Issue 30 2023 August 03 NG Times

Local lacrosse player picked for Team Ontario

allows me to spend a lot of energy, and it's a sport where we need as much agility as physical strength. I must also admit that it can be violent on occasion and I like it!”

Like most notable players, Zack spends much of his free time practicing his sport. “I play lacrosse year-round in leagues and tournaments and spend the majority of my spare time dedicated to my development,” he added. “You can always find me in my backyard practicing lacrosse, or at the gym when I don't have practices or games.”

Hard work pays off, and for Zack, it has paid off big time. He was selected to represent Team Ontario U17 in the field lacrosse Canadian championships next September in Charlottetown, in addition to two more tournaments this fall in the USA, one in Maryland, and one in Florida.

schools and American universities. I would really like to play at the NCAA level.”

Being dedicated to a sport comes with challenges, as expected. One such challenge for Zack and his family is driving long distances for practices and tournaments. Practices with Team Ontario mean a 3 or 4 hour drive, while games with the Long Island team require a drive of between 3 and 8 hours. It's not easy to frequently be on the road for practices, games and tournaments. Some tournaments, such as those in Florida or Texas, may require air travel. It’s a sacrifice for Zack’s family, but one that they are more than willing to make.

interest in lacrosse in 2018 when his family moved to Regina, SK. Wanting to try something other than the usual soccer, he signed up for field lacrosse, and “immediately fell in love with the sport”. He credits his first coach, Joe Laprairie, as being “a very passionate coach and a very good teacher” which is one of the reasons why his interest in lacrosse took off.

“I love playing lacrosse for many reasons,” said Zack. “It's a team sport, it

After an American lacrosse official sent some video footage of Zack playing to a contact in New York, Zack was contacted by the Long Island National Rebels to represent them at several American tournaments. “I immediately accepted, because it allows me to learn a new way of playing since American teams play a different type of game,” said Zack. “The fact of playing for Team Ontario and Long Island will allow me, hopefully, to be seen by prep

When it comes to being a dedicated athlete, the rewards outweigh the challenges. “It was a very nice surprise when I received the call that I was part of Team Ontario,” said Zack. “I am very proud of this achievement. I'm the only player not from the GTA. Lacrosse players are a big family and despite the fact that I am the only one from the region playing for both U17 Team Ontario field and the Long Island National Rebels, I felt accepted from the start and made new friends quickly.”

As is often the case, the heart and spirit of the North Grenville community lends a

Zack Chevalier playing for the Long Island National Rebels.

hand in Zack’s sports career. Moving to the area just three years ago, Zack has already found that his school and his employer support him in his adventures. Zack attends St. Michael Catholic High School, where the principal, Mr. Palumbo, was very understanding upon learning that Zack will sometimes need to miss classes to travel to the USA. Zack’s teachers also help him at lunch time to catch up on lessons

missed during the school year. His employer also provides the benefit of a flexible work schedule.

Zack had a few words to share for anyone with interest in a sport: “My advice to all athletes playing sports, regardless of level, is to believe in yourself. I’ve been cut from a competitive team in the past and been told that I was too small. I told myself that no one would tell me what I can or cannot do. I used these comments to

motivate me and work even harder. I believed in myself and in my abilities and I am having a lot of great experiences right now and I hope to have many more!”

Anyone interesting in learning more about Zack, or helping to sponsor his journeys to practices and tournaments in support of his big dreams and promising lacrosse career, can contact the family directly at zacklax07@hotmail.com.

Rideau Glen Ladies Golf League in mid-season

submitted by Joan Beauregard

Seems like we just started the golf season, and here we are at the end of July. And in spite of muggy days and a few rain challenges we’re unstoppable ! Each week brings a great turnout, enjoyable golf, and lots of fun and laughter.

Adding zest to our regular round of play in July, eight players took a road trip to Cobden for the Ottawa Valley Golf Association Intersectionals. We couldn’t have had a warmer welcome! As usual, our players had a great time and made new friends. Up against some stiff competition, we placed third in our division, and are

looking forward to the Senior Intersectionals in September to be hosted by Lombard Glen.

July brings the Dickenson Tray Tournament. Despite the rain on July 27th, eleven determined and soggy players weathered constant downpour and seemingly endless puddles. Of course, once we were finished and enjoying a beverage on the verandah, the sun poked its head out. The group is debating a special name for themselves, maybe the Wet Heads Society, the Drowned Rats Club, or the Swampettes. Linda Stewart took first place and the trophy; Leslie Cheal was runner-up.

For our end-of-month fun-day, the round was

played with only 3 clubs and putter, making for interesting challenges as each player navigated long, short, and troubleshots with our limited options. With a theme of ‘a day at the beach’ , we found a few special contests – including a pitch into a kiddie-pool after the round. Our winners were: 1st Place - Leslie Cheal, 2nd Place – Donna Lush, Closest to the Beachball - Daphne Stephenson (front) and Jenny Thibert (back), Chipping Contest into the kiddiepool - Jenny Thibert (1st ) and Cathy Maur (2nd ) .

Play was followed by lunch, awards and prizes, and announcements. Recognition for breaking 100 went to Jenny Thibert. A

record number of league members made birdies this month: Leslie Cheal, Georgia Crawford, Liz Forbes, Maureen Fournier, Pat Kealey, Brenda Lawson, Donna Lush, Elaine MacNaughton, Su Ouellette, Penny Pépin, Heather Pitt, Jean Potvin, Suzanne Sampson, Thanh Simpson , Susan Smith, Nancy Stelzer, Bonnie Thibodeau, Barb Townson, Cathy Valcour, and Karen Whiteman. Way ‘ta go ! Highlights coming in August include the Low Ball Aggregate Depencier Tournament.

Dickenson Tournament post-game.

Photo by Brenda Lawson.

All that glitters

by Brandon Mayer

“Asteroid that could make everyone on Earth a billionaire confirmed to be exploded this year.” Sometimes, reading something stupid online makes one want to simply mentally extinguish it and move on. Other times, the stupidity is so intense that it warrants picking apart.

