June 2012 – Page 9 – Morrisburg Leader

Seaway High’s ‘hay day’ celebrates agriculture

June 6, 2012 Editor

In their first ever celebration of agriculture/farming, students at Seaway District High school literally pitched right in last Wednesday.

Hay Day was organized by Brian Vanmoorsel and Dylan DeJong who are the school’s first graduates of the Specialist High Skills Program in Agriculture which has been offered to students for two years.

“When we made the decision at Seaway to go after a high skills program, we took a long look at our community partners, and we realized that in this area there is a lot of opportunity in agriculture,” Principal Terry Gardiner said in a story which ran in the April 18 issue of the Leader.

Seaway’s Specialist program in Agriculture is coordinated by Co-op teachers Robert Knapp and Tanya Crosbie who assisted their first graduates to set up the day.

Hay Day was a huge undertaking which began with a number of Seaway students travelling to the school in their family farm tractors last Wednesday.

Also a big part of the day were Spooky and Maggie (Jerseys) who travelled from Belsmith Farms with Ashley and Jennifer Smith. Spooky and Maggie were very content as they chewed on some grass while students waited for them to make a “significant contribution” to the day.

Students were invited to participate in a number of activities, all of which were a lot of fun, and many of which gave them a feel for the hard work involved in the operation of a farm.

There was the throwing of hay bales, nail hammering, tug o war, tractor wheel races, and wheel barrel races and sack races to name just a few.

“This is official launch of the Speical High Skills program in Agriculture,” said Crosbie. “We have Brian and Dylan graduating from the program and this is both, the program kick-off and their farewell.”

The two graduates are preparing to some day take over their family farms, Brian the VanGlen family farm and Dylan, Dejo Holsteins. Both farms are located on the Glen Becker Road, north of Morrisburg.

In addition to the activities, each of the students was treated to a hamburg/hotdog all “100 percent Canadian beef,” said Crosbie.

Vanmoorsel was pleased with the results of the day, and proud to be one of the first graduates of the Specialties program.

There are a total of 11 students in the program all with a variety of objectives. Interests vary from careers in carpentry to veterinarian medicine.

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For change, take action

June 6, 2012 Editor

If there is something in your life, in your community or in your world that you want to be different, what can you do to make it happen?

You could wish for what you want, but will that guarantee the outcome? Probably not.

For there to be change, there needs to be action.

With that being said, how many people would like to see some changes in South Dundas? More tourism, maybe? More jobs? Better recreation facilities?

As of 2011, South Dundas had 10,795 people living within its boundaries. During last week’s action planning “public” meetings, only six people showed up for the afternoon sessions and maybe 10 for the evening session. Are there only 16 people in South Dundas who believe changes need to be made? Probably not.

So where were the other 10,000 people? Granted, the afternoon sessions on Wednesday afternoon may have caused issues for those who work during the weekday, but what about the evening session? Accounting for previous engagements, illnesses, and other daily dramas, maybe we could eliminate the expectation of having all of South Dundas show for the evening session… but only 10? Really?

Okay, so you’re probably thinking… “ya, but it’s not like it’s going to make a difference” OR “we’ve done this before and nothing came of it.” Well, imagine life if, for those same reasons, everyone in the world just sat back and gave up trying to change things for the better. Think about the changes in technology, medicine, and human rights over the last hundred years… where would we be without them?

Changes happen because people make them happen. The people who make them happen often don’t have an easy road of it and most often have to keep plugging away in the face of rejection or failure until eventually they succeed.

Sadly, I’ve often been one of the many who sit back and let others do the heavy lifting, believing that “they” would do it better anyway. Being propelled into so many community events and situations in the past year has changed the way I think. Sure, I still need some down time to “recharge” here and there, but I’ve come to realize that it is high time that I get out of my own comfort zone and start participating.

We each have our own talents, gifts, and ideas that only we can bring to the world. I don’t know about you, but I intend to make whatever contributions I can, while I can. -S.C.

