Issue 28 2023 July 20 NG Times

Ukrainian Embassy representatives visit Council

Backup Generators

by Brandon Mayer

Representatives from the Ukrainian Embassy visited North Grenville’s Council at the North Grenville Municipal Centre on July 12, participating first in a small gathering, and then presenting a proposed twinning agreement for Council’s consideration.

“Even after 500 days of the Russian war in Ukraine, you still have enthusiasm and energy to support Ukraine and show your support,” said Roman Stashevskyy, First Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada. “On behalf of all Ukrainians in this room, I

thank you.”

The representatives spoke at length at the regularly scheduled Council meeting, relaying information about other twinning agreements and proposing that North Grenville twin with a city called Sokal in western Ukraine. The question was called and the motion for the twinning was passed with the Ukrainian representatives still sitting, eliciting much applause from those in the room. Housing debate drama ensues later in Council meeting

The Council meeting proceeded as regularly scheduled following the presentation. Much business was covered during the

meeting which lasted well over four hours, including an update regarding the Eastern Ontario Correctional Complex (EOCC), and lengthy discussions regarding zoning by-law amendments related to the Jack/Joseph Subdivision, and the proposed Pine Hill Road development.

The presentation regarding the EOCC was given by anti-prison advocates Victor Lachance and Kirk Albert. They explained their worry that six historically significant buildings will be destroyed if the Province proceeds with jail construction during the judicial review process. This led to a request for Council to pursue an injunction to preserve the

buildings in the meantime.

A further request was made for Council to match the $20,000 in funds raised by members of the public to support the judicial review process. Council has heard these requests but has not yet deliberated them, pending further information and consultation with staff.

Mayor Nancy Peckford was able to confirm that she has not yet heard back regarding the Province covering policing costs related to the prison. She also confirmed that a strong desire has been communicated by the Municipality to the Province for the purchase

Lost and found and lost

(except perhaps the shoes) are unlikely to be labelled with the child’s name, but I still find it humorous that no one questions the sudden disappearance of their child’s favourite shirt, or stops to ask why their child only has a bathing suit left to wear after just two weeks of camp. Heads aren’t coming loose yet, but trousers sure are!

See the photo for an actual example of the unclaimed clothes and towels after only a week of running our camp! These are only the items we got around to displaying so far, and there are more items in the bin below!

by Brandon Mayer

Some old sayings never really get old. The idea that kids “would lose their head if it wasn’t screwed on tight” has definitely withstood the test of time.

Running a summer camp this year, as I have done every year for the past 7 years, I must say that one thing I could set my watch by is the timely losing of items, particularly by children whose parents most emphatically urge, “keep track of your things!”

Hats come to camp to be taken off outside, despite the bearing down of the hot noon sun, and thrown on the ground – because that is the most logical place for them!

Water bottles are a forgotten annoyance that become sought out like gold when thirst takes its toll. Those we might find on shelves, under desks, and of course… on the ground.

Towels! Oh so many towels! Large, sturdy, colourful bath towels! They are among the items that are usually not labelled with a name, and even if water play only took place 10 minutes ago, no one remembers if either of those two stray towels are theirs. Did I come today with a blue striped towel? Or red polka dots? Who knows!

The most surprising misplaced items of all? Clothes! Pants, shorts, socks, underwear, shirts, even shoes! It’s true that all of these items

“Lost and found” is a solid, honest term. The item was lost, and it was indeed found. But if the item is never claimed by its rightful owner, is it not still lost? Perhaps it’s better to rename the “lost and found” to be the far more pessimistic yet honest “lost and found and lost”.

Educators try. We hang items in well-travelled hallways to be seen by kids and parents. We send emails containing photos of lost items. We even hold onto items for weeks or occasionally months before donating them, in case a sudden memory of a lost beloved item surfaces. But year after year, typically at least two full size clear plastic bags get donated, each containing what must be 20-30 pounds of items lost in just 8 weeks. I suppose, in hindsight, it is a good thing for those in need.

Mt. Zion Lodge thanks founding father, Keith Beveridge

While totally true, these musings are intended solely as humour and not as criticism of parents or their children. I know what it is like to have kids who lose things. All kids lose things, just as adults do. One final observation: the one thing that never goes unclaimed in the lost and found? TOYS!

The members of Mt. Zion Lodge would like to express their sincere gratitude to Jim and Judy Beveridge for their contribution to this year's Masonic Fish Fry. Not only were we able to help B&H celebrate their 60th anniversary of operation, but it gave both of us an opportunity to honour one of the founding owners of the store, Keith Beveridge. Keith was a member of Mt. Zion, and he worked tirelessly in supporting all the projects we were involved in. We were humbled by his presence and we cherish his memory in our hearts.

Handcuffs deployed successfully

by Brandon Mayer

Big box retail shopping in this country has nearly come full circle. Remember the days of great customer service at big box chain stores? Neither do I… but at least it used to be possible to check out in a timely manner and talk to an actual human.

Store owners have gradually made cuts to save costs. First, it was cuts to the level of service provided –bagging your own items at some stores, for example. Next, cuts were made to the number of cashiers working. This meant waiting in longer lineups, but the benefit of interacting with and being served by an actual human was still there.

A relatively recent next step was the introduction of self-checkout lanes. These were a significant hit to customer service. As I have mentioned in the Times before, there is one particular Kemptville Mall store that I won’t shop in anymore because self-checkout is the only option. The selfcheckout machine weighs every item in an attempt to prevent stealing. However,

if something falls off the mammoth pile of items that the customer is forced to stack in a one-square-foot space, the computer will not allow you to place it back in the pile without a code being entered by a store employee, or without scanning it again and paying for it twice (no thanks!). It’s complicated for me – I can’t imagine how older people and those who are challenged by technology feel.

The other perhaps unintended issue in that particular store is that the selfcheckouts talk – loudly – and in an effort to escape the annoying repetitive robot voice which can be heard throughout the store, customers are surely desperate to pick up only the essentials and get the heck out of the store. I trust there is no “browsing” and impulse buying happening in the aisles which must impart a hit to the store’s bottom line. Not to mention the fact that because items must be weighed in a small space at self-checkout, there is actually a limit to how much can be purchased without inconveniencing oneself. In hindsight, the analogy “shooting yourself in the

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Science informed us factually of changing climate; it provided constructive recommendations for vaccines, and it continues to provide reliable, rational data to citizens as it has for many generations.

These scientific findings and recommendations often have been challenged for clarity, understanding and compelling advocacy. On the other hand, some challenges to science have been for argumentative reasons. Today, alternate facts smother scientific research, such that acceptance of scientific findings is now debatable.

As the majority of us have recently come to realize the correctness of changing climate warn-

foot” doesn’t even do this particular store justice. The lack of common sense is so obvious, it’s painful.

Full circle. What does it mean to come “full circle”?

