tornado buried in the rain of the storm, but it is still unconfirmed at the time I’m writing this.

Strong rotation and a very windy storm then entered the Town of Vankleek Hill, still thankfully not a tornado though considering it would have gone right through the Town. I had to stop chasing the storm just after Vankleek Hill, mostly because I went down a dirt road and then realized that I didn’t have another east road option, and that it was either go back to where I came from, or sit where I was. Both options involved me getting hit by the storm, carefully not in the path of the rotation. I chose to just sit on that dirt road and let the storm hit me and pass.

After the storm passed, I went to the Timmies in Vankleek Hill (because why wouldn’t you get Timmies after a chase?) and met up with another chasing buddy. We then both hopped back on the 417 south of Vankleek Hill, and headed back west towards Ottawa for round 2, which ended up dying off before we got back to those storms.

Full disclosure, my storm chase on July 13th was probably my best chase ever in my 9 years of chasing. Many of my all time favourite photos were taken that day. Although an unfortunate event in Ottawa with two damaging tornadoes, which thankfully no one died from, this was

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

4. With one leg on each side of

Solution to last week’s Crossword

BACKYARD ASTRONOMY

Bring On The Sun

by Gary BoyleThe Backyard Astronomer

Our daytime star is an enormous ball of hot plasma. Like a string of pearls, 109 earths line up side by side across its equator and 1.3 million of our worlds would fit inside. Ever since its birth some five billion years ago, the sun has been producing light we see and enjoy, via nuclear reactions deep in its core. The journey of a light photon is not a direct path to the surface but bounces around taking thousands to hundreds of thousands of years to reach the solar surface called the photosphere. Once it does, the photons travel in space unhindered to reach Earth 500 seconds later. They go

on to light up the moon, planets and anything else in our solar system.

This ball of super-hot material rotates at different speeds with its equatorial region spinning once every 25 days and a 35-day rotation close to the poles. Over the first half of its eleven-year solar cycle, the internal magnetic field twists, tangles and stretches like an elastic band. As the field lines intertwine, looking like tangled extension cords, they poke through the surface creating dark sunspots. These are cooler regions measuring 3,900 degrees Celsius compared to the surface temperature of 5,500 degrees Celsius. Eventually, the stored energy has to go somewhere.

Now magnetic field loops are seen rising from

sunspots. Just like crossing two electrical wires resulting in a spark, these loops sometimes cross and produce a solar flare that rips off the photosphere, flying through space at hundreds of kilometres per second. Flares directed at Earth take about three days to travel 150 million kilometres and can produce very spectacular Northern Light aka the Aurora Borealis. Another source of Northern Lights is the opening in the sun called Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). These billion-ton clouds of charged particles belch out of the sun and fly through space at up to 3,000 kilometres per second in rare cases.

Solar max or the highest amount of solar activity is expected to peak in July 2025. Over the past few

months, aurora activity has increased producing midrange M-class flares and could, in the not-too distant future, produce more severe X-class flares. Once the sun reaches solar max, it should begin to wind down its activity for another five to six years to reach solar minimum with no sunspots visible. The sun will look like a white billiard ball with zero sunspots seen. A good source to follow the goings on with our daytime star is spaceweather. com which is linked to my website.

Although sunspots can measure many times the size of the earth and be seen by the “naked-eye”, that does not mean that you can look at the sun directly. Approved solar filters of number 14 welder’s glass

will protect you from serious eye injury or even blindness. Although cell phone cameras are great for daytime images, they are improving for nighttime use.

DSLR cameras are still the best way to image the Northern Lights. Place the camera with a wide- angle lens on a sturdy tripod and attach a cable release. Advance to ISO 1600 (light sensitivity) or higher. Set the lens on manual and focus it on a very bright star or distant light source until it is a pinpoint. Now you can take 8, 12 or 15-second images by triggering the cable release. This prevents touching the camera. Words cannot describe witnessing the aurora firsthand. These will be moments you will never forget.

SNC launches a derecho storm recovery program

tance in the aftermath of the derecho storm.

Now, with funding provided by the City of Ottawa, the United Counties of Prescott and Russell and the federal government, as part of the 2 Billion Tree Program, SNC can now provide support to woodlot owners to recover from the devastating natural disaster that destroyed thousands of acres of woodlots and livelihoods for many owners and businesses.

tree planting and tending costs. Reforestation program objectives also include increased carbon sequestration and forest resiliency through biodiversity.

Considering the volume of work and availability of both contractors and nursery stock, the project has been established for a five-year duration (2023-2027). Any future costs or maintenance beyond the project duration are the responsibility of the landowner.

sation is also available for certain activities for landowners who already recovered damaged woodlots within the affected area after the storm. Landowners are reminded to keep pictures, transaction records and receipts so that retroactive compensation for work already completed can be considered.

“This is good news. Landowners directly affected by the derecho

Known as “The Backyard Astronomer”, Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker, monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada as well as a STEM educator. He has been interviewed on more than 55 Canadian radio stations as well as television across Canada and the U.S. In recognition of his public outreach in astronomy, the International Astronomical Union has honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. Follow him on Twitter: @ astroeducator, Facebook and his website: www.wondersofastronomy.com.

submitted by South Nation Conservation

South Nation Conservation (SNC) is introducing an Eastern Ontario Derecho Storm Reforestation Program, a storm recovery program for private landowners who were directly affected by the destructive storm last year.