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Giant Tiger generously gives to food bank

June 6, 2012 Editor

Morrisburg’s Giant Tiger donated $350 to the Dundas County Food Bank on June 4th. The donation arose from a recent Easter contest whereby customers, for the price of $1, could submit their guess of how many jellybeans were contained in a giant mason jar. In the end, store manager Ken Rundle said approximately 347 guesses were submitted and he rounded the number up to an even 350. Store staff unanimously chose to donate the money to the food bank, said Rundle. Sean Dowson submitted the closest guess, winning a $50 gift card as well as the jar of 1,537 jellybeans. Dowson’s guess was just 10 jellybeans shy of the actual number! On hand to receive the donation were four representatives from the Dundas County Food Bank’s board of directors. The Dundas County Food Bank is currently in need of the following items: Kraft dinner, brown beans, spaghetti sauce, canned meat, canned vegetables, Jello, and instant pudding.

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Letter-Bike-a-thon results

June 6, 2012 Editor

Dear Editor,

Re: Children’s Treatment Centre, Morrisburg/Iroquois Bike-a-Thon Plus.

Thank you for your newspaper’s coverage of the special services offered our residents of Dundas County by the Children’s Treatment Centre.Your coverage of the Bike-a-Thon Plus, along with the many volunteers of the Iroquois/Matilda Lions Club, the Morrisburg and District Lions and Leo’s Clubs and the Bank of Montreal made the event financially fantastic with $8,314.93 collected as of May 31, 2012.

Further donations are still welcomed and can be given to Lyle Van Allen in Williamsburg or Doug Grenkie in Morrisburg.

Yours truly,

J. Douglas Grenkie

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Hotbed Hotel offers hot comedy at UCP

June 6, 2012 Editor

Audiences ‘checking in’ to Hotbed Hotel, Upper Canada Playhouse’s 2012 summer season opener, can anticipate a ‘stay’ that’s filled with zany guests, colossal misunderstandings and impossibly funny situations.

The only guarantee at this one-star hotel is that you won’t actually die laughing: it may just be a near thing.

The production, which features a large and talented cast of nine, is being directed by Playhouse artistic director Donnie Bowes, and opens on June 7 running until July 1.

“This is a very funny Michael Parker farce,” Bowes said. “It’s the third one we’ve produced at the Playhouse by Parker. The other two, which audiences thoroughly enjoyed, were the Amorous Ambassador and the Sensuous Senator.

Parker, an Englishman now living in the United States, has all the gags and the crisp dialogue of traditional English farces in his very popular plays.”

Bowes has assembled a stellar cast for the Playhouse’s summer opener.

“This show demands every skill an actor has,” Bowes said. “The pace is vital. The characters never have time to stop, think or reason, because that, of course, would destroy the humour.”

As the owners of a dilapidated ‘one star’ hotel in the Florida Keys, Terri and Brian Cody are desperate to convince a New York buyer to commit. The problem is, he hasn’t actually seen the property. He is also under the impression that there are lots of paying guests staying at the hotel as well as a functioning and efficient staff.

And he is showing up to inspect the site within the hour, not in two weeks as originally planned.

“That sets up the problem,” director Bowes laughed. “The characters begin making decisions that they will definitely come to regret. Those hasty decisions lead to ever increasing misunderstandings and confusion.”

Debra Hale, who plays Terri Cody, explained that her character “wears the pants” where this husband and wife are concerned. She is determined to see the sale through and ropes some of the hotel’s more colourful characters into the scheme.

“I’m the manager in name only,” laughed Timm Hughes. “Poor Brian, the husband, has no control over anything at this hotel. He just ends up going along.”

Retuning to the Playhouse is AnnaMarie Lea, in the role of maid Maureen. “I think she’s just off the cabbage farm, in her first job, with no idea how to do it. When they also make her room service and reception, well, it’s more than she can handle.”

