Issue 32 2023 August 17 NG Times

New traffic light will serve an important purpose

atic when dump trucks are frequently using the intersection, particularly because of the time that it takes them to make the turn. This explains why lights that may seem “out of place” at first glance in a deeply rural area are certainly needed in consideration of road safety for dump trucks and passenger vehicles alike.

by Brandon Mayer

$160,000, traffic lights better not be installed simply to look pretty!

Several weeks ago, a new (but not yet functioning) traffic light appeared seemingly out of nowhere on County Road 22, on the north side of the Canadian Pacific Railway bridge where the county road meets Bennett Road. The purpose of a traffic light in the area seems clear at

first glance. Vehicles turning onto the county road are met with very poor visibility to the south due to the overpass. However, on a county road in a very rural area, traffic lights are seldom installed without a much better reason. What could that much better reason be?

The answer is… dump trucks! Bill Guy, who is the Manager of Engineering and Operations and Public Works for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville explained to the Times that the traffic light has been built as part of an agreement with Lafarge, which has a quarry on Bennett Road. Bill confirmed that there has been increased

production at the quarry recently, meaning that more dump trucks are turning onto County Road 22 from Bennett Road.

“The light will allow steady traffic on County Road 22 but will change when heavy trucks from the quarry are accessing County Road 22,” said Bill. It stands to reason that any vehicle waiting to turn would trigger the relays in the traffic light computer system to best control the flow of traffic. Bill also confirmed that as part of an agreement, Lafarge has paid for the full cost of the traffic light installation. The poor visibility to the south at the intersection becomes more problem-

The United Counties is the upper tier local government responsible for county roads and projects therein. Bill confirmed that the lights at County Road 22 and Bennett Road are one of several projects planned or in the works, including four roundabouts being added as part of the County Road 43 expansion from Colonnade Road to County Road 44 (Rideau St).

So why aren’t these important lights functioning yet? Bruce Enloe from the Municipality of North Grenville had some insights regarding this question.

“Initial delays were caused when new permits were required after CP Railway and Lafarge and Hydro One made some changes to the layout,” said Bruce. “Lafarge recently advised that the

cont'd on page 3

The installed but not yet functioning traffic lights at the intersection of County Road 22 and Bennett Road in eastern North Grenville.

BIA gets new Board Chair

submitted by Deron Johnston

At the Old Town Kemptville (OTK) BIA Board of Management Meeting on Monday night July 24th, the Board appointed a new chair to lead the organization until the end of the Board’s term in December of 2026.

Shelley Mitchell, the owner of To Be Continued Consignment Shop, who has been a long-term BIA Board member and is currently Chair of the BIA Marketing and Programming Committee, was acclaimed as part of the election process. Shelley will assume the role and responsibilities immediately as she takes over from Vice Chair Meagan Cumming CEO of Kemptville Stress Relief Centre who had been Acting Chair for several months.

“I want to thank Meagan Cumming for her role as Chair of the BIA over the last few years; the Board and the downtown businesses greatly appreciated and benefited from her expertise. As

a downtown business owner for the last 14 years, 13 or so of those on the BIA Board, I am excited to take on the role of Chair. The BIA will be busy completing our Strategic Plan and pursuing Board development over the next few months but I’m happy to connect with any business owner or friend of the downtown to discuss any issue relating to downtown.”

– Shelley Mitchell – Board Chair Old Town Kemptville BIA.

After the election and at the close of the Board Meeting, Meagan tendered her resignation from the Board effective immediately. She cited significant professional and personal commitments which she has been struggling to fulfill and felt comfortable about passing the torch to such an experienced Board member who was capable of leading the BIA Board.

“It’s no surprise that Meagan stepped up when the BIA was suddenly without a Chair earlier this year. She

has always been there when she was needed, volunteered at every event and agreed to be Vice Chair this term to support the new Chair Dave Leger who unfortunately had to resign due to an increased workload at his full-time job. We’ll definitely miss her professionalism and her unwavering commitment to the BIA and Buskerfest.” – Sierra Jones-Martel Treasurer Old Town Kemptville BIA.

“As Chair of the Board in the previous term, Meagan navigated the BIA through the pandemic which turned out to be the most challenging period the BIA has ever faced. With her remarkable people skills, especially her ability to truly listen to people, she was able to provide strong, compassionate leadership to the Board at a time when many small businesses and individual business owners were extremely vulnerable. She will be sorely missed.” –Deron Johnston – Old Town Kemptville BIA Executive Director.

culverts

cont'd from front page county road motorists to stop when the signals are likely to be red as they reach the intersection, preventing potential collisions and making North Grenville roads safer.

traffic lights aren’t working yet as they are waiting on Hydro One for completion of installation – Hydro’s schedule is apparently quite busy, Lafarge was informed it will be somewhere near the end of September before they are able to do

the work.”

When the traffic light does commence operation, motorists of all vehicle types will be safer. The approach to the intersection from both the north and the south includes a set of warning lights designed to prepare

Reflections on an Auditor General report

submitted by Steve Gabell President, Local Ontario Greens Constituency Association

A bombshell report was released by the Ontario Auditor General this week on changes to the Greenbelt, and it should serve as the death knell for Premier Ford’s and Minister Clark’s political careers. The AG found that developers received “preferential treatment” in determining which land was to be removed from the Greenbelt.

In a June 2022 mandate letter, Premier Ford directed Minister Clark to conduct “swaps, expansions, contractions, and policy updates” related to the Greenbelt, despite both promising numerous times before the election that the Greenbelt would not be opened up for development. Minister Clark’s Chief of Staff implemented this policy, and he received packages from prominent housing developers with specific sites to target. A team of government employees were bound by confidentiality and given just three weeks to identify and assess 22 parcels of land for removal, and when the lands failed to meet development standards to allow for removal, the criteria was changed to specifically allow pieces of land owned

by developers with access to the government to be removed. In total, of the 7400 acres to be removed from the Greenbelt, 6700 or 92% was removed as a direct result of developer access to Clark’s Chief of Staff.

The three developers who own the land to be removed from the Greenbelt stand to benefit from an increase in land values of at least $8.3 billion, and some of this land was purchased shortly before being removed from the Greenbelt. In February of this year, there were concerns that developers had been tipped off as to which land was to be removed from the Greenbelt, which would be a scandal, yet we now find that land was being removed at the direct request of developers who stood to benefit.

Premier Ford and Minster Clark are trying to claim they did not know how their policy was being implemented by Clark’s Chief of Staff. Are they telling the truth, in which case they should resign for gross incompetence, or are they trying to protect themselves by creating a sacrificial lamb?

