February 2013 – Page 8 – Morrisburg Leader

History, arts and culture and cycling top priorities for South Dundas tourism

February 6, 2013 Editor

South Dundas now has a tourism strategy with a focus.

South Dundas council adopted “A Passport Forward: A Tourism Product Development Strategy for South Dundas” in January.

Contained in that report are South Dundas’ priority tourism sectors, now identified as history and historical attractions, arts and culture and cycling.

History was identified as a priority, because history is the second largest draw in SD&G with 12.5 per cent of visitors going to historic sites during their stay. South Dundas has a unique historical narrative, which is an integral part of the community identity.

Identifying the arts and culture sector as a priority builds on thriving assets such as Upper Canada Playhouse. It responds to the increasing desire to experience the community and supports both local visitors and the family/relatives market while enhancing the quality of life for local residents.

Cycling tourism is the primary focus for sector development for Cornwall and the Counties Tourism. South Dundas identifying this too as a priority will facilitate the attraction of a new visitor market here in a format that is ideal for South Dundas as it links businesses and experiences throughout the entire community.

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Looking for a Forever Home

February 6, 2013 Editor

Looking for a Forever Loving Home

Still a young fella, this Husky Mix was rescued just over a week ago in the Riverside Heights area. Small for a husky, he is brown with tan &white markings and is extremely friendly. He has one beautiful blue eye & one beautiful brown eye.

Two advertised dogs (and one we didn’t advertise) were adopted this past week. The four year old ‘pretty lady’ shepherd & the little brown shepherd husky mix have found homes!

Still looking…large Hound mix (PIc 4), young Yellow Lab mix male (Pic 3) (Adopted as of Sunday, February 10)

Seven year old, White Shepherd male named Casper (Pic 2), & special needs Bull dog (not pictured).

Interested in adopting a dog??? Call Kevin at the South Dundas Animal Shelter at 613-543-2980 to find out what dogs are available and to arrange a meeting. This could be one of the best phone calls you will ever make!!!

Join our Facebook family at South Dundas Pet Rescue. We are now pushing 1,500 Facebook contacts!

The South Dundas Shelter is always in need of blankets, towells, dog beds, bowls, collars etc. Thanks to the support of the Morrisburg Animal Hospital, these items can now be dropped off there. Anyone wishing to donate money to help with the support of the animals, particularly with the purchase of their food, can do so by cheque made out to the Municipality of South Dundas and specifically marked for the use of the shelter. Rescued dogs are kept by the municipality for four days after which they are signed over to Kevin Casselman (the municipality's animal control officer) who tries, on his own and with the help of a small group of dog lovers, to find them homes.

This is a public service column. The Leader accepts no responsibility for the dogs or the adoption process.

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Full House for Brunt Memorial Bonspield

February 6, 2013 Editor

The Morrisburg Curling Club held the annual Bernie Brunt Memorial Bonspiel for senior men last week, with 12 teams from Maxville, Prescott, Kingston, Russell, Winchester and Ottawa Rideau in attendance.

Maxville won the first draw with 29.5 points, while Prescott won the second with 30.0, so the latter will get their names inscribed on Bernie’s trophy.

It was a great day, with Joan Morrell and her team providing an excellent lunch, and other members looking after the bar and the ice as needed. Thanks again to Wally Baker, who had the ice in superlative shape for this competition. You did fine, fellows, and did Bernie proud with the event.

On Saturday, three groups of Morrisburg ladies were in Russell for a continental breakfast, curling, lunch, a banquet after the curling, and dancing to a live band.

It was an incredible day, with gifts for all the curlers provided by club members, a male host for each table and wine poured by the men. If our team, in the early draw, hadn’t dragged one of their number off the dance floor, my wife wouldn’t have made it home by 10 p.m. How come our fellows don’t get that kind of a day at their bonspiels?

Alice Thompson, Sharon Van Allen, Sandra Beckstead and Kathy Gurnhill were in the early draw and they won their first game against a Carleton Heights foursome, but dropped their second to a team from the R.A. Centre, the ladies who were first overall on the day. Those women, skipped by an eighty-five year-old lady, travel together to numerous bonspiels, and they showed their class at Russell.

In the second draw, Greta McGann, Betty Locke, Joanne Baker and Linda Murphy defeated a Cornwall team in their morning draw, but lost to Susan McIntosh in the afternoon.

