The Villager 2020 October by Villager Community News

October 2020

Quarry concerns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Waste collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Township news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 13 Water levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Environmental impact of new development a concern in West Shore by Ellen Cohen For those not familiar with the area of Severn called West Shore, it is on the east side of Highway 11. It sits roughly north of Webers up to Goldstein Rd., including Bayou Park and Cumberland Beach. This area is serviced by sewer and water, includes a public school and the prerequisite Tim Hortons and, if the township is fortunate in securing a sizable grant applied for last fall, a recreation centre in the not too distant future. Because of the services, the directly off-highway location, and the desirable proximity to Lake Couchiching, there has already been considerable new residential development. Mayor Mike Burkett and councillor Ron Stevens have told The Villager in previous interviews that West Shore will likely increase by 1,000+ new homes in the not too distant future. With growth comes community concern. In the case of the most recent development proposal for what is being marketed as Turnbull Lakeside being built by Bosseini Development, environmental concerns are at the top of the resident’s list. To clearly lay out these concerns, a small group of residents took Mayor Burkett, Deputy Mayor Dunlop and Ward 4 Councillor Stevens for a walk along Turnbull Drive where the homes

Residents have concerns a new residential development will have a negative impact on the shoreline and a local marsh. are to be built, through the neighbourhood, past Cunningham Bay Marsh to which the 188 new home development is adjacent, along Grayshott Dr. and down to the lake, where the developer’s property ends. The residents were clear that they are not against development. They understand growth is inevitable given the fact the community is so well serviced and most of the open land in the Westshore community has long been owned by developers. But before the building begins, their goal is to ensure that the developer will protect the provincially significant wetland and the

shoreline, and have respect for the overall importance to the future stability of the ecosystem, including mitigating potential drainage issues. Area resident Diane Fotopoulos-Wright, who organized the walk through the community, has completed a presentation collectively with Joanne Morehouse and Tracy Bourassa, which clearly lays out the areas of concern – environmental and traffic being the top two - and asks Severn council for their help to “ensure that the community grows in a carefully thought out manner”. Continued on page 15

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Important information from your health unit From the onset of COVID-19, all levels of government relied on medical professionals who worked with the world-wide medical community, shared information about the virus, announced new research results, and helped to develop safety precautions, changing them as new and better information became available. In the County of Simcoe, municipal governments and residents have relied specifically on Dr. Charles Gardner, the Medical Officer of Health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), and his staff. Their message regarding safety protocols has been clear and consistent and, with his help, we all learned ways to protect ourselves and others. As we know, throughout the month of September, Ontario reported substantial increases of COVID-19 cases, the highest daily counts since June. Dr. Gardner toughened up his message to suit this situation. He said, “We all have to become more vigilant, up our precautionary measures, make sure our social circles are limited - and physically distance from anyone not in it.” In addition to following the protocols that have been reinforced daily, the SMDHU asks residents to consider how they might increase the protection of those who are vulnerable. For example, now that so many are going back to work or school, it would be wise to minimize close contact and to physically distance or wear a mask around people in your own home, especially

seniors or anyone who is immune deficient. Continue to disinfect high touch surfaces and continue the regimen of good and regular handwashing. Precautions are needed at places of work as well. Both employers and employees need to be responsible to protect themselves and others with whom they work. Everyone should self-screen and not go to work if feeling ill. Wear a mask, and wear it properly,

if you cannot maintain a 2 metre separation from other employees; physically distance when a mask is not worn; and wash hands thoroughly and often. The self-assessment tool on the SMDHU website is helpful for staff and employers Finally, the SMDHU reminds everyone that a person can show no symptoms of illness and still carry the COVID-19 virus to others. Don’t take chances, take precautions.

