Issue 50 2024 December 19 NG Times

Community Christmas Day Dinner

Few things exemplify the spirit of the Christmas season quite like the free North Grenville Community Christmas Day Dinner offered every year. The annual tradition goes back almost a decade, and has travelled around a bit in its time. Originally held in Leslie Hall, the loss of that great venue meant a location change to the St. John’s United Church. When St. John’s became unavailable, the event moved to the First Christian Reformed Church

located at 2455 County Road 18, just west of Hurd/Somerville Streets. The location may have changed over time, but rest assured that it is the same annual Community Christmas Dinner that has been known to North Grenville residents for years.

The dinner runs from noon to 3p.m. on Christmas Day and is open to all residents of North Grenville and beyond, all are welcome to drop by for a meal, or order a delivery to your home. It is not associated with any

church or organization, but is a community effort run by local volunteers and made possible by donations of food. One of the unwritten “rules” of the yearly event is that credit for making it happen should not go to specific individuals, but rather to the community as a whole.

Anyone who orders a dinner for takeout or delivery will get one. In the true spirit of Christmas, there are no qualifying criteria, and no questions asked. The fact that the meals are provided

for free is only possible due to the contributions of local residents and businesses, which shows, without a doubt, what kind of community North Grenville really is.

The meal consists of a full turkey dinner and dessert. Last year’s helpings were less than hoped for, but support has made it possible to provide generous meals for all this Christmas Day. It was originally conceived

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Elvira St. W., Kemptville

of as a way to bring Christmas joy to those who might otherwise be eating alone on Christmas Day. But there was another reason behind the tradition, and that was to allow people from the community an opportunity for some Christmas conversation. There’s time to meet and greet friends and neighbours on Christmas Day and still have a family gathering at home, if that’s an option.

Those interested in sharing in the free meal should call or email ahead to order. About 250 meals were served last year. It is not too late to order! For delivery, please call 613-713-2111 or email communitychristmasdaydinner@gmail.com. Order deadline is December 22, so make sure you get your order in!

The NG Photography Club

'I've been playing around with water droplet shots recently. It took a long time to make something I liked.

This was shot with the D750 with the Sigma 105mm lens, a mason jar, a hot glue gun to make the strands, a spray bottle to put the water on the strands and an old iPad with an image from the web. I searched abstract images and chose one I thought would work.'

Photo by Terri-Lyn

St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 319 Prescott Street, Kemptville December 24, 7:00 PM

All are Welcome

Love.

Kemptville Lions Club Donations

On Thursday, December 12, members of the Kemptville Lions Club presented two local food banks each with a cheque for $1,200.

Kemptville resident wins $250,000

BINGO! Cindy Gorman of Kemptville won a $250,000 top prize with INSTANT BINGO MULTIPLIER (Game #3084).

Cindy, a mother and grandmother, has been playing the lottery with OLG since she came of age. A loyal player of INSTANT BINGO and INSTANT CROSSWORD, the retiree is now thrilled to be celebrating her first big win!

“I was at home, relaxing on the sofa and playing my ticket, when I realized I’d won the top prize. I couldn’t believe it!” Cindy recalled, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up her windfall. “In shock, I immediately called my daughter. The first thing she said was, ‘Mom! Did you scan it on the OLG app?’”

“Next, I called my husband, who was out hunting in the bush. He thought I was joking and said, ‘You’re kidding me!’”

“I never thought I’d win a prize this big,” Cindy smiled. “This experience has been fantastic.”

With her winnings, Cindy plans to purchase a new truck.

The winning ticket was purchased at Jonsson’s Your Independent Grocer on Highway 43 in Kemptville.

culverts

The Lions cheque is being presented to the House of Lazarus Food Bank.

L. - r.: Lion Treasurer, Wayne Vachon, Lion Past President, Robert Stevenson, Lion Gerald Christie, Cathy Ashby, Executive Director, House of Lazarus Food Bank and Lion Jason Beck.

L - r: Lion Treasurer, Wayne Vachon, Lion Jason Beck, Lion Gerald Christie, David Habberjam, Director, Knights of Columbus Food Bank, and Lion Past President, Robert Stevenson.

Kemptville Winter Trail Ski donation

Kemptville Winter Trail (KeWi), both a machinegroomed winter trail and Nordic ski club, is thrilled to announce their recent receipt of an extraordinarily generous gift: almost 100 pairs of classic cross-country skis, boots and other associated equipment!

Just after Thanksgiving weekend in October, Sarah Herring, founder and president of Kemptville Winter Trail (KeWi), and Karen Messenger and Paul Graner, two of KeWi’s strongest ambassadors and supporters, got together to chat about KeWi’s upcoming season. Karen is a former international biathlon competitor, current international loppet competitor, and CANSI ski instructor, based in Canmore, Alberta. Born and raised in Kemptville, she first learned to ski at Ferguson Forest. Paul is a local CANSI ski instructor and longtime member of the NCR’s Nordic skiing community.

In conversation, Paul mentioned that Ottawa’s Kichi Sibi Winter Trail would soon be upgrading their “skis for schools” program equipment to a new ski binding system and was looking to gift their existing stock of donated equipment to a like-minded organization who would use it in keeping with the original intent of its donors - to create opportunities for children to be actively engaged outside through the enjoyment of cross-country skiing.

Though thinking it was a long shot, KeWi nonetheless submitted its bid to Kichi Sibi for their consideration, and their effort paid off, with KeWi ultimately chosen as the recipient of this extraordinarily generous donation of classic cross-country ski equipment. In late October, Kichi Sibi’s Dave Adams, trail manager, and Michelle Richardson, program coordinator, showed up with a van loaded with skis and boots, as well as poles, ski wax and extra ski bindings. KeWi is supremely grateful to Dave and Michelle, not only for their incredibly generous donation of ski equipment, but for taking the time to share their knowledge and expertise too.

KeWi will use this equipment to initiate its own “skis for schools” program in the new year. Maureen Jacques of the Ferguson Tree Nursery has kindly allowed the club the use of a cabin on the grounds of the Ferguson Forest Centre this winter, for this purpose.

All primary, middle and high schools in North Grenville will be able to book class visits to use Kemptville Winter Trail’s ski equipment, free of charge, on Mondays through Fridays, in the six-week period from January 13 until February 28, 2025.

In addition to the school program, the ski equipment will also be available for weekends in that same time period, free-of-charge, for Kemptville Winter Trail club members and their children. Club membership is a very affordable $25 for the season. Those interested can sign up on line by going to https://zone4.ca and searching for Kemptville Winter Trail to access their registration form.

With equipment ranging in sizes to fit those from 6 to 96, Kemptville Winter Trail can outfit almost anyone for classic cross-country skiing, and is pleased to be able to bring this new opportunity to the North Grenville community.

Celebrating Baxter’s accessible bridge Maple Fruit news

Baxter Conservation Area’s 100-metre accessible bridge and two educational platforms are now open, marking the successful completion of the first phase of this #NatureForAll accessibility project.

The bridge, featuring a 10-foot-wide deck, gentle slopes, handrails and benches, and better sightlines for people in wheelchairs and strollers, offers an inclusive experience for visitors of all abilities.

Thanks to more than $800,000 in support from the Government of Canada, the City of Ottawa and our many generous private donors, the bridge and education platforms mark the beginning of Baxter’s transformation into a vibrant, inclusive space that welcomes all and fosters connection with nature.

While the bridge is a major milestone, our work is far from over. The next phase will focus on rebuilding 950 meters of raised boardwalks and trails to further support accessibility at Baxter. To learn more about our ongoing work, visit rvcf.ca/nature-for-all.

by Fred Schueler – Fragile Inheritance Natural History

In what looks like an evolved ‘attempt’ to prevent predator populations from building up, most tree species produce heavy crops of seed only in alternate years, which are called “mast years.” On the streets of Bishops Mills, and more generally through the North Grenville area, 2024 seems to have been a mast year for our three fall-fruiting Maples: the native Sugar Maple, the came-in-with-settlement Manitoba Maple, and the potentially invasive Norway Maple. These paired winged fruits are called keys or samaras, and can be recognized by the shapes of the seeds: round in Sugar Maple, pointed in Manitoba Maple, and flat in Norway Maple.

The first species to shed its seeds was the Sugar Maples in late September & early October, with half the fat seed cases, in my one quantitative sample, opened by Red Squirrels. A heavy crop of pale seeds on female Manitoba Maples is still retained on the trees into the winter, after some falling through the autumn. Red Squirrels have been working these to some extent, and we’ll wait to see if Evening Grosbeaks come for them in the winter. The Grosbeaks’ eastward range expansion in the 1970s through 1990s was said to be due to feeding on Manitoba Maple seeds, but there was a huge decline in these birds around 2000, and a modest recovery in the past several years.

Since there’s only one Norway Maple tree in Bishops, I record where the seeds get to, to help guide management of this species where it’s invasive. This year there was the heaviest crop seen yet: the first samara showed up on my doing-the-streets transect on 8 October, and they were found 130 metres SE and 180 metres NNE of the tree, with the roadside near the tree brown with seeds. As with the other species, Red Squirrels were seen in the Norway Maple feeding on the seeds. We haven’t seen Norway Maple seedlings in Bishops, perhaps because the self-fertilized seeds from one tree aren’t very viable, but the species is spreading on the banks of both the creek in Kemptville and the South Nation River in Spencerville.

