ND Times Issue 7 2023 April 06

Tom Clapp launches Tom’s Bucket Run

allows a choice of where funds will be directed.

Tom, who turned 80 last year, is accustomed to fundraising, and wants to do something big this year for his “grand finale” fundraiser. He hopes to raise not just funds, but also awareness about the importance of being tested for prostate cancer.

Graham Thompson from the Ottawa Hospital Foundation spoke to the group at the launch event, providing information on the fundraising specifics.

by Brandon Mayer

Local resident and wellknown prostate cancer fundraiser Tom Clapp has launched his latest fundraising campaign, “Tom’s Bucket Run”. On May 27, Tom will participate in the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend in Ottawa, with the goal of raising $80,000. The goal is for 50% of the funds raised to be donated to the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation for the Cancer Navigation Program, which has been funded largely over the years by the Dare to Flash a Stache program.

Tom explained at the launch event for his newest fundraising campaign that

he is working in partnership with Prostate Cancer Support Ottawa. The local prostate cancer support group –the Black Walnut Group – is still running, with a meeting planned this week. Tom’s wife, daughter, and son-inlaw were all in attendance at the launch, as were one representative each from the Ottawa Hospital Foundation and the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation, and members of Tom’s team.

Tom told the story of a man from Kitchener who didn’t know he had anything wrong with him before being diagnosed with prostate cancer. The man in question was the epitome of health at the time of his diagnosis, having been

involved in much physical activity, even as a fitness instructor. This same man has a friend who he had been trying to convince to undergo a prostate-specific antigen test. The friend had issues getting his doctor to agree to the test, but when he finally went for the test, he was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. Tom described this as “maddening”, since early diagnosis is crucial.

Tom is well known for the local Dare to Flash a Stache fundraiser, which has raised over $200,000 over the years for prostate cancer research. Dare to Flash a Stache has been chosen as the fundraiser of choice in years past instead of Movember because it

“This year, as Tom said, he wants to celebrate his 80th anniversary and raise a substantial amount,” said Graham. “$80,000 isn’t an easy amount to raise, but we know if anybody can do it, it’s Tom and his network and all of his connections.”

The Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend expects about 25,000-30,000 participants yearly. Tom and his team will be participating in the 5K run, running under the Tom’s Bucket Run name as part of the Charity Challenge.

You can make a donation to Tom’s Bucket Run team at https://raceroster. com/events/2023/64371/ tamarack-ottawa-raceweekend-2023/pledge/ team/479825. To learn more about the event itself, visit https://www.runottawa.ca/ races-and-events/ottawa5k.

Tom Clapp, Jonas Fossitt, Murray Link, and Janet Clapp pose outside the Winchester Hospital after the launch event for Tom’s Bucket Run.

Carefor joins Annual March for Meals Campaign

port the everyday costs of the Meal Delivery program so the program remains accessible to older adults living in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Funds will support rising food costs associated with the program.

submitted by Jennie Stephenson

From March 20-24, Carefor participated in March for Meals Week, an annual Ontario Community Support Association event now in its 21st year. The objective remained the same: to increase awareness and community engagement about meal programs. However, the need has never been greater!

Over the past three years, the COVID-19 pandemic brought to light just how essential the meal delivery program is for seniors in the rural communities of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Carefor experienced a tremendous surge in demand for meals and was able to respond by doubling its meal production thanks to onetime funding and generous donations.

The ability to meet the demand was temporary, and we’ve now resumed our prepandemic production. This shift has allowed all five of

the Carefor Support Centres to move to producing and delivering meals three days a week, increasing access to healthy meals for seniors in need. Although meals are being delivered three days a week, inflation has greatly impacted the Meal Delivery program and older adults in the Eastern Counties.

At a time when both operational and food costs are soaring due to historic inflation, the impact on older adults goes beyond cutting and stretching every dollar. This can lead to a decline in overall health and wellbeing, as well as considerable social and economic hardships. Carefor acts as a safety net for older adults who need it most with the delivery of every meal. Nutritious and affordable food is not a luxury, but a right.

For this reason, this year’s March for Meals campaign focused not only on increasing awareness but also on raising funds to sup-

March for Meals allowed organizations like Carefor to speak out and shine a light on the importance of Meal Delivery Programs across Ontario. During this week, local public figures joined the effort by speaking out about the program, delivering some meals themselves, and supporting community led initiatives. Local foodbased initiative supporters including MP Eric Duncan, North Dundas Mayor Fraser and firefighter Terry Wagner joined the effort to raise awareness by helping to deliver meals to Carefor seniors, and to help educate the public on the need for these programs.

Quotes

“The volunteers with Meals on Wheels are fantastic and play a vital role in helping rural seniors stay safe and in their own homes longer. They not only provide a hot meal, but do a ‘check in’ to make sure everyone is doing OK. This program is so important, given the social isolation faced by too many of our seniors and would not be possible but for the dedicated volunteers who continue to step up. This is just another example of the generosity and kindness of our community and for that we are all grateful.” – MP Eric Duncan

“Today I had the opportunity to witness the efforts of an unheralded group of people that ensure that seniors as well as those in need receive a hot meal as well as a visit from a caring

False alarm at local laundromat

the parking lot.

