2012 – Page 25 – Morrisburg Leader

Tractors Ready; Hick Day is here

September 26, 2012 Editor

Stormy Howard here with the up to date news at Seaway!

Last week at Seaway was spirit week! We had exciting games and activities. Monday started assassin that went on all week. We had some very sneaky people! “I was ambushed by two girls! I was running around the school trying to hide,” said Michael Butler. Thursday was really fun too. It was hick day and Seaway students dressed up in their finest redneck wear!

These past few weeks have been busy with sports.

Cross country had their first meet in Port Hope at the annual Trinity Harrier Meet. Brynn Gilmour came in third, Sophia Currier placed 24th, Lauryn Henry finished 73rd and Kendra Buter finished 115. Great work ladies! The next tournament is in Mooney’s Bay on September 27th – Good luck to all in Ottawa.

Boys volleyball also had the first pre-season game. Ms. Last would like to thank the boys who played last Thursday. They not only played some impressive volleyball but also showed some awesome Seaway spirit! Their next tournament is October 3rd at Rothwell-Osnabruck

Brody Casselman and Greg Bolton will be featured in an upcoming Cornwall Standard Freeholder article. Brodey is in the Agriculture High Skills Major at Seaway! He is doing a dual credit with Kemptville College–year one Dairy Herdsperson. Greg is in the special edition featuring future leaders from a number of area high schools. Greg worked for the Canadian Military last summer and volunteers at Seaway and at St. John Ambulance

This coming Friday, Seaway is having a sport day! We have golf, kayak/canoeing, soccer, cycling, swing dance, swimming, badminton, tennis and bowling. Each student gets to pick two activities (except cycling, that’s running all day).

That morning we are also taking our Terry Fox walk, after the pep rally. We are selling paper feet to support cancer research. Cancer is a disease that affects everyone, so make sure to bring some spare change and decorate your paper feet in honour of those who have met with the disease.

Seaway is also taking part in the Williamsburg Harvest Festival parade. We will have a school float with the theme of “Barn building”. The parade is on September 29 from 11:30 to 1 p.m. Community hours are also available for this activity. Contact Mrs. Gilmour if you would like to participate.

We have been very busy here at Seaway. It’s hard to believe that our first month is coming to an end and Thanksgiving is around the corner.

It feels like just yesterday we were shy, nervous grade 9’s, but now we’re in the swing of things and ready to succeed.

Taking time for a hick day photo at Seaway back l-r are Becca VanBeilan, Stephanie Roskell, Alyssa MacMillan, Helen Mathieu (EA), Shannon van Moorsel and Jessica Hartle. Front are Mackenzie Barkley (left) and Maggie Perry.

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Muir, Patenaude, medalists at senior summer games

September 26, 2012 Editor

Ten athletes from a team of 60 that represented District 8 at the Ontario Summer Senior Games in Brampton, August 15-16, returned home bearing medals and among them was Morrisburg golfer Monique Patenaude.

Patenaude collected a silver medal in the ladies A flight division with a 36 hole net score of 160.

On the opening day the 21 handicapper shot a 103 for an 82 net and on the second round she posted a 99 (78 net) on what she described as a “very beautiful, but very difficult Masters course at the Lion Head Golf and Country Club.

The Masters Course plays to 5,392 yards from the ladies red tees and its difficulty is indicated through its slope rating of 131.

“It was probably one of the nicest courses I have ever played,” said Patenaude who, as an avid golfer, has played her share of courses, and “probably one of the hardest courses I have ever played.”

“There were a lot of bunkers and long rough. On most holes, from 130 yards in, you had to carry rough or sand traps. That’s why I found it so difficult. I am not a long ball hitter.”

Patenaude said that generally the scores were high for both the men’s and women’s field.

The women’s A flight win went in a 36 hole net score of 150 (a pair of 75 nets) to Loretta Czernis.

