May 21st, 2014 #20

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The Voice of North Grenville

Vol. 2, No.20

May 21, 2014

Discover our Roots May 23 to 25

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Dandelion festival: see pages 17-20

by David Shanahan It might have been the Strawberry Festival. Back in 2000, when the North Grenville Arts and Culture Council [NGACC] made a presentation to the Township (as it was then) requesting matching funds to launch a new arts and culture festival in North Grenville, the proposal referred to the First North Grenville Strawberry Festival. That quickly changed to Dandelion as the NGACC preferred the image of a wild flower and didn’t want people to think

the festival was horticultural rather than cultural! The motto of the NGACC Dandelion Festival became: “Art is like a dandelion, it spreads like wildflowers”.

The NGACC had been formed to bring together all the arts and culture interests in North Grenville to lobby for facilities, support and to raise the profile of the arts and culture in the community. There was an awareness among the members of the immense range of talent that existed in North Grenville, talent that deserved a forum

for expression, an event that would allow the people of the township to experience the wealth around them.

The Dandelion Festival began on June 10, 2000 with a day-long extravaganza in the Ferguson Forest Centre, running from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., and co-sponsored by the Township and the ten member groups of the NGACC, with the support of the NG Chamber of Commerce. On the stage came a procession of local musicians, bands, poets, dancers and actors. There was belly dancing, djemba drum-

mers, brass bands, and a fencing demonstration. Around the grounds visitors could browse through craft tables, art displays, and food vendors. People could enjoy the roaming musicians and poets, the face painting, clowns and jugglers. It was a magical day in the sunshine as the organisers seemed as surprised by their success as the visitors were at the incredible range of things to see and do at this dynamic event. Pat Maloney acted as MC for the day.

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Water Safety is vital

Discover Our Roots continued

by David Shanahan During the week we got a call from a reader who was justifiably horrified to see the photograph we published last week of a couple in a canoe on the South Branch. Her dismay was caused by the fact that the man in the canoe was not wearing a life jacket.

It is all too easy to forget that everyone in a canoe, or kayak, or other humanpowered craft is required to wear a life jacket. Waterways Ontario states that the requirement is for “One approved personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate size for everyone on board. Each device must have the Department of Transport Canada or Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans label and be in good working order”.

The OPP have issued a special notice on this subject as we are in the middle of the annual Safe Boating Awareness Week.

According to the OPP statistics, “of the 23 boaters who died in OPP investigated marine incidents last year (2013), twenty

Many activities for children can be found at the Dandelion Festival In the evening there was a dinner dance held at St. Michael’s High School. Diners enjoyed a silent auction, displays of the murals and poetry created by children during the day’s festivities.

Then they danced the night away to the music of the RANA Orchestra.

Hal Antony was the MC for the evening. All in all, it was an amazing day. The initial budget?

The NGACC asked the Township to match the $1,000 they had raised, and this, along with the sale of tickets to the dinner-dance made up the budget for the first Dandelion Festival.

And it took off from there. By the third year, the Lions Club stage was being used, and the schedule of events had increased, so that t h e Festival now ran

May 21, 2014

from 10.30 in the morning until late at night, and the rows of artist and crafters booths filled the field. A second stage had been added, in St. Michael’s, and two MC’s were needed to co-ordinate them, Peter Nicol and David Shanahan, and the Dandelion Dash Race had been introduced. By its fourth year, in 2003, the Festival had moved to Riverside Park, as work on the new Municipal Centre took away the original festival grounds.

The Dandelion Festival was the brainchild of the NGACC, and full credit goes to the original committee members and many volunteers who had the vision and talent to imagine it and make it happen. Their creation has outlived the NGACC, and has

The Voice of North Grenville

changed its nature over the years. But at its genesis it was a remarkable statement about the depth and breadth of artistic and cultural energy and talent which we still have in the Municipality of North Grenville. In the end, the Dandelion proved to be a perfect image after all. Wild.

Beautiful. Often unappreciated; but always returning to bring colour and an untamed presence to manicured structure. That is something to celebrate!

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of them were not wearing Personal Floatation Devices [PFD]. This has been the trend for the past five years with eight out of ten victims who died in boating incidents between 2009 and 2013 being found with no PFD (or wearing them incorrectly).

The late arrival of spring has made for a cold start to the boating season. In some areas of the province, ice is still present and the open waters remain cold. Cold waters are dangerous and it is especially important to wear a PFD during cold water seasons - it can make an unexpected mishap survivable.

Make sure you are well-dressed and consider taking a few extra warming items on board. Hypothermia is a particularly significant risk right now.

Boaters and those working and playing near the water need to remember - the colder the water, the less rescue time there is!

Before heading out, it is important to do a thorough check of your boat and safety equipment

and even more important when the waters have just thawed. While the OPP has patrols underway on the water, they are reminding boaters that the unusual spring has delayed many operators and those who run into difficulties may experience delays with police assistance”.

It is not enough to have a life jacket in the canoe: it must be worn to meet the requirements.

We investigated the incident recorded in our photograph, and the man did not put on his life jacket that day. To add to the lesson: another couple in a canoe in front of them capsized and needed their life jackets to stay afloat.

It is far too easy for people to drown when their canoe overturns, even in relatively shallow water.

People can hit their heads and lose consciousness, and only the floatation device will save them then.

Remember: prevent tragedies on the water; wear a life jacket at all times, even before you get into the canoe or other water craft.

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Provincial election under way in earnest

by David Shanahan The provincial election came to North Grenille in person last week, when Steve Clark, seeking re-election as M.P.P. for Leeds-Grenville officially opened his campaign office for the north of the constituency on Clothier Street.

There was certainly an impressive level of support for the Conservative politician, as he had sitting by his side Senator Bob Runciman, a longtime member for this area, and the current Member of the federal Parliament, Gord Brown. They took turns introducing each other to the assembled group, and it was hard not to believe that the confidence they exuded was not deserved. Aside from one or two signs for the NDP candidate, David Lundy, there was hardly any indication in North Grenville that there was any other candidate running around these parts.

May 21, 2014

The Liberal hopeful, Christine Milks, was still without any official election posters when she announced her candidacy, and she will only be opening her main campaign office in Brockville this week. It seems that either she has yet to receive the campaign materials, or else she has neither the volunteers nor the support to get any set up in North Grenville.

Steve Clark, on the other hand, not only had an M.P. and a Senator out to meet his supporters, he also had North Grenville Mayor, David Gordon, Councillor Terry Butler, and Councillor Tim Sutton, who welcomed the Conservative dignitaries to the municipality. Brian Carré, CAO of North Grenville, was also in attendance in his role as Chair of the Kemptville College Task Force, and heard assurances from Steve Clark that a Conservative government would maintain agricultural edu-

cation facilities in Kemptville.

The other candidates nominated to run in LeedsGrenville are the Green Party’s Steve Bowering, and Harold Gabriel who is running for the Libertarian Party. Advanced polling begins on Saturday, May 31 for those who just can’t wait to make their mark.

Special ballots are already an available option for those who can’t be in North Grenville on election day, and don’t want to wait for the advanced poll.

Voter registration cards should be mailed out in the coming weeks, giving details of where and when you can vote on June 12.

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Municipality Matters

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Gord Brown announces launch of National Conservation Plan Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, today highlighted the launch of the National Conservation Plan (NCP) which will provide a more coordinated approach to conservation efforts across the country with an emphasis on enabling Canadians to conserve and restore lands and waters in and around their communities, and making it easier for citizens living in cities to connect with

nature. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Harper on May 15th, 2014.

“Nature is important to residents of LeedsGrenville,” says Brown.

“The National Conservation Plan encourages and enables Canadians to take action in their communities. Together, we will continue to find new ways to work together to protect our lands, waters, and wildlife.”

The NCP, which was a commitment made in

the 2013 Speech from the Throne, will include significant additional investments over five years to secure ecologically sensitive lands, support voluntary conservation and restoration actions, and strengthen marine and coastal conservation.

In addition, it includes new initiatives designed to restore wetlands and to encourage Canadians to connect with nature close to home through protected areas and green spaces located in or near

urban areas.

The Plan will expand opportunities for partners, including municipalities, environmental interest groups, hunters and anglers, landowners and community groups, to take practical actions to safeguard the land and water around them in the three following priority areas: ·Conserving Canada’s lands and waters. ·Restoring Canada’s ecosystems. ·Connecting Canadians

Municipality raise rental rates

by David Shanahan The Municipality of North Grenville is considering raising the rates they charge for renting various municipal facilities, and changing the length of time for which those rates would apply.

The likely rise will be in the order of 2% on ice time and 5% on sports field and diamond rentals.

Renting the ice rinks in North Grenville is more expensive than anywhere else in the region, aside from the City of Ottawa, and demand for ice time is increasing.

