March 2012 – Page 5 – Morrisburg Leader

Wind opposition group continues fight for rights

March 21, 2012 Editor

With Prowind Canada’s submission of their final report to the Ministry of Environment (MOE) drawing closer, the South Branch Wind Opposition Group (SBWOG) is still hard at work trying to stop the project from moving forward.

On March 18th, at the DC Community Center in Dixon’s Corners, the opposition group held a fundraiser, “Patty’s Delight Fundraiser,” to help subsidize legal fees for their appeal to the Environmental Review Tribunal.

Following the event, group representative Leslie Disheau reported: “Our group had great support today for the afternoon of music, desserts, and silent auction.”

“Everyone enjoyed themselves. We ended the day with a grand total of $1,827.”

“I am very happy with our fundraising event,” continued Disheau, “and proud of the work done by our members.”

In addition to fundraising, the group has also been busy lobbying for help from local MPP for Stormont, Dundas, and South Glengarry, Jim McDonell.

According to his Executive Assistant, Marilyn McMahon, McDonell “has agreed to attend and help set up a format with other MPPs for an open discussion with both sides.”

Disheau said that “we have no firm date yet from Jim’s office but it looks like around the first of April.”

“SBWOG is still busy. We have placed our newsletter, Breaking Wind, in seven locations for people to take and read,” she said.

The newsletter, Breaking Wind: Demystifying misconceptions about Wind Power, sheds light on a few myths and defines some wind power terms like ‘low frequency noise’ and ‘infrasound.’

One of the myths presented is the often heard: “It’s just in their heads.” According to the opposition group’s newsletter: “People complain wind turbines make them sick… it’s not just in their heads! Evidence exists that if wind turbines are placed too close to residents, they can cause harm to humans.”

In a passionate appeal to the general population, Disheau pleaded: “People in the community need to wake up and realize that as tax payers there are 149 houses directly affected by this project and each of us will be appealing our property assessments to MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) for devaluation.”

“Guess who’s picking up the lost property taxation? Residents of Morrisburg, Iroquois, and Williamsburg areas. Our township is small and we don’t have enough industry to help pay the tax base so everything once again falls on homeowners.”

In addition to answering questions by phone, 613-658-1236, the South Branch Wind Opposition Group is creating their own dedicated website.

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Novice C Lions cap great season

March 21, 2012 Editor

The South Dundas Novice C Lions closed out the 2011-12 year on a very high note here on the weekend when they finished in the second annual 16-team Eric Gutknecht Memorial tournament as the A finalists. The Lions went undefeated in their three preliminary round games to earn their spot in the A championship final against the Alexandria Glens.

Although they couldn’t contain the Glens, they walked away from the game very proudly as the A finalists.

“This year for our Novice C Lions was a year of great achievements, team spirit, great sportsmanship and team effort,” said team manager Lisa Froats. “They worked very hard as a team, and I am quite sure I can speak for all of the coaching staff when I say we have been very pleased to have shared a great season with a wonderful group of kids.”

The coaching staff included head coach Chris Paulino, assistant coaches Mark Froats, Kelly Buter and George Menges, trainer Michelle Paulino, manager Lisa Froats and assistant manager Johanna Kronstal.

The Lions had a solid year. They ended the regular season in first place in their division with 41 points on 19 wins, two ties and three losses.

They led the division’s goal scoring with 136 goals and gave up just 51 to bring their first-time goaltender Brett Froats to the top of the East division and second overall in the Upper Canada Minor Hockey League Novice C division.

They met and defeated the Kemptville #2s in round one of the playoffs, but were eliminated in round two by the South Grenville #1s.

The Lions have kept busy since their season ended with exhibition games to come up with a win and a tie against the South Grenville Ranger C1s.

In tournament action they won the A championship of the South Stormont Novice C tournament in January.

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Prowind final report to be submitted soon

March 21, 2012 Editor

Things are moving steadily forward for the South Branch Wind Farm project. Submitting the final report to the Ministry of Environment (MOE) is Prowind Canada’s next step.

On March 13th, Rochelle Rumney, Environmental Coordinator for Prowind, reported that while the company had expected to have the final report submitted by early March, “it will be closer to the end of the month.”

Rumney gave a brief explanation of the process following submission of the final report for the South Branch Wind Farm: “The MOE will review the application within 40 days of our submission and determine if it is ‘complete’. Once that has been established, it will be posted on the EBR (environmental registry) and the 30 day review period begins.”

Tracking the progress of the final report can be done by going to www.ebr.gov.on.ca. The public can submit comments and opinions about the report to the MOE once the 30 day review period has begun.

According to Rumney, “we will notify the public by way of newspaper ad once that review period begins.”

