ND Times Issue 1 2025 January 16 by The North Grenville & North Dundas Times

First baby of 2025 at WDMH

Working out the kinks

by Brandon Mayer

The long-anticipated province wide plan of revamping Ontario’s recycling

system has now officially been rolled out. The change has been in the works since July of 2023, when the Blue Box Act became the Waste Diversion Ontario Act. The

Winchester District Memorial Hospital’s only Christmas baby arrived at 11:09 pm on December 25th … but it was a race for the ﬁnish on New Year’s Day. WDMH’s ﬁrst baby of 2025 had some competition!

WDMH’s Christmas Day baby took her time getting here –a very warm welcome to Kadi Al-Deewan who weighted 3690 grams or 8.13 pounds.

Kadi's parents say it was a beautiful, comfortable, experience as they welcomed their third baby into the world at WDMH, and they thanked Dr. Deeb and the amazing family birthing team!

The WDMH team noted: "It's great to deliver the third baby in Winchester for this family. We are happy to be part of the family birthing unit with an excellent multidisciplinary team, always joyful and giving; making the patients and families have a great experience in this wonderful small community hospital."

It was a race to the finish to announce the first WDMH baby of 2025. In fact, four Moms were in labour on January 1st! Charles Craig arrived first at 4:29 am!

“I’d rather run my third ironman than do that again,” smiled Mom Grace. “But Winchester Hospital made the most diﬃcult marathon much more bearable. Thank you to all the staﬀ for helping us safely deliver our bundle of joy. Happy New Year!”

“We are so grateful to have helped Grace and Robert welcome Charles into the world!” noted the WDMH team.

Congratulations to all the festive babies from everyone at WDMH!

most significant aspect of the change is the shifting of the responsibility to collect curbside recycling onto the producers of the packaging. For example, Coca-Cola is now responsible for collecting and recycling its own bottles.

It stands to reason that it would be impractical for dozens upon dozens of different companies to each send out a truck to collect recyclable materials from every residential curb, and specifically only products that were produced by their company. Instead, companies who produce packaging have consorted to hire independent contractors within the countless municipalities across the province, essentially

taking over the collection of recycling from municipal staﬀ. Garbage continues to be collected separately, by municipal trucks or existing contractors.

In North Dundas, many residents have undoubtedly already noticed the change. While the day of collection remains the same as in previous years, residents will now notice two separate trucks coming on their collection day – one for garbage, and one for recycling. The trucks will come at diﬀerent times, and so it’s important not to rely on previously formed habits of putting out garbage and recycling close to the expected collection time.

cont'd on page 2

In this ﬁrst month of the change being in eﬀect, some residents have found their recycling not to be collected on their usual garbage day. Kinks are to be expected in the rollout of a massive policy change such as this one. Employees of the new contractor must learn the routes and settle into a routine. Mistakes are bound to be made. One of the most important things residents can do to avoid missing a collection is to put their garbage and recycling at the curb no later than 7am on collection day. Use a bin with a lid, if needed, to deter animals from rummaging through garbage.

While social media certainly has its ﬂaws, one way that it has been particularly useful during this transition is for residents to answer each other’s questions re-

garding the change. It seems January 2025 will be remembered as the month in which it was “trending” to post the time of one’s recycling pick up on local online community groups. Posts have been frequent from all areas of North Dundas, with residents trying to help each other get used to the new schedule. Thanks to the province wide change, a wider variety of items can now be accepted for recycling. Residents can continue to use the Recycle Coach app to check which type of recycling is being collected in a given week, as well as which day of the week their collection happens. Issues speciﬁc to recycling collection can be brought directly to the contractor via https://www.emterra.ca/.

Brick - Block - Stone - Chimneys - Parging - Repairs Foundation Repair & Waterprooﬁng Kevin DeJong Winchester, ON 613-316-0800 Dejongmasonry@hotmail.com

Hockey Night in Winchester raises $53,917.18 for WDMH

There were some great cross-ice passes, a few jabs here and there, and even the odd breakaway, at the WDMH

Foundation’s All-Stars Hockey Game in Winchester on November 2. There was also a lot of laughter and many, many

autographs – thanks to the NHL alumni who joined local players on the ice.

The ﬁnal score doesn’t matter – but the ﬁnal tally raised for the WDMH Foundation’s Family Care Fund certainly does. $53,917.18 was raised to support families just like yours, wherever the need is greatest at WDMH.

“It was so fun to welcome Wendel, Todd, Matt, Jesse, Shean, Chris, Jason and Geraldine to Winchester,” notes

Justine Plummer, Manager of Direct Mail & Events. “And it was great to see so many local hockey fans step up to raise funds and play with their idols, while supporting our local hospital. Thank you to everyone who was part of this event, including the sponsors, volunteers and spectators!”

WDMH Registered Nurse retires after 36 years of caring

We are thrilled to announce the newest members of our travel agency family, who bring fresh energy, skills, and perspectives to our team. As a company dedicated to creating unforgettable travel experiences for our clients, we couldn’t be more excited to have these talented individuals join us on this journey. Their passion for exploration and commitment to exceptional service make them the perfect ﬁt for our agency.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Anita Milne, Chantal Tremblay, Sheri Primeau, and Rebecca McFarlane previously of Just Say Yes Destinations.

They are ready to hit the ground running and help make our clients’ travel dreams come true. We are conﬁdent their contributions will strengthen our agency and inspire all of us to reach new heights.

Here’s to new beginnings and the adventures ahead!

Tid

Ready for your next adventure? Visit www.gravitate.travel and click on our Let’s Talk icon to book an appointment with one of our travel professionals.

Still on her toes after 36 years at Winchester District Memorial Hospital, Registered Nurse Sharon Monteith is retiring this month after 36 years of service! She arrived at WDMH from Windsor and met with Jean Holmes, the Human Resources Oﬃcer at the time.

“She immediately oﬀered me a job as a Registered Practical Nurse!” remembers Sharon.

Sharon went on to complete her Registered Nursing degree and has worked in almost every clinical area of the hospital, landing in the Enhanced Care Unit for most of her time at WDMH. “You never know what is coming next and it always keeps me on my toes,” she says.

Sharon says the best part of her job is the relationships she has made with both fellow colleagues and patients. “It’s

bit musings

by Elva Patterson Rutters RSSW

True enough that New Years is a habitual time to make new resolutions simply because it provides a time-specific start date, but resolutions can be implemented at any time. "Failed or incomplete" resolutions are basically a "failure to plan rather than a plan to fail" mentality. Goals or resolutions need to be S- Specific, M- measurable, A- achievable/attainable, RResourced/relevant, and have a specific T- time frame; in other words – SMART. Spelling out the goal in increments helps to provide success in achieving them. Rather than “I want to lose weight”, trying thinking “I

want to lose 10 lbs in 2 months by eating more fresh veggies/ fruit rather than desserts.”

To predetermine that you are not going to set New Years resolutions sets you up in a defeatist mode. Past history probably indicates a need to redefine your desires in a more manageable and attainable fashion. Determining the goal to win the lottery is not feasible unless you can concede that winning a free play or $2.00 is a fulfilled desire. Nothing ventured equals nothing gained. Start today, whatever the date is, with well-defined strategies. You can do it!

Perhaps this is the time you will begin to implement "self-

still fun to go into Foodland and have someone come up to me and tell me that I was their nurse and thank me. It’s very rewarding.”

In retirement, Sharon will enjoy golﬁng, her grandchildren and her love of glass fusing. In fact, Sharon has held several fundraisers for WDMH, selling her beautiful artwork. She will also stay on at the hospital as a Casual Care Coordinator.

Thank you for your compassion, Sharon! Enjoy retirement!

If you would like to provide comments or suggestions about hospital services, please contact Cholly Boland, President and CEO, Winchester District Memorial Hospital at 613.774.1049 or by email at cboland@wdmh.on.ca.

care." Now you will delegate one task a week/month to someone else so your load is lighter. Only God can be the one who does everything for everyone, all the time! A need to hold all the reins smacks of insecurity and fear. Take time to examine your motives. Think of the consequences if you were unable to do all that you are doing? Training up others to be able to keep the clogs rotating if you were away for whatever reason, reﬂects true management skills. How can you strive to be the best person you can be –Physically? Mentally? Spiritually? Emotionally? Go for it!

