ND Times Issue 19 2022 September 22

Kayleigh Boyd leaves a lasting Legacy

‘Wrapped in Love’

submitted by Jane Adams

Kayleigh Boyd had Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder that affected her ability to speak, walk or use her hands appropriately. What it didn’t affect was her ability to love, give, and create. Kayleigh passed away in July, but her legacy lives on through the more than 1,200 quilts that she made and donated for newborns at Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH).

“Kayleigh loved babies, so this project meant so much to her,” notes her Mom Terry.

“We called it ‘Wrapped in Love’ and it was her way of paying it forward and saying thank you to everyone who

helped care for her. She wanted to give back.”

Since 2006, Kayleigh, with the support of her care aides, made and donated the quilts. Kayleigh would choose the patterns of fabric at local fabric stores using a voice output system or eye gaze. She would use a special switch to make the battery-operated scissors and sewing machine work. Her helpers and Mom would help her to complete the quilts.

Each month, Kayleigh came to WDMH from her home near South Mountain where she grew up with her mom, father Dean, and two siblings Brekyn and Parker. She would present several

quilts at each visit. There were ones for boys, girls, and every special occasion from Valentine’s Day to Christmas – each one unique with Kayleigh’s own design. Kayleigh’s perseverance and strength were inspiring. Terry notes: “Kayleigh’s brain knew what to tell her body to do, but it just couldn’t respond. It took Kayleigh nine years to learn how to move her hand to hit a switch to power the sewing machine, but she did it. She enjoyed her days, and she had a purpose.”

“Kayleigh has been a well-known name in the WDMH Family Birthing department for many years,” notes Jenn Merkley, Family

Birthing Unit Team Leader. “From her special quilt for each special occasion to all the others donated in between, you could see the love and attention to detail in each one. Our families were always so appreciative to receive this gift and hear her story. The WDMH team would like to send our love and thoughts to the Boyd family.”

Kayleigh’s legacy will live on with the blankets that will no doubt be passed down from generation to generation. “We can’t say enough about Winchester Hospital and how they cared for Kayleigh,” adds Terry.

“It took an entire team.”

Alleged attempted kidnapping at Winchester PS

and police were also seen circulating in the area on the day of the incident.

On September 16, the community was able to finally breathe a sigh of relief when it was announced that the alleged perpetrator was caught. A 34-year-old man from Ottawa is facing charges of kidnapping and criminal harassment in connection with the incident.

A frightening incident at Winchester Public School on September 14 caused quite a stir both around town and online. An official release sent out by Principal Tracy Armstrong gives details on what happened.

“Today at the end of last recess, a suspicious person stopped and questioned some students and tried to engage in conversation with them from the vehicle, which was on the York St. side of the school yard,” the letter reads. “When the staff on duty approached, the person left. Police were notified, given a description of the person, and are investigating the incident. There was extra supervision at bus time today and

as an extra precaution, parents and guardians of our walking students met their child(ren) at school. The students that were around when this incident happened reacted swiftly and maturely, and did not engage with the individual. Know that the safety and well-being of our students is always a priority at our school. Please take this opportunity to speak with your child about what a stranger is and what to do if they are ever approached by a stranger.”

While other details of what occurred were unclear, much speculation did occur online after the incident. Some parents commented on a social media post sharing some of the wild stories

born from their children’s imaginations after arriving home. Others shared unconfirmed descriptions of the suspect, as provided by their children. One post by a parent suggested that her child had spotted a young child already in the suspect’s car at the time of the incident.

The OPP provided an update on the incident on September 15, stating that it was still under investigation. The only information provided was that the local police detachment was investigating reports of a “suspicious male” in the vicinity of the school. Police cruisers were noticeably present around the school at bell times and recesses in the days following the incident,

With the community of Winchester and surrounding communities shaken by what occcured, parents are reminded of the importance of teaching their children about stranger danger. Children should be taught what strangers are, and that strangers do not always look evil or act bad at first. Children should also be taught appropriate steps to take if they believe they are in danger. This includes running to a public place such as a store or post office, or a trusted friend or relative’s house if they feel like they are being followed or if a stranger is making them uncomfortable. It also means knowing that if grabbed by a stranger, rules regarding tantrums and hitting or hurting people no longer apply, and they should do what is necessary to alert others and get away. Children should also be reminded to report any suspicious activity to a trusted adult immediately.

The Irish Descendants at the Winchester United Church

The Festival of Small Halls presents The Irish Descendants at the Winchester United Church on Saturday, October 22 at 7:30 pm. Buy your tickets online today!

The Irish Descendants are a folk group from the St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. All the members, born of Irish emigrants, were workers in the Newfoundland fishing industry before forming the band in 1990 out of the remnants of two former Newfoundland bands – The Descendants and Irish Coffee. The group helped to popularise traditional Newfoundland music to a wider Canadian audience in the early 1990s, along with other bands such as Great Big Sea. Their popularity within the province itself led to their selection as the official band of the province’s 500th anniversary celebrations, during which they performed for the Queen.

Visit the Festival of Small Halls online for complete details.

York Street, looking east. The location where a man is alleged to have had suspicious interactions with Winchester PS students on September 14.

EOHU offering Bivalent COVID-19 Booster Vaccine starting September 12

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) will be offering Moderna’s bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine at its vaccination clinics starting on September 12th. Bivalent vaccines provide protection against the original strain of COVID-19 as well as the Omicron BA.1 variant. Preliminary study results indicate that the bivalent vaccine will also provide protection against the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.

Appointments can be booked online at https:// covid-19.ontario.ca/bookvaccine/ or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 starting on September 12 at 8 am.

Individuals in the following categories will be able to receive their bivalent vaccine starting the week of September 12:

·Individuals aged 70 and up

·Healthcare workers aged 18 and up

·Residents in congregate settings such as longterm care homes, retirement homes, elder care lodges, and individuals living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services, as well as their essential caregivers

·Moderately to severely immune-compromised individuals aged 12 and up

·Pregnant individuals aged 18 and up

·First Nations and Indigenous populations aged 18 and up, and their partners and household members (including non-Indigenous partners and household members) aged 18 and up

Pregnant individuals and healthcare workers booking from September 12th to the 25th cannot book an appointment online. Appointments must be made through the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 or through participating pharmacies.

Individuals aged 18 and over will be able to receive their vaccine starting the week of September 26th. All individuals who have received their primary COVID-19 vaccine series will be eligible to receive the bivalent Omicron booster dose, as long as it has been a minimum of 3 months since they received their last COVID-19 vaccine.