Sue McIntosh, Wendy Casselman and Paula and Claire Locke, as mentioned, won bragging rights among the Morrisburg ladies. In their morning game they defeated a Carleton Heights team, but the R.A folks had a higher point total and won top prize. Sue’s squad celebrated afterwards but made it home before Groundhog Day ended.

As to our youngest curlers, the little rockers are getting into their busy season. They play and practice every Monday night from 4:30-6:00. Nineteen strong, eight of the older ones will compete in the Big Four playdowns with Russell, Winchester and Metcalfe, while two of our younger teams will be in the Little Rock zones in March. They have also entered bonspiels this month in Prescott and Winchester. Let us know how things go, folks!

Ian Wilson tells us that his Thursday night league has passed the half-way point, with John Wilson’s foursome leading the standings with a 10-1 record. Tied for second place are Larry Cooper, Robert Houze and Joe McCooeye with a 7-4 record. Can’t wait for the playoffs!

We have a senior men’s team in Russell for a bonspiel this week and we’ll report on that event and the senior men’s invitational bonspiel next time. In the near future we’ll report on our local interest in the Senior Women’s Provincial finals, our Heart and Stroke bonspiel is on next week, there’s another senior men’s friendly event, and the S.D. &G. playdowns will be held here again.

Good curling to all!

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Dividing community space to house food bank and more

February 6, 2013 Editor

Nothing is officially finalized, but there are tentative plans to fill the space now occupied by the Morrisburg Branch of the SD&G library, at the lower east end of the Morrisburg arena.

Essentially, the space will be divided up as a catch-all.

The primary tenant will be the Dundas County Food Bank.

That means the Food Bank will eventually vacate its present home, in the neighbouring, municipally-owned Second Street building commonly referred to as the ‘old parks building.’

Since before this term of council, the municipality has expressed an interest in finding new homes for the tenants of the ‘old parks’ building, which is to be demolished.

With that in mind, the municipality has spent minimal funds on that building’s upkeep over the last several years.

That building, 50 years ago at the time of the Seaway project was erected then as a temporary building. It continues to be used by the municipality as a home for the Dundas County Foodbank’s South Dundas location, temporary office space for the fire chief and the South Dundas Sports Lending Library.

Once the former Morrisburg Collegiate Institute redevelopment project is complete, transforming that building into South Dundas’ new administrative headquarters, the fire chief’s office will be located there.

The Dundas County Food Bank will take up about half of the current library space at the arena, according to South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds.

“We have no formal agreement with them right now, so this is all tentative,” he said.

The tentative plans for the rest of the space that the library move will open up, are to provide space for the South Dundas Sports Lending Library, which freely lends sports equipment to South Dundas residents, and to take about 20 feet at the extreme north end of the space and partition it off to provide workshop space for the recreation department workers.

None of these tentative plans will materialize until the SD&G library moves into its new location which will be in the space vacated by the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic.

Once the clinic moves into its new home inside the high school building, in about a year’s time, the current clinic location will be renovated for the library.

Byvelds is not yet ready to discuss what plans are in store for the land that will be left vacant when the ‘old parks’ building is demolished.

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Cory White

February 6, 2013 Editor

A lifetime resident of the area, Cory White passed away at the Carefor Hospice in Cornwall on Tuesday, January 28, 2013, following a courageous two year battle with cancer. He was 29.

Cory was born in Winchester on October 25, 1983, to his parents Paul and Karon White (nee Keeler).

He attended Dixon’s Corners Public, Nationview Public School and Seaway District High School. Following high school, Cory took a course for heavy equipment, but didn’t finish because of his illness.

Cory had a big heart, and he cared about others. He was always the first person to volunteer to help out others, even if it meant going out of his way. He would help anyone in need.

Since he was a young boy, Cory had a passion for baseball. He grew up to play in the big leagues and was very talented. He played center field and rarely ever missed a game. One of Cory’s biggest achievements was in 2011, when he was a member of the Cornwall Rockies slow pitch team that won the NSA WORLDSERIES.

This was his proudest moment in baseball, and he and his good friend and cousin Troy White earned beautiful rings in recognition of this victory.

Cory was well respected by fellow ball players and these players were very supportive to Cory throughout his illness.

To Cory: Words cannot explain how much I miss you. You gave me the best moments in life…like proposing to me on the ball field at home plate and a beautiful baby girl. Your two daughters, Hannah and Makenna, have your big brown eyes and cheesy smile.It’s just like looking at you.

You fought a courageous battle from start to finish, and you held your head high and never complained.