Every species reacts to circumstances in its own way: this was a good year for the Maples & Red Squirrels, Mountain Ashes were orange with berries, the Grand Fir in our yard had a huge crop of cones, and there was moderate cone production on the White Spruces, but there were almost no cones on the White Pines, and the Honey Locusts, which had darkened the streets with their pods in 2023, made only about a dozen pods in 2024.

Manitoba Maple: Oh to be Acer negundo, Sprung from every vacant space, And to fold each grateful household Softly in a green embrace.

Sugar Maple, Acer saccharum: Oh to be the hard-rock Maple Cumulus of settled land, And preserve the oldgrowth features Where the sugar houses stand.

Norway Maple: Oh for Acer platanoides, Taking old saccharum’s place. Uglifying our yards and roadsides With your European grace.

Thanks from e Kemptvi e Legion

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to our recent Poppy Campaign, especially the following for their generous donations and wreath purchases:

by Brandon Mayor

It was a year ago this month that Council excitedly announced that a name and logo had been picked for the Municipality’s new public transit service. “NGtransit” was born, and progress in North Grenville was made once again. Now, a year later, the demands on the service proves how much it was needed, and how lucky local residents are to have it.

Mayor Peckford announced on social media that the lone NGtransit bus has completed over 8,000

LOCAL NEWS MATTERS BECAUSE IT CONNECTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS

trips in its first year of operation. On average, that works out to almost 24 trips per day! Council is therefore considering adding a second bus to the service to ensure

NGtransit boast amazing success in first year

that it can keep up with the growing demand.

“In the absence of any ride sharing programs or licensed taxis In North Grenville, NGtransit is a reliable, accessible, and user-friendly transportation option for our community,” said the Mayor. NGtransit dispatch is available 7 days a week, 6:30am – 9:00pm by phone at 613-368-5620. Users can also book a ride online at ride.blaisetransit.com or by downloading the Blaise app.

Municipality unveils Ukraine Bike Art Installation

The Municipality of North Grenville is proud to announce the new bike art installation at the Municipal Centre, commemorating its twinning agreement with Sokal’, Ukraine. The unveiling ceremony took place on Friday, December 13, at the Municipal Centre.

This vibrant art piece symbolizes the enduring friendship and cultural exchange between North Grenville and Sokal’. The twinning agreement fosters mutual understanding and collaboration, and this installation serves as a

testament to the shared values and aspirations of both communities.

Sokal’ is a historic city in western Ukraine, known for its rich cultural heritage and strong community spirit. The twinning agreement with North Grenville aims to promote cultural exchange and mutual development between the two municipalities.

Her Excellency Yuliya Kovaliv, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, warmly thanked the North Grenville community for their meaningful initiative, saying "This art installation is more than a symbol - it is a testament to the enduring friendship and solidarity between Canada and Ukraine. It reminds us that even during Ukraine's struggle against Russian aggression, the power of unity and shared values can inspire hope and strengthen the twinning agreements ties that connect us."

Michael Barrett, Member of Parliament for

Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, remarked, “The partnership between North Grenville and Sokal’ exemplifies the spirit of community and cooperation. This art installation not only enhances our community's cultural landscape but also reinforces our commitment to friendship with our twin city Sokal’, and to our Ukrainian neighbours who call North Grenville home.”

Mayor Peckford added, "We are delighted to unveil this art installation as a symbol of our twinning with Sokal’. It represents our dedication to fostering meaningful connections and cultural exchange, enriching the lives of our residents and celebrating our shared values."

The twinning agreement between North Grenville and Sokal’ was established to foster cultural, educational, and economic ties. It serves as a platform for both communities to

share knowledge, experiences, and to collaborate on various initiatives that benefit their residents.

The Ukraine Bike Art Installation project has received much support and generosity from the community. The organizers thanked Will and Rowena Pearl and the Steven Creek Shutter and Decor Centre for their donation of paint, and the Kemptville Campus Education and Community Centre and Municipality of North Grenville for access to workspace.

The Ukraine Bike Art project team is headed by Nadia Diakun-Thibault, with Kevin Willey, Bev Beildy, Jane Collings, Sharon Dean, Mitch Langford, and Chris Witt, and they acknowledged the many residents who generously contributed more than 47 bikes to bring this initiative to life. The organizers shared that “this beautiful installation is a symbol of our community’s solidarity and hope.”

The Mountain of Toys grows again

As they do every year, Royal LePage Team Realty is collecting toy donations for their annual Mountain of Toys collection. As always, the community’s response has been generous and a large collection of new, unused, unwrapped items has gathered under the Mountain of Toys banner. Remember, all donations collected in our community, stay in our community. Congratulations to Royal LePage Team Realty

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Help us fill the Wish Tree with beautiful ornaments and tags!

The Judy Lannin Christmas Wish Tree provides a special way to honour or remember family and friends with a gift to the WDMH Foundation. Proceeds support compassionate, excellent health care – close to home.

You can make your donation by: www.wdmhfoundation.ca

• back.

For each Wish Tree donation, our team will ensure an ornament with a personalized tag is displayed on the beautiful tree in the lobby. Thank you so much for your Donate Now

Calling us at 613-774-2422 to make a credit card donation. Our team is waiting to help you at extensions 6162 or 6169. If we miss you, please leave a message and we will call you

• 20 minutes.

Drop by our office in the hospital lobby at 566 Louise Street in Winchester. We’d love to see you and parking is free for

’ button, and choose the Judy Lannin Christmas Wish Tree to make a secure, online donation. You will be emailed a tax receipt within minutes of your gift.

team will ensure an ornament with support at this special time of year!

Editorial

Joy to the world

by David Shanahan

There has been a tension about Christmas over the past couple of decades. The move away from “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays”, the refusal of certain businesses to allow their employees to even use the word “Christmas”, the outlawing of manger scenes in some public areas, all these have brought a nasty tone into what used to be a happy and joyful time of year. And what lies behind this change? It is the demand by certain groups that anything “religious” should be banned, in case it causes offense, or something. The thing is, without that “religious” aspect to it, Christmas doesn’t make sense.

Rather than compromise its meaning, should non-Christians not simply give up “celebrating” it?

(Do you notice how political correctness, secularism, etc. demands the use of quotation marks all the time?). I actually think that Christmas, specifically because of what it means, should be held on to as a

Letter to the Editor

Mr. Prime Minister:

"The federal government is asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order an end to the strike by 55,000 Canada Post workers."(Toronto Star Dec. 14, 2024)

This could have been done and should have been done, a long, long time ago. What has been gained? You have earned the disrespect of Canadians, and done irreparable harm to these workers. Can you imagine how happy the less-than-eloquent leader of the Conservative Movement is? Gleefully rubbing his wee hands together? He doesn't need help being constantly, consistently coarse, corrosive and nonconstructive.(alliteration alert #1) Stop feeding him ammunition.

And while you are trying to clean up this mess, how about cleaning up another. It is well past the 'best-before date' to set up an all-Parties Commission to begin the process of overhauling, updating and improving our Parliamentary Democracy. This First-Past-the-Post system might have been an improvement, when it was first

vital reminder of who we are as human beings in this universe. Christmas, as we Christians believe, commemorates the birth of Jesus. This, however, is not the same as Buddhists celebrating the birth of Buddha, or Moslems celebrating the birth of Muhammad. This was, rather, God himself becoming a human being in order to restore us to our lost relationship with himself.

Now, whether you believe that or not, it is still something to cherish in this increasingly strange secular world. Have you heard about the court cases in New York where animal rights groups are trying to have chimpanzees recognised in law as “persons”?

(There’s those quotation marks again). This is honestly happening, and, although the courts refused the request, there is a certain logic in the claim, given the prevalent philosophy of our day. You see, Christians believe God created everything in the universe, and that the human race is the high point of that creation on this planet. We are, we believe, made in the image

attempted...when was that?

Sometime shortly after the Magna Carta was signed?

This is a government system that claims to be of the people, by the people, for the people. Well, the last part is not correct.

I am sure that those who run for office have the best of intentions---they want to make a difference. I believe this is most true for those who put their names forward for municipal elections. It must be a harrowing experience. Most people lose. It is also true for those running provincially and federally. And what happens to these ambitious initiates? These 'amateurs'? At the provincial and federal level, they get gobbled up by the apparatus of the Party and from that point on, they and their constituents are a small consideration. We North Gremlins know that all too well. (By the way--why did you guys vote Steve back in?)

We have had a federal minority government for two terms now. People are getting fed up with the lack of civility and progress. But, to my mind, the one thing that is worse than a

of God. But we have fallen away from that, and that is why the world is the way it is. We have lost our way, our destiny, our real meaning. The alternative view of life, based on a evolutionary set of beliefs, is that the universe and everything in it is the result of random chance, bringing together proteins and cells to accidentally bring about all the amazing variations of organic and inorganic life in the cosmos.