The removal of land from the Greenbelt, which was meant to be protected from development in perpetuity, is claimed to be needed

to meet housing targets yet key planning figures have told the Province that the Greenbelt could remain untouched without impacting housing goals.

Ontario Greens leader and MPP Mike Schreiner said:

“What this demonstrates to me is a total lack of care for the people of Ontario – a willingness to break all the rules to sell off the land that feeds us and protects us to wealthy insiders, leaving the rest of us to foot the bill. While the rich get richer, we lose thousands of acres of prime farmland, wetlands, and woodlands.

Ontario Greens want a Province where everyone has a great place to live in an affordable, connected community. Where we make sustainable decisions that will help us grow now and in the future. Where the government works for the people it represents, instead of trying to deceive them.

We are calling on Minister Clark, our local MPP, to resign both his position as Minister and as MPP, and to cooperate fully in any future investigations into this scandalous episode. We need to restore the public’s trust in politics, to stop this corrosion of public life.

One last jam with Bradley Smith, August 19, Kemptville Street Piano

submitted by Lisa Poushinsky

It's open mic jam time! Join host Bradley Smith at the Street Piano this Saturday for the last jam of the season. Whether you’re a new performer or a pro looking for a place to make music (and friends) on a Saturday afternoon, this jam’s for you. Come to listen and/or to play, all levels / genres / instruments welcome.

Bradley Smith, host with the most, will entertain you with his favourite tunes between musical get togethers. No stranger to the stage, Bradley has been playing piano, singing, and running jams and open mics for over 50 years. When not performing solo, Bradley plays Southern Rock, 80’s Rock, and Country music with several bands.

What? The Kemptville Street Piano Concert Series presents

Who? One Last Jam with Bradley Smith

When? Saturday August 19, 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.)

Learn more about Bradley Smith at www.suckerforaballad.com.

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!

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, September 5 at 7:00 p.m. (Open Session) – South Gower Pavilion

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

• 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

Engineering Technologist – Water Wastewater

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking to fill the position of Engineering Technologist in the Public Works Department with Water Wastewater. Interested applicants may submit a cover letter and resume outlining qualification in confidence to Human Resources by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 1, 2023.

Facilities Attendant (Part-Time)

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking to fill part-time positions of Facilities Attendant 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 Monday, October 2, 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

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

Cut the apron strings

by Brandon Mayer

“Nothing much happens in small towns”, as they say. Whoever “they” refers to, I’m sure that they don’t mean to suggest that small towns are boring. Small towns are vibrant, welcoming, mutually supportive, economically self-sufficient, and filled with adventure. From a news standpoint, however, small town happenings rarely compare in their juiciness to the scandals, crimes, major events, and political drama that can be found in big cities.

Newspaper editorials, including the one you’re reading, are meant to discuss topical happenings. This week, many of these happenings are happening, well… in all of Canada, rather than exclusively in North Grenville. The separation of Justin Trudeau from his wife, Sophie, is one heavily-discussed current event as of late.

I really dislike Justin Trudeau, but a politician’s family situation should have no greater impact on their ability to do their job than it would on any Canadian’s

ability to do their job. I don’t blame media outlets for picking up the story. In fact, it would almost be strange for Canadians NOT to know that their Prime Minister is no longer happily married. However, it doesn’t need to be sensationalized, and it’s certainly not a relevant enough topic for a small town editorial.

The other major “happening” lately is the passing and implementation of Bill C-18, a federal bill known popularly as the “Online News Act”. Despite my dislike of Justin Trudeau, I support Bill C-18, which was simply written as a way to ensure that small news providers – like the Times –get their fair share of online advertising revenue from big companies like Meta (which owns Facebook) when their original content generates such revenue online.

The Online News Act itself is not what’s generating headlines… it’s the fact that Facebook and Google have created algorithms designed to automatically detect and filter out anything that is considered “news content” in Canada, preventing Canadians from seeing it. This

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, I see where the Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk has issued a damning assessment on how the Ford/Clark provincial Conservative government selected sites last year for removal from the Greenbelt.

Lysky’s audit found that removing land from the Greenbelt was not needed to meet the government’s housing target, as previously noted by the Ford government’s hand-picked Housing Affordability Task Force. According to Lysyk, the government had already allocated the 1.5 million units to municipalities by October 2022, one month before the government announced its controversial Greenbelt proposal. The Greenbelt was meant to be off limits to developers, and it wasn’t that long ago that Ford promised that his

way, they don’t have to pay the “little guy” for using their content, since they aren’t using it anymore.

A headline that came to our attention last week from News Media Canada was this: “News publishers and broadcasters call for Competition Bureau investigation into news blocking”. Is this the right approach? Facebook and Google are American companies worth billions of dollars that both operate internationally. If these companies are digging in their heels regarding something as simple as paying news producers, what makes us think that they won’t use the “pulling out of Canada altogether” card when sanctioned by the Competition Bureau? Do we really believe that the loss of the Canadian market is such a severe threat to these companies?

I’m not defending the companies at all. Any parent of children aged 6 – 12 knows what “YouTubers” are and how many millions of dollars they make annually. That money comes from ad revenue sharing. It makes no sense that big companies like Facebook

and Google can share advertising revenue with individuals who bring in advertising dollars, but not with news companies.

My first thought in all of this is that a Competition Bureau investigation would do little except hurt Canadians. Imagine if, after being disappointed by the findings of such an investigation, Google and Facebook decided that they would simply block access to their sites from all Canadian IP addresses, rather than do business in a country that over regulates them. Canadians would lose two online services that they enjoy, and would gain nothing in return.

My second thought is this: “Perhaps it’s time to cut the apron strings”. What’s wrong with using Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, and to view entertainment and raw current events footage, while relying directly on news sources for news? The same can be said for Google – let Google direct you to the nearest plumber or a fascinating Wikipedia article about platypuses, and seek news directly from news producers’ websites.

At what point in history did we become so reliant on Facebook and Google for our news? It’s incredibly ironic, given how much these platforms are known for users spreading false information on them. Why is it such a hardship to type “ngtimes.ca” or “cbc.ca” or “theglobeandmail.com” into your internet browser, instead of “facebook.com”?

How on earth did Facebook and Google become our new mommy and daddy, telling us what content we can and can’t see on the internet? The content they are refusing to share is not their content in the first place – go straight to the source instead! Speaking of internet connections and the fact that some people don’t have one, did I mention that cracking open a print copy of the NG Times or any number of other publications requires no internet at all? Seriously! No internet required. Newspapers are so advanced that they even work in a power outage!