While Patenaude was working her way to the A flight silver medal, Cedar Glen golfer, Elise Muir of Long Sault claimed a gold medal in B flight.

With that win Muir qualified for the Summer Nationals coming up in 2014.

Patenaude and Muir began their journey to the provincial championship in a qualifier organized by Ann Cook at Cedar Glen.

“We had about 50 or so players for the District 8 qualifier,” said Patenaude who with husband Andy, has now joined the Senior Games board of directors for this area. District 8 covers Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Prescott-Russell and Akwesasne.

The qualifier included A and B flights and a Calloway scored division.

In A flight, Patenaude won gold with a 90, Lynn Shaw was second and Susan McIntosh scored a Bronze Medal. Shaw and McIntosh are both Cedar Glen members.

Muir won B flight and Lise Steinburg (Morrisburg) was the Callaway winner.

The winners in each category advanced to the provincial although Steinburg was unable to attend and was replaced by silver medallist Pam McTear.

Patenaude has been competing in the seniors games (golf) for several years and says it is a wonderful experience. The games are always well run and you meet a lot of people.

“I recommend getting involved in the games to anybody,” says Patenaude.

In order to participate athletes must pay a $12 yearly membership fee and that covers both summer and winter events.

In addition to golf, summer events include bid euchre, bocce, bowling, contract bridge, cribbage, cycling, darts, shuffleboard, lawn bowling, pickleball, slo-pitch, swimming, tennis and walking. Some events use prediction times.

Other District 8 medallists were Beverley Ray and Jackie Merpaw of Cornwall-gold in Cribbage; Susan Kersley (65 plus) and Donna Magher (55 plus) both of Williamstown-bronze medals in swimming; Murray MacLeod and Michel Cadieux of Cornwall -bronze in men’s 55 plus pickleball doubles; and Linda and Graham Vickers of Alexandria who won silver and bronze respectively in 55 plus prediction cycling.

With the summer games now over, the local executive of the Ontario Senior Games Association is busy making plans for the upcoming winter games. Gold medal winners in the local games will qualify to go to Huntsville in February for the Ontario 55 plus Winter Games (previously Winterfest).

The local senior games committee is also planning to host the Eastern Ontario Regional Games next August when over 600 competitors from Eastern Ontario will take part in 15 different events.

Local seniors are invited to contact Andy and Monique Patenaude at 543-3453 or andyandmonique@sympatico.ca for more information.

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No concern over code of conduct

September 26, 2012 Editor

After the next council meeting South Dundas council will have their first ever code of conduct.

Staff presented council with a draft of the code of conduct at the September 18 council meeting, and no member of council had any issues, questions or suggestions for amendments to the draft.

“There’s nothing here I can’t sign,” commented deputy mayor Locke.

Of the code, councillor Jim Graham said, “This is certainly something that will be enforceable.”

“This is a trend that is happening, and it’s a good thing,” said councillor Evonne Delegarde.

“There’s nothing here that’s news, but it’s nice to have it put in writing,” said councillor Archie Mellan.

Mayor Steven Byvelds was very pleased with the draft document saying that South Dundas’ code is better than the others he had seen at the recent Ontario East municipal conference.

The document spells out the roles of council, the head of council and officers and employees of the municipality.

It sets out the minimum standards of conduct and specific rules about handling confidential information and releasing information to the media. With this new document council will also have a specific list of procedures to help them handle operational inquiries.

Compliance with this code will be mandatory, as any member of council, staff or the public who believes the code has been contravened will be able to submit a formal complaint to an integrity commissioner. The integrity commissioner will have the power to investigate the complaint filed, make a decision regarding the infraction and impose necessary penalties.

The integrity commissioner will be retained through a contract whereby they provide the service to the municipality on an as needed basis.