New comer to the Playhouse but a renowned stage veteran is Mo Bock, as maintenance man Hopkins.

“Hopkins’ primary objectives in life are to stay employed, to stay drunk and to get it on with the ‘Barracuda’,” Bock grinned.

“The Barracuda” is played by Susan Greenfield. “She is actually a real guest at the hotel, who returns yearly for a week pursuing any and every man within reach. They’re all fair game,” Greenfield said.

“The Barracuda is a character totally unlike Susan, of course,” Bowes immediately said, to much cast laughter.

Doug Tangney returns to the stage in the role of the long-winded, often befuddled Major Posenby, a retired guest staying at the hotel. “He really wants to help the Codys, it just goes very wrong,” Tangney explained.

Richard Bauer is Sam Lewis, “the prospective New York buyer and a bit of a prude. Although he does have a secret or two of his own.”

“I’m one of those secrets,” laughed newcomer Erin MacKinnon, who plays Sam’s travelling companion, Ashley. “While I can’t say too much, through no fault of her own, Ashley keeps misplacing her clothing.”

Brenda Quesnel, as Dorothy, also can’t “say too much. I’m sweet and charming. Is that cryptic enough?”

The impressive set for this show was designed by John Thompson, with lighting by Sean Free.

Backstage at Hotbed Hotel is “almost as exciting as on stage in a farce,” Bowes explained. “There are a number of physical gags that have to be rigged (audiences love these) and the set itself is very complex with multiple doors leading to multiple areas. It takes a long time to lift this kind of show off the page.”

“There are complicated props and tricks and hand-offs,” said stage manager Liz Campbell. With ASM Alice Barnett and production intern Liam Collins, this crew is very busy. “Timing is vital, and everything has to be precise, everyone in place. It’s like trying to track a pinball at times.”

What this all means for audiences, however, is side splitting fun in a top notch theatre production.

Contact Upper Canada Playhouse (613-543-3713) and check in to Hotbed Hotel.

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No go for wind info

June 6, 2012 Editor

Dear Editor,

The subject of wind turbines is currently being hotly debated in Dundas County with strong emotions on both sides of the issue, pitting neighbour against neighbour and creating divisions within our communities.

In an effort to inform and educate, the Dundas Environmental Awareness Group (DEAG) planned a town hall meeting to take place in Winchester in mid-June. The goal was to offer a balanced, science and fact-based forum representing the positions of all stakeholders.

Unfortunately, in spite of rigorous efforts, DEAG was not able to secure the participation of the wind turbine industry or its association for the proposed panel discussion.

We remain hopeful that there will be another opportunity in the fall to organize a forum, with an expert-based and balanced panel that will help community residents learn first-hand about wind turbines, draw their own conclusions and make informed decisions.

Maria Thompson

Secretary, DEAG

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New Blue take early roller hockey lead

June 6, 2012 Editor

Week two of the Men’s Roller Hockey League is completed and taking the early lead is the New Blue entry.

The New Blue collected their second consecutive victory Thursday night, 12-5 over the Red Rockets, while White Lightning picked up win number one, in a 12-7 encounter with the Morewood Monkeys.

Justin Elliott was the man to stop in the New Blue’s 12-7 win over the Red Rockets, but the Rockets failed to do so.

Elliott struck for six of the New Blue goals and added a pair of assists against Rockets’ goaltender Chris Sloan.

Tommy Keyes backed Elliott with a pair and singles were scored by Jamie McIntosh, Randy Markell, Connor Hodgson and Colton Robinson.

Answering for the Rockets were Chris Phifer and Dean Moore with two goals apiece and Chad McMillan with a single.

Will McIntire was in net for the New Blue win.

Brandon Buma led the Lightning to their 12-7 win against the Monkeys with six goals, including the last four of the game.

The game remained close, 4-3 for Lightning after one, and 6-4 after two, but in the third they turned it up a notch with Buma’s performance to coast to the win.

