Month: May 2013

“If Jane Ewing had one flaw, it was this. No one ever taught her to say no. And for that we should all be very, very grateful,” said Corry Martens, at the May 25 dedication of a plaque commemorating the life, and dedication to this community, of the late Jane Ewing.

Family, friends and dignitaries gathered by the Morrisburg Plaza town clock to unveil a plaque, made by Merrickville’s The Village Tinsmith, which honours the years of quiet leadership and hard work Jane devoted to the Morrisburg Business Improvement Area. The plaque read in part that she “greatly enhanced our community.”

Welcomed by Shelley Cumberland, several speakers shared their memories of Jane and the incredible job she had done as co-ordinator of the BIA.

“It is a pleasure to be here and to honour Jane, ensuring that her memory and her legacy continue,” said mayor Steven Byvelds. “She always dedicated herself to the job at hand.”

James Grant, retired fire chief of Edwardsburgh-Cardinal, a lay person with the United Church, and a friend of the Ewings for 35 years, said “We are here to honour Jane for her tireless hours of service. She shared her time with the BIA and the community, always putting her everything into the projects she took on. Her peers have chosen to honour her with this memorial, which will remain forever a reminder of the dedication Jane brought to her community and its people.”

Corry Martens, who, in February, first proposed the idea of a memorial for Jane to the executive of the MBIA, worked alongside her for 10 years.

“I saw what it takes to do a job like this,” she said. “Jane was a real force in the BIA. In fact, she was the BIA. Yet she always seemed happiest working behind the scenes and in the background. She really didn’t like the lime light, but she did so much for us all. Jane Ewing was a great lady. I am glad we have the opportunity here to honour her memory.”

[…]

 The employees and volunteers helping out at the Morrisburg Canadian Tire on May 25, the fifth annual national Jumpstart Day, proudly wore the Jumpstart motto: “Together we can help all kids play.”

This year, through the generosity of area shoppers, the Morrisburg store was able to raise $570 for the program, Victoria Davidson,  store computer operator and store co-ordinator for the campaign, said. 

 Jumpstart is part of the May Red Ball campaign, which seeks to ensure that all kids, whatever their economic background, can take part in organized sports. 

Funds raised locally, stay local. “In 2012, Jumpstart helped 89 South Dundas kids, and 587 have been helped since the program began,” said Sherry Telfer, a volunteer for the day.

Telfer and her husband, Jim Turner, came to visit her son, Shaun, and his wife, at their new store. “We came to visit, but he immediately put us to work,” she laughed. “It’s an important cause.”

“I like that all the money raised here goes directly to our community,” said Canadian Tire store owner, Shaun Telfer. 

“I feel we are having a direct impact locally. All our store employees are involved in this campaign. and one of our employees, Victoria Davidson, has co-ordinated the event for us.”

Davidson said that Canadian Tire donated three raffle prizes for the draw. The lucky winners were Trevor Beckstead (1st), Tanya Meilleur (2nd) and Lois Dignard (3rd). Canadian Tire also brought in the Barnyard Zoo from Winchester Spring and Tribek Inflatables to keep small visitors amused and involved. The Morrisburg Leos served up hot dogs for shoppers. 

The Jumpstart committee locally is chaired by David Lapier, and the committee determines which children in need in South Dundas could best be helped by the funds raised by Canadian Tire on Jumpstart day.

[…]

Four of the six branches of the Stormont-Dundas District of the Women’s Institute have recently disbanded.

Among them was the district’s largest branch, Riverside Heights. The others were Ingleside, Finch and Newington.

Declining and aging membership has left the district finding it difficult to fill key positions such as president and secretary roles. According to W.I. rules, if those positions cannot be filled at the district level, the lower tier branches lose their governance.

The prospect of that happening resulted in many of this district’s branches making the hurried decision to disband. 

“I have really enjoyed this group,” said Florence McManus of the Riverside Heights WI, explaining that decision was a sad and difficult one to make.

“Maybe we should have waited, but it’s done.”

McManus said that it was important to the group, which was formed 54 years ago, to make the decision on their own. “We really didn’t want to be forced into it.”

Having agreed to disband has meant that the club remains in charge of how and where their remaining funds are disbursed.

“We are all very sad that this is happening,” said Beth Short who is in charge of public relations for the district. “Our members are getting older and the world is moving faster. The younger people are just not getting involved, so we are not getting new members. And our older members just can’t keep up the pace.”

“We are all so sad. We didn’t want to see it go that way,” said Short.

The mass disbandment has left only two branches of the WI in this district; Williamsburg and Chesterville.

These two branches have people to fill the key roles and thus have been able to maintain the district.

“It is wonderful that they have done that, and we congratulate them on their efforts,” said Short. She hopes that those who belonged to the disbanding branches will be able join one of the two branches which remains.

For more than a century, Women’s Institute Members have actively worked together for family, home, community and country.  The objective of the first Women’s Institute Branch, formed in 1897, was to improve women’s skills in the art of homemaking and childcare.

The Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario was organized in 1919 giving Members a stronger voice by working together as a united group. Through high-quality education and support programs and services, FWIO’s original focus expanded to include personal growth opportunities, government lobbying and health and community wellness initiatives.  Today, FWIO has more than 4,500 Members in nearly 350 Branches across the province.

[…]

He had hoped to return to the classroom yesterday, but Rodney Benton, the Seaway District High School teacher who was last week struck by lightning, still needs a little more time.

Benton was outside of the school at lunchtime running a boys baseball practice, May 15. When he noticed the skies darkening, he told the kids it was time to head inside.