Empty Bowls tickets selling fast

It’s never too early to pick up a ticket to Community Food Share’s Empty Bowls event, coming up on February 8th. Ticket holders will enjoy a lunch of soup, bread, and a sweet treat served in a locally handcrafted bowl in the company of other Dundas County folks at the Christian Reformed Church in Williamsburg. Local artisans are hard at work creating the bowls which have become something of a collector’s item. When lunch is over, diners take home their bowl to enjoy again. Tickets are just $45 for lunch and a bowl. If you don’t need a bowl, lunch tickets are $25, with all proceeds going to support the work of Community Food Share in helping folks in our communities who need some assistance putting food on their table.

Along with lunch on the 8th, Community Food Share will host a silent auction and will launch the 2025 Spring Cash Calendar

New this year, tickets will only be available online through Eventbrite and not in local stores. If you are not familiar with making a purchase online, ask a friend or family member for help or call 613-898-0781 with questions. Here’s the web address to purchase tickets online: www.communityfoodshare.ca/empty-bowls-2025/.

For more info, contact Jane Schoones, Community Food Share 613 898-0781

Anita Milne Iroquois Chantal Tremblay Morrisburg Sheri Primeau Cornwall Rebecca Mcfarlane Spencerville

AMO Homelessness Report Fails to Address Primary Driver

The Raise The Rates Coalition expresses deep concern over the Association of Municipalities of Ontario's (AMO) latest homelessness report, which critically fails to identify poverty-level social assistance rates as a primary driver of the province's homelessness crisis.

"While AMO correctly identifies the growing scale of homelessness in Ontario, their proposed solutions ignore the most immediate cause—social assistance rates that condemn recipients to absolute poverty," says Ron Anicich, co-chair of the Raise The Rates Coalition. "No amount of new housing alone will solve homelessness when Ontario Works recipients are expected to survive on $733 per month in a province where even a bachelor apartment costs triple that amount."

The Coalition notes that while AMO calls

for $13 billion in new, needed housing investments, they remain silent on the urgent need to raise social assistance rates that have lost over 40% of their purchasing power since the Harris-era cuts of the 1990s. The ODSP rate of $1,368 per month and Ontario Works rate of $733 leave recipients with no choice but homelessness or deep housing insecurity.

"AMO's reluctance to address social assistance rates as part of the scope of this research reﬂects a troubling disconnect from the reality faced by hundreds of thousands of Ontarians," says Anicich. "Municipal service managers across Ontario know that their shelters are ﬁlled with people receiving social assistance. They know their housing waiting lists are dominated by social assistance recipients. Yet AMO's report refuses to name this reality."

The Raise The Rates Coalition calls for: 1. Immediate doubling

of social assistance rates

2. Automatic annual increases tied to inﬂation

3. Addition of a housing beneﬁt that reﬂects actual market rents

4. Recognition by AMO that inadequate social assistance rates are a primary driver of homelessness

"Municipalities cannot solve homelessness while ignoring the poverty enforced by provincial social assistance rates," Anicich emphasizes. "AMO's voice could be powerful in demanding

adequate rates. Instead, they've chosen to remain silent about this fundamental cause of the crisis they seek to address."

For more information, contact: Raise The Rates Coalition, raisetheratescoalition@gmail.com, or go to: www.raisetherates.

ca .

How to make America Great again?

Or, why become Canada's 11th Province?

by Peter Johnson

Recently, on Boxing Day, in response to Mr. Trump's 'jokes' about Canada becoming the 51st State, Pete McMartin wrote an article in the Vancouver Sun on why America should consider becoming Canada's 11th Province. I'll attempt to summer-eyes some of his reasoning... all quotes are the property of Mr. McMartin.

#1: Our Prime Minister is not a convicted felon. He, like many career politicians, is far from perfect. But, in comparison, he looks like he should be dipped in water by John the Baptist, and have an entourage of 12 bearded dudes. He can, at least, be diplomatic... and not just to the most lethal heads of state on the planet.

#2: The U.S. Supreme Court is almost as corrupt as its president. It has members on it who appear to be uniquely unqualiﬁed to judge conﬂicts-of-interest, women’s rights, or ethical conduct. Meanwhile, the only thing scandalous about

Canada’s Supreme Court is … wait, what? Canada has a Supreme Court?'

#3: Life Expectancy: According to data from somewhere, in 2022, the average life expectancy of a Canadian was 81.3 years, while the same for Americans was a mere 77.43 years. Why? Pancakes perhaps? Our maple syrup is pure natural syrup. Nothing else. Theirs contains... 'highfructose corn syrup, water, cellulose gum, salt, caramel colour, sorbic acid, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate and artificial flavours'. I might add, if stress levels along with poor diet are contributing factors, then daily doses of Fox News are surely part of the mortality/ morality statistics. Indeed, as one pundit put it - allow me to paraphrase - the day that Rupert Murdock stepped oﬀ the plane in 1974, 'twas the beginning of the present decline in that country.

#4: 'Lock Her Up': When the MAGA savants chanted this about Hillary Clinton, they likely knew a thing

or two about prisons. '... the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate of any democracy in the world.' By becoming our 11th province (or maybe just a territory and we'll see how well they do), they'd be part of a country that has a fairly low incarceration rate. Meanwhile, '...every single U.S. state incarcerates more people per capita than all but 28 other nations on earth.' That and their massive military must cost them a lot. To compensate, they pay their teachers and nurses shamefully little, so they make back a bit. Ah, but those chickens will come home to roost... or already have?

#5: The Longest Undefended Border in the World:

If The Donald is upset by fentanyl going southward across the border, why is he not concerned about illegal ﬁrearms coming north into Canada? And again, as Mr. McMartin points out, 'If, as he sees it, a trade imbalance exists in Canada’s favour, why is he resorting to inflationary tariffs on

Canadian goods, rather than recognizing and addressing the real reason for that trade imbalance, namely, his constituents’ insatiable appetites and need for Canadian oil, gas, electrical power, automobiles, rare minerals, gold, lumber, etc.?'

This comparison could include more ways that they might benefit: less school shootings, less involvement in overseas wars, less children killed by ﬁrearms, teachers - yes that underfunded lot - no longer asked to carry sidearms in classrooms, a Supreme Court that leaves decisions about women's bodies/rights where they should be - with women, and, ﬁnally, since the U.S. has only one 'friend' left in the world, becoming a part of that friend might improve their international image, immeasurably. But let's make this a tentative offer. This could backfire on us.

New provincial Energy Eﬃciency Programs

Ontario Government release

The Ontario government is launching new energy eﬃciency programs, including the Home Renovation Savings Program, to help families and businesses in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes save money. The programs are part of a new $10.9 billion, 12-year investment in energy eﬃciency, the largest in Canada’s history.

“These new Energy Efﬁciency Programs that all Leeds and Grenville residents have access to will lower energy bills, put more megawatts into Ontario’s energy grid, and ultimately put more money back into your pockets,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

The new Home Renovation Savings Program will launch on January 28, and offer rebates of up to 30% for home energy efficiency renovations and improvements, including new windows, doors, insulation, air sealing, smart thermostats, and heat pumps, as well as rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems for people who want to generate and store energy at home. Later in 2025, the program will expand to include rebates for energy efficient appliances, including refrigerators and freezers.

The government’s Af-

fordable Energy Act, which came into force on December 4, 2024, ensures the new Home Renovation Savings Program, and other program oﬀerings, will be expanded to homeowners who heat their homes by propane and oil, instead of being restricted to those who heat with electricity, as it was under previous governments.

The province is also expanding the popular Peak Perks program with a new program speciﬁcally targeted to small businesses, including convenience stores and restaurants. Businesses will receive a ﬁnancial incentive of $75 upon initial enrollment in the program and $20 per year for each eligible smart thermostat connected to a central air conditioning system or heat pump unit.

In addition to the two new energy eﬃciency programs, the province will continue to support 12 Save on Energy programs, including the highly popular Retroﬁt Program for business, as well as other programs geared to low-income households, businesses, municipalities, institutions, the agricultural sector, industry and on-reserve First Nation communities.