I do love a good expression so much so that expressions, or modifications thereof, have inspired the titles of my editorials for the better part of a year, and

the titles of some guest editorials before that. “Cut the apron strings”. Like most expressions, it makes no sense at first. Aprons keep food off our clothes. How do they relate to interpersonal or inter-entity attachment? It’s simple, really. In the past, babies wore aprons to keep their clothes clean, because laundry wasn’t the automated breeze that it is today. These aprons had strings sewn on to help the parent guide the baby’s movements (“two birds one stone” –another great expression). When the baby was ready for more independence, the apron strings would be cut to allow such freedom. The expression has therefore morphed into referring to any instance when a person severs their reliance on another being.

Well… snip, snip. We don’t need Facebook and Google to regurgitate other organizations’ work. If they don’t want Canadian advertising dollars, then Canadians don’t want their recycled news.

government would not touch it. He lied. Again.

It transpires that wealthy developers have been lobbying Steve Clark’s Chief of Staff to get the lands that they bought inside the Greenbelt released for development, and they got most of what they wanted. They now stand to make an astounding profit of $8.3 billion on these lands, which rightly belonged to the people of Ontario. Steve Clark has denied all knowledge of what his Chief of Staff was doing, but that is hard to believe. It is the Minister who directs his Chief of Staff; that’s the way that the system works. If Clark doesn’t have control of his staff, then he shouldn’t be in government, and should resign. This is just another case of Steve Clark saying one thing, and doing something else, and a further example of the lack

of integrity in government.

Anyone interested in reading more information on the Auditor General’s report can find it at https://www. cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-auditor-generalgreenbelt-report-1.6930390.

Acquaintances of mine who identify as fiscal Conservatives don’t seem to be bothered by this debacle. I often hear that all politicians are corrupt, or if they aren’t when they get elected, then they become that way. What a dystopian view of our political system. When I try and engage these people on things like climate change, or the need to change our way of electing those who are meant to serve us (as opposed to serving major developers and corporations), or the paving over of farmland, wetlands and natural areas, or the privatization of our Health Care

and Education systems, I just get a look similar to deer in the headlights. They believe in fiscal responsibility and little else, and that government budgets are similar to their own (they aren’t), and the Ford/Clark government plays on this. They just have to throw these people a tax break now and again, such as removing the payment for a car licensing plate, and they go happily on their way.

Then there are the people who “don’t do politics”, abrogating any responsibility for the excesses of government. They don’t believe that anything will change, so they don’t bother to vote, thereby creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

As someone once said, “Nothing changes if nothing changes”.

Humanity, with its excesses and wilful ignorance,

is destroying our planet. I will forever remember a TV presenter asking a man on the street about climate change, and his answer was “It’s not my problem. It’s my kid’s problem”. Is this what we have become?

Colin Creasey, Kemptville

Dear Editor, A Free Consultation With

Mr. Ford and Mr. Clark:

To those whose job it is to represent Me:

I am 100% against the development of the Greenbelt. You should be too. I am

also 100% against dropping a prison on Kemptville... so should you. The typical manner in which you do things is, you make the decision---without any consultation with other parties, then you go ahead with a plan to make it appear as if you are going through the 'consultation process'. In my opinion, to use an agricultural comparison, that's the stuff that is shovelled out of the horse stalls or the bull pens. The problem is at least twofold:

letters cont'd on page 5

Summer’s gentle nudge into fall at Seniors’ Community Services

submitted by Jill Woodley

If you feel like the summer of 2023 is moving along at the speed of light, you are not alone.

Over the last two months, we welcomed over 120 folks to the annual seniors’ BBQ, celebrated the Municipal Civic Awards, served up a Victorian Tea, and held our Annual General Meeting. All this is on top of the day-to-day activities, Meals on Wheels deliveries, friendly visits, and drives for clients.

Summer is bidding us adieu, and we begin to follow the path leading us to autumn.

In the last week of June, the Lions Club served up a delicious BBQ lunch at Maplewood Park in Oxford Mills. Under the swaying trees and warmth of the sunshine, volunteers set up festive picnic tables, musicians Chris and Jean Jacques strummed their guitars, and the BBQ sizzled with burgers. Picnic attendees decked out in red were treated to a very special afternoon. Once again, Mayor Peckford led a dance-off to add more

1) The idea of developing agricultural land is bad. In the case of the housing developments, it only serves the wealthy supporters of your party.

2) The process is nondemocratic. The people have no say...at least no say that is listened to.

And that is likely what will happen to this...it will be like a whisper in the wind. Steven Clark...once upon a time, you were an honest, sincere person with good ideas. Now, you are part of the big political machine and you are no longer the politician you once were. That's yours and our loss.

Doug Ford...well I'm almost lost for words. I believe that you have not been good for the Province, and moves like this prove that I am not wrong in my belief. The sooner you resign and go off to some cushy corporate board, the better. For advice on how to do this, look up the other Conservative premier who did a good job of dismantling the Province... Mike Harris.

RESIGN NOW...do us all a

minutes to the ParticipACTION challenge—SCS clients and volunteers clocked over 19,000 minutes in June. Singing, dancing, friendships, and great food. It was the perfect end to a month-long Seniors Month.

On June 8th, the SCS Transportation Service volunteer drivers were recognized for their outstanding contribution to North Grenville at the Municipality of North Grenville Civic Awards. The award for the volunteer group (seniors) was presented to the SCS volunteer team who gave over 11,000 hours of service transporting seniors and adults living with physical disabilities to appointments. From Kingston to Ottawa, Merrickville to Manotick, and everywhere in between, over 88,000 km were covered over the last year. Congratulations to the SCS volunteers who continue to impact this community with their dedication.

For many, September’s approach means the beginning of a new year. The golden colours envelop us and we begin to plan for the months ahead. At SCS,

favour.

Peter Johnson (Oxford Mills)

Dear Editor, I see in his letter in the Aug. 10 Times, that Steve Gabell is at it again, this time making pronouncements about what counts as science and what should not be published in the media. In doing so, he insults editors and the media generally about scientific literacy, perhaps holding himself up as an example of a "higher standard" for that. Not a scientist himself, he nevertheless feels qualified to judge which aspects of science are "well established" and which are unworthy of publication.