Bivalent COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Another Tool on the Path to Normalcy

“As fall begins and we enter yet another cold and flu season combined with

Riding boundary changes proposed

by Brandon Mayer

COVID-19, I'm glad we now have access to this new bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine," says Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health at the EOHU. "I encourage everyone to get the new booster dose as I believe it will have a much better ability to prevent Omicron infections and prevent severe disease. As COVID-19 becomes one of the normally circulating viruses in the community, this booster will help us continue on our path out of the pandemic phase and into more normalcy."

Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Available by Appointment Only

At the EOHU’s community clinics, the bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccines are currently only available by appointment. However, walk-ins are accepted for those needing a primary COVID-19 vaccine dose or for children aged 6 months to 11 years old. The vaccine may also be available through your doctor or primary healthcare provider, as well as your pharmacy. Please contact them directly for more information or to book an appointment.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit www.EOHU.ca/vaccines.

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry may soon be even more united if proposed boundary changes to federal ridings are approved.

Currently, the boundaries of the SD&G United Counties do not correspond to the similarly-named federal electoral riding of Stormont – Dundas – South Glengarry. The Counties comprise six townships, named after the north and south divisions of each of the three counties. However, the electoral riding omits the Township of North Glengarry, which includes the towns of Alexandria and Maxville. North Glengarry is currently a part of the federal riding of Glengarry – Prescott – Russell.

Under the proposed changes, the new riding of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry would have boundaries corresponding to those of the United Counties, plus the City of Cornwall and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne community of Kawehnoke, which are currently part of the rid-

ing. While the Glengarry – Prescott – Russell riding would lose the “Glengarry” part, it is expected that it would also gain small parts of east Ottawa as part of the restructuring.

The proposed changes are not unique to our local area. Once every 10 years, or every second census, federal riding boundaries are reevaluated based on the population information generated by the census. The purpose is to ensure fairness in terms of the number of people in each riding, which determines how many people are represented by each elected Member of Parliament. Under the current process, Ontario is proposed to gain an entirely new riding, which would add a new seat in the House of Commons. If the changes move forward, it will be the first time that all townships of the United Counties are included in the same federal electoral riding.

Changes to the federal riding are made independently from changes to the provincial riding boundaries. The current recommen-

dation regarding the SDSG boundary changes has been received and tentatively accepted by the electoral commission. A subsequent 24-day public consultation period is set to come to an end within the next few days. The final approval for the changes will go to the Chief Electoral Officer. If the final approval is received, the riding boundaries will continue to exist as they are until April of 2024, at which time the new changes would take effect.

Current SDSG Member of Parliament Eric Duncan made a social media post notifying his followers of the proposed changes, but he did not respond to a request for further comment by deadline.

Be Tick Smart during Hunting Season

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit would like to remind everyone that ticks are still active well into the fall. Hunters are at a higher risk of exposure to ticks that can cause Lyme disease while out in the forest and in contact with leaf litter where ticks are located.

from behind. Check pets for ticks as well.

Put your outdoor clothes in a hot dryer for several minutes to kill ticks.

Take a shower to help remove any unattached ticks.

Speak to your vet about ways to protect your pets.

specimens are not used for diagnosis of disease so they are no longer accepted at the Health Unit. Individuals can submit a photo to the website, eTick for tick identification.

The Boyne Road Hazardous Waste Facility will be OPEN for its FINAL session in 2022 on Saturday, October 1st between the hours of 8:00am till 12:00pm for the residents of Dundas County to safely remove their Household Hazardous Waste.

Any questions contact: 613-774-5157

Enjoy the benefits of being outdoors; but remember to be tick smart. While not all Black legged ticks in our area carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease, a significant number do, and you cannot tell if a tick is positive by looking at it. Taking the following precautions will help to reduce your risk:

Use an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin. You can apply this to clothing or your skin.

Do a tick check when you return inside. If possible have someone check you

Lyme disease transmission depends on the length of time the infected tick is attached. Ticks that are removed quickly and have been attached for less than 24 hours are not likely to transfer the bacteria. However, if the tick has been attached for longer than 24 hours you may be at an increased risk and it is recommended that you consult your health care provider.

Check any ticks you remove from your body to determine if they are fat or flat. A fat tick is an indication that it has been feeding for a longer period of time. Tick

Lyme disease symptoms can range from a bull’s eye rash around the bite area, to headache, fever and muscle/ joint pain. Symptoms can appear from 3 days to several weeks following a tick bite. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

For more information about ticks and Lyme disease: visit our Insect Bites and Diseases section of our website or call 1-800-6605853. You can also e-mail us at contact@heathunit. org or connect with @LGLHealthUnit on Facebook and Twitter or @lglhealthunit.z on Instagram.

Frozen in time

by Brandon Mayer

It’s hard to predict the future, though many have tried. No, I am not talking about false prophecies of the end times – I am leaning more in the direction of entertainment, with television shows like The Jetsons. The fictional character George Jetson was, in the show’s plot, born on July 31, 2022. Something tells me that we simply won’t have flying cars and any number of the other gadgets featured on the show before our imaginary friend Mr. Jetson reaches his adult years.

Another example is Lost in Space, a television show from the same era as The Jetsons. In my undergrad years, I had to watch a couple of episodes to analyze the music from the show. Something that struck me is that regardless of whether the space travel and other technological advances of the show are accurate, this 2058 family sure acts and sounds like a family from 1965, with a man in total control of his wife and ever-obedient

children. As much as writers and show producers have doubtlessly experienced generational differences in their own lives, it seems that we can’t help but assume that certain aspects of our lives will remain frozen in time. No matter how much things change, we assume that they are done changing.

Granted that I am not that old, as I age I can’t help but start to reminisce about the way things were, and find nostalgia for things which I never thought would matter to me. A recent example is that I have become obsessed with taking care of my TV remotes. One of my loveable-but-doughheaded black lab puppies (or perhaps both?) chewed the remote for our living room TV shortly after we bought it. Replacement remotes were out of stock, but “luckily”, the TV is a smart TV for which you can download an app on your smartphone that operates through Wi-Fi and works just like the remote. I put “luckily” in quotes because I absolutely despise it! Same buttons, same

Wage hikes show desperation of job market

by Brandon Mayer

The current labour shortage affecting most of the country is causing many employers to raise their starting wages in desperation, making this an excellent time for prospective workers to go job hunting. Some large companies have been vocal in recent years about potential negative effects from minimum wage increases, though even massive, time-tested corporations are starting to raise their starting wages above minimum wage to recruit and retain staff.

Locally, the new Wendys location and existing McDonalds location in Kemptville are both offering above minimum wage to start, even for non-supervisors. Roadside electronic signage which was originally installed to advertise menu items now often flashes with bold messages of “now hiring”. At one chain restaurant location, there was a sign offering an upcoming “hiring day” with interviews given on the spot.