A short while later, the police vehicles remained, but with their emergency lights turned off. It didn’t take long for the situation to be cleared.

person. I know firsthand the relationships that develop are so very important to both recipient and supporter as my late mother benefited from the program. I encourage anyone interested in being a volunteer to contact the Nor-Dun Community Support Centre. On behalf of all of us in North Dundas, thank you.” – North Dundas Mayor

Fraser

“What we have noticed since the pandemic is that the clients of our Meals Delivery Program are much frailer and living with more complex needs. Some face financial barriers at a time when food costs are on the rise. Others are without close family nearby. This program which provides a nutritious meal, a friendly visit, and a safety check to vulnerable older adults is crucial to so many people. That’s why we say it is so much more than a meal program. I would like to acknowledge our staff who prepare the meals and coordinate the delivery. They do so knowing how important the meals are to our clients’ wellbeing. Last but certainly not least, I want to thank our volunteers without whom this program would not be possible.”

- Dianne Kuipers, Manager of Community Support Services - Carefor Eastern Counties

Statistics

Number of meals delivered at peak of COVID-19 pandemic per week: Over 1000

Number of meals delivered now per week: 510

Number of seniors receiving meals: Over 270 across SD&G

Goal for expanding the program: Continue to advocate for ongoing funds to grow the program equitably across SDG.

laying no charges.

Police false alarms are bound to happen, but they certainly make small towns talk!

Tid bit musings

by Elva Patterson Rutters RSSW

Why does Easter not get the same fanfare as Christmas despite the connection of events? Following the birth of Christ celebrated at Christmas, His death on the cross was totally for our redemption with God. We ourselves are not free of sin as He was. He died an agonizing death on the cross as a man – not as God nor as the Holy Spirit. As a man He cried out – “my God has Thou forsaken me?" Consequently, we often cry out "where is God?" I don't know about you, but I can cry over a paper cut which is minor to His tormentable death.

Folks who debate His existence need only look at the year. It is 2023 AD. AD stands for after the death of Christ. National Geographic provides an excellent resource on the validation of His existence, as does the Bible. If you refute the sacrifice he made then where does that leave you for eternity, or in daily reality for accepting the holiday?

by Brandon Mayer

Some residents of Winchester may have been alarmed to see a relatively heavy police response at Terry’s Wash Mart in the

early morning hours of March 23. Between 6am and 6:30am, three police vehicles were seen at the location with red and blue lights flashing. Officers were seen speaking to the occupants of a pickup truck in

A spokesperson for the Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry OPP detachment confirmed that police responded to a report of a suspicious motor vehicle in the parking lot of the laundromat. Officers attended to speak to the occupants of the vehicle, and quickly determined that no offence had been committed, therefore

If you don't honor God, is it appropriate to accept double pay in lieu of time off or to even take the time off on Good Friday/Easter Monday? It makes one wonder how many of us are simply opportunists with our convictions or lack thereof. Accepting the benefits of a time to remember the meaning of Easter without understanding the significance, borders on sacrilegious. True enough the dates may be off, but the event did take place! Is your Easter about chocolate and family gatherings? New life as in baby chicks, lambs, calves, etc signifies the new life Jesus provides.

It rests on your shoulders to be accountable for your actions, not only in this matter but in all avenues of life. Tread carefully because your footprints leave huge marks!

Ontario farmers welcome federal budget announcements

submitted by Rachelle Kerr, Communications Coordinator

Ontario Federation of Agriculture

This week’s federal budget contained several good news announcements for Ontario farmers dealing with rising costs and other challenges impacting the competitiveness of the agriculture sector. The government’s agrifood focused budget items included new funding for interest-free cash advances for farmers; a top up of the On-Farm Climate Action Fund for farmers in Eastern Canada; reduced escalator tax increases on wines, craft beer and ciders, and spirits; support for Foot-

and-Mouth Disease (FMD) preparedness; and the establishment of a Dairy Innovation and Investment Fund.

“We appreciate the federal government’s response to the needs of the agri-food sector by providing funding in key areas that support farming and food production in Canada,” says OFA President Peggy Brekveld.

“Agriculture is a cornerstone of our federal economy and government support of our sector will help our continued contributions to jobs and growth, as well as expand Canada’s global reputation as a breadbasket to the world.”

Two budget items in particular were among the recommendations the Ontario Federation of Agriculture

The Food Corner

By Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

The Ploughman’s Lunch varies according to the country that you are in. This recipe combines ideas from a broad variety of sources. The idea is to put together ingredients that your family or guests might appreciate. Some of the ingredients may be new to your taste buds but it’s a great way to try new flavours, textures and colours, including combining sweet, sour and pungent. The following recipe meets my fancy but feel free to go your own way. It is written on a one-plate principle rather than a community dish and only makes economic sense if you are serving multiple guests. You can also vary quantities according to your personal touch.

Ploughman’s Lunch

Possible Ingredients

• 1 extra-large hard-boiled egg, chilled and sliced in two (sprinkle with some paprika)

• 1 slice of Naan bread (or more), cut in smallish triangles

• 3 slices of chilled prosciutto

• 1 - 2 oz ramekin of olives filled with blue cheese

• 1 - 2 oz ramekin of hummus

• 1 - 2 oz ramekin of Tzatziki

• 1 - 2 oz hunk of the Pâté of your choice (I’m partial to Chicken Liver Pâté myself)

• 3 slices of assorted cheese, e.g., Limburger, Jarlsberg or some old white Cheddar

• 1 jumbo dill pickle, thinly sliced

Preparation

1. You’re going to want largish serving plates due to the number of ingredients involved

2. Be your artistic self and arrange all of the ingredients on the plate (but not the Naam)

3. Warm the Naam bread in the microwave briefly and serve on separate plate

This rather fancy Ploughman’s lunch calls for either a dark beer like the St. Ambrose Stout, a cold Sauvignon Blanc or a slightly chilled Shiraz in the reds. I like to chill reds a bit to duplicate European wine cellars where you need to wear a jacket to work or visit.