Municipal staff recommended the 2% increase as a fair method of covering increasing costs to operate and maintain the surfaces without causing undue hardship for users.

Similarly, demand for use of the sports fields and baseball diamonds is increasing and a charge of $5 per hour for practice sessions is also being introduced with the 5% increase in rental fees.

The entire system for deciding rental rates was found to be confusing and required a revision

May 21, 2014

to make it more fair and efficient. For example, the rental rate for soccer fields changed if it included or excluded lighting for evening games.

This new system will use just one rate. The municipality also examined the difficulty groups like the Kemptville Players or the North Grenville Concert Choir have in paying the rental rates for using the Theatre for their productions. They were simply not able to take advantage of a wonderful facility, originally included in the Municipal Centre to cater for local groups like these, because they could not afford the rates charged by the municipality.

From its opening, the Centre has had to try and balance the costs of operating the building with providing space at the best possible rate to residents. At first, and for some years, there was a single rate charged for everyone, whether for profit, or non-profit, or residents versus nonresidents. This has been changed and the levels of rental charges take those factors into account as much as possible.

The need to encourage more businesses to advertise in the building has also been addressed by staff. Advertising boards in the ice rinks, for example, should be a natural location for businesses to reach the general public. But the procedures and costs governing such advertising has meant that this asset has not been exploited as fully as it should. Once again, the rates charged in this area were higher than anywhere else in the region, outside Ottawa, and advertisers were also responsible for the cost of producing the ads and installing them in the rinks.

This amounted, according to staff reports, to an investment of $1,600 by any business wishing to advertise in the ice rinks.

By adjusting the rates charged to resident and non-resident renters, it is hoped to make the situation more equitable for residents of the municipality, although, in general, rates will continue to be higher here than elsewhere in the region. It is important that a municipally-operated asset like this should be available to the taxpayers who fund it,

and at a reasonable cost.

But there is a vicious circle involved, when the expense involved in renting becomes too great and so rental numbers drop, leading to decreased revenues, leading in turn to higher rates to cover the shortfall.

Finding that delicate balance is the challenge facing Mark Guy and his staff in the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department and it is a balance they are working hard to achieve.

to nature. ·Progress under the NCP will be measured against a set of outcomes related to land and ocean conservation, restoration of lands and shorelines, opportunities for Canadians to experience nature, and access to improved information about Canada’s natural environment. ·The NCP also complements the proposed 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Ta r g e t s f o r C a n a d a , which were developed together with our conservation partners, as part of our participation in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. NCP initiatives will help us make progress on many of the targets. The goals and targets will also help to measure and report on progress for some areas of the NCP. The NCP is one of the many initiatives the Government has undertaken to protect Canada’s natural heritage for the benefit of future generations. It complements significant efforts, including creating new parks, protecting ecologically sensitive lands, protecting species

at risk and their habitat, and improving water quality.

Quick Facts Since 2006, our Government has: ·made a six-fold expansion of the Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories, considered to be the most significant conservation achievement in a generation; ·secured almost 4,000 km² of ecologically sensitive private lands; ·added an area nearly twice the size of Vancouver Island to the network of federal protected areas; ·advanced work to create the first national urban park and have designated three additional marine protected areas; ·supported partners in the delivery of hundreds of local projects to protect species at risk and their habitats; and, ·taken steps to improve water quality in the Great Lakes, Lake Simcoe, and Lake Winnipeg, rehabilitated recreational fisheries habitat, and are working to clean up contaminated sites.

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Editorial

The Voice of North Grenville

The Democrat’s Dilemma be reassuring if our current PM stopped closing down Parliament whenever he felt threatened, or annoyed with the system).

In this election we appear to have a choice between five candidates. But most observers would agree that the Libertarian and Green candidates will have a tough time getting their message out, much less gaining votes.

The Green Party have nominated Steve Bowering, who actually lives outside the riding, in Ottawa, and so will have little grassroots connections in the area. The Party only gathered 3.5% of the vote last time out, although the Libertarians failed to win even 1% of votes and would hardly hope for much more this time. This leaves us with a realistic choice between three candidates (did I say “realistic”?).

Given the results in 2011, it would be hard to imagine that Steve Clark can possibly lose this election. He took about 64% of the vote then, compared to about 17.5% for the Liberals and 15% for the NDP, a commanding position that he is not going to surrender this time. But there is more to the story than that.

The NDP candidate this time, David Lundy, ran in 2011 and saw the party’s share increase

by David Shanahan Elections are meant to be the keystone of democracy, the heart of the process, where the people have their say and exercise their right to choose their representatives.

This year provides the people of North Grenville with two opportunities to take part in that precious process, one for which our forefathers fought and sacrificed to achieve.

Less than a hundred years ago, women were not allowed to vote. If you look at the official Voters Lists from that time, there were restrictions on who could vote in provincial elections. Whole sections of our community were permitted to vote in municipal contests, but not provincial or federal ones.

Note the use of that word, “permitted”; it says it all.

In 2014, it is no longer a matter of being permitted to vote, it is our right and privilege, no longer based on how much property we own, our gender, or our class in society. It is hard, sometimes, to realise how much freedom we actually have. We don’t live in a country where the Dear Leader gets 99% of all votes in staged elections whenever they feel like calling one. (Though it would

Letters to the editor Dear editor Recently when a funeral had finished at Holy Cross Church, I proceeded outside to walk over to the cemetery for the farewell service. I noticed that when the hearse had passed by, the students of Holy Cross School, these wonderful students, stopped everything and were very quiet, they did not move or make a noise. This showed me what kind of students we have at Holy Cross, staff and students truly guided

by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Now to get this kind of respect at a funeral, we can see that everything starts from the top at the Catholic School Board level and passed down.

Now we look at the

school level. It begins with our Principal Cathy Empey, a wonderful principal then to the Vice-principal, Michael Crossan, who also does a wonderful job in trying to keep track of everything without losing his cool, not to forget the secretaries, and last but not least, the wonderful teachers and EA's who spend the most time in the class rooms and not in the lounge sipping on coffee or tea. The staff, even the outdoor staff, deserve credit as well. I do know that prayers should be allowed into the schools and for anyone to say different, they will have to stand before Jesus Christ and give an account.

Milfred W. A. Harper Kemptville, Ont.

by about 10% over the previous contest. The Liberals have been remarkably disorganised so far. Considering that they chose the timing of the election, the local party had no candidate lined up to run, and the campaign didn’t even have lawn signs until last week, long after the Conservatives and NDP were appearing around the riding.

It seems, in fact, as though the Liberals are out to lose. After playing games with billions of dollars of our money and gas plants in order to win a couple of seats last time out, they are under investigation by the OPP for that and another scandal. Kathleen Wynne is busy making barely veiled threats that a Tory Government would lead directly to more Walkertons and the tragedy that happened there fourteen years ago. Tacky?

Indeed. But then again, the Conservatives gave her the opening with the oddest campaign launch. Tim Hudak started his election bid by promising to cut 100,000 public service jobs in Ontario. The Walkerton inquiry pointed to massive cuts by the Mike Harris Conservatives as a contributing factor in the Walkerton tragedy: hence Wynne’s exercise in bad taste.

If David Lundy can capitalise on voters’ negative attitude to both Tories and Liberals, then “a plague on both your houses”might be a good campaign slogan for the NDP. But they have history too, of course. Think Ontario NDP and you think Bob Rae. Not a happy thought for NDP supporters, given that the first act of Premier Rae was to cancel all labour contracts.

Was anyone really surprised when he evolved into the acting leader of the federal Liberal Party? I think not.

So here is the Democrat’s Dilemma: do you vote for a party about which you may

Dear Editor, Thank you for your recent article on the subject of health care in Ontario .

The cases you point to are only two of what must be a great number of situations in which the Ontario ministry of health shows at once its heartlessness and its incompetence . And might I add , its hypocrisy.

What does the Ontario taxpayer receive in the area of health care for his or her tax dollars ? Well , for the most part , the service actually works. Doctors do a heroic job in spite of a heavily bureaucratized system .

But what happens to those who "fall through the cracks"and , for some arcane reason , are simply NOT COVERED for all of their medically prescribed treatment ?

For example, what happens

to cancer patients who find out partly through treatment that they will have to pay a substantial amount(upwards of $10000.00 ) for one of the prescribed elements of their treatment ? What happens when that information is delivered while they are undergoing chemotherapy , a chemotherapy which is meant to stop the progress of a dangerous and very aggressive form of cancer ?

Good questions , those.

Questions of which I have personal and recent knowledge. I thank you for helping to let our citizens know that Ontario's much vaunted health care system isn't there for some . And the list of those things not covered can only grow longer as long as we have a government willing to waste billions of dollars in gas plant scandals in order to elect

May 21, 2014

Marketing Peter Peers peter@ngtimes.ca 613 989- 2850

by James Bertram This year has the potential for offering important change for North Grenville and the province of Ontario.

