Issue 7 2023 February 23 NG Times

heritage week 2023

This week is Heritage Week in Ontario, so it is time to take our annual look back at some of the places and events which form part of our common history. 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of North Grenville, since Oxford-on-Rideau, South Gower, and the Town of Kemptville were amalgamated. This year is also the centenary of local boymade-good, G. Howard Ferguson, becoming Premier of Ontario in July, 1923. In future issues of the Times, we’ll be pub-

lishing a series on the life and times of Ferguson, the man who gave us the Kemptville College, and, perhaps most notably, the LCBO! We mark the past in the photographs and the memories we share. We mark the present in the stories and reports of the week, and we look to the future too. Our thanks go out to the North Grenville Historical Society for the use of some of the photographs that form part of their archives, maintained in our name and for our inheritance to the future.

Kemptville Agricultural School: this was the campus in 1925, very little greenery to be seen, and just a few buildings in operation.

Old High School: Located on the Prescott Street site where the vacated High School stands today, this, the first High School was burned to the ground in 1936.

The mills and the bridge over the Rideau River, Burritt’s Rapids, 1908

Be a part of Hey Day 2023!

A Road Safety Message from the North Grenville Police Services Board

The North Grenville Road Safety Committee is reminding all road users that everyone has a role to play when it comes to staying safe on our roads. During the winter months when there is less daylight, drivers are reminded to be aware of pedestrians and pedestrians are urged to be extra careful, particularly on the rural roads.

Are you looking for part-time or full- time employment?

ans may be required to walk along the shoulder. Be sure to always walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic,” emphasized Deputy Mayor John Barclay and Chair of the Police Services Board.

Do you love golf? Or the outdoors? Or Doing something a little different each day?

Cloverdale Links is hiring for the upcoming golf season!

Plans are moving forward to hold the 60th Hey Day event and excitement is building! This is one of eastern Ontario's largest indoor garage sale, to be held right here in Kemptville, at the North Grenville Municipal Centre on Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10.

There are treasures galore at fabulous prices. Organization is by the dedicated volunteers with the Kemptville Hospital Auxiliary and all proceeds go to the Hospital for patient equipment and services.

We need many volunteers to help receive donations, work at the display tables, and make the sale the success we hope it will be! Can you help? If so, or if you have any questions, please email us at kdha.heyday@gmail.com, or leave a message for Jean at 613-447-4492 and we'll get back to you.

Walking on country roads – especially during winter – can cause increased hazards for pedestrians. There is less daylight, often making pedestrians less visible.

“Even during daylight, pedestrians may be difficult to see, especially on rural roads when they may be unexpected,” highlighted Mayor Nancy Peckford. “Wear bright colours and/or reflective strips to catch the attention of drivers,” added Mayor Peckford.

“As most rural roads do not have sidewalks, pedestri-

Be visible when

Being a rural pedestrian requires extra attention when walking on the roads. Don’t use headphones or text when walking. Stay alert and watch for oncoming traffic.

Drivers are asked to share the road with all users, including pedestrians, snowmobiles and even the odd bike during the winter months. Be courteous, slow down and only pass other road users when there is no oncoming traffic. Slow down when the roads are less visible, especially at night or during inclement weather.

All road users should be aware of their surroundings and be mindful of other users. Safety is a shared responsibility.

Led by the North Gren-

We are looking for punctual, flexible, leaders to fill our Proshop, Backshop, Players Assistances and Beverage Cart positions! Please send your resume to proshop@cloverdalelinks.com

ville Police Services Board, the Road Safety public awareness campaign aims to promote safe driving behaviours and make roads in North Grenville safer for all users.

For more information on Road Safety in North Grenville visit: www.northgrenville.ca/roadsafety.

The “What Have You” table, overflowing with intriguing treasures

Melissa Etheridge to headline at Kemptville Live Music Festival

women afflicted with the disease.

The Kemptville Live Music Festival takes place on the grounds of the Kemptville Campus July 20-23, 2023. Tickets on sale now Kemptville Live 2023 - Tickets (kemptvillelivemusicfestival.com)

submitted by Karen Bedard

We are honoured to announce that multiple Grammy award winner and Oscar award recipient performer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge will join us to headline the 2023 Kemptville Live Music Festival, Saturday, July 22, 2023.

Melissa Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed selftitled debut album, which led to an appearance on the 1989 Grammy Awards show. For several years, her popularity grew around such memorable originals as "Bring Me Some Water," "No Souvenirs" and "Ain't It Heavy," for which she won a Grammy® in 1992.

Melissa Etheridge hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, Yes I Am (1993). The collection featured the massive hits, "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window," a searing song of longing that brought Melissa her second Grammy® Award for Best Female Rock Performance. In 1995, she issued her highest charting album, Your Little Secret, which was distinguished by the hit single, "I Want to Come

Over." Her astounding success that year led to Melissa receiving the Songwriter of the Year honor at the ASCAP Pop Awards in 1996.

Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, she has remained one of America’s favorite female singersongwriters for more than two decades. In February 2007, Melissa Etheridge celebrated a career milestone with a victory in the “Best Song” category at the Academy® Awards for “I Need to Wake Up,” written for the Al Gore documentary on global warming, An Inconvenient Truth. As a performer and songwriter, Melissa Etheridge has shown herself to be an artist who has never allowed “inconvenient truths” to keep her down. Earlier in her recording career, Melissa acknowledged her sexual orientation when it was considered less than prudent to do so. In October 2004, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, a health battle that, with her typical tenacity, she won. Despite losing her hair from chemotherapy, Melissa appeared on the 2005 Grammy® telecast to sing “Piece of My Heart” in tribute to Janis Joplin. By doing so she gave hope to many

On October 7, 2016 Melissa Etheridge released Memphis Rock & Soul, her first album since 2014’s critically lauded This Is M.E. Recorded at Royal Studios in Memphis, the album received stellar reviews from the likes of Entertainment Weekly, Parade, Rolling Stone, American Songwriter and more. She followed that up with the release of The Medicine Show in April, 2019.

For The Medicine Show, Melissa reunited with celebrated producer John Shanks and sounds as rousing as ever, bringing a new level of artistry to her 15th studio recording. The Medicine Show deals with universal themes of renewal, reconciliation, reckoning, compassion and, most profoundly, healing.

In June of 2020, Melissa Etheridge launched her own live streaming subscription and single ticket concert platform, Etheridge TV and has done over 200 live streams in 2020.

On September 17, 2021, Melissa released a new album called One Way Out. The 9-track album is a collection of songs she wrote in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s that never made the cut…. until now! The time is finally right, and fans will finally get a deeper glimpse to who Melissa was then.

October 2022 saw Melissa’s return to the theatre with her one woman show, My Window – A Journey Through Life. The critically acclaimed, sold-out run premiered at New World Stages on October 13 and has plans to move to Broadway in 2023.

Melissa Etheridge

Baldwin’s Birds

The sudden change to warm weather has certainly thrown our birds into some confusion, as well as our "hibernating" animal friends. A couple of days ago I saw,- not a Groundhog, but a Chipmunk sitting on one of my garden features, trying to measure his shadow! He was there again today preening himself, (you could just see his tongue as he did this job on his tail), but not making any effort to go anywhere seeking food. He groomed himself as the joyful song of a Cardinal filled the air as it sat in the bare branches of a Maple at the top of our back garden (yard). What a lovely start to the day, which was just as well, as the other familiar visiting birds haven't been so numerous the past few days, so not much for me to talk about. They, no doubt, are taking advantage of the warmth too, as the sun melts the snow from the ground and trees and they can forage once more in their natural habitat and not from my feeders. It doesn't deter the squirrels though, I wish they would follow the example of their feathered friends!

The Mourning Doves and Rock Pigeons are not deterred and are putting in their usual appearance both on the ground and in the feeders. One or two of the male Pigeons are strutting about and puffing up their "display" plumage, as they go in pursuit of one of the females present! It must be the Valentines Day fever!! Let's hope they won't be disappointed if the weather does an about face, as we too would be! Stay safe and well. Cheers, John Baldwin

WIN WITH THE TIMES

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The Weather with Connor

A: Really, it’s impossible to know. Information about it has been locked tight by everyone involved. There’s no way to know and/ or predict how bad this will be for the environment for areas as far away as we are in Eastern Ontario, which is about 800km.

Q: What are those long lines we keep seeing on the radar?

Hello, everyone! Welcome to this week's “The Weather with Connor” column. This time, I thought I’d switch it up a little bit. Instead of doing weather recaps like I had been doing, this week I’m going to do a Q&A. On Facebook, I asked if anyone had any questions, and that I’d answer them in the column. I’ll be picking a few and answering them down below:

Q: What’s the closest you’ve been to a tornado?

A: I’ve only ever seen one tornado. It was the weak EF-0 tornado that impacted some properties on Franktown Road, just west of the town of Richmond, Ontario in southwest Ottawa. It tore up some trees and hit a golf course, damaging the main building. I saw it from a good distance away, about 5km away, and didn’t even have enough time to get my camera out to take a photo of it. I look forward to the time where I see a tornado I can actually take a photo of.

Q: With how warm this winter has been, can you predict a stormy summer ahead?

A: Sometimes when we have winters that have been this snowy, it can result in a good (for chasing) summer stormwise. That’s because as the snow melts, it puts moisture into the ground, which gives more moisture for the storms and environment to work with in the storm season. But, can I specifically predict a stormy summer? No, not really. That’s too far away, and it’s basically impossible to know that far out.

Q: How old were you when you first became so interested in weather?

