September 2011 – Page 7 – Morrisburg Leader

New lease on life for former school

September 14, 2011 Editor

In a By-law passed September 6th, the former Elma Public School land has been rezoned from Agriculture to Rural Commercial Exception 10 holding (CR-10-h).

The CR-10-h designation will mean that the land can now be used for any of the following purposes: public storage facility, recreational vehicle storage, training or trade school, office for a small business, commercial garage, custom workshop, recreational vehicle wash bay, or recreational vehicle waste transfer and storage station.

The “h” or holding designation only applies to the last option, but according to the approved By-law #2011-59, it “shall be lifted upon issuance of the required Ministry of the Environment approval.”
According to Hugh Garlough, Manager for Public Works in South Dundas Township, there have been “no comments from neighbouring properties.”

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Morrisburg Golf Club Report

September 14, 2011 Editor

The women’s section of the Morrisburg Golf Club closed out the 2011 season Saturday, with their annual “Scramble Fun Tournament” played in perfect weather conditions.

Club captain, Lori-Anne Davies reports 45 women participated in the event which included golf, dinner and prizes.

The winners of the day of the ‘bragging trophy’ was the four-person team of Davies, Judy Laurin, Shannon Casselman and Barb Sheridan.

The day’s events included a chipping contest from 60 yards out and that was won by Laurie Dillabough who collected a barbecue donated by Jim Annable/Chevron.

Recognized for her Birdie collection for the season was Linda Barclay who canned a very solid nine birdies to win the A/B flight category. In the C/D flight, the lone birdie of the season went to Joan Larocque.

This year’s Ringer Board winner was Linda Barclay who decreased her opening round scores by 32.65 per cent. Anita Cooper was second with a 29.90 per cent improvement and Laurie Dillabough was third at 29 per cent.

On Tuesday, September 6 our senior men’s Intersectional team was at Mont Ste-Marie where they finished second behind the Mont Ste-Marie host team.

Mont Ste-Marie collected 28 points for the win, while we totalled 16. Heritage managed only four points and the Twin Rivers entry did not show up.

Lawrence Larocque and Donnie Mabo swept their matches to collect four points each in their matches (Four points were the max as there were only three teams playing). Two points each were added by Jim Jamieson, Gary Breyer, Dave MacClenaghan and Ron Lapier. Ray Baker and Charlie Moore were blanked. Bob Youmelle and Andy Patenaude, playing in the alternate positions, collected three and two points respectively.

The final men’s night of the season is scheduled for this Thursday, September 15 with Eldon Horner the sponsor. The course will be closed this Saturday for the final Men’s Day Tournament.

This Sunday the seniors will tee off at 1:30 p.m. for their fall final mixed event followed by dinner at 4 p.m.

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Terry Fox Run this Sunday

September 14, 2011 Editor

It’s September and it’s time for the annual Terry Fox Run coming up on Sunday, September 18 from 8 a.m. until noon.

The Morrisburg Legion, has supported the run for a number of years, and is once again gearing up for the fundraising challenge.

Registration will take place in the Legion, which is wheelchair accessible, and participants will start from the Legion parking lot.

In addition to running, the Terry Fox Runs allows participants to walk, bike and even rollerblade at a distance they are most comfortable with.

To date, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $550 million for cancer research worldwide (based on most recent three-year average). The Foundation is one of the largest non-governmental funders of cancer research in Canada.

In 2010 the South Dundas community raised $6,065 with $234 of that coming from local school events.

There is no entry fee, no minimum pledge, no sponsorship and no competition. Participants can pick up pledge sheets available at the Legion to gather donations.

Money raised by the Terry Fox Run is used to fund research for many different types of cancer and for every $1 donated, 85 cents is used for cancer research.

Participants will begin their run (or walk) in the Morrisburg Legion parking lot and head west via Lakeshore Drive to Loyalist Park, in Mariatown.

Once there the participants will turn and retrace their steps back to the Legion. Those wishing a shorter trek are invited to turn around at will.

Check points and volunteers will be located along the route. In addition, safety precautions for participants will be in place.

Scott Robinson, a member of the Run’s organizing committee, pointed out that every year Verla Perrin of Morrisbug, makes an honour memory board.

He and the other members of the Terry Fox Run volunteers encourage the community to come out, participate in the Run and to sign the memory board on September 18th.

