Year: 2012

Friday, Jim Whelan of Sun Life Financial invited, customers, community officials, friends and neighbours to join him for an open house celebrating the relocation of his business from a home office to a storefront in the Morrisburg Plaza.

“I have always wanted a storefront and here I am,” said Whelan of his Main Street plaza location (in the former Allan Bell office) that he has now occupied since October 1.

Whelan has 10 years experience with Sun Life offering life and health insurance, mutual funds and estate planning.

Friday, Bill Ewing, president of the Morrisburg Business Improvement Area (BIA) welcomed Whelan to the Morrisburg Plaza, saying that it is always positive to see the storefronts filling up.

South Dundas councillors Evonne Delegarde and Archie Mellan were on hand to offer their congratulations. “Congratulations and best wishes to Jim,” said Councillor Delegarde. “We are glad to see another business in the Morrisburg Plaza. “I’m glad to see Suds (Jim) in his new digs. It’s great to have him here,” added Councillor Mellan.

Mayor Steven Byvelds welcomed Whelan to the Morrisburg Plaza and said, “This gives Jim an opportunity to put his name out there is an accessible location, while becoming part of the BIA community, where he can help them work together to promote the plaza.”

“Small businesses are important to our local economy,” said Nicole Sullivan, South Dundas’ economic development officer. “Small business represents about half of the businesses in the area, so we are thrilled to see small businesses and entrepreneurs starting new ventures.”

On air for Hospice Care

“I believe that Hospice care is an extremely important part of any community,” said Hanna Rycroft, who turned the Basket Case, a Morrisburg business she co-owns, into a live radio satellite station on Saturday, November 3.

“People can freely go to the hospice when they have the need. And families can be with their loved ones day and night, not in a hospital setting, but instead in a caring and home-like environment.”

Rycroft volunteered her business to be a local focus for the 4th Annual Telethon for Hospice on November 3. She also offered people who dropped in to the Basket Case, and made a donation of at least $5, soup and cake.

The Telethon was organized by TVCogeco in conjunction with Variety 104.5 The goal set for the November 3 Telethon was $80,000. Rycroft hoped that area residents would help the Telethon make that goal.

“Hospices receive very limited provincial and federal funding,” Rycroft said. “Most of their funding comes from events like this one.”

“Many people may not know this,” said Angie Baker, general sales manager of Corus Entertainment, the parent company of Variety 104.5, 101.9 CJSS and the CornwallDaily.com, “but the Cornwall Hospice actually supports the people in this area. Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, as well as Russell, are served by this hospice. It is really a vital part of this community as it is the only hospice that is near to local people. The next closest hospice is actually in Ottawa.”

This is the first time since the Telethon began that organizers have set up a satellite location during the fund raiser.

“Because many local people cannot get TVCogeco, where the fundraiser is broadcast live, we decided to set up a radio connection here in Morrisburg. We hope people turn out to support us.”

On hand, broadcasting from the Basket Case was Courtney Chambers, the midday announcer of Variety 104.5.

Also on site were volunteers from Scotiabank.

“Scotiabank has made a $5,000 donation to the Hospice cause,” Hanna Rycroft said.

The volunteers were on hand to greet the public and to help people complete donations forms.

Rycroft hopes that awareness and understanding about the importance of Hospices is raised during the Telethon.

“We had one lady visit today whose husband passed his last days in the Cornwall hopice. She told me that he said that hospice was like paradise. The people who work in hospice care are kind and good. They welcome those who need them.”

Rycroft particularly hopes that young people educate themselves about how important quality hospice care is for any community.

She has also has a challenge for area businesses and individuals.

The Basket Case has pledged to donate $100 a month for the next 12 months to the Cornwall Hospice. She hopes that others will also make pledges so that the work of hospice care can continue. The telethon surpassed their goal, raising over $107,000, with the Morrisburg location contributing $5,000 to the total.

Perspectives by Rev. Janet Evans

The poppy, the symbol of remembrance

I have visited a number of stores in the past two weeks and in several of them one could take a poppy after putting a donation in a box. Whenever I see poppies, I am reminded that Remembrance Day is on the horizon.

What does the poppy represent? The poppy represents the symbol of Remembrance.

Why should we wear a poppy? When we wear a poppy or display a wreath, we honour the war dead and help ex-service personnel and their dependents.