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Perspectives by Rev. Sue McCullough

September 26, 2012 Editor

There is a third choice…

In late July, while Dave was with me here in Morrisburg, we went out for a walk with Ziggy, our big, goofy, yellow Labrador retriever. As a good pet owner, I am vigilant about cleaning up after my dog. When I was picking up Ziggy’s “calling card” I noticed that he needed to go to his doctor to be treated for worms. The appointment was made for a couple of days later.

Two days later, I loaded the Ziggy into the car and off we went to one of his favourite places in the entire world – to see Dr. Hunt. Now, you may have gathered that my dog is out of the ordinary – where many critters aren’t thrilled to go to the clinic, my dog loves to visit the people there. While we were there with our ‘sample’ Dr. Hunt noticed that something didn’t “look right.” I agreed to leave Ziggy for some x-rays. Dave and I returned to pick him up later that afternoon.

Upon meeting with Dr. Hunt later that day, we were given the worst news that we could have received about our big, goofy dog. He had a hemangiosarcoma – that is a cancerous tumor growing on the blood vessels of his spleen.

We were devastated by this – after all he was just his usual self, running around, playing, sleeping – all the things that a dog does. It was then that we were told what our options were.

The first option was that we could just leave it. The tumor would eventually rupture and there would be internal bleeding – that in our minds was not an option.

The second option was for the veterinarian to do exploratory surgery and remove the spleen if the cancer hadn’t obviously metastasized. The conversation continued around this option which included things like the seriousness of the surgery, the cost, what happened if the cancer had spread. We cried as we tried to figure out what was best for Ziggy.

It was then when Dr. Hunt said, “There is a third option.”

We considered how our 13 year old dog would tolerate the surgery. He had already lived past the average age of a dog his size. The recovery would be hard for him. We needed to decide about the third option – the option of euthanasia.

Dave, Ziggy and I headed home. When we arrived he was happy to be home and Dave and I had the difficult decision to make. After a lot of talking, crying and hugging of Ziggy and each other, we decided that there was no option but number three.

If anyone ever questions why God created animals to be pets, I simply say, “To bring more joy and more love into our lives.”

We were blessed in so many ways by having Ziggy as a part of our family. He was one of God’s special creatures. We were chosen to be his caregivers and I give thanks to God for that privilege.

Part of being a servant of God in the world is to care for God’s critters as well as God’s people. The way I see it we were good stewards of God’s creation.

Now when I sing the hymn “All Creatures of our God and King” there will be new meaning for me – not only will I think of the human creatures, but I will think of all those creatures who have brought so much joy to God’s people.

Cheers,

Sue+

Rev. Sue McCullough

Anglican Parish of Morrisburg, Iroquois & Riverside Heights

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Sarabeau riders collect Trillium ribbons

September 26, 2012 Editor

”Everyone rode really great,” says Sarabeau Stables owner Sandy Marcellus of her six riders who represented her stable at the Ontario Trillium Championship at the Caledon Equestrian Park at Palgrave, Ontario, September 5-9.

In just her second season of operation, Marcellus has been impressed with the steady improvement of her riders, which resulted in four qualifiers for the provincial final last year, and six this year.

“We brought home a few ribbons,” says Marcellus. “We did well.”

Leading the riders was Marcellus’ daughter Rayanna.

Riding Morganfield, an experienced 18 year old thoroughbred gelding, Rayanna picked up third place ribbons in the Children’s Medal and A Equitation Over Fences categories.

“Both Morganfield and Rayanna rode well They were tough divisions,” said Sarabeau trainer Cheryl Levere.

Then on Piccolini, a 10 year old large Arabian Welsh pony, Rayanna placed sixth in the Hunter Classic which saw over 84 competitors.

Levere explains that the Classic feature more jumps and more difficult turns. “It tests both horse and rider. A sixth place finish was really good. I didn’t really expect she would do that well, mostly because of the way Piccolini was showing before that. It was really good. The pony pulled it together and Rayanna pulled it together.”

“Last year they had a complete melt down and that was scarey to watch.”