Other options for ingredients include: cocktail sausages, grainy mustard, chutney, sweet, pickled onions, small chilled or warmed meat balls, dried fruit such as apricots and capers. Please let me know what your choices were and how they worked out by contacting me at pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

(OFA) and others made to the federal government during the pre-budget consultation process earlier this winter: improvements to the Advance Payment Program (APP), a federal loan guarantee program that gives farmers access to lowinterest cash advances, and financial compensation for farmers negatively impacted by federal tariffs on fertilizer imports from Russia.

The government announced an increase to the interestfree limit for loans under the APP from $250,000 to $350,000 for the 2023 program year. It had previously been capped at $100,000 and was temporarily raised last summer to $250,000 for the 2022

and 2023 program years. “This is a particularly welcome announcement by the government as spring planting season is around the corner and farmers continue to face pressure from rising interest rates and ongoing increases in the cost of fuel, fertilizer and other farm inputs,” says Brekveld. In response to calls from OFA and other farm organizations to return the estimated $34.1 million in tariff monies already collected directly back to farmers, the government announced it will add $34.1 million to its On-Farm Climate Action Fund for fertilizer-related projects in Eastern Canada. “We’ve been clear since day one that our preferred solu-

1st South Dundas Sparks, Embers & Girl Guides Service Project

tion has always been the direct return of tariff dollars to farmers, and this announcement does make this money available to primary agriculture through a funding program with on-farm benefits, which is an alternative we had put forward in our dialogue with government on this issue,” adds Brekveld. The budget also provides funding for a new national Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccine bank and development of FMD response plans, a ten-year investment to support new dairy product innovation, and a temporary reduction in the automatic annual increase of the escalator tax on wine, craft

beers and ciders, and spirits to two per cent from the planned 6.3 percent increase. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 38,000 farm families across the province and serving as the leading advocate and strongest voice of Ontario’s farmers. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA represents and champions the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more.

PART TIME SALES REP

Opportunity for a Part Times Sales Representative Are you Self Motivated? Creative?

Great with people?

The Times is seeking a part-time sales representative. Vehicle required. Must be willing to travel within North Grenville and North Dundas.

If interested or to know more contact Melissa: melissa@ndtimes.ca

HELP WANTED

by Jenn Eamon

The South Dundas Sparks, Embers & Girl Guides are engaging in a service project this year to help fill Birthday Boxes for the Community Food Share. A Birthday Box is a self-contained package with everything you need to have a Happy Birthday party.

“Our girls collected items from friends & family members and worked collectively at a meeting on March 6th & 7th to sort and organize all the donations, then fill each box with the supplies needed to throw a Birthday Party,” said Guider Jenn Eamon.

“We were generously supported by again this year by Dan Pettigrew from Foodland, Winchester with a donation of 45 containers of icing and from Laura Callery from Valumart, Morrisburg with a donation of 45 boxes of cake mix,” Jenn added. “Without community partners like Dan & Laura, this project would

not be nearly as successful. This year we were able to donate 50 complete Birthday Boxes to the South Dundas FoodShare.”

“Our units are the 1st South Dundas Rainbow Unit, we are a combine unit of Sparks, Embers (new name for Brownies) & Guides, as well as the 1st South Dundas Pathfinder Ranger Unit.

Our Rainbow unit currently has 24 girl members and is closed for registration as we are at max capacity for our meeting space. Registration for the new year will open in the spring and can be found with all other information like meeting dates and times at girlguides.ca.

Also to note our Spring Classic (chocolate & vanilla sandwich cookies) Cookie Campaign begins on April 1st so please keep an eye out for cookies sellers to support your local unit. Cookies are $6/box this campaign.”

Amy Saunders, Guider Jenn Eamon, Merryn HolburnEamon, Karis Shaver, Guider Hannah Barkley.

Shooting while blindfolded

by Brandon Mayer

Last week, a local resident got in touch with me to express a concern that a particular topic which has appeared in the Times is one he worries cannot safely be open to healthy debate. This gentleman had thoughts on the issue, but was afraid to express his views for fear of not only rebuke, but possibly even threats directed at him, his wife, and his children. He therefore suggested that the topic should not appear in the Times at all, since both sides could not be presented.

I don’t want to leave readers with a curiosity itch, so let me scratch it for you – the topic the gentleman was referring to is gender identity. There is no need to get into the issue

itself, since that is not the point. I disagreed with the resident’s suggestion that the content should not appear, and this disagreement was based on two things. Firstly, the Times is a different kind of newspaper, in that it is meant to act as the “voice of the community” – contributions, and answers to those contributions, are always welcome, so long as they are not obscene or slanderous. Secondly, rather than argue that someone else’s views should not appear in the Times, it was my view that the concerned gentleman should simply write his opposing views in the form of an op-ed or Letter to the Editor.