To the east, the Walmart warehouse in the city of Cornwall is advertising not only a starting wage of $18.90 per hour for new labourers, but also a $3,000 signing bonus.

What do these wage hikes mean for employers, employees, and the public? Paying out higher wages will undoubtedly affect different companies’ finances differently. From a learning perspective, many corporate decision makers may come to place more value on their employees as a result of the current competition for employees in the market. For employees, wage increases can mean nothing but good news, not only because it means they make more money, but also because it represents a certain desperation for employees which is bound to motivate employers to make other positive changes to the workplace climate as well.

While the increase in worker wages is becoming far more pervasive lately, this is not a new reality. In March of this year, a CBC report predicted that wages would skyrocket in 2022 as a result of the labour shortage. “In this job market, if you're not getting a raise, it's time to change jobs because chances are it will pay more,” reads a line from that report.

functionality, no issues, but I just plain hate it. The rest of my remotes are now on close guard, because I have come to accept that it won’t be long before remotes simply no longer exist. There is something about using a simple device from my childhood that brings an unmatched feeling of nostalgia, and you’re darn right I’m going to hold onto it for as long as I can.

Despite my feelings about TV remotes, there is something that matters to me even more. If I had to pick just one nostalgic thing from my life to be frozen in time forever, it would be print newspapers. With National Newspaper Week approaching next month, I have been thinking more and more about how much newspapers actually mean to me. The thought of newspapers takes me back to childhood, sitting in my grandfather’s farmhouse living room, woodstove blazing in the dead of winter, flipping through a copy of the Cornwall Seaway News. I looked forward to reading the newspaper

every week because of the anticipation – there was a world of possibilities for what content would be in this week’s issue, and it was impossible to know what I was in for until I opened it up. I think it is for this same reason that I love getting the mail from the Post Office, a daily habit for which my wife thinks I’m crazy, since barely anything comes anymore. I will always love the anticipation of finding out what is in the box, and I am grateful for the occasional pleasant surprise.

In my adult years, the Times has been a source of that same enjoyment that I experienced in childhood. Granted that I write a fair amount of the content in it now, I still set it aside after getting it in the mail each week, and (eventually) flip through it with a cup of coffee. It is very difficult to explain what nostalgia feels like, but in the case of reading the newspaper, it symbolizes for me not only a happy childhood memory, but also the simple fact that my week has gone well, as

I have time for a moment of peaceful recreation.

Arguments can be made all day long about news media shifting to online platforms as a sign of the future. But we can’t forget that print newspapers have the distinction of being accessible to all, and have a pervasive reach that simply doesn’t occur with internet news. One other problem with internet news, particularly on social media, is the speculation and outright nasty exchanges that often overshadow the facts. Of course, news cannot be reported as quickly in print, but dare I say that this is like comparing a historic muscle car to an electric car. Sure, one may be faster and more modern than the other, but it is a mistake to equate these points as the only indicators of quality and value. Staring at a smartphone screen and being fed low quality news instantly simply doesn’t compare to settling in a comfortable chair at the end of a tough work week and opening up a good old fashioned newspaper. With internet news,

Reflections from Nova Scotia

by Brandon Mayer

At the end of August, I had the pleasure of going on a vacation with my family to the east coast, where I discovered that friendly people abound, airplane rides are a little rougher than I expected, and ocean water is much saltier than I thought it would be. Yes, last month marked not only the first time I had been to the lovely province of Nova Scotia, but also the first time I had been in an airplane, and the first time I had seen the ocean.

Our journey started with an early morning ride in a jumbo jet. It was only a 77 minute flight for a journey that would have taken 17 hours by car! Our kids were, of course, fascinated with the plane just as I was. The views were spectacular, and it seems almost in an instant that we landed in the quaintyet-bustling coastal military city of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Other than the staff at the airport, our first experience with the east coast locals came just 15 minutes after we departed in our rental car. Our GPS provided a route which was significantly faster than all other routes, but didn’t warn us that it was

because it was a toll route. As we first noticed the toll station, we were scrambling too much to notice the one staffed lane where payment with bills or a card could be done. Seeing only lanes for either electronic passes or coins, I signaled to enter the lane to pay the toll with coins. Two men in a convertible smiled and waved us ahead of them. As I pulled up to the toll booth, which only accepts coins for the $1.25 toll, my wife handed me a $5 bill. It was the only cash she had, and it was useless for the lane we were in. Embarrassed about holding up the lane for the men who had let us go ahead of them, I now had to park on the highway and get out to ask them for money. I explained that we were from Ontario, and I got a look that could only mean “enough said”. They handed me a toonie with a smile, and we were on our way. It was a simple, nice gesture that left a great first impression on us regarding the folks from the east coast.

We spent six days in “Canada’s Ocean Playground”, and there were many highlights. While my wife had been to the east coast previously, the kids

where is the anticipation? We should all take a moment to learn a lesson from Aldous Huxley regarding the perils of instant gratification.

I am proud to be part of the Times team. I can only hope that just as TV writers were wrong about flying cars in the 21st century, the newspaper nay-sayers don’t have quite as good a handle on the future of print media as they believe. Cheers to the pleasure of flipping through a newspaper on a quiet Saturday morning, and may this be one of life’s moments that can stay frozen in time.

and I discovered just how salty the ocean really is, and the strength of its massive waves. The kids loved the waves the most. We toured downtown Halifax on a very unique vehicle – the Harbour Hopper. The Harbour Hopper begins its journey driving through downtown Halifax, and winding up and down the citadel, before finally plunging into the Atlantic ocean! It is an amphibious vehicle that runs on both land and sea. Our amazing tour guide taught us much about Halifax, including its military history, and the story of the infamous Halifax explosion of 1917, which was the biggest human-made explosion prior to the dropping of the atomic bombs in Japan at the end of the second world war.

We also ended up getting to see the kindness of the east

coast yet again, as our oldest son left his wallet (with $195 cash inside) on the Hopper, and it was kindly returned to us the next day.

We of course visited the east coast “must sees”, including Peggy’s Cove, the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island, and the Alexander Keith’s brewery (okay, perhaps that was more of a “want to see”). Vacations are special and a much-needed break from the daily grind, but I will never miss returning to our quaint little southeastern Ontario town. It is true what they say – there is no place like home!

Stakeholder group created to address Highway 138 safety enhancements

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry has created a stakeholder group to address improvements to Highway 138 and work closely with Stormont, Dundas-South Glengarry MPP Nolan Quinn’s office to effect change along this busy provincial artery.