Rayanna added that “I was really happy. I knew I had a good ride, but I didn’t expect my score.”

Also riding well was Troy Webb, 14, of Ingleside on Morganfield. In just his second year of riding, and his first experience at such a high level of competition, Webb had fifth and 10th place finished in Modified Children’s out of 48 competitors.

“Troy had a good classic round,” says Levere. “He rode the way we planned,” and that was in spite of the heavy rain that marked the day.

Levere describes 14 year old Serena Armstrong’s ride on My Time to Shine in the Medium Pony Hunter division as “really, really good. It was Serena’s first year doing Hunter and the pony’s first show season. They pulled it together and they did the job.”

The job resulted in a 10th place finish in Medium Pony Hunter.

Also riding was big sister Brianna on Shez Justa Dream. Brianna picked herself up after a fall (and a resulting trip to the hospital) during her Children’s Hunter ride to complete her ride in Children’s Classic.

“Brianna came back, She was sore but she got on the horse and did her Classic,” said Levere. “Shez Justa Dream is a small horse and at Caledon, the lines are there for bigger horses, so the horse just physically couldn’t do it.”

“When you get to Trillium, the jumps are more difficult. They are wider and scarier. There is no air anywhere. Shez Just a Dream did great all year and she made a couple of the shorter lines up there.”

Also riding for Sarabeau was Julie Julien of Cornwall on Palakari. Although Julien did not return home with a ribbon, in either Low Hunter or Adult Equitation Over Fences, “they rode great. Julie gets the jitters and they got the better of her. But the last day she had the best ride she’s had all year. So she finished off the season really well.”

Also riding Palakari was Jeana Lamothe, 14, of Ingleside in Modified Children’s.

“Jeana had a great round. At times she was nervous but at times Pall wasn’t listening. Pal doesn’t like mud. He’s a bit of a wuss. And the second day there was a lot of mud and it got the better of them. Their first round that day was a disaster, but for their second round they pulled it together. They didn’t place but Jeana rode really well.”

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Marine telephone reporting in place at Morrisburg Dock

September 26, 2012 Editor

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has confirmed that a working public telephone has been re-installed at the Morrisburg Town Dock marine telephone reporting site.

Canadian Law requires that individuals entering Canadian waters report to the CBSA. This is not a new requirement.

In 2011, the CBSA, in an attempt to make this reporting requirement less burdensome to Canadian and United States (U.S.) boaters, modernized its reporting requirements by allowing certain Canadian and American citizens and Permanent Residents to contact the CBSA from their cellular telephone upon arrival in Canadian waters rather than proceeding to a designated Marine reporting site and calling the Telephone reporting Centre (TRC) in order to report to the CBSA.

The following group of individuals may report by cellular phone: Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have not landed on U.S. soil; and U.S. Citizens and permanent residents who do not plan on landing on Canadian soil.

Those boaters who are residents of the United States and who intend to land on Canadian soil, or Canadian boaters who touched land in the U.S. and are returning to Canada are required to report to a CBSA designated marine reporting site from the land based telephone provided by the marina to obtain clearance from the CBSA.

To report to a TRC from a landline, only one individual may leave the vessel to call the CBSA. The vessel and passengers must be cleared by the CBSA before any other passengers are permitted to disembark the vessel.

The public telephone located at the Morrisburg Town Dock Marine Reporting Site was removed earlier this summer. While there was no telephone available at the reporting site, temporary reporting measures were put into place.

With the phone now back in place and back in service, boaters must return to proper reporting procedures.

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Drafting rules for signs

September 26, 2012 Editor

A sign bylaw for South Dundas is in the works.

A first draft of the bylaw was given to council at a recent meeting, however they were not happy with the document which they found too restrictive and far reaching.

With council’s input the document is being amended to better fit this municipality’s needs.

What council would like to see is a document that primarily addresses the use of temporary signs, especially those which are scattered along the front of busy retail areas like the plazas in Morrisburg and Iroquois.