By 2036, it is forecasted that this expansion of energy efficiency programs will reduce the province’s peak demand by 3,000 MW – the equivalent of taking three

million homes oﬀ the grid. The province’s $10.9 billion investment is also estimated to result in $23.1 billion in electricity system beneﬁts, thereby saving ratepayers $12.2 billion in electricity system costs by avoiding the build out of new generation.

Expanding energy eﬃciency programs to save families money is just one way the government is meeting the province’s rapidly growing demand for electricity.

Ontario’s Aﬀordable Energy Future: The Pressing Case for More Power outlines the challenges facing the province as demand for electricity continues to rapidly grow, as well as the government’s all-of-the-above approach to meet this demand, including:

• Energy Planning – Developing the province’s ﬁrst integrated energy plan, including all energy resources, including electricity, natural gas, and other fuels to ensure the province’s energy needs are met in a coordinated and long-term manner.

• Nuclear Energy – Advancing clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear power through pre-development work at Bruce Power on the province’s ﬁrst large-scale nuclear build in 30 years, four small modular reactors at Darlington and supporting OPG’s plan for refurbishing the Pickering Nuclear Generation Station.

• New Transmission Infrastructure – Designating

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and prioritizing transmission lines in Southwestern, Northeastern and Eastern Ontario that will power job creators, including EV and EV battery manufacturing and clean steel production.

• Additional Competitive Procurements – Launching the largest competitive procurement of clean energy resources in the province’s history in addition to successfully re-contracting existing capacity resources at about a 30 per cent discount.

Don’t slap the wrist

by Brandon Mayer

A new year is a great opportunity to reﬂect on the state of things. It’s easy to get into a mental rut about certain topics, deciding that something is “just the way it is”. Sometimes a fresh perspective is very important, especially when it comes to an issue such as local politics.

There is no doubt that all 5 elected oﬃcials here in North Dundas care deeply about their community. It’s safe to say that people don’t run for positions in small town government for the money or the fame, they do it to make a diﬀerence in the place they call home.

North Dundas is a dream community for many, myself included. There is no place I would rather live. The community pride and spirit here is truly amazing. But our community has its own struggles to face behind the scenes. While the Township isn’t necessarily “poor” in the traditional sense of the word, taxpayers are nevertheless feeling the pinch from repeated high tax increases to keep the municipal books balanced.

In North Dundas – a community which I will forever contend is amazing – we have a water problem in our two larger villages. On some of our backroads, we have a major potholes problem. We also have an overflowing dump problem, as well as a “two arenas in need of repairs” problem, in a community

whose population size really only justiﬁes one arena. This list barely scratches the surface. When I talk to those from other municipalities about what they pay in property taxes, it really brings into focus just how expensive North Dundas taxes are.

I consider myself fortunate to be able to aﬀord my way of life, but I personally know many people who don’t have enough to get by. We can’t blame the Township or Council for that. Life is ridiculously expensive all across Canada. Housing, food, and gas are all so much more expensive than they were even just 5-10 years ago. But in an economy where every penny matters, it makes sense that people are going to ask tough questions about unpleasant surprises, such as huge property tax increases. Being ready to provide answers to those questions is part of every Council member’s job.

Our current Council has been on the job for more than two years now. They are more than halfway through their current term. It has been interesting to see how our elected officials have evolved in this timeframe. Councillors Uhrig and Lennox were new to politics when elected, and Deputy Mayor Bergeron had very little experience. One thing that became obvious in the first few meetings of the current Council was a tendency for members to piggyback off each other, with not as much original thought as one might hope. Phrases such as “I’m going to mirror my

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

The North Dundas Parade of Lights Committee would like to thank everyone who helped make our annual parade such a huge success.

Thank you to all the businesses and community organizations who participated in the Vendor Show and in the parade. Thanks to Ron Porteous for doing a great job of emceeing the parade from the main corner. As always, we are grateful to the community organizations and businesses who offered dinners and refreshments on parade day, and those who opened their doors and parking lots to spectators during the parade, the North Dundas Fire Department for arranging a ride in the parade for Santa, and Aaron Dellah for showing Die Hard at the Old Town Hall after the parade. Thank you also to the

The North Dundas Times is published bi-weekly by North Grenville Times Inc.

Editor Brandon Mayer editor@ndtimes.ca

613-215-0735

colleague’s view here” or “I just want to echo the Mayor’s thoughts” were very common. Such phrases still come up from time to time, but as this Council became more comfortable, there was a progression toward more productive discourse and an appropriate plethora of opinions, which is critical for democratic decision making.

Unfortunately, there is another area in which Council still needs improvement: the frequent open session “lectures” directed toward local ratepayers. It is too common for all members of the current Council to speak to the audience (mostly a virtual one) during open session in a manner that resembles a parent scolding a child. These rebukes most commonly take the form of overly defensive statements regarding just how tough of a job it is to sit on Council. Often, members of the public will be sternly reminded of the ﬁnancial pressures the Township is facing, with passive aggressive remarks directed to those who are simply exercising their right, as ratepayers, to question the budget and the decisions of their Council.

In some cases, these remarks have been unprofessional, such as when a local resident’s idea for a skate park in Winchester was referred to indirectly by a member of Council using the umbrella term “pipe dream projects”. Or when that same member referred to concerned residents, who were discussing relevant local issues via online

community groups, as “social media warriors”. Part of being an elected official is realizing that one’s job is to represent each and every member of the community. Many are uneducated, as is to be expected statistically. Many have lived through tough circumstances and continue to do so. All bring different perspectives, whether it be a retired senior with dementia, or a single person with a dream to be a homeowner, or a couple with 4 young children in search of recreation. All deserve equal representation, and to be treated with dignity. This does not mean putting motions forward that don’t make sense; it means engaging in respectful dialogue, even regarding projects or ideas that don’t make financial or practical sense.

As we kick off the new year, with the first Council meeting of 2025 having happened the day before this issue of the Times was released, we can only hope to see a more diplomatic approach from Council. After the October walkout that revealed some internal issues in the Township, perhaps the air is now cleared, and we’ll see a new side of our elected oﬃcials.

They say not to bite the hand that feeds you. With an election coming up in 2026, our Council members must similarly remember: don’t slap the wrist that is soon to cast its vote. Open dialogue means conversation without fear of ridicule, and that’s just what North Dundas needs.

Justin Trudeau plans to resign

by Brandon Mayer

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on January 6 that he plans to resign as leader of the Liberal party, as soon as a new leader can be chosen. The leadership race is now underway, with the new leader set to be announced on March 9.

Many sources suggest that the prime minister had been planning to resign for quite some time, but that the final straw was the resignation of his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland. Prime Minister Trudeau himself stated in his resignation speech that he was stepping down to give the Liberal party a fighting chance in this year’s election, knowing that it wouldn’t be possible for him to be the best leader while “fighting internal battles”.

These battles have entailed criticism even from members of his own party, with many calling for his resignation in recent months. The once popular leader, who has been prime minister for almost 10 years, has seen his popularity steadily decline in recent years. Scandals such as the SNC Lavalin aﬀair – which led to the resignation of Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, who heavily criticized Trudeau – helped to worsen his reputation. Many Canadians blame Trudeau’s policies for the exorbitant cost of living issue that has hit nationwide.

The individual who is named as Liberal leader on March 9 will become Canada’s next prime minister, although it will be up to voters to decide in the months that follow whether that person gets to remain the prime minister. A similar situation involving the resignation of Brian Mulrooney in 1993 led to the appointment of Kim Campbell as the new Progressive Conservative party leader and the ﬁrst and only female prime minister from June to November of that year.

Parliament is currently prorogued, meaning that all bills before the House of Commons have been left in limbo. This has spurred criticism from some who say that important bills, such as the First Nations Clean Water Act, have essentially been abandoned and will be for months. Parliament is set to return on March 24, but it’s unclear how long business will resume as usual before an election will be called. Currently, the Liberal government does not have any stated support from any of the 3 major opposing parties for the mandatory upcoming approval of the government's budget appropriations, which happens 3 times per year. A failure to obtain this approval by majority vote would be a conﬁrmation of non-conﬁdence, leading to an election.

The announcement of the prime minister’s resignation means that, regardless of any election results this year, 2025 will see new federal leadership.