We abandoned the tedious email exchanges, which were prone to miscommunication, and the resident and I had a phone call. A gentleman indeed,

he politely and privately expressed his views to me. It was a civil discussion which ended with a followup email in which he urged me to pass along words of support to the person on the “other side” of the debate. What was troubling, however, was that he also expressed why he felt he couldn’t share his views in the Times. With a topic so polarizing, and people often ruthless and unforgiving, he fears that simply providing his opinion could threaten the safety of his family. Even worse is that I agree.

When did people become so detached from level-headed common sense and human decency? When did death threats become an automatic “no big deal” response to a difference of opinion? Are we forgetting how to empathize with other people and think about

perspectives other than our own? It’s okay to be a social justice warrior, but it’s not okay to threaten others with death. Having to actually say that is simply absurd.

Everyone has loved ones. Every single person has at least one other person they care deeply about, if not many. These loved ones are people whose deaths would devastate us – our children, our spouses, our parents, our siblings, our friends. It is perfectly normal to get a rush of adrenaline and a commitment to protect these loved ones at all costs when they are threatened. If this is something we all experience, then why can’t we extrapolate these feelings, and realize that it’s wrong to put someone else through it? “It’s wrong to tell someone I am going to kill their children just because I disagree with their ideas” – why is

this such a hard concept for people? Kindergartners can tell you that it’s best to treat people how you want to be treated, so why can fewer and fewer adults manage it lately?

Words are a powerful tool. There is no doubt of that. However, all powerful tools can be misused. A knife can be used to prepare a delicious meal, or to end a life. A gun can be used to hunt sustainably for food, or to end a life. And words can be used to engage in intelligent debate, or to threaten to end a life. Threatening death in response to a disagreement of ideas is so very unreasonable. It is akin to shooting a gun while blindfolded. It is reckless, senseless, overreactive, and shows total disregard for others. Not to mention that, because threats can scare people into silence, the result is a stifled

Federal budget interview with MP Eric Duncan

by Brandon Mayer

In this edition of the Times, you will read a news release from our local Member of Parliament, Eric Duncan, outlining his and his party’s comments on the federal budget which was released on March 28. MP Duncan is well known to North Dundas residents, having formerly served as Mayor of North Dundas before his move to federal politics. MP Duncan was gracious enough to engage in a phone interview to share his thoughts on how the budget will affect local individuals and families. The interview transcript follows.

Q: Is there anything in the budget that will benefit or hurt people in SD&G, particularly those in predominantly rural communities such as North Dundas?

A: I think the budget has a lot of missed opportunities. One of the things that frustrates me is the continuation of the increase of the carbon tax, and the plan to do all of that. The carbon tax has been proven to be ineffective in lowering emissions, and I

think what it’s doing particularly in rural areas is driving up the cost of groceries and home heating at a time when inflation is very high, and people on a fixed budget have dollars stretched very thin. I think in principle, the idea of not acknowledging what the carbon tax is doing, and in many cases not doing as they claimed it would, is not good. One of the other things is high speed internet access in rural areas. Not only looking at the budget, but the auditor general report. An independent auditor general just came out with an audit on the government’s performance with high speed internet, and they are showing again that they promise in a budget billions of dollars and how they’re going to connect more people than ever before, but then when it comes to their actual spending and their actual outcomes, they’re very slow, very delayed, and it’s not effective in terms of the amount of money and what they’re spending it on. So again, in the budget, when we see things in our area, like better high speed internet access, they promise money, and it either gets left unspent in many

cases, or it doesn’t actually improve things. Only 60% of the people in rural and remote Canada have high speed internet. The constant recycling of the same broken promises is frustrating.

Q: This budget seems to be trying to tackle affordability issues with new spending. Do you think that will help?

A: I think that we’re in the mess that we are in financially because of inflation. As it’s now been proven and as the government acknowledges in their own document, high spending, out of control spending that we’ve had at unsustainable levels has contributed to inflation. So now they’re saying, we can’t spend too much, because it might hurt inflation, that’s acknowledging that they’ve caused this in the first place, but like a lot of the programs they offer, the devil is in the details in terms of what the programs are. They are offering these because they created the mess in the first place in terms of the financial affordability crisis. I think there are a lot of things they could just do. One of the things we’ve said is don’t increase

taxes. Don’t increase the carbon tax, don’t increase the tax on beer and wine, and actually make some incentives to keep more money in people’s pockets in the first place. They’re raising taxes in one hand, and then offering rebates on the other. If they just lowered taxes in that threshold for everybody, we’d be a lot better off, and I think businesses would stop adding to things like grocery prices that are still going up by double digits and so forth. This budget is just doubling down on their very same approach that got us into this mess in the first place.

Q: There seems to be significant investments in green technology and machinery in this new budget. Do you predict that we will see any impact from these investments locally?

A: Locally, I hope. You would hope that any time there is new investment or business coming in, you hope that our area would get the same share, but I’m waiting on some of the details to see exactly what is going to go where, and making sure that at the end of the day, the government is not picking winners and losers in this.

exchange of ideas, which never makes the world a better place.

Some of the most tragic events in our history have been fueled by fear. We know that a large proportion of German soldiers in World War II fought for Hitler only because of threats toward them and their families. How a person like Hitler even rose to power in a democratic country can be attributed to the gradual stifling of competing ideas.

