Month: May 2013

 

According to South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds, South Dundas council intends to consider a resolution to support maintaining a library in Williamsburg at the May 21 council meeting.

Whether or not council as a whole supports maintaining a branch in Williamsburg has never been put to a vote at the South Dundas council table.

When The Leader asked if council supports maintaining a library in Williamsburg, what impact such a resolution will have?, Erika Heesen, Communications and Marketing Librarian for the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry County Library, instead of directly addressing the question, answered: “The SD&G Library Board decided at their December 17, 2012 meeting that the Williamsburg Branch would be consolidated with the Morrisburg Branch, including the reallocation of staff, hours of operation and resources as operationally feasible.”

At the same time as council is pondering support for a Williamsburg branch, the Township of South Dundas has asked the SD&G library to vacate the Williamsburg building by August 1, 2013.

“We’re confident the move will go smoothly,” said Heesen. The collections, furniture, etc. that are currently in the library branch will be re-allocated to other branches of the library system, with the majority moving to the Morrisburg branch.

“Staff at the Williamsburg branch will not lose any hours of work,” said Heesen, explaining that consolidated, longer opening hours will begin sooner than anticipated at the Morrisburg branch.

Services that will continue to be offered locally include the Visiting Library Service which is for retirement homes and the home-bound and 24/7 access to borrowing eBooks and eAudiobooks online. “The library also plans to offer Summer Reading Club as an outreach program in Williamsburg this summer,” said Heesen.

Also in the planning stages is a book pick up and drop off location at a Williamsburg retail location. 

Although the details have yet to be confirmed, the Library hopes to have that service available as of August 1, 2013 so that Williamsburg residents do not experience any interruption in book delivery, according to Heesen.

The SD&G Library is funded by the United Counties of SD&G. The Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry County Library Board is made up of three citizens and four County Councillors. 

Library Board members are appointed by County Council for a four-year term and serve without remuneration. 

The Board is responsible for policy development. 

South Dundas rents space to the Counties for the local libraries.

[…]

 

When Williamsburg loses the South Dundas Municipal office, it will be gaining a new school.

The building, which is an old school house, is going to be leased by the Upper Canada District School Board from the municipality to provide a new home for the T.R. Leger School of Alternative and Continuing Education.

This Williamsburg site will allow TR Leger to consolidate its Morrisburg and Winchester locations. The campus locations  in each of those two towns will be closing.

“The Upper Canada District School Board and the TR Leger School of Alternative and Continuing Education are always looking for ways to better serve our students,” says Geoff Trasuk, TR Leger principal.

“The amalgamation of the Winchester and Morrisburg sites will allow us to provide the programming that enhances our students’ opportunity to graduate.”

South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds, confirmed May 9, that TR Leger is officially coming to Williamsburg. They are leasing the building before this fall.

Those trying to save the Williamsburg Library had been hopeful that the TR Leger school could provide a home for the Williamsburg library to keep it open. “There is no space for the library from what I hear,” said Byvelds.

The Township of South Dundas has asked the SD&G Library to vacate the Williamsburg building by August 1. The Township expects to vacate the building themselves in mid to late August.

[…]

 

South Dundas council finally approved a new sign design for hamlet signs throughout the municipality. 

The new design is based on that presented by the consultants they hired in partnership with South Stormont to present a uniform design incorporating the shared Upper Canada Region branding.

South Dundas council was not happy with the consultant’s design, so they added some suggestions of their own. 

They wanted to incorporate the township logo and added a border to the Upper Canada Region blade that will be on all of the signs. 

Council unanimously agreed to this ‘hybid’ design.

[…]

 

While the Eastern Ontario Health Unit is warning of an influx of ticks carrying Lyme disease in this region, local veterinarians are issuing the same warning as ticks carrying Lyme disease can be  more dangerous to dogs than people. 

Dogs are considered to be 50 per cent more susceptible to developing Lyme disease from a tick bite than people. 

“Lyme disease is definitely one of  the biggest preventable disease concerns for dogs in our area,” says Dr. Devin Hunt of the Morrisburg Animal Hospital.