UCDSB hit by cyber attack

volunteers who lent a hand on parade day.

Of course, none of this would be possible without our sponsors, and for them we are truly grateful.

We are always amazed at the effort and creativity that goes into the floats every year, and this year was no exception. We had 54 floats, and choosing winners for our float contest is never an easy task, but it’s one our planning committee takes seriously. Floats are judged on a number of criteria, including creativity, originality, effort, detail and audience interaction.

Here are this year’s ﬂoat category winners:

- Best Overall: JR Trucking - Best Business Float: Como Farm Equipment - Best Non-Profit Float: Camp Sheldrick - Best Agricultural Float: Tibben Farms Inc.

- Most Lights: D&H Fencing - People's Choice: Circle K

Float winners receive a gift basket with local products. Congratulations to all our winners.

Of course, what’s a Christmas parade without the Santa? Thank you, Santa, for taking time from your busy schedule to take part in our event.

We can’t wait to see everyone again at next year’s parade. Regards, Sandy Burns, Brianne Scott, Matthew Roy, and Cheryl Beasley of the North Dundas Parade of Lights Committee

by Brandon Mayer

It was “not business as usual” for UCDSB schools upon the return from the Christmas break. The day before the return, on Sunday, January 5, the local school board’s technical infrastructure went oﬄine. Employees were unable to access their emails, or anything in the board’s network. Later that day, an oﬃcial announcement was made that the board’s technology was offline, and that parents would have call in absences and pick up notices, since the My Family Room mobile app and the entire email system were both down.

On January 6, the UCDSB conﬁrmed that the technology issues resulted from a “cyber incident”. Schools have been operating without access to

the internet, which has limited the use of technology in classrooms, and has changed the process for certain other activities, such as new student registration.

The school board provided updates throughout the week, with some limited progress having been made by the end of last week. As of the time of writing, the board states that there is no evidence of a data breach. The police are assist-

ing with the incident, since it involves criminal activity.

The UCDSB continues to remind parents to call regarding absences, late notices, and pick up scheduling. Student registrations must be completed in person while the online system is down. Board staﬀ are unable to receive emails. Parents will be notiﬁed when the problem is resolved.

Winter Sky, Bright Planets

by Gary Boyle -

The Backyard Astronomer Canadian winters can be quite harsh at times. Between the bone-chilling cold and piles of snow, this time of year plays host to the bright winter constellations. Orion – the Hunter is the most recognized pattern in the entire sky. The three stars appearing in a row signifying his belt, lie on the celestial equator meaning both the northern and southern hemispheres can see this group

of seven stars portraying the Hunter battling Taurus the Bull. Early sunsets allow one to begin star gazing and photographing the sky after dinner compared to around 10 pm in summer. Along with these seven bright suns, other constellations around Orion also display brilliant stars. In all, a dozen bright points of light reign the sky. Hanging down from the belt stars namely Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka is the imaginary sword. That misty patch of light is the Orion Nebula, a region of gas and dust located about 1,500 light-years (ly) away and measures an estimated 24 ly wide. Keep in mind one light-year measures close to 10 trillion kilometres. Within this region, new stars are being created as pockets of gas and dust slowly condense and collapse onto themselves. As the star grows, so does its

internal pressure and temperature until the star lights up in a thermo-nuclear reaction.

Amongst the brighter constellations of Auriga, Gemini, Canis Minor and Major as well as Taurus are two brilliant planets. First is Jupiter located high in the night sky in the constellation Taurus. Jupiter is presently around 632 million kilometres or 35 light-minutes away whereas the orange-coloured star named Aldebaran to the lower right is 66 light-years from us. This star is referred to as the "angry eye of the bull" and is a foreground star of the much farther star cluster called the Hyades situated 154 light-years away. The Pleiades of "Seven Sisters" is a fantastic sight in low power binoculars and in mythology is the "heart" of the Bull.

Moving east we come to the constellation Gemini consisting of the bright stars Castor (51 ly) and Pollux (33 ly). Below and lining up with these two suns is Mars. Referred to as the red planet, it appears bright orange and will be close to Earth on January 16. This close approach occurs every 26 months thus allowing a good opportunity to see Martian surface features with a telescope. On the night of January 13, Mars will either be occulted and hidden by the moon for up to an hour or have a very near

UCDSB pilots expanded Sports League for students

The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) is excited to announce the launch of a new sports initiative that will be piloted in 2025 called All-In Sports. If the pilot is successful, this initiative will expand sport

opportunities for Kindergarten to Grade 8 students across the district. As presented to and approved by the Board of Trustees in December, the All-In Sports league will provide all young interested athletes

the opportunity to learn and play sports in a structured environment. Local competitions that will allow more students to attend more sporting events will be a focus for this new league.

Students will have the opportunity to play traditional sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, etc. but also learn new sports and activities such as handball, korfball and ultimate frisbee. This new league will run in addition to any intramurals that currently take place at schools, not replace it.

“As a former physical education teacher, coach, and huge supporter of student athletics, I am thrilled that we are in a position to make the signiﬁcant ﬁnan-

miss, depending on where you live in North America.

And let us not forget the planet Venus now in the lower western sky. It sets around 8:30 p.m. local time. To the upper left is the planetary jewel of the sky, Saturn. Taking on a yellowish hue, Saturn is now 83 light-minutes away. Venus and Saturn will be in conjunction (appearing closest in the sky) on the night of January 18. Today's astronomy apps will help you identify the planets and learn the constellations. The night sky is a place of wonder that can be enjoyed all year round.

Clear skies.

Known as "The Backyard Astronomer", Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker, former monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada as well as a STEM educator. He has been interviewed on more than 60 Canadian radio stations as well as various television stations across Canada and the U.S. In recognition of his public outreach in astronomy, the International Astronomical Union has honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. Follow him on Facebook and his website: www.wondersofastronomy. com.

cial commitment necessary for this enhanced and expanded sports league that will beneﬁt all of our students,” says UCDSB Chair Jamie Schoular.

All-In Sports will be at no cost to families but is a ﬁnancial investment for the UCDSB. This new league will follow best practices as developed by the Coaching Association of Canada and Ophea to ensure a safe, engaging but valuable sporting experience for young athletes.

A steering committee of community members, educators and coaches has been established with representation from across the district. A partnership with the Rick Hansen Foundation

has also been formed. To date, 20 schools are part of the oﬃcial pilot with more than 25 schools requesting to come on board.

“Our aim is to increase student participation in sports and activities. Our hope is that the pilot goes well and that we can expand it to all elementary and intermediate schools next school year. There are numerous physical and psychological beneﬁts to being involved in sports, and we want to ensure that all students get the opportunity,” adds Chair Schoular.

Two local travel agencies become one

by Brandon Mayer

A local travel agency –Just Say Yes Destinations – is soon to become a part of the popular Kemptvillebased agency, Gravitate Travel. Scott Waldron is the owner of Gravitate Travel. He explained that he was approached by JSY Destinations about two months ago about the idea of merging the two businesses. Four out of the ﬁve agents from JSY Destinations have chosen to join the Gravitate brand, which will give Gravitate the beneﬁt of having agents in Cornwall, Iroquois, Morrisburg, and Spencerville.

Scott explained his excitement regarding the merger, particularly since the travel agents joining his company are far from “green” – they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. “They are very well-respected individuals,” said Scott. “We’re excited to grow our family for sure”.

It turns out that the agents from JSY Destinations have been watching how Gravitate conducts its business for a number of years, and they have been nothing short of impressed. Scott shared that everything from Gravitate’s local “travel talks” to its community involvement to its website gave the agents from JSY Destinations an

eagerness to become part of the Gravitate name. “It was kind of ﬂattering when they came to me… it was an easy yes,” Scott added.

In addition to serving North Grenville, Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, South Dundas, Cornwall and surrounding communities, both Gravitate Travel and JSY Destinations have existing clients in North Dundas, and are always eager to serve North Dundas locals as well.

Existing JSY clients will keep their same agent, but will now be served under the Gravitate name. The newly expanded Gravitate Travel will continue to be able to serve clients in English, French, and Spanish. The Kemptville oﬃce will be the main headquarters for all operations.