After they provided their input, council asked that the document be reviewed by the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce, the Morrisburg Business Improvement Area and the Iroquois and District Business Association.

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Please be prepared

September 26, 2012 Editor

One of my favourite sounds is the thump of my golden retriever’s tail as he slaps it on the floor during a belly rub. One of my favourite sights is my golden retriever waiting for me when I arrive home with his tail and whole back end wagging in delight. One of my favourite daily activities is being greeted by my golden retriever … running between my legs and jumping around like a wild man, a wonderful wild man. And one of my favourite gifts is that brought to me by my golden retriever…sometimes a sock, maybe his chew toy, yes even the items he lovingly retrieves from the laundry basket. They are just for me, dog drool and all.

And so having done last week’s story about the South Dundas Animal shelter that deals with discarded animals, many of whom at one time probably did the same things for someone they loved and trusted and looked to, to take care of them, I have had a hard time thinking about these unwanted animals.

For anyone who is thinking of becoming a first-time dog owner, please think it over carefully, and please make sure you are absolutely ready for all the responsibility, work, time commitment and expense that comes with owning and loving a dog.

Please be prepared for medical costs and the costs of food and supplies; please be prepared to provide your guy/gal with the exercise and attention that will be needed; please be prepared to work through the puppy stage, the chewing, the barking, the romping; please be prepared to live with hair, everywhere; please be prepared to deal with floors made dirty by wet paws; please be prepared to deal with brown pee spots on your beautiful green lawn and holes freshly dug in your flower beds; please be prepared to have a vehicle decorated with hair on the seats and drool marks on the windows; please be prepared to have play toys laying around the house; please be prepared to deal with health issues that come up and with the fact that your dog will age and pass on before you; and please, please be prepared to deal with this as a loving, kind, humane owner that your best friend knows you to be.

And if you are prepared for all of the above and much, much more, and you decide to let a wonderful new friend into your life then please be prepared to be loved unconditionally with tail wags and big licks and much, much more. BMc

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Junior Lions make it two in a row

September 26, 2012 Editor

It took just 10 seconds and it was just what the doctor ordered here Sunday afternoon as the Morrisburg Junior B Lions scored off the opening face of the third period to post their fifth goal of the game and reclaim a two-goal lead against the visiting CharLan Rebels.

Although the St. Lawrence Division’s first-place Rebels would get one back at 6:28 of the third to tighten the gap to 5-4, that would be all they would get from Lions goaltender Mikael Dion.

The 5-4 win, their second consecutive, gives the Lions a 2-1 record for four points and puts them in third place in the St. Lawrence division, tied with the Alexandria Glens. The Rebels lead the division with six points (three wins-one loss) and Casselman is second with five points (two wins-two ties).

For the first time in a long time, the Winchester Hawks find themselves in the division basement with two points (one win-three losses), while the Akwesasne Wolves have two points (one win-two losses) to hold fifth spot.

The Rebels were first on the scoreboard in Sunday’s game with a goal from Nick Senseverino at 1:12 of the first period.

Thirteen seconds later the Lions, Michel Lefebvre evened it with help from Clark Veenstra and Sylvester Bzdyl and that was it until well into the second period when the Rebels went up 2-1 on a power-play goal from Dean Derouchie.

Once again the Rebels goal roused the Lions and this time it took Chris Rutley just 17 seconds to even it (2-2) with Grant Cooper and Michael Poapst providing the assists.

The momentum stayed with the Lions who went to work for their first lead in the game on their power play. Scoring at 8:07 was Curtis Pilon with Matt Marcel assisting.

The Lions held on to the 3-2 advantage until 11:58, when once again their power play came through, this time with Lefebvre counting (his second of the game) and Clarke Veenstra providing his second assist for a 4-2 Lions lead.