A: About 9 years old! I used to watch a show on

Discovery Channel called Storm Chasers every morning before hopping on the school bus. That show is the main reason I love to do what I do.

Q: Can you walk us through the models that you use?

A: There’s many different weather models. I regularly rely on 4 out of the 8 usual models, which are the GFS (Global Forecast System), the ECMWF (the European version), the HRRR (High Resolution Rapid Refresh), and the NAM (North American Model).

I find these to be the most accurate around this area. All of them have different computer algorithms as to how they’re put together and how they think the weather will happen, which is why a lot of times I’ll mention “the models aren’t agreeing with each other today”. There’s also many different websites to view these, but I use WeatherBELL, as it has much better zoomed in maps on the Eastern Ontario area, rather than maps that are too far out and include the US Northeast states, which confuses many people. The other 4 models, which I don’t use all that often, are usually less accurate and unreliable.

Q: Will the train wreck in East Palestine, Ohio affect our air or water?

A: It’s just interference. I’ve been told it’s the 5G cell phone towers that have created problems for the new radars that Environment Canada has installed, and they’re trying to come up with a solution to fix the problem. There’s nothing wacky or wild going on, it’s just simply interference spikes.

Q: Do you feel pressure when it comes to posting information about snowdays?

A: Not at all. I started mentioning them in my forecasts because there were many people asking about the possibilities, and I’ve included them ever since.

Q: Where is an area that you want to go to chase, but you’ve never been there before?

A: Definitely Tornado Alley in the US, like Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, etc. I’ve always wanted to go.

Q: Do you do seasonal forecasts?

A: I do forecasts for everything! I do not stop in the spring, summer, or fall. I post just as many forecasts in the summer as I would in the winter.

Aside from the questions, the end of the month is looking quite cold, with a couple of opportunities for a storm or two. Winter is, without a doubt, not over whatsoever. We've still got weeks to go.

Thank you for all the questions! I will talk to you all in a couple weeks.

Featuring Connor Mockett

Kemptville had its own movie theatre from as early as 1921. It was located where the Post Office is today, and only closed as a theatre in December, 1959.

Dominion Concrete Co., 1908. Located beside Riverside Park. Centre distance is the old High School and the two churches, Presbyterian and Methodist, on “Gospel Hill”.

The KPS apartments backlash revisited

and you may be surprised to realize that, love or hate their decision-making, North Grenville at least has a Council that puts extra effort forward.

My editorial on the subject of the apartments – which heavily criticized Council for not hearing residents’ concerns over the KPS apartments – was not inspired by a hatred of the current Council, but rather by a surprise at how they handled the situation.

situation. Unfortunately, our population growth and diminishing available land make it impossible for everyone to live in a large “white picket fence” house.

Last month, North Grenville Council took its fair share of backlash regarding the planned apartment complex to be built on the land of the former Kemptville Public School site. Some residents of the area presented specific concerns about why they felt the proposed apartment complex would be too large, too tall, or too aesthetically unpleasing. Others argued that it will be too big for the area, with not enough jobs to

support the newcomers, and far too much traffic for an area where many young children live. And then there were those, myself included, who had no opinion one way or the other regarding the merits of the planned apartments, but instead felt that Council could have done a better job hearing residents’ concerns before voting on bylaws to move the project forward.

Much like any government at any level and at any point in history, the current North Grenville Council has both support-

Chamber of Commerce to hold Business Expo

by Brandon Mayer

The North Grenville Chamber of Commerce will host an exciting new event this weekend. On Feb 25 from 9am-4pm, the Chamber will host the 2023 Business Expo at the North Grenville Municipal Centre, located at 285 County Rd #44 in Kemptville.

“With 27 vendors registered for our event, the lineup looks amazing! We’re looking forward highlighting our local businesses, both new and established, and connecting them with potential customers,” Chamber Chair Karen Quigley.

Moose FM will be on site broadcasting from 9am until 1pm. Beth Donovan Hospice will be accepting monetary donations at the door to help support their programs. The purpose of the Expo is to give local businesses the chance to engage and interact with the community. Many North Grenville residents are passionate about supporting local, and the expo is an excellent opportunity for them to do just that.

We encourage you to support our local entrepreneurs by visiting the expo and learning more about the products and services they provide, this event is open to everyone and is family friendly.

Come check it out – chances are you’ll be glad you did!

Special thanks to our sponsors Lisa Hale from Compass Accounting and Scott Waldron from Gravitate Travel.

ers and opponents. However, Council had enough support in the October municipal election to be re-elected as a whole, and it is no secret that the current Council members have an active presence in the community, far beyond what is minimally required of a sitting Council. I encourage anyone to watch livestreamed meetings from neighbouring municipalities, and do an internet search to attempt to find photos of politicians from these municipalities attending events. You will have difficulty,

Last week, Deputy Mayor John Barclay sent two documents to the Times to help explain the reasoning behind the apartment complex decision-making. One was a Globe and Mail article published earlier this year that outlines a need for more high-density housing as a means to help alleviate the current housing crisis. The article actually points out the shocking fact that average home sizes in Canada are growing significantly, while the average number of people living in each household is shrinking. People are wanting bigger and bigger homes, and have difficulty letting go of the idea of a detached single family home as the only acceptable living

Attention farmers: You could win cash

Change is hard, especially for residents of small towns. The residents of the Reuben Crescent area who will be most greatly impacted by the planned apartment complex brought forward real concerns. Their lives will change, with the potential for their quiet existence to become a busier and more congested one, and the small town feel of their home changing to feel more like a city suburb. Such a change would be difficult for anyone, but shouldn’t North Grenville do its part to help resolve the housing crisis? Or should high density homes be reserved for large cities only?

I don’t live in Kemptville and don’t feel that I have a right to register my own opinion, but that hasn’t stopped many others from speaking out. The problem is that when people are angry at Council, they turn out at Council meetings in droves, which can give a false sense of overall public opinion.

The other document sent by Deputy Mayor Barclay was the Municipality’s housing strategy, published in May of 2022. The 98 page document has a wealth of information, but one important point is the that residents of North Grenville were surveyed, and on average, stressed the need for smaller, higher density housing. Is it possible that those who showed up to the Council meeting to express concerns over the development were actually the minority?

Council does not get a free pass for failing to adequately dialogue with the dozens of concerned residents who opposed the project and almost certainly still do. However, new evidence can be great for forming new understanding. The project decisions were not made due to Council’s hands being in developers’ pockets, as some angry residents alleged without any evidence. Instead, Council gets an A for following the research, and a D- for open communication.

on Farming, but there is also cash up for grabs, with $4,000 in cash prizes available for winners in six categories: Canadian Farm Scenes; Faces Behind Food & Farming; All about Animals; Farm Innovation; Crazy about Crops; and Farm to Plate.

To answer the obvious question – yes, this contest is open to farmers from our area as well. Why not submit a photo? With entries accepted until July 1, there is plenty of time to wait until the “perfect shot” reveals itself!

by Brandon Mayer

Everyone knows that farming is a grueling lifestyle, filled with long hours, back breaking work, and financial risk.

A photo taken by local farmer Carrie Paquin & Food Care is launching a Canada-wide photo contest for the next edition of The Real Dirt on Farming, a publication that answers common questions about food and farming practices in Canada.

In celebration of Agriculture Day, the Guelph based organization Farm

Not only may winning photos be used in the next edition of The Real Dirt

Full contest guidelines are available on the

The former site of Kemptville Public School, where an apartment complex is planned to be built by Brandon Mayer

Municipal Flags lowered to honour former Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion

North Grenville Municipal flags were lowered to honour former Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, who died at the age of 101.

“Hurricane” Hazel McCallion served as the iconic Mayor of Mississauga for 36 years, from 1978 to 2014.

“On behalf of myself, my Council colleagues, and the Municipality of North Grenville, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Ms. McCallion’s family, colleagues and loved ones,” said Mayor Nancy Peckford.

“Hazel McCallion was legendary in so many ways. Outspoken and feisty, she held the respect of political leaders from all levels and all parties, and was regarded as of the most iconic politicians in the country. She was an inspiring and determined leader that led with passion and compassion,” added Mayor Peckford.

Prior to her longstanding career in politics, Ms. McCallion played professional women’s hockey, and continued to be a strong advocate for girl’s hockey.

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie honoured Hazel as the City’s Matriarch and Architect of Mississauga, leaving a lasting legacy.

In 2016, in honour of her 100th birthday, the Government of Ontario renamed February 14th as “Hazel McCallion Day.”

When asked about serving as a female politician in a largely male-dominated sphere, Mayor McCallion responded, “Think like a man, act like a lady and work like a dog.” Ms. McCallion, true to form, did just that for over three decades, and 12 terms.

North Grenville Municipal Flags were lowered to half-mast until after the state funeral on February 14, 2023.

OPP Report

submitted by Grenville County OPP

Domestic Dispute Investigation

A Prescott resident is facing domestic-related Criminal Code (CC) charges after an incident on the afternoon of February 7, 2023. Officers from the Grenville County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to assist Leeds and Grenville Paramedic services with an injured person after an altercation at a residence.

The 15-year-old female victim was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. As a result of this incident, an 18-year-old male has been arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offence:

· Assault with a weapon - CC 267(a)

The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Brockville Ontario Court of Justice at a late date.

If you or someone you know is living in, or involved in an abusive relationship, help is available. Contact Assaulted Women's Helpline on 1-866-863-0511 for support and advice, or the safety of a shelter at Interval House on 1-800-267-4409. The Assault Response & Care Centre is also available for information and support at 1-800-567-7415. Victim Services of Grenville County is also available to provide emotional and practical assistance to people who have experienced domestic violence. They can be reached at 343-264-2676. In emergencies call 9-1-1.