Anita Milne is one of the JSY agents joining the Gravitate brand. She was coowner of JSY Destinations, and worked hard over the last several years to build its name and reputation. She explained why she wanted to merge with Gravitate: “Scott and I have the same thoughts and feelings on business. It should always revolve around the client, and what is best for the client. Our values and virtues align. The systems he has in place and what Gravitate has become, is what I aspired to be. I have the greatest respect and admiration for him and the brand. My goal was to

build a very similar dynamic as to what Gravitate is, but one person cannot do it.”

The other agents joining the Gravitate team will be Chantal Tremblay, Sheri Primeau and Rebecca McFarlane. “Travel is my passion,” added Anita. “I love creating bucket list trips, hearing about clients' experiences when they return, and being part of making the ever-lasting memories. I feel it is a true honour to be joining Scott and to be a part of everything Gravitate is, and what I had envisioned JSY to be.”

Overall, Anita is excited to be part of a larger team of travel specialists who can offer knowledge regarding different types of travel. “I am joining a team, especially Scott that sets goals and works hard to achieve them,” she said. “Travel is our passion and it's not a hobby.”

This new partnership is sure to bring even more travel expertise to the local area. Scott was recently named as North Grenville’s entrepreneur of the year, and the eagerness of the JSY agents is a testament to his business practices. “It's truly an honour and I feel blessed that Scott is welcoming me to his team,” Anita added. “I am so excited and looking forward to our future!”

To learn more, visit https://gravitate.travel/

BMO Bank of Montreal would like to announce our intention to close our Winchester Branch located at 510 Main Street, Winchester, ON, K0C 2K0 on July 25, 2025. On this date customers of the Winchester Branch will have their accounts moved to the Finch Branch located at 11 Main Street, Finch, Ontario, K0C 1K0.

To our Valued Customers and Winchester Community Members

We value your business and we’re here to help make this transition as smooth as possible. If you have any questions, please call us at (613) 774-2528 or come speak to one of our team members at the Winchester Branch.

We invite you to join us at our branch for a public meeting or book an appointment to learn more about this move and what it means to you and learn how we’ll help you through the transition.

Public Meeting Details

Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location: BMO Winchester Branch, 510 Main Street, Winchester, ON, K0C 2K0

As a consumer affected by a branch move, it’s important for you to know about the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC). Under the Regulations, the Commissioner of the FCAC may require BMO Bank of Montreal representatives to hold and attend a meeting with FCAC representatives and interested parties, in order to exchange views about the proposed closure of a branch, if:

1. BMO Bank of Montreal has not adequately consulted the affected community to ascertain its views about the branch closure; and

2. an individual from or representative of the community affected by the branch closure submits a written request to the Commissioner for the meeting; and

3. the request is not frivolous or vexatious.

If you would like more information about the FCAC, or if you have further questions related to the Regulations, you can contact the FCAC at 1-866-461-FCAC (3222) or visit fcac-acfc.gc.ca

Farmland preservation not just an Ontario priority

by Drew Spoelstra, President, OFA

We’ve just come through the busy holiday season –and as much as this time is about family, friends and the start of a new year, it is also heavily centered around food. And so much of those special holidays meals is grown or produced right here at home, from meat, dairy and eggs to fruits, vegetables, grains and more.

As a farmer in Binbrook, I take great pride in growing crops, raising beautiful horses and producing high quality milk and beef. I’m also president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and we know how important local food is to farmers and consumers alike. There are many activities, processes and resources that go into producing food, all of which are important. However, none of it would matter if we didn’t have the rich soils and fertile farmland that are the basis of our food production system.

That’s where we are lucky in Ontario and in Canada: we are blessed with some of the world’s best farmland that lets us grow and raise almost anything – both for ourselves here at home and for people around the world. However, it’s a precious resource that is under threat. The numbers show us that we’re losing

farmland at an alarming rate and it’s a trend that we strongly believe can not continue. We know Ontario needs land for housing, for job creation and economic growth, and for renewable energy to meet electriﬁcation and decarbonization targets.

We also know that we can not lose our ability to produce food, particularly in the face of climate change aﬀecting all corners of the globe. That’s why at OFA, we’ve long been champions of farmland preservation, advocating strongly with all levels of government for balanced and responsible planning. Through our Home Grown campaign, we also work directly with Ontarians to raise awareness about how critically important farmland is to our society, our economy and our ability to feed ourselves.

It’s not just an issue in Ontario through. Late last fall, alongside farm leaders from British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Quebec, I had the opportunity to participate in a national panel discussion about the loss of farmland and the resulting pressures facing agriculture. It quickly became clear that although there are regional differences, most farmers and municipalities are facing similar challenges right

across Canada.

Ontario, Quebec and BC in particular are struggling with urban pressures and the high cost of farmland, as well as the use of land for purposes and infrastructure other than food production. BC has also had to deal with extraordinary weather-related disasters in recent years from deadly heatwaves and devastating flooding that damaged farms and critical transportation infrastructure to an extreme deep freeze this past winter that wiped out entire tree fruit orchards.

Nova Scotia is also dealing with urbanization, as well as loss of its agricultural supports and services, from feed mills and vet clinics to processing facilities as the number of farms and farmers dwindles. Even in landrich Saskatchewan, where farms are larger and the population is more spread out, there are concerns about the future of farming and food production, including succession planning, land affordability and how the next generation of farmers can enter the industry.

Despite the differing perspectives and experiences, all panelists shared a common goal: ensuring that agri-food is top of mind when governments are making decisions and that legislators consider the potential short- and longterm impacts on food production when setting their policies. We need homes, jobs and energy and we need a secure, homegrown food supply – but it doesn’t need to be an either-or situation. Ensuring all voices are at the table will help strike a workable balance to keep Ontario’s economy and food supply strong and growing.

Farmer John supports local health care – again!

John Brugmans – or Farmer John as everyone knows him in and around Chesterville – recently stopped by the WDMH Foundation to drop oﬀ another cheque for $3,000. The money will be directed to the WDMH Foundation’s Health Care Undesignated Fund –where it will support Winchester District Memorial Hospital or Dundas Manor, wherever the need is greater.

John says his reason for giving back is simple: “I choose to support the WDMH Foundation because my whole family lives in this community. I know how important it is to keep the hospital and the Dundas Manor here for everyone who needs them."

“Thank you to John for his ongoing support,” notes Justine Plummer, Manager of Direct Mail & Events. “These generous gifts help support care for patients and residents - now and in the future.”

To chat about fundraising events for WDMH or Dundas Manor, please contact Justine Plummer at 613-774-2422 ext. 6172 or jplummer@wdmh.on.ca.

Shown at the presentation are John Brugmans and Justine Plummer, Manager of Direct Mail & Events, WDMH Foundation

Who can solve the Chronic Disease crisis?

Elon Musk is the richest person in the world. He got the title thanks to innovative thinking and masterful moves in the business world. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk intends to apply economic efficiencies in fighting the crisis of an obesity society by making weight loss drugs cheap.

In a post on X, he wrote, “Nothing would do more to improve the health, lifespan, and quality of life for Americans than making GLP inhibitors super low cost to the public. Nothing is even close.”

GLP inhibitors are a class of medications that help manage blood sugar in people with diabetes. Ozempic is the brand name for one such product that is enabling pharmaceutical executives to join the ranks of the ultra-rich.

But are these powerful synthetic drugs the right way to ﬁght the problem? Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is another of Trump’s controversial appointments. He will be the next U.S. Secretary of Health, charged by Trump to end the chronic disease epidemic. Kennedy believes promoting a better lifestyle is the answer. In his own post on X, he said "ultra-processed food is driving the obesity epidemic.”

So, who is right? Neither of them is a doctor; but we mustn’t hold that against them. Doctors haven’t done nearly enough to address the steady destructive progress over several decades of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. North America was not a land of obesity in the past. But it is today, at a huge cost. And now the scales have tipped, and the ﬁght is on, one way or another.

Kennedy is right that lifestyle is the answer, but hell will freeze over before companies put healthy products ahead of corporate proﬁts. Processing things is what companies do.

Kennedy faces another major human conundrum. Study after study show that following good nutritional guidance does lead many people to lose weight and gain better health. But history shows that humans are not angels. They get tired of diets, go back to eating what they enjoy, and obesity returns with a vengeance. So, Kennedy’s plan gets a failing grade.