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South Dundas Midget House lose in tournament A final

March 21, 2012 Editor

The South Dundas Midget House Lions finished off their season last Tuesday when they worked their way to the championship final of their March break home tournament.

After defeating Smiths Falls 3-1 and Cumberland 4-2 in preliminary round action, the Lions met Clarence Creek who claimed the tournament championship with a 6-2 win.

The Lions got rolling in the tournament, a non-body contact affair, with the 3-1 win over Smiths Falls.

With Hunter Jones in net, the Lions went up 1-0 on a first period goal by Chase DeDekker, assisted by Joel Johnston and Brody Picotte.

After a scoreless second period Dustin Morrison struck for Smith Falls early in the third period to tie the game 1-1.

Darrin Stinson then took over, scoring for the Lions, unassisted, to restore their one goal lead.

With 5:08 left in the game, he pushed the Lions advantage to 3-1 with help from Graydon Baylis.

In game two against Cumberland, the Lions struck early and struck often to go up 3-0 in the first period.

Baylis kicked it off with help from Sawyer Gillard, and then Gillard made it 2-0 with Parker Hart providing the assist.

Lions goal number three came from the stick of Brandon Bass with Jason Gallinger providing the assist.

While Lions goaltender Josh Martineau continued to hold Cumberland from the scoreboard in the second period, the Lions struck for one more.

This time it was Justin Schwerdtfeger doing the counting with help from Eric Swank.

Cumberland charged back in the third with an Alex Caudle-Dimillo goal, but that was it until the last minute of play when Jonathan Belleville struck for their second.

The Lions held on for the 4-2 win and the right to advance to the championship against Clarence Creek.

Each of the four teams in the tournament played two games and then were ranked on period scores, and goals for and against.

Clarence Creek earned the first place ranking with 9.5 points with a 7-1 win over Cumberland and a 4-1 win over Smiths Falls.

South Dundas was second with 8.5, and Smiths Falls and Cumberland ended up tied.

Smith Falls defeated Cumberland 3-2 for the B championship.

In the A final, the Lions were unable to contain Maxime Brazeau who counted four of the six Clarence Creek goals.

Singles were scored by Marc Andre Boucher and Sean Humen.

Scoring for the Lions were Graydon Baylis from Sawyer Gillard and David Plamondon, and Brody Picotte from Plamondon.

Jones and Martineau shared the goaltending duties.

The tournament marked the end of the season for the Lions who finished third in their division in the regular season.

They turned it up a notch in the playoffs to eliminate the Akwesasne Wolves in quarterfinal action and the Smiths Fall Bears in the semi-finals.

They lost to North Dundas in two straight games in their bid for the Upper Canada Minor Hockey League East Division championship.

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Tax increase at Counties level

March 21, 2012 Editor

March 19th marked the final day of budget deliberations for the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Counties began deliberations with two full days in mid-February.

According to South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds, “there is a 3.5 per cent increase on the average assessed house.”

He said the average household assessment for SD&G is approximately $166,000. Based on that assessment and the percentage increase, the average SD&G household taxes would increase by approximately $33.

“There was discussion on keeping it lower,” he said, but council decided on “the inflation rate tax increase so we can reinvest in our roads.”

“We had a really good debate. It took a little longer,” he said.

As for school board tax amounts, according to Greg Pietersma, Chair for the Upper Canada District School Board, the school board budget deliberations will not begin until the provincial budget decisions have been completed and handed down.

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Go ahead, speak up

March 21, 2012 Editor

What do you wish were different in South Dundas? Is there something you think the municipality needs, but doesn’t have? I’ve heard that South Dundas needs more options for youth in the area. Children need access to more activities here IN South Dundas. Teenagers need more options for places to hang out, like a youth centre, as well as more options for safe, legal fun.

This week brings an opportunity for every South Dundas resident to have a say and to have their ideas heard. Ignore the internal list of excuses and come out to one of the four planned “Community Vision Cafés”!

Forget about the “I don’t have the time” excuse and, instead, make time. (I’m a pro when it comes to the “I don’t have time” excuse, but I recognize it for what it is: an excuse, not a reason.)

Forget the “it won’t make a difference so why bother” excuse and actually make the effort. Seriously, if we didn’t “fight” or “try” for all the things that looked hopeless, where would we be? Wars have been won by people who didn’t have a chance of winning. Games were won by underdogs who were thought to be useless. Nothing in life is guaranteed, but… if you try, you have a 50-50 chance of getting the result you wanted; if you don’t try, you have zero chance of getting what you wanted. Think about it.

What do you wish were different in South Dundas?

Where do you see South Dundas in 10 years?

What ideas do you have that you feel are worth pursuing?

What do you want council to hear?

Make your mark. State your case. Push your idea.

