ND Times Issue 17 2022 August 25

A beloved local gas station owner in Winchester is retiring after serving the community for decades. Ron Blanchard has owned the Winchester Service Centre at the intersection of County Roads 38 and 31 for 25 years. He has seen the Winchester community grow and change, and has served many loyal customers in his time owning the station. With Ron now retired, the gas station is up for sale, ready for a new owner and a new era.

End of an era

“I thought, I’ve pumped enough gas in 25 years,” Ron joked. “I had enough. I’m 64 and own a hobby farm, but I really can’t enjoy my hobby farm. It’s a go-gogo when I’m here, and then when we get to the house, it’s go-go on Saturday and Sunday!”

Ron’s late wife passed away in 2008, and his girlfriend of almost 11 years, Bonnie Holliday, has helped him run the station in these last years. Being in business in a small community for such a long time had its perks. There was never a shortage of opportunities to catch up with locals on the

happenings in the area, and with the gas station being such a big part of the community, it was a great hub for conversation. “In the 25 years I was there, I had a good time,” said Ron.

Not surprisingly, many of Ron’s customers were not happy about his decision to retire. “I have a lot of sad customers,” he said. “We are sad that we are leaving good customers. Some were upset, but as they were coming back toward the end, they were congratulating me for retiring. They all said ‘you deserve it’, they understand.” Ron came to realize that at some point in life, it is

important to put yourself and your needs first, and retiring was a decision that made the most sense for him.

The gas station opened for its final day with Ron as the owner on August 6. In the final days, customers were met with a nice surprise – the remaining fuel in the tanks was sold at $157.7 per litre for gasoline, and $169.8 per litre for diesel, which was much lower than other area stations at the time. Cars were lined up on these final days, likely for a mix of bargain fuel, and one last chance to shoot the breeze at the station with their old friend Ron.

The now-closed Winchester Service Station, currently on the market for sale.

A personal travel manager, now more than ever

Gravitate Travel's Scott Waldron explains why more and more travellers are seeking the help of professionals to plan their next vacation.

How many times have you walked by a travel agent's office in your neighbourhood, with sunfaded resort catalogues in the window, and thought, "Who still uses a travel agent?"

It's true that online flight vendors, Airbnb, and other platforms have made it easier than ever to plan your own travel. But the past two and half years have taught us that travel does not always go according to plan. That's where personal travel managers, like those at Kemptville's Gravitate

Travel, come in.

Gravitate founder Scott Waldron and his team have helped their clients navigate a complex new world of travel. Personal travel managers can help you know what to expect, what to avoid, and where to turn when things go wrong. In fact, even The New York Times reported that travel experts were seeing an increase in business, up 35% compared to 2019.

Scott says there are a few reasons why travellers are coming back to experts for help.

"We love travel," he says, "and we also love helping others discover the possibilities out there in the world. But we get it: researching takes time

and you're busy doing everything else in your life. This is our full-time job!"

So, while a vacation may be much needed, you can do without all the hassles that go with planning. A personal travel manager will find the best flight options, accommodation to suit your tastes, and excursions that are right for you. In addition, Scott says, "We're constantly visiting new hotels and meeting with travel partners around the world. It helps us keep on top of what's out there so we can recommend the best experiences for our clients."

While COVID seems to be fading away, there are still entry requirements for destinations

around the world, which can put you at risk of being turned away when you arrive at your destination.

"Which countries require a negative antigen test versus the ones which only require vaccine records? It's hard to keep track, but we've taken the guesswork out of travel for our clients."

Endless flight cancellations have left many passengers stranded and without a plan to get home. Scott and his team know the ins and outs of the airline industry.

"The average person might not know or understand the terms and conditions, but it's my job to know and to use my expertise to help out clients when they need it most."

Think having a personal travel manager is an extravagance reserved for luxury travellers? Not so, he says. "We can actually end up saving our clients money, by avoiding costly mistakes, finding the best price on your flights, and taking advantage of relationships with partners around the world."

Thinking of traveling in the future? Gravitate will be at the IPM Quilt Show & British High Tea on August 19 and 20, with their partner, Royal Irish Tours.

And Gravitate Travel will be at the IPM & Rural Expo from September 20-24, with their partners AMA Waterways, Rocky Mountaineer, Royal Irish Tours, Hurtigruten Expeditions, and Hyatt Ziva & Zilara All-Inclusive Resorts.

Staying Safe as Rabies found in Local Bat Population

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) is reporting that a bat from the area has tested positive for rabies. The bat was tested as part of routine surveillance of rabies in animal populations, and the positive result implies that rabies is present in the region. No human

cases have been reported in the area at this time.

The EOHU is reminding residents of the dangers of rabies and to take precautions to keep you and your family safe.