How often do we hear in news stories that a person has “received death threats” after doing or saying something controversial? One time is too many. It needs to stop. The fact that I can’t honestly provide.

Very often when the government gets involved in these things, what can happen is it creates a lopsided scale that actually turns other types of investments away. I haven’t specifically seen the line by line of this. I know there is a competition with the United States to address some of their changes, but I think we’ve seen a lot of times that when the government comes in with a proposal, or they inject money, they actually drive the cost of doing that business up. I’m skeptical on many things that they do, they claim it’s going to fix or solve a problem, when instead it just costs more to do the thing in the first place.

Q: Do you have any examples of a how a Conservative budget would look different?

A: For sure. We would be lowering taxes and not increasing them. For example, the carbon tax and that being a key part of affordability, the cost of doing business, and the cost of keeping the price of goods down and not increasing by these record amounts. And I think we have to get our spending under control. The number one reason we’re in this

cost of living inflationary crisis right now is because the government has spent more than they are taking in. The government does not have a revenue problem. Their revenues have skyrocketed. Whenever inflation is going up at a grocery store by 10-15%, that means the government gets more HST. They’re getting more revenue than ever before, and they still can’t balance the budget – they’ve got a spending problem. We are in this mess in the first place because of what is happening in policies. To me, it’s just a doubling down on the same approach. It is no surprise the we’re not supporting the budget. We’ve outlined what we would do differently – for every new dollar in spending, find a new dollar in savings. These are things that can help us get some more sustainable spending and get inflation under control.

613 329 0209

You know that eclectic little restaurant nestled among the other buildings on Main Street, in downtown Winchester? The one with the aroma of garlic and other delicious scents greeting you when you open the door. If you’ve ever eaten at The Iron Forge, you’ve undoubtedly returned many times because the food is so fabulous and all homemade.

But did you know that the Iron Forge’s owner, Shaw Knelson, is also an accomplished visual artist? And that his art is just as satisfying to the senses? Over the years, Shaw has featured some of his own pieces on the walls of his eatery. Ask about them and he’ll quietly direct your attention to the other artists displayed on those lovely walls.

“I’ve always been an artist, as was my biological dad, Reg Knelson. My stepdad Ken Macleod is a carver and tinkerer,

A council meeting and a draft budget

by Brandon Mayer

North Dundas Council met for a regularly scheduled meeting on March 21 to discuss routine business, and for a special meeting on March 31 for a presentation of the Township’s draft budget.

would be best.

so I grew up with creatives,” Shaw explains. His family encouraged and supported his artistic soul even at a very young age. Later, working at Ottawa’s Wallack’s Art Supplies store in Ottawa and being around professional artists, Shaw was inspired to delve into his own creative soul and explore colours.

“I like building up off the canvas in order to take advantage of natural shadow and depth,” he says. “Makes my eyes happy.”

A true champion of the Arts in our community, Shaw owns a number of restaurants in the region and in each one, offers free wall space to any aspiring Artist, charging no commission. Now it’s his turn to be appreciated.

So it is with great pleasure that the North Dundas Arts Council and SDG Library welcome Shaw Knelson as April’s ‘Art in the Branches’ guest exhibitor at the Winchester Branch. As with all our featured Artists, visitors to the Branch can contact Shaw directly about seeing more, or to purchase a coveted piece for their own collection. Just drop by The Iron Forge or call him at 613774-1234 and he will be happy to meet with you.

Prepare to feed your soul through the month of April!

As usual, the regular meeting on March 21 was jam packed with the type of business that most residents would find tedious. Of interest near the start of the meeting was a relatively lengthy presentation by Sandy Hart from Sevita International, pushing for the lifting of half load restrictions on a specific designated route year-round. The route would stretch from the Sevita International Export Facility on Sandy Row, east of South Mountain, down Pemberton Road, and north to Hogaboam Road, where the route would end at County Road 31.

Mayor Fraser addressed the issue, pointing out that heavy loads do hurt the condition of local roads, and complaints from residents have been received. He also acknowledged that North Dundas is an agricultural community, meaning that compromise is necessary. In response to a question from Councillor Lennox, Sandy put forward his belief that a permitbased system would be best. Council deferred on the recommendation to keep half load restrictions until the details of a permit-based system can be fleshed out, as all members of Council agreed that this “third option”

Ordinary matters related to the North Dundas drinking water and sanitary sewer systems were discussed, including the receipt of the annual report on the drinking water system for 2022. A collection of water allocations was extended, including allocations for the new Dundas Manor building expected to begin construction in August. Housekeeping items related to the new Lafleur Road water well were also discussed.

Changes to waste management in the Township were discussed next. Provincial legislation dictates that by 2025 producers of packaging will be responsible for the costs and some logistics of recycling it, which will save the Township money. However, there are considerations that Council must take into account in the months ahead, some of which were broached at the meeting. The document presented to Council by Township staff also outlines options for the

situation at the overfilled Boyne Road Landfill, with the recommended solution being an expansion of the facility.

In a special meeting on March 31, Council heard a presentation on the draft budget for 2023. The details of the budget were fleshed out for Council and can be viewed by members of the public on the Township’s YouTube Channel.

Key for most readers will be news on property tax rates. The proposed budget does include increases in both the Township’s rate of taxation, and the tax rate for the upper tier United Counties portion. The proposed increased is 5.43%, which means

an additional $135.19 per year or $11.27 per month for the average household.