It’s when a situation goes through changes that eventually lead back to where everything started. Normally, I wouldn’t bring up this topic again having already written about it in the past, but the self-checkout fiasco is ever evolving and gets more interesting by the day. An article published by the CBC on July 10 reveals that self-checkouts are causing huge increases in theft for retailers. If only there was a way to have a cashier provide a level of appreciated customer service AND surreptitiously check to ensure that all items in a customer’s shopping cart have been scanned. It almost sounds like… a traditional checkout lane! We may not have come full circle yet, but I have a feeling it’s coming.

The CBC article also mentions that retailers are cracking down on receipt checks as a way to combat the increasing theft. There are two reasons why this is ridiculous. One is that

it requires extra employees. Where could we use those? Perhaps… working checkout lanes instead? The other reason is that there is virtually no favourable outcome for the store. Either the customer refuses to submit to the receipt check, or the customer complies but is so embarrassed and frustrated that they never return to shop again, preferring instead to support stores that respect and trust their customers.

It surprises me how many people don’t realize that they don’t need to submit to a receipt check in a retail store. Why not? I’ll answer with a question. Would you let a store employee unlock your cellphone to verify that it’s actually yours and not a stolen display model? Would you let a store employee inspect your wedding ring for an engraving to make sure it’s not from the store’s jewelry department? What about your sunglasses? Your purse or wallet? Would you let someone check the clothes you’re wearing for tags? No – because it’s YOUR stuff, right? A lot of people forget that once you pay for something, it’s yours. Which means that all that stuff in

your shopping bag belongs to you as well, and no store employee has the right to search your possessions without a warrant or consent.

I haven’t been asked to present a receipt in quite a long time, but I am firm in my decision that the next time it happens, I am going to simply keep walking and wish the store employee a nice day. If stores are paranoid about theft, they should ditch the self-checkouts. It already takes me longer to shop fumbling with those awful machines – I don’t have time to stop and be searched like a criminal, too. One quip I read online recently was “I never signed up for the cashier’s job so if I did it badly… oh well!”

There are so many stores – good, local stores – that don’t use self-checkout and still provide great customer service. Yes, big box retailers that treat us like criminals will always be less expensive, and for some families, there is no choice but to shop where the prices are low. This is understandable, and no judgement here. Those who can afford to spend their dollars at smaller, locally owned stores should do so

to take a stand against the decline of customer service (and get a great shopping experience!).

This situation is either going to come full circle, with a return to real customer service when retailers realize it is cheaper in the long run, or more technology is going to be deployed to make customers’ lives even more miserable in the name of loss prevention. Perhaps soon, it won’t be “thank you for using selfcheckout” that we hear in a robotic tone reverberating around the store, but rather “handcuffs successfully deployed” as the self-checkout detains a suspected shoplifter. Heck, maybe they could even be loaded with tasers and pepper spray. Anything to make big bucks for big corporations, all while utterly humiliating customers and violating their rights. Enough is enough. Shop small, shop local.

ings and of vaccination effectiveness, what will assist us to realize and accept any truths provided to us in the future? Is there a role for the North Grenville Times in discerning imperative truths from alternative facts? What could evolve in Kemptville as a constructive process for filtering out the negative alternate facts while retaining sufficient essential truths ? Do we have suggestions as to how we can discern the difference sooner?

Most of us understand the difference, after the fact.

1) This letter does not imply a search for the truths, as they are given.

2) We can respect alternative viewpoints; however, rehashing the past or attempting to de-

termine what was the truth, is not the intent of this letter.

3) Urgently, this implores us to search for better ways to filter all reporting, so that alternative facts support the truth, not obfuscate it!

4) Can it be implemented?

What would be an improvement to remove the divide amongst North Grenville residents? Sincerely, Graeme Waymark

of any surplus lands in the area of the proposed EOCC. Acting CAO Karen Dunlop confirmed that there is not yet a written agreement in place for the Province to pick up the tab for its portion of the required water and sewer upgrades to support the project.

The bulk of the remainder of the meeting was dedicated to discussion of the zoning amendments required for new developments. A comment from a member of the public criticized the plan to allow an exception to the recommended proportion of affordable housing for the development. A healthy exchange of ideas (and disagreements) took place between the resident and Mayor Peckford.

Much later in the meeting, resident Jesse Stewart expressed an urgent desire to speak and was invited to do so. He opened with a comment, “Sorry, I started getting the feeling that a vote was about to take place, and I thought the public was going to have a chance to say something before that took place.” Jesse was clearly frustrated with and critical of Council during his presentation. “We want to see honest debate!” he said. “Tonight, we will be able to do so

before you take a vote… Questions must be answered before any decisions can be made. To do otherwise… would be an absolute desertion of representation [of your] constituents… are you planning on green lighting everything?” The resident strongly suggested that developments in North Grenville are being pushed through consistently in favour of developers.

“If you’re searching for reasons why I’m supporting this, I’ll keep it very simple,” answered Deputy Mayor John Barclay. “There is an old adage – ‘they’re not making land anymore’ – and even though we’ve got a very large municipality, preserving farmland, agricultural land is an imperative, so we’re looking to intensify residential development within settlement areas.” The Deputy Mayor expressed the various other reasons for his position in detail.

Councillors O’Sullivan and Strackerjan discussed the reasons for their positions as well. Jesse repeatedly interrupted Council members from the audience after his time to speak was over, eliciting a request from the Mayor for him to stop.

The vote for the zoning

BRAIN DROPPINGS A rock & roll song

by Peter Johnson

A few week's back I wrote, “Canada's 156th birthday just took place. I wonder how it went/ will go.” Well now, thanks to my special gift of 2020 'Hind-Sightedness', I know.

Greetings North Gremlins and welcome to the second half of the month of July. It has been a hot one, has it not? With so much heat and the lack of rain, it has been a trial for many – not just the agriculturally-inclined. And as I sit writing this, it is raining... will continue to throughout the day, and if our friend Connor Mockett can be believed, this afternoon it might look like Oklahoma here – Oklahoma being in tornado alley. (turns out he was right, as one touched down in Barrhaven, damaging 125 homes). But back to July 1.

There was music 'everywhere': The Kemptville Folk Club set up with The Street Piano, at the Library. Across the water, at Salamanders, on the patio, Bradley Smith – a fellow Folk Clubber – was performing his magic on keyboards. We thought

by-law changes resulted in a tie, with Deputy Mayor Barclay and Councillor O’Sullivan supporting it, and Councillors Strackerjan and Wilson voting for a defeat of the motion. As a result of the tie, Mayor Peckford was required to vote to break the tie, and voted to defeat the motion. A spokesperson for the Municipality confirmed that a concurrent Plan of Subdivision and Plan of Condominium application was not considered at the meeting. The United Counties makes decisions regarding these plans, but the Municipality has not provided a recommendation. The developer is likely to appeal the defeat of the zoning by-law amendment.

In a bit of mild drama in the late hours of a long evening, several of the residents who had shown up for the meeting were firmly asked by the Mayor to leave quietly, as they were holding a personal conversation while exiting that was disruptive to the already complicated meeting.

The final item of major business was the passing of a rezoning application for the proposed Pine Hill Road development project.