Rabies is a deadly neurological disease in mammals, often found in bats, raccoons, skunks

Career Opportunities

Township of North Dundas 636 St. Lawrence Street, P.O. Box 489, Winchester, ON, K0C 2K0 www.northdundas.com

Truck Driver/LabourerWaste Management

We are seeking a motivated individual to join our team on a one-year contract. Duties will include driving the waste management truck, assisting with curbside pick-up of waste/recyclables and other related duties. Applicants must possess a valid DZ license or be willing to obtain. For a full position description, visit Career Opportunities on our website.

To apply to join our team, please submit your resume and cover letter by 2pm, Tuesday, Sept. 6th to Doug Froats, Director of Waste Management at the address above, or email careers@northdundas.com.

Asset Management Coordinator & Accounting Supervisor

Are you an analytical, solutions oriented individual with a focus on accounting and data analysis? Join our team to help develop and maintain our asset management plan, process payroll and provide data and analysis to the management team. Our ideal candidate will have a diploma/degree in Business or Engineering technology or a combination of education and experience.

To apply to join our team, please submit your resume and cover letter by 2 pm, Monday, September 12th to John Gareau, Director of Finance at the address above, or email careers@northdundas.com.

Director of Public Works

We are seeking a dedicated, enterprising and resultsoriented leader for the position of Director of Public Works. With responsibility for an annual budget of approximately four million dollars you will provide strategic leadership and management of a diverse portfolio, including roads, bridges, sidewalks, water, sewers, drainage and fleet.

Experienced individuals with a Civil Engineering Technology Designation, or higher, are encouraged to apply by 2 pm on Monday, September 12. A full position description and details are available on our website. The Township wishes to thank all applicants who apply, however, only those being selected for an interview will be contacted. The Township of North Dundas is an equal opportunity employer. We will endeavour to accommodate qualified candidates in all parts of the hiring process. Applicants need to make their needs know in advance. Personal information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used for employment assessment purposes only.

and foxes, but can be passed to humans and pets as well. It is most often spread through bites but can also be passed through the saliva of an infected animals getting in your eyes, mouth, or other open wounds. Rabies is almost always fatal if treatment is not given before symptoms start.

Staying Safe

While rabies is dangerous, there are steps you can take to limit your exposure to and contact with animals who may carry rabies. The EOHU recommends that you:

- Keep your pets’ and livestock’s rabies vacci-

nations up to date.

- Don’t let your pets wander unsupervised.

- Teach children not to touch wild animals or pets they don’t know.

- Avoid contact with wild animals – especially if they look sick or are behaving strangely.

- Bat-proof your home.

- Don’t try to rescue sick or injured wild animals –contact Animal Control or a wildlife rehabilitator.

- Report all animal bites to the EOHU at 613-9331375 or 1-800-267-7120.

Finding Bats in Your Home

If you find a live bat in your home, trap it in

a room with the lights off and a window open, so it can escape. Do not try to catch and release the bat yourself, as this may result in a bite. If the bat will not leave on its own, contact a pest management company for assistance.

If a bat is found in a bedroom (alive or dead), please visit your local emergency room immediately to discuss next steps, especially if the bat is found in a child’s room. Bites from bats are particularly dangerous, as they have needle-sharp teeth which may not leave a mark after biting, and

2022 Municipal Election

you may not know you have been bit.

If you think you or your family have been bitten by a bat or other animal, contact your doctor, health care provider or local emergency room immediately. Report the bite to the EOHU at 613933-1375 or 1-800-2677120. The EOHU will investigate and determine if you may require postexposure treatment.

More information on bats, rabies and prevention tips can be found at EOHU.ca

Clerk’s Notice of Posting of the Preliminary List of Electors

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1996

Townships of North Stormont, South Stormont, North Glengarry, South Glengarry, North Dundas and South Dundas

The Voters’ List for the upcoming Municipal Elections will be available for viewing beginning on September 1, 2022. The Voters’ List is the list of all individuals eligible to vote in the 2022 Municipal Elections. It identifies electors by name, address, school support and residence status.

The Voters’ List is available to the public for viewing beginning on September 1, 2022 during regular business hours at the appropriate municipality (refer to the applicable Municipal information box below or the appropriate Municipal website):

Electors should examine the list to ensure that their name and relevant information is correct. Electors must also ensure the Municipality has their correct date of birth.

Revision period for electors is September 1 to October 24, 2022.

Pursuant to subsection 17(2) of the Municipal Elections Act, “A person is entitled to be an elector at an election held in a local municipality if, on Voting Day, he or she,

(a) Resides in the local municipality or is the owner or tenant of land there, or the spouse of such owner or tenant;

(b) is a Canadian Citizen;

(c) is at least 18 years old; and,

(d) is not prohibited from voting under subsection 17(3) or otherwise by law.”