Councillor Uhrig added a comment at the end of the presentation thanking staff for their hard work with the budget, and also rebuking so-called “social media warriors” who present “pipe dream projects” in various community groups. It is not clear to whom this comment was directed, but it seems likely that it was meant as a criticism of Stefan Kohut and dozens of North Dundas residents who wish to see more recreational amenities and affordable insurance for public events locally.

submitted by North Dundas Arts Council

Gourmet Chef featured Artist in April’s ‘Art in the Branches’

The Weather with Connor

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to The Weather with Connor. In this week's column, I thought I’d do another Q&A, to answer some of your questions related to the weather. All questions are pulled from my Facebook comment section. Let’s get started.

Q: Does barometric pressure affect such things like migraines and arthritis?

A: Yes actually! The more the pressure drops, the more likely things such as headaches can occur. Drops in pressure can create an imbalance in the pressure inside of your sinuses.

Q: How is windchill calculated?

A: For example, say the temperature is -18, and the wind is blowing at around 25km/h. That would make the windchill -28. As the wind increases, it takes away heat from your body, which drives down the temperature of your skin and internal body temperature.

Q: Given the unseasonably mild and windy conditions we’ve had again this year, do you suspect we’ll have another major weather event like a tornado or derecho later on in the spring or early summer?

A: It’s impossible to know what types of storms will happen a month and a half from now. My educated guess is that we’ll have an active storm season, but that does NOT mean tornadoes and derechos all over the place. With a winter as snowy as we just had, all that snow melts and puts moisture into the ground, which is good for storms to work with in the summer. But again, we have to wait until it's actually storm season to get a better idea on what the spring and summer could potentially be like.

Q: What is your best resource for accurate information?

A: I get the majority of my information from websites like weatherbell. com and pivotalweather. com. All of my photos I use during my forecasts are from weatherbell, but I look at both websites. Pivotalweather is used much more in the summer as it has better resources for severe weather events.

Q: What is the difference between freezing rain and ice pellets?

A: Freezing rain is just rain that comes down and freezes on impact, but ice pellets are rain drops that have already frozen on the way down to the surface.

Q: Is Twister your favourite movie?

A: No, actually. I’m not even a huge fan of the movie. Some funny moments in it for sure, but I’ve seen better.

Q: How long does it take you to figure out your forecast?

A: Some take longer

than others. If it’s a difficult forecast with many precipitation types involved in different parts of the region, it can take up to two hours. However if it’s kind of a slam dunk with what’s going to happen and I already know what I’m going to talk about, those ones are shorter, around thirty minutes.

That’s it for the Q&A this time around. I’d like to do one of these every couple of months just to answer any new questions that you fine folks come up with, because there are always things going on with the weather and this is the best way to talk about it.

Aside from questions, just a few short points about the upcoming month of April.

The beginning of the month will remain active with systems coming through. There are multiple opportunities to have good rain days for snow melt, and multiple opportunities for days to be WAY above normal temperature wise. As I’ve said on Facebook, I believe there will be no snow on the ground by April 10th, just because of that rain and temperatures.

I will say though, temperatures do look like they’ll flip flop quite a bit from being above seasonal to below seasonal. There are no long stretches of time of having above normal or below normal temperatures, it’s all back and forth to start the month.

This concludes another The Weather with Connor column. Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you in a couple weeks!

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Solution to last week’s Crossword

Donors needed to ensure patients have the blood they need

submitted by Canadian Blood Services

There are more than 7,000 open appointments across Canada that must be filled by April 10 to replenish supplies to continue to meet patient needs.

The need for blood products never stops, especially during a long weekend and with the Easter public holiday just around the corner, we're reminding Canadians to make all the difference by booking and keeping lifesaving appointments to donate blood, platelets and plasma.

Canadian Blood Services is grateful to the donors who help ensure the supply of lifesaving blood and

plasma remains strong to help patients like ten-yearold Olivia Blundon.

Olivia was diagnosed with aplastic anemia and in the months that followed, she needed more than 100 blood and platelet transfusions. She has since required a stem cell transplant, has been diagnosed with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and will eventually need a kidney transplant.

Olivia’s condition is closely monitored and the possibility of future transfusions remains high. Her family is counting on donors to maintain the blood supply so that she can get the blood she needs when she needs it.

Donors are needed now to grow the plasma supply and restock the reserve of blood. Cancer patients, accident victims, and people with immunodeficiency, autoimmune and neurological disorders rely on blood, platelets, and plasma donations every day.

While there is a continuous need for all blood types, there is a greater need for donors who have O-negative blood. O-negative blood donors are especially needed because this blood type can be transfused to any patient. In times of emergency or for newborn patients, Onegative blood, the universal blood type, makes a lifesav-

Could a bike park be on its way for Winchester?

a bike park in Winchester can be built in a central location, where the “eyes of the community” can help to make sure that it is being used respectfully and properly. Stefan believes in the idea that members of the community can watch out for each other’s children in a true “it takes a village” mindset.

ing difference.

Appointments are required. Same day appointments are available every day at many donor centres and community events across the country.

Book now on blood. ca, use the GiveBlood app or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

New and returning donors are asked to book and keep their donation appointments. If you are unable to make it to your appointment, please cancel it so that someone can take your place or re-book into the following month.

