Month: December 2011

 

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) released the numbers for local property assessments on December 6th.

This year, South Dundas is seeing a 1.19 per cent increase. The average home in South Dundas will see a 5.48 per cent increase.

According to South Dundas Treasurer Shannon Geraghty, “the 5.48 per cent provided by MPAC represents the increase in assessments from 2011 to 2012 due to the four-year phase-in by MPAC. Therefore, from 2011 to 2012 the average increase in assessment for property owners could be approximately 5.48 per cent.”

The four-year phase-in was introduced by MPAC in 2008 and began in 2009. According to MPAC: “To provide an additional level of property tax stability and predictability, the market increases in assessed value between 2005 and 2008 will be phased-in over four years.”

“The 1.19 per cent is based on a combination of the loss in assessments and the new growth within the township,” Geraghty explained.

“Assessment loss arises from property owners appealing their assessments and thus the decision by MPAC to reduce the assessment creates an assessment loss overall for the township.”

“The 1.19 per cent growth component results in approximately $15,000 to $30,000 in new tax revenue for the 2012 year.”

Geraghty predicted, “this number (1.19 per cent) should be favourable to the residents of South Dundas as it shows a small growth within the community which we hope we can continue to build on.”

“As far as 2012, the increase in tax revenue will be included in the 2012 bottom line during the 2012 budget.”

When asked if there was anything readers should know or understand, he offered: “The overall outlook at tax rates and how much an owner will pay in 2012 is difficult to predict until we have a better forecast on revenue and expense projections, which are completed in the 2012 budget.”

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Thanks to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #48, the Morrisburg and District Lions Club charity, the Angel Tree Fund, has increased its capabilities by $1,090. In the Legion Hall, on December 15th, Inez Bilmer (left) and Rita Fowler (right) handed over the large sum to the Angel Tree Fund representative, Wayne Domanko (center). Domanko said the Ladies Auxiliary has “always been extremely generous to the Angel Tree Fund.” He went on to say, “it’s always nice when the Lions and the Legion can cooperate to help others. It’s very much appreciated by the Lions Club and the Angel Tree Fund.” According to Domanko, there are over 200 children’s names on the Angel Tree this year.

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Lloya and Dwayne Sprague, owners of the Morrisburg Home Hardware, donated generously to the Morrisburg and District Lions Club charity, the Angel Tree Fund. The charity received a load full of toys, which promise to make Santa’s job a little easier this year. The Spragues, who officially took over ownership of the Morrisburg Home Hardware location on July 18th, don’t plan to include toys in their store inventory. As reported in August, the Spragues intend to offer products the existing stores don’t offer already. Without a toy section, Lloya said the pet section can be expanded. According to the Spragues, Don Lewis, South Dundas Manager of Recreation, was instrumental in the donation. He suggested the Sprague’s consider donating the toys in the store’s inventory to the Angel Tree Fund. Thinking that was a great idea, the Spragues wholeheartedly agreed. On December 15th, Wayne Domanko, representative for the Angel Tree Fund, arrived at the store to thank owners and staff. 

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Life’s most basic needs are air, water, food, shelter, and clothing. While there are people all over the world whose most basic needs are not being met, there are also people right here in Dundas County who could use a little help. 

According to Dundas County Food Bank (DCFB) Administrator Donna Quesnel, “donations received at this time of year are extremely important to the Food Bank operations. These donations help enormously with distribution of aid during the winter months when the number of visits is generally high and donations are usually down, understandably.”

At this time, the Food Bank is still in need of the following items: juice and juice boxes; canned fruit and fruit cups for school snacks; canned vegetables; soda crackers; cereal without sugar and without nuts; baby formula; hand soap; toothpaste; and toilet paper.

In addition, Quesnel said that once basic needs are met, the DCFB also tries to provide for baby needs, snacks for children, and toiletries. In addition to formula, baby needs include: junior fruit/vegetables; infant cereals; diapers; and, wipes. Snacks for children include granola bars; crackers with cheese; as well as pudding and fruit cups. 

Additional toiletries like deodorant; shampoo; and so forth are also welcome.

According to Quesnel, “the DCFB mandate is to ‘feed the hungry.’ A five-day emergency food allocation is provided once a month based on number of people in the household.”