If that is true, then, logically, humans are no more important than chimpanzees, or rats, or microbes, or trees. We are all alike the result of chance, with no purpose, no ultimate value, no destiny beyond this short lifespan on a miserable world of hunger, war, and disease. There is no basis for morality, no explanation for traits such as love, honour, self-sacrifice, or generosity because, again logically, there is nothing to give value to these things in a meaningless world. As we have seen over the past decades, it is harder and harder to define terms like “good”, “evil”, “right and wrong”, and that is why we need to use those quotation

minority government, is a majority government. Then, we have what can be called, 'A Canadian Dick-TaterShip'. Mr. Harper was, and still is a good example. He ruled with very tight control. He rarely spoke to people, and the press even less. He by-passed every check and balance in our system of unwritten rules. Mr. Trudeau would like to do much the same...he just does not have it in him to be as autocratic. Now, it looks like he will be replaced by Mr. Harper's pit-bull...career politician... Pierre Poilievre. Really? Is this the best that they could come up with for a 'leader'? What heinous crime did we commit?

It is becoming increasingly obvious that our system is old, rickety and not working as well as it could/ should. And yet, the idea of change is frightening to far too many. But, if an alternative to our archaic, medieval system is a form of proportional representation, then maybe at least two things might happen: a) people will feel that their vote counts once again, and b) more people will join/re-

marks all the time. That is why we are destroying the planet, manipulating and contaminating our own food supply, accepting as normal the fact that governments, politicians, and others in authority lie and deceive. It is why we either have lower standards, or increasingly no logical reason for having standards at all.

So, of course, chimpanzees should have the same rights as people, because we have no natural reason to claim more than any other living creature as our right. And if it becomes unlawful to imprison other “persons” in zoos, or whatever, then it is equally unlawful for us to eat others, use others for labour (would that then be manual labour?), etc.

This is why Christmas is important, even to those who don’t altogether accept Jesus and Christianity and all that kind of thing. It is because Christmas is about more than a babe in a manger, shepherds, gifts, angels and Wise Men. It is about God becoming man and living here as a human being in order to remind us that we are made in the image of God, and are

join in the voting experience. Neither is a bad thing, in my opinion. Staying with the same old-same old fits Einstein's definition of insane. In conclusion, I wish for a more civil tone in our politics; with collaboration, not vile, vehement, vindictive vituperation.(2nd alliteration alert) I wish for the needs of the many to be the main priority of all levels of government. Reform is a good idea. Placing the power back into the hands of the many and out of the hands of the few is also a smart plan. We live in Hope (that's in B.C.)...at least I wish I did, then I'd not be surrounded by the Doug Ford and Pierre Poilievre Fan Club. But that too fits Mr. Einstein's definition.

By Peter Johnson

therefore of value, have meaning and purpose, and, ultimately, matter. The entire Christmas thing may just be a myth to some, but at the very least it is a story, a celebration that reminds us that there is more to us than what some would have us believe. That love, joy, generosity, integrity, ethics, all of these are real and must be within us and valued by all human society for a reason. And that is, that behind all of cyni-

cism, arrogance, selfishness and greed, there is also a glimpse of the eternal, the ultimate, against which we measure our lives, our beliefs, our existence. These things are not accidental byproducts of meaningless chance. They are gifts that remind us of who were are, and who we were made to be. And Christmas is all about gifts. There is, as they say, a reason for the season. And wise men still seek him.

Production production@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735 Editor David Shanahan editor@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735

Brandon Mayer brandon@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735

Marketing/Sales Melissa Ottenhof marketing@ngtimes.ca 613 329 0209

Op-ed Get Back

by David Shanahan

“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” These wise words were written by L.P. Hartley in his novel, The GoBetween, in 1953. That idea has been on my mind quite a bit recently, as I rewatched the Beatles documentary that Peter Jackson produced. I was marking the 44th anniversary of John Lennon’s murder (44 years!). Yes, I am a Beatles fan, and that added so much to the enjoyment of watching those four men, still in their 20's, coming into a studio with nothing, and writing entire albums of classics in a few weeks. And then, the finale, the rooftop concert on Saville Row, had me up and dancing all alone in the living room. I couldn’t help it: there was such exuberance and joy, and such brilliant delaying tactics as Mal Evans prevented the two young police constables from putting a premature end to the gig.

But it was the sense of watching a different time, a very different culture, seeing

the people in the street as they responded in various ways to the sounds coming from above them. It was the sight of everyone in the studio smoking and drinking as they worked. Even the police, especially the Sergeant who arrived on the scene to support his constables, seemed like a different kind of man, not shouting or pushy, but actually polite and respectful.

I grew up in the 60's, and I can vividly recall the impact of the Beatles: on music, on hair length for men, on the climate of the society in which we lived. North America saw them first in early 1964 on the Ed Sullivan Show, but we in Europe knew them before that. For the first time, really, young people with regional accents, not the posh educated tones we were used to seeing on TV, were being praised and appreciated by almost all levels of society. And by “levels”, I mean classes. Class was still a huge thing in those far-off days. Yes, they did things differently then. As a working class boy,

there were places I knew I couldn’t go, things I would not be, let’s say, encouraged to be involved in. As soon as we opened our mouths, or gave our home address, we’d be labelled, tagged as not quite the right sort. And if it was like that in Ireland, imagine how much more in Britain. These were the days when boarding houses in London and elsewhere in England would have signs in the windows: “NO Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish”. We even came after the dogs!

In the documentary, they interviewed people on the street listening to the concert on the roof. Almost everyone could recognise it was the Beatles playing, even though none of the songs had been heard before. People of all ages spoke well of “the boys”, expressing their liking for the music. But then, there were those upper class, bowler-hatted, umbrella-carrying toffs, who were dismissive of the whole thing. The noise was interfering with the business day, blocking traffic and the like.

And it looked like it was one of those types who was

seen complaining to two constables and getting them to put a stop to the fun. But they couldn’t really put a stop to it: it was out of their control, for the first time ever. Young people grew their hair, wore colourful clothes, played their transistors in public. I well remember being told to turn off the music one lovely sunny day in St. Stephens Green in Dublin, while all around me people were sunning themselves on the grass, right beside the “Keep Off the Grass” signs. It was a revolution all right, a breaking down of the system that told us we had to keep in our place. We did not keep off the grass, any kind of grass, as it happens.

This may seem like an endorsement of anarchy or something; but it was the start of a change in the way people thought, dressed, acted, spoke. It opened things up to everyone in a way that wasn’t available before. People have often said that, before the Beatles, the world seemed grey, black and white at best. Then, like Dorothy opening the

door to Oz, everything suddenly turned technicolour. After almost fifty-five years (55 years!), we may forget about how they did things differently there in the past; but we need to be reminded every now and then. There is much to be depressed about these days, as there always has been, and always will be. But we are not the people we were back then. People don’t have to dress differently when they reach a certain age. They don’t have to cut their hair, or even colour it blue (unless they want to). Women, minorities, and so many others who could not raise their heads, much less their voices before, now have a strong voice, a recognised place in the community. Perhaps that was always the case in Canada: I wasn’t here then. But I do know that, these days, noone speaking French in a store is going to be rebuked and told, “Speak White!”, as they were in the 1950's. Or, if they are, their harasser is the one who will be judged. No, the world is not the same as it was when the Beatles were creating masters in

Saville Row. But they helped to change an entire world in ways no-one really understood at the time. Watching them end their concert on the roof, it is hard now to realise that this would be the last time they played together, live, with an audience, ever. John Lennon would be murdered a decade later. Mal Evans, the right-hand man who kept the police at bay in Saville Row, would be shot dead by other police officers in Los Angeles in 1976, aged 40. The same age as John Lennon when he was shot. So many great moments in the documentary, and so many strange moments too. As they turned away from the rooftop concert, John returned to the mic for the last time and made this fantastic and typically Lennon remark: "I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we've passed the audition." They did. To put it in the words of another Sixties revolutionary: “But I was so much older then; I’m younger than that now.”

Kemptville Jags exploring options as expelled coach persists

by Brandon Mayor

The Kemptville Jaguars Football Club is facing a crisis, and a concerned group of parents is working hard to keep the Club safe, fun, and inclusive while an administrative matter is dealt with. Jason Kirkbride took over as President of the “Jags” in 2022, while his wife, Jessica Beairsto, took the Vice-president role. The pair were celebrated for saving the club, even winning a Civic Award from the Municipality in 2022 for volunteering to keep football alive for local youth. They were also featured in a glowing article by the Kemptville Campus – where the local football field is located – in 2023.

Just two years after the couple took over, the Jags Club is now in trouble. Its membership in the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) is listed as “not in good standing”, and, as a result, the Club is no longer able to secure insurance through Football Ontario.

The membership troubles essentially kill all Club activities for the time being; the Jags cannot play any games or attend any NCAFA or Football Ontario events.

The problems with the Club started becoming apparent about a year ago, with the situation finally coming to a head this fall. Numerous complaints were filed against Jason and Jessica, particularly noting Jason’s fierce temper, and Jessica’s excuses for him. The documented evidence against Jason is immense, with too many examples of aggressive and abusive incidents to list or describe in any detail. It wasn’t just Jason’s behaviour that became a major problem, but rather the toxic environment of the Club itself. Following one particular game, Jason reportedly encouraged two teenage players who were not getting along to engage in a physical fight to settle the matter, which they did, resulting in no discipline for the players, despite them having a fistfight. Many of the coaches seemed to have no problem with this. Parents’ attempts to discuss is-

sues directly with Jason and Jessica have been repeatedly rebuffed.