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH STORMONT

Craig Calder 15 Union Street Berwick ON K0C 1G0 613-984-2821 877-984-2821

TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH STORMONT

Loriann Harbers

2 Mille Roches Rd Long Sault ON K0C 1P0 613-534-8889 Ext 201

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH GLENGARRY

Sarah Huskinson 3720 County Rd 34 Alexandria, ON K0C 1A0 613-525-1110

TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH GLENGARRY

Kelli Campeau

6 Oak Street Lancaster ON K0C 1N0 613-347-1166 Ext 2102

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH DUNDAS

Nancy Johnston 636 St. Lawrence St. Winchester ON K0C 2K0 613-774-2105 Ext 226

TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH DUNDAS

Leslie Drynan

34 Ottawa Street Morrisburg ON K0C 1X0 613-543-2673

Revolution

by David Shanahan

Have you ever thought about the fact that we regularly engage in revolutionary activity in Canada generally, and in North Dundas in particular? At least, it is becoming more and more revolutionary these days to be able to vote, to choose who will represent us, who will make decisions on our behalf. Even more revolutionary is the fact that we can remove those individuals from office if they don’t live up to their responsibilities. Yes, I know, democracy is not as simple as that, and some people manage to convince others to continue voting for them no matter how much they fail to do their job. But that’s part of the deal, isn’t it?

We have started a new municipal election campaign, and we have a couple of months to take a look at the candidates to see what we think of them, of their ideas, and, yes, their personalities. Because personality can make a difference as to how we vote, whether that

is a good thing or not. You see examples elsewhere (think of Boris Johnson and Trump) that cause you to scratch your head and wonder why anyone would vote them into positions of power and influence. It is times like that when the downside of democracy becomes obvious - when someone you don’t like gets elected!

There are so many ways in which we exercise our revolutionary activity: First Past the Post, Proportional Representation in all its many formats, even interviews and appointments when necessary. Whatever the form we use, there is something amazing in the very fact that we have this power. Not long ago, only people with large property holdings had the right to vote. Cliques in society, usually men of wealth, had total control over parliament and the passing of laws, often to their own benefit. Sadly, that can be the case even today.

But the fact that we recently celebrated the centenary of women being allowed the vote (note that word: “allowed”), or that

Indigenous people were historically given a choice: the vote, or maintaining their cultural identity, all of this points to just how recent this revolution has been. And yet, we take it for granted. Many people don’t bother to vote at all. Some believe their vote makes no difference anyway. Others will vote in federal or even provincial elections, because they think that’s where the power lies, but ignore the municipal level as being irrelevant.

Remember that when you complain about property taxes, services like roads and garbage, when you need someone to come and put out the fire destroying your home or business. Municipalities deal with the issues that affect your everyday life, such as Emergency Services, Economic Development, Garbage Collection and Recycling, Long Term Care and Senior Housing, Road Networks, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Development, Social Services, Tax Collection, and Water and Sewage. Quite a list, isn’t it?

Residents of North Dundas will elect a Mayor and Councillors in October, and we have a choice before us. Or, at least, a choice of those running, some of whom we hope will be worthy of our vote. All of us have the opportunity to have our say in who those people will be, who will make the decisions on the future of our community and its character and values.

Tony Fraser is unopposed to return as Mayor. There is some competition for the Councillor positions. There are only two female candidates, one for Deputy Mayor and one for Councillor, which is well below the provincial level. That is a shame.

In the past, we have seen how the composition of any given Council can affect the community in very serious ways. The very atmosphere of our society can be impacted, for better or worse, by the character, personalities, and attitudes of members of Council. The relationship between Council and Municipal staff is vital to the running and

planning of a community. This, too, depends on the approach taken by members of Council: are their working collaboratively with staff, or seeking to impose authority on them. This really does matter for all of us.

So, the choice we make is important, it is revolutionary that we even have a choice to make. So many other places in this troubled world are denied that choice. But let’s not be too idealistic about it either. People are people, and no-one is even close to being perfect, so there will always be problems when it comes to governments and governed. It is easier to just ignore elections and the operation of municipal councils and just complain when some issue affects us

personally. There are times when knowing what’s going on has been frustrating, irritating, tending to raise blood pressure and even bring about sleepless nights. But enough about me.

In the meantime, get ready for your vote. Think about the issues you want to hear about from candidates, and don’t leave it until after the election to decide if the right people have been elected for the next four years. We also hope to have interviews with each individual candidate available on-line and in print over the coming weeks. Voting is a hard-won and revolutionary act. It’s your turn to join the revolution.

Like old times at the South Mountain Fair

“South Mountain” to be inducted to music Hall of Fame

for group of the year,” she said. “We hosted our own TV Show out of Pembroke and Ottawa on CHRO at the time, then A Channel for four years, called Canadian Country Express. Several appearances were made on television – Canadian Country Music Awards, Tommy Hunter Show, Breakfast television, etc.”