Dispute results in charges

A Grenville County officer of the OPP has laid a charge after police were called to a dispute in the Township of Edwardsburgh-Cardinal.

On February 8, at approximately 7 pm, Grenville County OPP attended a residence on Riddell Road in response to a dispute. One person was intoxicated and was arrested to prevent further breach of the peace. During the arrest, the person became combative with officers. A 31 year old from Edwardsburgh-Cardinal was charged under the Criminal Code with · Assault police officer - 271(a)

The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Brockville Ontario Court of Justice at a later date.

Driver charged with Impaired

On February 9, at around 3 am, officers from Grenville County OPP responded to a traffic complaint regarding a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed south on Highway 416 in Edwardsburgh-Cardinal Township. After a brief investigation the driver was arrested.

A 22 year old from Brockville, was charged under the Criminal Code (CC) with:

· Operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs - CC 320.14(1)(a)

· Operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus) - CCs.320.14(1)(b)

The driver was released and is scheduled to appear at the Brockville Ontario Court of Justice at a later date.

If you have any information on the above investigations or any other, please contact Grenville OPP on 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-(TIPS) 8477 or submit your tip on-line at www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca. Crime Stoppers does not want your name, you don't go to court, and you could earn cash reward.

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

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.

• Friday, February 24, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. (Closed Session)

• Monday, February 27, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. (Closed Session)

• Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. (Open Session) – Budget - Council Chambers

• Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. (Closed Session)

• Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. (Open Session) – Council Chambers

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

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

• Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee – February 23, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

• Accessibility Advisory Committee – March 13, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

2023 Budget – Public Consultations

The Draft 2023 Budget was presented to Council on February 9, 2023. Members of the public are invited to attend the public consultation sessions to learn more about the proposed investments and key priorities of the draft 2023 Budget, ask questions and provide feedback. The Municipality will be hosting three budget public consultation sessions:

• Thursday, February 23 at 2:00 p.m. at Maplewood Hall (92 Maplewood Ave., Oxford Mills)

• Thursday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. online via Zoom (Pre-registration is required to attend the virtual session. To register, visit northgrenville.ca/budget or phone 613-258-9569 ext. 162)

For more information visit: www.northgrenville.ca/budget

Equity Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

Community members are invited to a community engagement session and to complete a survey to assist in the creation of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy.

EDI Community Engagement Session: Wednesday, March 1 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 pm. at Catered Affairs (820 Heritage Drive, Kemptville Campus)

Interested participants are required to pre-register for the session at www.northgrenville.ca/equity or phone 613-258-9569 ext. 177. For those who require accommodations or transportation to attend the session, please phone 613-258-9569 ext. 177 or e-mail vision@northgrenville.on.ca.

A survey is also available online at www.northgrenville.ca/equity until March 15 at 4:00 p.m. Hard copies of the survey are available at the North Grenville Municipal Centre, North Grenville Public Library, Community Living, Kemptville Youth Centre, and Seniors’ Community Services.

VOLUNTEER AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Summer Student Opportunities – Parks, Recreation and Culture

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture is currently accepting applications for various full and part-time spring/summer student positions. For a full list of available positions and information on how to apply, please visit www.northgrenville.ca/careers. Please submit applications to hr@northgrenville.on.ca by 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 10, 2023.

Engineering Co-op Student

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking to fill three full-time positions of Engineering Co-op Student. Interested applicants may submit a cover letter and resume outlining qualifications in confidence to Human Resources by 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 17, 2023. Visit www. northgrenville.ca/careers for details and more information on how to apply.

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

It’s the old things in life

by Brandon Mayer

It is human nature to look toward the future. We worry about progress, sustainability, and growth. In fact, most municipalities are obsessed with sustainable growth, and our area is no different. It almost feels as though local governments see the number of people choosing to live here as a report card – growth means A+, but people moving away must surely mean an F. This mentality is so strong that many area municipalities have slogans which emphasize the value of moving to them.

This week – the third week of February – is unique in that it is not dedicated to progress and moving forward. It’s Heritage Week, as designated by the Government of Ontario since 1985. This means that we take this week to look back on our local history, which can be just as important for progress as new ideas. Why? Because learning and growing is based on

comparison. Think of a spider that builds a small, simple web, but then next time, builds on previous skills and builds a larger, more intricate web. The skills needed to build the simpler web are not abandoned, but rather built upon.

It is fascinating to think of human history as a spider web, growing and adapting. Each obstacle we have overcome as a species has been built on improving how we do things. An easy example is the environment. We don’t suddenly want to worry about air pollution “just because”, we worry about it because we look back on decades of global temperature trends and realize that we can’t keep up the same habits forever and maintain our terrestrial home. Another example is justice reform. Policymakers don’t suddenly wake up with brain reboots that direct them to be more sensitive to the causes of crime and the need to reform rather than punish. Instead, we look back on years of degrading, inhumane treatment

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to respond to the letters from both Mr. Swaren and Mr. Van Dam regarding my recent letter to this newspaper regarding health care. Mr. Swaren seems to have missed the point that while the increased cost of private health care will be covered by your health card, it is somewhat disingenuous to think that extra money won't have to come from somewhere, either increased taxation, or a cut in funding for other public services and institutions.

The Financial Accountability Office for the Province of Ontario just released a report that the Province is about $12.5 billion behind in its fiscal plan for the last

of criminals and realize that while justice must certainly be served, we also must never lose our humanity in how we treat offenders. Take a tour of an old jail to see what I mean.

These two admittedly random examples would be only two of thousands in a list that would be impossible to make exhaustive. They illustrate a simple concept – we change and grow as a society because we learn from the past. This is one of the very important reasons for schoolchildren to study history. Past events such as the Holocaust help remind us of what can happen when we let hate and division warp our sound judgement. It is not just for “interest”; we study history because in studying our past, the path to a better future becomes clearer.

Studying and honouring heritage at the local level can have a different but equally important purpose. Particularly in small communities, it can aid in a sense of belonging and connectedness to

the community. We are “locals”, and with that comes a comforting sense of belonging, but countless people were locals before us. They too had stories, just like many of the buildings that we use for one purpose today had far different uses decades ago.

One of the reasons I enjoy small town living is the small stuff. Sure, I have never known any other type of living, being a lifelong resident of this area, but there are many facets of small town life that I could never give up. Old adages usually ring true, and in this case, “it’s the small things in life” is a perfect expression. It is exemplified in the simple wave to the dozen people you know in the grocery store, and in the familiarity of the same streets and the same quaint businesses day after day, and maybe even in sitting in a quiet home on a quiet street and reading a wholesome community newspaper (shameless plug!).

This week, we get to enjoy something else.

During Heritage Week, it’s the old things in life that give us peace and joy. We reflect on our past and how far we’ve come, and reminisce about the fact that life decades ago in our quaint little community could have somehow been even more simple than it is today. I love it! There is a reason we read history books, have entire television channels and movies dedicated to historical events, and have tourist attractions like Upper Canada Village to visit and explore. It’s because our past is interesting and provides an amazing opportunity for learning and growth.

How can one go about learning the history of their own community? Historical societies are a great place to start.

Area societies include the North Grenville Historical Society, the Chesterville and District Historical Society, and the Historical Society of South Dundas. These organizations are not-forprofit, volunteer run, and are vital in preserving local history. Crossing

borders is to be encouraged when it comes to digging into local history, since our entire area, and not just our own municipality, is rich in history. Take the flooding of the St. Lawrence Seaway, for example. The Seaway is a short drive of 20 minutes or less away for most of us, and its story is so remarkable that it is almost unbelievable. Not just the fact that such a gigantic project was successfully undertaken, but also the personal impacts it had on many people whose homes and entire histories were submerged in water. Whatever interests you – roads and infrastructure, old railways, historical local businesses and government buildings, former “famous” residents, etc. – don’t be afraid to get out and learn about the history of your own backyard. It doesn’t even need to be Heritage Week. You don’t need an excuse to let your curiosity travel back in time!

My Community Heroes Program

fiscal year, and that health care funding has fallen behind by almost $5 billion in the same period. So it certainly seems like the Ford government is deliberately trying to undermine our public health system.

As for Mr. Van Dam, and his endless statistics and questionable scenarios, the fact that I am disappointing him is yet again proof positive that I am on the right track. They have both failed to address what is happening in British Columbia where their government went down this same path of privatization, for the same reasons that the Ford government has given, and is now scrambling to backtrack because of the eye-watering addi-

tional costs associated with privatization. If the Ford government can afford to pay more for health care, like it has already agreed to a 20% cost increase for cataract surgery, then why can it not adequately fund our public system, and pay our doctors and nurses what they are worth? This is the question that needs to be asked, and the answer lies not in economics, but in idealology.

Colin Creasey, Kemptville

Since the inception of the Kemptville District Community Association (KDCA) residents of North Grenville may have gotten to know us during the original Open House meeting we held with all the community stakeholders in November 2018, you may recognize our name from organizing the in-person Canada Day events in 2019 and 2022 at Riverside Park, and virtual Canada Day celebrations the years between. We are always looking for projects that make an impact in our community and in 2021 we were able to provide a much needed kayak launch at Anniversary Park.

The KDCA is jumping in front of 2023 with a lot of plans to get back to our purpose, supporting the communities of North Grenville and we are starting right off with launching our My Community Heroes Program! Can we ever have enough recognition of the amazing people who independently strive to bring value to our community? Teachers who have gone above and beyond, individuals who have taken their personal passion and engaged the community in something amazing, perhaps one of the cashiers at your local grocery store saved a day? The stories are endless and we want to hear them all.

