Month: October 2012

 

What municipal staff were hoping would be a permanent solution to re-routing children who walk to school around the construction site at the former Morrisburg Collegiate Institute, may not be so permanent.

Council discussed the move of the crossing guard to the intersection of Ottawa and Second Streets, away from its former location at Ottawa and Alice Street, at the Oct. 2 council meeting.

The move now has children crossing Ottawa at Second Street, travelling second street between two painted lines denoting a sidewalk to the four way stop at St. Lawrence Street where they are to cross into the school yard.

The problem is that children are reportedly darting across Second Street at various locations making for a very dangerous situation.

“Our staff have done their best with a very challenging situation of not having a sidewalk there,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds, who reported that the school board chair wants to work together with the municipality to find a better solution.

“The possibility of children darting across the street is an issue and he considers safety paramount,” said Byvelds, who attended a meeting with the board chair last week.

From that meeting, South Dundas chief administrative officer Stephen McDonald reports that the municipality and the board are working in partnership and are presently discussing alternatives.

South Dundas councillor Jim Graham inquired about the cost of the municipality hiring a second crossing guard to get children across Second Street. 

The CAO estimated the cost to the municipality at about $600 per month.

“It’s an additional expense, but I’d sure as hell rather spend the money than see somebody get killed,” said Graham.

As of press time there had been no changes to the route, and no additional crossing guards were on site.

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Any South Dundas resident with anything to discuss in an open forum with their municipal government officials will have the opportunity to do so, October 9, 7 p.m. at the Iroquois Civic Centre.

This open forum meeting takes place annually around Local Government Week.

This annual meeting was initiated by the late Charles Barkley, when he was mayor and the practice continues.

Last year, and in previous years, the public forum meeting was held at Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners.

After last year’s meeting it was decided that from now on it will be held in a different place every year.

The format remains the same as previous years, questions, concerns and ideas will be discussed in an open forum for two hours.

[…]

 

On October 17, 2012, at a scheduled meeting of the Canadian Club, Catherine Merkley, a Morrisburg resident, will be reuniting with her now famous former boss, Robert R. Fowler.  

Merkley worked for Fowler when he was the Deputy Minister in the Department of National Defence (DND) in Ottawa in the early 1990s.  He was then posted to be a Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in 1995.  

Merkley went to New York for an “all girls weekend” in 1996 and visited Fowler and his family at his residence in downtown New York City.  

From 1990 to 1995, Merkley was Fowler’s Administrative Assistant dealing with the Prime Minister’s Office, Privy Council Office, Minister of National Defence, all other Group Principals within the DND and Other Government Departments, at a trying time for DND, that being during the Somalia Affair and the disbanding of the Airborne Regiment.  

When Fowler was posted to the UN, Merkley was transferred to a Staff Officer position in the Personnel Group working for Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire (now a Quebec Senator) and working with General Rick Hillier, (who later became the Chief of the Defence Staff, the highest ranking military position in the DND).  

Merkley’s next position was that of the first female civilian Coordinator after the move of the Canadian Army Headquarters to Ottawa, then she became an Administration Manager for the first DNDCanadian Forces Ombudsman, Andre Marin, and finally she was promoted to the Human Resources Manager position with the Judge Advocate General (the military lawyers for DND).   

Merkley took early retirement, after 28 years service as a civilian with DND, in 2005 to move back to her roots, near Chesterville.  

In 2008, when Fowler was kidnapped by the Al-Qaeda, Fowler’s former personal staff of 10 employees, including Merkley, most of whom are still in the National Capital Region, were in constant contact via E-mail.  The minute Fowler was released they sighed a huge sigh of relief.  

As soon as Fowler’s book “A Season in Hell – My 130 Days in the Sahara with Al Qaeda” was published, Merkley rushed out to buy a copy and hopes to have it personally autographed by him at the meeting.  

October 17, 2012 will be their first time seeing each other since 1996.  

In 2007, Merkley, with her husband, Kevin, moved to their retirement home on County Road 4 just outside of Morrisburg.  Since that time, Merkley has been a Family Law Assistant for the local law firm of Gorrell, Grenkie and Remillard, acting as Family Law Assistant to J. Douglas Grenkie.