On his way into the school, carrying an aluminum baseball bat he was struck by lightning. None of the students were harmed by the lightning strike that occurred at 12:20 p.m.

“All I heard was a loud noise. I saw a bright orangy white light, and I was knocked down to the ground,” said Benton. “I didn’t know what had happened, then the kids told me I was struck by lightning.”

The group rushed into the school. “I guess that’s when the shock set in,” said Benton, recalling the difficulty he had in communicating. “It was like everything was happening in the distance,” he said.

Staff had called paramedics, who started treatment immediately and transported him to Winchester Hospital.

Benton says at Winchester Hospital he was hooked up to IVs and monitored closely. He explained that they watch closely for kidney failure and they did some tests on his heart and his muscles, which contract with a huge intensity during a lightning strike.

Benton, a 31-year old father of two, soon to be three, is happy to report that at his last doctor’s appointment his heart is looking good, his kidneys are doing well and his muscles are getting back to normal.

“Physically, I’m getting there, but mentally this is taking a toll,” he said. “Thinking so much about your own mortality is a weird feeling,” he says.

“Honestly, I want to get back into the public and back to school, but mentally and physically, I’m not sure I’m ready yet,” he said.

He has only talked to a few of his students online since the incident last week.

But, he has done a lot of talking to the media. “I know that I wouldn’t want to be famous,” he says. 

“After a traumatic event like this, it’s a lot to be telling the same thing over and over again. But, I guess that’s a form of therapy too. The other day I was getting a bit fed up with talking about the same thing over and over again, because everyone is asking me about it. My mom made me realize that people are asking out of genuine concern.”

“This story has had a happy ending. When so often news stories are all about the bad, this is a nice survival story,” said Benton.

“I would really like to thank Terry Gardiner, SDHS principal and the staff for all their actions. The cards and emails I’ve gotten have been incredible. Seaway is like another family to me. I really want to give a shout out to them,” concluded Benton.

[…]

The crowd was much smaller but the concerns were mostly the same at the May 16 SD&G Library Board hosted public information session which took place at the Morrisburg library branch.

About 30 people attended the meeting. Most had previously attended the meeting in Williamsburg the week before.

While this information session was meant to show the people of Morrisburg what the board has planned for the new branch, 95 percent of the questions asked and concerns raised from the floor were from the same people who are continuing to actively fight to keep the Williamsburg branch of the library open.

Karen Franklin made the County library presentation that rationalized and explained the need for change. 

“If we don’t make changes, the library system is at risk of sinking into oblivion,” she said. “Change is necessary and change can be good.”

Because the new branch location in Morrisburg will see foot traffic of 300-500 people per day passing through the doors of the building, they hope they will be able to attract some new users. Presently, about 12 percent of South Dundas residents are active library users.

At this meeting, as at the meeting in Williamsburg, South Dundas council was accused of not working for what the people want. 

Although some members of South Dundas council were at the meeting, they were there strictly in an observatory role. 

Library board chair Bill McGimpsey did comment on this point. “They too are elected to represent the other 10,000 people of South Dundas who are not using the library,” he said.

South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke did point out that council has yet to declare an official position on the matter and that will be done at the next council meeting.

Regardless of South Dundas council’s official position, the Library board has already decided that the consolidation is taking place and that the Williamsburg branch is closing. 

Even if South Dundas council supports the idea of maintaining a library in Williamsburg, the library is being displaced from their current home as of August 1, and the library board has no funds at their disposal to make arrangements for an alternate location. 

“Next election, people will remember this,” said Sandra Bailey to the politicians in the room. “As long as there’s 10 kids in Williamsburg using this library, keep the damn thing open. Find the money. There’s money for other things, why not this?” 

Someone in the audience explained that although he understands that the library is trying to stay alive, the library in Williamsburg is an important resource that the people there are trying to hold on to. “By removing this resource, children are being deprived.” he said. 

Mary Strader questioned how the consolidation would truly be an enhancement. “The only enhancement I see is a few additional hours of open time: Not more terminals. Not more books. I see it as less.”

“Look around, look at who’s here. Nobody in Morrisburg is even interested to see what’s coming their way. You are going after the non-users at the expense of the users,” concluded Strader.

[…]

Store owner Ken Rundle was very busy on Saturday, May 18, as he welcomed old and new visitors to the grand re-opening of the newly renovated Giant Tiger store in Morrisburg. He and his staff of 30 had been on the site since early morning, as large crowds took advantage of the savings and the fun activities scheduled.

“It’s a perfect day,” Rundle said. “We were hoping for big re-opening crowds and we are definitely getting them. The Morrisburg and District Lions have been serving up hot dogs and pop for $1, and people have been lined up non stop.” All funds  raised by the Lions at the GT celebration go to the club’s charities and projects.

Standing in the bright store, its walls painted a warm yellow, Rundle explained that the renovations had taken about 11 weeks. “We’ve changed the store around, grouped merchandise to create a better flow for customers. We stayed open during the entire renovation so people could actually see the transformation. All Giant Tiger stores are moving to this new concept. Cornwall is celebrating its re-opening today too.”

Giant Tiger is the leading Canadian owned family discount store, committed to providing on trend family fashions, groceries and everyday needs. The privately held company was established in 1961 in Ottawa, and has over 200 locations throughout Canada. 

During its celebration, the Morrisburg store offered promotional giveaways, draws for GT gift cards, face painting (with volunteer Catharine Prevost), visits with Friendly the Tiger and lots of bargains.

“While today is our big day,” Rundle said, “the deals will go on. Our store has a Hometown feel and offers everyone a real ‘hometown hello.’”

[…]