“We have seen a tremendous increase in the past few years of dogs reacting positive to the Lyme disease test,” said Hunt. “In years past, we would see two to three positives a year. In 2011, we saw eight. Last year we had 20.”

According to Hunt, locally, the hot-spot for dogs appears to be centred around Ingleside/Long Sault.

“To the west, we are seeing more positives west of Iroquois. The closer you get to Gananoque, the more you get,” he adds.

Also, Hunt is seeing some isolated hot-spots north of the Seaway, particularly, Newington, Lunenberg and Williamsburg.

Dogs that frequent long grass and forested areas are most at risk. 

“This past year however, we have also seen a couple of positives from dogs that never leave their yard. Songbirds can literally ‘parachute’ ticks into an area,” explains Hunt.

Hunt is recommending that all dogs in the Ingleside and Long Sault area receive Lyme disease vaccine, unless their risk of exposure is extremely low (mostly inside dogs). 

“Dogs spending a lot of time in the bush need to also receive tick control as there are other diseases ticks can spread other than Lyme disease such as Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis. Thankfully, both of these diseases seem to be pretty rare in our area presently,” said Hunt.

For pet owners who find a tick on their dog, they can take the tick to their veterinary clinic for identification and testing to see if it was an infected. Regular lab fees apply. 

For more information on ticks and tick prevention protocols, talk to your veterinarian. 

[…]

 

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) is reminding residents to take steps to protect themselves when in areas where Lyme disease-carrying ticks may be found. 

According to the EOHU, Eastern Ontario is seeing an increase in numbers and range of blacklegged ticks that carry Lyme disease, especially along the St. Lawrence River area. 

“Fortunately, simple precautions can help protect against tick bites, and lower your risk of becoming infected with Lyme disease,” states Linda Cléroux, Manager of the Vector-borne Illness program at the EOHU.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (deer ticks). 

It can cause a rash that looks like a red bull’s eye, as well as flu-like symptoms. Left untreated, Lyme disease can affect the heart, nervous system or joints, but if caught early can generally be treated successfully.

Outdoor enthusiasts and those who work outdoors are at higher risk of being exposed to Lyme disease, especially if they spend time in wooded areas, tall shrubs or tall grass that may be tick-infested.

The EOHU advises those who spend time outdoors and in higher risk areas such as wooded areas, tall shrubs or tall grass to follow these precautions to lower their risk:

Apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing and on all exposed skin. Read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for safe use.

Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and closed footwear (avoid sandals or open shoes). Light-coloured clothing is best because it makes ticks easier to see and remove before they can attach to feed.

Tuck your shirt into your pants, and tuck your pants into your socks.

Examine your body for ticks after being in an area where there’s tall grass or shrubs, or where ticks are known to live. Showering after can also help remove ticks that have not yet attached.

Remove any attached ticks with tweezers. If possible, take the tick to the EOHU, where it will be sent away for species identification and, if necessary, tested for Lyme disease.

Pets may bring ticks into the house. Consult your vet about how you can protect your pet from ticks.

Contact your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease (especially a bull’s eye rash).

For more information about Lyme disease and how you can protect yourself, visit www.eohu.ca. You can also call 613-933-1375 or 1 800 267-7120, and ask for Health Line.

[…]

 

The Morrisburg BIA is prepared to sponsor an Antiquefest in the Morrisburg Plaza in July 2013.

Bill Ewing, president of the Morrisburg Business Improvement Area, informed South Dundas council of this intention at April 16. According to Ewing, the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce and volunteers from the Morrisburg and District Lions Club have agreed to assist in organizing the event.

A committee will be formed and to chose the location. One suggestion is the pedestrian walkway behind the clock tower in the Morrisburg Mall.

[…]

 

Visitor Information Services in Iroquois will be moved away from the Iroquois Plaza, and closer to the town’s tourist attractions.

South Dundas council approved the move at the May 7 meeting.

This move is one that was suggested by the Iroquois Waterfront Planning Committee.

The VIC will be located in the back room of the Forward House, making it accessible through the side door.