The post above was one I came across on a social media page of very little consequence. “Clickbait”, as they call it – something eye-catching and outrageous enough to encourage clicking on a worthless article that seems like hardhitting journalism, so that online advertising revenue can be sucked out of the world’s most daft beings.

While I stand by the assertion that the post I saw was intended as “clickbait”, the real problem is that reputable news sources have picked it up. What exactly is the story here? An asteroid called “16 Psyche” has been identified in the area between Mars and Jupiter. It is believed to be the “metallic heart of a

dead planet” containing so much iron, nickel, and gold that in Earth value today, it would be worth somewhere in the ballpark of00,000,000,000,000,000. (No, that is not a made up exaggeration, it is the actual calculated number).

As it turns out, this would theoretically be enough money to make everyone on Earth a billionaire. The keyword is “theoretically”, as in – solely as a math problem. My concern is that reputable news sources seem to be missing the “theoretically” part. NASA is reportedly going to be exploring the asteroid, and news sources are suggesting that we are all going to be rich. The Economic Times, a division of the India Times, has a headline reading “NASA mission 'Psyche' can make everyone a billionaire”. A headline from NDTV reads “This rare asteroid may make everyone a billionaire on this Earth”. The first line of an article on iHeart. com – a popular radio and news website – reads “NASA has announced a mission that could make every single person on Earth a billionaire.”

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wanted to write in about the new roundabout on 43 at South Gower Dr. I use it often as I live close by, and I love it! I feel so much safer and I usually catch myself both sighing with relief and smiling because it is such a great change! I know there are people who live close by to it who were concerned about it, and I sincerely hope it is working out for them.

Bradlee Zrudlo

Dear Editor,

Well, wasn't that a weekend! What an amazing place Kemptville is. We have the best music festival and the most well coordinated, professional and friendly volunteers around. As per Peter Johnson's article last week, “A rock & roll song”, we

Have we seriously lost any trace of common sense? I understand the interest created by the “theory” of how much Earth money this asteroid would be worth, but are the people writing these articles honestly believing that this totally worthless asteroid is the solution to all of the world’s problems? The belief that money is some magic outside force that can make goods and services appear out of thin air has to be one of the most brainless things I have ever read. And last week, I was reading about it on the websites of news agencies that really ought to know better.

Money is nothing more than a standardized barter system. If you were stranded alone on an island with no hope of rescue anytime soon, would you rather have a box of food or a box of $100 bills? Anyone with common sense would choose the food. The money has no value beyond what someone else is willing to give you for it. When there is no one around to barter with, the money may as well be firewood, and it won’t burn for

long. Take the food! Capitalism is great. Why? Because it encourages hard work and contribution to society through the promise of reward. But we can’t lose sight of what money is supposed to represent. In its purest form, money represents what a person has done for society and for others. If I work 8 hours in a meat processing plant (as I used to every day, many years ago), then I receive a certain amount of money that puts a value on that contribution to others’ nutrition. I can then put my money toward shelter, a variety of food for myself, other necessities, and more. The money I pay to others acknowledges the work they’ve done for me, and they can get necessities as well. And so on.

Money helps us to be more efficient, and helps society avoid conflict (although a wise woman who happened to be my grandmother once told me that “the root of all evil is money”). The efficiency comes from the fact that people can learn one skill, one craft, one role in society and perfect it, while still having the rest

of their needs met by the fruit of others’ labour, with contributions measured fairly by the exchange of money. My contributions are providing education and childcare to children, bringing news to North Grenville and North Dundas residents, and facilitating counselling services for those in need of mental health help. I am not skilled in house building, water purification, or farming (to name a few of the hundreds of things that I directly or indirectly pay others to do for me), so I rely on others just as others rely on me to show up for work every day for their lifestyle to be possible.

The avoidance of conflict that money brings comes from the fact that even if everyone did have the skills and knowledge to do everything for themselves, it would surely lead to violence and competition for resources, which would wipe out the population. A structured society with governance and efficient industry is therefore necessary for us to lead the lives we do.

What would someone

do for you in exchange for $1 billion of iron, nickel and gold, if they also had $1 billion worth of iron, nickel and gold? Absolutely nothing, except perhaps an act of kindness. The monetary value that we place on goods and services depends on the usefulness those goods and services bring for those who receive them. Starving people don’t care whether or not all that glitters is gold. They care about where their next meal is going to come from. Instead of worrying about get rich quick schemes – and the embarrassing articles from clickbait news agencies that promote these ridiculous ideas – worry about what you can do for society, both today and in general with your gift of life. A fortune not earned is nothing to be proud of.

can't screw this up. Most people probably don't realize the hard work and time of volunteers to put on a music festival. Most people don't realize that many profits of recycling all the beverage cans and money put into tip jars goes back into the community. This festival needs more recognition and support from NG Council. It is unfortunate that all the hype for the IPM does not apply to Kemptville Live. I don't think that people realize what we have here in the community and more visibility and support needs to go into it. I agree with Mr. Johnson that the Municipality needs to take a more active role in helping the festival in every way possible and not making it difficult! Music heals the soul. If there are more photo opportunities to be had, let’s

see more promoting of this festival. I know we have a Mayor who likes to have her picture taken, let;s put her to work promoting and financially supporting this festival next year. We don't want to lose this gem!!

Rose Daly Music fan!!

Dear Editor,

It would appear to me that the column “Tid bit musings” by Elva Patterson Rutters RSSW aligns with my thoughts. I applaud NG Times for including Ms. Patterson Rutters’ column for her insight, including common sense, at times overlooked. “Tid Bit Musings” offers a person something to think about while including a bit of humour in the mix.

Josephine Herman

Dear Editor, Why do so many dump trucks have to use the route on south Prescott Street? It is constant from early morning until evening. Back and forth. Where do they go to and from? Where are they building? Why is there no alternative route instead of through the town? This has been continual for two or three years now. There is already heavy traffic on this street. It is a “street”, not a “road” or “highway”. Besides steady travel of the dump trucks, are other kinds of heavy equipment passing through. Very poor planning with little consideration for the residents in this area.