Mountain has had a number of band member changes over the past few years, and since COVID happened they really have not played,” said Laurie. “Steve was the only original member left playing with the Band.”

by Brandon Mayer

The 130th South Mountain Fair went off without a hitch last weekend, giving locals and tourists a taste of “normal” family fun after more than two years of pandemic life. In fact, this year’s event was the first full scale event held in three years, with a cancelled fair in 2020, and a smaller event in 2021.

The smell of fried food and tasty treats filled the air at the Fair, as did the sound of carnival games, excited children, and even excited parents. The Fair was a hub for socialization, with people of all ages gathering to chat, eat, and have fun. The animal barns were in full operation, as were vendors posted near the entrance. Perhaps most exciting, particularly for the children and teens, was the full midway lineup. Fair goers had many rides to choose from, and the price for admission to the fair included unlimited rides for all.

The weather cooperated throughout the week-

end in terms of rain and storms holding off, but the heat was difficult for many, particularly on Saturday. The first aid team was handing out free water throughout the event to help prevent heat exhaustion, but an ambulance had to be called on at least one occasion. Tents and other shady areas became popular for cooling down.

As the sun began to go down on Saturday, leaving temperatures tolerable, the party atmosphere came alive. Hundreds of fair goers lined up for the rides, more than willing to wait for a chance to experience a thrill. Snippets of conversations could be heard throughout the night, often beginning with excitement as old friends reconnected after months or even years of not seeing each other. The familiar thump of live music could be felt all over town as the evening went on.

There is no doubt that a classic South Mountain Fair was needed and earned after a long period of pandemic life. Until next year, South Mountain!

by Brandon Mayer

A local band is set to be inducted into the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame next month. “South Mountain” will be the recipient of the honour – not the town, but a band of the same name with members from the local North Dundas town.

“South Mountain” was formed in 1989 by Laurie LaPorte-Piticco and Steve Piticco. Both were residents of the town of South Mountain at the time, and Laurie still is. Other founding members were Todd

Nolan from Hamilton, Don Reed from Sudbury, and Bill Carruthers from Tilsonburg. “The band’s music was definitely classic country with a bluegrass roots flavour,” said Laurie. “Our sound was built around the three vocals, Steve’s guitar and Don’s Fiddle. It was a great loss to the country music scene when our drummer Billy passed away in 2019.”

Laurie described the immense success that the band had in its heyday. “We were very fortunate to have won the 1991 Canadian Country Music Vista Rising Star award, and had been nominated several times

The group ended up touring in Europe, based out of the Netherlands, where they were nominated for The International Dutch Country Music Awards, with Steve winning the Dutch Country International Instrumentalist Award on several occasions. The band toured a handful of countries over the years, including Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and of course, Canada and the USA.

On home soil, “South Mountain” had several CD’s and top 10 singles on the radio. The town of South Mountain even had an awards appreciation night for the band, as a “thank you” and a gesture of pride for the representation on Canadian radio stations.

Things have cooled down in more recent years, particularly since the onset of the pandemic. “South

Of course, band members touring internationally for years are bound to have countless interesting stories and experiences, but one in particular stands out in Laurie’s mind. “Once, playing a festival in Winchester City Holland, we had just finished our set and I went out front in the crowd to see another band,” Laurie said. “While there, this man approached me and told me he had a sister that lived in a small town in Canada called South Mountain. Well it ended up his sister was my neighbour. Such a small world!”

“South Mountain” will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame at Centrepointe Theatre on September 25, along with three other bands. Local artist Marleen Fawcett will also be performing at the show. “It’s a great honor to be chosen from a group of our peers,” said Laurie. “I am sure residents who were fans and still are would love to know about it.” Tickets are $45.75 and can be purchased from the box office.

South Mountain – a band which derives its name from a local town

End of Summer & Back To School

Tid Bit Musings

by Elva Patterson Rutters

RSSW

Returning to the school circuit brings enormous stress to many families. Some throw out all they have just to start anew. Concerning is the amount of clothes simply put into the garbage when others could use them. Why do you not donate to a thrift shop? Technically a new outfit is nice for the first day, but surely overnight the youngster did not outgrow everything! Mind you, after you wear something once, it is then "used." Ironically, there is a craze by those with money to have "Value Village" shopped, and embarrassment by those on limited funds to do likewise. Explain that logic??? So how did we get into this mind set that a complete new wardrobe is a necessity? How did it become mandatory?

Definitely the school supplies are a must, and if you have the cash, buy some extra to donate to the

teacher for distribution to those who are lacking. Mind you, a broken crayon colors as well as an intact one. For grandparents, this is an ideal time to buy art supplies for Christmas gifts when prices are slashed. No matter the time, new markers, pastels or crayons are appreciated. Perhaps the clothing falls into the prices slashed category. If you purchase the summer sales for next year, you are aiming for a larger size for sure, but who can beat Giant Tiger's final clearance rack of $3 season close outs?