Our committee is comprised of some very recognizable names from the community and they will not have an easy time making an ultimate decision as we are already seeing some nominations being submitted! From our KDCA Board: Tracy McDonald (Employment Services Supervisor, CSE Consulting), Chris Wilson (Commercial Risk Management, Tanner Insurance) and Alison Boudreau. From our Community: Herb Cloutier (Jamming Around Man Productions), Shelley Mitchell (To Be Continued) Leanne Cormier (Salamanders) Ashley Sloan (Kemptville Infinity) Samantha Rivet-Stevenson (RBC).

We have two catagories; Under 18 years old / Over 18 years old. Pretty simple! A take home award for each winner will be presented at our Annual General Meeting on March 23rd 2023 and an ongoing plaque will be hung at the North Grenville Municipal Centre.

For those who may be interested in getting involved with the KDCA our Annual General Meeting will be open to all. We are actively seeking new board members, or those who may be interested in working alongside us on specific focus committees. Please reach out we would love to hear from you. Planning has already started for your Canada Day Celebrations started for this summer, come join in the fun!

Please follow us on our Facebook page or reach out if you have any questions! kemptvilledistrictca@gmail.com www.kdca.community

Kemptville Public School, 1873-1936

school was $3,000, spread across the taxpaying population, as it was local residents who made up the Board. Non-residents of Kemptville were charged 40¢ per month to attend the school, but this was raised to $1 a month after 1914.

by David Shanahan

The B&H Grocery store in Kemptville stands today on what was once the site of this really lovely school. The Kemptville Public School served the children of Kemptville for sixty years, before being destroyed in a suspicious fire in March, 1936. Before it was built, there were two School Boards in the Village of Kemptville: one for the Grammar School which was in the building still standing at 205 Clothier Street west; and a Board for

the two Common Schools, also still standing. One was at 402 Oxford Street, on the north side of the village, and the other was at 12 Elizabeth Street on the south side. But, in 1873, the Boards merged and a new combination Public and High School was built on the site between Rideau and West (now Sanders) Street.

The two-storey brick building had four classrooms, and employed three teachers for the Public School, and one for the High School. Supply

teachers were paid the generous sum of $1.50 per day in the Public School.

The school was very successful and drew students from around the area, so that, by the mid-1880's, this building was too small to cope with the enrollment.

In 1888, a new High School was built on Prescott Street, and the older building was used exclusively for Public School classes from that year on. By the time of the First World War, the levy on local taxpayers for the

The members of the Public School Board represent some of the families with the longest history in Kemptville. Names like Sanders, Kilfoyle, Ferguson and Eager were noted, and many of the leading business people in the village put time and energy into their roles supervising the school and its activities.

In March, 1936, the school burned down. This was just three months after an equally suspicious fire had destroyed the High School on Prescott Street, and there seemed little doubt in the minds of residents at the time that both fires were the result of arson, possibly by students. The Kemptville Fire Department turned out to try and save the building, but without success. It was estimated that the loss of the building cost around $35,000, but insurance on it and its contents was just $20,000, a serious loss to the Board. But, by the end of the year, a new school had been

erected on the site of the old High School, repeating the original function of the Public School in catering to both Public and High School classes.

The old Public School was replaced by a garage, and, in 1963, by the new B&H Foodliner Store. As a side note: the area that is now the parking lot for the B&H, as well as that covered by the old Giant Tiger building, was once occupied by a few homes and stores, also long gone.

The school was located in the centre of the lot, as shown in this 1917 map

Home Hardware store, Prescott Street

the 1860's, and came into the possession of the Blackburn family in 1869, when it was bought by Thomas Blackburn, who owned a large store on Prescott Street facing Asa Street. But the Blackburn family wanted a fine house to display their success, and the house at Prescott and South Rideau did just that.

It remained in the family until 1914, when Isabella Blackburn, described as an unmarried spinster, sold it to Nathaniel Kennedy.

This is an older building in Kemptville that may be hard to recognise, but it stands today in a part of town that was once the residential centre for the social and business elite. The illustration is from the Canadian Illustrated News of 1878 and

shows the home of Thomas Blackburn on the corner of Prescott Street and South Rideau Street, with its gardens and surrounding fence. Today, it is the Home Hardware store and South Rideau has become Elizabeth Street.

The house dates from

Thomas Robinson lived here between 1926 and 1949, running an insurance business from his home. Then, in 1950, the building was bought by James Kennedy, who had come to Kemptville in 1946 and ran a hardware store out of the Finnerty Block (now the Clothier Inn). He moved the business to the Blackburn house in 1950, and it has been operating there under other owners ever since. It was bought from Kennedy by the current owner’s family, the Hamilton’s, in 1966.

Outside the school in 1927

Kemptville's first main street

most thirty years, the store changed hands and became Ross’ Grocery and Candy Store. It remained a store for most of the years since, although the exterior has been altered radically over time. It is now the home of Get Cronk’d.

Hyde Smokehouse

by David Shanahan

Kemptville began on Clothier Street east. It was along this street that the early village developed, where hotels and service industries such as blacksmiths, general stores, and the post office were located. The street parallels the river, the focus and reason for the village from the beginning in the 1820’s. This is the land that Lyman Clothier bought in order to build a saw mill in 1819, and it remained the main street of Kemptville until after the fire of 1872, which destroyed much of Prescott Street. When it was rebuilt, the focus of the village shifted across the river. But Clothier Street east continued to be an

important thoroughfare, the site of many important businesses in the commercial life of the village.

Kemptville Hotel

Lyman Clothier built a house on this site around 1820, one of only two residences in Kemptville at the time. His son, Ambrose Clothier, built the present edifice as his family home around 1861, from bricks made from clay taken from the river bank, where his family owned a brick yard. Originally, a cupola topped the building, which was

transformed into a feed store and home by Henry Dell after 1868. Dell ran a liquor store, and the Orange Lodge occupied the third floor after 1880, accessed by outside stairs. A feed warehouse extended along the rear where there is a parking lot now. This store was taken over and operated by Joel Anderson between 1912 and 1940, although the building was actually owned by James Fairbairn. He, in turn, sold it to Charles Graham who turned it into a hotel in 1940, and it remained as such through subsequent owners until the late 1990's. Since then, it has housed a number of commercial businesses. The building to the east was an extension to the hotel

Robert Craig bought this property in 1878 and he erected this building as a residence and shoe repair shop. He stocked both pre-made shoes and made-to-order, and trained generations of shoemakers in Kemptville. When he died in 1899, the building was sold to the O’Neill family and became one of the smartest hat shops in town, run by Misses Anna and Julia O’Neill. Their clientele expected sophisticated and creative millinery, and all were unique works for just $10 each. After al-

Thomas Hicks erected this building around 1880 and operated a grocery store, living above the shop. He sold it to Alphaeus Patterson in 1890. Patterson was a baker who later moved to what is today Grahame’s Bakery. It then became a furniture store, with offices upstairs. The future Premier of Ontario, G. Howard Ferguson, had his law offices upstairs in No. 13, and he was followed by the firm of Boucher & Loucks, solicitors to the Corporation of Kemptville. J. G. Pelton bought the building in 1899 and moved the telephone exchange there, where it remained for more than fifty years. In 1923, the Orange Order bought the building and had their lodge rooms upstairs, renting the ground floor and basement to Bell. The Order sold the premises in 1984, since then it has operated primarily as a restaurant. The original

tin ceiling on the first floor won the building a Heritage designation in 2008.

The Post Office

This is the first of two vacant lots sitting side by side. Asa Clothier built a blacksmith shop on this site in 1816, before selling the property in 1826. It came into the hands of the Leslie family in 1837, and by 1862 Robert Leslie had erected the imposing building pictured here. It became Kemptville’s Post Office, with Robert Leslie as Post Master. The Advance newspaper started here in 1888. A serious fire in the print shop in 1909 caused severe damage to the building, and shortly thereafter, the Post Office and newspaper moved to new locations on Prescott Street. In 1943, Leabourne Elliott bought the building and, as the first IGA store, brought supermarkets to Kemptville. It was later taken over by the CIBC bank, and then served as a pizzeria before being demolished in the 1990's. Bedingfield’s / Bright Spot

This is the second vacant lot. In 1870, Robert H. Bedingfield bought a piece of land fronting on Clothier Street and opened a harness

built much later. Craig store

salesroom and workshop.

In 1882, he expanded his property in the rear back to Oxford Street and carried on selling saddlery, trunks, valises and other leather goods.

After his death in 1912, the property changed hands numerous times, bringing various businesses to the site. Creswell Johnson had a machine shop and Garnet Van Allan ran the Dodge dealership and sold radios and washing machines.

Kemptville Motor Sales sold to the Swedloves in 1959, and it became part of that family’s holdings along Clothier Street. It has been a restaurant for a number of years, having being added to on the east side. It was demolished owing to structural problems.

27 Clothier Street East:

O’Heaphy’s

This was the site of the very first store in Kemptville. Levius Church opened his store here at the end of

the 1820's and operated it for several years. It was a branch of his main business in Prescott. It was recorded that “The farmers usually paid their store bills in ashes, collected when clearing the land, which the merchants made into potash, and with that paid for their goods”. The first Post Office in Kemptville operated out of Church’s store. There have been a number of businesses on the site, including a machine shop, the first garage in town, run by Del Seymour, and a Salvation Army Thrift Store. An attached building, now the pub patio, housed a series of barber shops over the years. Recently, the premises were extensively renovated,

Heritage Matters

Celebrating Heritage in North Grenville

maintaining a traditional shopfront appearance.