Quesnel also provided the Leader with some statistics for the DCFB relating to the past year, from January to the end of November 2011. “The DCFB serves approximately 350 families with approximately 1,500 family visits in one year. This suggests that on average these families would visit the Food Bank on a quarterly basis.”

“Approximately 5,000 people visits are made to the Food Bank in a one-year period. This suggests that the average family size visiting the Food Bank is a three to four person household.”

She continued, adding, “children represent approximately 45 per cent of those served overall by the DCFB, while children represent closer to 50 per cent of those served at the DCFB’s Morrisburg location  and 40 per cent at the Winchester location.”

“The Morrisburg location also tends to serve more people overall, with approximately 55 per cent of people served by the south and 45 per cent by the north. The average family size in the south is slightly greater than in the north.”

DCFB hours are Mondays from 10 a.m. until noon; Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m.; and Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m.

“During the holiday period, the Food Bank is open: Thursday, December 22nd from 1 to 3 p.m.; Wednesday, December 28th from 7 to 9 p.m.; and Thursday, December 29th from 1 to 3 p.m.”

The two locations are: 17 Second Street in Morrisburg (613-543-0065) and 497 May Street in Winchester (613-774-0188).

To donate, volunteer, or ask for help, please contact one of the listed locations for more information.

“Volunteers are welcome and tours of our Food Bank locations are available on request,” invited Quesnel.

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Alyza Mullin, just three, appears confident that Santa Claus is hearing all her special wishes for this Christmas. Alyza was just one of many area children and their families who came out to greet the jolly gentleman when he dropped in at the Royal Canadian Legion in Iroquois on Thursday, December 15, to enjoy some chili and good cheer at the community party. 

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Stuart McLean is a nationally known radio broadcaster, humourist and author. 

During his outstanding career, McLean has won an ACTRA award, the Rooke Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Writing, Trent University, the Canadian Authors Association Best Non Fiction Book, 1993, the Canadian Author’s Association and Jubilee Award, 2004, and three Stephen Leacock Memorial Medals for Humour, 1999, 2001 and 2007. 

But Stuart McLean is probably best known, and loved, by generations of Canadians, for creating Dave and Morley, characters whose zany misadventures are often featured in his long-running CBC production, The Vinyl Café.

This January 28-29, 2012,  Stuart McLean is bringing his hit CBC Vinyl Café production to Upper Canada Playhouse, according to artistic director, Donnie Bowes.

Stuart McLean and his crew will be taping two live programs at the Playhouse in front of two sold out audiences. 

McLean, in his very distinctive voice, during the show, will narrate tales of Dave (who makes a living running the Vinyl Café in Toronto), his wife Morley, their children Stephanie and Sam, their friends, and the people in their neighbourhood. 

Dave keeps a juke box in his living room and the motto of his  record business is “We May Not Be Big, But We’re Small.” 

Each story performance by McLean is a complete tale in its own right, affectionate, often nostalgic,   gently humourous, as Dave and Morley cope with the quirks of daily life. 

These stories on air, and their appearance in a series of books and audio books, have won McLean millions of fans since the characters’ premiere. 

The Vinyl Café features essays, fiction and music. McLean is noted for introducing new Canadian musicians. Café episodes often begin with McLean reciting a description of the venue and the community in which he is appearing (Morrisburg) and end with his signature signoff “I’m Stuart McLean, so long for now.”

Which stories he will be sharing during his taping in Morrisburg are not yet confirmed, but audiences can hope that some of McLean’s beloved seasonal tales, Dave Cooks the Turkey, Christmas with Rasheeda and Ahmeer, Morley’s Christmas Pageant and Dave on the Roof may be in the line-up. 

While tickets are currently sold out for the The Vinyl Café, contact Upper Canada Playhouse at 613-543-3713 for additional information. 

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Well, the weather outside may have been frightful, but the warm and cheery greeting   a certain North Pole visitor received in Iroquois on Thursday evening, December 15, more than made up for rain.

Guest of honour, Santa Claus, arrived at the Royal Canadian Legion a little damp of fur, but in great spirits, to join his chief elf in the gala celebration. 