This is definitely a teachable moment for your offspring. Set a budget and allow them to purchase what they need, not want, to start the school year with. Talk over the budget before you hit the stores, not argue and fight in the store. Humiliation leads to you giving into the tantrum. Remind them you will not "rescue" if they run short. If you choose to supplement with one outfit to start the year, feel free to indulge as a gift and as a

surprise.

When you reflect on the cost involved, realize those on smaller budgets struggle

even more. For those with no children, feel free to purchase supplies and donate to the school in your area. There

is an incredible soul, Mike Barkley, who compiles back to school backpacks for those in need in this area. Hats off

to him and hats off to you if you can lend a helping hand. Kudos to the parents who use this as a teachable moment!!!

End of Summer & Back To School

Driving near school buses

When you’re driving and a school bus approaches, watch if the bus slows and flashes its overhead amber lights, which means that the bus is coming to a stop to pick-up or drop-off passengers. When you see a school bus with its overhead amber lights flashing: Slow down and prepare to stop whether you are behind or approaching a bus

If you are on a road with a median strip, only vehicles coming from behind the bus should prepare to stop.

Watch if the bus stops and flashes its overhead red-lights or activates its stop arm. This means that the bus has stopped to pick-up or drop off passengers. It is dan-

gerous and illegal to fail to stop for a stopped school bus that has its overhead red lights flashing or its stop arm activated.

For roads without a median (raised barrier between lanes), vehicles in both directions must stop when the bus is stopped and flashing its overhead red lights or its stop arm is activated: - if you are driving behind the bus, stop at least 20 metres away - if the school bus is facing you, stop at a safe distance to let children get on and off the bus and cross the road

For roads with a median, you must stop if you are driving in the same direction as the school bus when the bus is stopped and flashing its overhead red lights or its stop

arm is activated. Vehicles coming from the opposite direction are not required to stop. Before continuing on your way you must wait for the bus to start moving, for the overhead red lights to stop fl ashing and the stop arm is no longer activated.

The right people The right products The right services

Fertilizer - Seed - Crop Protection

Plan for nutrient application today to benefit your farm and the environment tomorrow

by Vanessa Renaud, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

It might be hard to think about winter when we’re still in the middle of summer, but if you’re a livestock farmer, that’s exactly what is suggested. Specifically, it’s time now to think about how and when you’re going to get manure on the fields before the ground becomes frozen and snowcovered.

That’s because winter application of manure, whether solid or liquid, is not a best management practice and should be avoided if possible.

In addition to farming in eastern Ontario, I’m also a crop consultant which means I work with farmers daily to help them grow the best crops and maintain healthy soils. Manure has great value as a natural source of nutrients, as well as building soil organic matter – good soil structure makes the ground more resilient to drought and flood stresses – and feeding the microorganisms that live underground.

How and when manure goes on the land, though, makes a big difference in the benefit you’re going to get from those nutrients and the impact they’ll have on the environment. When soil is frozen, manure can’t be worked into the ground the way it is dur-

ing the warmer months.

As well, water can’t enter the ground, so when it rains in the winter or warm temperatures cause snow to melt, it simply runs off and takes what’s spread on the frozen surface with it.

We don’t often associate winter with rain, but recent research from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has shown that winter rain and thaw events actually occur more often than we think. Studies have also found that Ontario’s phosphorous losses –nutrients from manure getting into water courses – happen mainly during fall and winter, and most often during and after major rain or melting events.

Here are some major reasons why farmers spreading in the winter is not a good idea:

Losing nutrients

Livestock manure is a valuable natural alternative to commercial fertilizer. When nutrients are washed away instead of being absorbed into the ground, it’s a bit like letting money go down the drain because they’re not providing any benefit to the crops. Those lost nutrients will result in lower crop yields, or they’ll have to be replaced, creating additional costs.

Creating water quality problems

When nutrients run off

into streams, rivers, and lakes at high levels, they have a negative impact on water quality and the broader environmental ecosystem. They contribute to increased algae growth, for example, which affects human, plant and animal life. A highly visible example of this that garners media attention every summer is the algae blooms that grow in the western basin of Lake Erie.

Building negative public perceptions

The algae bloom is one reason why there is increased attention focused on water quality in Ontario lakes. There are many contributors to this problem, but because activities involving manure are highly visible, farmers become an easy target for those looking to place blame.

Contributing to soil compaction

Some farmers believe that spreading in the winter reduces the potential for soil compaction from heavy farm equipment because the frozen ground is better able to handle the impact of manure spreaders or liquid tankers. Unfortunately, that’s just a myth. Even though the soil’s top layers may be frozen, the ground underneath is not, and compaction will yield crop growth problems in future growing seasons. So, how can winter

spreading be avoided?