Among events of significance rank the elections of municipal and provincial representatives. Representatives! People from among us whom we choose and thereby designate to listen to our voices and hear our views on matters of immediate concern to us in our daily lives.

What are these issues?

Those of greatest importance are always those touching us and our families in the most fundamental areas: the spheres of household economics (income and taxation), health, education, and the security of our homes and property. Over many years now, serious problems have arisen in all these spheres of basic concern.

Income in the form of well-paying jobs in a failing economy is hard to come by.

Taxes, hydro rates and gas their candidates to Queen's PArk.Understand well that money wasted on abortive gas plant projects and multiple other scandals is NOT available for health care.

Don't forget health care as you decide for whom you will be voting in early June.

Jim Bertram

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prices are rising. More and more bits and pieces of our much vaunted provincial health insurance are disappearing. Essential building blocks of our public education system are foundering in the rough seas of provincial defunding. Large companies, with the aid of the provincial government, scatter destructive pits, quarries, windmill farms and solar farms wherever they choose in populated rural areas to the great harm of the financial and health status of their homeowner neighbours. And they do it without any likelihood of compensation or meaningful reaction by any level of government.

Change in these areas is hard to come by. But we must start somewhere. We can all start the change process by voting in this year’s provincial (June 12) and municipal (October 27) elections. Begin the process now by identifying clear issues of importance to you. And then look for a candidate whom you think will listen to your concerns and actually hear them. Someone who will, indeed, represent YOU honestly and forthrightly. Tell them your concerns by any means open to you. Then vote. And, by voting, make a powerful gesture in the direction of creating good government . Good government for change and good government FOR a change!

Mailing Address P.O. Box 35, Oxford Mills, ON, K0G 1S0

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Editor David Shanahan editor@ngtimes.ca 613-258-5083

That’s the thing: democracy is messy and complicated. It requires more thought, more involvement than simply marking a ballot.

Of course, the whole thing is made much more difficult because of the electoral system we have in Ontario, and in Canada generally. First past the post was endorsed overwhelmingly in 2007. A pity. There are many alternatives to that system, ones that make democracy more democratic. For now, though, we are forced to choose just one from five. We must think carefully. It’s our right and responsibility.

Good Government

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have doubts, reservations, or even deep ideological differences, simply because the candidate is a good person, a hard worker and does good work for the riding and its people? Or do you vote for a party knowing that your vote will be lost this time, but may make a difference in building up a party in the longer term? Should the personality and character of a candidate have higher priority than the party platform? Or should the party platform matter more in casting your vote than the personality and character of the candidate most likely to get elected?

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54th Annual HeyDay Yard Sale June 13 and 14 This year’s big HeyDay sale will take place on the second weekend in June, at the North Grenville Curling Club, 200 Reuben Crescent, Kemptville. Sale hours are Friday June 13 (7-10 pm) and Saturday June 14 (9 am -1 pm).

This bargain-shoppers’ dream — the region’s largest and most-waited-for yard sale —has been organized by the Kemptville District Hospital Auxiliary each year since 1961.

Shoppers are usually lined up for a block or more on Friday evening, waiting for the 7 pm opening. They are hoping to get first crack at bargains in appliances, books, clothing, craft items, dishes, furniture, jewelry, linens, plants, sporting goods, toys, ornaments and more.

They also want first choice of goodies at the bake sale table.

During the event, tired

shoppers can refresh themselves at the canteen with fresh sandwiches, coffee or soft drinks, and slices of homemade pie.

Raffle tickets will be on sale, including the final round of tickets for the Auxiliary’s annual 50-50 raffle (last year’s winner received $2,780 —a huge return on a $2 ticket!). All raffle prizes, including the 50-50 winner, will be announced on Saturday June 14 at 1 pm.

HeyDay proceeds go toward buying needed new equipment for the hospital, to help keep patient care at KDH up-to-date. Largely due to funds raised at HeyDay, the Auxiliary has over the years contributed over $1.1 million to the Kemptville District Hospital.

You can help by donating items for sale. HeyDay welcomes usable (“gently used”) items. Drop offs will

be accepted at the Curling Club on Thursday June 12 from 9 am to 8 pm.

Please make sure that the items you donate are clean, salable and in good working condition. The Auxiliary pays hefty dumping fees for anything that must be discarded, and those fees cut into the amount that is available to buy hospital equipment. We try hard to keep dumping fees to an absolute minimum.

There are items we cannot accept for health and safety reasons, and others we reject because they do not sell. We do not accept: • box springs, mattresses, sofa beds • refrigerators or freezers • propane tanks • tires or car batteries • microwaves • computers, monitors, printers • television sets, console

stereos • sports helmets • suitcases • used venetian blinds • strollers, playpens, car seats, highchairs, cribs • encyclopedias, textbooks, technical manuals Volunteers are needed from Thursday through Saturday, June 12-14, to help sort, display and sell donated items. “Heavy lifting” assistance is also needed on Wednesday afternoon, all day Thursday and Friday morning to help move furniture and other large items. You don’t need to be a member of the Auxiliary: to volunteer, phone HeyDay convener Jane Wolfe at 613258-3108.

Jane says “We very much appreciate the support the community has always given to HeyDay, and we look forward to another very successful result this year.”

Community Living - Jessie's Story

by Diane Dewing On February 17, our daughter, age 30, moved into her own home.

Such an ordinary statement hardly captures the scope of planning and support that was needed to make this happen. While it may take a village to raise a child, it took a community for our child.

Community Living North Grenville (CLNG) has been a part of our lives for over 20 years. When work opportunities brought us to the Ottawa area in 1993, Dan (my husband) investigated all the communities within an hour's drive of his work. When he reached Kemptville, he met Ted Shuh and called me in Chibougamau. "I found home", he said. "I don't know exactly where we'll live but people here understand our beliefs".

We have four children, all with strengths and potential. One of our children has a severe intellectual disability. She needs help with all aspects of living and always will. She also has an amazing sense of humour, adores music, spicy food, walking in nature and the sound of water.

From the beginning, we planned for the supports that would let Jess live a May 21, 2014

full life, independent of her brothers and sisters.

We know that one day we will not be here to guard her well-being. Community Living has supported our vision of respectful inclusion from the very beginning. From activities over the summer, beginning at age 10, through programs supported during the school year by UCDSB, to the transition plan from school to community and

the transition plan from home to supported independent living, CLNG has worked with us to build a future centred on Jessie's needs, wants and desires.

Networks and caring relationships keep people safe and guard their dignity.

Jessie has built friendships with people at CLNG and within the community. She is a happy person. She is included. She is an independent member of your

community.

Transitions can be hard.

CLNG ensured that planning supported not just Jessie's transition to independence but her family's.

Knowing that she lives near us and can visit often is a huge relief. Knowing that her extended family can drop in to visit her for many years to come is even better. Now that's living in community!

The Voice of North Grenville

Speech and language development in preschoolers submitted by Susan Healey Children are developing speech and language skills from birth. Your child should: • Say 3-5 words by her first birthday; • Use 100-150 words and combine two or more words (e.g. “Mommy up”) by age two; • Use 4-7 words in a sentence (e.g. “I want my red ball.”) by age three; • Use adult-type grammar and keep a conversation going on the same topic for 3 turns by age 4.

What can you do to help your child: · Play with your child!

Preschool children are active learners and learn many things during play.

They can act out new roles, make up stories, negotiate game rules, and practice new ways of saying things. · Read with your child every day! Reading together should be fun. Reading can help your children learn many important things (facts about the world, information about what people do and why they do it, new words and sentence forms, how to construct stories, rhymes and songs).

· Talk to your child!

The more parents talk to their children, the more their children learn about language. Children learn more easily when the talk is directed to them (rather than hearing two adults talk to each other). Get face to face when you are talking to your child! Remember that talking can happen almost anywhere, anytime (e.g., in the car, at the store, in the bath, while getting ready for bed). Children learn best when they are interested, engaged and involved.

Talk about what your child enjoys or finds interesting.

Listen with genuine interest. Comment, encourage, expand, clarify and explain.

If you are concerned about your child’s speech and language development, call the Language Express Preschool Speech System at1-888-503-8885 / 613-283-2742. A speechlanguage assessment can identify your child’s strengths and needs, and can help you prepare your child for success in communicating, reading and writing. For more information, check out our website:www.languageexpress.ca .

TAKING PART IN OUR COMMUNITY

LIVING / VOLUNTEERING / SHOPPING / REPORTING/ SPONSORING

Big Sisters of Leeds and Grenville hosted their monthly activity night On May 7, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Leeds and Grenville hosted their monthly activity night at their office in the North Grenville Municipal Centre. A few mentees and mentors painted clay pots and planted seeds to take home to their moms for Mother’s Day. Mentor Matthew Burley (right) and his mentee, Callum Cairns (left) used their artistic abilities to create some colourful clay pots!