In one case, according to the NCAFA report, Jason “grabbed an 11-year-old player by the face mask and pushed him onto the team’s bench continuing to shake the young boy, yelling at the young player, saying he didn’t deserve to be on the team and other demeaning phrases. The team’s trainer saw this happening and ran over to pull Jason off the boy, who was understandably shaken up and decided to quit football on the spot. While Jason was unwilling to talk to the boy’s parents about it immediately after, they did meet at the field a few days later, where Jason reportedly explained to the boy’s parents that he shouldn’t have been with players that day because he only had four hours of sleep that night, and that he had been working on controlling his temper. He walked over to the family’s truck, where the boy was waiting, and apologized to the boy, who was still too intimidated to return to football.

The NCAFA ultimately

suspended Jason and Jessica, but they refused to accept their suspensions. Jason continued to insert himself in Club business, messaging the team’s group, and making it appear as though the complaints process with the NCAFA was just a misunderstanding, or a hurdle that needed to be jumped. When the suspensions were upgraded to expulsions of 3 years for Jason and 1 year for Jessica, they still refused to step down from their leadership roles on the Club executive. This has resulted in the NCAFA and Football Ontario sanctioning the Jags, and removing their right to play games or attend any official events.

The NCAFA has stated that barring any progress, Kemptville’s territory could be opened up for another team to take over – one that would follow the league’s authority.

There is no doubt that Jason and Jessica had positive intentions when they took over the Jags. Many of the parents who levelled serious complaints had glowing things to say about the couple as well.

However, NCAFA rules and procedures prevail, and Jason and Jessica are required to accept the sanctions for

their actions to ensure that the Jags survive and thrive. Football for North Grenville youth depends on it..

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Community Heroes Hit the Ice for a Good Cause

On December 12th, paramedics, firefighters, and police officers laced up their skates at the North Grenville Arena to compete for the title of the best hockey players. And it turns out these incredible individuals can all hold their own on the ice! Six teams battled for the top spot, but it was the Cornwall SD&G team that skated away with the victory in the Division A.

The tournament raised an impressive $3,515 for Boots on the Ground. Additionally, the 50/50 draw and bake sale brought in $500, which will be donated to Project Trauma Support in honour of their colleague, David Nitschmann, who passed away this summer. It was an exciting and meaningful tournament, supporting two fantastic causes.

This is the last issue of the Times in 2024 as we all take a longed for break over the holidays. With the end of the Canada Post strike (for now), we’re unsure when regular deliveries will be restored, so our next issue will be on the doorsteps on January 16.

Sincere thanks to all the volunteers and young people who went door to door and business to business over the past month, making sure many of you, at least, continued to receive your weekly paper. Special thanks to Allison Miller!

all of us at the

Banner Week for CT Scanner Campaign with two Gifts

The CT Scanner campaign has had an outstanding week with two business owners donating a total of $35,000.

Rick and Janice Johnson, owners of Canadian Tire in Kemptville, presented a $25,000 cheque to Margret Norenberg,

KDH Foundation Board Chair. Margret said, “we deeply appreciate how the local business community has leaned in so generously to bring a CT Scanner to Kemptville District Hospital.”

Janice explained the Campaign “captured both our hearts. We need this piece of equipment, here.” Rick agreed. “It should be here.”

Also this week, Lee Mosley, Investment Advisor, Mosley Associates and his wife, Sharon, residents of Kemptville, presented a $10,000 gift to the campaign. Mosley explained, “it is our hospital. The more things we can do here (in our community) the better.”

Both couples understand that a CT Scanner is a vital diagnostic tool and something they or their families or friends might require someday, perhaps urgently.

Of note, both couples are also relative newcomers to Kemptville. Lee and Sharon moved to Kemptville from Ottawa in 2019. Rick and Janice are the new owners of the Kemptville Canadian Tire and they are delighted to be here, close to family.

We'd like to acknowledge how fortunate KDH is to have such a supportive community. With your help, KDH is getting ready for its CT Scanner in early 2025. We look forward to continuing to provide excellent health care for our community!

At the KDH Foundation office presenting a $10,000 donation for the CT Scanner Campaign are, (l-r) Lee Mosley, Margret Norenberg, KDH Foundation Board Chair, and Sharon Dean.

Presenting a $25,000 cheque for the CT Scanner Campaign are Canadian Tire Kemptville owners, Rick and Janice Johnson, with Margret Norenberg, centre, KDH Foundation Board Chair.

Special Olympics Ontario Tankard Curling Qualifier

by Jim Dolan

The North Grenville Curling Club was privileged to host the Region 1 Special Olympics Ontario Tankard Curling Playdowns on Saturday December 14.

Four teams competed in the competition, three from Ottawa: Team White, Team MacMillan, and Team City Slickers; and one from Kingston: the Kingston Shot Rocks. All four teams in the event were guaranteed to move on to the Southeast Tankard Qualifier to be played on January 7 in Milton. What was at stake in Kemptville was which of the four teams would secure the two spots to play in Division A at Milton and which two teams would be in Division B.

At the end of the day, the Ottawa team, skipped by Conall MacMillan, and the Kingston Shot Rocks team, skipped by Ron Kiley, claimed the Division A spots, while the Ottawa Team White, skipped by Chris White, and the Ottawa team City Slickers, skipped by Scott Nickeson, will play in Division B. The Conall MacMillan team is a five-time Special Olympic Ontario Tankard champion.

The A Division and B Division winners of the Southeast and Southwest Tankard Qualifiers will move on to the Special Olympic Tankard finals to be played on January 25 during the Ontario Men’s Provincial Tankard to be held in Coburg.

Special Olympics Ontario offers athletes various competition opportunities across eighteen official sports. If you are interested in learning more about the Special Olympics Sports Programs offered, simply Google Eastern Ontario Special Olympics, or Special Olympics Ottawa.

Please note, that if you scroll down on the Home Page of the Eastern Ontario Region you will see a number of communities that have local special Olympic programs.

Special Olympics Team MacMillan at the NG Curling Club event

A Wintry Start

Greetings, as we head full tilt into the middle of yet another busy month of various events that occur at this time of the year. Of course these are of no import to our Avian friends and other creatures fighting their continual daily battle in search of food and life giving sustenance, in whatever form they can. But do it they certainly do, and, hopefully, some of our efforts to assist them to attain this aim makes their life a little easier.

On a good day, there are no problems and their choices are their own as to where they get their food from; but when the weather becomes much more of a major factor in the daily fight, it can be quite devas-

tating for survival. This is where our individual feeders come into play, and I hope that you are keeping yours well stocked on a regular basis. Not only will that be a life saver for them, but it will give you the pleasure of being able to see them on a regular basis too, and maybe even getting to spot any unusual visitor, should you happen to get one.

In that respect, yesterday, when looking out of my front window through the falling snow, I was able to spot the bright red colouring of either a House Finch, or a Purple Finch. The only picture that I was able to get made it impossible to identify which one it was, due the swirling mass of snow flakes blurring my shot! Drat!

Another disappointment,

but the winter has only just started, so there will still be chances, maybe, of seeing something different again soon. Hopefully, you will be also getting the same opportunities to see new visitors, or even returning ones; but be careful when you have to get to your feeders that you do it safely. Stay safe and well.

Cheers,

John Baldwin

A pair of Slate Grey Juncos

Male Downy Woodpecker showing use of tail feathers.

Christmas in Oxford-on-Rideau in the 1930's

Here are some recollections of Christmas Past from the 1930's. These are excerpts from collections held by the North Grenville Historical Society.

Jean (Joyner) Newans

I remember Christmas Eve mother, dad and gram were working in the kitchen below my bedroom. It had a stove-pipe hole in the floor, so every little while, I hollered down "Has Santa Claus been here yet?".

One of the most exciting times at school was preparing and performing in the Christmas concert and Todd's was noted as being the best. The lighting was Coleman lanterns on stage and barn lanterns other places. We performed recitations, dialogues, drills, songs and choruses for which mother played the pump organ. Adults presented a play at the end and Joe Andy Todd always was a star.

If I needed new shoes, this was the time to get them, and mother, like most mothers of those times, was very capable of making over a hand-me-down dress into a beautiful new creation, suitable for the concert.

Phyllis (Beach) Clarke

Our clothes were about 80% home-made by mother, some of them were for everyday and some for school and church. These "good" ones were changed as soon as we got home and that way, could be worn over again another day without washing them. This was very important as soap was all made by hand and the water had to be carried from the well and heated on the wood stove. Also they were scrubbed by hand on a wash board. The clothes that were not home-made and our shoes etc. came from the Eaton's or Simpson's catalogues. It was really exciting waiting for the mailman to arrive and leave the parcel in the mailbox. When the new catalogues arrived, we could have the old ones. We spent hours cutting out pictures and making paper dolls, then dressing them from the catalogue. In the new catalogues, we would pick out all the things we wished for and then wait for to see if any of them would turn up under our tree. Mother's oldest brother, John Moore Jr., and her father, John Sr., always came to our house for Christmas Day. We returned the visit on New Year's Day and usually made a couple of visits there during the summer. Grampa's home was along the river, below Kemptville, where the new sewage treatment plant was built. Grampa would take us down the river in his row boat and sometimes would let us kids try rowing with the oars. We enjoyed picking the water lilies along the way. On New Year's Day the parlour door was always closed until we had all eaten dinner. Only then were we allowed into the parlour where the fruit, nuts and candy were waiting. Uncle John believed that kids should be seen but not heard, so we had to remember to behave that day!