The 2011 Terry Fox Run honors Terry’s mother, the late Betty Fox who passed away June 17, 2011.

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Ross Collison

September 14, 2011 Editor

A resident of Woodland Villa Nursing Home, Long Sault, for the past 7.5 years, Ross Collison passed away there on Sunday, September 4, 2011. He was 91.

Ross was born in Iroquois, on May 22, 1920, to his parents Samuel and Isophene Collison (nee Barkley). He lived his entire life on the broken second.

Ross will be fondly remembered for his love of bicycling and the fact that he loved to buy and sell watches.

Ross is survived by his sister-in-law Myrtle Collison of R.R.# 2 Iroquois and by nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was predeceased by a sister Susan Moore and brothers Brock and Dwight.

Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Iroquois, on Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. Funeral service was held at the funeral hHome on Thursday, September 8th at 11 a.m., with Rev. Janet Evans officiating. Interment followed at Spruce Haven Cemetery, Brinston.
Pallbearers were Billy Collison, Gary Collison, Dustin Martin, Calvin Collison, Melissa Kennedy and Amy Collison.

Donations to Winchester Hospital would be appreciated by the family.

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Seen & Heard Around the Township

September 14, 2011 Editor

The countdown for the South Dundas Community Playground is on and as of Monday (September 12) the construction area is closed as site preparation has begun. Three days of site preparation have been planned and the next two are set for Thursday, September 22 and Friday, September 23. The actual build day is set for Saturday, September 24.

This Saturday, September 17, the South Dundas Community and beyond are invited to Iroquois to participate in an exciting all-day Apple Festival in honour of the famous McIntosh apple and its 200th anniversary. Events will run all day long beginning with the farmer’s market opening at 8 a.m. There will be vendors, sidewalk sales and plenty of food, entertainment and activities for all. Might even be an apple or two…

Also this weekend is the fifth Annual Upper Canada Bluegrass Festival, September 16-18 at the Upper Canada Campground located at 13390 County Road 41 east of Morrisburg. Under this year’s Master of Ceremonies, Terry Joe Banjo, the band line up includes Hard Ryde, Grassland, Dave Nichols and Spare Change, Jan Purcell and Pine Road, Bill White and White Pines, Concession 23 and Northwind. For more information visit www.uppercanadacampground.com. Day passes are available for non-campers to take in the festival.

South Dundas and area residents are reminded they can pick up pledge sheets for the annual Terry Fox Run scheduled for this Sunday morning, September 18 at Morrisburg Legion Branch 48. The local run is based out of the Morrisburg Legion.

If you think this coming weekend is busy, it gets busier as we head to the weekend of September 24-25. On Saturday, September 24 we of course have the Children’s Playground Build day in Morrisburg and back at Williamsburg is the annual Harvest Festival. We will have more details available on this event next week.

On Sunday, September 25 the Park Pals Committee has organized a “Homes on the St. Lawrence” House Tour which will feature five local homes. The Park Pals, the committee responsible for the South Dundas Dog Park, is holding the fund raiser to help with ongoing costs for upkeep of the park. In addition to the house tour, the committee has arranged to have five area businesses and individuals decorate the entries to each of the homes. The homes include those of Ian and Cathy Mackay, Marjorie Smith, Gord and Robin Lane, Mae Pederson and Claude Lavoie. We will have more information on this event available next week. The cost of the tour is set at $20 per person.

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Cedar Glen Golf Course Report

September 14, 2011 Editor

Men’s night action on Thursday, September 8 saw Kurtis Barkley step back into the winner’s circle at the Cedar Glen Golf course.

Barkley posted a 36 to edge out Micheal McAllister who was one stroke back for second spot in A flight.

The B flight win went to Bruce Whitteker with a 37, and Bernard Warner won C flight with a 42. Peter Elliot was the top golfer in D flight with a 49. Net wins for the night went to Wayde Roles in A flight, Jeff Whitteker in B, Larry Barlow in C and Brian Pemberton in D.

Micheal McAllister stepped to the plate for the longest drive on the fifth hole, and Larry Harper won for closest to the hole on the par three fourth.

Neville Vincent and Bruce Kerr were the low net winners of the weekly Tuesday Night Scramble and Wing Night on Tuesday. The two won with a 25.5 net. (Actual score shot was not provided.)

On Saturday, September 10, the Cedar Glen Club ran a Members for Members, Four-Person Scramble Event to raise money to assist member Kurtis Barkley in his bid to advance his golf career.