Having previously exchanged letters in the Times with Mr. Gabell about climate change, I will not reopen that topic. However, he also implies that "creationists" (by which he presumably includes all who believe in a Creator) cannot stand up to evolutionary biology. He

we are no different, and our planning is full steam ahead. Fundraising for our services and programs is paramount for success, and we are excited to offer the third Photos in the Park event on Saturday, September 23rd. This is an opportunity to get professional photos from a local photographer and help raise funds for services that support hundreds of folks in North Grenville. Picture perfect! Details can be found on our website, or by calling the Centre. Spaces are limited, so don’t delay.

In November, our Wreath and Planter fundraiser will be back! Decorate your doors and porches in support of our Meals on Wheels Program. With increased food costs, this fundraiser helps subsidize a fundamental source of support for the hundreds of seniors who rely on this door-to-door service. Did you know that in 2022, we delivered close to 8,000 meals to people in our community? Our volunteers ensure access to nutritious meals that offer peace of mind for our clients and their families. We look forward to another

is perhaps unaware that the Neo-Darwinian Synthesis, the core of modern evolutionary theory, is founded on very shaky ground and that mounting evidence further undermines it. Suffice it to say that Darwinian evolution cannot account for the diversity of life, nor the "origin of species" as promoted by Darwin and his followers.

I'm not sure who the "wealthy and powerful individuals" are that Gabell had in mind. From my experience, it is dedicated scientists - neither wealthy nor powerful - who question climate alarmism and regnant

successful event and seeing your holiday spirit on every porch.

Keep an eye out for all the fun ahead. For more information, please reach out at 613-258-3203 or at hello@seniorscs.ca. Take a look at our website (www. seniorscsca) and access all of our news, including the most recent Annual Report. Follow our FB and Instagram too. We look forward to welcoming you to the Centre.

evolutionism, and they are ignored, marginalized, dismissed and even cancelled for questioning supposedly "settled science" dogma.

By the way, as one previously labelled a "climate denier" by Mr. Gabell, I am still awaiting a cheque from

the "fossil fuel companies' which he claims bankroll all of us doubters.

Gabell is correct that climate change and the creation-evolution debate are contentious "issues", yet he claims that they have been "resolved" scientifically,

so that they should not be discussed in the media. In contrast, I believe that is precisely where such issues should be aired, and I applaud the NG Times for its willingness to allow contrary voices to speak.

Ed Norman, Kemptville

Rachel S. Jansen, B.Comm., J.D. Paul A. Jansen, BA, LLB.

Wasting my time

by Mz. Penny

I lead a pretty full life, and I never seem to have those moments where I say “I’m bored”. I wake up early each morning eager to start my day and go through, in my mind, all the things I want to achieve before the end of the day. It’s quite a long list, and most of the time, I never do get through that list.

I have a project that I am working on right now, and because I am not liking it, I have been prolonging it, and finding ways to distract myself from finishing it. This project is keeping me from moving on to things I really want to

do. One of the distractions I have is an online game, a game I love playing because it helps my memory and has no ending to it. It is also interactive with other team players, who are my ‘friends’? I feel that as long as I play it, I won’t get Alzheimers or dementia. Or at least that is what I tell myself. The game is quite addictive, and I have an addictive personality. I keep telling myself, I am going to delete the game, and refocus my brain on other more important matters such as this latest project.

There are so many distractions in life, especially with social media and easy access to addictive games. that I see myself slowly slipping away from things that are important to these kinds of distractions, which were not there for me five years or so ago. I was more focused on my projects, household, reading, music, socializing with real friends, etc., things

that created meaning and value for me. I have a list of all of the things I want to do, or should do, but I easily slip back into that ‘other world’ of online games. Some days, I easily find myself scrolling through my Facebook page, checking out what’s going on with friends and family, and looking at their latest posts, another distraction that can easily take up hours of my life if I let it.

Having this full life, and knowing that I am wasting my time on the internet, I wonder what it is like for our younger generation, those who are being brought up with this new norm? I see them on their phones constantly, and how easily distracted they become from real tangible things, such as the arts, reading, writing, etc.. Maybe those things aren’t as important to this younger generation, it seems all about creating an alternative world on the internet with ‘friends’.

I have forever in my mind the memory of an animated movie I once saw called Wall-E, from 2008 I believe. At the time of watching it, it seemed so surreal, but now it seems to become more and more of a reality. I encourage people to watch it, if available on the internet. Ah yes, everything is available on there, from how to string your weed whacker to how to make the perfect bread. I have this love/ hate thing going on with the internet. It has enabled me to work from anywhere in the world, which means everywhere I go, my work comes with me.

So today, I will focus on this project that I have, and my goal is to finish it. Will I have spent hours wasting my time on this project? I have spent my time on enough useless things, it will be the client’s decision in the end, and may perhaps bring some value to them.

The importance of quality time with your spouse

by Brandon Mayer

While not particularly active in the therapy world anymore, I have provided mental health counselling services to countless people in the last few years, and relationship troubles are a far too common link between clients presenting with all sorts of different problems. The most common issue for couples is usually poor communication. For couples with kids, another problem is accumulated stress and a lack of connection caused by an exclusive devotion to the kids.

Should parents be devoted to their children? Absolutely. On the flipside of relationship issues, a lot of parenting issues can stem from a lack of family time. Kids need to spend quality time with parents and siblings as part of the “family unit” especially when young, as part of their development in a social world. It builds social knowledge, confidence, a sense of belong-

ing and safety, and more. But are parents wrong for wanting “couples time” sometimes? Not at all! In fact, the resulting strengthening of your relationship may even make you a better parent. “Mommy and daddy time” may therefore be just as beneficial to the kids as it is to mommy and daddy!

I use “mommy and daddy time” as a catchphrase here, but this logic applies equally to “mommy and mommy time” or “daddy and daddy time”. This does not have to be a complicated, well planned out activity. It could be as simple as chatting and laughing together after the kids go to bed. For more exciting activities, you could arrange to have grandparents or other extended family or close friends take the kids for a night or two. Maybe you’ve both been so tired from working long hours, doing house chores, and being parents that you’ve gotten into a habit of going to bed early, or zoning out with your phones in the evening. This is common,

but that unspoken lack of closeness with your significant other can sneak up on you over time. Bad habits tend to get worse, not better, unless you work on them.

Once you have the logistics figured out, the question becomes “What to do together as a couple?” It depends on what you like, of course. Ask yourself, have you actually watched a movie that’s not G-rated this year? If not, that may be a simple activity that packs more meaning than you could have ever imagined. Other simple ideas could be:

- Meeting for lunch once or twice a week

- Going for a walk in the evening, if the kids are old enough to be left alone for a short time

- Intimate time

- Talking about world events, interests, stories from the past, etc (but not day-to-day problems or worries!)