MUNICIPAL OFFICE HOURS

The Municipal office is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Visit our events calendar to find out what’s happening in the community: www.northgrenville.ca/events

Sign-up to receive Mayor Peckford’s e-newsletter at: northgrenville.ca/connect.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

COUNCIL MEETINGS

Please see the Council agenda for further details on how to participate in Council meetings. All Council meetings will be live streamed on YouTube at: youtube.com/user/NorthGrenville/ featured and on the Municipality’s website at: www.northgrenville.ca/meetings.

To make a deputation in relation to an item on the agenda, please provide your comments no later than two hours prior to the start of the meeting to clerk@northgrenville.on.ca Council agendas are available at: www.northgrenville.ca/meetings.

• Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. (Open Session) – Council Chambers

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Committees may be meeting in-person or virtually. Please see the Committee agenda for details on how to attend. Agendas can be found on the Municipal website at www.northgrenville.ca/meetings

• Indigenous Advisory Circle – Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.

VOLUNTEER AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Equipment Operator

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking to fill the position of Equipment Operator in the Public Works Department. Interested applicants may submit a cover letter and resume outlining qualification in confidence to Human Resources by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 4th, 2023.

Advisory Committees

Join the conversation regarding the community! The Municipality continues to accept applications for members to various advisory committees. Visit northgrenville.ca/committees for more information on how to apply. For questions, please contact the Clerk by email at clerk@ northgrenville.on.ca or by telephone at 613-258-9569 ext 171

NORTH GRENVILLE IN BLOOM

Garden of the Week Nominations

that he sounded great. Not to be outdone, we cranked up our speakers so that we could share our music with the patio people too. And, of course, on the main stage in Riverside Park, Jamming Around Man Productions was set up for a first class presentation of local performers. The live music there went from noon until the fireworks lit up the night sky, many hours later. So, congratulations once again, to the KDCA organizers. Our community is enriched by your efforts.

Now, for a few free, fiercely formidable-yetfervent (alliteration alert!) thoughts about North Grenville's music scene. I have been involved in music in this community for some time now...not as far back as the United Empire Loyalists, who built my disastrouslydreary-dingy-dusty dirt road (alliteration alert #2). Music is a part of the fabric of our society. I and my fellow musicians have performed in many venues: The Hyde Smokehouse, The Goose & Gridiron, The Legions of Spencerville, Merrickville and Kemptville, The Red Dot Cafe in Osgoode, and The Vibrations Studios in the

same hamlet...to name just a few (NB: the word 'Hamlet' originally referred to a small, Danish pig).

'Kemptville Live' is the epitome of music in this community. It brings in the best of Canadian talent: Blue Rodeo, Colin James and Valdy have performed here before and will do so again this year. Tom Cochrane & Red Rider, The Powder Blues Band, Burton Cummings, The Stampeders, Gordon Lightfoot...the list goes on and on. And then there's local talents like Lynne Hanson, Buckledown, The Five-Man Electrical Band, and of course – Bruce Enloe and the Burning Sensations (soon to be rebranded as: 'Bruce-Eric & the Curiously-Incurable Infestations'?)

This year's lineup includes: Harlequin, Melissa Ethridge, Toronto, The Commotions, and the requisite local talent – Silver Creek, and of course, the ageless – Eddie and his talented Stingrays. That is a ton of talent! We – this community – are the envy of many surrounding communities. Apart from Ottawa and it's BluesFest, there is nothing else quite like 'Kemptville

Congratulations Carol and Ron for being nominated as our first Garden of the Week! The Municipality of North Grenville is thrilled to recognize their incredible dedication and hard work in creating such a stunning garden. Their garden truly is a sight to behold with its vibrant colours, lush greenery, and meticulously arranged blooms. The attention to detail and the love they’ve poured into every corner of their garden is evident in every petal and leaf. For more information about North Grenville in Bloom, visit our project page at northgrenville. ca/projects.

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Financial incentives are available for businesses and property owners to continue the revitalization of Downtown Kemptville. As part of the Downtown Kemptville Community Improvement Plan, intake is now open for the following financial programs: Façade & Signage Grant, People Make the Place Grant, Building Fees Grant, and Tax-Increment Equivalent Residential Grant. The Development Charges Exemption is still in place for downtown. Intake is on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. If you have questions or are looking to apply, please email vision@ northgrenville.on.ca or call 613-258-9569 ext 177.

NG GREEN

NG Green Gift Card will be expiring on August 23, 2023. Don’t let the remaining value on your NG Green Gift Card go to waste! If you have any questions or require assistance email ecdev@northgrenville.on.ca or call 613-258-9569 ext. 153. Thank you for supporting local.

The Municipality of North Grenville 285 County Rd. 44, PO Box 130 , Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Tel: 613-258-9569 Fax: 613-258-9620 general@northgrenville.on.ca www.NorthGrenville.ca

Building: 613-258-9569 x130 Fax: 613-258-1441

Fire Services Info: 613-258-9569 x201

Fax: 613-258-1031

By-Law Services: email: bylawinquiries@northgrenville.on.ca 613-258-9569 x211

Police Administration: 613-258-3441

Animal Control: 613-862-9002

Live'.

With that in mind, I'd like to remind those who make the big decisions on behalf of our Municipality – don't screw this up! Your only-est responsibility with

say, 'What can we do for you?', and stay the heck out of their way. If they leave, they won't be back. And for that, somebody's job should be on the line.

by Brandon Mayer

North Grenville residents are no strangers to the idea of “paying it forward”, so imagine how much kindness they can spread when it’s made even easier! Joelle Garneau, who was named Miss Leeds and Grenville 2023, is working on bringing a unique idea to the area. The “Kind as a Button” program will allow people to buy meals for neighbours who need them.

“Although I find it humorously difficult to explain, the button program is really quite simple,” said Joelle. “Individuals interested in participating will find two baskets at the cash – one with buttons to buy and one with buttons that have been prepaid for. These buttons are $1 each. Once purchased, individuals can put the buttons in the prepaid basket and, when someone is in need, they can use the prepaid buttons to buy their food.”

Joelle explained that the idea for the buttons originates from a Café in Hamilton called 541 Eatery, which is a non-profit, pay-it-forward café. From there, the C-Road Church decided to implement the idea in the Outpost Café in Prescott, which is where Joelle learned of it. “This prompted me to reach out to the Outpost Café to carry out this program in more of our municipalities,” she explained. “My goal is to implement at least one "Kind as a Button" initiative in each of the 10 Leeds and Greenville municipalities.”

Last year’s Nutritious Food Basket costing, conducted by the local health unit, found that when considering average rent and food costs, a typical lower income family could expect to be left with as little as $90 for monthly bills and other routine expenses, which is clearly not feasible. This is why Joelle knows there is a need for support locally. “Though [there are] initiatives to help those in our community who are in need, there isn't a way the people can lend a hand directly to each other,” Joelle added. “This is a nice way people can come together to help those around them who may be struggling more than the eye can see.”

Community has always been important to Joelle. She believes that those who surround us shape us into the people we become. “You never know exactly what someone is going through behind closed doors,” she said. “I want to help build something that everyone can feel good about.”