The winning team in the men’s division with a 10-under-par 60 was the team of Rick Barkley, Francis Barkley, Don McMillan and Duane Young.

The mixed team win went to James Morrell, Billy DeJong, Lindsay Waddell and Meagan Whitteker with a 66.

The closest to the hole winner on the par three sixth hole was Muriel Whitteker. Billy DeJong struck the longest drive for the men and Carrissa Casselman won for the women.

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Paving talk for the Morrisburg Plaza

September 14, 2011 Editor

There was considerable discussion on whether to pave more of the Morrisburg Plaza than originally planned for at the September 6th South Dundas council meeting.

Hugh Garlough, Manager of Public Works, told council that several projects had “come in considerably under budget” and he recommended increasing the amount of road to be paved to “cover more area” or to “do it all.”After much discussion, it was decided that Garlough should come up with numbers on how much money has been saved compared to how much it would cost to pave more area.

It was also suggested by Garlough that the current contract with Eastern Engineering should allow for an increase in the area to be done at the same quoted price.

Mayor Steven Byvelds made it clear that if Eastern Engineering decline to cover more area for the same price quote, “then we go back to tender. I want to be fair.”

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John ‘Jake’ Hunter

September 14, 2011 Editor

A lifetime resident of Toyes Hill, John “Jake” Hunter passed away suddenly at home on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. He was 68.
John was born in Toyes Hill on April 2, 1943, to his parents Joseph and Marguerite Hunter (nee Marcellus). He was raised on the family farm along with his 10 brothers and sisters.

Jake, as he was called by many of his family and friends, was a gentle man and a man of few words, but when he spoke, everyone listened.
John never married. He was content with his life. The reason he gave for not getting married was simple, “the women he wanted wouldn’t have him, and the women that wanted him, the devil wouldn’t have”.

John worked as a labourer all of his life. He loved sports, fishing and gardening.

The last few years he enjoyed four-wheeling either at home in the bush or at the cottage with his friend “Vic”. John was never alone. His friend “Gangster”, the dog, followed him where ever he went.

John was a good cook and could make a mean pot of home made soup. He opened the cupboard, threw in a handful of this and a bit of that, and it always turned out well.

The last few years, with his partners Lawrence, Joe, Wayne and Terry, they made home made relishes, pickles and tomato juice which they shared with the rest of the family.

John looked forward to going to the race track and the casino along with his brothers. He also enjoyed gathering at Wayne’s for the family and friend barbecues and at Joe’s every spring for a fish fry.

He was a very special uncle to his many nieces and nephews and he enjoyed playing jokes on people.

John had his little home away from home which was a little shack that all the brothers built out in the bush. They would gather there to play a few games of cards and eat the occasional turkey supper.

Jake is survived by his siblings June Picard of Toyes Hill, Barbara (Terry) Duff of Newington, Lawrence “Catfish” Hunter of Brinston, Linda (Mike) Brannen of Chesterville, Joe Hunter of Winchester Springs, Wayne (Liz) of Toyes Hill and Judy Hunter (Andy Tibben) of Brinston. He was predeceased by his parents Joe and Marguerite Hunter (nee Marcellus), his sister Betty Watson and his brothers William and Robert.

Jake will be fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews and friends throughout the area.

Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Friday from 5-9 p.m. A Graveside inurnment service was held at Maple Ridge Cemetery, Chesterville, on Saturday, September 10th at 11 a.m. Pallbearers were June Picard, Barbara Duff, Linda Brannen and Judy Hunter. Honorary pallbearers were Liz Hunter and Victor Brooks.

Donations to Winchester Hospital would be appreciated by the family.

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‘Clear-cut’ disappointment

September 14, 2011 Editor

When you are interviewing people for stories you listen to what they tell you and print what they are say. You write about what people are doing and why they are doing it. You may not agree with what they are doing or why they are doing it, but hey, your job is to write their story, not your own…like it or not.

Such was the case earlier this summer when I wrote the story that appeared in the July 20th issue of the paper under the headline: Parks Commission restores a clear path to local history. For that story, I met with St. Lawrence Parks Commission officials Dave Dobbie, manager of Upper Canada Village and Susan Le Clair, Corporate Marketing and Development Engineer.

I wrote what they told me…what they were doing at the Queen’s Garden and why they were doing it. Did I agree at the time with what they were doing? No. But I passed on the information they gave me in the story to you.