Faith Nelms

My remembrances of the depression days of the thirties - We had a wonderful Christmas with all the family, four brothers, two married with their wives, and one sister. Although we did not have an income, the gifts we received that year were amazing. We had two turkeys, vegetables, fruit, one ton of coal, clothing and thirteen Christmas cakes, one from each ship of the Canadian Pacific Steamships in British Columbia.

Winnie Lamrock

There were some special events during a school year... Next came the Christmas concert. Practise began weeks in advance. A tall evergreen tree was placed in the library corner and decorated, sheets were hung for stage curtains, the trustees built on the addition to the stage and planks were placed between the desks for audience seats. Finally the big night arrived. Parents and friends drove in sleighs and cullers, blanketed the horses and tied them to the fence. Inside the room was filled to capacity with young lads even sitting in the windows. Aladdin lanterns lit the stage and the class participated in choruses, recitations, dialogues and drills. As the closing number some adults of the section presented a play. Who can forget Joe Andy Todd mopping his brow of perspiration and being unable to keep his stuck-on moustache in place during the play! Then came the magical moment, sleigh bells and ho-ho-ho's were heard in the porch. Someone would open the door and there was the jolly old fellow we all had waited for so anxiously. Santa Claus helped the teacher unload the tree and then quickly disappeared into the night. The evening was a memory!

Minnie Pel Ton

Every school in those days had a Christmas concert. The adults and the children of that community participated so well and did such a good job that I asked them to do it over again in January at the Oxford Station School. With this money we had hot lunches. I bought some agate plates and a supply of soup. However, often mothers would prepare a big pot of macaroni or soup and this made an appetizing lunch. Few of the country schools had wells so water was earned from the nearest neighbour's or in winter snow was melted for cleaning up. The old box stove had a flat top so heating the food and melting the snow put humidity into the dry winter air. Drying mitts under the stove helped too.

The first year I was there the concert was a great success thanks to Mr. Wm. Wright (Wilena McFarlane's father) for playing his mouth organ and singing and to Mrs. George Dell for dancing the Highland Fling. The next year we decided to do a three act play. Three of the stars were Daisy Earl (Fitzgerald), Mildred Earl and Mac Beach. We later put that play on in Oxford Mills on a cold winter night. There was a large audience in the Town Hall.

Old Town Christmas Brings Holiday Magic to Kemptville Merry Christmas

The Christmas spirit was alive and well during Old Town Christmas this weekend. Over 200 kids and their families gathered in the downtown core throughout the morning to experience the magic of the season. After enjoying Breakfast with Santa at the legion and taking a horse-drawn carriage ride through Old Town Kemptville, the children were delighted to partake in the many festivities hosted by the BIA. They had the chance to decorate Christmas ornaments at To Be Continued, enjoy a dance party with Santa in Rotary Park, make food for the reindeer, attend story time with the mayor, decorate cookies, throw inflatable axes, and listen to the beautiful voices of Village Voyces and Birds of a Feather.

The highlight of the day was, without a doubt, seeing the Grinch get up to his mischievous ways. Thankfully, Elsa and Spider-Man were able to catch him with their ice powers and special webs. After receiving hugs from all the children, the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes, and he had a smile on his face all the way back to Whoville.

These special events are made possible by the volunteers who came together to spread Christmas cheer. The BIA is incredibly thankful to those who helped make Old Town Christmas such a success.

RECURRING EVENTS

Monthly Suppers prepared by Knights of Columbus at Holy Cross Church Hall at 503 Clothier St W. Suppers will be held on the last Thursday of the month. Cost $10 per adult, $5 for children under 12 and $25 for families. NO MONTHLY SUPPER THIS MONTH. The first supper of 2025 will be on Thursday 23 January.

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

Kemptville Legion: Fridays 3-9. Free Pool and Darts. Everyone Welcome

BINGO, Kemptville Legion, Bingos run from the beginning of September until the end of June on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays.

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

Friendship Lunches are offered to everyone every Friday. Please join us in our lower hall by 11:30 for a free meal, companionship and fellowship at St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. and begin at 11:30. There is no charge. A free will offering is appreciated. Everyone is welcome.

Friendship Café is open to the community Tuesday's from 10 to noon. All are welcome to stop by, enjoy a hot beverage, a sweet treat and some friendly conversation all at no cost. At St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St.

St. John’s Drawing Circle is every Friday at 4 pm. This is a 3 hour drawing studio with life drawing models (clothed) for artists of all ages and abilities. Cost is $120 for 12 weeks or $15.00 for drop ins. RSVP please Jennifer @ gowjb@msn.com. At St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St.

Tuesday Community Hub hosted by the House of Lazarus All are welcome to drop in. Advocacy, “make a meal, take a meal” cooking opportunities, community services assistance are just a few of the weekly programs. Stop by and visit or contact House of Lazarus directly at 613-989-3830 for more details. “Building Community, Sharing Hope”. Upstairs at St. John's United Church at 400 Prescott St. Modern Square Dancing in Kemptville with the Grenville Gremlins Square Dance Club. Monday Evenings 7:30 - 9:30pm. North Grenville Municipal Center County Road 44 For more info call Debbie at 613-795-3032 or Google "Kemptville Square Dancing"

Saturday Art Social every Saturday morning at the NG Public Library! 10 am - 11:30 am at the NG Public Library. Free with basic materials provided NG Pride will be hosting an 2SLGBTQI+ and allies Seniors Meeting up on the first and third Sunday of each month between 2 - 4pm. Join us for games, cards, snacks and conversation at the NG Public Library. KLUB 67 invites all euchre players to join us every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month for a fun social game of euchre. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben St. Registration starts at 12.30, play starts at 1pm. Cost is $5 to play – cash prizes given.

EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, January 7, 21, February 4, 18, March 4, 18, April 1, 15, 29, May 13 and 27. Registration starts at 6:00 p.m., play starts at 6:30 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ ymail.com

BID EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, December 17, January 14, 28, February 11, 25, March 11, 25, April 8, 22, May 6 and 20. Registration starts at 6:00 p.m., play starts at 6:30 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com

Normal Fisher remembered

by David Shanahan

Norma Fisher, who died on December 9, at the age of 102, had a unique distinction, being one of only two people to have a statue of themselves erected in North Grenville, the other being her husband, George. This is an indication of the esteem and affection in which Norma was held by all those who knew her over her many years in this community.

There is deep significance in the fact that the statue shows Norma and George dancing: an activity that everyone will associate with Norma – well, that and curling. And the inscription on the base of the statue expresses so clearly the philosophy that underpinned Norma’s activities in supporting this community in so many areas. It is a quote from Voltaire: “Let us read and let us dance, these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.”

The reading part is apt also, since Norma and George were co-Chairs of the Room to Read campaign in 2008, which led to the establishment of the North Grenville Library in a brand new headquarters on Prescott Street. There was also a vital involvement in other projects to benefit their friends and neighbours, such as the Kemptville District Hospital and the work undertaken by the Rotary Club. Then there was her commitment to St. James Anglican Church, the Kemptville District Community Association, and the North Grenville Curling Club. Local M.P.P., Steve Clark, once said it well: “You’ve touched pretty well every citizen since you arrived here.”

But it wasn’t only her contributions to North Grenville that made her so loved and admired. In almost every comment made about Norma, the word “classy” is

Fisher, Norma (McClenaghan)

December 13, 1921 – December 9, 2024

used. And she was a classy lady, whether dealing with serious illness or loss, or adapting her curling style to her age, or simply taking time to smile and talk to everyone, no matter who or where.

It is astonishing to think of all Norma McClenaghan had seen and lived through in her century among us. I have heard her speak about her incredible shyness, inability to speak in public, for so many of those years. But, with George beside her, she conquered that and went on to use her public appearances at so many events to greet strangers and friends alike with warmth and genuine interest.

She and George were always extremely kind and supportive to Maggie and I at a time when this publication, and its previous incarnation, were not very popular with the powers that be at the time.

Norma exemplified what is meant by having a passionate, caring, and devoted concern for her friends and neighbours, and was, and remains, an inspiration, in the best sense of the word, to us all.

Peacefully, at South Bridge Long Term Care in Kemptville, Ontario on December 9th, at the age of 102. Beloved wife of George. Dear mother to Bob (Karen) and the late Ann Brown (David). Grandmother to Jennifer (Kilian), Richard (Ginny), Craig, Lyndsey (Adam), Stephanie (Mike), Adam (Sarah) and Jill (Mike), as well as 17 beautiful great grandchildren. Norma will always be remembered for her brilliant smile and love of life. Friends and family are invited to visit at the Kemptville Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 805 Prescott Street, Kemptville on Sunday, January 5 from 2-4pm and 7-9 pm. A Memorial Service will be held at St. James Anglican Church, 35 Clothier Street, Kemptville on Monday January 6 at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to, Canadian Cancer Society, North Grenville Public Library or St. James Anglican Church.