For more information on how you can volunteer with us, please visit mentoringmatters.ca

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HISTORY

The North Grenville Times

Putting a Stamp on our History

by David Shanahan These days we call it “snail mail”, but not very long ago the hand-written letter, sent through the mail, was the main mode of communication for individuals, families and commerce. In fact, mailing a letter in the nineteenth century was a much more straightforward thing than it has been more recently. Someone in Kemptville, for example, could send a note to a friend in Ottawa in the morning and get a reply the same afternoon.

Mail delivery had been a Government undertaking from before the American Revolution, and for a long time the cost was determined by the weight of the missive. People not only wrote on both sides of the page, they wrote across each page, as well as up and down, crisscrossing the text and making it difficult to

read, especially if the handwriting was poor. When the local government in Canada took over the mail in 1851, the postage stamp was introduced, making sending letters a great deal cheaper and easier. The government established local post offices as part of their network, official offices of the government, where letters could be sent and collected.

North Grenville was very well served by the Post Office. It was not a matter of someone from Bishops Mills having to go to Kemptville to mail or collect letters. Places such as Millar’s Corners and Acton’s Corners had their own Post Office, albeit briefly. Acton’s Corners’ Post Office was opened in October, 1899 and closed in October, 1914. John Morrison acted as Post Master there for that entire time. Millar’s Corners had a Post Office from 1880 to 1913, with the Millar and Tompkins families acting as

change from pounds, shillings and pence to dollars and cents, and, between 1871 and 1915, letters could be sent to anywhere in Canada for the price of a 1¢ stamp. Between 1877 and 1928, a letter could be sent anywhere in the British Empire for just 2¢.

For decades, the Post office was a social centre, where the community could gather and catch up on local news as they collected their mail. In 1915, free rural delivery of letters was introduced in Ontario, and the need for many of the small Post Offices diminished. As a result, many of the facilities in North Grenville were closed around that time.

Stephen Burritt was the first to run a Post Office in Burritt’s Rapids, from as early as 1839. But service was intermittent until after 1853. It was located in Kidd’s General Store where the Kidd family served as Post Masters for nearly a century.

The Bishop’s Mills Post Office was located in Chauncey Bishop’s house from 1853 until 1878. In the short time I lived in the house, I can remember the letter box still existing in the wall of the summer kitchen. Sadly, it was demolished soon after. For many years, the Post Office

Post Masters for all but seven years. The Post Office at Oxford Station, an important location on the railway line, was first opened in 1866.

James Sanderson and his daughter, Edna May, operated that Office for more than fifty years.

Pelton’s Corners, or South Gower as it was known then, had their own Post Office before anywhere else in North Grenville. Opened before 1838, with J. Hick as Post Master, it carried on business until it closed in 1913. Pelton’s Corners, like Heckston, was on the main coach road from Ottawa to Prescott, and that was the main reason for the Post Office being established in both locations, so close to each other. Heckston started out as Heck’s Corners, and opened in 1845. In 1857 the community was renamed “Heckston”, and the Post Office continued in operation until 1914. In those years, people saw their currency

The Voice of North Grenville was in the store opened by Moses Waldron at the crossroads: another institution that has only recently closed. The Nottell family acted as Post Masters for forty-one years; Mildred Adams, nee Nottell, being the last in that position when the office was closed in 1970, after serving for a quarter century.

Oxford Mills still has its Post Office, a facility it has enjoyed since Rickey Waugh was appointed to the job in 1852. For many years, it was located in the general store that Waugh opened and where the Brigadoon Restaurant is now located. The oldest Post Office in North Grenville, though, is Kemptville. William Bottum, or Squire Bottum as he liked to be called, set up the first Post Office around 1831 and served until his death in 1867. He was replaced by his Deputy, Robert Leslie, after whom Leslie Hall is named, who moved the Post Office to his own building which stood beside the present Branch restaurant until 1915. During that time, future Ontario Premier, G. Howard Ferguson, acted as Post Master for six years before being elected to the Town Council and starting his long and distinguished political career. In 1915, the

Office moved to a specially designed building on the corner of Prescott and Reuben.

As the picture shows, this was quite a lovely building and brought character to downtown Kemptville for more than fifty years. In 1970, Kemptville Town Council allowed it to be demolished, one of a number of buildings vandalised around that time. The Post Office moved into the new and rather ugly building where it remains today. The two buildings, old and new, are shown in the picture. The rural Post Office may be largely gone and forgotten now, in the age of e-mail, but for decades they were community centres, places where people met and gossiped and shared stories. A traditional aspect of Ontario life removed to the history pages.

The Post Office installation from Bishop’s Mills has recently been presented to the North Grenville Archives by the Adams family, and will be preserved and put on display for future generations to see and will be a memorial to those people over the decades who ran the local Post Offices, providing a social and business core at the heart of their communities.

NORTH GRENVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Past, Key to the Future

The Acquisition of Memories: The Schools’ Book Project Just 50 years ago, the last of our pioneer schools closed.

The NGHS Exhibition, Our Pioneer Era Schools, at Geronimo’s Nov. 23 – Dec. 28, 2013 was the first phase of a forthcoming book.

Since January, the NGHS Archives has acquired rare and unique memories, mementos and memorabilia from families and former students of the schools of South Gower, Kemptville and Oxford-on-Rideau, and from the Archives of Ontario.

Much of the ‘new’ material plus items from the permanent collection of the NGHS Archives will be displayed for the public at a Sneak Preview for the Schools’ Book Project.

You are invited to this Preview. Please bring family and friends and especially school children.

May 24, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm The Court House 15 Water Street, Kemptville May 21, 2014

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The Voice of North Grenville

Riverside Park finally dry and safe for Brittany and Brooke Henderson Kemptville Little League Play eQuinelle Golf Course to start season

by Jim Dolan

Warren O’Callaghan, Convenor of the Girls Softball Program, commending the youngest girls mite teams on an awesome job following their practice and sorting of the teams while coaches take it all in.

by Mary-Anne Leang Everything is finally in place for Kemptville Little League to start its season. The last obstacle was getting clearance from the Municipality of North Grenville to be allowed to use the diamonds at Riverside Park in Kemptville. The fields were simply too wet to be safe to use, so all of the first week’s games will have to be rescheduled. This was also the case with the Rural Ottawa Softball Association

with their fields, as they officially delayed the start of the season to May 12.

During the past week, teams were able to use the diamonds at South Gower Park to do get into the game as convenors and coaches assessed players to balance the teams and have practices to prepare for the season.

The delay in the start of the season did end up allowing KDLL convenors the opportunity to add more teams, as last minute registrations were still being received and many teams

were at their maximum capacity. The ability of the scheduler to shuffle and accommodate this at the last minute continues to show the commitment KDLL has to not disappointing anyone who wants to play. The girls softball program grew from two teams last year to six this year.

All diamonds at Riverside Park and South Gower Park will now be busy every night, with teams eager to start their first games this week. Finally, let’s play ball!

Kemptville Wildcats win in inaugural Intermediate division submitted by Mary-Anne Leang Kemptville District Little League launched its inaugural Intermediate program this past weekend at Riverside Park. The Kemptville Wildcats are made up of kids from Brockville, Prescott, Winchester, Morrisburg ,Williamsburg and Kemptville.

They will play doubleheaders every Sunday morning at Riverside 1, starting at 10 am, against teams from District 2 in Ottawa, the league lasts six weeks for a 12-game schedule.

The Intermediate division is a cross between Major and first year junior aged kids 11-13 of age, and is played on a hybrid field featuring more of the Junior-aged rules of baseball.

The Wildcats faced the Kanata Packers in their opening doubleheader and took the first game 12-7 with the backing of a Kenzie Mather's solo home run in the fourth inning. In the second game, the Packers took an early five-run lead, but the Wildcats stormed back to score 18 straight runs, highlighted by a Mano Salvador's 3-run home run in the 5th inning to complete the sweep with a 18-5 victory.

May 21, 2014

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I had a golfing thrill of a lifetime on Thursday afternoon May 8 at the eQuinelle Golf Club just north of Kemptville. I had the pleasure of walking inside the ropes with the future of Canadian Women’s Golf, 16 year-old amateur Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ontario and her 23 year-old sister Brittany. If the future of Canadian Women’s Golf is Brooke, then her older sister Brittany, who recently turned professional, is her guiding light.

The sisters were playing a practice round in preparation for the opening tournament of the 3-event Canadian Women’s Tour that was played May 13 and 14 at the Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C. Brooke finished T-8 and Brittany finished T-10 in the $60,000 purse event. Brittany earned $3,912.