The group, which includes SDG Counties, MPP Quinn, SDSG MP Eric Duncan, SDG OPP, the townships of North and South Stormont, the City of Cornwall and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, began meetings this summer to outline local priorities that will enhance public safety on Highway 138.

The group was recently advised that the provincial Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is planning to construct a new roundabout at the Highway 138/Headline Road intersection in 2023. Further, the province is planning to repave a section

of the southern portion of Highway 138.

The intersection at Highway 138 and Headline Road will see a roundabout constructed in 2023.

This is welcome news, however local stakeholders believe more work remains to be done, namely the construction of passing lanes at strategic locations along the route.

“Our stakeholder group includes representation from all of the local communities that regularly use Highway 138,” said Warden Carma Williams. “We are working collaboratively with MPP Quinn, who has identified improvements to Highway 138 as his highest priority, to ensure that identified improvements are made at the earliest possible opportunity.”

In addition, SDG Counties staff continue to liaise with MTO and area municipalities to share and gather

information.

“We have had several productive meetings with stakeholders as well as with the MTO, and will continue our collective push to make Highway 138 safer for all users”, said SDG Counties Chief Administrative Officer T.J. Simpson.

The intersection at Highway 138 and Headline Road will see a roundabout constructed in 2023.

Eric Duncan returns to Conservative Leadership Team

A “moovie” surrounded by history

ing at the Old Town Hall for close to 20 years. “The goal is to run affordable movie nights for the community,” said Aaron. “We try to keep the price as low as we can.”

After winning the Conservative Party of Canada’s Leadership Election with a decisive mandate over the weekend, new Leader Pierre Poilievre quickly named his House of Commons Leadership Team, which includes StormontDundas-South Glengarry Member of Parliament Eric Duncan returning to a key role. As part of the senior leadership team with Pierre Poilievre and his senior staff, Eric and his colleagues will participate in daily briefings and are tasked with leading the day-to-day strategies of the Conservative Caucus in the House of Commons and building a strong and national Conservative movement across Canada. Eric, who has served as a Member of Parliament for less than three years, has been renamed by Leader Poilievre as the PartyCaucus Liaison, after serving in the role under Erin O’Toole. Originally, Eric served on the Conservative’s Leadership Team as Question Period Co-ordinator before the 2021 federal election. As Party-Caucus Liaison, he will serve as a conduit between the National Conservative Caucus and staff, the Party’s volunteer National Council, and Conservative Party Headquarters. He will lead and coordinate several important aspects of the Party’s modernization and growth efforts including programs such as professional development, the Conservative Summer Internship Program, and other programs to build a strong and successful team of Caucus and staff members. “It is an honour to be asked by Pierre to serve on his Leadership Team. I am both humbled and excited to return to this important role in our Caucus. I’m ready to hit the ground running,” said MP Duncan. “Our Conservative message is very clear with Pierre Poilievre: Canadians cannot face any further tax increases under the Liberals and NDP. This fall, we will be focused on addressing the Liberal’s failure on inflation and the out-of-control cost of living situation in Canada.”

by

The Township of North Dundas has announced that the popular “Night at the Movies” events will resume at the Old Town Hall theatre in Winchester. The first movie night will be this Saturday, September 24, with movie nights every second Saturday thereafter, except on days when the Old Town Hall is unavailable. The movie nights are run by the North Dundas Movie Committee.

Brandon Mayer movie, and a later movie geared more toward teens and adults. The earlier show is at 4 pm, and the later show at 7 pm, with doors opening 45 minutes before the event. This Saturday will feature Marcel the Shell with Shoes On as the earlier show, and Top Gun: Maverick as the later show. Tickets can be purchased online and are only $5, with canteen items for just $1 each, which is the inspiration for the event’s slogan, “big screen… small prices”.

Each movie day has an earlier, family-oriented

Winchester local Aaron Dellah has been volunteer-

One of the reasons Aaron sees the value of keeping movie prices low is that upon moving to the area decades ago, he was struck by how many people used local foodbanks. This made him realize that affordable family entertainment was another imperative locally. The movie nights are notfor-profit and are made possible entirely by volunteers.

One unique aspect of taking in a big screen movie in Winchester is that the Old Town Hall building itself is rich in history. The building was constructed in 1904 at a cost of just $5,000. It served as the town’s library for more than 50 years, as the town’s jail for 65 years, and as the Ontario Provincial Police headquarters for 10 years. Unique features such as bars on the windows provide a glimpse into the build-

Modern Square Dancing for Fun and Fitness

Few people are aware that square dancing has evolved from simple barn dancing to a modern, upswept version that has been a going concern across the country, and in fact, globally. You may be surprised to learn that Kemptville has been home to the Grenville Gremlins Square Dance Club for fifty years! Each week from September through April, a dedicated group of dancers meet for this lively activity that merges fun, fitness and friendship, as our club has attracted members from Merrickville, Manotick, North Gower, Osgoode, Spencerville, Winchester, and many other communities.

If you can listen, count, and walk to a beat, you too can enjoy square dancing. All ages are welcomed by the Gremlins, from young adults to active seniors, couples and singles - there are always willing partners to help form "a square".

Our "Caller" choreographs and teaches dances to a great variety of music genres - you never know what will come up next. Soft rock, easy listening, country, calypso, and even classical,

not to mention seasonal favorites are on the menu. Can you imagine square dancing to the likes of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"?

How about "Christmas in Killarney"?

Beginning dancers start .... at the beginning, being taught a few steps each week and joining in on the basic dance numbers. As time goes on you will be surprised by the variety of steps and combinations that you are introduced to, with a lot of laughs thrown in.

Why not give it a try?

Bring a friend or neighbour to the next Open House session for a fun social evening with a bit of exercise thrown in - you don't know what you're missing!

Eastern Ontario clubs are supported by EOSARDA - the Eastern Ontario Square and Round Dance Association - they provide information and assistance to all the local clubs.

For more information locally, email to : kemptvillesquaredance@gmail. com or check out our website : grenvillegremlins09

ing’s past as a law enforcement building. Now, the building serves as a home for the Dundas County Players, in addition to hosting many other events such as an open mic café every Sunday.

In addition to the “Night at the Movies” events, the Old Town Hall also hosts a special movie event during the day on the first Wednesday of every month. There is a “Moms and Tots Movie” in the morning, and a “Seniors Movie” in the evening. “We started those pre-COVID, we ran them for about a year and a half,” said Aaron. “They were actually quite successful… the Seniors Movies. We actually sold out a couple of times!”

To learn more about Night at the Movies, or to purchase tickets, visit http:// moovies.ca/ - and note the extra “O” paying tribute to Winchester’s rich dairy farming roots.