How do we help needy ex-service personnel and their dependents? Contribute to the Poppy Campaign.

The basic purpose of poppy funds is to provide immediate assistance to ex-service members in need. This may include food, shelter or medical attention for them or their families.

We are called to love God and to love others: as we honour our veterans and give thanks for their sacrifices, we indeed show concern for our brothers and sister in Christ.

As we approach Remembrance Day, may we seek to create a world where men, women and children live together in harmony and in peace.

May we remember the sacrifices that many Canadians and others made to preserve and protect the way of life that we now embrace. Our veterans went to war seeking justice and liberty.

In Canadian schoolrooms today there are students whose parents and grandparents remember the World Wars, the Gulf War, Afghanistan…Some remember the terrible ordeal of escaping to freedom. To them the poppy can be a symbol of that freedom. It is important for all of us to remember that unity of Canadians in wartime enables all of us to enjoy freedom.

In 2012, we hopefully seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God. May we allow the Lord to guide and inspire us as we help build a healthy and happier world. May we be assured that God will shed His grace upon us–God will never leave us desolate. God loves us and calls us to be His peacekeepers and peacemakers in our homes, communities, nation and world.

And let us remember these words: “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me; let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God our Creator, children all are we; let us walk with each other in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now, with every step I take let this be my solemn vow; to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Rev. Janet Evans, Iroquois United Church

Peewee B2 Lions on top in the west

The South Dundas Lions Peewee B2 House team continued their winning ways on Saturday afternoon as they downed the visiting Smith Falls Bears 5-0.

The Lions, Bears and the South Grenville Rangers were all tied for first place at seven points in the west division and with the win, the Lions move two points ahead at the season’s quarter way mark.

The Lions opened Sunday’s game with unsuccessful scoring opportunities from Austin Robinson and linemates Brody Smail and William Dejong who kept the puck alive in the Bears end for three Robinson wrist shots against Bears goalie Austin Evans.

The Bears pushed back and got a chance on Lions goalie Sam Waytowich who shut the door on a Luke Callaghan shot.

Lions forward Colin Minish responded with a drive to the Bears net, but was tripped to put the Lions on the power play.

After a Bears clearing, Adam Lapier picked up the puck in his own end and skated through the Bears defenders before having his shot turned aside. The puck stayed deep in the Bears end and the Lions were pressing when Kolby Hamilton picked up the puck and avoided some checks before getting the puck behind the Bears goal-line.

The Bears would unable to clear, and the Lions opened the scoring on their power play when Colin Minish jammed home the puck on a wrap around.

Seconds later off the face-off, Minish broke into the Bears end and fed a pass to Grant Wells who wristed a shot home for a 2-0 lead.

The Lions continued to attack and forward Brooke Lapier got a chance, but shot wide, after Dean Lapier passed her the puck from his defensive position.

The Bears picked up the pace in the last few minutes of the period as forward Luke Callaghan tipped the puck past Oakley Beavers to break in on Waytowich. But the Lions goalie would not be beat as he stuck out his right pad to make a big save.

In the dying seconds of the first period, the Lions struck again when Smail and Robinson teamed up to get the puck into the Bears end. The pass went to William Dejong whose shot was deflected off the Evans glove into the net for a commanding 3-0 Lions lead.

In the second period the line of Brooke Lapier, Julenea Barnhartd and Trinity Hanes picked up the Lions scoring chances as they pressed the Bears net and continued to drive shots towards the goal.

The Lions found themselves killing a penalty when Oakley Beavers threw a check at the Bears blue-line and was penalized four minutes for checking to the head.

The Lions killed the first two minutes on some excellent defensive play by Shayna VanBeilen and Bryce Bradford.

Later on a dump a Bears forward, who snowed Lions goalie Waytowich, was called for unsportsmanlike conduct which negated the Bears power play.

South Dundas carried the play through the four on four before an offensive face-off led to the Bears best scoring chance of the day. On the face-off, the Bears centreman timed the puck drop perfectly and wristed a shot that was going into the top corner of the Lions net. But Waytowich got his glove on it to make the save and maintain the Lions 3-0 advantage.

With first place on the line and a shutout within his graps, Waytowich was strong through the third period.

Dejong netted his second goal off a scrambled play where defenceman Oakley Beavers flipped the puck high into the air towards the net where Smail picked it up and fed Dejong for the open shot home.