According to the usage statistics presented, it cost the township almost $23 per visitor with a tourism related inquiry to operated the facility last year.

South Dundas economic development officer Nicole Sullivan intends for this proposal to help use these funds more effectively.

The plan is to create a tourism cluster to capture the target audience.

“The target audience is those who are already interested in visiting the community,” she noted. “The objective is to provide information which encourages them to participate in additional activities, ultimately lengthening their stay and increasing spending within the community.”

“The Forward House is strategically placed for achieving this goal as it is located in close proximity to a number of tourism attractions in Iroquois (including the Carman House, Iroquois Golf Course, Iroquois Locks and Galop Canal Marina, etc.),” said Sullivan. “It provides an ideal opportunity to attract traffic that is going or coming from those destinations and travelling along Carman Road.”

“Similarly, the large majority of tourism signage which currently exists through the SDG Tourism signage programs directs visitors along that route,” she added.

Along with moving the visitor information service to a better location, the site also provides some opportunity to create a small interpretive centre where historical/artistic displays could be included. “The Forward House provides adequate space to this objective plus the added appeal of it being a historical building itself,” said Sullivan.

The location will have the convenience of a washroom facility, which the old building never had. Also it is located close to other municipally employed staff at the campground who may be able to cover staff at the facility during lunch breaks. In previous years, the building was left without staff during employee breaks.

The previous location in the plaza will remain in place, for the use of community groups through the township’s facility rental agreement. There would  be no fee.

[…]

 

During a tragic situation along the St. Lawrence River near Cardinal that claimed the life of a diver, those on hand trying to help encountered difficulties with reaching the proper emergency services.

While some locals may be aware that occasionally their mobile phone calls are picked up by powerful towers on the American side of the border, those who do not live here, especially tourists enjoying the river, may not be aware of the issue.

Generally, the result is being billed for expensive and unexpected roaming charges, but in an emergency situation the impact is much greater.

“We rely on 911 for help in an emergency and we pay for it on our phone bills, but in reality, when we are near the St. Lawrence River, in some places the only reliable access to 911 is a land line,” noted Hugh Hamilton of South Mountain.

Hamilton, after the recent diving accident at Cardinal, has been doing what he can to make as many people, including local politicians aware of this serious and important issue.

“Because of this anomaly, and three 911 calls later, we did not get timely assistance for a diver who died on Tuesday April 23,” he said. “In the middle of an emergency, when you get an operator that doesn’t know where Cardinal, Ontario is, does it occur to you that you have reached American 911? No. You are too busy doing CPR.”

“When Canadian 911 got the message, they were excellent and efficient … but it was that horrible gap between sending three calls out, and Canadian emergency services receiving the calls. This is a major concern.”

Hamilton implores everyone to take action and do something to raise awareness of this issue so that something will be done to fix this serious problem.

“Let the powers be know you want the safety net you are paying for,” said Hamilton, who encourages constituents of Leeds and Grenville and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry to contact their MPPs, Steve Clark and Jim McDonell. He also suggests phoning your movbile phone provider to let them know, no matter what, a 911 call made in Canada must reach Canada.”

Jacqueline Michelis, Bell spokesperson, confirmed that wireless calls are routed through the nearest cell site with the strongest signal. 

“On the border, Canadian calls will occasionally be picked up by a U.S. cell site (and vice versa) but it is a rare situation, and all wireless carriers on both sides of the border configure their sites to reduce this possibility,” she said.

However, this possibility can increase when calls are made from the river.

According to the Bell spokesperson, Public Safety Awareness Points handle all 911 calls.

“Border municipalities can establish agreements with nearby U.S.-based PSAPs to transfer 911 calls if this situation occurs,” she said.

“This is a serious issue,” said Michael Jiggins, executive assistant to MPP Steve Clark. 

“We are now working with industry experts to see if there is something we can do to resolve the problem. Mr. Clark recognizes this concern and is taking it very seriously,” he added. 

According to Jiggins, Clark has been in contact with Jim McDonell’s office regarding upcoming meetings where they plan to get together with experts who know how to come up with a solution.

[…]