K. Piché

UCDSB trustee allegedly violates code of conduct twice

by Brandon Mayer

In late June, trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board voted to find their colleague, Trustee Curtis Jordan, guilty of a Code of Conduct violation. The details of the violation were kept confidential, as is generally required by policy.

As a result of the vote, which Trustee Jordan was not allowed to take part in, he was immediately handed a six month suspension from attending Board of Trustees meetings. Following the vote, he was asked to sign out of the meeting to begin his suspension, and was told that he could rejoin as a spectator using the YouTube link available to the public. During the suspension, Trustee Jordan keeps his position – elected in 2022 to represent Ward 9 (Stormont and Glengarry). However, he will not be able to attend meetings or vote on the issues brought before the board.

Trustee Jordan accepted his suspension and logged off, but remained anything but quiet about it after the fact. He spoke to the Recorder and Times – a Brockville Newspaper – and made big claims about the reasons for his suspension.

“These allegations were very petty in nature,” said Trustee Jordan to the Recorder and Times. “I’ll admit I’ve made some mistakes. One of the mistakes I made was I wore blue jeans to a Board meeting.” He also claims that he was not always following parliamentary procedure in meetings because it was a learning experience. He is open about the fact that he is autistic, and believes that he is the only elected autistic official in Canada. “I was elected to have a voice at that table regardless of whether or not I’m communicating in perfect parliamentary procedure, and regardless of what I am wearing to that Board table,” he added.

The comments made to the Recorder and Times were picked up by many news agencies, a story seemingly painting the UCDSB as unduly harsh at best, and discriminatory at worst. In a twist to the story, the interview landed Trustee Jordan in even more hot water.

The Chair of the Board for the UCDSB, John McAllister, sent out a press release reading:

“The Board of Trustees for the Upper Canada District School Board strenuously objects to Trustee Curtis Jordan’s false statements to the Recorder and Times, as reported on July 14, 2023, which were shared across many media properties.

It is untrue that Trustee Jordan was disciplined for wearing blue jeans to a Board meeting, or for failing to observe parliamentary procedure.

Following an investigation, the Board of Trustees found that Trustee Jordan breached the Trustee Code of Conduct as a result of comments he made in response to a caution about the need to ensure that his expense claims comply with the Board’s Expense Reimbursement Policy. Trustee Jordan declined all of the opportunities he was offered to participate in the investigation and did not offer any response to the complaint made against him.

A second Code of Conduct complaint has now been filed against Trustee Jordan, alleging that he knowingly misrepresented the reasons for the sanctions imposed by the Board on June 21st, 2023.”

The new allegations against Trustee Jordan have not yet been investigated or put to a vote. It is unclear what sanctions he may receive if found guilty of a second offence during his suspension.

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.

• Wednesday, August 9 at 6:30 p.m. (Open Session) – Virtual

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

• Housing Advisory Committee – Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.

• Health, Wellness and Fitness Advisory Committee – Monday, August 14, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

• Indigenous Advisory Circle – Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.

• Environmental Action Advisory Committee – Monday, August 28, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

• Arts and Culture Advisory Committee – Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

VOLUNTEER AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Custodian (Part-Time)

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking to fill a part-time position of Custodian in the Parks, Recreation & Culture Department. Interested applicants may submit a cover letter and resume outlining qualification in confidence to Human Resources by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 8th, 2023.

Facilities Operator (Contract)

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking to fill a 12-month contract position of Facilities Operator. 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.

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

Congratulations Ingrid for being nominated as our third Garden of the Week! Ingrid’s garden is beautifully detailed and manicured with harmoniously placed shrubs and flowers. Her garden truly has an artistic touch and is so visually appealing when overlooking from above. We are absolutely stunned. Thank you, Ingrid, for sharing your garden with us! And a thank-you to her wonderful neighbours for nominating her for this weeks Garden of the Week! 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.

John Carroll returns! August 5, Kemptville Street Piano

submitted by Lisa Poushinsky

Local favourite John Carroll is back for an afternoon at the Street Piano. Always entertaining, this witty gritty teller of pithy yarns will woo you with his banter while his skilled finger-style and slide guitar playing will charm and cheer you for hours! A true professional and gentleman of the genre, don’t miss this gem of a show as John combines originals with covers performed with the ol’ Carroll twist. Whether he’s playing solo for the packed house of his weekly Chateau Lafayette gig, doing some (finger) picking on Sundays at Rideau Pines Farm, or traveling to the many music houses across Canada, John's music treats his audiences to “the vibrational equivalent of coming home.”.

What? The Kemptville Street Piano presents

Who? John Carroll

When? Saturday, August 5, 2pm

Where? North Grenville Public Library terrace

How much? Free! (Cash donations welcome, or see the featured section on our FB page for the link to our GoFundMe campaign.)

Street Piano concerts are family friendly, accessible, and take place rain or shine (in case of inclement weather, concerts move indoors). Dogs on leashes welcome!

Learn more about John Carroll here: https://www.johncarrollmusic.com.

The Food Corner

By Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

Salad season has its limitations. Some folks with gardens can’t get enough of the fresh green stuff; others say, “Enough, already.” There are other kinds of salads – a bit more unusual – that help perk up a Barbecue or an all fresco dinner during the hot summer days we are experiencing. You might try an old favourite of our family, the Ambrosia Fruit Salad. It’s sweet, tangy and brings a different kind of flavour to the salad bar. You can also make it in a jiffy if you keep the recipe simple and classical. This recipe makes enough for you and your family. If you are preparing for a party, just double it.

Ambrosia Fruit Salad

Ingredients

½ cup of sour cream or natural unflavoured yoghurt or more, according to your taste

½ cup sweet shredded coconut

1, 10 ounce can of mandarin oranges (drained)

1, 14 ounce can of pineapple “tid-bits” (drained)

1 ½ cup of mini plain or fruit-flavoured marshmallows

¼ cup of maraschinos cherries, cut in half

Preparation

Simply place all of the ingredients in a salad bowl and mix in the sour cream and yoghurt: that’s it, that’s all. If you want to get fancy, you can grate some lemon, lime or orange peel to dress up the surface of your salad or cut very thin slices of citrus fruit as a topping. If taking to a party, seal the top of your bowl with plastic film and keep refrigerated until you’re ready to go.