On the next shift Minish picked up a puck at his own blue line, skated through two defenders into the Bears end and fed Wells who would wrist home his second of the game and Minish’s third point on the day.

The Peewee B2 House Lions are next in action on Monday night in Brockville and at home next Saturday against North Dundas.

Remembrance Day Ceremonies

Saturday, November 10 at 10 a.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 48 in Morrisburg

Sunday, November 11 at 9 a.m. at the Crysler's Farm Battlefield Monument

Sunday, November 11 at 2 p.m. at Matilda Hall in Dixon's Corners

Sunday, November 11 at 10:30 a.m. at The Hartford Retirement Centre, Fifth Street in Morrisburg

Looking for Forever Homes

For information or to adopt Mooch and Chester please call the South Dundas Animal Shelter at 613-543-2980. There are no adoption charges. However in order to provide homes for the animals past the four days the municipality provides for their care, the shelter counts on donations (cash or food). It is also strongly suggested that animals that are adopted be spayed/neutered asap.

Hi my name is Mooch. I am a three year old male Beagle (not neutered). My mommy had to give me away because she wasn’t home enough to take care of me. I like to play and I like to play with children. I have a lot of energy and so am looking for a family that can keep me busy.

In addition to Mooch and Chester, the shelter has a beautiful shepherd/husky mix female (not spayed and 3-4 years old) who has a very friendly temperament and is thought to have been a family pet.

Hi my name is Chester and I’m sad because I don’t have a forever home. They tried to get me to smile for this picture but I am saving all my smiles for my new family. I am a male Shepherd mix (not neutered), and a little over a year old. I walk well on a leash and I am very quick and willing to learn. They say I have a good nose and am very smart. They also say if my new forever best friend has the time to work with me he/she is going to be very happy…me too!!!

Seaway Sevens Hold Pumpkin Extravaganza

It took steady hands and an eye for design, but the students in 7.1 and 7.2 at Seaway District High School proved they were up to the challenge of creating their own pumpkin extravaganza.

Grade seven teacher, Andrew Carson, with the assistance of teachers Mr. Benton and Mme. Driscoll, and LRC teacher Mrs. Fowler, took the 43 students to the art room for some serious pumpkin work on Monday, October 29.

“We had been preparing for today for about a week,” Carson said. “The students had to choose the individual stencils to create their designs. And of course, they had to clean out the pumpkins themselves. That’s been a little messy, but they are enjoying themselves.”

Choices of pumpkin stencils ranged from bats and ghosts to were-wolves and aliens.

All the carvers were hard at work when the Leader arrived.

“The students have been really excited about this. Some of them have never used stencils before. Others have never actually carved a pumpkin. So they were ready to dive in this morning: it’s really a new and fun experience for most of them.”

Smyth’s Apple Orchard provided the 45 pumpkins needed for the classes.

“Those pumpkins were a very generous donation by Smyth’s Apple Orchard,” Carson said, “especially since this is their busy season. We are really grateful.”

Tuesday, October 30, all the pumpkins went to the Seaway gym for the grand lighting ceremony, “sort of our own Pumpkin Inferno,” Carson laughed. At the end of the day, each student took home the pumpkin he or she had created.

And nothing was wasted.

All the pumpkin seeds from the activity were collected and taken to the Developmental Room kitchen where they are going to be baked.

“We’ll be eating them as treats at the Hallowe’en dance this Wednesday,” Carson said.

C.A.V. Sicily wraps up ‘homeless vets’ mission

Saturday, (October 27) representatives of the Branch 48 Royal Canadian Legion in Morrisburg and the local Canadian Army Veterans Motorcycle Unit Sicily (C.A.V. Sicily) got together to complete their mission in support of Operation Leave the Streets Behind for the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund.

In July, C.A.V. Sicily ran its first major fund raiser, since its inception in the summer of 2011, the SD&G Highlanders Highway 43 Memorial Ride which started in Perth and ended up at the home base in Morrisburg.

The ride, which the C.A.V. had hoped would raise between $1,500 and $2,000, did just that and then some when Morrisburg Legion Branch 48 topped it up with a $2,000 donation for a total of $4,669.69 for the Operation Leave the Streets Behind campaign.

C.A.V. president Bill “Justus” Aitken was absolutely delighted. He credited the 52 bikers who participated in the July 8 run and the community (businesses and individuals) from Perth to Morrisburg that supported it.