Ontario farm organizations have been very proactive in raising awareness about winter spreading and most Ontario farmers know the risks and actively take steps to avoid them.

Often, those who do spread in the winter don’t have enough manure storage to make it to spring or weren’t able to empty their storages in the fall – because the weather didn’t cooperate to create proper spreading conditions, for example.

Still, it only takes one or two incidents to create problems for the entire industry, so here are some key points to think about as we head into fall harvest and prepare for winter:

Have a plan: know how much manure storage is available and be prepared with a back-up plan if spreading most of a farm’s manure in the fall isn’t possible, like temporary in-field storage for solid manure or renting unused storage space for liquid manure.

Storage: cover or expand existing on-farm manure storages. Keeping rain out of a liquid manure tank, for example, increases capacity without having to build additional storage.

Use crop rotation: add a crop like winter wheat, winter barley or winter canola, or cover

crops to a rotation to provide extra manure spreading windows throughout the year. It will take the pressure off those busy spring and fall times and although it’s not a solution for this year, it can be put in place for the next growing season.

Follow the 4Rs: Put the right amount of nutrients in the right place at the right time and at the right rate.

For more information about responsible manure management, check out the Timing Matters initiative supported by provincial farm organizations and commodity groups.

Classifieds Classifieds

FOR SALE

Wheelchair for sale, like new only six month old. Paid over 4000.00, asking 2,000.00 but willing to negotiate.

Please call 613-296-8778

Brand New Wedding

Dresses, never been worn, Tags Still On, LULUS (XL) ordered online. $300 each (phone number: 613-203-2724

Free Farm Kitten Friendly, cute, sociable 3-4 Months old Anne 613978-2184

Two brand new wedding dresses, tags still attached, bought online LULUS (XL) $300 each

Floating dock on the Rideau. 60' (3 sections and walkout) Best o er 613-258-8000

Firewood for sale $110 a cord delivered, min 2 cord for delivery. Call Jon 613-227-3650

Hay and straw for sale

4x4 round bales, stored inside. Call Jon 613-2273650

Cedar posts and rails for sale, various sizes available. Call Jon 613-2273650

WANTED

Looking to rent farmland for cash crops. Call or text Mitch @ 613-262-1204

HELP WANTED

Occasional muscle required part time for landscaping and waterfront maintenance on Boyd Landing , Merrickville. Heavy work. Pays $100 for five-hour day. Must have transportation. Phone 613 2847780.

ALES

SERVICES

RETIRED CARPENTER

Renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, additions, decks, home repair. Call George at 613 462 7637

HANDYMAN SERVICES

Call Bill 613 774 2922

Hedge Trimming

Small or Tall

Call Rob

613-795-1845'

PROFESSIONAL CLEANING available on a monthly basis or occasionally Jackie 613-821-6161

In dedication to Emily Scheepers Winchester

Make your Labour Day Weekend one to remember!

For 10 years, from 2011 to 2020, Merrickville’s Jazz Fest (MJF) proudly presented its “little gem of a festival” to enthusiastic audiences from the Village and nearby communities as well as from Ottawa and further out-of-town. For a lot of people, this was their first visit to Merrickville, and many of them happily returned every year to enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the Village and the varied program of music. MJF was committed to presenting an almost exclusively jazz program that featured excellent concerts by up-and-coming and established Canadian artists from Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Quebec City as well as by some favourite local musicians. Entirely volunteer-run, and supported by ticket sales, donations and sponsorships, MJF eventually grew to become a respected and well-attended event that put Merrickville on the jazz festival map.

Although the pandemic and other circumstances led to the closing of MJF following the 10th Anniversary virtual presentation in 2020, a small group of MJF volunteer organizers have been working on an idea for a music event in the Village, and are now pleased to announce Jazz In Merrickville, an afternoon of jazz as a formal farewell to our beloved festival, and as a thank you to its many volunteers, supporters, audiences and artists.

Jazz In Merrickville takes place on Sunday, September 4, 2022 from noon until 4 pm. All the performers will use the same stage — the Lions Club Bandstand in Blockhouse Park — and there will be a number of MJF fan favourites as well as some new artists who will perform together throughout the afternoon. The event is FREE and all are welcome.

Save the date, Sunday, September 4, 2022, and help us celebrate MJF with a wonderful afternoon of jazz and community.

More information on the lineup of artists, concert schedule and anything else related to the event, is available on the MJF website at merrickville'sjazzfest.com and on social media.

THE FOOD CORNER

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

For those of you who love sweet corn, this is a great time of year. Canning season is also an opportunity to lock up some of that great flavour in a sealer jar. So, continuing on from last week’s Cucumber Relish, this next recipe makes use of corn kernels, onions and red and green peppers, all great produce that is available from your garden or from your favourite grocery store. You are sure to enjoy Corn Relish as a condiment for a wide variety of foods come the fall and winter.