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4 From the Publisher:

Ellen Cohen Publisher

thevillagerpress@rogers.com

705-717-0322 The Villager, a Severn Township community news magazine, is an independently owned and operated publication delivered to households and businesses on or before the first day of every month. It is mailed through Canada Post north from the Severn Township/Orillia border to Severn Bridge and includes parts of Ramara Township. In addition to Canada Post delivery, The Villager is distributed each month through high traffic locations along the Highway 11 corridor and in many other select locations in Orillia. For a complete list of locations email thevillagerpress@rogers.com. Editorial and advertising material is protected by copyright. Reproduction of any article, photograph or graphic is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher. The sentiments of our columnists do not necessarily reflect those of The Villager. The Villager’s liability to advertisers for errors is limited to the portion of the advertisement in which an error occurs and only if the error is the fault of The Villager. Community event submissions and prearranged editorial contributions must be received by the 10th of each month for the following month’s publication. Advertising space must be booked by the 10th of each month in order to appear in the following month’s publication, with 5 business days thereafter to complete the advertising artwork and proof approval process.

The Villager P.O. Box 5 Washago, ON L0K 2B0 Art director: Cathy Cleary

If you are searching for a place to walk and feel thankful this Thanksgiving, head over to Washago Centennial Park. It is a cornucopia of nature. Wildflowers waving in the breeze, turtles sunning themselves on logs, ducks swimming in the clear water, and chipmunks gathering treasures. You might even get lucky and meet up with a huge snapping turtle making her way across one of the pathways – but please, do not touch. Just look, keep your distance, snap a photo and enjoy the majesty of this creature.

Expanded seniors dental care program To support the new seniors dental care program, the provincial government will be spending more than $25 million to support existing dental clinics with upgrades and expansions and they will build new clinics in underserviced areas, including 8 new mobile clinics. Lower income seniors, $19,300 per year or less, couples $32,000 per year or less, will qualify for the new provincial dental care program. At the time of this writing, The Villager did not have complete details, but it appears that this program will not be delivered by your current dentist but rather only through designated clinics. More information will be published in the November issue. In the meantime, for information or assistance, Severn residents can call or visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit in Orillia, 169 Front St., Ste. 120, 705-325-9565; or call Gravenhurst at 705-721-7520; or Midland at 705-526-9324. Visit Ontario.ca for information and application.

Community Events In normal times, The Villager publishes a dozen or more community events every month. Covid-19 stopped events cold. Large public gatherings became too risky. However, there is a little light on the horizon as some organizations use ingenuity to move forward just a bit. The Ramona Agricultural Society is in the midst of making plans for a fall bazaar in November. The challenge is to make sure the event is safe. For example, the bake sale and draw table would need to be spread out and line ups controlled by physical distancing; the luncheon could not be an indoor sit down affair. Perhaps it will be outdoors but most likely people would love to take home their famous cream of turkey soup, corn chowder and turkey pies. The Villager will have more details in the November issue. Stay tuned! Meanwhile, the Coldwater Legion volunteers have also been very busy. They successfully managed a patio for drinks

and food during the late summer, and they currently allow patrons inside their constantly sanitized club room that has been reconfigured to allow distancing. Contact information is required when entering the facility, volunteers and patrons wear masks whenever not seated, the bar is protected with plexiglass, and sanitizer is set out throughout the premises. The rules are strictly followed to ensure comfort and safety for everyone. They have also announced a fundraiser event for October 24th. There will be a live band, Rennesance from 2-6 p.m. Based on COVID-19 protocols, no dancing will be allowed. Masks are required when entering the premises and for whenever not seated. Table seating will be socially distanced. Even with the protocols, it will be an excellent and safe opportunity to get out for a few hours. $5 cover charge for non-members. Visit their website for other activities: coldwaterlegion.com or call 705-686-3388.

Letters to the publisher are welcome and may be emailed to thevillagerpress@rogers.com. Letters may be edited.

Fall webworms put on a show By Ron Reid

On top of all the other assorted disasters, 2020 is a bumper year for fall webworm, an insect whose caterpillars weave highly visible socks around the branches of trees throughout our area. But don’t panic. This is a case where the ghostly sacs of web may look awful, but their impact is actually quite small. Let’s start with what fall webworms are not. First, they are not the same species as tent caterpillars – that species locates its web at the base of branches in the interior of small trees, while webworms make their web out at the tip. Tent caterpillars regularly leave their web to feed on leaves, while webworms stay inside their web, weaving it larger as they feed. Second, webworms are not the same as gypsy moths, which don’t have webs at all, and which arrive in huge numbers to defoliate trees. And unlike gypsy moths, webworms are native to much of North America. That means it has about 50 natural predators and at least 36 parasites which keep its numbers in check. Like many insects, webworms are cyclic, abundant one year, much less so in others. We often don’t notice webworms until late summer or early fall, when their caterpillar sacs begin to really stand out. By then, the caterpillars have finished their feeding, and crawled down into the leaf litter or soil to convert into brownish cocoons for the winter. The next spring, a pure white moth with a downy white body crawls out to mate