Happy BBQ and salad times and talk to you at pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

Healey Transportation Limited is seeking qualified Kemptville based drivers for Kemptville area School Bus Runs

Competitive wages! Bonuses!

Opportunity to earn extra income for evening and weekend special event charters.

"Work from Home" - No need to commute to the bus depot. Park your bus at home.

Contact

Updates on various events and projects provided by Council

by Brandon Mayer

The July 25 regularly scheduled Council meeting began with an announcement that North Grenville was once again crowned Ontario’s Most Active Community by ParticipACTION following the annual Community Challenge. The news was very fresh at the time of the meeting, since the announcement of the win was made earlier that same day. Mayor Peckford took the time to thank all who made the win possible, briefly described the projects that prize money funded in previous years, and stated that an advisory committee will be consulted regarding how to spend this year’s $7,500.

Next, the Mayor commented on the success of the recent Kemptville Live Music Festival, expressing her pride in the event and calling it a festival filled with “big acts for a small town”.

In yet another update, the Mayor explained that much-awaited statistics have finally been tabulated for the International Plowing Match event, which was hosted in Kemptville in the

fall of last year. Mayor Peckford revealed that the event raised $160,000 in profits that were redistributed to the community. She also announced that the event drew about 67,000 visitors to North Grenville.

“We did it!” added Councillor O’Sullivan, speaking about the International Plowing Match. “It was run by volunteers and I cannot thank everyone enough for stepping up and doing their part to help make it a success.”

Joelle Garneau provided a presentation to Council on her “Kind as a Button” initiative, which was covered in the Times in the July 20 issue.

The first item of routine business was the receipt of a Strategic Plan Mid-Year Update report, followed by a request before Council to purchase a new server. The server is computer hardware which securely stores municipal records and other important information. Council heard that the seven year old server was at the end of its useful life. The new server will cost $74,043.91 plus shipping and HST, and Council voted to authorize the expense.

A few general update

reports from various departments were heard next during the meeting.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the issue of housing. First, the subject of so-called “tiny homes” took centre stage. Mayor Peckford revealed that she receives calls with questions about how to build a tiny home seemingly every day.

“I’ve been paying very close attention to the real estate market, like many of us have been, and very unfortunately it’s extremely difficult to break into the market as a new homeowner, or as someone looking to perhaps by a bigger home, or someone wanting to downsize into a smaller home,” said Mayor Peckford. “All those things seem fairly impossible right now in a community like ours and that’s tragic in many respects because it forces people to move, many of whom want to stay here because they’ve been here for many years or decades, or they want their future to be here.” The Mayor expressed hope that tiny homes could be one possible solution to the problem.

Deputy Director of Building and Planning, Philip Mosher, explained to

Council what a tiny home is. Specifically, it refers to a single dwelling unit that is no larger than 400 square feet in size, with specific sizes for specific rooms. However, Deputy Director Mosher clarified that just because these technical specifications exist for definition purposes, smaller homes can be built without having to fit into these perfect size specifications.

When asked what the steps would be for someone looking to build a tiny home, Deputy Director Mosher said they would first call the Building and Planning Department. They would be told to provide a sketch, even just a hand-drawn one, to describe what their intentions are. Finally, a meeting with a planner or building official could take place to ensure that zoning requirements would be met before the building permit application would be prepared. The meeting would only be necessary if there were questions following the receipt of the sketched plan. Deputy Mayor Barclay added a comment that with recent building code and zoning changes in North Grenville, an additional dwelling unit on a residential property is

possible without the need to sever land.

Deputy Director Mosher then followed up his tiny homes presentation with a presentation on the Housing Accelerator Fund. The Housing Accelerator Fund is a federal program designed to expedite the construction of new homes and encourage the development of complete, inclusive, low-carbon, and climate-resilient communities.

North Grenville’s Building and Planning department intends to apply for the Fund before the August 18 deadline, with seven key initiatives needing to be outlined in its application to show that the goals of the program would be met if funding is received. The seven initiatives are:

1. Improve Wastewater Infrastructure at the Siphons and Trunk Mains

2. Improve Wastewater Infrastructure at the College Lands

3. Improve Wastewater Infrastructure at the Bridge Street Pump Station

4. Reduce Red Tape and Improve Service by revisiting zoning by-laws

5. Fast tracking a New Commons Housing Co-operative Development that will result

Meat processors key link in local food value chain

other parts of the Province.

by Jennifer Doelman, Director, OFA

Labour shortages have long been a challenge for the meat processing sector. Not only does this create problems for meat processing businesses themselves, but it also makes it harder for farmers to access muchneeded processing capacity for their livestock when animals are ready for market.

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the skilled worker shortage, while at the same time driving an increase in consumer demand for custom meat processing and shoppers looking to buy their meat and poultry locally.

It’s particularly tough for smaller meat processing businesses in Eastern and Northern Ontario, where the livestock population is lower and distances between farms and processing facilities are longer than in

I grew up on a beef farm in Eastern Ontario and my first job was in a butcher shop. I also represent a lot of livestock farmers in my role as a Board Director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), so I understand the need for processing capacity and the key role local meat processors play in our local food system.

As farmers, we appreciate when consumers genuinely care about where their food comes from and are interested in supporting local food production. Meat and poultry products are key components of our local food system, and we have to make sure that we maintain the infrastructure needed to support livestock farming from the farm to the fork.

The local labour and processing capacity shortage didn’t happen overnight and the OFA, representing farmers, and Meat and Poultry Ontario, representing meat processors, have been raising awareness of this issue for a long time. There is no single solution

to the problem, but some new initiatives are now underway that will start to make a difference.

Last year, Meat and Poultry Ontario and AgSights launched Processor Links, an online tool that provides alternatives by making it easier to connect farmers looking for processing space with processors who can accommodate last minute needs or who are accepting future bookings.

This past spring, the two organizations announced an expansion of their digital dashboard thanks to funding from the federal and provincial governments to add more functionality to the online tool and make it more user-friendly for both farmers and processors using the system.