Last weekend, I pulled into the former beautiful, tranquil Queen’s Garden/Rose Garden that has been cut down, chopped out and opened up for a better view of the Crysler Memorial. I was appalled. Actually, had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. What was once a beautiful, tranquil park, with trees that had been maturing for more than 20 years is now an ugly, barren grassland. What was once an area where people strolled, picnicked, snapped pictures or enjoyed the antics of the ducks and geese in the beautiful pond or just sat in the shade of a beautiful maple…is now mostly gone, totally uninviting.

I honestly don’t know how anyone can possibly think that what has been done to this former, beautiful, area is an enhancement to the Crysler Memorial. What had become a beautiful outdoor parkland that added significantly to the Crysler Memorial area is now, in this writer’s opinion an unappealing, chunk of grass.

But hey, when you are driving along County Road 2, at 80 clicks, be sure to look to the south because you can definitely see the Memorial Mound and Monument now. Unfortunately, it is what you no longer see that is so upsetting. What has been done is a shame…a real shame.

And we can’t get it back.

B. McNairn

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Lions undefeated in pre-season

September 14, 2011 Editor

The Morrisburg Junior B Lions are undefeated in their pre-season six game schedule, and coach Thom Racine says he likes what he has seen.

“We had an undefeated pre-season which is really encouraging,” says Racine. “And it was actually with split squads. We never had a full squad for any of the games which is really encouraging.”
Racine says with the good pre-season under the Lions’ belts, the team will begin working on getting the season off to a good start with their first practice on Morrisburg ice, last night (Tuesday, September 13).

The Lions are getting ready for their season opening game this Friday night at the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s show case event being played at the two-pad Kemptville Arena this weekend.

“We have 23 players to start the year,” says Racine who does not plan to go the way of last year, with short benches for every other game. He indicates that all of the players are aware that there will be players sitting out when numbers warrant it.

Returning to the Lions net for his second season is Mikael Dion and he is being joined by Ryan Cooper a 17-year-old from Cornwall.

The Lions this year also boast two local brother combinations. Joining his big brother Sam, is Ty Hodgson, a 16-year-old from Morrisburg who last year played for the Rideau St. Lawrence Kings organization.

“Ty is a good young defenceman, and I expect this will be the only season we will see him play in Morrisburg.”

Also with a family connection is Lance Hodgson from Williamsburg.

Returning for their second season are Drew (last year’s Coaches Award Winner) and Clarke Veenstra (last year’s regular season MVP) of the Ingleside area.

“We are happy with our local flavour, and we have a good mix of imports that we feel we need to stay competitive. They are all returning from last year.”

Racine says the objective is to have a competitive team that people want to come and see. “To be competitive in the league now, you pretty much have to go outside your area for players.”

With this year’s roster set, Racine and his coaching staff of Cody Casselman and Jarrett Racine will now work to “get them all on the same page. We have plans for a two hour practice once a month in order to get as many of them out as possible.”

Signed to overage cards for the season are veteran Lions Matt Ouimette, Alex Steingruber (a top goal scorer last year and winner of the most assists trophy) and Joshua Dunn (last year’s top offensive player award winner).

For the time being the Lions fourth overage card will remain open.

“There are 88, 21-year-old cards in the entire Junior League, and there are 134 eligible kids,” says Racine. “So there will be 21 year olds out there who will be looking for a place to play.”

The Lions open their 2011/12 season this Friday night in Kemptville at 6:30 p.m. against the Ottawa West Golden Knights. Their second game of Showcase Weekend is set for Saturday night at 8 p.m. against Stittsville.

Results of the two games count in this year’s regular season. The showcase is the only time during the regular season that North Conference teams will meet teams from the South Conference (Rideau/St.Lawrence).

The Lions home ice opener is set for next weekend (Sunday, September 25) when the Winchester Hawks come to town for a 2:30 p.m. match.

In their pre-season, the Lions got rolling with a 4-2 victory over Char-Lan on Saturday, September 3. Then on Sunday, they defeated Brockville 7-6. After two days off they were back on the ice to pick up a 5-4 win against Akwesasne on Tuesday, September 6 and a 7-5 win against Brockville on Wednesday, September 7.

On Saturday, September 10 they were held to a 6-6 tie by the Akwesasne Wolves and Monday night of this week they won against Char-Lan 4-2.

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