and lay a mass of bright green eggs on a fresh leaf, and the cycle continues. Webworms lay their eggs only on deciduous trees, but beyond that their choices are broad. In this area, they most often seem to choose ash trees or cherry, but they might often select maples or almost any other deciduous tree. The good thing is that while the caterpillars devour the leaves inside their sac, they don’t affect the buds, allowing that branch to leaf out again the next year. If you spot a webworm sac at this time of year, relax; the winter winds and snow will gradually bring it down. A high-pressure hose might tear it apart, but often they are high enough that isn’t effective either. If you find a web within reach early in the season, when you can see the caterpillars inside, the best control method is to use a stick to tear apart the web. Use a mix of soapy water to

drown the caterpillars. Spraying with an insecticide isn’t likely to work unless you can tear the web apart first. In an era when we seem to be battling so many invasive species that have arrived from Europe or Asia, fall webworms are one species that has gone the other direction. Human activities have introduced the species into Europe, central Asia, and China, where it has become widespread. Without all those predators and parasites that feed on webworms here, no doubt it has become a nuisance in those distant lands. A regular contributor to The Villager, Ron Reid is a natural heritage consultant and the co-founder and former executive director of The Couchiching Conservancy. He has written more than 30 magazine articles and co-authored three books. He lives in Washago with his wife, Janet Grand.

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Communities distraught about quarries There are currently two new quarry developments in our neighbourhood. One is the Cumberland Quarry located just off South Sparrow Lake Road, north of Cambrian Rd. The other is off Ramara Rd., just north of Switch Rd. Both are causing distress among residents. The Cumberland Quarry is a proposal that is currently before the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). The plan shows that it encompasses 135 hectares of land. According to community resident, Christopher Kapetanou who is deeply involved in the group of approximately 50 residents opposing the quarry, the neighbouring residential property owners are concerned about reports that indicate the below water level quarry will effect ground water levels by up to 1 meter within a two kilometre range of the pit. This is of grave concern because Lake St. George, which supplies their drinking water is situated approximately 2 km downstream. Further, this group wants to bring to the attention of all locals that this quarry could

have significant negative effect on wetlands, essential watershed areas and local wildlife. Protecting the habitat is difficult enough without the added challenge of a quarry digging out vast swaths of shelter for endangered species. While the MNRF reviews this quarry proposal, Christopher and his community group are eager to spread the word and to inform the community at large. Email ckapetan@yahoo.ca. Similar distress is felt in the neighbourhood near the proposed installation off Rama Rd., the Fleming Quarry. Joan Mizzi-Fry, a nearby resident and quarry opponent said in an email, “The Fleming Quarry is near a residential community as well as the shores of Lake Couchiching…a vibrant wetland is situated near the current quarry and the

most recent blast on April 2, 2020 rumbled through many homes, including ours. We’ve had reports of broken windows and cracked foundations.” This community has put up with blasting, noisy and intrusive truck traffic, and tremendous amounts of dust, a serious health issue. A resident-formed community action group is currently preparing to be heard at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT, formerly OMB). With support from Ramara council in a 5-2 vote to not approve Fowler’s construction, and Premier Doug Ford’s public statement “if the community doesn’t want a quarry, they won’t get one”, residents have some hope the project will be stopped. For more information or to support this group, email mediadivajoan@icloud.com.