Garage Sale

457 Gladstone, Winchester. Thursday & Friday. Apr 13 & 14, 8am to 3pm. Downsizing

Winchester resident Stefan Kohut is serious when it comes to recreation, and he’s not afraid to put his time and energy where his mouth is. Stefan has been vocal about the need for more recreational amenities in North Dundas for months, and he has had many ideas about what sort of amenities would be great for local youth. His latest idea? A bike park in Winchester.

Stefan has been in touch with a few local

experts over the past few weeks, trying to figure out how to make a bike park happen. One of the people he has talked to is the designer of the BMX bike park in Kemptville, who is also affiliated with the Ottawa BMX Association. “He’s really keen on this project for us, because it’s something he’s never done,” said Stefan. “He’s never done a hill from scratch. He’s always gone into existing places and shaped it and worked it and fixed it so that it was more functional for the bikers.”

Stefan is hoping that

A location is not yet confirmed, but Stefan is always on the lookout for suitable locations not just in Winchester, but in all North Dundas villages as well. He scoped out a currently unused public location in Chesterville recently that was formerly used for dumping snow. He believes this would be a great location to build something for the children. “I think Chesterville really needs something like this for their kids, I think they need it so bad,” Stefan added. “To give them a place where they could go out, have fun and have risk without having to get that thrill from possibly getting caught by the police or their neighbours is kind of what I’m going for.”

Of course, with any project, not everyone will be in favour. Many locals are worried about tax increases as a result of any recreational project, though the aim is to not fund the project with tax dollars. Stefan hopes to secure donations of money and resources from lo-

cal businesses to fund any recreation projects. For the proposed Winchester bike park, BTL Excavation and Construction has reportedly agreed to donate soil to form the mounds, and the use of their equipment if gas is paid for. Most of those commenting on a social media post about the project idea seem to agree that it would be a great way to give local youth something to do.

While this would not be a Township funded project, the Township would undoubtedly need to give approvals and have input. The insurance required has raised some questions, since the Township has been having difficulties with its insurance provider as of late, causing restrictive measures for some public events. Stefan has been in touch with the Director of Recreation and Culture so that the appropriate information can be presented to Council for deliberation.

Starting small in Winchester, Stefan thinks that a bike park, or a similar recreational amenity for youth, is something that could be built in each North Dundas village in the years ahead. It’s for the kids!

by Jane Adams

In a small community like Dundas County, it’s hard to keep a secret. At the WDMH Foundation, we have been quietly raising funds behind the scenes for the new Dundas Manor. As the construction start date gets closer, we are going to get louder! And we can’t wait to connect with the whole community to talk about this amazing new home.

And we have more good news. The shovels will be in the ground before the end of the year!

The new Dundas Manor will be more than double the size of the current home and will be two stories. It will have larger resident rooms, accessible spaces, more privacy and a lot more comforts of a traditional home that we all know and love. There will be larger dining and gathering spaces that bring people together. Every resident will have more privacy and their own window. And thirty additional residents will call Dundas Manor home.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will fund some of the cost of the new home, but not all of it. That’s where our community comes in. Dundas Manor has partnered with the WDMH Foundation to lead the community fundraising portion of this essential project.

“Our community has shown us that you care about Dundas Manor, and we are grateful for your support,” notes Kristen Casselman, Managing Director of the WDMH Foundation “We still have a significant amount of money to raise, but we know our community will be there, as they always have been.”

For 45 years, Dundas Manor has been keeping families together - even though they are living apart. It is truly a gift to our community and is an essential part of our local healthcare system. Care close to home really does make a difference in our wellbeing, healing, and overall happiness. Together, we will build the new Dundas Manor.

Now that the secret is out, watch for more details in mid-June about how you can help build the new Dundas Manor, as it will take a lot of community support to make this long-awaited dream a reality. As part of our efforts, some fundraising events are being planned, including The Grand Parade on September 16 and Sapphires & Snowflakes on November 18. More on these fabulous events later.

And if you can’t wait to learn more about the new home, please contact Kristen Casselman at 613-7742422 ext. 6169. It would be wonderful to hear why the Manor matters to you. We can share the designs of the new home with you, have you into the current home for a tour, and discuss how you would like to help.

The world’s worstkept secret … that we can’t wait to share!

Stefan Kohut

by Brandon Mayer

Baldwin’s Birds

also got his first glimpse of a Hooded Merganser, a bird I was fortunate to see last year, but down on the St. Lawrence River, not the Rideau. However, my wife and I did get a rare sighting, in our garden last weekend, which was very exciting too. It was a beautiful little bird –a "Tufted Titmouse"

Spring is definitely here, as demonstrated by the returning garden birds and the bird skeins across the skies, as each migratory bird returns to its nesting ground, either here or much further north. The water birds are in abundance at the moment and a birding enthu-

siast friend informed me of his sighting of a Red Breasted Merganser, taking a rest on the icebound shore of a nearby creek. I would have liked to see it too, but extenuating circumstances prevented this from happening! That's a story for another day! He

Wonder-Oz wows in wicked production

What a lucky sighting that was despite the distraction of all the other feeding birds, and I was actually able to get a couple of good pictures of it! A real bonus and, I think, quite a rare sighting in this neck of the woods. It landed in our pine trees and then came right onto our hanging feeders, for us to get a really close-up view of it. I hope that you also enjoy the picture of it and that you are also getting your share of bird sightings, as they return to your own gardens, to once again, provide you with an added post-winter interest and your own pleasant surprises too. Stay safe and well.