I've Heard some Geese a'honkin"!

HelloFresh!

Hello to great meals that support the WDMH Foundation!

The sad Royal events of the past week have overshadowed my garden bird viewing, somewhat, but life still goes on in that respect, even if not so noticeably, as before my UK break. This morning I saw and heard a flock of Canada Geese as they came in to land in the creek at the end of our road. In the bright sunshine they came in and landed, and their internal migratory clocks must have been asking the question as to why they were so early? One of those questions that can only be answered by themselves presumably,--I'm not sticking my neck out with a suggestion,--that's for sure!

It would seem that our Hummingbirds and the Baltimore Oriole have probably

left us for a while; and the Bluebirds and Wrens are not showing themselves either, so have probably done likewise. Our Chickadees, Nuthatch, Cardinals and Woodpeckers are still here and are usually some of the ones who will remain with us for the next few months, so all is not lost!

Hopefully, you are still managing to see some of your own birds even though your summer visitors may have vacated too. The enjoyment of seeing them is something that is not easily replaced, so I hope that you are all able to continue doing so. Stay safe and well.

Cheers,

John Baldwin

submitted by Jane Adams

Everyone wants to eat healthy food that is easy to prepare. The WDMH Foundation has a new fundraising program to help with just that!

“We have partnered with HelloFresh and we are exciting to offer this new program to our local communities,” says Justine Plummer, Manager of Direct Mail and Events. “It’s easy, fun and fresh!”

The Foundation will receive a donation for each person who signs up for Hello Fresh meal delivery using a special promo code — HELLOWDMHF. The promo code unlocks an offer for new customers to get seven free meals across their first three boxes. The Foundation receives a $10 donation for every new sign-up and for every box ordered. Funds will be directed to the Family Care Fund, supporting families just like yours.

And even better news! HelloFresh is doubling the donation during the month of September.

“Back-to-school season is a perfect time to try a meal kit,” adds Justine. “It's a stress-free way of planning dinner since you are saving time and money on weekly meals, and you support health care close to home at the same time.”

“Plus, they’re good!” adds Managing Director Kristen Casselman. “You tend to get a bit more food. Mine were two meals, and I usually got three. The ice packs are reusable and are super handy to keep on hand.”

Terry Fox Run season is back

road crossings. Rotarians were available during the Run to drive any participants back to the school once they had reached their limit.

“Although always in our hearts, this time of year brings back memories of those we have lost to cancer,” reads an online post from the Rotary Club of Chesterville.

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dation, but all students participate in the Run regardless. Students in area elementary schools often tally their laps in various creative ways, such as by having a staff member punch a hole in a shoe-shaped paper every time they complete a lap.

by Brandon Mayer

The familiar Terry Fox Run event took place in the Township on September 18. This year’s event took place in-person at North Dundas District High School in Ches-

terville. It was hosted by the Rotary Club of Chesterville. Participants both new and old were welcome to attend.

The route for the Run stretched approximately 10 km, with water checkpoints at each of the three

“The Terry Fox Foundation is working hard to find a cure or improved treatments especially for children. With your support, they will continue to carry on Terry’s Dream of A World Without Cancer.”

Meanwhile, the official Terry Fox School Run is set for September 23. During the school run, students are optionally invited to bring a donation for the Terry Fox Foun-

The Terry Fox Run is an event named after Terrance Stanley “Terry” Fox, who endeavored to run the entire way across Canada in 1980 to raise awareness about cancer and to raise money for cancer research after a battle with cancer that cost him most of his right leg.

Terry was from Port Coquitlam, BC, and he began his journey by dipping his leg in the Atlantic Ocean on Canada’s East Coast on April 12, 1980,

with the goal of running all the way home. Terry’s journey was tragically cut short on September 1, 1980 in Thunder Bay, after running a remarkable 5,373 kilometres. His cancer had returned – this time to his lungs – and on June 28, 1981, Terry passed away, but not before insisting that his Run and the fight against cancer must continue.

Supervised by the Terry Fox Foundation, the

Run has raised over $850 million in Terry’s name to fund cancer research, with the amount increasing every year. Events are held both in Canada and internationally, with money being raised in other countries usually being used to fund research in the host country.

Those interested in learning more about Terry Fox and his legacy can visit https://terryfox.org/.

The right people

The right products

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Fertilizer - Seed - Crop Protection

Farmer Wellness Initiative focuses on helping farmers in needHelp for Ontario farmers and their families

by Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations

A telehealth line that makes mental wellness support available to all Ontario farmers and farm families is now live. It is part of the Farmer Wellness Initiative (FWI), which addresses growing mental health concerns in the agricultural sector by offering more accessible mental health and wellness support to farm families across the province.

“The mental health crisis in the agricultural community has been well documented in recent years and the Farmer Wellness Initiative fills a critical gap for farmers and their families across Ontario,” says Peggy Brekveld, farmer and President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). “Bottom line – if you’re part of a farm family in Ontario and need mental health support for any reason, this telehealth line is available to you.”

OFA has partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Ontario Division and LifeWorks to develop and launch this initiative. It is the first step of a multi-year, provincewide 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 new FWI website explains how to use the free service.

To raise awareness, OFA

has launched the Farmer Wellness Initiative – Fields to Forks campaign with different Bell Media outlets across the province that includes TV, radio, print and online ads. A mental health focused one-minute film, specific to FWI, will be widely shared across social media platforms and FWI will have a booth alongside CMHA Ontario at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock on September 13 to 15. Additionally, there will be materials and giveaways available at the International Plowing Match in Kemptville from September 20 to 24, and future displays at various

other farm and rural events this fall and winter.

As well, several Ask the Expert shows on 1290 CJBK AM radio station in London will focus on mental health in agriculture, including a segment on September 17 featuring Brekveld and fellow farmer Joe Dickenson, discussing the mental health struggles of farm families, and one on October 1 with Kristin Wheatcroft from CMHA that will address available support programs. Both segments will run 1:00 to 1:30 pm.

“We want to make as many farmers and their families as possible aware of this new service and that help is

available if someone needs it, regardless of their farm organization membership or affiliation,” says Bruce Buttar, OFA director and Chair of the Farmer Wellness Initiative Advisory Committee. “We’ve been developing many resources to help break the silence around mental health, including the new FWI website that helps people identify when they might need help and what happens once they pick up the phone to make that first call.”

Other advisory committee members represent the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, L'Union des Cultivateurs Franco-

Ontariens, National Farmers’ Union, Canadian Mental Health Association – Ontario, University of Guelph, and the Rural Ontario Institute.