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Executive Board of Directors update By Marylynne White, President Well, here we are in the month of September and there is still no end in sight for this virus that has left the world in quite a mess. That being said, the Washago Seniors Club executive is still working on behalf of club members. We held a meeting at Washago Centennial Park on Wednesday, September 2nd to discuss the virus and the opening of the club. As club members know, as of the date of our meeting, Severn Township has not opened the Community Centre and at this time there is no date given to your executive regarding when this might happen. The health information which we have been following has led us to the following decision: the executive will not meet again in person until the New Year at which time we will look at any new information regarding the virus; and we will work with the township to ensure we are aware of the

Happier, normal times at the Washago Seniors Club. Shown in the photo, left to right: Doreen Philip, Marylynne White, Ina Patterson and Ruth Snead. protocols that will be in place the centre. We want to make sure that when the club does open, it will be safe for everyone. It is a difficult time for all of us in this new world. We all miss being part of this wonderful organization and seeing our friends. Eventually this virus will come

under control and, in the meantime, club members should know that your executive will continue to work for you and inform you about new information as it becomes available. Until we meet again, please stay safe, stay positive. We will get through this.

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Giving thanks during unprecedented times By Jill Dunlop, MPP Simcoe North Ontarians have done a great job of adhering to public health advice to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and should be proud. However, in spite of all efforts, every day brings new questions and concerns about the pandemic and every day residents must continue to practice self-care during this difficult time. For many, myself included, a regular routine involves exercise of the body and the mind, but lately, for me, these activities seem insufficient so I have added to my routine, something I call a hand washing and gratitude exercise. It seems particularly appropriate to share this during the Thanksgiving season: When I wash my hands I focus on things I am thankful for. The doctors, nurses, paramedics, hospital workers, long-term care/healthcare providers, educators and everyone else on the front lines. I think

about and feel gratitude for the workers we see with masked smiles stocking shelves and cleaning carts at stores, pharmacy staff and at checkout counters. I am thankful for the diligence at restaurants and fitness facilities, constantly disinfecting to keep us safe. I think about sanitation workers, mail carriers, service providers and not-for-profit organizations, and all those who come faceto-face with hundreds of people each day to ensure our safe return to the many things we love. This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to consider our community in its entirety and give thanks to the families, businesses, and farmers who have shown so much strength. As a representative of the provincial government, I am proud of the support for our communities who are now on the road to recovery: the Resilient Communities Fund providing needed support to our

legions and non-profit organizations; the Safe Restart Agreement providing funding to help protect the health and well-being of residents; CEAP-SB helping consumers with electricity bill relief for residential, farm and small businesses; and our athletes training in creative ways, their parents and coaches and all recipients of “Quest for Gold” funding. Our families and our strong, caring community have contributed to our good mental health and well-being during this pandemic. We all must mentally prepare as the pandemic and the disruption that comes with it as it may be with us for a long time. Thank you for your determination Simcoe North. Continue to do your part. Stay informed, practice self-care, and be kind.

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Simcoe County waste collection As Severn residents are aware, there have been service challenges with waste collection, often enough to cause frustration and confusion about how to deal with missed service. While Simcoe County prepares for a new collection contract, an efficient automated system with an added level of predictability, they will continue to work hard to minimize inconvenience. Their message (in part) to residents is as follows: We apologize for the delays and impacts to your curbside waste collection services. We know that waste collection is an essential service and that’s why we do everything we can to work with our contractor to get waste materials off the streets each week. Our contractor, like many other providers in the waste industry, has experienced challenges finding equipment operators. COVID-19 precautions, weather impacts and increases in recycling volumes also impact service levels. Our goal is to pick up your materials on your scheduled day each week. We have worked with our contractor

to minimize impacts and assist residents in knowing what to do when misses occur. As always, please remember to place your materials out by 7 a.m. and leave out until 8 p.m. on your regular collection day. To speed up collection on recycling weeks, ensure all your items are recyclable and cardboard is flattened and bundled (max. 75 x 75 x 20 cm). If your area is missed, please take the following steps: 1. Place materials out the following day by 7 a.m. and leave out until 8 p.m. (one extra day only) 2. If collection doesn’t occur the following day, please hold your materials until Saturday, when trucks will be returning to missed areas, and place materials out by 7 a.m. and leave out until 8 p.m. Residents can find updates and collection impacts for specific locations by using the Simcoe County Collects app, which is free to download on the App Store or GooglePlay. Find notices and more information on setting out waste to help increase

timely and efficient collection posted on simcoe.ca. If you did not receive collection service by end of day on any Saturday, please contact Service Simcoe at 1-800263-3199 or service@simcoe.ca.