Processor Links offers users a summary of current booking lead times at participating meat processors, contact information for provincially licensed facilities, and what species they’re able to process as well as which businesses have the capacity to accommodate last-minute

bookings. Ultimately, an automated booking system will decrease logistics workloads for processors, simplify allocation of meat inspection resources and make it easier for farmers to find and make appointments.

Another big step forward this year was the spring launch of the new Centre for Meat Innovation and Technology (CMIT) by Meat and Poultry Ontario. It is designed to bring more training, innovation and research to the meat processing sector by helping businesses find and adopt new technologies and making it easier for workers to learn and advance their skills.

The Centre is the only Canadian meat technology hub that encompasses skills development, training and sharing of best practices backed by world class research and education. The goal is to remove barriers and address challenges in the sector that hinder growth and profitability so that both meat processors and farmers can take advantage of the business

in the building of 108 high density dwelling units

6. Permit Tracking Software for better communication between individuals and departments

7. Implementation of a $10,000 Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) Incentive to encourage the building of additional housing on existing properties.

If the application is successful, the funding received through the HAF will aid North Grenville in reaching its housing objectives sooner. The funding will be provided annually by the federal government and will be utilized for investments in affordable housing, housingrelated infrastructure, and community-related infrastructure in line with the approved Action Plan.

The final business of the meeting involved awarding tenders for some public works projects. A second Council meeting took place last week, hosted at Catered Affairs on July 28. It was a closed session meeting for the purposes of training.

opportunities that exist from farm to fork.

Lack of labour and processing capacity is a longterm sustainability issue for the food and agriculture sectors. Finding lasting solutions that balance the need for food safety and security with economic viability will require collaboration between many different stakeholders, including OFA and MPO, and these two initiatives are examples of steps towards that type of collaboration in action.

Lucky winner of the Rotary 50/50 draw at Kemptville Live

Penny for your thoughts Prisons, cats and people

its impending construction. There was a lot of anger, mistrust and passion in these meetings.

submitted by Vic Budz

Nancy Mace of Prescott, winner of the Rotary 50/50 draw at Kemptville Live, attended a Kemptville Rotary meeting recently where she received a cheque in the amount of $7,310. Congratulations to Nancy, and a huge thank you to everyone who supported our fundraiser. The funds raised by the Club will go a long way to meeting our obligations toward local projects.

Royal LePage pulled pork Jumpstart fundraiser a huge success

by Mz Penny

Over the past year, I have listened to a lot of debates at Council meetings over the issues of the jail, development and other very important issues. But one that has stuck with me the most was when one Councillor put forward a motion to ban cats from roaming outdoors unless on a leash. Cats can be a nuisance, digging up neighbours’ yards and leaving behind little presents and doing other such dangerous things to people’s yards. This councillor was pretty passionate over the issue and the need for people to keep their cats from roaming. Thankfully, the motion was overturned by the Mayor saying there were far greater matters at this time, and this could be brought forward at another time. This got me thinking of the jail and how people gathered together to fight

Passion is my thought. We have all heard about the affordable housing crisis in most communities. Rents have reached an incredible high since COVID, making it very hard for working class people, especially in the service industry, to afford rent in this area. We know for a fact that most businesses around town are finding it hard to find and keep staff. Everywhere you look, there are Help Wanted signs.

Kemptville is green and growing. All kinds of housing is being built, housing that will be unaffordable for most of the people I mentioned. Thinking of renting? A two bedroom? Now going for way over $2,000 a month, something that most of these workers just don’t have. So where do they all go? I don’t know, I really don’t, but it scares me. Lack of affordable housing leads to lack of people to work in the service industry, which leads to? And these same people are not the

ones whose voices are heard. They are just too busy trying to make ends meet to be able to fight for themselves and bring awareness to the community. They are the silent voices that I meet with weekly and hear about their plight. When Council was contacted over a condemned apartment building a month ago, we were told that we would hear back from them on the Monday. The silence has been deafening since then.

Where are the passionate people who care more about humans than pristine gardens or if a jail comes to town or not? I know this issue is weighing heavily on Councils’ shoulders and I am sure that they are aware of the outcome if we don’t come up with a solution. We are in a crisis, dealing with humans.

Surely this issue is far more important than any other, whether we are green and growing, or your neighbour’s cat poops in your garden, or the jail gets built, or if a developer is going to build in your neighbourhood.

submitted by Judy Littau

Thursday, July 27th saw Royal LePage Team Realty host their 2nd Annual Pulled Pork Fundraiser for Jumpstart. The day started out with lots of rain but Mother Nature co-operated and the rain subsided in time for the fundraiser. In under 2 hours, a whopping $1,650 was raised for Jumpstart and with Canadian Tire matching dollar for dollar, that is an amazing $3,300 for the local kids in North Grenville. This amount of money could not be raised without the amazing sponsors. A

huge shout out to Grahame’s Bakery who once again donated the most delicious buns for the pulled pork sliders, B&H Your Community Grocer for providing the drinks, Royal LePage Team Realty including realtors Chris Drozda, Diana Delisle, Nina Tachuk, Winnie Singer and Lisa Deschambault for covering the cost of the meat, Pistol Packin Piggies for the preparation of our food and Catered Affairs for lending the tables. A heartfelt thank you to everyone that came out to support our fundraiser where all the

money raised stays in our community. The old saying

“It Takes A Village To Raise A Child” is proven in North Grenville – what a community to come together to support Jumpstart. “Jumpstart is more than just about getting kids active. It's about giving kids from families in financial need the same chance to participate as their neighbours, their classmates and their friends. Whether it's the chance to try a new sport or to continue with a favourite one, no kid should be left out.”

North Grenville declared most active community in Ontario

North Grenville has been crowned Ontario’s Most Active Community as part of the 2023 Community Challenge. This is the second year in a row that North Grenville has won the provincial title, following being crowned as Canada’s most active community in 2021.

individuals, groups, families, sports and fitness groups, and organizations who stepped up to help us once again reach this incredible goal.”

minutes on the Participaction App or website.

prize money.