The mental health helpline for farmers can be reached at 1-866-2676255; additional resources are available on the Farmer Wellness Initiative website.

Paid for in part by the governments of Canada and Ontario and through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership), a five-year, federal-provincialterritorial initiative.

Common Local Trees are dying due to global warming

William John Langenberg, M.Sc Env. Biol., Former researcher and lecturer at Kemptville College

Climate change seems to have a devastating effect on some common local landscape trees and shrubs. Popular trees, such as Mountain Ash, Beech, Willow, and Serviceberry are losing their leaves mid-summer. If this global warming continues, the familiar oak will be added to the extinction list, according to research by Dr. Ir. Wieger Wamelink, Ecologist, at the University of Wageningen, the Netherlands. This summer has been hard on the Serviceberry (Amelanchier Canadensis).

On the photo can be seen that the bottom half of this 10-year old Serviceberry tree is losing its leaves. Earlier this month, the leaves were

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discoloring. This tree has a hard time surviving. The average temperature ranged between 26 and 30 C with a minimal amount of rainfall. Warmelink in Wageningen researched strictly the relationship between temperature and tree decline. He concluded the temperature sensitivity can be related to the decline of the trees. Similarly, this author did an extensive study of average daily temperature that occurred at Kemptville College over a 50 year period from 1937-1987. This research showed that the average daily temperature at the college had increased by 0.5 C over the 50 years. As a result of this study, this author changed the Winter Hardiness Zone Map by half-a zone for Eastern Ontario. This created some animosity

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among the climatologists in Ottawa, because snow depth was not included in this study. A climate study today showed that the average annual temperature at the Ottawa airport increased from 5.5 C in 1997 to 6.6 C in 2022, an increase of 1.1 C. If another 0.7 C is added in the next 10 years, a large portion of Ontario’s ecosystem is beyond the preferred temperature range for most of cultivated landscape plants and garden plants, such as wild raspberries, blueberries and flowering herbs.

The flowers of Blue Spice Basil and Ararat basil are aborting this summer because of the high temperature. The higher the temperature, the more plants and trees will be in trouble. At a certain point, the warming will affect the foundation of

Ontario’s forests; including the pedunculated oak and nut trees.

Hedges, hedgerows and narrow strips of double rowed trees will help to alleviate the warming trend with the creation of microclimates. Solitary trees out in the open are often the first to fall prey to the heat, because they are baking in the sun on hot days.

Old forests, common around Kemptville, provide a greater shelter against the heat as there is more diversity among the trees in those forests. That means that many different types of trees of a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees with different root depths, soil formation and shades will help keep each other upright during the hot summer days.

Preservation of the forests

around Kemptville therefore is essential.

In 1987, Clarence Coons and Alf Campbell of MNR, Earl Hicks and this author of Kemptville College planted a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees on the college campus along Concession Road (across from South Branch School) to change the microclimates on this section of the campus. Today, if the coniferous trees are removed, the sugar maples will die because of heat stress and sunscald, followed by the decline of poplars.

If this warming trend continues, trees from southern regions with a different DNA (adaptable to higher temperatures) may perform better in southern and eastern Ontario.

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AVAILABLE $140. FRED 613258-3596

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

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4X4 ROUND BALES, STORED INSIDE. CALL JON 613-227-3650

SAVE ON FIREWOOD, YOU PICK UP! MIXED HARDWOOD, CUT & SPLIT; $60/FACE-CORD. CALL WAYNE, 613-808-8923

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40" DYNAMAX TV. IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. $75. NICK 613 890 3512

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MOUNTAIN DAIRY FARM REQUIRES MALE/FEMALE OR STUDENT FOR CHORE DUTIES

DURING MILKING TIMES, 5-8 AM/4-7 PM. SCHEDULE NEGOTIABLE. CALL 613 989 5204 OR 613 227 6026.

PERSON WITH GENERAL LANDSCAPING AND HORTICULTURE KNOWLEDGE. NOT AFRAID TO GET HANDS DIRTY. CONTACT ANDRELSIMARD@GMAIL.COM

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HUNTER EDUCATION COURSE ON SEPTEMBER17TH AND CANADIAN FIREARMS COURSE ON OCTOBER 22 AND 23 IN BURRITTS RAPIDS. PLEASE CONTACT KERRY COLEMAN AT 613-791-7515 OR KERRYCOLEMAN@XPLORNET.COM

GARAGE SALE

BIG moving/yard sale. September 24th (9am3pm) & 25th (9amnoon).527 Clothier Street West Kemptville.

Yard Sale; Household & camping items.

Saturday October 1 from 9am to 2 pm. 214 Riverview Lane

SERVICES

Retired WELDER available for general welding. Low Rates 613-915-5969

HANDYMAN SERVICES

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Hedge Trimming

Small or Tall Call Rob 613-795-1845'

FIREWOOOD FOR SALE $110 PER FACE CORD PLUS DELIVERY. 3 CORD MINIMUM FOR DELIVERY.

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MELISSA OTTENHOF

Marketing Consultant

Phone:613 329 0209

Email: melissa@ndtimes.ca www.ngtimes.ca

Career Opportunities

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

We’re Hiring!

• Seasonal Plow Truck Drivers (Day Shifts & Afternoon Shifts)

• Seasonal Labourers (Day Shift)

For full position descriptions and details, visit Career Opportunities on our website.

Application deadline is September 30, 2022.

MELISSA OTTENHOF Marketing Consultant

Phone:613 329 0209

Email: melissa@ndtimes.ca

WDMH Leads Clinical Trials to support Better Care

Winchester District Memorial Hospital’s (WDMH) research program has reached a new milestone –launching its first clinical trial to benefit patients.

“This is a major advancement in our research program,” explains Dr. Mohamed Gazarin, Chief Research Officer. “Clinical trials are a key research tool for advancing medical knowledge and patient care. The knowledge gained will support the treatment we will provide in the years to come.”

Clinical trails can provide positive impacts for many patients in the future, offering benefits such as new treatments or better drug options. Through rigorous testing, evidence-based trials ensure the solutions are safe and effective before they are used in clinical practice.

with heart failure. In rural areas specifically, patients with heart failure may have a harder time accessing necessary medical services.

The first study, sponsored by Pfizer, is a threeyear clinical trial looking at heart disease. Heart disease is currently the second leading cause of death within Canada, with an estimated 750,000 Canadians living

KEY INFORMATION TO MUNCIPAL ELECTORS IN THE UNITED COUNTIES OF STORMONT DUNDAS AND GLENGARRY REGARDING THE 2022 MUNICIPAL ELECTION

Who Can Vote?