As the minutes ticked away on the second period, the Rebels managed to tighten the gap to 4-3 on a Quinlin MacDonnell goal.

The third period opened with the Michael Poapst goal off the opening face off won by Chris Rutley (to Grant Cooper).

Tyler Filion scored the Rebels final goal at 6:28 of the third and the Lions held on for the 5-4 win.

Robbie Chapman was in net for the Rebels loss. Shots on net were fairly even with the Rebels out-shooting the Lions 32-30.

One hundred and fifteen minutes in penalties were handed out in the game, 66 of them to the Rebels. The second period saw four, five-minute fighting majors (two separate instances) and game misconducts handed out. The Rebels drew a third fighting major (and misconduct) with just over one minute left in the third period.

Coming up this weekend, the Lions have two games scheduled. Friday night (September 28) they travel to Winchester for an 8:15 p.m. game against the Hawks, and Sunday they are at home to the Alexandria Glens. Game time is 2:30 p.m.

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OPG selling off waterfront land

September 26, 2012 Editor

Waterfront land owned by Ontario Power Generation is going up for sale in South Dundas.

OPG Real Estate is undertaking a province-wide review of its surplus lands and in that review they have so far decided that six waterfront properties in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry are surplus to OPG’s operational needs. The identified lots are vacant and zoned for residential use, so OPG has applied to the United Counties to sever the properties to allow them to be sold as building lots.

Four of the land division applications are in South Dundas, two along Lakeshore Drive, one at the intersection of Lakeshore Drive and County Road 2 and the other at the east end of Grisdale Boulevard. The other two are in South Stormont on Ault Island.

Asked if OPG has previously severed land for sale in SD&G, Cathy Nelson, counties planning secretary, said, “This is the first I’ve seen.” Nelson has been working with the counties in the land severance division for about 10 years.

The application process for these lands is underway with abutting property owners sent notice of the severance applications. The applications have been circulated to agencies including the two municipalities and South Nation Conservation for comment.

Of the adjacent landowners who received notification, about a dozen have contacted the counties to allow them the opportunity to voice their concerns/objections through the public process, before the County decides on whether or not to grant the land severances.

One home owner with concerns recently contacted The Leader to express her concerns and to help raise awareness that this land severance process is taking place.

Sara Lawson holds the land licence on the OPG-owned property at the end of Grisdale Boulevard. This land severance, if successful, will privatize the whole 2.5 acre waterfront section that she presently maintains and uses according to OPG specifications.

Her land licence, which expires in 2016, will be cancelled.

“I feel that a discrimination has taken place,” said Lawson, “Everyone else gets to keep the licensed bits of land in front of them.” Lawson expressed her disappointment and explained that she has always been a careful steward of the land being ever mindful of the historical and ecological significance of the area. “We didn’t ask to have this land kept by OPG. They kept it.”

“I would lose my river access,” says Lawson, adding that she won’t be the only one as she has always been open to the fishermen, walkers and other people using the river access respectfully.

“We’re not a city,” said Lawson. “It is so shortsighted to let this be developed as residential land when there are houses for sale all over that seem to be showing little signs of movement.”

“OPG does not have a specific number of applications/schedule for applications identified at this time for future severances,” said Neal Kelly, Director Media, Issues, Information Management Ontario Power Generation.

“If the current severance and sale is successful, OPG may proceed to sell other properties in the area.”

He further explained that, the OPG-owned lands licensed to private residential owners along the St. Lawrence differ in terms of permitted uses, elevations, environmental constraints, access, and the majority are waterfront lands maintained for OPG’s operational purposes.

OPG’s program of licensing some properties to adjacent owners will continue as a means of managing these waterfront operational lands.

The lands subject to the current severance applications offer characteristics that allow for their development as residential lots. In those circumstances, if the lot is deemed applicable for sale, the current Waterfront Licence may be cancelled.

These Licensees will have the same opportunity as other potential buyers to purchase the properties.

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