Sometimes I don’t know how I’m going to move on in life. After your second surgery you said these words that I’m trying so hard to live by, “why cry and be sad about this when we can spend every moment happy together”. These words will forever remain in my heart. I will think about you every day, and I will tell your daughters stories about you and show them pictures of you. You have been an inspiration to everyone. My time with you may have been cut short, but I’m very thankful and blessed for the short time we had together because those days were the best days of my life. Thank you for loving me.

To my husband, my rock, I love you unconditionally because you made my heart whole and remember love doesn’t run, love doesn’t hide and surely we both didn’t back down from this fight.

Until I see you again until then, Goodbye from your loving wife Janelle White

Cory is survived by his wife Janelle and his daughters Hannah and Makenna; his parents Paul and Karon White (nee Keeler) of R.R.# 2 Brinston; his brothers Curtis (Kathy) of Burlington and Chris (Crystal) of Morrisburg; and his paternal grandmother Berneice Keeler of Prescott.

He was the son-in-law of Jean-Guy Lamarche (Debbie) of Cornwall and Suzanne Seguin of Cornwall; brother-in-law of Shane Seguin of Kingston, Sheena MacLeod (Chris) of Cornwall and Guy Lamarche (Samantha Miller) of Cornwall; and grandson-in-law of Leonard and Josee Lamarche of Cornwall.

Cory will be fondly remembered by aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and many friends.

Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service was held at the funeral home on Friday, February 1st at 11 a.m., with Rev. Marcel Charette officiating. Spring interment will be at Spruce Haven Cemetery, Brinston.

Pallbearers were Curtis White, Chris White, Troy White, Terry White, Jason Roderick, Jamie Roderick, Nathan Markell and Calvin Collison.

Donations to the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre would be gratefully acknowledged by the family.

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Norma Harriman

February 6, 2013 Editor

A lifetime resident of the Williamsburg area, Norma Harriman passed away at the Woodland Villa Nursing Home, Long Sault, on Monday, January 28, 2013. She was 85.

Norma Ella Harriman was born on November 1, 1927, at the family farm on Lightning Street. She was the daughter of Frank and Evah Merkley, nee Saddlemire.

Born prematurely, Norma was delivered by Dr. Locke, and was nurtured for the first few months of her life by her paternal grandmother, Ella Merkley.

Norma grew up on the family farm with her elder sister Joyce and her younger sister Virgie. She attended elementary school at S.S.#11, a one room school on Lightning Street, and secondary school at Morrisburg Collegiate Institute.

After graduation, she worked as a waitress at Woods Restaurant in Williamsburg.

Norma and her family were devoted members of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, and it was there that she met her future husband, Emerson Harriman.

Norma and Emerson were married November 24, 1945, and together they raised three children Burrill, Brenda and Craig.

Other than one year spent on Emerson’s family farm at Riverside Heights, they lived their life together on the Merkley farm on Lightning Street.

Norma always remained active at St. Peter’s. She taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. She was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Women (ELCW), and enjoyed being part of the ladies quilting group. She was actively involved in all church activities.

Norma enjoyed socializing with her many longtime friends and neighbours. She was always ready and willing to extend a ‘helping hand’ to anyone.

Emerson and Norma took short trips, but their biggest trip was to visit Emerson’s family in California in 1968.

Unfortunately, on March 23, 1969, Emerson suddenly passed away; however, Norma and her family continued the farming operation.

Norma enjoyed her grandchildren Kelly, Kari and Jodi who spent plenty of time at “Grandma’s house. She loved them greatly.

When her sisters, Joyce and Virgie, returned to the Williamsburg area upon their retirement, Norma really enjoyed their added companionship with many a visit and cups of tea.

Norma was a devoted mother and wife and loved life on the farm. She was happy working in her kitchen making meals and just as happy outside helping with barn chores and gardening. She loved her animals, always tending to the cows, the dog, the goat and many cats.

Norma’s health began to fail in 2007, and subsequently she became a resident at Woodland Villa in Long Sault.

Norma is survived by her children Burrill of Williamsburg, Brenda (Gordon) Meek of Williamsburg and Craig (Lauren) of Williamsburg and by her sister Virgie (Bill) Kurschinski of Williamsburg.

She will be fondly remembered by grandchildren Kelly Meek, Kari Meek, Jodi Thompson and great-grandchildren Ethan, Owen, Chloe and Sawyer. She is also survived by nieces and nephews.

Norma was predeceased by her husband Emerson and her sister Joyce Patterson.

Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. Funeral service was held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Williamsburg, on Thursday, January 31st at 11 a.m., with Rev. Norine Gullons officiating. Interment followed at New Union Cemetery, Williamsburg.

Pallbearers were Ethan Meek, Owen Meek, Ian McGillis, Alan Casselman, Robert Whitteker and Bruce Garlough.

Donations to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church or Dundas County Hospice would be gratefully acknowledged by the family.

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Perspectives by Rev. Sue McCullough

February 6, 2013 Editor

February 2nd-At Last

It has come and it has gone; that day in the year that many of us look forward to without our even realizing it.

February 2nd is known in the church as Candlemas or the Festival Day of the Candles – the day that all the candles that are used in the church for the coming year are blessed.

Candles were used in the church in times past as a method of lighting but people also believed that they gave protection against illness and famine. For Christians candles are a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world.

Candlemas is also associated with the prediction of weather. If the weather is bright and sunny, more wintery weather is on the way. If the day is cloudy, the worst of the winter weather is behind us.

In Canada and the United States we attribute these predictions to ground hogs – Wiarton Willie in Ontario and Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania, hence Ground Hog Day being celebrated on February 2nd.

February 2nd is the day of winter that marks the midway point between the shortest day of the winter and the spring equinox!

So, my friends, it is now a downward slide to spring!

The number of hours of sunshine is increasing noticeably and the “normal” temperatures should now be on the rise. We have made it better than halfway!

But as I rejoice about the coming of spring, I must keep in mind that through the coming days, beginning on February 13th we will find ourselves observing Lent once again.

We will walk that journey together again as we prepare ourselves for an exceptionally early Easter this year.

As you give some thought to the coming of spring also give some thought to what your Lenten discipline will be this year – “self-examination, penitence, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, reading and meditating on the word of God.” However you choose to observe

Lent, remember the “Light of the World” and how he has made a difference in your life.

Cheers,

Sue+

Rev. Sue McCullough

Anglican Parish of Morrisburg, Iroquois & Riverside Heights

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Perspectives with Rev. Schiebout

February 6, 2013 Editor

Transformed in Love

We are coming up to the last Sunday before Lent which is known as Transfiguration Sunday. Then Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 13. The next day is February 14th.

Have you either seen or purchased for your children or grandchildren, nephews, nieces, or just other children, those figures called transformers?

With a flick of the hand and wrist the transformer can change from a vehicle into a human figure or any combination of figures.

Some of the time the transformers according to popular children’s culture do good or sometimes the transformer is a destructive one.

When we read the story of Jesus and his disciples going up the mountain to pray and get ready for the journey to Jerusalem, there appear Elijah and Moses, perhaps in reference to the Law and Prophets of Judaism. Jesus is transformed before the eyes of his disciples. The glory of Jesus and Elijah and Moses is grand enough that disciple Peter wants the whole tableau to be housed in dwellings.

Each day we may be open to transfiguration through Christ as well.

It is Jesus’ love for God that moves him down the mountain to begin the long road to Jerusalem.

It is God’s love for us and our love for God that prompts us to pray and seek the counsel of others as we begin difficult and happy journeys.

The voice that the disciples heard concerning Jesus includes us. You are God’s beloved, and God’s ever abiding presence will be with you this day and always.

As we are transformed in God’s love then we can share that love transformation with others, and so we will all be about a new heaven and a new earth.

Blessings for Lent and Valentine’s Day.

Rev. Arlyce Schiebout

Lakeshore United Church

Morrisburg

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GIBBerish

February 6, 2013 W. Gibb – Leader staff

When one is on the far side of 50 (sliding downhill even), it’s a bet that reasonable people might be forgiven for asking, “Why on earth did you ever take up tap dancing? Aren’t you the person who thinks using the television remote constitutes a full upper body workout? At your age, what the heck possessed you?”

To them all I say simply that I decided to take up tap dancing because I needed to get involved in some form of exercise, and no one wanted me on the Olympic Ski Team.

I enrolled in adult tap.

The other women in my tap class are perhaps a little younger than me (about two and a half decades). And they are each a little, shall we say, smaller, than me (about the size of my left thigh.)

They have all taken tap for some time, and most come to class in form fitting tights and tops. I tend to appear in those elasticized, ‘comfort-fit’ pants and men’s extra-extra-large t-shirts.

Nonetheless, I am determined to get into shape through dance.

Actually, just bending over to try and get the tight buckles on my tap heels done up equals a full pre-class warm up for me.