29 Clothier Street East

There were a number of businesses on the site until, in 1872, John Wolfe sold 800 square feet of the land to Robert Kerr on condition that only a stone or brick building be erected. This is the building that stands today. Around 1912, Lodge No. 334 of the Orange Order moved into the upper floor of the premises, which was then the location of Johnston’s Furniture and Undertaking business. In 1922, the building was bought by the United Farmers of Ontario, and the Orange Order moved to the Fraser Block. The UFO, in turn, sold to the Swedlove family in 1933 who opened a grocery and dry goods store. The property was added to the land on the east side (Kerr House) in 1937 and a large furniture store was added to the operation.

Where there is now a long, low building, there once existed a large, twostory building that served as both a store and a hotel for many years in the life of the community. In 1838, it was a store run by a man called White, and a gathering place for people eager to hear news of the Battle of the Windmill in Prescott. Around 1842, it was bought by Alexander Beckett who opened one of the first hotels in the town. It passed through three owners, including William Johnston, who called it the “King William II Hotel”. Robert Kerr bought it in 1866 and it remained in his family until 1899. It was heated by hot air, lit by electricity and

comfortably furnished. As late as the 1930's, it was a rooming house hotel operated by Dan O’Neill with stables still existing behind the building and a covered passage leading from them to Clothier Street. In the 1950's, it was bought by the Swedlove family, who added it to their premises next door and ran a furniture store from it. It later became the Canadian Tire Store before that company moved to Highway 43.

1832, when it was erected by Mahlon Beach as a hotel, which he ran for a number of years before selling it to Thomas Beckett. Beckett’s Hotel was where Squire Bottum held court sessions in the 1830's. The public sale of Clergy Reserve lands were held there in 1833.

A parking lot is all that is left of what was once a social and commercial centre for Kemptville. Residents today remember Scobie’s Store and the billiard hall. But the original building dated from

In the 1840's, Beckett sold the hotel to William McGregor and moved to Beckett’s landing where he became the new bridge master. McGregor replaced the older building and continued to operate the hotel, now called the “American House Hotel”, until 1880, when he converted it to use as a store. He had been in business with L. P. Sanders in a location across the street for a couple of years before they moved their main business to the old hotel. The building was destroyed by fire in 1991.

Kerr Hotel

Fertilizer - Seed - Crop

Anderson & Langstaff Store, Prescott Street, Kemptville

first, and largest, department stores in the town of Kemptville. Equipped with extensive warehouses, stables and sheds at the rear and the south, the business was bought out by an employee, William H. Anderson, who further expanded it.

by David Shanahan

This has been the site of a store since at least 1850, when Thomas Baldwin had a cabinet shop here. lt then became the general store of Andrew Blackburn, and it was another of the victims of the 1872 fire which destroyed almost all of Prescott Street. Blackburn rebuilt in brick after the fire. Designed by King Arnoldi, who had worked on the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, that building became one of the

Business was so good that, in 1897, Anderson took on as a partner, Albert Langstaff, and the store became Anderson & Langstaff’s. The partners expanded until the business occupied 20,000 square feet of merchandise.

In addition to the twelve employees who looked after the customers, the firm also employed another dozen in making clothing for sale. The sketch of the business

dating from 1873 shows that, even then, a large storehouse had been added on the south side to accommodate the Hardware and Large Stock.

In 1903, the store handled a very wide range of goods: dry goods, groceries, shelf and heavy hardware, shoes, carpets, ready-made and bespoke clothing, furnishings, furs, oils and varnishes, tiles, and much more.

For many years, in the driveway which runs beside the building, there was a water mill, which pumped water up from a well to a trough where horses could be watered while their owners shopped in the store. An office on the second floor was once the location of the

Agricultural Representative for Grenville County.

In 1957, the store was described: “A complete line of modern goods is on display in every department. Grocery, Meat, Electrical, Hardware, Paint and wallpaper, floor coverings, ladies wear, etc.”

In late 1952, an addition was built on the north side of the store to house a Men’s and Boy’s Department. In later years, it became the Red & White store and has had various tenants since the store closed. One section of this historic building is now the home of the North Grenville Historical Society’s History Hub. An appropriate location.

Frisby

Don Frisby, who grandfather had owned until the Grahame family took it over . Thomas Hicks erected the building and sold it to Alphaeus Patterson in 1885. Patterson opened a bakery here, and it has remained a bakery ever since. It still uses the same wood-fired brick oven installed by Patterson. The bakery was owned and run by A. Eager until 1922, when he sold it to Bert Frisby, who taught the trade to Leonard Grahame who in turn bought out Frisby when he retired. The bakery has remained in the family ever since, and has been recognized by the Heritage Canada Foundation.

Rube McClellan and his wagon carried cheese from the factory to the railway station at Oxford Station, returning with goods and travellers to the general store, pictured behind him. C. 1920's.

safe: This safe was presented to Grahame’s Bakery by

FOR SALE

Firewood for sale. Cut, split, seasoned, mixed hardwood. $105/face cord. Call Ken 613 323 5503 20230201

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

For Sale: Never used 1/3 horsepower Emerson motor. $100 firm. Call Reg - 613 258 7606

MISCELLANIOUS

Hunter Education Course on Saturday March 4th in Burritts Rapids. Please contact Kerry Coleman at 613-791-7515 or kerrycoleman@xplornet.com.

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

Kemptville senior wishes to buy sports cards for collecting #613-215-0835

Lead Guitar player wanted - Cover band (five members of ‘somewhat older’ vintage) doing rock and country hits from 60s to 2000s – looking for lead guitar player. Call/text 613404-3182

Looking to rent farmland for cash crops. Call or text Mitch @ 613262-1204. (8 weeks)

FOR RENT

Rental for winter months. Looking for any truck driver or two who might be looking for accommodations starting the beginning of December. We are located in Kemptville with large drive way.Please call at 613-258-7778 to visit or for more details.

CROSSWORD

SERVICES

RETIRED CARPENTER

Renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, additions, decks, home repair. Call George at 613 462 7637

HANDYMAN SERVICES

Call Bill 613 774 2922

VIDEO CAMERAS SECURITY SYSTEMS

Install and service

35+ years experience TD SECURITY Todd 416 912-0899

PROFESSIONAL CLEANING available on a monthly basis or occasionally Jackie 613-821-6161

COMMUNITY EVENTS

KLUB 67 Euchre – Fun, social card playing every 2nd and 4th Wednesday monthly at 1PM, September to May. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben Cres, Kemptville. Everyone welcome $5., cash prizes.

BREAKFAST, Kemptville Legion! Every 3rd Saturday from 8-10am - $8 for adults, $6 for children 10 and under. Euchre will be held following breakfast, registration starts at 11:30 am.

BINGO, Kemptville Legion, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, doors open at noon

ACROSS

5.

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Easy

Medium Hard

Solution to last week’s Crossword

OpEd

Methane and Renewables

submitted by Steve Gabell

Many people will have recently experienced a nasty surprise thanks to their Enbridge bills for methane (aka “natural gas”) being significantly higher than in previous years. In some cases, bills have more than doubled. The war in Ukraine has had an effect on the cost of methane and other fossil fuels. While Russia’s invasion may not have been predictable, an extractive industry limited to a relatively small number of sites is always going to be vulnerable to external events disrupting supplies.

Yet rather than working to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, our Progressive Conservative provincial government is working to make us more dependent on them. In 2021, they announced an expansion of methane connections for a number of communities across the province where

people are currently reliant on heating oil or propane, including parts of Merrickville. This expansion comes at an eye-watering financial cost - $2.46 million for 67 homes and businesses in Merrickville alone, or over $36,000 for each connection, not including costs property owners will incur with the need for new furnaces or ducting.

Doug Ford is also working to increase dependence on fossil fuels across the province for generating electricity. Not content with recklessly cancelling hundreds of renewable energy contracts and successful energy efficiency programs, he is planning on ramping up expensive and polluting methane power plants.

Even if we ignore the environmental impact of increasing methane use, it simply does not make sense from a financial perspective to invest in expensive

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

I am a huge fan of eggplant. Whether it is served up as a vegetarian meal or accompanies meat or fish, it is versatile and very flavourful. Today’s recipe is Spicy Eggplant and if you like this fruit (yup, it’s a member of the aubergine family and so it’s really a fruit), you are going to enjoy this recipe.

Spicy Eggplant

Ingredients

1 or 2 small to medium eggplants (depending on how many folks you are feeding)

The white of one large egg

6 teaspoons of cornstarch

A cup of vegetable oil (for deep frying)

Mixed spices: 3 teaspoons of sea salt; 3 teaspoons of chili powder, 3 tablespoons of lemon pepper (or pepper); ½ teaspoon of cumin; 5 teaspoons of garlic powder; 2 teaspoons of ground mustard seed; 2 teaspoons of onion powder and 2 teaspoons of ground cloves. This mixture is sometimes called a Thaï 7-Spice Blend, though a good many other cultures use the same spices.

Preparation-

- Slice the eggplant into ½ to ¼ inch thick rounds (like pucks)

- Make an egg wash by beating the egg white till light and foamy

- Mix the cornstarch and spice mixture and spread onto a large plate

- Bring the oil to frying temperature in a shallow pan

- Dip your eggplant rounds in the egg wash, then coat with the dry mixture

- Deep fry the coated eggplant rounds, in batches, for about 5 minutes or until crispy golden

- As they are done, place the eggplant rounds on paper towels to absorb excess oil

- Serve while hot (warm them up very briefly in the oven if you need to)

You can dish these up as is or with a sour cream, Caesar dressing, salsa or Tzatziki dip. I think olive oil mixed with balsamic vinegar might be a good dip also.