The main cost of the “Kind as a Button” program is sourcing the buttons themselves. Joelle has taken on that cost herself, for the time being, with sponsors being sought. “Although I've done a call-out, we haven't had any sponsors for the program,” she added.

Joelle was glad to be able to help both the C-Road Church and the Outpost Café get the program implemented in more cafés. “Their excitement gave me the drive to push, and I am very excited to see how far this program can go and how many lives it can affect,” she said. The local program is not quite underway as the buttons have not yet been received, but the hope is that everything will be up and running in a week or two.

Joelle is encouraging any cafés who are interested in participating to reach out to her directly by email at joelle.garneau@outlook.com. For those who would like to make a larger donation and receive a charitable receipt, the C-Road Church and the Outpost Café are able to issue those receipts.

Donation of $3,000 to KDH replaces missing wheelchair

submitted by Jenny Read

When a valuable wheelchair went missing from Kemptville District Hospital, the hospital’s Chief Financial Officer and VP Operations, Brittany Rivard reached out to KDH’s insurance provider, McDougall Insurance Brokers Limited, about making an insurance claim.

Account Executive Megan Schooley quickly confirmed that KDH’s deductible was too high to justify submitting a claim. Then, unbeknownst to Rivard, she approached McDougall’s managing partners about the unfortunate situation.

Without hesitation, the partners, including Allis-

ter Brown of McDougall Brown Insurance Brokers, responded with an offer to donate the cost of a brand new wheelchair. Rivard explained that the hospital’s Rehab Department was very saddened by the loss of the wheelchair. Valued at approximately $3,000, the specialized wheelchair had been acquired just a few months previously.

KDH Occupational Therapist Sarah Moffat elaborated. “At KDH, our rehab department has a small supply of specialized wheelchairs to support the diverse patient population admitted to the hospital. The loss of even one wheelchair significantly impacts our

ability to meet patients’ specific needs. This wheelchair in particular was used for patients who needed a lightweight frame for selfpropulsion, tall seat height, and specialized cushioning for pressure injuries.”

KDH Foundation Board Chair Margret Norenberg gratefully received the cheque for $3,000 from McDougall’s Allister Brown and Megan Schooley. Norenberg expressed the Foundation’s appreciation for the gift. “Because of your generosity, we will be able to replace this key wheelchair in the KDH Rehab Department’s ‘fleet’ of mobility solutions,” she said. “Your gift will hugely benefit pa-

tient care and the ability of our Rehab staff to provide customized interventions for their patients.”

Norenberg noted that McDougall Insurance and McDougall Brown Insurance are long-time supporters of the KDH Foundation. Allister Brown, who previously served on the KDH Foundation Board of Directors for more than a decade, stated that the managing partners’ decision to donate the cost of the new wheelchair was a ‘no-brainer’. “As a firm we have a commitment to give back to our communities,” he said. “We want to make a difference.”

Preventing West Nile Virus infections

submitted by LGLD Health Unit

The Leeds Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit would like to remind our citizens that we started our mosquito surveillance program once again in June. This program will be carried through until the end of September. Should you see one of our traps in your neighbourhood, please do not disturb it. These traps are not mosquito control units, so they have no value to property owners, but they are important in identifying mosquitoes and providing a warning that disease causing mosquitoes are present in a given area.

We all play a role in preventing West Nile Virus infections, and when we all do our part we will reduce the risk of this disease in our community.

Each homeowner has the responsibility of removing standing water that provides breeding areas for mosquitoes on their property. Most mosquitoes do not travel large distances and thus those breeding within your space are likely to bite you.

The Municipality is charged with the responsibility of ensuring proper drainage on municipally owned lands and public ditches. The roads departments have the knowledgeable staff and proper equipment to ensure this is achieved. Additionally, it is a municipal responsibility to address complaints regarding standing water on private land within its jurisdiction, using applicable property standards by-laws. Should positive mosquito pools be identified in a municipality, it is also the responsibility of Council

to take the necessary control actions as recommended by the Medical Officer of Health.

The Health Unit has the responsibility of assessing the risk for WNV within the Health Unit area. This is accomplished by conducting mosquito surveillance during the summer months. The presence of virus in these natural hosts is an early sign that the virus is gaining a presence in an area. The Health Unit is also responsible for following up any human cases of diseases and, more importantly, trying to prevent human cases by educating the public on personal protection and strategies that reduce mosquito breeding areas.

Individuals have the responsibility to protect themselves from mosquito bites by: avoiding areas with high

mosquito populations, wearing light-coloured clothing, including long sleeves, pants and hat, covering exposed skin and using a mosquito repellent containing the appropriate amount of DEET.

For more information, visit the mosquitoes section on this page of the website: Insect Bites and Diseases –Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. You can also call 1-800660-5853 or follow LGLhealthunit on social media for important public health updates.

(left to right): Megan Schooley, Account Executive, McDougall Insurance; Margret Norenberg, KDH Foundation Board Chair; Allister Brown, Managing Partner, McDougall Brown Insurance; Brittany Rivard, KDH CFO & VP Operations

Helping those in need is “Kind as a Button”

Family and Children’s Services workers go on strike

ports that keep children safe in their family home. More reasonable workloads would mean more time to support families and keep children safe.”

As is the case across many industries, there has been concern amongst CUPE 2577 members that the rising cost of living, for reasons such as high inflation and very high food and fuel prices, has made small proposed wage increases unlivable.

Family and Children’s Services workers were offered “wages well below the levels of inflation and mileage allowances nearly ten cents below CRA guidelines.”

Osgoode author

finds new passion in writing

by Brandon Mayer

Members of the CUPE 2577 bargaining unit, which represents child protection workers and support staff at Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, began striking last week after bargaining for better wages and resources was unsuccessful.

The Union reports that workers have been “stretched thin by mounting workloads”, citing a desire to invest in services for vulner-

able children as one major reason for the strike.

One of the specific issues leading to the job action is wages. Specifically, there has been concern that skilled and experienced workers can’t be adequately retained with the wages that are being offered. Bargaining has been taking place for over a year without success.

“When we talk about cases and workload, we’re really talking about children,” said Arlette Carrier, a child protection worker and CUPE 2577 President. “Every case is a child and a family

who needs help. From the beginning of bargaining, we have been focused on getting the resources to ensure that help is there when it’s needed and I am incredibly disappointed that our employer refused to see the justice in our demands or the urgent challenges confronting families. We’re focused on keeping children with their families and we work with children who are at very high risk living with their families. This work takes time to build safety plans with the family and community, build relationships with parents, meet with children and families, and provide the critical sup-

“No case is ever just one thing,” said Jennifer Cromey, a family service worker with FCSLLG. “We deal with trauma, poverty, mental health challenges, addiction, violence, housing precarity and so on. Our worst fear is that we’ll miss something and a child will get hurt. That’s why we pick up our phones in the middle of the night and work weekends. But we can’t go on like this. Management’s choices have led to an exodus of staff. We’re working ourselves to exhaustion and children and families aren’t getting the support they need.”