Each week for months now we have extensively worked on steps like the frappé, shuffle ball change, the brush, cramp, buffalo and Susie Q. And you know, just as soon as I can remember what any of those terms actually means, I’ll be fine. Currently, I struggle along about two taps behind everybody else in the chorus line: I would like to point out, in my defense, that it used to be four.

What I have primarily learned about tap recitals (yes, a recital!) is that you have to wear a costume. Recitals are an important high point of the dance school year, and hundreds of family and friends fill the hall to watch the performances.

Now that my teacher has firmly established that I must actually dance in front of the back drop curtain at the recital, I find I must also wear a costume. My class mates were very keen on the dance catalogue selections: short, strapless, backless frocks with lots of ruffles and glitter. Their suggestions were eye-catching. Youthful. Small. I mentioned that the last dress slacks I purchased carried a label that said ‘House of Omar the Tent Maker.’

We’ve actually compromised on a kind of 1920’s look for our recital number, complete with plenty of fringe. Still, in idle moments, I find myself imagining what the audience will be thinking if I get all that fringe swinging and swaying on stage, still two beats behind everyone else. Perhaps prairie wheat fields in a gale? Sigh.

The thing is, I like tap dancing. Really like it. I intend to go on.

Still, if I can’t get the choreography in the adult number down a little better by spring, I secretly fear being ‘sent to the minors’ as it were: i.e. the junior tap class.

This class is made up of five-year-old girls, with pig tails and pink tutus.

I might stand out.

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Junior B Lions disturb St. Lawrence Division Playoff Picture

February 6, 2013 Editor

They may not be in the hunt for a playoff position, but the Morrisburg Junior B Lions are having a bit of a say in what is unfolding as the St. Lawrence Division teams jockey for position in the final two weeks of regular season play.

Last Thursday night the Lions were in Casselman where they once again experienced the power of the Vikings in a 16-1 loss.

Peter Ketcheson scored the lone Lions goal at 13:28 of the first period with help from Grant Cooper and Zach Renfrew.

Ryan Cooper was in net for 43 minutes of the Vikings scoring frenzy. Cooper gave up nine goals in 54 shots before Lions affilliate goaltender Zack Frawley stepped in for 17 minutes of action and 16 shots.

Friday night at the Char-Lan Recreation Centre, is was a different story as the Lions nabbed the division’s second place Char–Lan Rebels for a 5-2 victory.

The Lions came out hard and fast, going up 3-0 in just over 10 minutes of the first period.

Michael Paquette (from Eric Evans and Sam Hodgson) got it rolling and then Evans made it 2-0 with help from Grant Cooper and Michael Paquette.

At the 10:35 mark of the first period, Zach Renfrew teamed with Drew Veenstra and the Lions found themselves in a 3-0 position.

The Rebels did get one back, on their power play from Lawson MacDougall at 17:40 of the period.

In the second period, the Lions added goal number four on their power play. This time is was Clark Veenstra counting with Taylor Eamon and Martin Lavallee adding the assists.

Heading into the third period, the Lions went to work to hold onto their three goal advantage.

Nicholas Santoro beat Lions goaltender Ryan Cooper at 13:32 to get one back, but that was it.

Matthew Burns made it 5-2 for the Lions on their power play, with 2:13 left in the game. Cooper and Lavallee were on board for the assists.

The Rebels out shot the Lions 35-26 and were successful in one of five power-play opportunities. The Lions counted two goals in their eight power-play opportunities.

The Lions win is their first since November 16. It ended a 20 game losing streak.

While it was a big win for the Lions, it was a tough loss for the second place Glens who also lost to the Winchester Hawks, Friday night, 4-3.

Due to the two losses, the Rebels now find themselves perched precariously in second place. Although it was never a possibility of catching the first place Vikings, it was a matter of holding on to second place (mainly for home ice advantage in the first playoff round).

Right on their heels are the Akwesasne Wolves who posted a pair of weekend wins over Alexandria 5-4 and Winchester 4-2.

Four points back of the third place Wolves are the Winchester Hawks, whose current fourth place position will pit them again the Vikings in the division’s first play off round.

Coming up this weekend, the Lions will play a home and home series against Akwesasne. Their final home game of the season is this Friday night, February 8. Game time is 8:30 p.m. They will travel to the Wolves barn for their final game of the season on Saturday night.

At the very least, the Wolves will be looking for a tie in one of the two games, to prevent them from sliding into the division’s fourth place.

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