My first and only prior close encounter with the sisters (they were really young girls back then) was at the Prescott Golf Club a number of years ago. I was getting ready to play a round of golf. A bunch of junior boys and girls were warming up on the putting green for a tournament. One of the golfers was short with blond hair and another one was even much shorter with even blonder hair. After my round of golf, Thom Miller, the pro at Prescott, told me that the taller golfer was young Brittany Henderson from Smiths Falls. I began to follow her career that day.

It would be a few years later when I thought a newspaper had misspelled Brittany’s name, that I realized that the even shorter girl was her much younger sister Brooke.

Brooke maybe getting all the headlines in the golf world these days, however Brooke will be the first to tell you that her older sister, who is her role model, has had an excellent golf career.

Sometimes we lose sight of the remarkable achievements of athletes because they are not competing in the Olympics or for the Stanley Cup or on the PGA or LPGA golf tours. But if you had a daughter who was good enough to attend an NCAA Division 1 Golf School, Coastal Carolina University near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on a full golf scholarship, would

you be proud? If your role model excelled at university golf, placing in the top-five at three straight Big South Championships, winning the event in 2012 and 2013, would you be proud? I know Brooke is. Brooke is also proud that her big sister, Brittany, earned National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar honors each of her four seasons at college. The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics – a minimum GPA of 3.50 out of a maximum of 4.0 is necessary for consideration. Brittany graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a degree in Pro Golf Management.

Brittany is currently an associate professional at the Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club. She is considering taking a run at getting her LPGA tour card at this fall’s LPGA Q School. Her confidence is no doubt buoyed by her recent success this winter on the Florida based Sun Coast Ladies Tour. Brittany won her first professional tournament at the Black Bear Golf Club in Eustis, Florida, shooting 6 under par in this four day event. Brittany said having Brooke on her bag was a real asset, especially in reading the greens. She pocketed $5,000 for the win, but I forgot to ask if Brooke got the usual caddie share of the winnings.

Just how good is Brittany’s younger sister? At age 14, Brooke became the youngest female player ever to win a professional event, when she won a CN Canadian Women’s Tour event. In 2013 she finished T59 in the LPGA’s U.S. Women’s Open and T35 in the Manulife Financial Classic in Waterloo, Ontario. She started her 2014 season as the Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion and was ranked No. 6 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Her goal for the 2014 season was to reach at least No. 3 in the ranking.

By mid-April, she had accomplished that goal as a result of her impressive T26 finish at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first Major, on the LPGA tour.

Brittany was Brooke’s caddie at the Kraft Nabisco.

It is a no brainer that you would want to have your older sister on your bag, especially when you grew up watching her play and wanting to be exactly like her.

After you have spent a few hours watching both young women hit all world golf shots – shot after shot, you find yourself shaking your head in disbelief that anyone can be that good, especially with the distance control of their scoring clubs.

As you watch the two sisters interact with each other, you can’t help but think that their parents, Dave and Darlene Henderson have been real positive influences in their lives. You know that these two young women are more than just sisters and more than just great golfers, they are kindred spirits for life and no matter what life might throw at them they will be there for each other.

After their round of golf, you share a few more stories and life experiences with Brittany and Brooke over a couple of burgers.

Kemptville Sports Hall of Famer, Sam Gaw, and a great friend of Sam’s and the girls, Betty Mulville are also present. Sam tells the girls a few stories about his youth and the time that he and his golf buddies had their photo taken with a young Tiger Woods, only to find out later that there was no film in the camera. You also learn that Brooke has signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Florida when she finishes high school.

When it is time for the ladies to leave, you thank them for an afternoon that you will never forget and for their autographs that now adorn your favourite golf hat and wish them good luck in their upcoming golf seasons. www.ngtimes.ca

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301 Rideau Street, Kemptville

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Regular Store Hours: Mon.- Fri. 8 to 8, Sat. - 8 to 6, Sun. 9 to 6

613.258.3014

Prices effective: Friday, May 23 to Thursday, May 29, 2014 “We reserve the right to limit quantities to reasonable family requirements�

May 21, 2014

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The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

Curbside Giveaway Weekend

May 21, 2014

Are you doing some spring cleaning and have some items in good condition that you’ll never use again? Residents are invited to take advantage of this year’s Curbside Giveaway Weekend on May 31st and June 1st, 2014. This is a great opportunity to find a new home for those reusable unwanted items or to browse the curbs for some great finds.

Tips if you are giving away items: ● Place unwanted household items at the curb. ● Label each item with a FREE sticker or sign. ● Keep any items safely stored away that you don't want to give away. ● Remove leftover items from the curb by dusk on Sunday.

Examples of giveaway items include: ● Books, CDs and DVDs ● Furniture, electronics and small appliances ● Sports equipment and toys ● Yard and gardening tools and equipment (e.g., lawn mowers, snow throwers, rakes, shovels) ● Kitchen gadgets, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans ● Unwanted gifts ● Construction material (e.g., nails, paint, wood) ● Clothing Please do not put out: ● Items that could be unsafe. ● Items infested with bed bugs (e.g., mattresses, furniture, bedding). ● Toilets (with a flush volume of 13 litres or more).

Tips for cruising the curbs in search of treasures: ● Take only the items at the curb marked "FREE.” ● Respect other people's property – don't walk or drive on people's lawns or gardens. ● Don't discard any items on another person’s lawn. ● Obey the traffic laws at all times (e.g., don't block traffic, park illegally or block people's driveways with your vehicle). ● Watch for children.

For information regarding items that aren’t safe to give away (e.g., baby walkers, lawn darts), visit: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/garage-eng.php For more information, including what to do with leftover items visit www.NGRecycles.ca. For other waste diversion programs or more information contact the Public Works Clerk at 613-258-9569 ext 133 or rbrault@northgrenville.on.ca. www.ngtimes.ca 11

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Bishop’s Mills Community Day well attended

The Voice of North Grenville

Local youth share their views through film

In spite of the weather, the members of the Bishop’s Mills community stepped up to make sure the annual event was successful. Pictured above is Melany Cassidy-Wise, Minister of St. Andrew’s United Church. She assisted at the variety table in the hall where a selection of donated goods could be purchased at excellent prices. The day included a luncheon and yard sales throughout the area.

Free Anti-Bullying and Cyber Safety Educational Workshop Learn techniques to keep your children safe – online or offline Monday, May 26 from 7 to 9 pm at Holy Cross Catholic School

The MyView Youth Film Festival has had a very successful second year and will be showcasing creative and insightful videos at this year’s Dandelion Festival in Kemptville on May 24.

Youth ages 12-21 from across Leeds, Grenville and Lanark counties have worked hard to bring important issues to life through film. The use of humour, drama, and creative film techniques will delight audiences who come out to the festival. A panel of judges from different communities have selected the top twelve films in age categories 12-15, 16-18, and 19-21.

Film submissions have come from across the TriCounty, including entries from Smiths Falls, Gananoque, Prescott, Carleton Place, Kemptville, Spencerville, and Oxford Station. The festival gives youth a chance to express themselves and be heard by their community. Communities where youth are engaged are more likely to support resiliency and successful transitions into adulthood.

The nominated films

will be screened during the Dandelion Festival at the North Grenville Public Library on Saturday, May 24 with screenings beginning at 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm.

The public are invited to view the films and vote for their favourite. Audience votes will be counted and combined with judges’ scores to determine the winners. The top films in each age category and the top overall film will be announced live on the main stage at the Dandelion Festival at 6:00 pm Saturday night. Age category prizes include GoPro cameras or an iPad mini, and the grand prize for the top overall film is $1,000.

The MyView planning committee wishes to thank the following sponsors and partners for their generous contributions that have helped make the second annual film

festival a success: Triune Video Productions, The Kemptville Youth Centre, The Leeds Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, The Dandelion Festival, The North Grenville Public Library, Rob Thompson Realty Corp., and TV Cogeco.

To view the nominated films or for more information on the festival, visit the MyView website, www.myviewfilmfest. ca or contact myview@ kemptvilleyc.com .

For Advertising rates please contact Gord at gord@ngtimes.ca or call 613 258 6402

Holy Cross Parent Council is pleased to present an informative free evening with guest speakers Dr. Dina Daniels and OPP Constable Cathy Lindsey who will share information and tips to counter bullying and protect children – whether they are online, at school or at the park.

Dr. Daniels has developed, implemented and evaluated programs for conflict resolution, social skills, peer mediation and anti-bullying both locally and internationally. She helped found the Ottawa Anti-bullying Coalition, facilitated the initial implementation of the WITS program across the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario and is a member of PREVnet, which aims to stop bullying.

OPP Constable Cathy Lindsey has 25 years of policing experience with 14 years working in area schools. She is a valuable community partner and WITS champion, promoting and supporting the use of WITS in area schools.

WITS which is an acronym for Walk away, Ignore, Talk it out, and Seek help is a peer conflict resolution program with the aim to bring together schools, families and communities to create responsive environments that help children deal with bullying and peer victimization.