I hope you are enjoying our early spring (at least we hope it’s an early spring). Best from pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

energy sources when there are far cheaper alternatives available. Expanding use of methane for heating and electricity generation not only has significant capital costs, it also has ongoing running costs that are vulnerable to the whims of global markets and to world events.

There is a different path open to us. One that would reduce our energy costs over both the short term and the long term, one that would reduce our vulnerability to extreme weather, market forces and global events. Renewable energy offers near zero marginal cost energy, which can be generated in virtually any location. Even RBC, a major funder of fossil fuel projects, report that wind or solar projects are significantly cheaper than methane, at US$40 per MWh compared to US$60 per MWh, and a report from Ontario’s Inde-

pendent Electricity System Operator stated that Ontario can avoid the need for new methane plants and lower its electricity costs by up to $290 billion by investing in zero-carbon options.

Countries around the world are in a race to decarbonize their economies, creating new industries and economic opportunities in the process. As Mike Schreiner, Ontario Greens leader and Guelph MPP says, “Low-cost renewable energy projects and ambitious efficiency programs will drive progress on climate and help people and business save money by saving energy. A clean grid will attract new industries, create tens of thousand of jobs and give Ontario a strong foothold in the booming climate economy.”

Concerns over Bill 23 loom during Heritage Week

by Brandon Mayer

The dialogue around Ontario’s Bill 23 has quieted down in the last few weeks after countless pieces published about it, both in the Times and elsewhere. The controversial Bill is called the “More Homes Built Faster Act”. It has taken criticism from many different angles. Such criticism has been renewed this week as it relates to Heritage Week, which is an annual celebration that takes place in the third week of February.

Conservation Authorities dislike Bill 23 because it strips them of their powers to prohibit land development where it may cause flooding or the destruction of protected lands. Many members of the public dislike Bill 23 because it limits the input of the public on decisions regarding landuse planning, and has the potential to re-designate needed farmland as residential land. This week in particular, historical societies are criticizing the Bill because of its effect on heritage properties.

Bill 23 will make it

more difficult for municipalities to obtain heritage designations, and will also impose a limit of two years for buildings to remain on heritage registers by being identified as having “heritage potential”. Within the next two years, this could potentially result in thousands of old, historically significant buildings losing their protected status. The Bill also removes requirements for additional considerations when a heritage building is recommended for demolition.

The More Homes Built Faster Act was created by Doug Ford’s provincial government to “cut red tape” that impedes housing development. The price of buying or renting a home in Canada has become prohibitive for many people in the last few years, driven by a number of factors including too many people and too few homes. Creating more homes – which is the end goal of Bill 23 – would certainly lower the prices of existing real estate, but opponents of the Bill are keen to point out that it goes too far and is too black and

white.

Heritage sites don’t always serve a pragmatic purpose, but they have irreplaceable wisdom and information about the past which has value that is impossible to measure. This week, we are reminded of the importance of learning about our history and learning from it. In the last few years, concerns over past and present relationships with Canada’s Indigenous peoples have also shaped opinions of legislation such as Bill 23, which can negatively impact traditional, unceded territory. First Nations groups in Ontario have spoken out against the Bill.

The Ontario Government is unlikely to backtrack on Bill 23 on its own. Whether the mounting pressures from many different angles will sway the government’s decision remains to be seen.

Van Santen, Linda Gail

nee Jay

March 27, 1947 – February 13, 2023

Passed away peacefully with her family by her side at home on February 13,2023. Linda, in her 76 th year, beloved wife and best friend of Johannes (Kees) for 54 years. Loving mother of Leah (Kerry) and Aaron, all of Kemptville. Special Grandma to Ryan, Owen and Kassidy. Dear daughter of the late Thelma and Jack Jay. Dear sister of Sandy (Allen) McIntosh of Brockville and Sister-inlaw to Rudie (Patricia), Marian (Claude) of Brockville and Robert (Sandy) of Kingston. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Born in Almont, On, moved to Kemptville in 1953 and raised by her Grandfather Daniel Jay. Attended school at North Grenville District High School then nursing school at Brockville General where she earned her RN license. Worked at the old Bayfield Manor, VON and retired from the Kemptville District Hospital in 2012. A private family service was held February 16th with a family burial planned for the spring. Special thanks to Georgie and Melanie from Bayshore Home Care. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer society would be gratefully accepted.

Condolences/Tributes/Donations

Hulse, Playfair & McGarry www.hpmcgarry.ca

613-258-2435

United Counties update

Highlights of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Council Meeting held on Thursday, January 19, 2023, as well as the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) and Joint Services Committee (JSC) meetings held earlier this month.

Update on the Maple View Lodge Redevelopment Project: The Maple View Lodge Redevelopment Project is the largest capital project ever undertaken by the Counties. Once completed, there will be a new, 192-bed, long-term care home in the beautiful, rural setting of Athens. The Maple View Lodge Fundraising Committee, chaired by Mr. Doug Struthers, has been working diligently to prepare for the launch of the fundraising campaign in the coming months. Funds raised from the campaign will be utilized for items which will enhance the lives of residents and provide aides to assist staff in providing exceptional care. Council approved the Maple View Lodge Committee of Management’s recommendation to set the fundraising goal at $3-million, with approximately $2 million estimated to be raised through naming rights for the facility itself and areas such as walkways, gardens, and resident rooms. At its regular meeting in

January, Counties Council also approved “Maple View Landings” as the name for the lands the existing Maple View Lodge is situated on. The new name for the grounds was recommended for approval by the Maple View Lodge Committee of Management and Council’s decision will allow the Fundraising Committee to quickly move forward with marketing, communication and fundraising efforts. For more information, contact Long-term Care Fundraising Coordinator Lesley Todd via email Lesley.Todd@ uclg.on.ca

Committee Chairs appointed: At its first meeting of 2023, the Joint Services Committee unanimously appointed Mayor Corinna Smith-Gatcke (Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands) as the Chairperson for the Committee for 2023. Upon taking the Chair, Ms. Smith-Gatcke said “I appreciate the vote of confidence and look forward to productive years ahead”. Mayor Herb Scott (Township of Athens) was appointed as the Chairperson for the Maple View Lodge Committee of Management and Mayor Arie Hoogenboom (Township of Rideau Lakes) was appointed as Chairperson for the Planning Advisory Committee. For more information contact Sheena Earl, County Clerk/Manager of Legislative Services at 613342-3840 ext. 2454.

Agriculture Area Review: The Counties has initiated an Agricultural Area Review to ensure that the mapping of prime agricultural lands in the Counties’ Official Plan is up-to-date and accurate. This Review is provincially required to be completed prior to the next review of the Official Plan, expected in 2026. Planscape has been retained by the Counties to help complete the Review and the first public consultation event was held in

December to introduce the project and schedule, and a presentation was made to the Planning Advisory Committee on January 4, 2023. The Review will continue through 2023 with multiple public consultation events and draft mapping available for review this spring. Comments and questions are always welcome. For more information, please visit the dedicated webpage www.leedsgrenville.com/ agriculture or contact Cherie Mills, Manager of Planning Services at 613-342-3840 ext. 2419.

Appointment of Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC); Counties Council, in accordance with Ontario Regulation 380/04 under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, has appointed Ms. Christina Conklin as the Emergency Management Program Coordinator (also known as the Community February 13, 2023 Page 3 Emergency Management Coordinator) for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Ms. Conklin is also the Deputy Clerk and Legislative Coordinator for the Counties. As CEMC, Ms. Conklin will be responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of the Counties’ Emergency Management Program and will report to the Counties’ Emergency Management Program Committee. The Committee is responsible for conducting annual reviews of the Counties’ Emergency Management Program and making recommendations to Council with respect to the enhancement of the Program. For more information contact Deputy Clerk and Legislative Coordinator Christina Conklin at 613-342-3840 ext. 2456 or cemc@uclg.on.ca.

Upcoming meetings: All regular meetings begin at 9 am in the Council Chambers at 25 Central Avenue West, Brockville. For more

information, contact County Clerk/Manager of Legislative Services, Sheena Earl, at 613-342-3840, ext. 2454. Emergency Management Coordinator) for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Ms. Conklin is also the Deputy Clerk and Legislative Coordinator for the Counties. As CEMC, Ms. Conklin will be responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of the Counties Emergency Management Program and will report to the Counties Emergency Management Program Committee. The Committee is responsible for conducting annual reviews of the Counties Emergency Management Program and making recommendations to Council with respect to the enhancement of the Program. For more information contact Deputy Clerk and Legislative Coordinator Christina Conklin at 613342-3840 ext. 2456 or cemc@uclg.on.ca.

Upcoming meetings: There will be a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 and the regular meeting of Counties Council will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2023. The next Joint Services Committee will be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2023; the next Committee of the Whole meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 8, 2023; and the next Maple View Lodge Committee of Management will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2023. All regular meetings begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers at 25 Central Avenue West, Brockville. For more information, contact County Clerk/Manager of Legislative Services, Sheena Earl, at 613-342-3840, ext. 2454.