Corn Relish

Dressing Ingredients

2 cups of white vinegar

1 cup of granulated sugar

1 tablespoon of dry mustard

½ teaspoon celery seeds

½ teaspoon of Turmeric

½ teaspoon Tabasco Sauce

3 tablespoons of flour

Relish Ingredients

5 full cups of corn kernels

1 ½ cup of onion, finely chopped

1 cup of celery, finely chopped

1 cup of red pepper, diced

1 cup of green pepper, diced

Preparation

1. Bring all the dressing ingredients except the flour to a boil in a largish saucepan

2. Stir in the corn, onions and celery

3. Lower the heat and simmer for about a half hour while stirring frequently

4. Whisk the flour into 3 or 4 tablespoons of cold water and stir into the relish mixture

5. Add the red and green peppers, bring to a boil, stirring often until thickened (so, 5 –10 min)

6. Pour into sterilized canning jars (the 1 cup or 250 mL versions are common and work well)

7. Leave about a ½ inch of head space, seal and cool till the lids pop

This colourful relish can accompany pork and lamb dishes very well and is also nice with Tourtière around the festive season.

I do hope you are canning! Best from pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

Dundas Dairy 4-H wraps up Club Meetings for 2022

submitted by Ericka

Mathers

On August 8, the Dundas Dairy 4-H Club held its final official meeting before achievement day. The meeting was hosted at Winright Holsteins in Winchester. Matt and Erica Enright spoke to us about their show heifer program, and it was in their heifer show barn where we held the meeting.

Showmanship was our

meeting focus. Our leaders did a showmanship demonstration with the help of Taylor Mathers and her 4-H heifer. We were then each given a chance to lead a few calves and received individual feedback, which was very helpful. The leaders then each took a calf and provided an entertaining show of what 'not' to do in the ring, and then proceeded to show their calves properly, so we could judge them.

We will be meeting before achievement day to prepare our display at the South Mountain Fairgrounds and to hand in our project books. Our achievement day show will be held at the fairgrounds on Saturday, August 20 at 11 am.

A big thanks to our leaders and meeting hosts throughout the season who have helped make this a great year.

David & Kelly Mathers

An early look at the 2022 municipal election

by Brandon Mayer

With the nomination period now over, we can get a first look at the candidates list for the upcoming municipal election in North Dundas. Municipalities all over Ontario will vote on the upcoming election day, October 24. Each municipality elects its own local government, who act as the decision makers for by-laws and budgets (among other things) for the subsequent four years. In North Dundas, voters will elect one Mayor, one Deputy Mayor, three Councillors, and four school board Trustees (one for each board serving the local area).

As of the time of writing, the Clerk has not yet certified the candidates or provided an official candidates list. Readers can visit the Township of North Dundas website at https://www. northdundas.com/ for new information as it becomes available. During the nomination period, a list of names of “unofficial” candidates who filed nomination papers was frequently updated. This list paints an inter-

esting picture of what the upcoming election will look like, with some familiar names, and many new ones.

As per the list of unofficial candidates, incumbent Mayor Tony Fraser is running unopposed, making it almost certain that his seat at the council table will be acclaimed. A Winchester resident, Tony won the seat in 2018 after challenging then Deputy Mayor Gerry Boyce for the job. He took over from Mayor Eric Duncan, who now represents the riding at the federal level as Member of Parliament. Notably missing from the candidates list altogether is Allan Armstrong, the Township’s current Deputy Mayor. The only candidate in the unofficial list who is running for Deputy Mayor this time around is Theresa Bergeron. She is a South Mountain resident and current North Dundas Councillor who was appointed to fill the vacancy left by outbound Councillor Tyler Hoy in late 2021.

As with Allan Armstrong, current Councillor John Thompson’s name does not appear on the unofficial candidates list, suggesting that he is not

seeking re-election for the upcoming term. Councillor Gary Annable of Winchester will seek reelection to his current job.

Several new names appear on the unofficial candidates list, seeking election to the role of Councillor. These include Stefan Kohut, William Healey, Matthew Uhrig, John Lennox, and Joselyn Morley. Little is known of these candidates’ platforms for running at this time, but details will be reported as they are learned. Candidates for school board Trustee positions are listed as Jacques Heroux, Karen McAllister, and Larry Berry. Trustee positions have shared candidates across multiple local municipalities.

As the candidates list becomes certified, the campaigning period for the 2022 municipal elections will commence.

repairs Mechanic Quality PreVehicles Truck

A Bunch of People thanks North Dundas

A Bunch of People Arts and Events (AboP) got a chance to thank North Dundas township and residents last Saturday for their strong support. ABoP provides fun and artistic things to do in SD&G and gives all their profit to a local charity, House of Lazarus. Pretty much all their events happen in North Dundas and last Saturday, August 13, they got to show their appreciation.

measuring 36" x 48", which were auctioned off. The money received from the auction and daily sales of the posters goes to United Way/Centraide of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry.