Childcare will be provided by reservation. Please call Trina at 613-258-0318.

Holy Cross Catholic School is located at 521 Clothier Street.

May 21, 2014

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The Voice of North Grenville

The Canadian Democratic Model Hurleys players go “all in” to voked closure on discussion just like the previous bunch raise money for local charities

by Peter Johnson Harry Neufeld, former chief electoral officer for British Columbia, commented on Bill C-23, The Fair Elections Act. "This certainly doesn’t make it easier to vote. This makes it more difficult to vote and, I think, it will effectively drive down the voting turnout numbers.”

There are several things that we all know about elections: they are very expensive, they are often viewed with suspicion, they are a massive undertaking to manage and they are poorly attended by many Canadians. In fact, if the recent voting trends continue, a majority of eligible voters just won't...vote that is.

One would think that this would be alarming.

You'd expect a government to focus in on this serious problem and take effective steps to turn this trend around. So what did The Harper Government do?

They put Pierre Poilievre in charge of the problem.

Pierre Poilievre has been labelled one of the most partisan member of an already extremely partisan group of conservatives. How did he go about creating Bill C-23? Well, it would appear that he issued a list of people with whom he would consult---former judges, former cabinet ministers, law experts...even Sheila Fraser, the much-respected former Auditor General.

Then? He ignored them all, drew up the Bill. From there it went to the House of Commons. It was roundly criticized by the Opposition, but what the heck do they know? He ignored them, in-

May 21, 2014

of the Bill, rammed through a vote and sent it off to the Senate.

At this point, God himself must have had enough, because the unthinkable happened. Mr. Harper's stacked Senate did not pass the Bill. Pierre must have been apoplectic. It was sent back to the House to be amended. Next, the Prime Minister intervened---almost like God intervening but one step down in the chain of authority perhaps--and Petite Pierre had to swallow his pride and allow a few very minor changes.

Subsequently, Bill C-23 was rammed through The House again, sent off to the rubber stamping Red Chamber and it is now law.

But here's the point that Harry Neufeld was making: if you don't have the proper identification, you won't be allowed to vote. Hydro bill with your name and address...not good enough.

Driver's licence...nope.

Again, Mr. Neufeld, “...rather than eliminating vouching, is replacing it with an alternative that lets a voter sign a declaration swearing to his or her address, then have someone from the polling division — a subsection of a riding — sign to confirm it.”

How long would you stand in line waiting for this process to run its course; with polling station workers who have had one day's training and do this job once every four or five years?

How many voters are just going to not bother?

Add this to the many who already stay away in droves. Perhaps they feel that it doesn't matter who gets elected, they will be

who did a wonderful job of racking up debt and passing legislation giving themselves large raises in pay and incredibly generous pensions.

Now gentle reader, you just might be asking why this matters. Very few will be affected, so why the fuss?

For me, the thing that irritates me, where I sit, is the manner in which all of this business was conducted.

I like a democracy that listens to the voters. I like a government that listens to the people as well as the Opposition. I want my government to be open, rather than secretive. I want a House of Commons where, when my representative stands up and asks a question, someone in the Government gives an answer.

I want the Prime Minister to do more than ignore the Opposition. I certainly don't want any Canadian Prime Minister to attack any and all parliamentarians who criticize him; that is their job. And the biggest wish on my bucket list: I want a government that acts in the best interests of the country, not in the best interests of itself.

Ours is a participatory democracy. You can see good participation...in your rear-view mirror. Every election sees that number decrease. Bill C-23 had a chance to change that trend; instead it seems to have done the opposite.

We have an old, creaky version of the Westminster Democratic Model. Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia have all taken steps to modernize their governments. Our government, being extremely 'conservative' (as well as Conservative), has chosen to do something else. But will they get the message if even more voters stay away?

Perhaps the ones who abstain are not Conservative voters. A-ha!

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Some of Hurleys Grill Texas Hold'em Poker finalists at their year end tournament submitted by Mary-Anne Leang E v e r y We d n e s d a y night, 27 players, ages 18-70, have been gathering at Hurleys Grill in Kemptville to test their skill (or luck?) playing Texas Hold’em Poker.

Now in its 7th season, they have raised over $2,000 for local charities. There is no entry fee or cost to play, and the money raised was by voluntary weekly donations by the players.

Points are awarded weekly, depending how players place, and the total points are used to determine standings going into the final night’s tournament where players compete for prizes donated by Hurleys.

The money raised is donated in December and May of each year to local charities. Last December, funds were used to buy over forty Christmas presents for less fortunate kids in our community. This season, money raised will be used to sponsor a local child to attend summer camp at Big Sky Ranch and also for the Jumpstart program.

Big Sky Ranch is a lo-

cal animal sanctuary near Kemptville for abused and unwanted animals.

This year, they are offering summer day camps for kids ages 6-13 in four weekly sessions from July 7 to August 1. In their summer camp program, children learn how to care for and keep the animals and also enjoy old fashioned fun on the farm, including lassoing lessons, horse back riding, hay rides, horse shoe toss, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts and more. More information is available at www. bigskyranch.ca.

The Jumpstart program helps children attend sports or activities that they may not otherwise be able to afford. Since May is Jumpstart month, the first $2,000 raised locally is double matched then matched $ for $ by Canadian Tire. Last year, our local Jumpstart program financed 57 kids to attend sports, camps and activities. Over 70 programs are covered for youth from North Grenville. There will also be a fundrais-

ing BBQ in front of the Kemptville Canadian Tire on May 31 at 10:30 am to 4:30 pm where they will also continue to accept donations. For more information, contact Claire Larabie at askmeone@ sympatico.ca .

The next season of Hurleys Texas Hold’em Poker runs from September 3 until December on Wednesdays at 7 pm at Hurleys Grill in Kemptville. All are welcome, no experience necessary - come share in luck and laughter while helping to raise money to help provide memories that last a lifetime for local kids.

For Advertising rates please contact Peter at peter@ngtimes.ca

or call 613-989-2850

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Dandelion Roots

by John Barclay, BIA Coordinator Volunteerism and civic pride are two traits that are firmly rooted in this community and both will be proudly on display in Old Town Kemptville this weekend at the 14th Annual Dandelion Festival.

Like the dandelion itself, the Festival grows willy-nilly each year; it’s tenacious and refuses to die. If I can be permitted to stretch the metaphor, its wild beauty and medicinal powers are under-valued, too. As the days count down, I can tell you, the many volunteers involved in this year’s Festival are experiencing organized chaos, as well as revelling in the thrill of pulling off something huge for the community.

May 21, 2014

For months leading up to the Festival, the message has been “The Dandelion Festival is Back on the Street” and it is - Prescott and Clothier Streets, to be precise. Both will be closed to traffic for much of Saturday and Sunday during the day.

This news was welcomed by most of the merchants of Old Town and those who’ve been expressing the desire to see a “street party” atmosphere return to the event.

The activities listed in the official Festival Program circulating around North Grenville are only some of the things to experience downtown May 24 and 25.

Even the insert being hastily printed fails to cover everything. You’ll just have

bers in a number of groups that are developing strategies to expand business and cultural activities downtown and advocates on behalf of it's merchants and residents.

Please join other Friends of Downtown online by liking our Facebook page www.facebook.com/OldTownKemptville), following us on Twitter (@OldTownKemptvil) or bookmarking our website (www.

OldTownKemptville.com).

to come by on Saturday and Sunday to see for yourself.

When you do come, expect to find parking at Kemptville College, off Concession Road at South Branch Elementary School (follow the signs for a short to walk to the Festival), at Kemptville Public School, behind the former High School off Reuben Street and the usual Riverside Park parking lot. Seniors and disabled parking will be beside the North Grenville Library on Water Street. Please be considerate and don’t block residents’ driveways.

The official Festival theme this year is “Discover Our Roots” - an invitation to Eastern Ontario (from Ottawa to Prescott, Brockville to Cornwall) to come to Kemptville and discover a little bit about our community.

Besides local food, crafts and talent, the Dandelion Festival also displays the level of engagement and pride we have in this community and the degree to which we support our local economy - admirable traits that are deeply rooted in North Grenville.

After a difficult year of construction, road and bridge closures, the Festival will provide a well needed “shot in the arm” for businessdowntown and on behalf of the Old Town Kemptville Business Improvement Association, I’d like to express our appreciation to the volunteers of the Organizing Committee of the 2014 Dandelion Festival for working with the Municipality and the County to bring the festival, literally, to the doorsteps of merchants in Old Town Kemptville. Thank you!

The Old Town Kemptville Business Improvement Area does more than just organize and promote events happening downtown. The BIA also represents its merchant mem-

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

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First 15 words are FREE for North Grenville Residents.