Eye on activism The Importance of Fair Trade items

for granted, and sometimes even complain about, such as chores and school. However, often their family relies on the salary that they bring in, which is almost always less than one dollar per day.

submitted by Zara Zrudlo

In recent times, the quality of certain objects that we buy, eat, enjoy, and rely on every day has downgraded. Something that you could have bought for fifty dollars ten years ago is more expensive and less reliable now! But sometimes it can be worth it to buy things that are more expensive and you know will be better quality because of inequities. Chocolate is a good example of that. Most of the chocolate that you buy in the store was made with pesticides, and in ways that violate human, and environmental laws. Children as young as four might be working to harvest the cacao beans and turn them into the tasty treat that most people enjoy on a daily basis. Most of the kids and teenagers there would love to have some of the things in life that we take

In most cases, the work that people are doing to harvest cacao cannot be called slave labour, they are paid, but they are only paid meager amounts for long hours of work, much longer than the shifts that most people work, sometimes fourteen to eighteen hours. These people are far below the poverty line and some are even starving, physically, verbally and sexually abused by their bosses. It can be really hard to hear about these terrible conditions that people are working, and it isn’t just chocolate that is made by human labor either!

It is estimated that 75% percent of clothes are made in sweatshops, factories that use child labour and have terrible working conditions. People are paid about an average around one cent per hour, which equals about twenty cents per day.

These places that grow food and create clothes are often really bad for the en-

Tid bit musings

submitted by Elva Patterson Rutters RSSW

What exactly is parental love? What are the parameters? Does everyone have parental love to give? Certainly in a day and age where love manifests itself in many forms, even dominates the hallmark marketing world, the definition of love is often ambiguous both spiritually or secularly.

Fundamentally, love is an intense feeling of affection characterized by a deliberate choice to act in the best interest of another person. This incorporates agape love, passionate love, or compassionate love. God demonstrated the ultimate form of love by sending His son to die on the cross, for each of us to gain eternal life. (note- you need to believe that, plus he rose again

vironment as well, using lots of pesticides which all end up in the water and earth, or using dyes and chemicals that are bad for the environment and people who work with them. Most people know that sweatshops and unfair labor conditions exist, but sometimes it’s hard to fathom how bad it really is when we don’t experience it every day. But this is something really important, people are suffering world wide, we need to do something!

Buying clothes from consignment and thrift stores is a cheaper option, and then the clothes don’t come directly from sweatshops. The less new clothes people buy, the less need there will be for sweatshops. Or buying clothes from brands that are certified for having good labour conditions is a great first step! Sometimes businesses that have good labour conditions still buy fabric harvested by people who are working long hours and aren’t paid fairly, but it can be really hard to find out where fabric comes from.

For chocolate, buying from companies that are Fair Trade Certified, UTZ

Certified or other fair trade companies is the best way to go! Hershey has committed to transitioning to fair trade chocolate, being eco friendly, and honoring their workers, by 2030, so that could be a good company to support as well.

It’s important to invest in fair trade foods, for the environment and for the workers. My hope is that if we all invest where we are financially able, then eventually companies that treat their workers horribly will be forced into fair trade agreements.

Zara Zrudlo is a homeschooled, fourteen year old resident of Kemtpville. They love writing, art, acting, reading and anything to do with music. Ever since they were little, they’ve cared a lot about activism and social justice, and hoped to make a difference in the world. Zara has written two and a half novels, and ran a newspaper for their friends and family for three years. They love hanging out with their dogs and chickens and spending time imagining having dinner with various book characters.

to gain heaven's entry, it is not automatic entry, John 3:16.) Sex is a by product of love or just plain lust. Rape is a form of power abuse not connected to love at all.

Not every parent is capable of delivering love to their child, mainly due to psychological challenges or a lack of role modelling. Every parent tries their best, but many children/adults will say love was lacking.

Be sure to question why such a comment is being made. Why is one saying that? Financial restraints on accessibility to events is not the result of a lack of love. This is also not to confuse parental discipline as a lack of love! Parents need to effectively impose limitations and consequences on their children mainly for safety and general well-being.

Without learning boundaries and choices, the youth has no safety net and will lack the knowledge to adjust to adult lifestyles. This is often referred to as 'tough love’ when a parent needs to impart the consequences from a negative choice the child made. It is not exceedingly punitive/abusive in nature but sets the adaptive development required for any of society's situations. Perhaps many of the behavioral problems in school today are the result of a lack of discipline. The pendulum swung from strict structure to a free flowing circus. Definitely there are psychological factors, from genetics to the effects of substances abuse (alcohol, pot, etc), to undetermined causes that complicate the ability to comply.

Withholding affection/ love and connection from a child (minus abusive behavioral situations) is parental abuse. This is often a result of a real or perceived infraction of the parent by the child, including adult children. Love is to be reciprocal in the adult form. It is vital you separate the feeling from the action- "I love you, but this behavior is unacceptable."

Take today as the moment to express your love to your offspring, regardless of age! L-O-V-E is a four letter word that some find so difficult to say. Knowing someone loves you lightens the load you carry everyday!

Beth Donovan Hospice hosts Bereavement Support group for Continued Grief

submitted by Sue Walker

When a loved one dies, you may experience a wide range of emotions, from confusion to anger to sadness. All these feelings are normal. You may also feel isolated or alone — even if you have family members or loved ones who are grieving right alongside you.

Though it is often expected that grief “eases” after one year, for many people grief continues beyond a year.

The Beth Donovan Hospice is offering bereavement support for adults who find they are still grieving beyond the one year mark, we refer to this as “Continued Grief”.

It’s better to be late: Stop for the school bus!

People often find grief support groups help them feel less alone. Hearing from and connecting with others who have faced similar experiences can be a welcome reminder that healing is possible. This support group will be facilitated by trained bereavement volunteers and aims to provide participants with helpful advice, such as coping strategies and ways to practice self-care.

The group will meet at the Beth Donovan Hospice from 5:30-7 pm on the second Wednesday of each month beginning in March and running through August. Registration is required.

For more information or to register, please contact Megan Dillenbeck at 613-258-9611 X 6 or via email at counselling@ bethdonovanhospice.ca

by Brandon Mayer

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the green flashing lights that volunteer firefighters use when they are responding to a call. It has always boggled my mind that some people don’t know what they are used for, perhaps due in part to the fact that my dad was a volunteer firefighter for 11 years of my childhood, and he had a green light on his dash even back then. By odd coincidence, a colleague told me a few days after my article was printed (an no, she didn’t read it) that she inadvertently blocked the path of a firefighter with a green flashing light on her way into work, oblivious to the meaning of the light. As a local fire chief told me recently, we will never be able to educate everyone.

Rebellion? If the person who killed Adam has any moral decency, then living with what they did ought to be a much harsher sanction than any prison sentence they received.

- a large network throughout North Dundas, Perth, Westport & Ottawa

Buying:

- experience in understanding clients’ needs and functional requirements;

- finding the right home that meets their needs;

- providing design ideas on modifications to a home;

- a realistic outlook on cost to perform renovations; and

- design expertise to make your home look its best!

Another driving issue that has been going on far too long to make any sense is failing to stop for a school bus that is loading or unloading students – even with

the obvious flashing red lights and a large red stop sign mounted to its side. Stopping for a school bus that is loading or unloading passengers should not be new to any driver, and it is a very clear procedure outlined in the driving manual. We are talking about many decades of buses having the flashing lights and stop signs – it is probably safe to say that no one on the road today obtained their driver’s license before stopping for a stopped school bus was the law.

During recreational internet surfing last week, I came across a website for an organization called “Let’s Remember Adam”. It was set up in memory of Adam Ranger, a five year old Ontario boy who was struck and killed by a driver who failed to stop while he was getting off the school bus at his home in February of 2000. Over 23 years ago now, and I can guarantee that his family is still grieving, and that they still miss him every single day. All for what? Distractedness? Ignorance?

In 2019, the Ontario government announced plans to increase funding and gradually work toward getting all school buses in the province fitted with stop sign cameras. These cameras are mounted on the arm which swings the stop sign out when the bus is making a pick up or a drop off. They can capture the license plate of anyone failing to yield to the bus, and act as proof of the offense in court without the bus driver having to miss a day of work to testify. Fitting all of the province’s buses is a gradual process that is not yet complete, but it cannot come soon enough.

No one reading this is a perfect driver. Whether it be occasional speeding (even if just a few kilometres over the limit), or rolling a stop sign, or forgetting to signal, we all break traffic laws. We have to keep in mind, however, that some laws are simply inexcusable to break. If you didn’t know you had to stop for a school bus with flashing lights and an extended stop sign, you shouldn’t be driving. If you didn’t see the bus, you were not paying attention and shouldn’t be driving. And don’t dare pull the “I was late for work” card, because kids like Adam never grew old enough to get a job. Respect road rules – you may very well save a life.

School bus loading zones help keep students safe when they board and disembark at school, but those same students must also board or disembark in the street during pick up or drop off at home or their bus stop

Complex door-to-door sales scamsAvoid further victimization

Ontario's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is shining a light on a multi-layered door-to-door sales scam, which leaves victims with poor renovations, liens or a mortgage on their homes.

Despite rules banning door-to-door sales, criminals have not stopped. Those involved in these frauds are persuasive and persistent. They continue to visit the homes of vulnerable individuals and endear themselves, giving the impression they are a friendly helper.

HOW DOES THIS FRAUD UNFOLD?

Fraudsters approach individuals at the door of their home or by phone and use compelling tactics to persuade the homeowner that a new appliance, contract or service is required; something that was never asked for or needed. These have included: air cleaners, air conditioners, air purifiers, duct cleaning, furnaces, water filters, water heaters, water treatment devices or even bundles of these goods and services.

After the service has been completed or device installed, a few things can happen to make a bad situation even worse.