If you have some spare money, and someone willing to take the kids for a night (or a few nights), one thing that can be a really great experi-

ence is going to a hotel. It’s something my wife and I do a few times a year. In fact, I’m writing this while looking out a hotel window at the bustling Byward Market in Ottawa below me. With the kids away, we took the opportunity to have “us time” over the long weekend. A hotel stay is great because, even though it can be pricey, it offers a firm break from some of the things that make parenting (and even life in general) stressful. There is no cooking to do, and no fussing trying to make the kids eat it. There are no dishes to be done. There is a toilet and sink and shower/bathtub that can be used without thinking about scrubbing them clean at some point in the near future. Towels and bedsheets can be used and will be laundered by someone else. Crumbs can be accidentally spilled on the floor and will be vacuumed by housekeeping. The coffee is free, and the TV is large and will be tuned to something other than kids’ shows. Sleep is uninterrupted.

No, I am not a shareholder in any local hotels, but yes, I believe that a mini vacation – even just a day trip with your significant other – is one of many great ways to reconnect and strengthen your relationship. It’s easy as a parent to fall into the trap of believing you are some kind of “hero” for being stuck in a rut and devoting every waking second to your kids. However, the real hero comes out when you realize that taking the time to make

sure that you and your partner are happy people will actually make you better parents. Kids are intuitive, and they see a strong relationship between their parents as a sign of security and love.

Remember: you deserve to enjoy life, too!

North Grenville celebrates 25 years of amalgamation this year and the Municipality is planning special meetings to mark the occasion. This is one of a series of articles the Times is publishing to remember South Gower, Kemptville, and Oxford-on-Rideau and how they came to be North Grenville in 1998.

Separation anxiety

by David Shanahan

The Council meetings were getting very tense at times. Two members opposing the other two, with the Chair casting the decisive vote again and again. On the one side, a belief that massive investment in infrastructure was the best guarantee of the municipality’s future. On the other side, fear that taxes were getting beyond the ability of people to pay. This was Oxfordon-Rideau and the year was 1852.

The planned coming of the railway through the township was seen by many as the guarantee of future prosperity for the community, especially that of Kemptville Village. It promised trade, increased population and economic opportunity. So, when the railway company ran into financial difficulties and looked for increased investment, it was municipalities and individuals along the route that were approached to take a part in the promised returns that railway investments offered.

Most of the major players in Oxford’s business community bought stock in the Bytown and Prescott Railway Company - just over £5,000 (or $20,000), that’s $1 million in today’s money. This was not enough for the company, however, and a public meeting was called by residents in September, 1851 to call on the Council to invest municipal funds in the railway. There were four councillors sitting that year: Rickey Waugh from Oxford Mills, Ambrose Clothier, William Bottum and Thomas Craig. The Reeve was Robert Kernahan who, along with his colleagues, had become shareholders as private individuals. But Waugh was not convinced that investing public money was the best move for Council, and, when the public meeting resolved that the township should take £6,000 (or $24,000 - another $1 million today) in railway stock, he opposed the move. He believed that “the present

taxes are as much as can be paid with convenience by the great bulk of the people”.

But the triumvirate of Clothier, Bottum and Kernahan carried the day, and a by-law was passed authorising the Council to subscribe that amount in railway debentures. But things began to go sour almost immediately. At that public meeting in September, 1851, the people had been assured that the debentures would not be called in for many years, if ever. What that meant was that the railway company promoters assured the residents (and Council members) that their investment was simply a paper one, a guarantee of funds available to the company, if needed at some point in the future. But, the people were assured, the company was in fine form and would probably never need those £6,000: Oxford-on-Rideau could look forward to drawing profits without ever having to pay over a single dollar in cash.

That was September, 1851; by March, 1852, things had changed radically for everyone. The railway company found itself over-extended and suddenly needed that cash. In May, councillors Clothier and Bottum moved that the township seek a loan of the money from the provincial government in order to pay the company. Waugh, now joined on Council by T. A. Kidd, opposed, noting that such a move flew in the face of promises made to residents when they agreed to buy stock. Waugh and Kidd did not believe that Council had the right to impose new taxes on the people in order to repay a loan from the Province to pay for railway stock. After all, at

that meeting the previous year, “it was represented that the Stock would not be called for before 20 years if ever and that this Council is not justified in imposing a tax to pay principal without the consent of the people of the Township”. But Kernahan, as Reeve, voted in favour of the loan application.

Throughout that year of 1852, Waugh and Kidd continued to try and obstruct the implementation of the loan. They moved a resolution at Council to have the topic put aside for a year before being addressed again. They tried to prevent, or at least delay, the required public notices being published in the Prescott Telegraph (there being no local newspaper). But at every stage, Reeve Kernahan (himself an investor in the Bytown and Prescott Railway Company) voted with Clothier and Bottum (two more private investors in the company) to override every attempt by the other two members of Council to prevent the new “Railway Tax” from being introduced. In October, 1852, the funds were paid over to the Secretary of the Company, Robert Bell, and the Township of Oxford-onRideau found itself with a huge financial debt which required long term tax increases for residents.

But the move to invest in the stock of the Bytown and Prescott Railway Company did more than just raise a new tax to be levied on taxpayers. It led, within a few years, to the Village of Kemptville separating itself from the Township. This, too, was a development linked directly to the railway investment, and cast little credit on the trio behind the railway scheme: Kernahan,

Clothier and Bottum. It was a division which was to continue for 141 years, until amalgamation in 1998 once again united Kemptville and Oxford-on-Rideau, this time bringing in South Gower into the new municipality to be called North Grenville. But the story of that original split over railways is a story for another day.

What’s the rub of dry eyes?

economic burden of disease to be $24,300 per person. That includes the costs faced by the patient for treatment and the costs to businesses and society resulting from unemployment, days of work missed, and low productivity at work.

After reading this, are your eyes itchy? Everyone should have regular eye exams, whether to treat a mild case of dry eye syndrome or to take advantage of standard tests by ophthalmologists to diagnose more serious problems.

By-law discussion dominates virtual Council meeting

Last week’s regular Council meeting on August 9 was packed with business, all done virtually with Deputy Mayor Barclay at the helm. Mayor Peckford was away on a family vacation, so she was not in attendance online. Council moved to appoint the Deputy Mayor as the meeting Chair – a motion that is in effect for one meeting only.