On May 21, 2022, a

narrow line of intense winds up to 195 km/hr caused extensive damage to forested areas in Eastern Ontario from the City of Ottawa eastward through the municipalities of Clarence-Rockland, Alfred-Plantagenet, Champlain, and East Hawkesbury.

Over 300 landowners contacted SNC for assis-

The cost-share recovery program will be based on the long-standing success of SNC’s Woodlot Advisory Service which is supported by SNC’s County partners and SNC’s Tree Planting Programs, which are supported by several partners including the government of Canada.

The Program is aimed at restoring damaged woodlots to prepare properties for tree planting. Subsidized funding will support clean up, site preparation, and

Eligible landowners can expect a free site visit from one of SNC’s bilingual foresters and forestry technicians to determine their site-specific objectives, the preparation of a silvicultural prescription by a qualified forestry professional, a tree planting plan, survival assessments, and possible tending, all based on the site-specifi c evaluation. SNC, on behalf of landowners, will administer all work to complete forest restoration.

Retroactive compen-

storm will now have some assistance recovering their woodlots and getting new trees in the ground,” said Pat Piitz, SNC’s Property and Forestry Lead. “The project will enhance carbon-storing potential of these forest areas while enhancing biodiversity and resilience to climate change,” adds Piitz.

To learn more or to apply, visit www.nation. on.ca/derecho.

Stephen Trolly Marketing Consultant

P: 613-804-4748

E: stephen@ndtimes.ca ww.ndtimes.ca

Community comes together for Camp Day

There were nothing but positive things to say about the Tim Hortons Camp Day event on July 19. Both of Winchester’s Tim Hortons locations offered a unique experience in commemoration of the fundraising day which saw much success as usual.

At what some locals call the “main” location – at the corner of County Roads 43 and 31 – a Winchester firetruck was parked prominently on display, and firefighters were on site helping to raise funds for the event. Those who stopped by could choose to have their car windows washed, or to throw a pie at their fa-

vourite firefighter’s face (or both!). Who doesn’t love to cover someone’s face in pie if it means raising money for a great cause?

At the Tim Hortons location within the Pioneer Gas Station building, four members of Council were on site, lending a helping hand serving customers under the watchful eye of trained staff, while other staff members greeted customers and explained the particulars of the fundraiser and festivities.

Mayor Tony Fraser, Deputy Mayor Theresa Bergeron, and Councillors

Gary Annable and John Lennox were on site, carefully learning the duties of making coffee and serving up donuts. Service was provided with a smile and a

Naan Instant Flat Bread

Ok, I admit it, I’m on a mission: to convert budget conscious folks to the benefits of leftovers. Another way of using leftovers is to inventory what’s hanging around in your fridge and prepare an instant recipe from a staple we always keep around the house: Naan bread. From the time that we enjoyed Naan bread in Indian restaurants to today when you can get this delectable bread over the counter pretty well anywhere, we have blessed the day we found it. We usually get a stash at Costco and keep ‘em frozen. So today’s recipe involves using Naan bread with whatever you have left around the house.

Naan Instant Flat Bread

Ingredients

However many Naan breads you need to feed your family or guests

Optional coatings, for example:

• Tostitos salsa

• Tomato sauce or pizza sauce

• Tzatziki

• Chipotle mayo

• Your favourite BBQ sauce

Optional fillings:

• Diced chicken

• Thinly sliced ham or salami

• Any other protein you have around, including bacon and back bacon

touch of entertainment and humour.

There were prizes to be won as part of the fundraiser as well. For a ticket price of just $5, prizes such as gift cards, a tool set, gift baskets, and children’s bicycles were available to be won.

Workers and customers at the Pioneer Gas Station location were in for an extra special treat when former NHL hockey player Slater Koekkoek showed up to lend yet another set of hands for serving up coffee. Slater is Winchester born and raised, and boasts years of experience as an NHL player including, most recently, playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

Tim Hortons Camp Day is a tradition going back over 30 years. For one day each

year, 100% of the proceeds from hot and iced coffee are donated to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. Last year alone, the initiative raised over $12 million to help underserved youth attend summer camps.

On each camp day, boxes are set up for cash donations, camp leadership badges are available to be purchased (with funds going toward the Foundation Camps), and other fundraisers – such as the fire department activities, and the prize raffles –help add to the efforts as well.

Donations to the initiative can be made year round at https://timscamps.com/.

• Or, go vegetarian with anything you choose (try cooked asparagus spears)

Topping: any firm cheese that you can grate, including:

• Mozzarella

• Cheddar

• Havarti

• Monterey Jack

• The list goes on but doesn’t include soft cheeses...

• And, some Parmesan when serving to “seal the deal”

Preparation

1. Warm your Naan bread slightly in the MW, particularly if you are starting from frozen

2. Choose a coating and spread it on the surface of the Naan bread

3. Choose a filling and place your choice generously on the coated Naan bread

4. Choose a cheese, grate it and sprinkle on your emerging flat bread

5. Pop in the microwave for about a minute or until the cheese is melted

Bring these to the table with a Parmesan shaker. Serve with a nice cool ale: fast and certainly very tasty. Somehow, I imagine a pool table...Enjoy!

Feedback always welcome. Talk to me at pcormier@ ranaprocess.com.

Vincent Leblanc joyfully launches a pie into the face of the local Tim Hortons franchise owner

Council members join Tim Hortons staff at the Pioneer location to aid in serving up customers on Camp Day.

Former Edmonton Oilers NHL player, Winchester-native Slater Koekkoek, joins the team at the Pioneer location to lend a hand.

by Brandon Mayer