Is Musk’s plan to get innovative, costly drugs into the hands of the masses the better way? The new class of weight loss drugs are effective in helping people lose weight and fight Type 2 Diabetes. But there are consequences of turning to drugs to make life easy. Year after year, synthetic drugs result in thousands of deaths, and negative side effects can accumulate when they’re used for prolonged periods of time. Doctors, politicians, and businesspeople who fail to acknowledge the risks associated with drugs are not being honest. People who turn to synthetic drugs without pause are ignoring their options.

Musk’s plan has this and other challenges: how does he propose to lower the cost of weight loss drugs while also slashing federal spending on health? And how will he corral health insurance companies that are now starting to say no to coverage for such drugs? So, there’s no high grade for Musk either.

Meanwhile, the health of North Americans is declining as the medical complications of obesity and diabetes march on. Blindness, heart attack, kidney failure, and sometimes amputation of both legs due to gangrene are the complications of diabetes. The only winners will be the ones who knuckle down with the determination and dedication required to lose extra weight. They will follow Abraham’s Lincoln’s advice about having legs. Use them!

No drug oﬀers a glitzy reward free of repercussion. Shakespeare wrote, “A substitute shines as brightly as a king, until a king be by.”

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

Lily’s Story – part 1

by Sabrina Ventrella

Lily looks around and realizes this is nothing like the last place she remembers being. She feels much better than she did before too, and is able to run and move around like she used to as a young pup. She hasn’t had this amount of energy in a long time. She tests her speed and runs in as many circles as she can as quickly as she can. She is fast! It takes her 20 circles before she has to start panting. She feels amazing!

The blank open space she finds herself in suddenly seems to grow bigger, expanding into the most beautiful park she has ever seen. Her clear brown eyes widen as she takes in the gorgeous sights. The crystalline river with Newfoundlands and Golden Retrievers splashing around in it. The trees filled with squirrels and barking dogs underneath. The field of holes dug, and in the process of being dug by dogs who look like herself.

Just as she’s about to run and join them, Lily sees the most glorious sight of all. A perfect, brand new, neon green tennis ball in an old man’s hand. Her vision narrows to just that ball and nothing else matters. She is oﬀ!

Lily runs up to the man that she can now see is smiling at her. She gives him the customary butt wiggle to let the man know she is ready for him to throw it. She’s the best catcher around, and she wants to run! When he takes a little longer than she’d like, she gives a bark of encouragement. That does the trick.

The ball makes a perfect arch in the air before landing directly in the waiting mouth of Lily, who then immediately sprints back to the man while wearing the biggest doggy smile she can man-

age around the fuzzy green object stuck between her maw.

Lily makes it back to the laughing human in record time, almost crashing directly into his legs, not being used to this level of speed. In her later years, she couldn’t run so well, but she always loved that ball; that never changed. The man takes the slobbery ball that she has now laid at his feet, and Lily prepares for another throw, wanting it more now that she’s gotten started. The disappointment comes fast when the ball – instead of being thrown through it –disappears into thin air. A whine tugs at her throat, using the only means of communication she has to tell this person that she is displeased at this turn of events.

“Oh Lily, always so eager.” the man speaks.

Bark, bark!

“Use your words now. You can speak to me clearly here.”

“What are you talking about, you crazy human? Just bring back the ball!”

The strange man chuckles and the tennis ball reappears in his hand.

“See, I told you that you could speak here.”

Lily, now back to staring at the beautiful object, takes a second to really hear what he just said.

“I can talk?” The sound of her own voice startles Lily and she lets out a little yip in shock. “I can talk!”

“Of course you can. You always could, just not the same language as your humans.” The man says as he kneels down to pat Lily’s wiry head.

“Here you can speak freely to all those around you, human, dog, or parakeet alike.” “Where are we?” she says around the ball hanging out of her mouth that she has stolen back from his hand for fear of its repeated disappearance.

“Heaven. Speciﬁcally

the dog park of Heaven. Here is where humans and their best friends can play as they used to, with no barriers of age, communication, or disease to stop them.”

Lily can’t believe what she’s hearing. A dog park for her and her human!

“Rick, Rick, where’s Rick?” She exclaims clearly; the ball now abandoned on the ground in front of her.

“Oh he’s not here yet. He still has some years ahead of him.”

“Aw that’s too bad. I miss him.” Lily deﬂates a little by saying this.

“Oh don’t worry, years feel like nothing here. When he arrives, it will be as if no time has passed. He misses you as well, and it will feel much longer for him down on Earth.”

Lily is not quite satisﬁed with the answer but has no choice but to accept it. Nicholas and Sabrina are still down there too, and they need him more than she now. Now having her mind cleared after putting down the ball, she takes in her surroundings once again. This is the most beautiful park she has ever been in. It even beats the streets of Winchester, her home! It takes a lot to trump that in Lily’s mind. But nothing beats the inside of Rick's guitar case.

“You’re a very special dog, you know?” The man says, breaking Lily out of her thoughts.

“What do you mean? I was just a regular dog.”

“Oh Lily, you were much more than that.”

RECURRING EVENTS

North Dundas Arts Open Mic Open Mic Cafe Sundays 2pm to 5pm until April 2025

At the Old Town Hall, 478 Main Street, Winchester. Free, accessible, everyone welcome. northdundasartscouncil@yahoo.ca

EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, January 21, February 4, 18, March 4, 18, April 1, 15, 29, May 13 and 27. Registration starts at 6:00 p.m., play starts at 6:30 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com

BID EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, January 28, February 11, 25, March 11, 25, April 8, 22, May 6 and 20. Registration starts at 6:00 p.m., play starts at 6:30 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com

COMMUNITY EVENTS

January 20

Spencerville Agricultural Society, January Meeting Time: 6:00 pm

Have you ever considered being a part of the Spencerville Agricultural Society? This is your opportunity to join our committee! We will kick oﬀ the night with a social hour at 6:00 PM followed by our AGM at 7:00 PM. We are already planning for the 170th Spencerville Fair, September 11-14, 2025! If you are interested in joining our committee, please email info@spencervillefair.ca to receive all of the meeting details. Drummond Building, 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville Ontario classiﬁeds@ndtimes.ca

BRAND NEW Vehicle Parts – ALL still in the original delivery boxes. Pick up in Kemptville. Call Bill: 613868-4477. Must be paid in cash on pick-up Steel Cowel Induction Hood to fit 2003 to 2007 Chevrolet pickup. Original cost $768 plus tax. Now $500 Tonneau Cover to fit 6.5 foot pickup box.

Original cost $500 plus tax, now $275 In-tank Fuel Pump for GM products, complete with locking steel washer. Original $175 plus tax. Now $75

Coil Binding Machine with electric coil inserter (Coil Mac EC1), $500 (OBO). Assorted coils included. email classifieds@ngtimes. ca

CHURCH Directory

Solomon’ Porch Nationside Pentecostal

Box 292 Chesterville

Phone: 613-448-2272

Pastor Scott Sayers

Sunday Service: 10:30 am. at The Nelson LaPrade Centre nationsidepentecostalchurch.ca

Southgate Winchester 539 Main Street, Winchester Phone: 613-258-6123

Sunday Service: 10:00 am. Kids program for toddlers - Gr 6

The Pulse Youth (Gr 6 -12) bi-weekly on Fridays at 7pm. Play Group (babies to preschool) Wednesdays at 10am. Ladies Group bi-monthly. Contact the church oﬃce for more info. https://southgatechurch. com/ The Gathering House 2 Water St. Chesterville Phone: 613-448-1758

Sunday Service: 10:00 am. Nursery and Sunday school available for children. Adult Bible studies throughout the week. STEM program & Youth group Wednesdays at 6:30 pm. Playgroup drop in 10:30 am on Fridays.