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Township Update Rail Crossing Safety Every year, more than 2,100 North Americans are killed or seriously injured in railway crossing and trespassing incidents. Almost all of the incidents are preventable – but that starts with knowing how to act safely around tracks and trains. Operation Lifesaver (OL), a national not-for-profit dedicated to rail safety, has developed some easy-to-follow tips that will help protect you. Trains are faster than you think. You won’t necessarily hear or feel one coming if you’re walking along the tracks. And by the time you do, it might be too late. Severn is a township with hundreds of kilometres of railway tracks running through residential and rural communities, over rivers and across many small roads. Residents are urged to use caution and follow these easy to follow tips in order to remain safe: • Use designated railway crossing. These are put up to help you cross the tracks safely. When you choose to cross

In a township with 100’s of kilometres of railway track, residents can stay safe by following tips from Operation Lifesaver.

somewhere else you’re putting your life on the line. • Obey all signs and signals. There are many railways signs and warning devices, such as lights, bells and gates, to tell you when a train is coming or where and when you should cross. Following their directions will keep you safe. • Stay alert and keep your distance. The best way to avoid being hit by a train is to stay out of its path. That means paying attention (put your phone down and if you’re wearing headphones leave #OneEarOut!) when you’re near tracks and trains so that you can hear and see the warnings. At crossings, keep a distance of at least 5m from the tracks so that you’re

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out of harm’s way when a train passes. At stations, stand well behind the platform’s edge or safety line. New Half Pipe Installation Over the past few years, many improvements have been made to Washago Centennial Park, the beautiful park on the shore of Lake Couchiching. The park has outdoor exercise equipment, ball diamonds, a leash free fenced dog run, a walking path, a large gazebo, picnic tables, benches and a well-maintained beautiful beach. The latest is the installation of a half pipe. It’s located near the bicycle pump track, installed last fall. Continued on page 13

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Conservancy launches new fundraiser By Courtney Baker This year marks The Couchiching Conservancy’s first ever Nature-thon! A brand new fundraiser developed by the conservancy’s volunteers and staff. The Conservancy’s Nature-thon challenges you and your family to get outdoors and learn about nature while helping to protect your local wilderness. From October 5th-9th, participants will receive a fun new daily challenge to complete at a local nature reserve, green space, or in their backyards. Each daily challenge has a different theme and gives participants the opportunity to learn about species in the area through riddles, drawings, and search and find activities. While we are spending more time online these days for school or work, stepping away from the screen for a nature break becomes critical for our mental and physical health. This event is a wonderful excuse to

get outside and explore! For every $25 participants raise, they will be given a ballot to win one of our fantastic prize packs. Extra thanks go to Cabela’s for providing some super prizes! The $25 mark wasn’t pulled from the air, although it makes a good and easy fundraising goal for families and individuals. Each $25 donation that The Conservancy raises protects one acre of wilderness in the Couchiching-Severn region for one year. With over 13,000 acres protected in the area, it makes for a lot of acres! The work that goes into protecting each acre for a year includes, checking the health of species at risk, the threats posed by invasive species, dealing with litter and dumping, maintaining trails and buildings

on properties, cutting fallen trees, volunteer training, volunteer monitoring equipment such as water quality monitoring kits, bat monitoring equipment, mapping and more! All of which would of course not be possible without our incredibly dedicated volunteers. By participating in this event, you get the chance to explore nature close to home while becoming part of a small community that is making a big impact. If you would like to sign up for the Nature-thon please visit our October events calendar, couchichingconserv.ca/about-us/ events-calendar/ Courtney Baker is the Administrative Assistant at The Couchiching Conservancy, Protecting Nature for Future Generations.