Workers were picketing last week from Wednesday until Friday in both Brockville and Smiths Falls. A deal had not been reached as of the time of writing. Essential services have been provided during strike action to avoid the potential dangers to vulnerable children that a full withdrawal of services would cause.

by Brandon Mayer

It is not uncommon for new authors from the local area to join the writing scene, but one Osgoode author is unique in that writing a book is not something she was ever particularly interested in. Emily Leigh Curtis is the author behind “Jodi’s Story” – a new release fiction novel that promises to be hard to put down. Emily’s writing process is almost as interesting as the book itself.

“I have honestly never really been interested in writing,” said Emily. “I did like to do writing assignments in school and would make up little stories for my boys. I also wrote a lot of reports for work and one newspaper article. “Jodi’s Story”, however, just came to me at a difficult time, and her story wanted to be told. The first paragraph came to me while out for a walk and then it just started pouring out.”

For someone who admits to being previously uninterested in writing, it may surprise readers to know that Emily found writing the book to be the easy part! “It was so cathartic for me, and to see her story come to life was pure beauty,” Emily explained. “Holding a copy, a real copy of something I wrote in my hands was the most amazing feeling and accomplishment.”

The hard part? The logistics of publishing! “I have had many struggles with the book, mostly around trying to get it published, and trying to sell the book on a small budget,” Emily added. “Also, it was unnerving to know that my work was out there and people and others would read something so personal. The fear of judgement was very scary.”

Jodi’s Story explores themes of abuse, drug use, and societal failings. A description of the book available on Emily’s website reads in part: “With gripping imagery and stark detail, Jodi’s Story is one that needs to be told. Just trying to survive, doing whatever needs to be done, Jodi reveals the humanity that most people don’t want to consider.”

Emily’s inspiration for “Jodi’s Story” comes partially from a personal place. “I have struggled with addiction for the past eight years,” she revealed. “Finally, when things got really bad, I went into a treatment facility. There, I met very many people from many walks of life. All had trauma and we all shared the pain and struggles of our disease. It was there that Jodi came alive. Her story was a twist of a collective group’s experiences and stories.”

As is often the case, the local area helped inspire Emily’s book as well. “During one scene in the book, the character is taken back to what I picture is this area, and I thought it was important to show that good small town life could be such a safe haven,” said Emily. “One of the bad guys returns home to the safety of our community which was and still is remembered as a place of goodness before things went wrong.”

To learn more about Emily or “Jodi’s Story”, visit https://www.emilyleighcurtis.ca/. Purchase links to various retailers can be found by clicking the “Bookstore” link on the website.

Kemptville’s Lost Heritage

The first dentist’s office in Kemptville, run by Dr. G. E. Hanna, was located in the Fraser Block too.

Hamilton Bustard, Watchmaker and jeweler, opened there in 1896, before moving to a storefront of Prescott Street. The Orange Order occupied a hall above the tailor’s shop from 1917 until the fire which destroyed the building in 1922.

by David Shanahan

This series follows some of the lost buildings of the town of Kemptville, centres of the community for many years and full of history and characters, the foundation for the North Grenville of today.

Maley Block / Rotary Park, Corner of Clothier and Prescott Streets

Where Rotary Park is today, was once another major centre of commerce and activity in Kemptville. Thomas Baldwin set up a furniture-making business on the river side in the 1830's, using a horsepowered lathe. In 1834, William Bradbury opened a small store on the corner of Clothier and Prescott, and it was taken over in the 1850's

by Thomas Maley. Maley was a successful financier and entrepreneur, and over the years added to the Maley Block until it was a threestory edifice covering the entire block from the bridge to Clothier Street, with offices and stores facing on to both streets. A history of the village records that “The building was then a very small frame structure but was enlarged from year to year until there were three stories facing on each street, one of which he always occupied as an office. He was a very careful and successful financier and amassed a large fortune. He loaned money and did a general banking business at a time when the current rate of interest was exceedingly high.

He owned a large quantity of land on Asa and Thomas streets, on the south side, on which he erected a very fine stone residence...He died in 1890".

Maley’s grandson, William Fraser, took over the building in 1907. He and his brother has been operating Fraser and Brothers Gents Furnishing and Tailor Shop, with a large sewing room for the staff of women and girls employed, since the autumn of 1892. The Block contained many enterprises over its history, and it seems that every kind of enterprise was located in it at one time or another. Some time in the early 1870's, Alexander McPherson opened a printing office there, and he remained for 10 or 12 years.

Perhaps the most important use of the Maley Block was when the first Public Library in Kemptville opened its doors there. In 1903, it was described in a history of the time:

“Another important institution of which the town boasts is a free public library. The first library in Kemptville was instituted about 1870 under the auspices of a Mechanics Institute and continued for several years, when the organization became defunct and the library allowed to go down. The books, however, reverted to the corporation and were for many years stored in the town hall. In the autumn of 1900, a number of citizens feeling the need of an institution that would provide proper reading matter, not only for themselves but also for their children, organized a library board in accordance with the Ontario statute. The books of the old library were handed over to them, and a large number of new ones were purchased and provisions made by the council for its maintenance. It contains about 2000 volumes selected from the standard authors with great care. All residents of the town have access to the books when duly vouched for by a property holder. It is largely patronized and is doing a vast amount of good. It occupies large and commodious quarters in the Fraser block, where is also provided a reading room which is supplied with the leading papers and magazines.”

In 1922, a fire broke out in a meat shop in the Block and the entire wood frame structure was quickly reduced to ashes. It was never rebuilt. A gas station stood on the site from 1927 until 1974. Grenville Robinson operated it as the Imperial Oil Gas Truck Service Station until 1948, when it was taken over by Harry VanAllen who renamed it the Supertest Gas Station. In 1953, Joe Perry came from Oxford Mills

The Town of Kemptville took over the lot, and in 2000, as a Millenium Project, it was adopted by the Kemptville Rotary Club, with the support of local businesses and individuals, and they renovated it into the picturesque Park

we have today. The flower beds are maintained by the North Grenville Horticultural Society. A quiet and peaceful place, in contrast to the decades of busy commercial and social activities that characterised the Maley Block.

and carried on

The Fraser Brothers building, showing how extensive it was, reaching down to the riverside, a major commercial centre. the business until it closed.

1917 Map: This shows the many sub-units into which the Block had been divided, an anchor building at the junction of Clothier and Prescott on the banks of the South Branch of the Rideau River.

Fraser Block, showing the expanded and final form before the fire of 1922

The site of the Maley Building is now Rotary Park.

2023 Summer Concert Series

July 23 7:00 pm The Rhinestone Plowboys

July 30 7:00 pm Eddie and The Stingrays

August 6 6:30 pm Hillbilly Highway

August 13 6:30 pm Capital Beatles

August 20 6:30 pm Marlene Fawcett and Mountain Breeze

August 27 6:30 pm Chris Coyea and Alex Fleuriau with The Music Guys

Join us every Sunday evening from June 25 to August 27 at the Kinsmen Amphitheatre on the St. Lawrence River, Prescott, On

Kenne Charles Reynolds

July 28, 1953 - June 4, 2022

In the early morning of July 4, 2023, Kenneth "Ken" Charles Reynolds accepted his invitation from Jesus Christ to join him in Heaven.

