Home saved from shed fire

 NORTH DUNDAS – The group Destination North Dundas, a group of business people in North Dundas and the surrounding area, have been working very hard to organize an Art and Wine Tour for September 13th and 14th, 2014. 

The Tour includes three local wineries: Strathmore Orchard and Winery, Smokie Ridge Vineyard and Blue Gypsy Wines. 

Also on the tour are the Chesterville Farmers’ Market , the North Stormont Farmers’ Market, The Gathering House-Chesterville, the Town Vintner, Terrace Green B & B, Winchelsea Events and Art Scene Art Gallery in Spencerville. 

On this inaugural tour, we have a very diverse group of artists, musicians, painters, fabric artist, jewellers, sculptors, authors, food and woodworkers. 

A complete list can be found on our website at www.artandwinetour.weebly.com. They can also be found on Facebook at Art and Wine Tour.

Applications for artists to join the tour are still being accepted. (A downloadable application can be found on our website.)

Awareness of local wineries increased when the Provincial Government changed the regulations to allow only VQA wines to be sold at the local Farmers’ Markets. Since Strathmore Orchard and Winery, Blue Gypsy Wines, and Smokie Ridge Vineyard not VQA, they are prevented from selling their local product at our local Farmers’ Markets.

Destination North Dundas started working on developing the Tour over a year ago, with the idea to increase awareness of the local producers and to share local treasures.

The dates for the Art and Wine Tour are September 13th and 14th to coincide with the harvests. A variety of artist and art forms at each stop on the tour. “We want you to join us on the tour along highway 43, stop and smell the roses, check out some fabulous art and discover our hidden jewels,” they say.

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If South Dundas council wishes to expand its fire services, they have to be prepared for the very large price tag that goes along with increased service levels.

South Dundas Fire Chief Chris McDonough presented a report to council at the February 5 council meeting outlining the services South Dundas does and does not provide, not to suggest any changes, but simply to make council aware of the costs associated with different types of services.

“Currently South Dundas does not respond to medical calls under a Tiered Response Agreement at the County  level,” said McDonough in the report. They are involved with motor vehicle extrication/rescue calls, but not medical-only calls.

In 2012, these medical-related calls cost South Dundas about $15,000, but if they were to start attending medical-only calls, that cost would increase dramatically.

According to McDonough’s report the cost would be at least $79,000 annually.

“I think we are fairly well served. Our average (medical) response time is about 14 minutes, the second best in the counties of the six townships served,” commented South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds.

“Medical responses could be a major cost to us and a major drain on our emergency services,” commented  Councillor Jim Graham.

“It would be a big responsibility for us,” agreed McDonough. “But, it would also deplete our resources, we just won’t have the manpower,” he added, explaining that the high volume of calls being handled by a volunteer force could be too much to ask of them and of their employers.

Council is willing to explore the possibility of providing high angle/low angle rope and confined space rescue, although it too has a significant price tag attached.

The additional equipment and training would cost about $50,000 according to McDonough’s report.

However, a recent donation of some equipment and this municipality’s large agricultural base have concil giving it some consideration. With far more on site grain storage than ever, the potential for an emergency situation exists. “We have some of the grain extrication equipment. It’s difficult to have it and just leave it sitting in the shed,” commented Byvelds.

He asked McDonough to provide a plan and report for council’s consideration. McDonough suggested the possibility of a joint services team, and will research the possibility.

[…]

The 30 mega-watt, 10 turbine South Branch Wind Project that will bring 10, 500’ tall industrial wind turbines to the Brinston area was approved, July 11, by the Ministry of the Environment.

Proponents of the project, EDP Renewables Canada already had a public construction meeting scheduled for July 17, at Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners.

Those opposing the project are disappointed to say the least.

The South Branch Wind Opposition Group had just recently met with council for information purposes and presented them with over 100 signatures of those in the Brinston area who support the idea of South Dundas declaring themselves ‘not a willing host’.

SBWOG had asked South Dundas council to vote on a resolution declaring that position, however, South Dundas council put off the motion until EDP was given the opportunity to make a similar presentation.

EDP was scheduled to make that presentation at this week’s council meeting.

In the meantime, the project was approved, making the resolution basically pointless, with respect to this project.

“I’m disappointed, but there is nothing I can do,” said Leslie Disheau, president of the South Branch Wind Opposition Group.

There is a 15 day appeal period to take the decision to Environmental Review Tribunal, but Disheau says the SBWOG will not file an appeal, as they do not have the resources to bring people in to testify on their behalf. 

“If this council truly values the residents of Brinston, they will put in the bylaws to protect them,” said Disheau. 

Disheau has suggested that nuisance bylaws for such things as noise and shadow-flicker be implemented and enforced by the Municipality of South Dundas, to protect area residents.

“The fight is just beginning,” said Disheau.

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