Condolences/Tributes/Donations

Hulse, Playfair & McGarry www.hpmcgarry.ca 613-258-2435

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE PROPERTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT

R.S.O. 1990 (Ch.O.18, Sec. 29)

Take notice that the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford at its Council Meeting of December 9, 2024 WITHDREW its intention to designate the property municipally known as 448 County Road 23, also currently known as “McGuigan Cemetery” as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended, (c.O.18, Sec. 29).

This notice is provided in accordance with section 29(7) of the Ontario Heritage Act. Dated at the Village of Merrickville-Wolford this 19th day of December, 2024.

Julia McCaugherty-Jansman, Clerk

317 Brock St. West

PO Box 340

Merrickville, ON

K0G 1N0

Phone: (613) 269-4791

CLASSIFIEDS

613-215-0735

GOLDEN GROWING GARDEN CARE

Cultivating Care Through Gardening Seasonal Garden Maintence Contracts for 2025 & Gift Cards now available!

Contact: goldengrowing247@gmail.com

Waterfront Retreat: LANARK 61 wooded acres, 1400 ft. On River, nice 3 bedroom home, 3 bay tractor garage, nature trails, huge garden. $699,000. Gerry Hudson 613-449-1668 Realtor, Solid Rock Realty Brokerage

FOR SALE

2 NEW hearing aid

batteries Premium

ONE R312 Lithium Rechargeable in Kemptville HALF PRICE $25. Call 613-258-7501 or hrvpwll@gmail.com

Honda Fit Winter Tires on rims 185/R160 15 M+S $440 Kemptille 258-7501

4 Honda Fit Winter Tires on rims 185/R160 15 M+S $440 Kemptille 258-7501

ALL House HUMIDIFIER Cabinet style on wheels $50 in Kemptville 258-7501

Four steel rims 17” fit Hyundai only $90.00 for set only 18000km . 613 258 1058

4 Kelly winter tires with rims for sale 225-60R16, $300.00. 1 winter. 613-258-1167

Chevrolet contoured all weather floor liners set 2015 -2022 Chevy Colorado extra cab $40. contact Dan nadfuct@ gmail.com.

Coil Binding Machine with electric coil inserter (Coil Mac EC1), $500 (OBO). Assorted coils included. email classifieds@ngtimes. ca

Gozone home fitness mini stepper,

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 21

Celebration of Christmas in song. Starting at 1:00 pm Lunch provided No cost Everyone welcome St. Andrews United Church in Heckston December 22

hardly used. $20. nadfudt@gmail.com

MISCELANEOUS

Looking to rent farmland in North Grenville & surrounding areas. Call or text Mitch @ 613-262-1204.

Looking to harvest cedar trees for cedar hedges from land owner. Joanne (613)799-0958

Home share. Private bedroom, bathroom and office. All utilities and satellite wifi/tv included in the monthly rent $1400. Beautiful country home near Perth ON. 613-2767438

LOST

Lost orange and white cat (Lilly) in Kemptville. If found please call/text 613-301-7077.

ACROSS

1. Uncertain

6. Footnote note

10. Mother 14. Not below 15. One less than 10

16. Fragrance

17. Adjust again 18. Cast a ballot

19. Tubular pasta 20. Disentangled 22. In Europe, they're "Zeds"

23. Pertaining to the sun 24. Hesitate 25. Beige

29. Guest

31. Not sharpened

33. Non-metric road distance 37. Thief

38. Chatted

39. Smiled scornfully

41. Winter sport with brooms

42. National

44. Anagram of "Neat"

45. Specified days of the month

48. Floral leaf

50. Biblical garden

51. Dispense

56. Car company

57. African sheep

58. Snouted animal

59. Celtic language

60. Audition tape

61. Deadly virus

62. Marsh plant

63. Gulf port 64. Leases

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Songs of the Saviour. Starting at 10:00 am Stories of faith, joy, and trust mingled with classic Christmas songs to celebrate the season Questions? Contact Rhonda at bishopsmillsupc@gmail.com

Bishop’s Mills United Pentecostal Church. 10 St Lawrence Street

December 25

You are invited to a free Community Christmas Day Dinner. From 12:00 pm3:00 pm

Delivery only: Please call 613-713-2111 or email communitychristmasdaydinner@ gmail.com ORDER DEADLINE: MONDAY DEC 22, 2024 Kemptville Christian Reformed Church 2455 County Road 18, Kemptville

December 29

Meal & A Message. Starting at 12:00 pm

Christmas ham with plenty of sides followed by a brief encouraging message Free admission but space is limited! Questions? Contact Rhonda at bishopsmillsupc@ gmail.com.

Bishop’s Mills United Pentecostal Church 10 St Lawrence Street

January 5

Wizard Card Game Tournament. Registration starts at 12:30 and play starts at 1:00 p.m. $5 per player. For information contact debiar@ymail.com. at Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road.

January 20

Spencerville Agricultural Society, January Meeting

Starting at 6:00 pm

Have you ever considered being a part of the Spencerville Agricultural Society? This is your opportunity to join our committee! We will kick off the night with a social hour followed by our AGM. We are already planning for the 170th Spencerville Fair, September 11-14, 2025! If you are interested in joining our committee, please email info@spencervillefair.ca to receive all of the meeting details. Drummond Building, 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville Ontario

DOWN

1. Act presumptuously

2. Wild goat

3. Price

4. At any point

5. Abominable snowmen

6. Null and void

7. Region's local floral and fauna

8. Temporary 9. Exploit

10. Type of cheese

11. Farewell

12. Particles

13. Come up

21. Highly sought-after 24. Frigid

25. Declines 26. Extended family

27. Ancient alphabetic character

28. Vulnerable

30. Nominal

32. Rubber wheels

34. Similar

35. Lady's escort

36. Border

40. Wanted

41. Subtitle

43. Begin again

45. Postpone

46. Love intensely 47. Brusque

49. Metric unit of capacity

51. Baby's first word

52. ____ Ruth, baseball legend

53. On top of 54. Pitching to one side 55. Ages

Winner of 2024 Holiday Card Design Contest

The Municipality of North Grenville is delighted to announce the winner of this year’s Holiday Card Design Contest! After careful consideration, one standout design was chosen to be featured on the official holiday cards for the community, showcasing the wonderful creativity and talent of our young residents.

We’re so excited to celebrate the contributions of our young residents: Callie MacNaughtan (Age 6, Grade 1, homeschool) has been named the overall winner. Her festive and imaginative design won over the selection committee, and we can’t wait to share her awesome artwork in the coming days!

Honourable Mentions by Grade:

• JK/SK: Charlotte Fader, Age 5 – Holy Cross Elementary School

• Grade 1: Callie MacNaughtan (Overall Winner)

• Grade 2: Hazel Bresee, Age 6 – South Branch Elementary School

• Grade 3: Hannah Fader, Age 8 – Holy Cross Elementary School

• Grade 4: Violet O’Neil, Age 9 – Kemptville Public School

• Grade 5: Alice Fader, Age 10 – Holy Cross Elementary School

• Grade 6: Ally German, Age 11 – Oxford-on-Rideau Public School

To recognize these tal-

ented young artists, the Municipality will share pictures of all the winning entries next Tuesday, along with certificates and some exciting prizes!

Additionally, we invite the winners, honourable mention recipients, and their families to join us for a special photo with the Mayor and Council on Tuesday, December 17, at 5:00 PM at the Municipal Centre. Prints of the winning entries will also be distributed during this event, and we’d love to see everyone there!

“This contest showcases the wonderful creativity we have here in North Grenville,” said Mayor Nancy Peckford.

“The winning design perfectly captures the joy and spirit of the season, and we couldn’t

be happier to share it with the community. Congratulations to Callie and all the honourable mention recipients for their impressive work and thank you to everyone who participated!”

The contest was open to students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 in North Grenville. The winning entry will be prominently featured on the Municipality’s Holiday Greeting Card and social media cover photos, spreading holiday cheer across the community.

Royals U11-B3 Win Casselman!

The Kemptville Royals U11-B3 hockey team travelled to Casselman over the December 14th to 15th weekend for their first tournament of the year and came home champions! The team consist of: Matteo Huywan, Tyler Fox, Ashton Juneau, Logan Lockhart, Oliver Wellon, Michael Fox, Kingsley Shouldice, Jaxson Sutton, Sawyer Monk, Nicholas Dillabough, Carter Gillies, Oliver Kirk and Everett Comeau with a bench staff of Head Coach Chris Fox, Assistant Coach’s Chris Lockhart, Curtis Gillies, Aaron Juneau, Trainer Jon Huywan and Manager Melissa Cote. Game one of the round robin had the Royals battle one of the host teams being the Casselman Vikings B2 in a solid showing by Kemptville with goaltender Huywan backstopping the team to a 6-0 shutout victory to start the tourney. After a slow start Dillabough (1) got things started early in

PUBLIC NOTICE

PROPOSED BELL MOBILITY RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY TELECOMMUNICATION TOWER

Bell Mobility Inc. (“Bell”) is committed to providing Canadian communities high speed wireless voice and data services. To improve service, Bell is proposing to construct a 85 metre Self-Support Telecommunications antenna tower with ancillary radio equipment

As part of the public consultation process as required by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (formerly known as Industry Canada) (“ISED”), Bell’s regulator under the Radiocommunications Act, Bell is inviting the public to comment on the proposed tower location before January 20, 2025 This tower is fully compliant with ISED’s guidelines, as found under the Client Procedures Circular (CPC-2-0-03).