If experiencing recurring headaches, most people go see a doctor. Or, for severe chest pain, it’s a rush to the emergency room. But when people are constantly rubbing their eyes, there’s no trigger of alarm. It’s just itchy eyes! But Dr. Clara Chan, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Toronto, says it could be a problem called dry eye syndrome. Neither lethal nor curable, sufferers simply need to keep the annoyance under control.

Dr. Chan reports that the sooner you see a doctor and start treatment, the better the result. It’s surprising that an estimated 1 in 5 adults have personal experience with dry eye syndrome.

Dry eye syndrome is more common in women, but aging is a cause in both sexes. People may notice the condition more acutely when flying, due to dryness of the cabin air. Excessive screen time can induce irritation too, including blockage of tear ducts caused by rubbing the eyes. Long periods of looking up at computer screens and not blinking decrease lubrication of the eyes. Add to this list diabetes and thyroid disease, the result is too much salt in the eyes which triggers chronic inflammation. In time, there will be damage to the structures of the eye.

What about medication?

Antidepressants and antihistamines can cause dry eyes. Indoor air can be dry, causing itchy eyes. When outdoors, it’s advisable to wear sunglasses and avoid smoky conditions. If wearing contact lenses, follow the advice about hygienic care.

A visit for professional help might involve the quick fix of removing a foreign particle from the eye. Or if there’s an infection, antibiotics will be prescribed.

What’s the scenario in most cases? Dr. Clara Chan

cautions that there is no cookie-cutter recipe that works for every patient. Rather, patient counselling and trying different treatment options help to identify the right treatment.

The simple measure of using a humidifier is a good start. Wearing protective eyewear on cold or windy days will help. A variety of lubricating eye-drops are available over the counter to provide speedy relief of symptoms. But if there are recurring symptoms despite these measures, see your doctor.

You may need antiinflammatory eye-drops such as those that contain cyclosporine. Thermal or laser light therapy for your eyelids may be another option. According to a survey conducted in Canada by Dr. Chan, 20 percent of respondents were dealing with moderate dry eye disease and 70 percent had severe problems. She calculated the

This is a message that bears repeating. Sore eyes are not lethal. But doctors see lives lost every year due to patients who delay getting medical attention. Here’s the important advice: never ignore rectal bleeding or blood in the urine, a breast lump, a persistent cough, or abnormal vaginal bleeding.

And don’t fall into another potential trap. Remember, it’s not the doctor who sets the date for an appointment. If you have one of the above symptoms, never accept a delayed appointment. Why? Because it may cost you your life! Tell the scheduler what the problem is and that there is a need for urgency. If no result, try your utmost to find another doctor.

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.

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

The first item of business was a minor variance request for a property on Alma Street. The request was for a deviation from the minimum exterior side yard rules, to allow a building to be constructed 3 metres from the property line, instead of 6 metres. This proposal was the subject of a public meeting, though no members of the public spoke up. The applicant was in attendance, but had no comments for Council since there were no questions or concerns from members of the public to address. With letters of no objection from local governing bodies having been received, the recommendation from municipal staff was for the variance request to pass, and Council agreed.

Another public meeting took place regarding a requested density increase for a proposed development in Kemptville’s northwest end. The increase would see 122 apartment units, up from the original request of 84 units, at the site on Wellington Rd, adjacent to Giant Tiger and KFC.

Taking advantage of fresh vegetables from our over-producing gardens is top of mind this time of year. Today, we turn to a native dish, Succotash. The word “Succotash” comes from the indigenous word “msickquatash” meaning boiled corn kernel. And since corn is now readily available, here we go with Sufferin’ Succotash with apologies to the Warner Brother cartoon featuring the infamous Sylvester the Cat.

Sufferin’

Ingredients

Succotash

• 1, 8 ½ ounce can of lima beans, drained

• 1 finely chopped small red onion

• 1 small zucchini diced to ½ inch chunks

• 3 cups of fresh sweet corn kernels right off the cob (about 4 cobs)

• 2 small chopped tomatoes

• 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes

• 2 finely chopped (or crushed) garlic cloves

• 2 teaspoons of olive oil

• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme (if you have it) or 1 teaspoon dried

• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Preparation

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat

• Add the red onion and garlic and sweat until soft

• Add the zucchini and tomatoes and cook till softened

• Add the lima beans, corn, thyme and pepper and cook through

• Add a bit of water, stir, cover your pan with a lid and let steam briefly till the water is gone

Serve Succotash warm on a bed of rice. It also makes a great salad by refrigerating and mixing in some Balsamic vinegar (a couple of tablespoons) either as a main meal or a side dish. A loaf from Grahame’s is a welcome accompaniment as is a cool unoaked Chardonnay. Rejoice, all vegetarians and enjoy! Best from pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

A representative of the developer spoke to the Council, and answered questions. Councillor O’Sullivan raised some questions regarding traffic in the area, and plans to maintain the green space in the area of the proposed development. There was a back and forth discussion between Councillor O’Sullivan and a developer representative, discussing the infrastructure in the area.

Councillor Strackerjan expressed her appreciation for the flexibility shown by the developer – Kevlar Developments – calling this situation a “really good example of where there’s flexibility that can be achieved – the willingness to revisit and rework a plan.”

An unusual amount of time was spent discussing this particular request –nearly a full hour in a two hour meeting. Ultimately, despite Council’s support for the amendment, Kevlar’s request for a deferral was granted so that the wording

by Brandon Mayer

of a draft zoning by-law amendment can be reviewed by staff to ensure that there will be no problems regarding an offsite parking request.

Other routine business occurred in the remainder of the meeting, including the consideration of tenders for municipal work to be completed.

The meeting adjourned after just over two hours. There have been no other regularly scheduled Council meetings added to the Municipality of North Grenville calendar as of the time of writing.

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) has advised that water levels in all area bodies of water are currently higher than normal for this time of year. Some persistent rainfall last week, combined with a few heavy rainfall events during storms, have pushed the RVCA coverage area into a “water safety statement” condition.

A water safety statement is issued by the RVCA when “high flows, unstable banks, melting ice or other factors that could be dangerous for recreational users such as anglers, canoeists, hikers, children, pets, etc.” are expected. However, flooding is not expected at this time.

While there have been a few days of on-and-off rain with average total rainfall amounts, other days have packed a much bigger punch. For example, the recorded amount of rainfall for North Grenville on the Civic Holiday, August 7, was 96.6 millimetres – nearly 10 cm of rain, or one third of a foot.

We rarely see the effects of such heavy rainfall in our day to day lives (besides having longer grass to mow) because the water is absorbed by the ground. However, this same rainfall will significantly raise the water level in open bodies of water where storm drains commonly let out as well.