HUB youth drop in 7 -10

pm Fridays. Cafe Mon. & Fri. 9 am - 4 pm and Wed. 12 -4 pm www.thegatheringhouse.ca Winchester Pastoral Charge

Winchester United/Hope Springs United Church

Sunday Services

9:30 a.m. at Hope Springs United Church 11:00 a.m. at Winchester United Church www.winchesterunited.ca Winchester Baptist Church

486 Main St. Winchester Phone: 343-649-2204

Sunday Services: 11:00 am. (hymn sing 10:45) “Snack and chat” (lunch) after service, last Sunday each month. Join us for prayer every Tuesday evening anytime between 6:30pm and 8:00pm. https://m.facebook.com/ groups/WinchesterBaptistOnt/ Inkerman Wesleyan 11486 Queen St. Inkerman Phone: 613-989-5312 Email: antony.kiar@gmail. com

Lay Pastor: Tony Kiar Sunday Service: 10:30 AM

Love and Faith

by Christine Lowson

So [the shepherds] hurried oﬀ and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:16-19

Another version of verse 19 reads, “Mary kept all these things to herself,

holding them dear, deep within herself.” And, that’s where I’d like to pause with you following this blessed Christmas season.

“Pondering” as an English word has its roots in Latin by way of Middle English and is related to weight. Its meaning includes “consider, think about, contemplate, mull over, muse, weigh in the mind, think – especially quietly, deeply”. What an excellent way to pay attention! What an excellent way to approach life – our families, our friends, our work, our

Cheney, Edna Pauline

(Nee Barkley)

Peacefully with family by her side at Erie Shores HealthCare, Leamington on Sunday January 5, 2025. Edna Cheney age 78 of Inkerman. Beloved wife of the late Doug Cheney. Loving Mom of Lisa Cheney (Jose’Moniz) and Jamie (Myrna) Cheney. Cherished sister-in-law of Loralee Carruthers (Brian Cauvier) and Veena Barkley. Dear aunt of many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents Annie and Lyle Barkley and her brother Harold Barkley. A Visitation will be held at the Byers Funeral Home 2990 Church Street, South Mountain (613-989-3836) from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday January 9, 2025. A Private Funeral Service will follow on Friday. Spring Interment Morewood United Cemetery. By family request donations in Memory of Edna may be made to C.H.E.O. Special thanks to the Dr. Dawood & Dr. Battiston and the Nursing Staﬀ at Erie Shores HealthCare Leamington, Ontario.

Online condolences may be made at www.byersfuneralhomeinc.ca

St. Clare’s Anglican Church

2520 Falcon Rd. Winchester Phone 613 774-2236

Sunday Service: 10:00 AM

St. Clare’s Anglican Church is on Facebook: “The Anglican Parish of North Dundas at St. Clare’s” And on YouTube: “St. Clare’s Anglican Church (Anglican Parish of North Dundas)” www.stclaresanglican.ca info@StClaresAnglican.ca Christ Church United 5 Casselman St. Chesterville Sunday Service at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Blair Paterson Ph. 613-448-2532

Email: ccuchesterville@ gmail.com

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

St. Andrew’s - 34 Mill Street, Chesterville | 9:00am

St. Paul’s - 517 Main Street, Winchester | 10:00am Morewood - 13723 County Rd 13, Morewood | 11:15am

Minister, Rev. Ed Charltonedcharlton12@gmail.com

play and our commitment to being the hands and feet of Christ in the world.

To ponder is the wonder at a deep level about the real stuﬀ of life. What aspects of your life need your devotion? Perhaps, you simply want to walk down memory lane and wonder out people and moments etched in your mind. Might you be curious about learning something new? How will you go about that new adventure? Will 2025 be the year you join a choir? Will thoughts of how you will help your neighbours lead to more volunteering and sharing loving kindness? How about spending more time praying, with family and friends, turning oﬀ your phone and listening to Mother Nature?

Mary’s pondering, her “storing up of treasures,” must have fortiﬁed her for what came after the birth of Jesus. The Holy Family’s story seems to be saying that “pondering” can prepare us for action, for relying on faith, for dealing with what happens in our lives. It’s certainly a gift for every parent to wonder deeply about our responsibility to love, nurture, grow with our children through all the ages and stages of life.

What a gift pondering will be for all of us! Make room in 2025 for imagination, creativity, wonder and ponder your way to shining God’s Love Light.

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. One and only 5. Breezy

10. Self-satisﬁed

14. Arab ruler

15. Love intensely

16. Tropical root

17. Resisting authority

19. Freshwater mussel

20. How old you are 21. Beside

22. Long stories

23. Ceremonial peace pipe

25. Pertaining to cod

27. Physically sound

28. Sporting dogs

31. Chocolate

34. Savory

35. Faucet

36. "Oh dear!"

37. Twice twenty

38. Arouse

39. Mister

40. Forests

41. Divinity

42. Hurries

44. Band performance

45. Value

46. Mammals like camels

50. Earth tone

52. Monastery head

54. Paintings

55. Verse

56. Fear of heights

58. Fertilizer component

59. Ending in a piercing point

60. Frolic

61. Peddle

62. Triﬂing

63. Anagram of "Sent" DOWN

1. Glacial ice formation

2. Alpha's opposite

3. Besmirch

4. Before, in poetry

5. Billfold

6. Blockhead

7. Midday

8. Pharmacists

9. "I agree"

10. Foolish

11. Arge pasta tubes

12. Acid related to gout

13. Sticky substances

18. Female demon

22. Countercurrent

24. Unidentiﬁed ﬂying objects

26. Pretentious

28. Poets

29. Person's manner of walking

30. Agile

31. Money

32. Mishmash

33. Gymnastic feat

34. Odontalgia

37. 12 inches

38. Bristle/td>

40. Had on

41. Profundity

43. Ball

44. Unkempt

46. Cut short

47. Line

48. Anagram of "Naira"

49. Doesn't go

50. Creative work

51. The central part

53. Spoiled child

56. Viper

57. Choose

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku Solution to

Don't Just Dream—Achieve:

by Talia Hreljac

It’s January, which means you’ve probably already set a few lofty goals for the new year and written them down in a shiny new journal. You’re all set to conquer 2025—right? But let’s be real, those goals (and probably that journal) are likely to be abandoned by February. But what if this time, you didn’t let that happen? What if you actually set goals and found the tools to pursue them consistently?

Don’t worry – you don’t need to aim for the stars to make progress. Even small goals that improve your life are totally worth pursuing. And that’s where S.M.A.R.T. goals come in.

So, what exactly are S.M.A.R.T. goals, you ask?

Let me break it down for you:

S: Speciﬁc – Your goal should be clear and well-deﬁned. The more detailed you are, the easier it is to stay focused. No vague goals like "I want to get healthier." Aim

for something like, "I will walk 30 minutes every day."

M: Measurable – You need a way to track your progress. This means numbers, milestones, or some way to measure how you’re doing. For example, "I will save $200 a month for the next six months" gives you a clear target.

A: Achievable – It’s important that your goal is within reach. Aim for something that challenges you, but isn't so out of the realm of possibility that it becomes demotivating. So maybe not "I’ll run a marathon next week" if you're just starting out, but perhaps "I’ll run 3 times a week for the next month."

R: Relevant – Make sure your goal aligns with your bigger life plans. It should matter to you and be something that moves you in the direction you want to go. Don’t waste your energy on goals that don’t resonate with your values or priorities.

T: Time Bound – Every goal needs a deadline. This creates urgency and keeps you accountable. Whether it's a month, a season, or the entire year, setting a clear timeline ensures you stay on track.

When you stick to these S.M.A.R.T. guidelines, you’ll find that achieving your goals is a lot more feasible. Having clear goals helps create your own personal "North Star." These goals will evolve and shift over time – and that’s totally okay. They’re not set in stone, but rather a guiding light helping you navigate toward the life you want.

Time ﬂies as we get older. So instead of complaining that another year has come and gone with little change, why not promise yourself to put in some real eﬀort for the next 12 months and see where it takes you? You just might surprise yourself.

And hey, speaking of goals, this week’s paper features a Bingo Card from Let’s Network NG. The idea is simple: list 24 goals you want to achieve in 2025. As you hit milestones, mark oﬀ your card. When you get a Bingo, treat yourself to a reward—hopefully from one of the fabulous local businesses in our community!

Good luck with your goals, and let’s make 2025 the year of actual change!

January is Alzheimer's Awareness Month

by Prem Arora R.Ph. Winchester Heritage Pharmacy (I.D.A.)