TOWER LOCATION: 834 S Gower Drive, Kemptville

COORDINATES: Latitude: N 45° 03' 59.07” Longitude: W 75° 36' 54.95".

LEGAL: PART OF LOT 6 CONCESSION 8

ANY PERSON MAY comment by close of business day on January 20, 2025 with respect to this matter

BELL CONTACT:

Leyla Mains

Canacre Ltd.

Agent for Bell

Unit 201

5520 Explorer Drive

Mississauga, ON, L4W 5L1

Fax: (416) 352-0707

Email: consultation@canacre.com

Proposed Location of Telecommunications Tower

the second, followed by M. Fox (1), centerman Gillies (3) then took over with 3 consecutive tallies for a hat trick, while Lockhart (1) sealed the fate with one more. Assists were delivered by Gillies (1), Dillabough (1) and Comeau (1) with one a piece. With a win in hand, the Royals then faced off against the WEHL Wolverines for the second tilt of the day and Kemptville came out flying to an 8-1 victory. Lockhart (2) started the roll with a goal half way into the first, followed by Dillabough (2), Juneau (2), M. Fox (1) and Wellon (1), with helpers from Shouldice (1), Wellon (2), Gillies (2), Juneau (1), and M. Fox (1). Strong offensive rushes by defenseman Sutton kept the pressure on the Wolverines, with solid defensive contributions made by Kirk to help keep the Royals in control. Monk made great contributions in play making to keep the offense moving. With

that, the Royals secured first place in their pool and earned an automatic spot in the semi-final on Sunday. The semi final brought a rematch against the Wolverines and they came out hungry for retribution, but the Royals wouldn’t have it, cruisng to 5-1 win and locking in a spot to play for gold! Lockhart (3) had an outpouring of offense and started things off with three in a row for a hat trick, followed by insurance markers from M. Fox (1) and Wellon (1). Assists cam from T. Fox (1), Juneau (2), Wellon (1) and Lockhart (1). Royals nation was alive, with support coming in from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario leading into the championship game. The finals saw the Royals pitted against the other host team in the Casselman Vikings B1, who were undefeated in their season. The stage was set and the energy in the building was electric! The

first period was a back and forth grind with Kemptville controlling much of the play, but unable to take a lead and ended at 0-0. Just under 30 seconds into the second M. Fox made a beautiful feed to Lockhart who buried one to give the Royals the lead! The battle raged on and with 29 seconds left in the second period the Vikings netted a tying goal. The third period pushed both teams to the edge and ended scoreless setting up a 3 on 3 sudden death overtime! Just under 3 minutes into OT, after a battle at the Royals end, Dillabough got control and burst out of the zone, with Wellon joining the rush and setting up a 2 on 2. Dillabough went wide and deep into the Vikings corner while Wellon trailed into the slot. A perfect setup pass by Dillabough fed Wellon in the slot, who hesitated, causing the goaltender to make his move and allowing Wellon the shelf a backhand goal to win it! The crowd went wild and the bench cleared as the Royals become champions! A true team effort by all players contributed to their success and ultimately victory. The U11-B3 Royals would like to thank their season sponsors for their ongoing support, including White Diamond Cleaning, J.D. Barnes Ltd., Crazy Horse – Stonegrill, Steakhouse & Saloon, The LoudCup Company, The Rabbit Hole and Moex Property Maintenance Inc.

AVIS PUBLIC

PROPOSITION D’UNE TOUR DE TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS POUR LES INSTALLATIONS DE RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS DE BELL MOBILITÉ

Bell Mobilité Inc. (“Bell”) s’engage à fournir aux collectivités canadiennes des services vocaux et de données sans fil à haute vitesse. Pour améliorer le service, Bell propose de construire une tour de télécommunications autoportante de 85 mètres avec de l’équipement radio auxiliaire. Dans le cadre du processus de consultation publique requis par Innovation, Science et Développement économique Canada (anciennement appelé Industrie Canada) (« ISED »), le régulateur de Bell en vertu de la Loi sur les radiocommunications, Bell invite le public à commenter l’emplacement de la tour proposée avant le 20 janvier 2025. Cette tour est entièrement conforme aux directives de l’ISED, comme on le trouve dans la circulaire des procédures du client (CPC-2-0-03).

EMPLACEMENT DE LA TOUR : 834 S Gower Drive, Kemptville, Ontario

COORDONNÉES GÉOGRAPHIQUES: Latitude: N 45° 03' 59.07”, Longitude: W 75° 36' 54.95".

DESCRIPTION LÉGALE: PARTIE DE LA CONCESSION 8 DU LOT 6

TOUTE PERSONNE PEUT commenter d’ici la fin de la journée le 20 janvier 2025 à ce sujet.

COORDONNÉES DE BELL: Leyla Mains Canacre Ltée Mandataire pour Bell Unité 201 5520 Explorer Drive Mississauga, ON, L4W 5L1

Télécopieur: (416) 352-0707

Courriel: consultation@canacre.com

Emplacement proposé de la tour de télécommunications

73s Trottier on fire and Donovan’s first SO

Stopper turned inside out....magical hands of Alexis Beaulieu after intrepid down low cycling from Nicholas Bennett with Alec McDonald for Kemptville to engage their attack on Friday night for 4 to 0 win and a well deserved SO for Rylan Donovan.

by G.J. the sportsguy

Kemptville road junket into Cornwall to face the Colts for Thursday night excursion was a fast and furious affair that was determined with the dreaded one on one shootout with the Colts gaining the two points for the evening. Cornwall came out strong in the first frame to draw first blood when Charles Lamoureux, with helpers from Gilmour with Speck-Meek, put it past Rylan Donovan at 257. Second period saw the Colts with an extra man to make it a two-zip contest from Miron with Lamb to Brayden Bowen PPG from the slot at 4:03. Kemptville, with man

advantage, found the power combination of Bennett with Beaulieu on to Aiden Subbings in the lane to eliminate Caleb Chabot SO at 10:01. Cornwall with a man down in the final twenty with Gilmour and Bowen sprung Trisran Miron SHG on the wall for a shortie at 10:21. Kemptville with grit and determination at 13:52 as a combination of Redmond and Alex Bealieu put them down by one. Stubbings with F. Canevari cycling with Dylan McDougall in the rocking chair to force OT at 16:24. OT came and went without results to initiate the SO resulting with the eighth sniper Bradley Fraser from Cornwall

securing the victory with the game winner. Cornwall on board with 29 SOG to 25 Kemptville.

After Kemptville got squeezed out on Thursday night with a SO loss in Cornwall they hit the grid with vengeance on their mind as they shut out Cornwall 4 to 0. See-saw escapade to open the first as both squads pummelled each other to proclaim how this Friday evening event would play out. Kemptville announced the direction the battle would follow as Bennett on his horse reversed to McDonald onto the tape of Alexis Beaulieu on the doorstep to blow it by sprawling Caleb Chabot at 8:03 for the game win-

ner. G. McDougall tape to tape onto Shewfelt in flight through the middle to hard charging Emile Trottier for the razzle dazzle insurance and his first of the game at 10:43.

Give and go from Beaulieu to Graves riding shotgun to set up Matthew Montoni with a fanatical dip and dive to find the back of the net at 9:47 to begin the second for the 73s three goal advantage.

Last twenty displayed the frustration of the evening with both teams riding the pine and Cornwall relieved their stopper in an attempt to destroy Rylan Donovan SO at 17:13 without success. Sweetapple transitioned to D. McDougall with Emile Trottier screaming through the neutral zone to wire in home for his second at 17:24 and solidify a 4 to 0 stinker. Cornwall had an advantage of 36 SOG to 29 with 0/4 PP to 0/3 PP.

Nepean on Kemptville home ice on Wednesday and Thursday into Brockville to wrap up Christmas break into Carleton Place for Sunday matinee.

Hockey with EDGE... see you around the wall.

O’Farrell Financial Donates

At their Kemptville office on December 4, the O'Farrell Financial Team presented a $10,000 cheque to the CT Scanner Campaign. Thank you for this donation and helping us bring this important diagnostic tool to Kemptville District Hospital! Seen here, (l-r) Cynthia Batchelor, Hugh O’Neill, Joanne Mavis (KDH Foundation Executive Director), Dermid O’Farrell, Margret Norenberg (KDH Foundation Board Chair) Kari Ross, Alexandra Zewuster, Keeley Patterson, Matthew Felker, Christine Aubin, Sarah Chisholm, Andrew MacKinnon, Vipul Arora and Daren Givoque. For more information, stories and photos about the Campaign and how to donate securely online: https://www.kdhfoundation.ca/ or phone 613-258-6133, ext 185.