Dave Summers backed Buma with three goals and singles were scored by Billy Henderson, Steve Mattice and Kyle Sob- ering.

Chris Embury answered three times for the Monkeys, while Cody Carruthers added a pair and Mike Thompson and Ryan Hay scored singles.

Barret Brundige was in the Lightning net for the win and Kyle Shane gave up the Monkeys loss.

The New Blue leads the league with four points, while Lightning and the Red Rockets are tied with two points each. The Monkeys are still looking for their first win.

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Strategic plan not destined for the shelf

June 6, 2012 Editor

The Township of South Dundas moved forward with the action planning phase of their community strategic plan on May 30th at Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners.

The South Dundas public was invited to participate in creating action plans based on the six key themes originally identified by the public during the community cafés held in March.

The six themes were:

• Implement beautification projects to strengthen our sense of pride and community;

• Strengthen South Dundas’ agricultural sector through partnerships with the tourism industry;

• Sustain South Dundas’ small town lifestyle through appropriate development;

• Support business expansion and job creation;

• Create a municipal identity that will celebrate South Dundas’ rich history and culture; and,

• Create recreational programs, opportunities and facilities that will attract and retain families, children and youth.

Turnout for the action planning meetings was small, with approximately six people for the afternoon sessions and 10 for the evening sessions.

“I was certainly hoping for more people,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds.

“Hopefully, there’s a few others that will put some things online,” he continued, referring to the dedicated email address for strategic plan ideas (csp@southdundas.com). “There’s always an opportunity to send comments in.”

According to Sari Liem of Dillon Consulting, the firm hired to develop the plan, the idea behind the action planning is to “turn wishes into strategic direction.”

During the Community Cafés, public participants made wishes for the township. Liem explained, “we’re going through the wishes and building upon them, turning them into goals.” She referred to this as “informed direction.”

“We’re fleshing out specific actions,” she said. “This is all meant to be building blocks.”

The specific actions, once identified, were then put into a time frame of short term (0 to 2 years), mid term (3 to 5 years), and long term (6 to 10 years), with an emphasis on short term.

Each of the six action planning groups followed this process when developing their plans.

In addition to creating action plans, each group identified possible partnerships and alliances that might be pursued in making the actions a reality.

Liem explained that the community strategic plan is a ‘living’ document, meaning that it is fluid and open to change at any time.

Reminded of past strategic plans and the failures to follow through on those plans, Byvelds emphasized that “we’re committed to at least trying our best to make this strategic plan work. It’s not going to sit on a shelf.”

Armed with the public’s ideas, Dillon Consulting will create a recommended vision statement for South Dundas. In addition to this, an implementation strategy, complete with a time line for action, will be provided.

When ready, Dillon Consulting will present the final report to council for approval and, following council’s approval, it will then be released to the public.

South Dundas economic development officer Nicole Sullivan pointed out that “we’re not doing this because we have a problem, we’re doing this to be proactive and plan for the future.”

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A bit of humour in wind turbine myths

June 6, 2012 Editor

Dear Editor,

I have now heard everything! Wind turbines are going to affect the students of Nationview Public School (as suggested in a letter, published in the Wed., May 9 edition of the Winchester Press). Let’s not mention what the iPhone, iPod, Nintendo DS, and too much reality TV, and a lack of good old fashioned hard work is doing to our kids. This unfounded fear mongering is quite funny.

Just last week, I was working on a new piece of property and cleaning some brush. I thought I would be neighbourly and stop in to introduce myself.

I barely got off the tractor when the lady stated she was totally against wind turbines.

I followed by asking her if she had ever seen a turbine. She replied that she had not. I replied that I had seen many and talked to many people that had windmills, and they were completely happy with having them. I said that I thought they were beautiful pieces of technology and that we could be sitting underneath one and that the noise wouldn’t even affect our conversation.