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New half pipe

Township Update • Continued from page 11 The township asks users to enjoy this new half pipe but always maintain safe practices and please help keep the area free of litter. Keeping Children Safe Children are now back to school and it’s up to all drivers to help keep our children safe. Use extra care and caution on all roads. Observe school bus signals and remember the speed limit is 40 km/ hour in school safety zones. As with children, visuals work with adults too. To that end, the Severn Township public works department has installed some traffic calming measures at all local schools. This includes the traffic radar speed sign and the child silhouette signage (as shown here). COVID-19 Family Safety Now that children are back to school, either in class or by remote learning, in either case families are likely faced with many new questions and concerns. As the school year progresses, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) will continually update information to support families. The SMDHU website will answer frequently asked questions: testing and daily screening, masks, etc.; outbreak management process; and considerations outside of school such as travel, buses, before and after school care. The SMDHU also advises about how to reduce the risk of spreading germs at school, home and in the community, and offers tips on how to support your children and teens through this pandemic. Parents are urged to check back regularly on the website simcoemuskokahealth.org.

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Service is their specialty By Ellen Cohen Our community has hundreds of small service businesses. Before the ground freezes and the snow flies, this issue of The Villager will focus on a few that will help you prepare for the winter. Please note: there are dozens more businesses displayed on the pages of this issue, everything from pet boarding to financial needs to personal care. Be sure to scan all pages to find local entrepreneurs, all of whom proudly offer good service as their specialty.

Blaines Automotive

This business is run by father and son, Blaine and Mark Stein. Both are well-known for their involvement and their generosity in a variety of causes and community events. The two-bay facility offers full service in automotive repair to all makes. They offer everything from tune ups to major repairs. Blaines is also a tire expert. They stock a large inventory for any budget. Get your tires changed from summer-to-winter and store tires at their location. If you’ve used Blaines for car repairs or tires, you’ll know they are busy every day of the year. However, they are exceptionally well-organized and always honour your appointment time.

AAAA Sanitation

Severn Township is primarily rural. In this part of the township, only the village of Washago and the community of Westshore/ Cumberland Beach have sewer systems. Perhaps not a usual topic of discussion at the dinner table, the reliance on properly operating septic systems is paramount to homeowners and extremely important to the environment. For these reasons, Brent Bunker, the long-time owner of AAAA Sanitation offers regular servicing, emergency calls, repairs and installations, and inspections. During this time of COVID-19 and extreme personal sanitizing, do not flush hand wipes.

Is there a community concern or happy story you’d like to share? Call us at 705-717-0322.

TWIN MAPLES FARM

WEDDINGS • WAGON RIDES • SLEIGH RIDES

705-689-0182

Christine Jameson: christine@twinmaplesfarm.ca

Cottage Country Services

Fall cleanup time is here. Digging up and disposing of annuals and spent vegetable plants, over-seeding, fertilizing, raking, mulching, pruning can be a daunting, perhaps impossible, task. George Watkins, who has served the Severn area for many years, specializes in property maintenance. Naturally, George works with a lot of seniors, but his client bases includes many cottage owners who come to the area only during the summer months. They want to enjoy their too brief time here and use George’s company in order to keep their property healthy and looking good. To keep up with the high demand and accommodate as many local residents and cottagers as possible, George’s son, Deryk works with him most weekends.

Giving during hard times Continuing with The Villager’s monthly feature on non-profit organizations, this month we present the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County, an organization that helps those with Alzheimer’s and those who have dementia as a result of a stroke or other reasons. Sadly, we are still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and their offices are not open. They do, however, continue to offer support and education to the entire county, a reason for our readers to consider a donation. Behind every person with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, there are hundreds of people dedicated to helping. The Alzheimer Society is the leading non-for-profit health organization working nationwide to improve the quality of life for Canadians affected. The Society is located in every province across Canada and in over 140 local communities. Alzheimer disease is not a normal part of aging. Some of the warning signs include memory loss that affects day-to-day ability to perform familiar tasks, a problem with language, disorientation such as not knowing the day of the week, or getting lost in familiar places. There are some risks factors you can change, such as leading as healthy a lifestyle as possible. And, although rarely people under 65 suffer from Alzheimer’s, aging is something that cannot be avoided nor can genetic makeup. This Simcoe County organization offers a lot of support and education for both the person living with dementia and their primary care giver through a learning series called ‘First Steps’. The course includes the understanding a new diagnosis, identifying early symptoms, and information about available medications; how to adapt to brain changes; advance care planning and managing finances; and learning about what supports are available in the community. Because the office is closed, the ‘First Steps’ series is being offered online through ZOOM. To register, or to become familiarized with ZOOM, call Dana at 705-722-1066, extension 225, or email dbessette@alzheimersociety.ca. Support is normally offered through in-person or telephone counselling, support groups and social programs such as luncheons and coffee gatherings. For now, only telephone counselling and support is available. In order to get connected with a Family Support Coordinator, contact the Barrie office at 705-722-1066, or toll free 1-800-265-5391 to begin the intake process. For information email simcoecounty@alzheimersociety.ca.