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Rx for terrible loneliness

The Christmas season is one of the joyful times of the year. The homecomings, parties, and sentiments we are still lucky to be a part of this messy, troubled world. But we also know those who have lost loved ones and are now alone. For all the people we are packing onto a smaller and smaller planet, it’s noteworthy that loneliness is becoming a greater problem. And not just for solitary seniors. People in nearly every age group and every location are reporting more loneliness.

One would hope, for example, that happily married people are not lonely. Fortunately, it remains a minority of married people who are not happy. But loneliness is creeping into more and more marriages. The statistics vary. One study found 30 percent of married people reported being lonely. Another study found that being lonely in a marriage is more intense than being single and feeling alone.

What can be done to improve the situation for married people? One 8-year study of 1,400 couples in their fifties through seventies zeroed in on the women in the relationship. It is the wives, the researchers observed, who set the emotional tone for the marriage.

“In other words,” it was reported, “the husband depends on the wife to create and maintain the external social relationships of the marriage. If she has many friends, he’ll likely be friends with their husbands. But if she’s socially isolated, he will be too.”

Sad, but true? Surely the advent of so much technology has helped get past any emotional shortcomings of people failing to make personal connections.

But here too, the news isn’t so rosy.

Laurie Marciano, a Harvard researcher, recently studied how technology, even the social media that is designed to bring people together, is driving some into greater isolation.

Using Instagram to question 500 students, Marciano checked on their personal interactions three times a day. Each time she discovered that 50 percent had not spoken to anyone in the last hour.

But remember, social loneliness is nothing new. It has been with us for centuries. The great pianist, Chopin, lamented “I’m alone, alone, alone.” But at this time of the year, it does reach epidemic proportions. And it can be particularly acute in some households, such as when tragedy strikes suddenly.

We all must ask this question. What can we do to inject more happiness in our society? What can we do for isolated elders? For our neighbours? For our children? How can we add more joy among friends during this holiday season?

It’s said that the voyage of a thousand miles begins at the first step. So here is a suggestion. Forget about emails, texting, and all other social media. Holiday cards are nice, but not enough. Among those who are able, generous donations to food banks and other charities make a good start towards sharing the holiday spirit. But unless you are positioned with a duty to do so, don’t dwell on the big problems of the world. Pick up the telephone and call a someone whom you know is alone. Think about the person who has suffered bad luck this past year and make it a point to reach out to say hello. Teach your children do the same – not with their Instagram accounts, but with their voices.

What’s better, arrange to share a meal together. Experts in loneliness attest that even one social interaction alleviates the problem, and it is the quality of the interaction that determines its effectiveness. On this ancient tradition too, we need to teach our children. Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones.

Holiday Hours for LGL Health Unit Programs and Services

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit will be closed for the holidays on the following days: Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Thursday, December 26, 2024

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Wednesday, January, 1, 2025

Public Health Emergency 613-345-5685 open 24/7

Surveillance Reporting: Weekly surveillance report will be posted December 17, 23 and January 2.

Other Programs and Clinic hours

Please check the following link for immunization clinic appointments: Immunization Clinic - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

Infant Feeding Clinics: please call 1 800 660 5853 ext 2467 or visit: Infant Feeding Clinic - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit:

Smart Works services are not available at HU offices on stat holidays; they are available in Smiths Falls and Brockville on Dec 27, 30; please contact us if you need service at another site.

Well water sample bottles for well-water testing will NOT be accepted December 20, 23 to 27, 30 and Jan 1, 2025. Sexual health clinics will be closed over the holidays:

Brockville – closed Thursday, December 26

Perth – closed Monday, December 23 and 30

Kemptville – closed Tuesday, December 24 and 31

Almonte - closed Thursday, December 26

Smiths Falls - closed Wednesday December 25 and January 1

Gananoque – closed Wednesday December 25 and January 1

If your child 17 and under has an urgent dental need, please call 1-800-660-5853 extension 2315 to discuss emergency coverage through the Healthy Smiles Ontario program.

All regular programs and services will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2025.

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville Cream puffs are a great delight at this time of the year. One of our neighbours is a cream puff “artiste” and we always wonder how she can the same tasty result time after time. It’s not that the recipe is complicated but there is a bit of (energetic) fiddling to do to get them right. So here we go with our Cream Puff recipe.

Cream Puffs:

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter

• 1 cup flour

• 4 eggs

• 1 cup of water

• ½ cup chilled 35% cream

• ¼ cup icing sugar

Preparation

• Heat oven to 400 F

• Bring the water and the butter to a boil in a saucepan

• Lower the heat, add the flour and stir until the mixture forms a ball

• Add the eggs, one at a time and beat the mixture till smooth

• Drop about 1/3 of a cup of dough on a greased cookie sheet; make them 3 inches apart

• Bake for 40 minutes or until you have a golden brown cream puff shell; cool completely

• Meanwhile, beat the whipping cream in a chilled bowl until you get soft peaks

• Gradually add the icing sugar and continue beating until you get stiff peaks

• Cut the cream puff bottoms off, remove any soft dough and fill puffs with whipped cream

• Sprinkle the cream puffs with icing sugar (you can use a flour sifter for a nice, neat effect

You can also jazz up your cream puffs by adding some fruit flavour. For example, you can fold in a couple of tablespoons of strawberry or apricot jam into your whipped cream; you can then baste the top of your cream puff lightly with your jam. Marmalade or conserve also works nicely. Just hold off on sprinkling your sugar until you have done your basting.

Cream puffs are best served fresh otherwise they can become soggy. They are a great treat after a whopping big meal where a tasty but light dessert is in order. Do you have a favourite cream puff recipe? If so, please send it along to pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

From the Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Standing tall amid the twinkling lights, shiny garland and boughs of holly is the Christmas tree.

The iconic centrepiece of holiday decorating, the tree is deeply rooted in the Christmas celebration. When that tree is a traditional, fresh-cut evergreen, there is an added element of authenticity to the experience. The look, feel and aroma of a real tree are integral to the cozy atmosphere of the festive season, and is a great way to create lasting memories and build cherished family traditions.

“A real evergreen is a central symbol of the Christmas celebration and we encourage Ontarians to add a local touch to their holiday décor this year by choosing a real tree,” says Drew Spoelstra, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). “Christmas trees are just one of the more

than 200 agricultural crops and products that are grown and raised here in Ontario and we appreciate everyone who supports Ontario farmers, whether it’s by buying local or signing on to be part of our Home Grown campaign.”

Home Grown is a public awareness initiative of the OFA and advocates for the importance of preserving Ontario’s farmland as well as recognizing the key role of Ontario farms as a source of food, fuel, fibre and flowers.

Whether at a store in your community or at a local Christmas tree farm, buying a fresh evergreen for the holidays is a great way to show support for local farmers and underscore the key roles that farms and farmland play in both Ontario’s environment and economy.

The enjoyment of the Christmas season is enhanced with simple, traditional touches that evoke the look, feel and

even smells of Christmases past. In an increasingly modern and manufactured world, turning to more natural options for your Christmas decorations is a respite from the everyday, and can help create a sanctuary in your home during a busy time of year.

When looking for the perfect tree, Ontario’s Christmas tree farmers offer some tips and advice:

Determine where in your home you will display your tree. With this in mind, you will be able to tell how tall a tree you will need and whether all four sides must be suitable for display.

The tree should have a fragrance and a good green colour.

A fresh tree will retain its moisture content and keep its fragrance and needles if kept in a stand that has good waterholding capacity.

Find an Ontario Christmas tree near you by visiting christmastrees.on.ca.

Freshness is an important key when selecting your tree. The needles should be resilient. Take hold of a branch about six inches from the tip, between thumb and forefinger. Pull your hand toward you allowing the branch to slip through your fingers. Needles should adhere to the branch and not fall off in your hand. Bend a needle between your forefinger and thumb. The needle should form a “U” without breaking (unless the tree is frozen). Lift the tree a couple of inches off the ground, then bring it down abruptly on the stump end. Older outside needles should not fall in substantial numbers (inside needles shed naturally every year).

ACCEPTED in the organics collection:

• Meat, fish, shellfish, poultry, bones, eggshells

• Fruit and vegetables

• Dairy products

• Bread, cereals, crackers

• Pasta, beans, rice, seeds and other grains

• Coffee grounds, filters, tea bags

• Cookies, chips, popcorn, nuts

• Cooking oils, lard, shortening, fat, butter

• Pet food

• Salad dressings, mayonnaise, vinegar, sauces, gravy, dips

• Small animal bedding

• BBQ ashes (cold)

• Fireplace ash (cold)

• Dryer lint

• Contents from vacuum canister

• Butcher paper meat wrap

• Food soiled paper towels, napkins, parchment or wax paper

• Food-soiled pizza and cereal boxes

• Wood chips/sawdust

• Microwave paper popcorn bags

• Paper cups, plates, muffin wrappers

• Pet fur, hair, feathers,

• Dog waste and cat litter

• Sugar, flour and potato paper bags

• Diapers

• Used face masks

NOT ACCEPTED:

• Menstrual products

• Solid waste (garbage)

• Leaf and yard waste

• Recyclable materials

• Clothing and textiles

• Plastics (exception of using a plastic bag for bagging organic waste)

Merry Christmas