And, if you’re one of those people who aren’t comfortable expressing your opinions in public… then do it online! It’s easy. It’s quick. It’s anonymous.

Whatever method you choose, whether in person at one of the cafés or online via the survey…

Speak your mind. Say what you have to say. Share your ideas. Be heard. Be accounted for in the history of South Dundas.

If you woke up tomorrow to find yourself in South Dundas in the year 2022, what would you want to see? -S.C.

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Perspectives by Rev. Clarence Witten

March 21, 2012 Editor

Loving Spring

I just read a cute story about gratitude that I think can teach us something.

Apparently in San Francisco, on the day after Christmas, the pastor of a church was looking over their nativity scene when he noticed that the baby Jesus was missing from among the figures. “That’s strange,” he thought. “Who would steal Jesus?”

He hurried outside to try and find the thief and what he came across was a little boy with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the figure of the baby Jesus.

He walked up to the boy and said, “Well, where did you get Him, my fine friend?” The little boy replied, “I got him from the church.” “And why did you take him?” The boy said, “Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to the little Lord Jesus and I told him if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas I would give him a ride around the block in it.”

I like the story. Well, not that I think it’s cool to steal Jesuses or even to pray to figurines. I like it because of what it teaches us about gratitude.

I respect the little guy in the story first for being grateful for what he received and for following up on his promise.

We can learn from that. To be grateful and appreciative for all that people do for us and that we receive. And also to be grateful for all that we receive from God.

It’s spring. The snow is gone, the sun is warm, the bird’s are back, and everything around us is simply glorious. We get out to walk, to bike, even to garden, to enjoy it.

Our little story can remind us to give thanks to the God who provides all this. This is his world, and it’s him who provides the wonder of spring. And so it’s him who deserves our thanks and praise.

Have you, have I, given thanks for spring?

One more thing. If we enjoy the beauty and wonder of creation and spring, maybe we could also use a reminder that the One who provides it has something still better for us. Something still more glorious and wonderful, namely, himself.

All the good things God gives are a reflection of what he is like. They’re an invitation to us all to get to know him.

Being a Christian seems to be less attractive these days. People see it as restricting their fun and freedom. Hardly.

Instead we ought to see it as it is. To believe in Christ is to be reconciled to God and to enter a relationship with him. You see, if you love spring, if you love creation (God’s gift), believe me, you’ll love the Giver.

Pastor Clarence Witten

Community Christian

Reformed Church

Dixon’s Corners

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Novice B Lions crowned tournament champs

March 21, 2012 Editor

MORRISBURG–The South Dundas “Collins Barrow” Novice B Lions were crowned tournament champions here last Thursday as the home team swept their three opponents.

The Lions, who hosted the four team Novice B tournament and skills competition invited Athens, South Grenville and Brockville #2 along with a Brockville IP team to play the South Dundas IP’s to fill out the schedule. The fun-filled day was highlighted with a Dryer shoot out in the parking lot, kids and adults pounded that dryer with pucks for hours as they attempted to hoist the puck into the front door opening.

The Lions opened the tournament against the South Grenville Rangers and offensively exploded for eight goals, but also were extremely strong defensively in only giving up three shots in the shutout.

Lion’s goaltender Brendan Shaver, who picked up his fourth shutout of the season, wasn’t tested, but did kick in offensively by picking up an assist on the Lion’s fourth goal.

Shaver pushed the puck towards the corner after a Rangers dump in and defenceman Emytt Fetterly picked the puck up and made a short pass to Nolan Henry who went end to end to score on Rangers goalie, Khonner Jessome.

Highlighting the game sheet was Kayne McCadden who picked up five goals including one on a penalty shot.

With the Lions leading 4-0, McCadden got behind the Rangers defense and was heading to the net when he was fouled from behind for the a penalty shot. McCadden made no mistake and buried the puck for his hat trick.

McCadden continued his scoring later in the third to cap off his five goal game as he celebrated with his line mates Joshua Broad and Owen Fetterly. The line made several big passes in setting up the goals and would combined for 10 points.

In their second game, the Lions took on the Athens Aeros and their skills champion goaltender Gavin McCarthy.

The Lions built a 4-0 lead on two goals by Ben Lapier and singles by Joshua Broad and Nolan Henry.

The home team scored an early first period goal and three second period goals before the Aeros broke up the possibility of the Lions going back to back with shutouts.

Emytt Fetterly and Trent Rae teamed up on a line in the third period and get many opportunities but were turned back by the Aeros goaltender.

In their final game, the Lions faced the Brockville Braves who the Lions had just eliminated from the playoffs the week before.

The Lions built a 5-1 lead and held on in the final minutes as the Braves netted three third period goals to close the gap to 5-4.