Delivered in a brightly decorated red fire truck by members of the Iroquois Fire Department (we hear his reindeer were off shopping), Santa wasted no time rushing in to visit with the over 400 children and parents waiting to talk to him.

Lots of HoHos and plenty of hugs soon warmed everyone up.

The Iroquois Business Group, which organized the reception for Santa, was assisted by Donald Barkley, River Rat Treasures and the Legion. Presents for every child were donated by the Iroquois-Matilda Lions Club, while Byers Furniture made sure that all kids went home with a special treat bag. 

Joining in the fun were the Parents Council and teachers of Iroquois Public School who arranged a home-made hot chili or hot dog supper for visitors as part of a school fund raiser.

“The food was all made by IPS parents and staff,” said teacher Jennifer Perry. “We served between 350 and 400 meals on Thursday evening. We certainly weren’t expecting that many to turn out, since this was our first time trying things this way, but we were totally thrilled,” Perry laughed. The support of the community allowed the school to raise nearly $800 in the campaign to replace aging school yard playground equipment.

Organizers had set up activity and craft centres for the very excited little visitors.

“We had to change our hay rides around town to see the Christmas lights into bus rides, with all the rain,” said Candace Menges, “but everyone seemed to have a good time.” 

Special contests and draws were held during the celebration. Organizers were happy to note that Santa’s “missing” reindeer had a great time “shopping” in the mall. 

The Leader spotted Santa busily updating his “Nice Files” as he left Iroquois to return to the North Pole. 

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When looking up at the water tower in Morrisburg you can’t help but see the large Canadian Tire Logo.

Canadian Tire has been renting the advertising space since 2002 and has just been accepted for another five year term with one option to renew at a fee of $350 per month.

The recommendation to extend the contract with Canadian Tire was put forth at the December 6th South Dundas council meeting by Clerk Brenda Brunt.

The store’s first contract with the township came in 2002 at a rate of $78 per month. In 2007, as Brunt reported, “a further five year term was requested and accepted at $330 per month.”

Brunt pointed out that the “increase will be applied to the water budget in 2012.”

Before passing the by-law to extend the agreement, Councillor Jim Graham asked, “has anybody else ever asked to put something else up there?”

Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke suggested that “nobody knows we own it.”

And with that, a by-law was passed extending the agreement with Canadian Tire for a further five year term.

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The South Dundas township office has been receiving requests to have hall rental fees waived, mostly in relation to Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners.

At the December 6th council meeting, Clerk Brenda Brunt recommended “that council not authorize waiving the fees for any hall rentals.”

In her report, Brunt explained that “in 2009, council reviewed the fee schedule and set a reduced fee for the non-profit, charitable groups that we felt would be affordable at the time.”

“These fees help offset the expenses in the halls,” she continued.

“We recognize that these organizations contribute a great deal to the community, but at the same time the township cannot afford to continue running all of our halls/recreation facilities in the red or we will be required to increase our operational budget, which, in turn, will increase our taxes within South Dundas.”

The opinions of council were unanimous in that all agreed the present fee structure set out in 2009 is, in Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke’s words, “very very fair.There’s nothing wrong with that fee structure.”

Brunt had also pointed out that groups have the opportunity to get funding for the hall rental fees via the new grant policy.

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SD&G – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Festive Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E.) Campaign is underway and goes from November 25, 2011 to January 1, 2012.

From November 25th  to December 6th, Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry OPP officers have charged three drivers with Impaired Driving and issued one three-day suspension to another driver. Police encourage motorists to report suspected impaired drivers.

SD&G OPP conducts R.I.D.E. checks throughout the year but increases enforcement over the holiday season to enhance its efforts to keep area roads safe.

Impaired driving remains the leading criminal cause of death in Canada. 

OPP officers will be out in full force across the United Counties conducting checkstops at various locations and times in an effort to remove the threat of impaired drivers.

“It is imperative that everyone make responsible choices over the Holiday Season when it comes to travel” states Inspector Mike McDonell, SD&G OPP Detachment Commander. 

He adds “If you’ve been drinking, call a cab or find a sober driver to take you home but whatever you do, don’t drink and drive!”

On behalf of SD&G OPP, we wish all a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!!

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