A person is entitled to vote in a municipal election if they, on voting day,  reside in the local municipality, or are the owner or tenant of land in the municipality, or the spouse of such owner or tenant; and  are a Canadian citizen; and  are at least 18 years old, and  are not prohibited from voting under the Municipal Elections Act, or otherwise prohibited by law.

Who Cannot Vote?  a person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution;  a corporation;  a person acting as executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity, except as a voting proxy in a traditional election;  a person who was convicted of the corrupt practice described in subsection 90(3) if voting day in the current election is less that five years after voting day in the election in respect of which they were convicted.

Are you on the Voter’s List?

WDMH is part of an international study to look at the prevalence of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), which is a stiffening and thickening of the heart muscle. ATTRCM leads to heart muscle dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and death. It is believed that ATTR-CM is significantly underdiagnosed.

The primary purpose of this study is to assess how common ATTR-CM is among patients with heart failure, to estimate the global prevalence of ATTR-CM. “Knowing how prevalent the disease is will allow for further investigation into early diagnosis and treatment,” says Dr. Gazarin. “We are very proud of our commitment to this type of important research, especially for rural communities.”

www.ngtimes.ca Help

To learn more about WDMH’s clinical trials, visit www.wdmh.on.ca/clinicaltrials or email research@ wdmh.on.ca.

If you would like to provide comments or suggestions about WDMH, please contact Cholly Boland, President and CEO, at 613-774-1049 or cboland@ wdmh.on.ca.

The list of eligible voters for the upcoming municipal election has been prepared by the Returning Officer/Clerk of your municipality. As of September 1, 2022, all voters should ensure that their names and relevant information are correct on the Voters List.

To be added, deleted or to make any other corrections to your information, contact or visit the municipal office where you are entitled to vote, with proper identification and proof of residence during normal office hours from now up to and including the close of voting on October 24, 2022 at 8:00 pm.

RETURNING OFFICERS CONTACT INFORMATION & VOTING METHODS NORTH STORMONT (VOTING METHOD: INTERNET/TELEPHONE) NORTH DUNDAS (VOTING METHOD: INTERNET/TELEPHONE)

Returning Officer – Craig Calder Township of North Stormont

15 Rue Union St. PO Box 99 Berwick, ON K0C1G0 (613) 984-2821

www.northstormont.ca

Voting Period

Begins: Oct 19 @ 9:00 am

Ends: Oct 24 @ 8:00 pm

SOUTH STORMONT (VOTING METHOD: INTERNET/ COMPOSITE PAPER BALLOT)

Returning Officer – Loriann Harbers Township of South Stormont

2 Mille Roches Road, PO Box 84 Long Sault, ON K0C 1P0 (613) 534-8889

www.southstormont.ca

Paper Ballot Information *

Advance Votes

Town Hall, Long Sault (Oct 19-23)

Election Day (Oct 24)

Town Hall (Long Sault), St. Andrew’s West Fire Hall, Newington Fire Hall, Rothwell Osnabruck School (Lancer Centre)

Returning Officer – Nancy Johnston Township of North Dundas 636 St. Lawrence St. PO Box 489 Winchester, ON K0C 2K0 (613) 774-2105 www.northdundas.com

Voting Period Begins: Oct 19 @ 9:00 am

Ends: Oct 24 @ 8:00 pm

SOUTH DUNDAS (VOTING METHOD: INTERNET/ COMPOSITE PAPER BALLOT)

Returning Officer – Leslie Drynan

Municipality of South Dundas 34 Ottawa St., PO Box 740 Morrisburg, ON K0C 1X0 (613) 543-2673

www.southdundas.com

Paper Ballot Information *

Advance Votes South Dundas Municipal Centre (Oct 19-23)

J.W. MacIntosh Community Support Services (Oct 19)

Iroquois Civic Centre (Oct 20)

Dixon’s Corners Community Centre (Oct 21)

Election Day (Oct 24)

South Dundas Municipal Centre

NORTH GLENGARRY (VOTING METHOD: INTERNET/TELEPHONE/ COMPOSITE PAPER BALLOT)

Returning Officer – Sarah Huskinson Township of North Glengarry 3620 County Road 34 Alexandria, ON K0C 1A0 (613) 525-1110 www.northglengarry.ca

Paper Ballot Information *

Advance Votes Glen Robertson Community Centre, Dunvegan Recreation Centre, Maxville Sports Complex (Oct 19-20)

Election Day (Oct 24)

Glen Robertson Community Centre, Dunvegan Recreation Centre, Maxville Sports Complex

SOUTH GLENGARRY (VOTING METHOD: INTERNET/TELEPHONE)

Returning Officer – Kelli Campeau

Township of South Glengarry 6 Oak St., PO Box 220 Lancaster, ON K0C 1N0 (613) 347-1166

www.southglengarryvotes.com

Voter Help Centre (Oct 19-24)

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 544 119 Military Rd. N., Lancaster

* Additional detailed information (dates, times, addresses) will be included on the Voter Information Letter

VOTER INFORMATION LETTERS

A Voter Information Letter will be mailed to eligible voters in each respective municipality directly in early October. Each letter will provide a Personal Identification Number (PIN) and details on how and when you are eligible to vote during the defined voting period. A Voter Help Centre will be provided by your municipality during the voting period. Please contact your municipality or visit their website for Voter Help Centre locations, dates, and times of operation.

New Chair of the Rural Research Network Ethics Board

In simple terms, Dr. Paul Peters’ research focuses on small spaces and places. His research lab at Carleton University looks at how health care and health outcomes differ depending on where you live, particularly in rural and remote communities. His work has taken him throughout Canada and to Australia and Sweden. Now, he is also focusing on rural

sees value in Rural Research

Research Officer and the founder of the RRN.

Dr. Peters says the impact of rural research is clear: “We want to look at rural areas and share information to increase knowledge. Research leads to innovative solutions, and it also helps us look at the intangible elements such as the communities themselves and the sense of belonging and support that exists.”

rating with new Ontario Health Teams. Dr. Peters has a PhD in sociology and spent six years at Statistics Canada as a Research Analyst in the Health Analysis Division.

eastern Ontario in his role as the Chair of the Rural Research Network’s Ethics Board at Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH).

“The Rural Research Network (RRN) is a collaboration of rural organizations led by WDMH. It focuses on addressing healthcare issues affecting rural populations,” explains Dr. Mohamed Gazarin, WDMH Chief

The Research Ethics Board (REB) looks at potential risks and benefits, protection of participants’ rights, and relevance of the research projects. “I love the idea of this ethics board supporting and ensuring suitable research,” adds Dr. Peters. “Winchester is unique in that it leads rural research and supports other hospitals to do the same.”