What is the danger from increased water levels? In a word – flow! Flow rates can be much faster and far less predictable when water levels are high, creating higher risk even for experienced swimmers. Children may also not know the dangers until it is too late, and pets which are accustomed to jumping in the water may be taken by surprise when it is much harder than usual to return to shore.

“Until the water levels and flows recede, the RVCA advises the public to exercise extreme caution around all water bodies and dam structures, and remind children about the dangers of playing near open water,” reads a statement released by the RVCA. “All boaters and swimmers using the Rideau River and other larger water bodies are advised to exercise extreme caution due to much higher flows than normal over the next few days.”

The RVCA’s water safety statement was issued on August 10, and stays in effect until August 18. It may be extended if water levels continue to pose a threat. It is recommended that readers stay informed by checking the RVCA website regularly at https://www.rvca.ca/.

Water levels higher than normal for this time of year

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

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.

CROSSWORD

1 block proximity to all amenities. Immediate occupancy, $1975/ month. Call Jeff at 613978-4700

GARAGE SALE

Aug 19, 8am to 2pm Multi family 114B George street west rain or shine. Aug 19, 8-3, 355 County Rd 25, Oxford Mills

PROPERTY CLEAN UP Dump

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 Also seeking experienced labour. Pays $25-$30 an hour. Must have own transportation. Could lead into full-time work. CALL

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 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, August 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 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

Farmers welcome funding for healthy soils, clean water

practices farmers can use to protect water quality and the environment.

by Bruce Buttar, Director, OFA

The environment is important to all of us, but it’s particularly key for farmers and their businesses. That’s because we need healthy soils, and clean air and water to grow the crops and raise the livestock that provide the food, fuel and fibre that we all depend on.

This makes environmental stewardship a core part of our jobs as farmers, but as it’s also a responsibility we carry on behalf of society, it’s a job we can’t do alone.

That’s why it was great to see two separate announcements from the provincial government recently for programming to enable research and projects that support water quality and soil health.

I farm near Cobourg and I attended one of those events that took place in our part of the Province when David Piccini, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, visited Kaiser Lake Farms near Napanee to announce a $6 million investment into projects that will support the health of the Great Lakes.

Of particular interest to farmers is the support

for projects that enhance agricultural land stewardship and will help keep run-off from agricultural nutrients out of the Great Lakes.

Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson visited Shuh Orchards in Waterloo Region to announce $68 million in funding for three new programs to support sustainable farm initiatives.

The bulk of the funding will be made available to farmers through the Resilient Agricultural Landscapes Program (RALP) to reduce tillage, create water retention ponds, and other practices and projects to reduce emissions and sequester carbon. Funds will also be available to farmers through the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative to help modify equipment and operating practices on the farm.

The third program, On-Farm Applied Research and Monitoring (ONFARM) will dedicate funding to agricultural sustainability research to improve soil health and water quality.

During Minister Piccini’s visit, Kaiser Lake Farms showcased various

These include buffer strips of perennial plants alongside crop fields to reduce water run-off, grass waterways to funnel surface water into drains, cover crops to minimize soil erosion and build soil organic matter, and tile drains that help surface water get into the ground and make it accessible to plants and nutrients.

These are just some examples of tools and practices many farmers right across Ontario have been using for years – in some cases decades –as part of their ongoing commitments to farm sustainably from both an economic and an environmental perspective.

On my own farm, for example, which is in a very hilly area of Ontario, I started no-till planting in the 1980s to minimize erosion, boost soil structure and encourage healthier soils. I’ve also long been involved in our local soil and crop improvement association which supports agricultural research and farmer learning around environmental stewardship practices.

As technology

evolves, many new tools are becoming available to farmers, like precision farm equipment that lets us apply fertilizer in the precise spots where the soil needs it or minimize spraying to only target weeds directly, or robots that can scout for pests, make yield predictions, or take care of weed control.

Farmers are always trying to be more efficient and do a better job to produce more food with fewer resources. These types of technologies will help us do that while also continually improving environmental stewardship and sustainability. That’s not just good for farmers; we all benefit from an environment that’s healthy, thriving and sustainable today and for future generations.

Water and soil, after all, are two of the main ingredients that we depend on to feed ourselves, so it’s tremendously important that we manage those valuable resources wisely and we appreciate the support of government through programs like the ones that were just recently announced to help us do that.

FOR SALE SOON

The Family of the late Beatrice Mae Craig of Kemptville, who passed on June 29, 2023, would like to give their sincere thank yous to all who extended condolences and warm words of comfort during a difficult time.

Kemptville Youth Centre

ANNUAL BOOK FAIR at FFC

August 18, 8-7

19, 8 - 5

20 8-12

KYC is seeking book sorting volunteers anytime between 8 am and 5 pm

Saturday August 12th to Thursday 17th

Baldwin's Birds

I am writing this on a somewhat dismal day, but I hope that it isn't enough to dampen your spirits! Mine were certainly buoyed up yesterday when visiting some friends at their lakeside cottage and got a chance to go for a boat ride and also enjoy the woods surrounding the lake. What a beautiful sunny day, with lots of boat activity going on for us to see and enjoy, as we too took a water-borne tour, to see things for ourselves, such as some of the birds that were not being disturbed with all the somewhat noisy action!

Meandering through the water and around the smaller islands, we came across one which housed a small Cormorant colony and a number of them were sitting up in the pine trees observing the surrounding scenery, with their black feathering and distinctive beaks being silhouetted in the bright sunlight, making photography a bit awkward.

Run For The Cure BBQ

There were some though that were down at water level on some rocks, accompanied by a pair of Black-headed Gulls, so all was not lost! Surprisingly, apart from these sightings, there wasn't much other bird activity taking place on the actual lake itself. We passed a loftily and substantially built Osprey or eagle's nest, and saw the odd one or two Common Gulls bobbing up and down on the water but that was about it! However, on the shore at the cottage, it was a little bit more lively! Our friends have got two Hummingbird feeders, located right on the rail of their house deck, which also has a couple of flower boxes too. The flowers were being ignored but the feeders were not and it was possible to sit on one of the benches surrounding the deck watching the Hummingbirds feed within a very close range, without them being too perturbed. It sounds like I should have

managed to get plenty of close-up pictures of them, but, - my, how fast they can move, as you may well know, and they are the masters of disguise when they do put down on a branch! Zoom, zoom! One second you hear them, the next you might see them, but they are never still, it seems. The one that I tried to watch, perched hidden in the green leafed trees, on their barest branches even, and tried to get a good camera shot of, was almost out of the question! It was either in a shaded spot, or close to a leaf, but never in clear view! When it did appear to feed, it never seemed to be hovering just in the right place, or was partially hidden by some part of the feeder! Wow! Talk about frustrating! Anyway, it kept me occupied for quite a long time trying, and then came along a complete surprise!