Ken will join his parents, Kenneth and M.B. Frances; sister, Blanche and brother, Frank. Left to cherish his memory and honour his amazing accomplishments are his sisters, Wendy (Dave), Bernadette (Bill), and Jane (Ken); and brother; Jim (Jean). His loss is also greatly felt by his vast number of nieces, nephews and colleagues.

Remembering Dick Loewen

April 16, 1940 - July 22, 2020

You bettered our world with your kind heart and gentle ways For this and the privilege of knowing and loving you Your family and friends say thank-you!

"For You Were A Man To Know"

MELISSA OTTENHOF

Marketing Consultant

Phone:613 329 0209

Email: melissa@ngtimes.ca

The Food Corner

By Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

Now that our gardens are starting to produce, it’s salad season. Yay! Mind you, salads can be kind of bland and food companies have made a fortune in producing all manner of salad dressings just for that reason. The salad I’m proposing this week is spicy, tangy and delicious. It is, once again, based on seafood, in this case shrimp; however, I have been encouraging you to be creative and change, add, substitute and/or do anything that meets the needs of your or your family’s taste buds. Let’s try for a Cajun Summer Salad.

Cajun Summer Salad

Ingredients

As much Arugula greens as you need to serve your family or guests

Add in as much iceberg lettuce and/or spinach as you might like; Radicchio is also nice

1 pound of large peeled, deveined shrimp

¾ cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

¼ cup radishes, finely sliced

¼ cup chives, finely chopped

¾ of your favourite Mayonnaise

2-4 green onions, finely chopped

2 tablespoons (a good squirt) of lemon juice

1 tablespoon (at least) of Cajun spice

A sprinkle of black pepper

The family would like to express their appreciation for the love and support from so many friends - Berta, Eric, Donna, Olga, Peggy and Bruce; just to name a few. They also wish to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the Misericordia Hospital for making Ken's final moments peaceful. Cremation has taken place and his ashes have been taken home to Kemptville, Ontario. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alberta Lung Association, www.ablung. ca or donation to any charity of your choice would be appreciated.

Celebration of Life for Ken C Reynolds will be on July 28, 2023 from 12-2pm. Kemptville Legion Branch 212, 100 Reuben Street, Kemptville Ontario.

Photos, memories, and condolences may be shared through www.parkmemorial.com

Preparation

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil and drop in your shrimp

2. Cook very briefly, remove from the heat, place in a colander and cool with cold water

3. In your salad bowl, whisk your liquids and Cajun spice together

4. Drop in your greens, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes and onions and toss

5. Cut your shrimp into chunks and add them to your mixture

6. Toss again, then top with the chives, radishes and black pepper

7. Alternatively, you can keep the dressing separate and have people toss their own salad

Serving is as usual for salads: either place in separate salad bowls or let folks grab their own. Salads work great all the time, either to accompany a BBQ or on their own as a healthy lunch. For vegetarians, either add tofu for a protein or go without. Don’t forget to add some nice fresh baguette that you can dip in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. As usual, a cold white wine goes very nicely with any salad, particularly this Cajun Summer Salad.

As always, please let me know how this turned out for you at pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

RECURRING EVENT

PROBUS: Fellowship, Fun and inFormed presenters are part of the PROBUS gathering on the third Wednesday of each month at St Paul's Presbyterian Church Hall at 9:30AM. For more information contact at n.g.probus97@gmail.com

Kemptville Legion: Now Open Fridays 3-9. Free Pool and Darts. Everyone Welcome BINGO, Kemptville Legion, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, doors open at noon

NG Duplicate Bridge Club Bridge, Masonic Lodge 311 Van Buren Kemptville, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 12:15. All Levels of bridge players are welcome. Info call 613-795-7155

EUCHRE on Tuesday, July 25, August 8, 22, September 5 and 19 at Pierce's Corners also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m. and play starts at 7:00 p.m. $5 per player. For information contact debiar@ ymail.com.

BID EUCHRE on Tuesday, August 1, 15, 29, September 12 and 26 at Pierce's Corners also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m. and play starts at 7:00 p.m. $5 per player. For information contact debiar@ymail. com.

FOR SALE

Sawmill for Sale

Heavy duty dimensional sawmill (Southern) for sale. Equipped with two 20-inch edger blades and a 32-inch main blade, which produces a finished board with each pass. Ideal for quarter sawing hardwood flooring. Max cutting size is

6” X 12” x 20 ft. This mill is in good operating condition and is equipped with a 4-cylinder, 60 hp diesel engine The mill is located near Merrickville, ON. Phone

613-258-3854

1.5 ton York Central A/C unit. 3 years old. Perfect condition. Asking

$1500. 613-222-9452

Solid oak desk, five feet wide by two feet deep, very good condition, $225. 613-258-5831

Enclosed small utility trailer, $1500 negotiable. Call 613-282-1836

Green, corduroy couch approx 7 feet wide. Two end sections recline. Clean and in excellent condition. $300.00 613-258-5831

Upright Weber piano, $200.00. 613-258-5831

Free, two industrial electric motors and a free jointer planer. Call Doug 613 258-4573 (Kemptville)

Now booking orders for new crop small square bales of hay. Call or text Jon. 613-227-3650

Dollhouse , Foxhall Manor by Real Good Toys, with side extensions. Currently under refurbishment. $1500. tineboyer@gmail.com

Harmonica Phe 64 Chromonica, 4 Octaves, professional model, M Hohner, Germany. Contact 613-567-8533

Cedar posts and rails for sale. Jon 613-227-3650.

4X4 round bales of hay and straw for sale. Jon 613-227-3650.

Cedars for hedging, 2' tp 10', Tamarac & Spruce. Call Jim after 6pm 613258-3561

Dry firewood for sale $110 a cord plus delivery fee. Call or text Jon 613-2273650

MISCELLANEOUS

HISTORIC HALL AVAILABLE FOR RENTALS in Beautiful Burritts Rapids! Start a book club in time for cooler weather in a hamlet near walking trails and parkettes. Our hall is well equipped for any gathering or celebration, and we offer very competitive rates. http://burrittsrapids.com

WANTED

Looking to harvest cedar trees for hedges off acreages from landowners. Please call Joanne 613-799-0958

Experienced+local farming family looking to buy a farm. Min. 10ac tillable with a liveable house. Open to creative solutions. davidrbailie@gmail.com.

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

FOR RENT

2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment. Laundry, appliances included. 1 block proximity to all amenities. Immediate occupancy, $1975/ month. Call Jeff at 613978-4700

Property for rent for spring & fall deer & turkey hunting. Call Jim after 6pm 613-258-3561

Ron's Small Engine Repair

613.258.9720

ronssmallengines@outlook.com

1 Jayland Drive, Kemptville

(across from old Bingo Hall)

Farmers push for change to protect farm animals against stray voltage

current is a phenomenon that is often highly misunderstood and misidentified and it can happen because of the way our electricity distribution system is designed and operated.

by Larry Davis, Director, OFA

Electricity is an essential service for all of us, but for decades, livestock farmers in rural Ontario have been struggling with a devastating side effect of that service that affects both people and animals.