The Lions scoring was all by the forward line of Ben Lapier, Kolby Latulippe and Nolan Henry. The trio teamed for 12 combined points on two goals by Lapier and Henry and a single by Laptulippe.

Cassidy Bilmer jumped into the action picking up an assist on the opening goal.

In the skills competition all players participated in one of three events, Team Relay, Shootout and Hardest Shot.

In the Team Relay, the Braves defeated South Grenville in the finals as the Lions were disqualified for an improper exchange.

In the Shootout, Joshua Broad won the Bronze medal scoring in two of his four tries.

The Lions dominated the podium in the Hardest Shot by grabbing the Gold and Silver. Kolby Latulippe out shot everyone with a 38 mph Howitzer and Trent Rae followed up with a 35 mph cannon.

Other tournament game result: Brockville 5-Athens 1, South Grenville 4-Brockville 3 (OT), and South Grenville 4-Athens 2.

In five tournaments this season, the Novice Bs were “B” Finalists in a Novice A Tournament in Pakenham, “A” Finalists in Finch – when they lost in overtime in the Championship game. They were “B” Champions in Gananoque, and Tournament Champions in North Dundas and South Dundas.

The South Dundas “Collins Barrow” Novice B Lions will face the Brockville #1 Braves in the Upper Canada Minor Hockey League Championship Final.

The five point series opens tonight, Wednesday March 21st in Morrisburg at 7 p.m.

Game two is set for Brockville this Friday night, March 23 at 6 p.m. and the series returns to Morrisburg on Saturday, March 24th at 4 p.m.

All games line up with the Bantam B Rep team who are also in the finals, come out and support your Lions!

The Bantams open their series at 8 p.m. tonight (Wednesday, March 21) and game three is Saturday, March 24 beginning at 2:30 p.m. in Morrisburg.

[…]

Budget changes expected to pass

March 21, 2012 Editor

Changes were made to the South Dundas 2012 budget since The Leader’s March 14th report.

Following is a list of pertinent points from the completed budget which is expected to be passed by council at the March 20th meeting which took place after press time.

According to Treasurer Shannon Geraghty, the “final 2012 budget represents a 5.37 per cent or $253,611.08 increase in municipal levy in comparison to 2011.”

“Operating expenses in comparison to 2011 have increased 0.90 per cent or $79,005, whereas revenue increased by 5.61 per cent or $292,292 mainly due to unfinanced capital outlay transfers along with an increase in interest revenue on outstanding tax arrears.”

“The capital in comparison from 2011 has increased in 2012 by $466,899 or 39.22 per cent,” he continued.

“Capital projects included in the 2012 final budget:

•Micro Surface 16.5 kilometres of roads which include Flagg Road, Broken Second Road, Salmon & Grace Road, and Pleasant Valley Road;

•3.0 kilometres of partial reconstruction of Savings Street;

•Winchester District Memorial Hospital Pledge;

•Playground equipment at Coyle Drive, Winchester Springs and Rowan Drive;

•$500,000 allocated to the Fleet Replacement Program;

•Dispatch services and equipment for the fire department;

•SCBA Compressor Block;

•Emergency generator for all fire stations; and,

•Phase two of Parlow Road construction which includes base only.”

Geraghty continued, “the total levy requirements for 2011 resulted in an amount of $4,721,453 for the township whereas the 2012 final budget requirements presented to council represent an amount of $4,975,065.”

“The residential tax rate for the township will decrease by 1.49 per cent, as a result of the final year of assessment phase-in.”

“The average 2012 assessment of $156,634 equates to a 2011 average assessment of $149,040.”

“A residential property with the average assessment change from 2011 to 2012 of 5.06 per cent will pay 50 cents more per week or a total of $25.87 in township taxes in 2012.”

“Township has maintained an overall good financial position with healthy reserves and insignificant debt,” he concluded, the “majority is being paid by benefitting landowners.”

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Alight at Night in top 100

March 14, 2012 Editor

The St. Lawrence Parks Commission (SLPC) was recently honoured with recognition of three special events being in the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario. This honour is awarded annually by Festivals & Events Ontario (FEO) to those festivals and events that excel within the industry.

For the SLPC, this isn’t the first time they have achieved such honours for these events. Upper Canada Village’s Alight at Night event is recognized for the second time; while for Fort Fright it is the fifth award (including Best New Festival in 2008). Fort Henry’s World Heritage Sunset Ceremonies has been awarded for an impressive seventh time.

Two of the events – Alight at Night and Fort Fright – take place during the shoulder season or what is traditionally considered to be the ‘off-season” for tourism. Both events have made significant impact in the regional tourism market drawing over 40,000 visitors (Alight at Night) in December and 20,000 (Fort Fright) over the end of September and month of October.

The World Heritage Sunset Ceremonies are an entertainment tradition in Kingston.

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