Dr. Peters is an Associate Professor and the Graduate Advisor in the Department of Health Sciences at Carleton University. He is also collabo-

“At WDMH, our team wants to make evidenceinformed decisions, always asking ‘why’ and ‘how can we do this better’,” explains CEO Cholly Boland. “Then we want to apply that knowledge for better patient care. Research impacts healthcare delivery. In particular, research at WDMH benefits rural healthcare delivery for our local communities.”

The REB is looking for new Board members. Members of the Board are volunteers who have a passion for improving the quality of rural health care. For details, visit https://www.wdmh.on.ca/ REBrecruitment.

Train whistles a source of great debate

train whistles at specific crossings is a process that must be initiated by local governments, usually at the request of residents who are fed up with the noise, particularly at night. Crossings must be fully protected and meet certain visibility and safety requirements for approval to be considered. It is worth noting that at crossings designated as “no whistle” crossings, train engineers always have overriding authority to blow the horn in cases such as a pedestrian or motorist on the tracks.

people spoke in support of eliminating train whistles at local crossings, but these minority comments were met with much criticism, often focusing on the differences between those accustomed to small town living, and those hailing from cities.

A simple question asked in an area Facebook group quickly turned into a fierce – and somewhat ugly –debate about whether train whistles are a life saver, or a nuisance. The individual was interested in moving to a Kemptville neighbourhood, and created the online post to ask those who already live there whether they could hear the sound of the train horns from the nearby Canadian Pacific Railway tracks. That post quickly inspired another which proposed that “quiet communities” could be a

by Brandon Mayer goal in the future, achieved by means of eliminating train whistles at some local crossings.

Train “whistles” are still so-named on signage and in legislation despite the fact that they are now actually “horns”. They are a last line of defense at most crossings, used to warn pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists of an approaching train. The first line of defense at protected crossings is the warning system which usually consists of flashing lights and gates. Two public crossings in North Dundas do not have warning systems,

instead requiring drivers to stop and look for trains (and listen for a horn) before crossing. Whether a crossing is protected or not, a sign (called a “whistlepost”) positioned a set distance from the crossing alerts train engineers to begin blowing their horn as they approach, with the horn being blown four times in a specific configuration.

The elimination of train whistles at protected crossings is possible, but not very common. It is more typical in cities, with one example being nearby, in Brockville. Eliminating

The debate online turned fierce, even leading to disagreement amongst some of the candidates running for North Grenville’s Council. A majority of social media users appeared to strongly support train whistles as a safety imperative. Some pointed out that hearing train whistles is better than hearing emergency sirens rushing to the scene of a tragedy at the crossing. Many others who live near the tracks pointed out that they don’t even notice the train horns anymore, and some even said that they would miss hearing the horns. A few

Complaints about train whistles are often challenged by the argument that one should adapt to the area to which they choose to move, rather than moving somewhere and then trying to institute changes. This debate is familiar to many Winchester residents regarding the Lactalis cheese factory, particularly whether it is fair to move into a town and then complain about an odour that has been around for decades.

Unfortunately for locals who hate noise, many crossings in the area would simply never meet the safety requirements necessary for the elimination of train whistles. For the overwhelming number of people who appear to be in favour of safety over comfort, it appears that train whistles will continue to be music to their ears.

submitted by Jane Adams

The unprotected CPR railway crossing at Crowder Road in Mountain. At least six trains pass here daily.

Constipation causes more trouble than you think

Now and again, friends confide in friends that they have big problems. Dreaded are the occasions when the problem is a serious medical diagnosis. But when the problem is persistent constipation, it’s better to air the issue and not suffer in silence.

Drug store remedies for constipation can fail to have effect. For many sufferers, the ailment involves days without a bowel movement. Ignoring the problem can lead to disturbing complications, to be avoided at all costs.

Dr. Linus Pauling, a twotime Nobel Prize winner, believed we are all living with sub-optimal levels of vitamin C. His primary interest was in studying the effects of high doses of vitamin C in protecting against heart disease. But in an interview with him, he added, “High doses of C also resolve constipation.” It’s a natural remedy for constipation and a sad fact most people, including doctors, are not aware of this.

A lack of dietary fiber, which holds onto water, sets the stage for constipation. Fiber will change bowel movements from hard rocks to stools as soft as toothpaste. When on a high-fiber diet, if you look in the toilet bowl, you’ll see stools that

Photo contest

float. One reader of this my column said it gave her a stiff neck! But she was grateful for the relief provided.

So how much vitamin C is required? It depends on bowel tolerance. Vitamin C in high doses will cause diarrhea. So, take 2,000 milligrams (mg) at bedtime. If this doesn’t produce a result take 3,000 mg the following night, and so on. It will eventually have effect.

A component of our natural physiology called the gastrocolic reflex also helps to prevent constipation. A high fiber cereal with fruit and a hot tea or coffee stimulates nerves in the stomach to trigger a bowel movement.

The great concern with constipation is the possibility of fecal impaction, when a bowel movement becomes impossible. This demands a visit to the hospital emergency room. The solution is an enema and sometimes manual removal of the impacted feces. Having this treatment just once quickly convinces anyone to use high-dose vitamin C and more fiber.

Chronic intestinal pressure may cause small hernias to appear in the large bowel. These bowel out-pockets are referred to as diverticulosis and may be present for years without people knowing.

For the unlucky, diverticulosis can change to diverticulitis when small particles of food become stuck in one of the hernias. This can cause mild pain and inflammation, usually cured by antibiotics. Or it can be worse and trigger a severe inflammatory reaction causing acute pain and a life-threatening situation requiring an emergency operation and removal of the inflamed bowel.

Busy doctors normally don’t spend much time on diagnosis of constipation unless patients complain of this trouble. Circus promoters used to say, “There’s a sucker born every day.” They’re right, as millions of unsuspecting consumers use over-the-counter laxatives which injure the large bowel.

So remember, vitamin C is nature’s natural laxative that cannot injure the intestines. It also decreases the risk of overall disease and has a positive effect on cardiovascular problems. Moreover, you cannot overdose with C. It’s a win, win situation.

Some worry about kidney stones. The majority of renal stones occur in alkaline urine. But since vitamin C acidifies urine, there’s less chance of this happening.

Linus Pauling took 20,000 mg of C daily for years. We take 4,000 mg and 10,000 mg respectively of C daily – and one of us is 98. Are you among those suffering silently from constipation? The natural solution is one of nature’s best kept secrets.

ND Times Photo Contest winner

Photo by Carrie Paquin

"Charlie, our little Jersey bull calf"