ABoP’s annual Car Rally/Scavenger Hunt, which started and ended at the North Dundas Business Centre this past

Saturday, was the perfect time to present the large North Dundas poster to Mayor Tony Fraser in thanks to North Dundas residents and township for their support of ABoP and the arts and fun!

What is better than having a good time? Knowing the money you spent goes to charity!

• Brakes

• Suspension

• Tire Sales

• Air Conditioning

• Alignments

613-989-3839

Rd 1, Mountain Ontario

The President of A Bunch of People Arts and Events was personally able to procure the framed poster for North Dundas from the “Home Sweet Home” poster series created by Perch magazine and Urroz, both out of Cornwall. The poster art series showcases the beauty across our region and focuses on iconic scenes from Akwesasne, Cornwall, and each township within SDG. Available at 8.5 x 11 inches, the “Home Sweet Home” series also printed one poster of each scene

Freshly baked goods

Homemade frozen meals Pizza & subs LCBO/Beer Store convenience outlet

613-989-1323

Hours: Mon-Fri 6am-7pm Sat&Sun 7am-7pm

1738 County Rd 1, Mountain Ontario

submitted by Amanda Burger

Ignoring hazards leaves little hope for longevity

What is the greatest hazard to your longevity? Ask around and you will get a variety of answers: heart disease, cancer, genetics, or humankind’s own folly with warfare and planetary destruction. But it has become taboo to mention obesity. Yet, for decades, this column has stressed that obesity is the greatest health hazard of them all.

Amid all of society’s penchants for weight gain, daily unrelenting efforts of individuals to maintain healthy weights would save more lives than any other prescription. Supportive public policies and improved private sector responsibility would help.

Today, all over the world, people are disturbingly obese and ill. Among the root issues is one simple fact. People are devouring too many calories, too often combined with sedentary lifestyles. It’s not hard to see.

Why do we shy away from a focus on obesity and shine the spotlight instead

on heart disease, diabetes or other conditions associated with obesity? In part, it’s because it’s wrong to play the blame game. That, and the medical world is designed to treat diseases, not prevent them.

Furthermore, whereas obesity is a state of being, diseases are downright awful. Take type 2 diabetes, for example. For many diabetics, the pandemic has been particularly brutal, killing many people having “underlying conditions”. But diabetes also has terrible complications of its own, causing blindness, kidney failure, and leg amputations due to gangrene.

Unfortunately, many families having lost a loved one think it has been due to coronary attack, stroke, pneumonia, a complication during surgery, or being elderly. But this is to miss the lifestyle factors that culminated over time to set the stage for drama. The death certificate never lists obesity at the cause of death. The

deception is fooling families and the general public too.

There is a huge disconnect between what journalists and medical experts report in the news and the corresponding reality for most people. Eye-opening evidence presented by Our World in Data, a scientific online publication focusing on large global problems, shows that the news provides “a near-instantaneous snapshot of single events”, whereas persistent, largescale trends never make the headlines.

To illustrate, the publication presents data on what caused deaths in the U.S. in 2016, side by side with data on Google searches and media coverage in the New York Times and The Guardian. In fact, 60% of deaths were attributed to heart disease and cancer, while only 0.9% and less than 0.01% of deaths were due to homicide or terrorism, respectively. But in both journals, homicide and terrorism combined for about 60% of coverage, and heart disease got only 2%. (Obesity wasn’t mentioned.)

Few people are trained nutritionists. But unless living like a mole, you should know that to lose weight you have to stop eating high quantities of high calorie meals and sugary desserts such as cookies, ice cream,

cakes and pies. Combine smaller, smarter caloric intake with daily walking or other moderate exercise, and then you’ll be happy to see the scale numbers decreasing. This works.

Sadly, most people are largely unaware of how type 2 diabetes affects later life. Helpful medical advances are undergoing clinical trials. But there’s little hope for healthy longevity without losing weight and preventing the development of unnecessary complications.

Health authorities should be supporting this objective by alerting the public to the mind-boggling negative consequences of a do-nothing approach.

What is going to happen worldwide? With obesity unaddressed, we face a medical disaster that is bankrupting health care systems. And don’t believe this won’t affect you if you do not protect your own family.

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Photo contest

September 20-24th,

Kemptville ONT

The Municipality of North Grenville and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Ontario are proud to present the 2022 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo! We cannot wait to see you at Tented city located on the historical Kemptville Campus!

Thank you to our sponsors!

This photo was taken in our very own backyard utopia!!! Our family's calm place to escape a hectic work day, neighboring the Cloverdale golf course. A place where family and friends gather to enjoy good times. #FamJam - Falon, Brent, Hayden, & Griffin Wallace