It’s called stray voltage and livestock exposed to even low levels of electrical current may experience tingling sensations that impact their behaviour and health. For dairy cows, for example, this means nervousness, uneven milk production, increases in inflammation including in their udders, and being reluctant to eat their feed or drink water. In severe cases, cows become sterile or even die as a result.

For farmers, although this represents a loss of income, the biggest impact is on their emotional and mental health. No farmer wants to see their animals suffer and for some Ontario farmers, their inability to resolve this issue has led them to exit livestock production altogether.

Stray voltage or ground

On the farm, ground tests for stray voltage show the problem is often caused by levels of current lower than one volt which humans can’t feel but animals can. Unfortunately, current legislation places the threshold for utilities to take action at one-volt or higher, which means it is difficult for farmers to work with the electrical sector to find solutions.

I farm in Brant County and we had this exact experience on our own dairy farm. Testing showed the farm was in compliance with the electrical code, so we kept investing more money into improvements like better equipment, better stalls and better feed to help the cows be healthier and more productive. Nothing worked and with no other solutions, I ultimately switched to other types of farming. Today, we know that the problems the cows were having came from stray voltage, and that many farmers and their livestock have faced similar challenges for decades.

As an Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) Board member, I brought this initiative forward several years ago, after which a committee was created to push for a solution. This committee consists of commodity groups, and experts in both

the electrical and veterinary fields. For example, we have worked with Hydro One to develop their Farm Rapid Response Team, a group of knowledgeable staff who farmers can access to respond to on-farm electrical problems.

Meaningful change has been slow to come, however. Stray voltage problems remain undiagnosed or unresolved because the level of current causing the issue falls within the existing standards of the provincial electrical code. Lowering that code threshold from one volt to a quarter of a volt, for example, would be one way to help encourage action across all electrical stakeholders.

There are some encouraging signs that the provincial government is hearing our concerns. Ontario’s energy minister, Todd Smith, has formed the Stray Voltage Working Group to focus on this issue.

Members include the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Energy Board, Hydro One Networks, Electrical Safety Authority, Electricity Distributors Association, and Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario as well as observers from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Government and Consumer Services.

I’m part of this working

Violence involving outlaws and loners motorcycle clubs

submitted by OPP

Between July 8 and 10, 2023, two separate incidents involving the Outlaws Motorcycle Club and the Loners Motorcycle Club have resulted in police investigations.

One incident, involving a shooting and assaults with edged weapons, occurred on July 8, 2023. Cornwall Police Service is leading this investigation. The other incident, which occurred on July 10, 2023, is being investigated by Brockville Police Service. This involves a suspected arson at a commercial building. BEU is assisting with both matters.

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMG) members are known to carry weapons and to engage in violent behaviour. If you encounter an OMG member(s), do not approach them.

Ontarians are also reminded of the dangers of wearing gang-related clothing or paraphernalia. In addition to supporting illegal activities by purchasing these items, you may also put yourself at risk of being targeted by rival OMGs.

While 99 percent of motorcycle enthusiasts are law abiding, OMG members believe that they are the one percent who live outside the law. OMGs are criminal organizations whose activities cause harm and victimization in communities across Ontario. These profitdriven activities include fraud, drug trafficking, human trafficking, assaults, intimidation and murder.

The BEU continues to tackle the criminal activities of OMGs through an integrated, intelligence-led approach, which has resulted in numerous successful investigations. The BEU monitors and provides support to frontline police officers at most large public events where OMGs are present.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. To report suspicious or illegal activity, call the Outlaw Biker Hotline at 1-877-660-4321. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

group and after a series of meetings, we’ve released a report that includes recommendations for government on next steps that we believe will help find ways to address this issue.

This includes better communication and information sharing, including the participation of veterinarians; reducing likelihood and frequency of stray voltage, including reviewing and updating relevant codes and standards, and identifying and addressing instances of stray voltage, including enhanced testing protocols and a formalized, one-stop escalation protocol for affected farmers.

The symptoms and impacts of stray voltage on Ontario farmers and their livestock have been identified for decades, but it also has the potential to become a more widespread problem. As farms adopt more digital and electronic technology –which will ultimately help us produce more food more sustainably with fewer resources, the stray voltage challenge could create problems and disruptions to those on-farm systems too.

The Stray Voltage Working Group must continue to collectively encourage the government to act on these recommendations. Solving the stray voltage issue will ensure better animal welfare, reduce farmer stress, and ensure a strong and resilient food supply system for Ontario that is equipped to meet growth goals.

Unleashing the Spirit of Adventure: Best Travel Adventures Around the World

by Scott Waldron and Diane Wilson

The world is a treasure trove of exhilarating experiences waiting to be discovered. For those with an adventurous spirit and a thirst for exploration, travel offers the ultimate journey. In this article, we delve into some of the best travel adventures around the globe that offer an adrenaline rush and unforgettable memories.

1. Trekking the Camino de Santiago, Spain: Embarking on the Camino de Santiago is a transformative journey that has captivated travelers for centuries. This ancient pilgrimage route spans across Spain, leading pilgrims to the sacred city of Santiago de Compostela. Walking the Camino offers a profound opportunity for self-reflection, spiritual connection, and cultural immersion. As you traverse picturesque landscapes, encounter fellow pilgrims from around the world, and witness historical landmarks, the Camino weaves its magic, leaving you with lasting memories and a sense of accomplishment.

2. Scuba Diving in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: Plunge into the world’s largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef, for an underwater adventure like no other. Witness a kaleidoscope of vibrant marine life, including colourful corals, tropical fish, and graceful sea turtles. Exploring this UNESCO World Heritage site will open your eyes to the wonders of the ocean, while swimming alongside mesmerizing creatures will leave you in awe of nature’s diversity.

3. Safari in the Serengeti, Tanzania: Embarking on a safari in the Serengeti is an opportunity to witness the grandeur of Africa’s wildlife in their natural habitat. Roam the vast plains and witness the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles traverse the landscape in search of fresh grazing grounds. Encounter lions, elephants, and giraffes up close, immersing yourself in the raw beauty of the African savannah and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

4. Hiking the Inca Trail, Peru: Step into history as you hike the ancient Inca Trail to the majestic ruins of Machu Picchu. This adventure in Peru will lead you through diverse landscapes, from cloud forests to mountain passes, all while following in the footsteps of the Incas. As you reach the sun gate and catch your first glimpse of the lost city, a sense of awe and wonder will envelop you, making the arduous journey worth every step.

5. Kayaking the Norwegian Fjords, Norway: Discover the rugged beauty of Norway’s fjords as you embark on a kayaking adventure through their crystal-clear waters. Paddle past towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and remote villages tucked away in the scenic valleys. The tranquility and solitude of this unique experience will allow you to connect with nature on a profound level, leaving you rejuvenated and in awe of the stunning Nordic landscapes.

Embarking on travel adventures around the world not only offers a thrilling experience but also provides an opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth. These extraordinary adventures will leave an indelible mark on your soul.

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Visit to www. gravitate.travel and click on the “Let’s Talk” icon to start your adventure.