Extra Words: 50 cents a word

SERVICES

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Braided mat lessons, 2nd & 3rd Sunday, each BowenKemptville.ca month at “Beginning Again School” . 613 269 4238 Weaving lessons, April 27 269 4238

One Tear Studio, Paintings/ Soapstone Sculptures/Butterfly Hearts. Visit by appointment or chance www.HannaMacNaughtan.ca (613) 258-7297

condo fees and 1 parking spot included. Heat & hydro extra.

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For more information call Mike (613) 325-0754 or (613)3662007.

FOR SALE Window air conditioner h12” wd16” dp15”, 6000 BTU, remote; used 3 mths, cost $189, sell $95. Call 613-215-0816.

Dining table, 6-1/2 ft long w/ leaf, $300; photocopier, $60; Nutritional Counselling to I Can Sew It: Rhonda Cybul- privacy screen, $40; sofa table customize a wellness plan skie-613-258-5248 Rhonda@ $300. Call 613-240-5622. for all your health concerns. ICanSewIt.ca Full size Connelly Pool table w h o l e su m a p p r o ac h.co m Al’s Cleanup Services Dump runs, with accessories. Excellent 613-258-7133 Grass, Landscaping Al Scott R R condition, $1800; buyer must Q u a l i f i e d E n g l i s h t u t o r #1 Oxford Station(613) 258-3847 move. Call 613-258-7049. reading,writing, grammar, etc.. I make it fun 613 269 2367 House Cleaning - Kemptville area. Firewood, cut, split and delivFor quote call 613-294-0385 or ered $100/cord. Call Peter at Are you looking for Avon dhlacombe@gmail.com 258-5504 Products. Call Joan at 258Property Clean up, yards, ga- Photocopier & Stand $60, 7644. rages, basements, loads to NEW in-box Brother MFC-J80W Osgoode Mini Storage avail- dump,anything removed. 613- Multifunction Inkjet $125, NEW Nikon Coolpix L22 Camera $50 able. Short and long term 258-7955 – Call 613 240-5622. units available in various sizes. Clean and secure, com- Sienna Fine Arts Art Classes and w parative rates. Call 613-826- Supplies www.siennafinearts.

WANTED com 613-878-9706 2511 Yoga for everyone. Wednesdays 5:30 - 6:30 and Thursdays 12:00 - 1:00 at Your Independent Grocer. Call Maureen 258-9902.

House Cleaning-Every working Mother and Father needs a House Wife. Sandi 613-2197277

Commercial/Residential cleaning- Kemptville area. For quote email Mrandmrsclean613@gmail. com or call 613-867-2184

1 Month f ree rent!

Brand new 2 & 3 bedroom terrace home condos. With stainRock My House Music Centre less steel appliances, washer & dryer, ceramic tile, ceramic offers lessons in Piano, Violin, backsplash, and much more in Guitar, Drums, Bass and Vocals. desirable neighbourhood across 613 258 5656 from the hospital. $ 1250 To $1400 a month. Water, Kemptville - Shop AVON at home Helen’s Sewing Room All kinds of sewing 613 258 5584

May 21, 2014

M ay 21

Probus Club M eeting, St. Paul's Presbyterian Church Hall. Guest speaker Teppo Tauriainen, Ambasssador of Sweden, will commence speaking at 9:30 am. No refreshments until after he finishes his talk.

M ay 22 Youngsters of Yore, Kemptville Public Library, 1:30 pm. Guest speaker: Cathi Raina and friends---“The play’s the thing”.

M ay 22 The French Connexion: le quatrième jeudi du mois, le groupe communautaire francophone se rencontre pour partager un repas d'amitié. Nous vous invitons à nous joindre le 22 mai à 18h30 au Comfort by AJ's. Merci bien de confirmer votre présence à l'adresse courriel : thefrenchconnexion@yahoo.ca.

M ay 23-25 The 14 th annual Dandelion Festival, taking place on Prescott & Clothier Streets. This year’s festival celebrates the sights, sounds, and flavours of Kemptville and the surrounding communities.

M ay 25 Annual Dandelion Festival Seniors Tea hosted by St. James Anglican Church from 2 - 4 pm in Leslie Hall, 19 Clothier Street W est. Tea and sweets will be served. Admission is free. Come out and say hello to friends old and new.

Seniors requiring transport, please call Peter at 613.258.5998.

M ay 25 Anniversary Service, St. Andrew's United Church, Bishop's Mills, 10:30 am. Minister Rev. Melany Cassidy-W ise. Guest Speaker- Rev. Edward Colwel.

Guest Musician- Joyce Lindsay. Potluck lunch to follow in the Church Hall.

June 1 Kemptville Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast, B&H parking lot, 11:30 - 2 pm.

Visit Farmers Market venue after you have had your full June 7 34th annual M asons fish fry, North Grenville Municipal Centre, 5-10 pm.

All you can eat ocean perch, fries, salads, secret sauce , bar, live entertainment.

Tickets are $15, children under 12 - $8 and may be purchased at Kemptville Home Hardware, T’s Country Pawn Shop, Jim Perry Motor Sales, Pirate Cove Marina, or from the members of Mount Zion Lodge.

June 7 Car wash 9 am, Bake/plant sale 10:30 am, Salad & cold meat buffet 11 1 pm, St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Prescott St., Kemptville.

Weekly and recurring events W ed

Retired senior needs old car batteries - making canon balls (weights used for deep sea fishing) 613-258-6254

Faced with a drinking Hay field 20 Acres, needs problem? Perhaps Alcohol- haying. Kemptville Area, ics Anonymous can help. Call Sean: 613 215 0315 Contact 613-316-6329 or online: District 48 aa

Grade 9-11 MATH TUTORING: FOR RENT Local math teacher, 4 years experience. Old Town Kemptville, $30/hr 613-863-5639 215 Barnes St., 2 bdrm house/ garage, beautiful backyard.

Stonehouse Studio Sewing Avail. June 1, w/appliances, - new in Kemptville! Altera- ideal 1 bdrm/office. Call 613tions or new; formal or ca- 794-1031. sual. Sharon 224-3182 Available July 1st. two bedHANDYMAN, no job too big or room apt. in Kemptville. too small. I can do it all.Free 800.00 + utilities. 613-258estimates and references 4741 available. Paul 613-791-8597 2 Bedroom’s, $500.00 each/ DRUM LESSONS - Professional monthly, w/shared Kitchenette, drummer/teacher accepting Living Room, Bathroom, furstudents. All levels welcome! nished w/Internet.”. Call 613Bryan Valeriani 613 298 5913 258-7703 or e-mail 2_tim215@ cogeco.ca www.drumhead.ca

The Voice of North Grenville

Thurs

Tues

YARD SALE Yar d s ale May 31s t at Nor th Grenville Communit y Church 8-2

Fri

Garage sale, Saturday May 24 from 8 am -1 pm, 2234 Abbott Road, Kemptville

Sat

Communit y Yard Sale, Sat. May 24, 8am to 4pm County R d . 18 , b e t w e e n 918 a n d 1115, between Oxford Mills & Bishop’s Mills Mels Farm All Animal Rescue needs Foster Homes 258-7488 (Melanie) Foster co-ordinator for North Grenville/ Merrickville areas.

The North Grenville Photography Club - Meeting first W ednesday of every month at the Auditorium at the Municipal Centre on Hwy 44. For more info see ngphotoclub.ca.

Bingo- First and third W ednesday of the month, Kemptville Legion. Games start at 1 pm. All welcome. Refreshments available.

Klub 67 Euchre every 2 nd & 4 th W ednesday of the month starting at 1:15 pm, St. John's United Church downstairs. Everyone welcome - $5. Vivian Howe 613-258-2540.

The Branch Artisans Guild, North Grenville Community Church,, 2659 Concession Street every 3 rd Tuesday, 7 pm. New members welcomed!

Probus Club of North Grenville meet third Wednesday of every month, St. Paul's Presbyterian Church---9:30 am gathering Time, 10 am meeting. Come and enjoy great speakers and fellowship. New members welcome.

Bridge - St. John’s United Church, 6:45 pm. Cost $5, partner preferred but not necessary. For more info, contact Sandra at 613-258-2691.

North Grenville Toastmasters - Meeting 1 st & 3 rd Thurs. of the month, 7 pm at O’Farrell’s Financial Services, Cty Rd 44. Info, call 258-7665.

BNI Netw orking Group Breakfast- Alumni Building, University of Guelph, 7-8:30am. Call 613-258-0553 for more information.

Bridge- St. John’s United Church, 12:15 pm. Cost $3, partner preferred but not necessary. Info, contact Sandra at 613-258-2691.

M others of Preschoolers Support Group-St.John’s United Church, 6:30-8 pm.

W hether you’re a townie, rural, stay-at-home, working, teen, adoptive, specialneeds, single or married, MOPS is for you! For more information, call Angie Brown at 613-223-3979.