I was ready "to call it quits", when a bright red flash caught my eye high up, in one of the tall green leafed trees. Swinging my camera and eyeballs round, I was determined not to miss whatever it was. This bright red visitor was a Scarlet Tanager and I was able to get only a couple of minutes seeing it before it disappeared from whence it came! I managed to snap off only 9 shots of it, but at least I got something, so I was well pleased, - great!

I hope that you too are managing to see and enjoy your regular birds and, maybe now and then, a surprise visitor or sighting. Stay safe and well, Cheers, John Baldwin

26th Annual Harvest Day Demonstrations

Sat.,Aug26& Sun.Aug27, 2023

We held our first Run For The Cure BBQ of the year on August 2nd. We had wonderful support from our community, Fat Les, B&H, Giant Tiger, Canada Breads, Jonsson’s Independent and Winchester Foodland.

We ended up raising $640 thanks to our generous community, clients and sponsors! We are starting to plan our next BBQ for the end of September and will hopefully be able to have BBQ and desserts!

Corn stand run by local youth boasts high popularity

Admission $5 per person - Children 12 & under FREE

BBQ Chicken Dinner

Saturday, Aug 26 $22.00

Pick up starting at 4 pm

ADAVANCE SALES ONLY CONTACT: BRENT CHRISTIE 613.802.0369

SILENTAUCTION

ENTERTAINMENT

BOLD TIME FARMER'S BREAKFAST

Sunday, Aug 27 8am To 11 Am

Adults $12.50

Children 12 & Under $6 Cash Only

Hillbilly Highway - Sunday, Aug 27, 10am to 3pm

Working Demonstrations - 10am to 4pm 5877 County Rd. 18, Roebuck, ON

Send

Lake and Cottage Country Birds

submitted by Maggie Bresee, CIBC

Landyn Carnegie, 15 years old, grows, picks and sells his own sweet corn to save money for school and “rainy days”. His corn stand located at the intersection of Townline Road and Kennedy Road is very popular amongst North Grenville locals. Photo by Ashley Sloan.

Tempered Purple

The NG Photography Club

by Fred Schueler – Fragile Inheritance Natural History

In the last few weeks, some roadside ditches, fields, and wetlands have been brightened by the blooming spikes of Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). This spectacular species is native to Europe, temperate Asia and northwest Africa, and has been introduced widely around the globe, often initially as a garden plant, but soon doing invasively well on its own.

Through the 1980s and 1990s Purple Loosestrife was the poster child of the threat of the newly-conceived idea of invasive alien plants. It used to be thought that continental plant communities were so coadapted that foreign species couldn’t break into them, and the way Purple Loosestrife took over wetlands that were otherwise intact was part of the argument that this wasn’t true.

The Loosestrife grew up to two metres tall, from massive wood-like root systems, with hundreds of thousands of blooms on a single plant, completely dominating entire fields and wetlands, and, as one of my notes from 1996 remarks, “shedding seeds like pollen.”

Study of biological control of Loosestrife began in 1985. After exhaustive study in Europe of other

plants they might damage, in 1992 the Canadian and US governments approved the release of two European leaf-eating beetles, Galerucella calmariensis and G. pusilla, to chew down the Loosestrife. Naomi Cappuccino and her students at Carleton Univerisity brought the beetles to eastern Ontario. Two other biocontrol insects have also been introduced, Hylobius transversovittatus, Loosestrife Root Weevil, and Nanophyes marmoratus, Loosestrife Flower Weevil, whose English names describe their habits, and which also weaken the plants though their action is less conspicuous than the leaf-eating of the Galerucella beetles.

In a ditch along County Road 18 just south of Bishops Mills which I monitor as a frog hibernation site, in August of 2003, Loosestrife was “codominant, young 6070 cm plants in bloom, encroaching with Grass on the ditch,” so abundant that in November I “swept Loosestrife seeds off the ice.”

In July 2004, the beetles had arrived, a few plants had “some leaf damage,” many had forked stems, and we found two adult Galerucella calmariensis.

In 2005, the control beetles exploded across eastern Ontario, leaving many fields grey with the dead stems of the Loosestrife, and in

July, Bird's-foot Trefoil was expanding into the area of the ditch that used to be dominated by the Loosestrife but now was restricted to “little short stems, and a few stems in upland sites around the intersection in the village.” In 2006, it was “a few stunted plants” and in 2007, “many [were] 1020 cm tall... leaves riddled or twisted from Galerucella herbivory, but others are just small without any holes in the leaves... where the roadside had been lined with Loosestrife.” This stunted growth continued until 2010, with an “un-beetled plant in the sandy fill behind the General Store, unperforated, 115 cm tall, with massive flowerheads” reminding us what the recent decades had been like.

The first year when Loosestrife recovered somewhat was 2010, when many insect herbivores seemed not to have done well, and the surviving Loosestrife roots in the ditch put up a purple mass of low shoots, displacing the Trefoil in areas where it had become dominant. The Galerucella rebounded, and beat back the Loosestrife until 2017, when, after a dry spring when the beetles had been abundant, a rainy summer seemed to wash the larvae off the plants, unleashing them to grow tall and bloom, leading many people to remark on the

invasiveness of the species.

In 2018, there were few of the beetles in the spring, but they exploded during the summer, leaving “plants in ditch moderately forked & moderately perforate,” even after mowing of the roadsides, showing that the Galerucella weren’t set back by roadside mowing. The Loosestrife was severely chewed back in 2019, but recovered somewhat in 2020 and 2021. Last year, I recorded “short plants forked & heavily perforate from Galerucella.” This year, there was lots of beetle damage in the spring, favoured by the dry period in May, and there’s a moderate bloom of Loosestrife in many areas, probably promoted by heavy

recent rain.

If you see Loosestife that’s less than a metre tall, you’re seeing evidence of the effectiveness of the insect biocontrol of the species, but the Loosestrife roots are persistent and beetle populations fluctuate from year to year and between different areas and habitats. There are low islands in the Ottawa River which are still solidly purple, and we assume that the beetles can’t get established there because they can’t overwinter under water. This means that while the Loosestrife is “under control,” it’s still an “abundant naturalized wildflower,” and will be conspicuous for the foreseeable future.

Inglis Waterfalls Bruce Peninsula. Photo by Scott Elmore