Cheers,

John Baldwin

The routine of modern-day life for most of us involves regular trips to the grocery store and three meals a day. The regular patterns of our diet can be a source of comfort or a rushed necessity. But is eating the same familiar foods – often the same recipes, products, brands, over and over, day by day – good for us?

As nutritious as a “wellbalanced” diet may be, there are good reasons to strive for a more diverse diet.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the acclaimed Nigerian writer, was not referring to plant and animal ecosystems when she wrote, "Diversity is not about feeling included, it's about feeling valued." Yet, she’d surely agree. Unless biodiversity is valued, it will lose ground, quite literally.

Now, new research is showing that valuing diversity in the natural world has important implications for human health.

A study in the journal PNAS examines the relationship between aquatic biodiversity and human health. Researchers found that aquatic ecosystems, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans, provide a wide range of nutritional benefits to human populations.

According to the study, consuming a diet that includes a variety of fish, seaweed, and other aquatic foods can help prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Additionally, these foods are rich in important nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, and iron, which are essential for human health.

The researchers also found that consuming a diverse range of aquatic foods can have positive impacts on the environment. By promoting the consumption of a wider range of fish and other aquatic foods, fisheries and aquaculture can diversify their operations and reduce pressure on overfished species.

Protecting the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems is essential for continued access to nutritional benefits. Yet, climate change and human activities have already impacted the health of the world’s water. Conservation and sustainable use simply haven’t been the priority.

Land surfaces, where humans live, haven’t fared any better. Scientists are concerned about the health of the soil, grasses, and forbs that many animal species depend on for their dietary nutrition.

essential forage for grazing livestock. “It’s an important question,” he says. “Due to widespread farming and overgrazing by livestock, we have seen significant biodiversity loss in many grasslands. Just as people benefit from a diverse diet, so too do our livestock. By studying how biodiversity of grasses affects nutritional content of forage for herd animals, for example, we will be better able to inform policies and practices designed to protect land-based ecosystems.”

Human health depends on a diverse diet that delivers vitamins, minerals, protein, fats, water, and carbohydrates. It’s essential to place high value on the availability and quality of these components, as demonstrated by growing evidence of a vital relationship between ecosystem biodiversity and human health.

Sadly, a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reports that 95 percent of the calories consumed worldwide come from a mere 30 species. Farmers cultivate only about 150 of the 30,000 edible plant species. And 90 percent of the food from domesticated livestock comes from only 14 animals.

by Shannon Arbuckle

It was a Wonder-ful day at the arena, full of munchkins, a rabbit, and a yellow brick road. The Winchester Skating Club’s 2023 ice show was held at the Sam Ault Arena on Saturday, March 25. In a unique presentation named WonderOz: Alice in Wonderland meets Wizard of Oz, imagined by Coach Cheri Mitchell Leduc, the skaters combined skating and acting to create a whimsical storyline. The club’s coaches spent the last few weeks teaching the choreography and organizing costumes, creating a magical masterpiece.

The CanSkaters showed off the skills they learned this year, performing as the Munchkins, the Winkie Guards, Flying Monkeys, and the Wonderland tea-

cups and birthday gifts. The Pre-Star group showed off their strong skating as the Queen of Heart’s cards, while the Star Skaters performed in solos, as well in group numbers as the Emerald City citizens and the Wicked Witch’s poppies.

The second show of the day ended in an emotional on-ice group hug with all the StarSkaters, as the regular season came to an end. For some of the skaters who are graduating, it was their last session on Winchester ice.

The WSC moves to the Finch Arena in mid April, where the Spring Season will continue for two more months.

A special shoutout goes to the main characters of the production. From Oz: Alicia McNaughton as Dorothy, Avery Summers as Toto,

Bella St-Marseille as Glinda, Erin Arbuckle as the Wicked Witch of the West, Morganne St-Marseille as the Scarecrow, Amelia Dallas as Small Dorothy, Chelsey Boal as the Tinman, Kate Link-Horvath as the Lion, and Cole Dellah as the Mayor of Emerald City, the Wizard of Oz, and a tree. In Wonderland: Shannon Arbuckle as Alice, Olivia Lewis as the White Rabbit, Emily Velthius as the

Cheshire Cat, Olivia Burt as Small Alice, Lauren Hardy as the Caterpillar, Madeleine Mader and Wyatt RoachSwerdfeger as TweedleDee and TweedleDum, Sarah Lewis as the Mad Hatter, Ruth Bolton as the March Hare, Madeleine Mader as the Doormouse, Mhari McNaughton as the White Queen, Alexane Paquette as the Queen of Hearts, and Katelyn Dunbar as the King.

Dr. Forest Isbell, professor of ecology at the University of Minnesota, notes, “Land use changes and overexploitation are driving changes in biodiversity and ecosystems in many parts of the world.”

Isbell has closely read the research published in PNAS and thinks the findings are likely to be replicated in other ecosystems. He’s involved in studies that test the effects of biodiversity in grasslands that provide

What can health-conscious consumers do? In the next trip to the grocery store, think about the choices and try pick out a diverse range of foods, including from aquatic sources.

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