Kemptville Cruise Night, Hwy 43 Car Club, May 2 to Sept. 26 at Food Basics – 6 - 9 pm. Rod Rafter, 613-258-7567 or www.Hwy43CarClub.com for more information.

Kemptville Legion Breakfast the third Saturday of the month. Adults $5.00, Children under 12 $3.00. All welcome

CLASSIFIEDS: First 15 words free if submitted by email.

Extra word 50 cents, photo $10, border $2, shading $5.

Submit to classifieds@ngtimes.ca.

Email must include name, address and phone #.

Must be related to North Grenville and be paid in advance by paypal!

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AUCTION

Harold and Bernie Patterson have downsized and will sell

by Auction SATURDAY MAY 31 @ 10am 15 Water St. Oxford Mills Household, Husgvarna riding lawn mower with 200 hrs on machine, 6500 Champion Generator (as new), quanity of Power tools, handy man tools, log splitter, garden tools, camping wood bundles, many misc. Items Auctioneer : Ken Finnerty 613-258-5311 613-614-7000 See kenfinnertyauctions.ca for complete listing and pictures Terms: cash, Cheque with photo ID No debit/or credit card due to no phone line. www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

GRAMMAR MINUTE REDUX

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1. Recorded 6. Chickadees 10. Handout 14. Relative of a giraffe 15. By mouth 16. Computer symbol 17. Dossiers 18. Ripped 19. An upright in a wall 20. Made without yeast 22. Hats 23. Vigor 24. Wild Asian dog 26. First-rate 30. Coil of yarn 32. Scatter 33. Short amusing operas 37. Air force heroes 38. Complies

39. Therefore 40. The study of rhythm 42. Contemptuous look 43. Parental sisters 44. Most recent 45. Desert plants 47. Unhappy 48. Unadulterated 49. Copious 56. Chocolate cookie 57. Not under 58. Ringworm cassia 59. Brother of Jacob 60. Telephoned 61. Whole 62. Untidyness 63. If not 64. Muzzle

DOWN 1. Curdled soybean milk 2. Analogous 3. Gloomy atmosphere 4. Type of sword 5. Deny 6. Clan emblem 7. Weightlifters pump this 8. Container weight 9. Tobogganists 10. Disgruntlement 11. In base 8 12. Jeweler's glass 13. Terminates 21. Very Important Person 25. Hasten 26. Russian emperor 27. Skin irritation 28. Quarry 29. Possessing a hard shell 30. Eyeglasses 31. Lock openers 33. Death notice 34. Tall woody plant 35. How old we are 36. Classify 38. Meat and vegetable eater 41. Shack 42. They love to inflict pain 44. Flee 45. Expletive 46. Districts 47. A sudden forceful flow 48. Verse 50. Egg-shaped 51. Focusing glass 52. A noble gas 53. Savvy about 54. Two-toed sloth 55. Sodium chloride

by Pat Babin

Gobbledygook and Dear John I thought university administrators were notorious in the art of saying nothing in only 45 words. Apparently not. In this week’s Citizen, Roger Collier, an Ottawa writer, spoke about the “gobbledygook flowing naturally” in the public service.

“Several years back,” according to Mr.Collier, “when I worked for the federal government, the thing I noticed most about documents was the redundancy. Words were repeated many times within sentences. Sentences repeated content from previous paragraphs. So much redundancy. So. Much. Redundancy.”

Get to the point! Cut out the clutter! Yes, we do repeat at times for the sake of emphasis, which is acceptable. I guess we are guilty, at one time or another, of sentence inefficiency.

With the advent of email, we are gradually creating our own language—mostly abbreviations. Detrimental to correct spelling!

Letter Writing When was the last time you sat down and wrote a letter to someone?

A good old-fashioned handwritten letter using pen and paper?

Sent in a stamped envelope? Probably not in quite a while.

“Letters take time; I’m too busy.”

“Letter writing is ancient history.”

“That’s not the way we do it anymore.”

“Let the computer do it.”

“I sometimes enclose a message with my Christmas cards.”

“We have become so addicted to instant communication that the very idea of writing someone a letter seems as ancient as 8-track tapes.” (Bruno Somerset) Email is the way to go! Instant gratification! A plethora of abbreviations and fonts which provide instantaneous transmission. Yes, that’s the way to go!

Are you pleased when you receive a handwritten letter?

What!!! You have not received one in five years! If you did receive one, were you irritated that you had to open the envelope and spend valuable time reading the message?

Letters can be kept for future generations. We know much more about famous politicians and other personalities as a result of the letters and journals they kept.

Of the letters I have always cherished is one sent to me by Leonie, my secretary in Madawaska, Maine. A week after I received that beautiful correspondence, Leonie passed away.

Is it possible that we are going to leave next to no written records of ourselves?

What a pity for those who follow.

How can we rediscover the lost art of letter writing? Is it solely by writing letters to the editor?

SUDOKU Easy

The Voice of North Grenville

Medium

Kemptville Youth Centre accepting book donations submitted by Robin Heald

Hard

As we itch to spring clean and move out all of those books we have taking up a bit too much space, bring them to The Kemptville Youth Centre. We will be taking book donations from now until September 4 at our youth centre, 5 Oxford Street West. The annual book fair will be supporting the Kemptville Youth Centre Programs.

For you bookworms that love the feel and smell of real books...

SAVE the DATE… September 5, 6 and 7, 2014 In support of the Kemptville Youth Centre At Ferguson Forestry Centre Every dollar raised will stay local, supporting youth programming in our community.

And for you book lovers who like to support a great cause, come out to join our Book Fair Committee. Call Robin at 258-5212.

Solution to last week’s Crossword

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

May 21, 2014

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Dandelion Festival Turns the Spotlight on Local Talent

By Erika Cuccaro Did you know that there is a healthy helping of homegrown talent on the 14th annual Dandelion Festival event schedule? It’s true – visitors will find lots of local performers and products at this year’s festival. From music to art, from history to healthcare, you might be surprised at the wealth of talent that North Grenville has to offer.

The Kemptville music scene has been building over the years – and we’re reaping the benefits. Bring your lawn chair out to enjoy the fresh alternative rock of Illusion, four NG teens who will play music from their popular EP “Enthused” on the Grenville Mutual stage on Saturday, May 24 at 5:00pm. Later that evening, transplanted local songstress Laura Beach takes the stage with her Twin Voices project. Laura has been gaining momentum as she tours across Canada and NG is thrilled to welcome her home. If you miss Laura on Saturday night, you can catch her second performance on Sunday afternoon! Kemptville’s favourite accidental farmwife, Diana Fisher of StarFM takes the Grenville Mutual stage as MC on Sunday, so stop by to see her introduce acts like local chef and owner of The Branch, Bruce Enloe as he serves up his inimitable blend of country-fried alt-rock.

For history buffs, David Shanahan will lead a historical walk through Kemptville, pointing out important local landmarks that laid the foundation for the town we know today. This journey

May 21, 2014

through time begins on Sunday, May 25 at 1:05 pm at the Hulse, Playfair & McGarry stage, which will be beside the library. Throughout the weekend, our very own 1st Grenville Militia will be performing musket volleys to get your heart pumping, and visitors are welcome to visit the Militia encampment, which will be stationed by the South Branch by Salamanders Restaurant.

To find out the various medicinal uses for dandelions and other so-called weeds, stop by the Hulse, Playfair & McGarry stage for “Front Yard Pharmacy”, presented at 1:45, Sunday by Dr. Shawn Yakimovich of Kemptville Naturopathic.

Throughout the weekend, local artists, craftspeople, and food vendors will take to the street to offer up a distinctly local menu of shopping and dining options – and of course Kemptville’s Old Town shops and cafés willbe open to tempt the palates of festival-goers. With over 30 vendors booked, visitors will have lots of opportunities to quench their “shop local” thirst.

So come on out to the 14th Annual Dandelion Festival from May 23 – 25 on Prescott Street and Clothier Street…and prepare to be amazed at our homegrown talent.

Bruce Enloe

Illusion

Rowland Leather.ca

Louise Arsenault

613-258-0222

TwinVoices

The Dandelion Festival is grateful for the support of the community, area businesses, and funders. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage. Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada par l’entremise du ministère du Patrimoine canadien. This project is funded in part by the Grenville Community Futures Development Corporation. Thank you to the Municipality of North Grenville.

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Children’s Toys & Books Helium Balloons & Party Supplies Mom & Baby Birthday Gifts Medela Breast Pump Supplies & Rentals Louiseandcompany.com

Creekside Centre 2878 County Road 43 Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0

info@louiseandcompany.com

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The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

A Better Experience. Right Where You Live.

*Rob Thompson wordmark and Tagline should always appear on a block of Rob Thompson Yellow

May 21, 2014

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