[…]

 

 “We had great crowds, and some really great volunteers making everything happen,” said David Lapier, a member of the Williamsburg Community Association, which  planned and ran the 21st Annual Williamsburg Fall Festival,  held September 28-29. “We even had good weather. This was a wonderful community event.”

There was something for everyone at this year’s Wil-liamsburg Harvest Festival.

The noon parade was a high light of Saturday’s celebration.  Colourful floats and dancers, the Air Cadet band and a piper, antique cars, decorated bikes, equestrians,  mascot Sparky, and even two uniformed and mounted members of the RCMP took part. 

Throughout the day, the Williamsburg  ball park was trans-formed into a midway. Inflatables, petting zoos, pony rides, water events with the South Dundas Fire Department, Maple the Cow, face painting and plenty of great food ensured that families had lots to enjoy.

The craft show and sale at the J.W. MacIntosh Seniors’ Support Centre drew many shoppers, hoping, possibly, to get a jump on this year’s Christmas gifts.  

In the afternoon, people took in some great country music with Earl Casey and Good‘n Country, then saw an exciting demonstration by the Harbour Lites Square dancers. Landmark was the headliner at the Saturday evening dance, following the annual chicken dinner at the Oddfellows Hall.   

And, except for food purchases, all daytime events, presentations and games at the Williamsburg Fall Harvest Festival were free.

“The generous support and sponsorship of area businesses allowed us to offer our fun events for free to everyone,” Lapier said. “There are not a lot of regional community events any more, where there are no admission or rides fees. This business support is really important to us.”

Williamsburg was transformed during the celebration, with fall themed, decorated doors, and porches and telephone and hydro poles. 

A number of special contests for young and old to enjoy took place throughout the weekend.

 

Prize and Contest Winners

In the Kids’ Colouring Contest, Trevor Backes took first in the age 0-5 category, while Mary Richmire and Cameron Stewart tied in the age 6-10 category. Sarah Backes took the age 11 and up contest. Honourable mention went to 17-month-old Mia Henderson, who entered the event for the first time.

The heaviest potato went to Melissa Toonders, 1st, Brenda Toonders, 2nd and Nicole Toonders, 3rd.

The heaviest carrot was won by Madilyn Beckstead, 1st, Carl Barkley, 2nd and Caleb Guerin, 3rd. 

The largest zucchini was grown by Bea Stewart, 1st, Larry Schell, 2nd and Madison Chretien, 3rd.

The best decorated wheel barrow was won by April Richmire, with Jaime Baldwin and Florence Merkley coming in second and third.

The best decorated door saw April Richmire, Drew DeDekker and Ellyn Wells tie for first place with Jaime Baldwin, 2nd and Helen Mathieu, 3rd. 

In the best decorated bike contest, Brendan Shaver came first with Kyle Merkley and Travis Merkley coming second and third.

Bruce Whitteker’s corn stalk was judged tallest, while Louise Richmire’s sunflower was deemed largest.

The trivia contest was won by April Richmire and Erika Jordan.

In the Havest Poster contest, Kyra Lewis took first in the six and under category, while Louise Richmire came second and Abby Steward came third. In the seven and up category, Hailey Steward was first, with Matina Lewis second and Mary Richmire, third. 

In the best fall centrepiece contest, in the children’s category,  Mary Richmire was first, Drew DeDekker second and Tyler DeDekker third. 

In the adult division, Heather Whitteker was first, Laurin Barkley second and Debbie Disheau, third. 

The contest for largest real red Maple leaf saw Hailey Steward’s entry take first, Abby Steward take second and Kurtis Steward take third.

The photo contest, judged by reporters from local papers, saw Karen MacPherson take first in the Landscape division, with Ashton Urquhart second and Kelly Morrow third. In the People division, Kelly Morrell was first, Karin MacPherson second and Debbie Disheau third. In the Animals division, Julie Mitchell was first, Randy Mathieu second and Kelly Morrell third. 