On July 25, ParticipACTION announced that the Municipality of

“We are absolutely thrilled that North Grenville has once again been selected as Ontario’s most active community,” highlighted Mayor Nancy Peckford. “Council would like to thank North Grenville’s staff, members of the Health, Wellness and Fitness Advisory Committee as well as all of the

“Not only does this initiative showcase the community’s incredible spirit, but it’s also a fun way to be active together and build new connections,” added Councillor Doreen O’Sullivan.

The annual Community Challenge encourages municipalities to compete for the provincial and national Most Active titles by tracking all active minutes for the month of June. Participants track their physical activity

According to the ParticipACTION Community Impact Report, North Grenville tracked over 6.6 million minutes during the month of June.

Over 1,000 residents participated along with more than 20 organizations who helped get people moving, including elementary schools, daycares, fitness studios, and community organizations such as Seniors’ Community Services and Kemptville Youth Centre.

Being named Ontario’s most active community also means North Grenville earns $7,500 in

Congratulations North Grenville!

“This prize money will build on the significant funding received over the last two years which has helped North Grenville to establish more outdoor recreational opportunities in the community,” said Mayor Peckford. “We look forward to working with the community on the best route forward for these dollars.”

The ParticipACTION Community Challenge is an annual event that gets Canadians across the country moving together. For more information visit: www.participaction.com/en-ca/programs/ community-challenge

Kennel cough cases serve as a reminder to keep sick pets at home

place his dog could have picked it up.

Several cases of a canine illness called “kennel cough” in the past few weeks can potentially be linked to the Ferguson Forest Dog Park, where the contagious illness has likely been spread between the furry friends. Local resident Brian McKee took to social media to give a gentle reminder to pet parents about the importance of pets isolating when they are sick, just as humans do.

Brian took his dog to the dog park on July 15, and that same evening, his dog began to show symptoms of illness. A visit to the veterinary clinic on the following Monday revealed the illness to be kennel cough, a contagious illness in dogs that is similar to human bronchitis. Brian never saw any sick dogs at the park on the day he went, but that is the only

“Someone brought their [sick] dog to the park, but that dog may not have shown any symptoms… it takes a day or two for it to show,” Brian told the Times. In the case of Brian’s dog, symptoms including coughing and spitting up appeared quickly after exposure.

Brian shared that his understanding of veterinary guidelines suggests that dogs who are noticeably ill should isolate at home for 10 days. He suggests that pet owners should exercise caution, although it is possible that some of the cases linked to the dog park are nothing that the owners knew about. A friend of Brian’s did reveal to him that he observed what appeared to be a sick dog at the park recently, indicating that there is a need for education. In any event, Brian does not blame the dog park at all.

“The Ferguson Forest Dog Park is fantastic, I will

continue bringing my dog there,” added Brian. “It’s well looked after, the volunteers are incredible, and the people who go there are exceptional. Every time I go there, I have lots of fun and my dog has lots of fun.”

The Times reached out to Dr. Pia Gamberg of the Kemptville Animal Hospital for an expert opinion on isolation guidelines when dealing with a sick dog.

“Most humans have had first-hand experience with infectious or contagious diseases including the flu, common cold, and in more recent years, COVID 19,” said Dr. Gamberg. “Dogs also have a number of contagious diseases which can spread rapidly between them. Like us, many factors determine who gets sick, how sick they get and for how long. A common contagious disease we see in veterinary offices in Kemptville at varying times throughout the year is kennel cough.”

Dr. Gamberg explained

that kennel cough is a common term applied to several illnesses with varying causes. There are vaccines available for many of these infections which pet parents are encouraged to talk to their veterinarian about.

“A common misconception is that only dogs at kennels – where they are co-mingled with unfamiliar dogs and in close contact with other dogs – are at risk for kennel cough,” added Dr. Gamberg. “Any time and situation that dogs are in close contact with other dogs and can share their respiratory secretions, there is a risk of contracting kennel cough. Dog parks, groomers, daycares, and veterinary clinics are all potential exposure areas. Even walking your dog down the street and greeting an infected dog is a risk, as is bringing home clothes contaminated by the respiratory secretions from an infected dog.”

Dr. Gamberg explained

stay home if we were not feeling well. The same is true for pets. If your dog is not feeling well, keep them home to rest and recover. This strategy also decreases the risk of spread to other pets. Other important recommendations include avoiding the sharing of water, food bowls and toys, as well as vaccinating for common contagious diseases such as Bordetella, Parainfluenza and Adenovirus.”

The news is not all grim when it comes to dogs and their illnesses. Dr. Gamberg

other dogs in the community. Get out and enjoy the great outdoors together. If you are concerned your pet may have contracted an infectious disease such as kennel cough, please contact your local veterinarian. We have several in our community to serve you and your pets.”

submitted by Jill Sturdy, Municipality of NG

Mayor Peckford and Deputy Mayor Barclay excitedly announce the news of the Municipality’s ParticipACTION win on July 25.

by Brandon Mayer

CLASSIFIEDS classifieds@ngtimes.ca

FOR SALE

Antique Farm Machinery for lawn decoration. Call 613-258-3561 after 6:00pm

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

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

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

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

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

CROSSWORD

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.

RETIRED CARPENTER

Sick and tired of sitting at home. 613-462-7637

PROPERTY CLEAN UP Dump runs, garage clean outs, downsizing, brush, yard waste, scrap metal etc. Everything Removed Wayne Scott: call or text 613-286-9072

CASUAL EMPLOYMENT - PART TIME

Afternoon and evenings, weather dependent Light duty work. Must be a resident of Kemptville, Transportation provided.

$20 An hour to start. No experience required CALL 613 894 5210

COMMUNITY EVENTS

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, 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, 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.

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Easy Medium Hard

Solution to last week’s Crossword

CREWS sets the bar for rail

A veterinarian for assessing weakness

terminal cancer patients.

submitted by United Counties of Leeds and Grenville

When it comes to the rail business and moving goods, the Jones family and their team are setting a high standard in efficiency.

Clayton Jones, President and owner of Canadian Rail Equipment Works & Services Inc. (CREWS), has designed and built a fast-expanding railcar transloading and storage facility. The effective design can be adapted to regions across Canada.