She then went on that she got all her information from the newspaper.

The fact is, these machines are air in, air out; they will not cause cancer, they will not pollute your water, and they are quieter then your refrigerator. From 550 meters in the middle of a field, you will never hear them.

The Highway 401 noise pollution is much louder; so is a train passing by, an airplane or helicopter flying overhead, a lawn mower, a whipper snipper, a television, or a stereo, and we all live with these machines every day.

The fact is that everybody loves to plug in their two computers, two phones, three TVs, microwaves, iPods, and cell phones. People need to wake up.

The global population in 1945 was under two billion people; we are now more than seven billion and by 2050 are projected to be a whopping 9 billion.

We need new sources of energy — clean and renewable.

Wind turbines are carbon neutral within nine months of their operation. I’m not saying that wind is the answer to all our energy needs, but it is the start of new technologies — better, cleaner technologies.

Green energy is being criticized for being too expensive. What alternative isn’t — big oil, nuclear energy, gas, coal… These are all big polluters and heavily subsidized by your tax dollars.

Some say we could buy all the power we need from Quebec for five cents per kilowatt-hour — but for how long? Sure we could. That would be negative five cents to Ontario. Wind is 11 cents for 20 years — what a bargain!

These projects are privately funded by companies investing tens of millions of dollars in your communities.

The projects result in tax dollars for local schools and hospitals, local power and local jobs, lease payments to farmers — all money spent locally.

Then there are people crying that not enough studies are being done. They are uninformed because there are health studies, plus bat, bird, noise, flicker, water, archaeology, and frog studies preformed, just to name some.

These studies have accumulated to the tune of $3 million for a 30-megawatt project.

The problem in Ontario is not green energy, but too much red tape, and government agencies used to implement the red tape — not to mention ignorance and jealousy.

I am one of the proud farmers hosting three of the 12 turbines in the South Branch Wind Farm. They will be directly behind and in front of my house.

I assure you that I would not put my family’s health at risk for a lease payment.

I know that change is hard, but it is necessary. I have no doubt that history will look brightly upon our decisions to invest in renewable energy. I am a local business owner who’s pro local jobs, pro local economy, pro solar, and pro wind!

Oliver Thurler

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Luke Whitteker battles to top five at Brockville

June 6, 2012 Editor

Craig Revelle – Finish Line Web Design

IROQUOIS–It has been a bit of a slow start to the 2012 season for Luke Whitteker and the Whitteker Motorsports team. They have been hard at work in their Iroquois, Ontario shop, and are fighting to find some consistency and gain some momentum as the season heats up. This past weekend, the team had events planned at Mohawk International Raceway, Brockville Speedway and Cornwall Speedway, but Mother Nature would play a pivotal role in the schedule.

The first stop on the schedule was Mohawk International Raceway in Hogansburg, New York. Despite a forecast of rain, the area stayed relatively dry until late afternoon when track officials were forced to cancel the evening’s events.

Rain was again in the forecast for Saturday, and while it did rain in the area most of the morning, the Speedway avoided the worst of it, and their racing program was on as scheduled.

In his qualifying heat race, Luke started from third place, but struggled early, and finished the race in fourth.

After making some adjustments to the car, Whitteker lined up for the 30 lap main event from inside of row three in fifth place.

In the early stages of the race, Whitteker had moved up to third, but settled into fourth place after a series of cautions and a red flag for a major crash in turn three and four.

At the checkered flag, Whitteker crossed the finish line with a fifth place finish.

Just before noon on Sunday, the wet weather again prevailed and the Cornwall Speedway made their decision to cancel their racing program.

This coming weekend, Whitteker will be back at Mohawk International Raceway on Friday night, Brockville Speedway on Saturday and Cornwall Speedway on Sunday night.

Early in the season, Whitteker sits eighth in points at Mohawk, 12th at Brockville Speedway and at Cornwall, after just one regular event, he is 12th in points.

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