Whether by phone or in person:

The victim is contacted by someone claiming to be from a law firm offering assistance to exit previously signed contracts, remove possible liens and consolidate incurred debts. Victims are told they may be eligible to receive a grant for a significant amount of money

IF they agree to exit the contract.

If a grant was offered, the victim is contacted by a home renovation company and is persuaded to sign a contract and speak with a finance company on the phone. They are led to believe this is required to comply with the grant, BUT

it is actually the process to have a mortgage approved on their home.

The funds are then deposited into the victim's bank account, leading the victim to believe they have received the grant, but it is actually funds from the home equity mortgage taken out on their home.

The victim is told not to touch the money, as it must go toward renovations, as well as to the payments they were making for installed equipment.

TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF/YOUR

LOVED ONES

Answer your door only if you are expecting an invited guest

Do not allow unsolicited visitors into your home

Hang up on unsolicited phone calls

Never share personal information or copies of any bills or financial statements

Do not make a decision on the spot

Do not sign blank documents

Take the time to understand what you are signing and ask questions

Do not answer questions on a phone/video call if you are being told the answers by someone else (if someone is telling you to answer 'yes'/ 'no')

Check regularly on family or others who might be vulnerable to persuasive and persistent individuals

on the Land Registry Ontario website

Install video cameras around your home or video capturing doorbells RED FLAGS

The person visiting you says you have won a classaction lawsuit regarding the installation of your equipment and the money can only be used towards renovations to your home

You are told your home is now a 'green home' after the installation of some equipment and therefore you qualify for a grant. A condition of the grant is that you can only use the money to do renovations or add more equipment

A financial company approaches you, unsolicited, indicating they can help you get out of payments or to consolidate your debt

If you are told renovations are free

If you do not have input on the renovations a company does or what materials they use

If you are pressured to have renovations started right away

Renovations in these frauds have included: flooring, painting, smart thermostats, vanities, sinks, toilets, showers, kitchens cabinets and insulation. They are often poor quality and are left unfinished

Talk to the bank about a vulnerable loved one to prevent suspicious withdrawals

Understand no renovations are free

Visit Canada.ca to review green grant opportunities

Ask yourself: why has this person offered to help and how do they know your situation

Consider checking your credit history online at TransUnion and Equifax

Look up your property

If you believe you have become a victim of fraud, contact your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888495-8501 (toll-free) or report online on the Fraud Reporting System (FRS). You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or report the incident online at www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca. MELISSA

OTTENHOF Marketing Consultant

Phone:613 329 0209

Email: melissa@ngtimes.ca www.ngtimes.ca

Councillor Deb Wilson

Mayor Nancy Peckford

Councillor Kristin Strackerjan

Deputy Mayor John Barclay

Councillor Doreen O’Sullivan

In

a

world where you can be anything, be kind.

-Your North Grenville Council

If only it was only an email nightmare

This month marks twenty years since the GiffordJones newspaper column became accompanied by a "medical update" sent by email to subscribing readers. In early February 2003, the column printed in newspapers was titled, "My E-Mail Nightmare". It began like this:

My daughter said, "Dad don't do it. You don't need the headaches. Just write your column." My three sons cautioned, "You have no conception of what you're getting into. There will be loads of technical problems. Stick to your column." Well I didn't take their counsel and they were right. Agreeing to provide readers with free medical updates by E-mail has given me E-mailitis. The response was massive, a bloody nightmare. And I keep hearing voices "don't do it."

It's a wrinkle in time to read that column now. And yet, so relatable.

In 2003, we were a 79-year-old medical doctor

and journalist and a 34-yearold World Banker. Back then, we were grappling with the "how to" of email distribution lists. And the youngsters in tech jobs were running circles around us.

The column from 2003 discussed spinal stenosis. The email distribution triggered a flood of responses from readers asking for more information. "It seemed like everyone had spinal stenosis."

Others wanted medical advice on a variety of conditions. More had seen several doctors without getting help and wanted a Gifford-Jones opinion. But no good doctor will diagnose or treat diseases by email.

Today, what has changed? Weren't communication technologies supposed to make our lives easier?

The futurist Arthur C. Clark claimed, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." But we find only

more headaches in email managed by mailchimps. Websites and webinars involve hostgators, geekpowers, and something called godaddy.

We branched into social media, which is decidedly not for novices. Our efforts at an RSS feed, which stands for "really simple syndication" has been the biggest headache of them all!

Is all this effort to communicate worth it? Were we better off with the limitations of ink on newsprint?

One of the most influential thinkers and writers of the 20th century, Gertrude Stein lamented, "Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense."

Now we have sophisticated computer programs called chatbots. ChatGPT, released in November 2022, uses written inputs to produce human-like responses. It can write poetry in any style and create original jokes. Educators are alarmed it can write essays with ease. If you are lonely, it can be a companion to talk to. We didn't ask it to write this column, but it could probably offer a good one given all the

past columns it can read in a flash on our website!

By January, ChatGPT had over 100 million users. In another twenty years from now, we wonder what kinds of headaches these advances will cause. Looking on the bright side, maybe there will be a cure for the common headache. But we doubt it.

For now, we continue to write this column the traditional way: once a week, for syndication in newspapers, in print and online. We email it to editors – a technology blessing. For years, Mrs. Gifford-Jones trudged weekly to the post office with a stack of envelops to mail the article to editors. The blessings also to her!

Happy 20th anniversary to our "no nonsense health" e-newsletter, sent out on Tuesdays to those who have signed up on our website. Dare we ask what readers think? Let us know!

We have another monumental benchmark at the end of this month, when one of us will start his 100th trip around the sun.

For comments, contactus@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

"We are open for your convenience during these troubled times" Monday - Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Kemptville

Laurier

Law Office of Connie Lamble

Lockwood Brothers

Matthew Felker, O'Farrell

Services

73’s five game win streak concluded

73’s too hot to handle…Matt Thomas transitioned up the wall to Tyler Melvin, onto Hunter Brazier tape to snipe it home early in the initial frame for his first of two. Kemptville clawed back to record 8 - 4 victory in front of 359 fans and increase their winning streak to five as they push for a playoff berth with only twelve scheduled games

by the sportsguy

Nepean Raiders were in the 73’s barn for Friday evening meeting looking to break Kemptville winning streak only to be defeated by 8 - 4 as the 73’s increased their streak to five. Tim Bits displayed their skills during the first intermission to add to the evening entertainment in front of 359 fans.

Kemptville came out hot with Thomas sending it up the wall to Melvin tape to tape to Hunter Brazier to snipe it by Joshua Branton at 1:37. Fennell out of the trenches to Trottier to reverse to Nathan Merrett on the point for 2 zip lead at 8:00. Nepean countered at 9:34 when Jack Matsukubo, with assists from Caldwell with Reinisch, put it past Alex Musielak. Reinisch with Nicolas Papineau at 10:12 to knot it at 2.

Hunter Brazier picked up his second to open the second with helpers from C.Bennett with Melvin at 8:41 for the 73’s tie breaker. The Raiders tied it at 11:52 with a goal from a combination of Graham and Joshua Reid. Vollett crossed

to Yakubowski to launch one that Matthew O’Doherty could redirect into the net at 19:00 for a one goal lead.

Yakubowski cycled with Henry to Benjamin Campeau to rifle it between the pegs at 2:21 to start the last twenty for the 73’s. Nepean within 5 min. PP at 3:27 as Luke Posthumus PPG assisted by Matsukubo and Larkin at 3:42. SHG for Kemptville when Yakubowski stretched it out to Campeau going downtown to find Ty Whyte SHG in the lane at 5:51 to beat replacement Luca Sandu after his teammate got run over. Two more PP for the 73’s when Nathan Merrett PPG with helpers from Henry with Brazier for his second at 18:21. Then at 18:46 when Yakubowski combined with Whyte to have Carter Vollett pull the trigger top shelf for a 8 to 4 romp. Kemptville 45 to 25 SOG with 2/6 PP and opponents 1/2.

Saturday night's alright, but not for the 73’s as they were thrashed by the Ottawa Junior Senators 7 - 3 during a road meeting and to conclude their winning streak.

Kemptville placed it behind Rorke Applebee on PP at 4:38 when Matthew Yakubowski PPG with helpers from Brazier and Campeau opened the first. Then the wheels fell off the wagon as Kemptville dug themselves a hole. Ottawa tied it at 9:28 when Anton Sorenson, assisted by Protz with Villiard, put it past Alex Musielak. The 73’s would ride the pine and the Junior Senators took advantage with extra attackers. Chase Lammi PPG with assists from Ross and Hebert at 12:08. Gentile with Velocci to Anton Sorenson PPG at 13:35, and then Emile Villiard PPG with helpers from Ross with Hebert.

Ottawa owned the second on PP as Ross combined with Mickael Hebert PPG at 6:59. Lucas Staresinic assisted by Losier with Gauthier to chase Alex Musielak to an early shower at 10:04.

Final twenty saw Zachary Losier with helpers from Sorenson and Bedard through Jacob Biron to keep the flood gates open at 7:36 to make it a 7 - 1 runaway. Kemptville removed the lead

from their skates and tried to claw their way out the hole with Benjamin Campeau from Melvin with Brazier at 8:59. Nicolas Bennett with helpers from Thomas with Logue at 14:29 to suffer a tough loss after chasing the game all evening.

Ottawa with 45 SOG to Kemptville 33 and 4/8 PP to1/4.

Next home battle is with Brockville Braves for Monday's Family Day matinee at 2 pm.

See you around the wall…hockey with EDGE.

a Jr. A Player: I work everyday, then I get to go on the ice & play the sport I love