"By the end of this year, we will double our capacity," Clayton said during a recent tour of Johnstown's 134-acre, state-of-the-art site adjacent to the main CN line corridor. The operation is expected to go from 560 to 1,000 rail cars per day within months.

"We can bolster and strengthen the supply chain with this model," Clayton said of the Johnstown location.

CREWS specializes in "first and last mile" services, which include transloading, railcar storage and consulting. Another service is in-plant switching for larger industrial customers, one of which is the Port of Johnstown. Overall, the CREWS site is a relief valve between Toronto and Montreal.

"This is an ideal location. We're not here by accident," Clayton said, adding that when he first purchased a smaller parcel at the site seven years ago, he felt confident that it would expand quickly. Initially, it was 76 acres, but more land was needed to expand westward for Phases 5 & 6 of development. They've gone from a storage capacity of 100 to 1,000 railcars. Originally, they transloaded about 1,500 cars per year. They are now up to more than 6,000 cars per day.

"We're just scratching the surface. Now we're diversifying into other commodities and are very interested in accommodating Eastern Ontario business," said Clayton.

Clayton also founded and continues to run Jones Rail Industries Ltd., a niche company which, since 2007, designs, builds and maintains rail track for industrial clients.

Clayton credits his family and the dedicated CREWS team for having a strong safety structure in place, the foundation of an effective framework to support the business. He speaks highly of, and is grateful for his partners at CN.

Learn more about CREWS and Jones Rail by visiting their website, see their LinkedIn page, call them at 613-2586919 or send them an email.

Readers of a great age face a common problem. It’s called frailty or general weakness. The frail elderly are at risk of falls that require hospitalization, often leading to palliative care. As the condition progresses, independent living at home can become impossible. For people who have reached the end of their desire to continue, frailty presents a medical dilemma for doctors. How much frailty is needed before the doctor allows, “There’s reason enough to end life by Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)”? And would a veterinarian be the better professional to make this decision?

One of the conditions that doctors must decide at the end of life is whether weakness is reversible. This obviously makes sense when considering life or death situations. But frailty is not like a mathematical problem where there is a right or wrong answer.

Many readers know that I have always fought to

end needless suffering. I have followed the edict of Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, who taught that doctors should do no harm. To my mind, allowing crushing agony to continue, is more than terribly harmful.

Because of this attitude, I fought for five years against well-known organizations, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, pharmacists, and politicians who vigorously fought against the legalization of heroin to ease the pain of terminal cancer.

Two things finally helped to legalize heroin. I visited England and Scotland where heroin had been available for 90 years for pain relief. I talked to experts about pain control which showed that the troubling perceptions surrounding heroin were wrong. And I delivered, in person, forty thousand handwritten letters from readers who had seen loved ones die in pain to the Minister of Health in Ottawa. In 1984, heroin was legalized in Canada to treat pain for

A CMAJ article reports that 53 patients who selected MAID had suffered “multiple geriatric syndromes”, a combination of medical, social and other conditions that involved unbearable suffering. These patients did not have a life-threatening disease. But their lives had degenerated to such a state that a decision to use MAID aligned with the Hippocratic oath.

Other studies show that once severe frailty occurs, patients live 3.5 to 4 years. Weaknesses often lead to great frustration and depression.

There is no universal answer to this dilemma for doctors. Some physicians will never end lives by MAID due to religious, moral, or ethical grounds. For them, there is no compromise.

My family, on the contrary, are quite pragmatic about the end of life. They know I would not want to suffer from severe frailty. A decision to conclude enough is enough would depend on my doctor, wife, and children. I have only half-jokingly expressed the opinion that I would want

a veterinarian to help make the decision. I know how veterinarians ease the suffering of animals.

Our family has seen the lives of several much-loved dogs ended by painless injection when they are in agony. It’s a shattering moment to bear. But it has always seemed consoling to me that veterinarians and families, without being able to converse with pets, know when their suffering is unbearable and needs to end. Yet some doctors, who are able to discuss this matter with patients, often allow severe weakness and suffering to continue much too long.

So, doctors should listen hard when patients say, “Please, I want to die and end this agony.” After all, the patient is the only one who knows the extent of the pain. Prolonging unbearable pain makes no sense, not to the veterinarian.

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

Health Unit raises awareness about bats and rabies

submitted by LGLD Health Unit

Approximately three percent of bats carry the rabies virus. The most common signs of rabies in bats are the inability to fly and resting in unusual places such as the ground or floor. It is important to remember that many of the bats that get into our homes are healthy bats and are looking for a way out.

Bats are nocturnal animals and feed most actively two to three hours following sunset. They are efficient pest controllers as they consume three times their body weight in insects per night. Bats select attics for nursery colonies, however, during the day, they roost in trees and in buildings. Bats are usually born in June. Nests are not required as the young are able to fly and obtain their own food within three weeks. Hibernation occurs between November and March. Some species typically hibernate in attics of buildings while others prefer caves.

Diseases Bats May Carry

Bats do have the potential to carry diseases such as rabies and histoplasmosis, which can affect humans and animals. They may also transmit distemper and mange to household pets.

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system, and is found in the saliva of infected animals. Rabies is fatal if left untreated.

Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by a fungus that grows in soil contaminated with bat or bird droppings. Exposure to the fungus occurs when the soil is disturbed. The disease primarily affects the lungs and can be fatal if left untreated. If you are cleaning areas where bat droppings have accumulated, be sure to wear a protective mask and gloves and keep dust to a minimum.

Bat Encounters

Bat exposures: If a bat is carrying the rabies virus, there is a risk of it being transmitted to an

individual when both of the following conditions apply:

- There has been direct contact with a bat – direct contact with a bat is defined as the bat touching or landing on a person;

AND

- A bite, scratch, or saliva exposure into a wound or mucous membrane. If you are bitten by a bat or if saliva from a bat gets into your eyes, nose, mouth or a wound, wash the affected area thoroughly and get medical attention immediately. If the bat is available, the Health Unit can arrange for it to be tested for rabies.

In a child, any direct contact with a bat (i.e., the bat landing on or touching the child, including contact through clothes) could be considered a reason for vaccine administration, as a child may not be able to reliably communicate the encounter with the bat to determine the type of the contact (i.e., a bite, scratch or mucous membrane exposure).