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms ﬁrst appear later in life.

Alzheimer's disease typically follows certain stages that bring about different changes in that person's life, as well as the lives of their caregivers. Because Alzheimer's disease aﬀects each person differently, the symptoms, the order in which they appear, and the time spent in each stage may be different between people. In most cases, the progression is slow, and the symptoms of each stage may overlap, often making the move from one stage to another diﬃcult to notice.

While the terms "Alzheimer's disease" and "dementia" are often used interchangeably, it's important to know the difference between the two. Dementia is not one specific disease. Rather, it's an umbrella term for a set of symptoms caused by physical disorders affecting the brain. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause for dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all diagnoses.

Overall, know that Alzheimer's disease is a speciﬁc disease, while dementia is a general term for a group of similar diseases, of which Alzheimer's is one. In other words, every case of Alzheimer's disease is an example of dementia, but not every type of dementia is Alzheimer's

Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning –thinking, remembering, and reasoning – and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. Dementia ranges in severity from the mildest stage, when it is just beginning to aﬀect a person’s functioning, to the most severe stage, when the person must depend completely on others for help with basic activities of daily living.

Almost 40% of people over the age of 65 experience some form of memory loss. When there is no underlying medical condition causing this memory loss, it is known as age-associated memory impairment. Age-associated memory impairment is part of the natural process of aging. For most people, memory generally remains strong as they get older and doesn't decline rapidly or substantively.

Dementia causes more than memory loss. Symptoms of dementia include memory loss, both shortterm and long-term, diﬃculties with thinking, problemsolving or language that are severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities, and changes in mood or behavior.

Dementia is usually progressive. As more brain cells become damaged and eventually die, the symptoms of most dementia types will gradually get worse. That's why it's important to be diagnosed as early as possible.

How can I reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia? While there is no sure way to prevent,

there are certain risk factors that can be controlled. These include blood pressure, diabetes, poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, hearing loss, social isolation, alcohol, depression and air pollution. Below are the actions that you can take at any age for a healthier brain:

- Be physically active each day

- Protect your heart

- Stay socially active

- Manage your medical conditions

- Challenge your thinking

- Get a good night's sleep every night

- Have depression treated

- Stop smoking

- Avoid excessive alcohol intake

- Maintain your hearing

- Find meaning in life

- Avoid all types of head injury

- Help reduce pollution

- Adopt healthy behaviors And while Alzheimer's Awareness Month may stop at the end of January, the experiences of people who live with dementia do not. As such, we ask you to take what you've learned during the month and continue to share it throughout the year. At Winchester Heritage Pharmacy (I.D.A.), we are committed to ﬁll and compound your Prescriptions accurately and promptly, provide the most appropriate medication and health advice, do vaccinations, and meet your day-to-day pharmacy needs in a professional and eﬃcient manner.

Two for the price of one

By the time you get to read this the Christmas Time celebrations will be over and life may be back to some sort of normality, whatever that is. Meanwhile our avian friends are still actively showing their presence to us in their own remarkable ways.

My title may have got some of you confused as to what I am getting at. Well, let me clarify it a little for you, since it is not all that clear from just my pictures of the Red Breasted and White Breasted Nuthatches. These are, of course, the subject of my article, being very regular visitors to my hanging feeders. Thus I get two for one, from this combination of these beautiful little birds.

However, I did get a diﬀerent combination of two for one the other day, when two of the Red Breasted Nuthatch variety both landed on my peanut feeder at the same time. I just had time to grab my camera and get a quick shot, before one left. Unfortunately their vertical separation on the peanut feeder’s suspension cable was such, that they were quite a bit apart from each other to give my photograph enough of an impact required to show it to you all! Sorry about that, but I shall certainly keep trying to get one. I hope that you enjoy the single bird versions that I have included.

Hopefully you have been able to utilize the Christmas time, to get better views of your own garden birds and are getting as much enjoyment from seeing them as I myself do. Enjoy them and the rest of your holiday season, but stay safe and well.

Cheers, John Baldwin

OPP Report

Four youths face drug and other charges

Four youths are facing charges after multiple incidents stretching from Smiths Falls to Cornwall.

It started early Wednesday, January 1, 2025, when a car which had earlier been reported stolen, was involved in several reports of dangerous driving in and around Smiths Falls. During one attempt to stop the vehicle in Kemptville, an OPP officer narrowly avoided being struck by the car as the driver attempted to flee. The vehicle eventually ended up going off the road in the Spencerville area. Officers arrested four individuals without further incident. A quantity of suspected cocaine, other drugs, alcohol and weapons were found in the vehicle.

The response included oﬃcers from the Grenville County, Ottawa, Leeds County and Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Smiths Falls Police Service (SFPS), as well as the OPP Emergency Response Team and OPP TIME team.

A 15-year-old female from Tay Valley Township has been charged with:

Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; Flight from a peace oﬃcer; Dangerous operation of a vehicle; Possession of a Schedule 1 substance; Possession of a Schedule 3 substance; Failure to comply with an undertaking.

A 15-year-old male, a 15-year-old female, a 12-year-old female, all from Smiths Falls, have been charged with:

Possession of a Schedule 1 substance; Possession of a Schedule 3 substance; Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime-over $5,000.

The 15-year-old male faces an additional charge of failure to comply with an undertaking. The Smiths Falls Police has also charged the male with:

Dangerous operation of a vehicle; Flight from a peace oﬃcer; Possession of property obtained by crime-over $5,000.

Two of the accused were held for bail hearings, while the other two were released with scheduled court appearances.

The OPP can conﬁrm that the incidents are connected to earlier SFPS reports of missing teenagers. The names of the accused cannot be released or reported under the terms of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Another incident in the City of Cornwall remains under investigation.

OPP East Region Festive RIDE wrap-up

OPP oﬃcers across East Region arrested another 10 impaired drivers during the ﬁnal week of the Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign. This brings the preliminary total to 113 motorists charged with impaired driving since the initiative began November 21, 2024.

"While Festive RIDE may be over, OPP members across East Region will continue to hold RIDE programs and be on the lookout for those who choose to endanger lives by driving while impaired. Even one impaired driver on the roads is one too many. I want to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of our oﬃcers who conducted RIDE programs over the holiday season. Their eﬀorts helped keep our roadways safe." - Chief Superintendent Lisa Wilhelm, OPP East Region Commander.

Oﬃcers conducted nearly 1,200 Festive RIDE programs across eastern Ontario, stopping vehicles to ensure the drivers were not impaired by alcohol or drugs. In addition to the impaired driving arrests, oﬃcers also issued a total of 29 warning-range suspensions, resulting on those drivers being issued licence suspensions and having their vehicles impounded.

RIDE programs don't stop after the holidays. They can happen anywhere, anytime. If you suspect someone is driving impaired, call 9-1-1. You could be saving lives.

OPP make arrest following indecent acts investigation

The Grenville County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has arrested and charged an adult following an indecent acts investigation involving a youth.

In December of 2024, the OPP received a report of nude images that had been sent to a youth. The Grenville County OPP Crime Unit continued the investigation.

As a result, a 34-year-old man from North Dundas was arrested on January 8, 2025, and charged with:

- Distributing obscene matter

- Make sexually explicit material available to a person under 16 years of age

- Luring a person under 16 years of age by means of telecommunication

- Indecent communications

The accused was held for a bail hearing on January 8, 2025 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brockville, and remains in custody.

The investigation by the Grenville County OPP Crime Unit is ongoing. Investigators are concerned that there could be other victims. They want to hear from anyone who may have had encounters with the accused via an online app or in person. If you have any information about this incident, please call the Grenville County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

There is no statute of limitations on sexual oﬀences and a report can be made to police at any time, regardless of how much time has passed. You can report a sexual oﬀence by calling the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or 9-1-1 in an emergency. If you do not want to make a report to police or need time and support to make that decision, there are community partners available to help. Ontario 211 provides information on Ontario's community, social, health-related and government services. Call 2-1-1 or visit 211 Ontario for more information.

Redbreasted Nuthatch showing distinctive black eye bar

An upright Whitebreasted Nuthatch

No eyebar on Whitebreasted Nuthatch

Donna Lochnan's dog Mud-Pout Gael Dunlop - George