Environmental impact of new development a concern in West Shore Continued from page 1 At the conclusion of the walk through the community, all three municipal politicians explained to the residents that the area is designated by the province as a growth area and development will take place. But, they said, although the developer has submitted plans, there is still much work to be done before a final plan is approved. This work includes addressing environmental impacts. All three were clear that this was as much a concern to the township as it is to the residents. The residents will continue to do their research and take their concerns to all parties; the developer will work closely with the township; and the township will work with the province, the residents, and with the developer. There is agreement among all parties: in the big picture, traffic concerns such as the potential widening of roads, or installing sidewalks or traffic calming devices are easy to resolve; resolutions to impacts on the environment are very complex. There is much more work to be done.

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REFERENCES PROVIDED

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RIVERSIDE UKULELE • Lessons for Beginners •

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Update on water levels; new income support By Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton I hope this article finds you well in this unusual time of pandemic. I have a couple of updates for you - high water levels on Georgian Bay and the transitioning Canada’s COVID income supports. Last summer and through this one, we have experienced high water levels on Georgian Bay and the Upper Great Lakes tracking near and even slightly higher than the last record high level set in 1986. This plays havoc with shoreline features,

properties and beaches across our region, with consequential impacts in communities surrounding Washago. The regulator, (in as much as one can apply the word in this case), the International Joint Commission (IJC), is the primary respondent to these concerns, bringing marine, engineering and environmental sciences together to help inform matters of public policy and to communicate clearly to the public and stakeholders on these matters. Discussions with IJC personnel, and following their webcasts, concluded for me that the main reason for this current period of high water is the increase in precipitation the past three years; the highest three-year level in 100 years. The bottom line is that Lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie are essentially uncontrolled. With the added element of a changing climate, and lakes that cycle up and down a range of 1.5 metres, the best (and really the only) approach WELCOME TO OUR NEW RM T,

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on this part of the Great Lakes is to make our shorelines and properties as resilient as possible to these naturally changing conditions. For the foreseeable future, communities and neighbours will need to work together to adapt to the changing conditions. As of the date of writing this, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), was to end September 27 and those still without work and needing income assistance will need to transition to EI benefits. There will be three new streams of income support: the Canada Recovery Benefit (for self-employed workers), the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (for those needing to self-isolate due to exposure to COVID), and the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit (for those needing to care for a child, dependent or family member due to schools or daycares being closed due to COVID). The good news is that as of early August, more than four million Canadians had moved off CERB and returned to work. I hope you have had a wonderful summer despite the restrictions from COVID. All the very best for the fall season. M Treeso-G atm old ent s

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We are pleased that we are now fully operational, with some protocols for keeping everyone safe. Please be prepared to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer when arriving for your appointment. We look forward to treating you soon. Put Your Face First!

REWARD

It's Worth A Conversation

Fresh cranberries are here

from Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh in Bala.

We Have All of Your Thanksgiving Needs

We have pumpkins!

Take-out Sandwiches

Delicious and freshly prepared

Always Daily Fresh Baking in the

CANOE BAKERY!

Call us with your special Thanksgiving order.

Full line of groceries including: • Fresh vegetables & fruit • Cheese, spreads, crackers, specialty items • Kawartha Dairy ice cream CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE: in order to help keep everyone as safe as possible, please sanitize your hands when entering our store, wear a mask and practice social distancing. We are grateful for your efforts.

Enjoy freshly baked sweets and freshly brewed Muskoka Roastery Coffee – Espresso, Cappuccino, Latte, Americano, Latte Tea or Iced Coffee.

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