If you have experienced a bat encounter and/

or may have been bitten, contact 1-800-660-5853 or, on weekends, call 613345-5685 and seek medical attention from a health care provider.

Bat Proofing Your Home Bat proofing your house is necessary when the bats are entering the living space of your home.

It is advisable to contact a pest management company or a wildlife conservation agency for assistance with bat-proofing your home.

If you find a bat in your home and there was no human or animal contact, the bat can be released to the outdoors. Wear thick gloves when handling the bat to avoid being bitten.

Rabies can also affect pets; to protect your pet from rabies, it is important to vaccinate them. Rabies vaccination is mandatory in Ontario for domestic cats and dogs. For more information, visit our website: Bats & Rabies - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.

NG Art Challenge

Jayne Couch Molony, assisted by Jennifer Gow, has been leading a weekly Saturday morning art class for kids and adults alike at the North Grenville Public Library. It’s a free drop-in

class for anyone regardless of skill, experience or training, and the Community Grant Program helps pay for the supplies used. As part of their class, some of the students were issued the challenge of doing a

portrait of Mayor Peckford. This past Saturday, their work was unveiled, with the Mayor and Councillors Deb Wilson and Dorreen O'Sullivan in attendance. No need to have Nancy Peckford in this photo op, there were

already five of her to choose from, and I do think that Nancy was taken by surprise. Well done to all the students who participated, and many thanks to Jayne and Jennifer for their commitment to the arts. Jennifer's

painting was donated to the Mayor. After the event, we were all able to enjoy the Street Piano event, starring the Folk Club group led by our own Peter Johnson. Art and music, a very creative way to spend an afternoon.

NG is truly blessed with all this talent and those willing to share it. Folk club

CPA,

Robert Hossie - Sales & Service James Hossie, Sales & Service Terry Vandemheen, Sales/Office

by Marguerite Boyer

L-R: Margaret Bond, Carolyn Paterson, Jennifer Gow, Harrison Campbell, Jayne Couch Molony (missing form photo Art Barbie)

member Peter Johnson

Aug 12/13 Perseid Meteor Shower Baldwin's Birds

by Gary Boyle The Backyard Astronomer

The highlight of any summer other than camping and going to the cottage is viewing the annual Perseid Meteor Shower. This year, the peak night occurs on the night of August 12 into the morning of the 13th. We should see 60 to 80 meteors (commonly called shooting stars) dashing through the sky at 59 km/second, lighting up the night. This is peak night but the entire shower runs from July 14 to September 1. There could also be a possibility of enhanced activity on

the night of Aug 13 from 9 pm to 10:45 pm eastern.

What we are seeing is earth plowing through the dusty debris of Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a 26 km or 16 mile wide mountain of ice, dust and gravel that last appeared in 1992 in its 133-year orbit around the sun. It will return in the year 2125.

In his 1972 song "Rocky Mountain High", American singer-songwriter John Denver refers to his experience watching the Perseid meteor shower during a family camping trip in the mountains near Aspen, Colorado, with the chorus lyric,

SEEKING LICENSED TECH

"I've seen it rainin’ fire in the sky

The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby”.

The 8% waning crescent moon will rise at around 3 am and will not interfere with viewing the faint meteors.

Known as “The Backyard Astronomer”, Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker and monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. 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.

Berry, Berry Nice Urban Birds

Automotive repair shop in business for over 30 years

Located just outside of Winchester on Hwy 43.

Need to have a 310s automotive licence. We repair all brands major/ minor Clean working environment, clothing, benefits included.

No weekend work!

Hours are 8am-5pm Monday-Friday. Annual shut down for Christmas. Check us out at www.winchesterauto.com

Send resume to bob@winchesterauto.ca, or stop into the shop.

This past weekend, during an overnight stay, I was able to get a sampling of bird behaviour in a South Shore urban area of Montreal. It was amazing the amount of bird activity there was too, with many of them in the process of feeding their young, as can be seen from my pictures. I sat in the garden of a house which abutted onto two or three other such gardens which were all adorned, courtesy of Quebec Hydro,with many interspanning cables and transformer boxes! Unlike our "rural" birds, the "urban" ones have put all these provided conveniences to use for their nests and perches. Familiar to me and you were the Robins, Mourning Doves and Grackles which have obviously adapted to this sort of life. A couple of the Robins were very busy feeding their young after having landed on the overhead wires and then dropping down into their nest, which I couldn't see, so I don't know what sort of location it was in although there was a cedar hedge right below their lofty perch.

Other very busy birds were the House Sparrows which were accompanied by some of their current offspring, but also still feeding "nest-bound" youngsters. These, be

lieve it or not, were in a nest which was actually located inside one of Hydro's devices straddling some very "live" cables, but still relatively safe, providing they didn't touch one of them while touching something that would go to "ground"! The birds have obviously worked this one out for themselves, but more likely are working on the theory that "ignorance is bliss" and long may it safely work for them too!

It was the House Sparrows, which eventually gave me the biggest surprise and a real head scratcher, when two of them landed on a neighbour's garden shingle roofed shed and started to rub themselves on the gritty surface of the lowest tiles to the eavestrough! I have never witnessed a bird doing this before! Dust baths, yes, but never a grit bath in this fashion! I thought that the small gritty surface of the tile had become loose to provide such a bath, but looking at my pictures, that doesn't seem to be the case. The roof's surface seems to be in very good shape, so no loose grit is evident to support my theory, but they were definitely rubbing themselves into the rough tile surface to relieve themselves of something, which were probably tick or mozzie bites, yuk!

Having had a very

interesting few hours watching our semi-city avian friends, it was time to journey home, but not before calling in on some other urban friends.Because of the excessive heat, there wasn't too much to see in their garden, although their surrounding trees echoed to the sound of young Crows up in the green foliage. However, a ubiquitous bright red Cardinal put in an appearance, just to show that they too can survive the hustle and bustle of what to us "country folk" is far too busy an existence. Ah well, it takes all sorts but that's life and I hope that yours is continuing to be eventful too. Stay safe and well.

Cheers, John Baldwin