TICO # 50026003 709 RIDEAU STREET, UNIT 2/ KEMPTVILLE, ON K0G1J0

Baldwin's

Birds

Government’s Good Intentions Gone Bad

Everyone wants a safe, effective, and accessible supply of the products that keep us healthy. Doctors and patients need proven drugs. People seeking to prevent illness with natural remedies also need good products. But governments trying to ensure quality are putting measures in place that will limit the variety of supplements, make them more expensive, and make it harder for smaller companies with innovative products to compete.

Natural products like vitamin C, fish oil, magnesium, calcium, and many other supplements are ingredients for good health. For the cost of a cup or coffee, daily supplementation can address deficiencies in the diet, add antioxidants, reduce inflammation, support the immune system, build bone, etc.

For example, vitamin C and lysine in high doses help maintain the cardiovascular system and support joint health, teeth, gums, wound healing, and more. The key is collagen. Vitamin C is required to manufacture healthy collagen, the glue that holds cells together, just like mortar is needed for bricks. Lysine, like steel rods in cement, makes collagen stronger. A lack of vitamin C and lysine results in poor collagen and weak arteries.

You can make one of the best investments in your health by taking a high-quality fish oil that has been formulated for better absorption. There’s no point in having fish oil go right through the digestive system missing the benefits to heart health and better brain function.

Women over 50 can benefit from calcium supplementation to reinforce bones at risk of osteoporosis.

But new measures by government regulators are making it harder for the small businesses that bring a variety of helpful products to market. Why? Because for all the good intentions to ensure safe, effective, and high-quality products, governments are creating the conditions that will wipe many good players out of business. Adhering to new regulations will jack up the costs to produce the products we use for health promotion – natural vitamins, minerals, oils, herbal remedies, probiotics, and so on. It means higher prices for consumers.

One of the most important places in your community for you to do well by your health is your local health food store. There, you can count on finding carefully selected products on the shelves that have your health at heart. The people who work in these stores are often specialists in nutrition, natural supplements, and holistic approaches to health. Our advice is to become a regular customer in a store near you.

But also, don’t be complacent when governments don’t understand how their good intentions are negatively impacting your best interests for healthy living. A consultation is currently underway in Canada offering consumers an opportunity to comment on new regulations Health Canada is imposing. The changes affect labelling and the process for product approval. The question is, why can’t governments find ways to ensure adherence to safety, quality, and valid claims without wiping out good companies and elevating prices further for natural products? Why make it easier for big international companies to put small Canadian companies out of business? Readers in Canada should visit your local health food store to learn more and get in touch with your Member of Parliament before July 26 to express your view.

There are benefits to our global society. But we need to swing the pendulum back closer to the values and conditions that support community-based businesses focused on health promotion. Your local health food store is like a family doctor for the community. They know their customers and they care. Governments should see them as allies and find better ways to support the natural health industry.

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

In a Flicker of an Eyelid!

What a beautiful day to get up to and enjoy, as we sit on the deck for a breakfast of what are probably the last of the "local" strawberries and listen to the birds regaling us with their early morning songs. A Blue-Jay chatters and sings, as does a Cardinal and our little favourite the House Wren, or maybe even two of them. The one more dominant little guy is still hoping to attract a mate, or

is competing with another male for the privilege, anyway at times there seem to be two of them singing! Maybe we'll get to see some more nesting box activity before the summer is out.

On the subject of nesting, a friend of mine sent me some beautiful close up pictures of his nesting Eastern Phoebe and in this respect he is not alone, as another friend - yes I do have more than one - also has his

Phoebe, that has nested at his house for many years now!

They are lovely birds with their distinctive "fee bee", call which gave them their name, I believe.

Over the past few days we have had a few visitors who don't tend to "dally" for any amount of time when they do drop in, giving me the inspiration for my article's title! A pair of Brown Thrashers have been enjoying our back garden water feature over the hot sunny days and my wife spotted the Flicker on our front garden birdbath. My camera was near the front window chair, so she was able to get some good pictures of it. Of course by the time she had yelled down to me and I had scrambled up from the base-

The NG Photography Club

ment office,it had gone just like that, in a Flicker of an eyelid! Of course that's the way it goes when it comes to spotting and seeing the birds long enough to be able to identify them, but I expect you know that already!

Another bird attracted to the water, but mainly because of the chance of catching "mozzies", was an Eastern Kingbird, but it too only appeared for a brief period of time. Quite appropriately, we were in the swimming pool when it appeared and it made a couple of passes before departing. Stay safe and well.

Cheers, John Baldwin

Photo by club member Sies Visser.

BACKYARD ASTRONOMY

Bring On The Sun

by Gary BoyleThe Backyard Astronomer

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

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

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

Now magnetic field loops are seen rising from

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

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

BIA Appreciation Night

submitted by Deron Johnston

The Old Town Kemptville Business Improvement Area (BIA) was proud to host our annual Volunteer Appreciation Night on Tuesday July 11 from 6-9pm at Salamanders Restaurant in Downtown Kemptville. The highlight of the evening was the volunteer awards that were given to deserving local volunteers who contribute immensely to everything that the BIA does. There were awards for BIA volunteers presented by acting BIA Chair Meagan Cumming and also for Kemptville Buskerfest volunteers

presented by Buskerfest Operations Logistics Chair Mary-Anne Leang.

The BIA is responsible for organizing the Kemptville Buskerfest and insisted that Buskerfest deserved its own set of volunteer awards due to the extensive amount of volunteer hours required to organize this highly successful free community event.

The winners of the awards were as follows:

- Old Town Kemptville BIA Rising Star (Youth) Award – Bryanna Mitchell

- Old Town Kemptville BIA Community Volunteer of the Year – Nancy Onlock

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

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

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

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

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

& Paul Calder (tie)

- Old Town Kemptville BIA Board Volunteer of the Year – Sierra Jones-Martel

- Kemptville Buskerfest Rising Star (Youth) Award –Mary Furber

- Kemptville Buskerfest Volunteer of the Year Award – Paulina Hrebacka

“The BIA could literally do nothing without our volunteers. They organize our activities and events, they work on our board and do everything in between. We are beyond fortunate to benefit from the commitment, loyalty, and work ethic of some remarkable people. This event was an

opportunity for some of our community builders to get some recognition for all that they do for us and their community.” – Meagan Cumming, Acting Chair of the Old Town Kemptville BIA Board.

“This year, Buskerfest was the beneficiary of an influx of new volunteers who brought a very high level of experience and ability with them. It showed in many ways but perhaps none more than the increased professionalism in everything that we did. We had more people to share the workload and that work was done beyond our expectations. It allowed

our sub-committee chairs more time to pay closer attention to the details and not have so much to do at the last minute.” – Deron Johnston, Kemptville Buskerfest Executive Director.

If you’d like to learn more about volunteer opportunities with the BIA including volunteering at one of our many events (Kemptville Buskerfest, Kreepy Kemptville etc.) or joining a BIA sub-committee (such as the Marketing & Programming Committee), just send a quick email to learn more: bia@northgrenville.on.ca.