“The Morrisburg Legion really went above and beyond,” he said. “They donated $2,000 on behalf of us in addition to helping us to facilitate the ride.”

C.A.V. Sicily, named for the 1943 Battle of Sicily when the Allies launched one of the largest combined operations of WWII for control of Sicily, was formed last summer with seven members. The unit has now grown to 17 members which is a mix of 11 Veterans and six supporters, most of whom ride motorcycles.

C.A.V. Sicily members have become familiar to the community thanks to their participation in various events. This past Saturday they were out and about as they joined the Williamsburg Scout groups, for the launch of this year’s Poppy Campaign.

Partnership, new sidewalk formed

South Dundas township and the Upper Canada District School Board have come to an agreement to build a new sidewalk that will make for a safer trip to school for students who walk to Morrisburg Public School.

South Dundas chief administrative officer Stephen McDonald confirmed that the new sidewalk will be located on township property along the fence on the north boundary of the old high school property.

What that means is that the Ottawa Street crosswalk will go back to its original location near Alice Street, rather than its more controversial present location at Second Street.

The partnership between the municipality and the board will see the board paying a substantial amount of the $12,000 sidewalk project cost and the municipality taking on the maintenance costs.

“This is a priority project, and it will be done ASAP,” said McDonald.

Morrisburg Curlers hit the ice

We’re into the third week of curling at the Morrisburg Curling Club and things are rounding into shape.

The Swing and Sweep event had to be cancelled this year, as a result of low numbers interested. Instead, the executive organized an opening bonspiel for last Saturday.

Other events scheduled are Glenn Cougler’s stick bonspiel, the women’s Invitational on Tuesday, December 4, the Gamble bonspiel on Saturday November 17, and the OCA Zone 1 Intermediates from December 22-23.

In addition, a lady from Cornwall is trying to organize an Alzheimer’s bonspiel for Saturday, November 10. Club president, Mahlon Locke tells us there’ll be an information sheet in the lounge. Why not put together a team to support this charity? More information on all events is available at the Club or from the organizers.

Over the summer a good deal of work was done by the executive and other volunteers. The new carpet is in, painting (especially interesting is the red door) and upgrading inside has taken place, -washrooms, bar, etc., and feet-cleaning mats are down at entrances to the ice surface.

The ice is fast, and Wally Baker has some other innovations that have much improved the surface and our curling experience. On November 10 our rocks’ running bands will be reconditioned, to bring back the wonderful curling ability they used to have, well back in the last century.

Our membership numbers are down slightly from last year, but there are a number of new curlers, and it is still possible to register for the league of your choice. Those interested can also curl as a spare, or pay for single games if there is an opening on a team.

Dave King is looking after the day men for anyone who would like to join that league. Tuesday night men’s coordinator Joe McCooeye is the person to see about signing up there, Alice Thompson for the Tuesday afternoon ladies, Susan McIntosh and Claire Locke for Wednesday night ladies, Ruth Kelly for daytime mixed, Ian Wilson for the Thursday night competitive league, and Mahlon Locke for the Friday night mixed league.

Also, the little rockers are being looked after by Ian and Kathy Wilson. Hope to see some more people out!

Mahlon and Paula Locke and their committee organized the opening bonspiel, and arranged a delicious lunch for the curlers in the event. In the early draw, there was some mid-season level curling, with Sid Morrell’s foursome emerging victorious. His team included Ron Beaupre, Ted Herriman and Paul Gunther.

In the second draw Mahlon Locke, Wendy Casselman, Dave McIntosh and Claire Locke were victorious. When the total points for the teams were considered, Sid’s foursome finished first, with Mahlon’s warriors ending up second overall. It was a good day, with profits from the event turned over to the club.

A women’s team competed at Kemptville last Saturday. Gretta McGann, Cheryl Thompson, and Paula and Claire Locke played a single eight-end match in the morning, and defeated a foursome from Brockville. When the winners’ scores were tallied, Morrisburg was in second place, while Smiths Falls took the overall total.

Local teams are entered in several bonspiels around eastern Ontario, and we’ll report on those when they occur. There will be friendly competitions with other club teams from various leagues, and we’ll do our best to keep you informed about those. Do keep us posted on your events, so that we can report to your fans.

Good curling, folks!