New economic development officer for South Dundas

 

While the season has been inconvenient for boaters using the Morrisburg Public Dock, for those boaters who are returning to Canada after having landed in the United States, it is about to become even more so…and it is all because the phone used to report has been removed.

Although there is no longer a phone located at the Morrisburg Dock, boaters returning to Canada from the United States are still expected to report in says the Canada Border Service Agency.

However, CBSA Communications Officer, Caroline Desjarlais has indicated in an e-mail that “until the situation at the Morrisburg Town Dock is resolved, boaters may continue to report to the CBSA from this location, by contacting the Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC) at 1-888-226-7277 using their cellular phones.”

On July 29, The Leader was contacted by a local resident inquiring if “the Morrisburg Town dock was no longer a port of entry for Canadians returning by boat from the United States.”

After determining that the telephone located on the exterior wall of the dock area rest rooms and used to call in, was indeed gone, The Leader made calls to South Dundas municipal clerk Brenda Brunt and the Canada Border Service Agency.

According to Brunt, the removal of the phone did not involve the municipality. It was her understanding that Bell Canada had removed it, as it was not being used, and that it had been gone for quite some time…certainly weeks if not months.

When contacted Officer Desjarlais  was unable to provide an immediate answer, but she did agree to look into the matter.

In a CBSA e-mail dated Wednesday, August 1, Desjarlais writes, “The CBSA has been advised that there is no longer a telephone available at the Morrisburg Town Dock marine telephone reporting site. The CBSA is investigating this matter; however, as an interim measure, this site is available for reporting to the CBSA by way of a cell phone.”

While the interim reporting measure is in place however, boaters without cell phones who are returning to Canada after having landed on U.S. soil will have to report from other nearby designated marine telephone reporting sites using the phones provided there. Locally the closest CBSA Reporting Sites are at Crysler Park Marina and Iroquois Marine Services.

Tim Robins at the Crysler Park Marina explains that the marina has a courtesy dock which enables boaters to tie up and report in at the CBSA Telephone Reporting location. Boaters are asked to advise the marina of the purpose of their visit.

He also suggests that, “they call ahead using VHF channel 68. That way we can direct them where to park, and we will know the nature of their visit before they arrive to save time.”

The CBSA advises that, “Until the situation at the Morrisburg Town Dock is resolved, boaters may continue to report to CBSA from this location using their cellular phones.”

According to the CBSA website under Reporting Requirements for Private Boaters: All private boaters who intend to land on Canadian soil, or who have departed Canadian waters and landed on United States soil, are required to report to a CBSA designated marine reporting site.

 Upon arrival at a CBSA designated marine reporting site, boaters are to call the telephone Reporting Centre at 1-888-226-7277 from the phone provided to obtain clearance. 

For boaters who do not land their vessel in the United States, but who did leave Canadian waters, the call-in may be made from cellular telephones upon arrival back in Canadian waters.

If a phone is not returned to the Morrisburg Dock and the facility loses its “marine reporting site status”, the result will be a major inconvenience for boaters, both visiting boaters and local boaters who have landed in the United States as they will have to travel to Crysler Marina or Iroquois Marine Services to access a designated marine reporting site.

[…]

From Junior Kindergarten to grade 12 teens, all area young people are invited to take part in a very special Ecumenical Ash Wednesday Youth Day, on February 22, at St. James Anglican Church in Morrisburg, 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Ash Wednesday traditionally marks the beginning of Lent for many Christians, and the start of the weeks leading up to Easter. It is a time of reflection, a time of good will and a time to find ways to grow closer to God.

Organized and run by the Lutheran and Anglican churches in South Dundas, the 2012 Ecumenical Ash Wednesday Youth Day will feature many interesting, exciting and fun-filled activities. Participants are divided into age groups when they arrive at St. James at 8:30 a.m. for registration. Older participants will spend some time at the Food Bank, learning how the community is helped by this organization. Throughout the day, all young people will enjoy crafts, outdoor events, games, music,  interesting learning activities and the chance to share ideas about this year’s theme, “Lord, Teach Me to Pray.”

Some of the special outreach activities planned for the day will revolve around the missionary work in Madagascar of Mary Sherwood, and the work of Chris Marshall and Shayna Campbell who are attempting to complete a maternity hospital in the heart of Uganda. Primary participants will be creating cards and messages that will be delivered to Sherwood’s orphanage in Madagascar in the spring. Junior and senior participants will hear and see a presentation by Chris’s mother, Karen Marshall, about efforts to open the much-needed hospital outside Mbiko in Uganda.

There is no cost or fee for the Youth Day. All organizers ask is that participants bring a non-perishable donation for the Food Bank. Lunch, snacks and drinks will all be provided. There will be adult supervision of participants and activities throughout the day. 

Registration forms are available at area churches, by calling 543-3904, or by simply coming out to St. James for 8:30 a.m. on February 22.

The annual Ecumenical Ash Wednesday Youth Day is open to all young people. It promises to be a day to remember.  

[…]

A second wind development company courting municipal support for a project proposal was presented their project to South Dundas council at the May 19th meeting.

On the agenda were James Murphy and Ryan Ralph of Invenergy, North America’s sixth largest renewable energy generation company.

 Murphy is the vice president of business development and Ralph is the senior manager of business development for the company headquartered in Toronto. Invenergy Canada is based in Toronto.

The purpose of their presentation is to update council on the Nine Mile Wind Project being developed in the municipalities of South Dundas and North Dundas.

Option agreements have been secured with 30 landowners for the Nine Mile Wind Project.

This is the second wind energy company to make a presentation to South Dundas council. Municipal support is an important criteria in the new competitive energy procurement process, although project decisions are made by the province.

At present, the previous South Dundas council deemed this municipality, ‘not a willing host’. However, this newly elected council has decided that they are open to seeing what these projects are proposing before taking a stance on future wind generation projects.

South Dundas’ current position states that proposals will not be considered unless there is a demonstrated need for energy.

Both companies presenting to South Dundas council are contending that there is a need for increased wind power generation.

[…]