Winners of the Allan Doherty Memorial Horseshoe Tournament were Brian Witteveen and Elaine Leveille, first, Mike Felker and Charlie English, second and Ray Joanisse and Morris Dusomos third.  

The best commercial float was won by Nick Merkley (Marsden & McLaughlin Funeral Home &WCA), while Lyle Van Allen’s Len Godard and WCA float took the best non-commercial float entry. 

Larry Bilmour won the best paraded horse entry, Eliza Laied  was the best individual youth and Brendan, Cam and Donovan Shaver were the best youth group, ages 5-12. Seaway High took the best youth group ages 8-16.

The best paraded car was Wayne Salmon’s, while Denny Raistrick was named best paraded transport/trailer. Best paraded tractor was Terry and Francis Henderson.

Julie Mitchell took first in the scavenger hunt with second a tie between Donna Laporte and April Richmire. Sarah Backes was third. 

Winner of the 50/50 draw was Keith Scott. 

[…]

 

Although Paul Beckstead at Smyth’s Apple Orchard on County Road 18, west of Williamsburg, says 2012 isn’t the worst apple season, it certainly ranks a very close second.

Beckstead, whose Smyth’s Orchard is the largest in South Dundas with over 25,000 trees offering 54 apple varieties, recalls 1981, when whole trees were lost.

That year a mild winter was followed by a very late spring cold snap. “The sap was up and the leaves were out, and it literally froze the sap and the bark,” says Beckstead.

This year the three local apple producers, Smyth’s, Dentz Orchard and Berry Farm on the Brinston Road and Barkley’s Apple Orchard north of Morrisburg, are reporting a better than hoped for apple harvest, but one that falls well short of even an average season.

The poor season got its start back in March when the area experienced unusually mild temperatures, well into the 80s for an extended number of days, which sent the trees into early bud production.

Then in late April, we experienced several days of cold weather with heavy frost which damaged the tender blossoms that were one to two weeks ahead of schedule.

With all of the growers hopeful that enough blossoms were spared for a reasonable harvest, the area then experienced a summer-long drought.

“It’s been so hot and dry which added to more stress on the trees,” says Paul Dentz. 

Dentz explains that the size of apples is relative to the amount of apples on the tree. In other words a smaller crop (which it was heading into the summer) would normally mean bigger apples.

However, because of the drought, the trees were using what moisture they could to stay alive and as a result the apples, with the exception of a handful of varieties, did not develop to be as large as was initially expected.

“It did not turn out as good as we had hoped for,” said PaulDentz. Although Paul and his brother Calvin had brought in a helicopter to fly over their orchards during the frosty April night, and blow the warmer air back down to the ground, “we knew at the time the helicopter was here that the temperatures it was bringing down were not adequate.”

At Smyth’s Orchards, “it’s a touch better than we had anticipated,” says Beckstead. “It was so dry that the apples didn’t size up, so it is by no means a big crop or a bumper crop.”

The Macs are generally down in size as are the Spartans. The Empire and the Delicious, which like more heat, fared slightly better, and it was a good year for the Honey Crisp.”

“We have enough to do the local stores, and we will have apples available all winter for our customers,” says Beckstead.

At the Barkley Orchard, north of Morrisburg, Bill Barkley reports a reasonably good crop.

Barkley says his trees didn’t suffer as much from the drought as might be expected. He owes this to the clay soil which holds moisture better and the fact that, “we probably aren’t tile drained as much a some other producers.”

He also allows natural grass cover to grow up under his trees, which he says also helps to hold the moisture.

“Things are dry, but hopefully we will get a good cover of snow this winter.”

Barkley is selling his apples at local fruit stands, at McHaffie’s Flea Market and at Ottawa Markets.

Smyth’s Orchards will sell from their home location all winter and have their products in various stores in the area. The Dentz farm facility on the Brinston Road will soon close for the season.

The three Orchards are now wrapping up this year’s harvest. Beckstead reports his trees are looking good and are now producing their buds for next year.

Apple lovers can expect to pay a bit more for their favourite fruit this winter, with prices up about 30 percent.

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