Optimist Club holds BIke Rodeo

 

Summer’s gone, winter is fast approaching, the ghosts and goblins have been laid to rest for another year, and the count down for Christmas has begun.  Sadly, for some members of our community, this is not necessarily a joyful time. 

The current economic climate, with many out of work and others working fewer hours, will no doubt lead to many families requiring assistance this Christmas. 

For the 24th consecutive year, the South Dundas Christmas Exchange is making plans to bring a spot of joy to those in need, and hopefully make their Christmas a little brighter. 

The mandate of the Christmas Exchange is “to ensure that families in need are provided with the making of a nice Christmas Dinner with some of the traditional trimmings”. 

Again this year, the Exchange will work closely with the South Dundas Food Bank to more efficiently get Christmas Baskets to those who require them.  All Christmas Baskets will be provided by the Christmas Exchange. 

Because of the large number of baskets to be prepared, it is impossible to do all of them at the Legion Hall. 

The co-operation of the Food Bank in distributing those for singles has made this a more manageable task for the past few year, and will continue this year.  

Singles are reminded that they must register through the Food Bank, 543-0065,  and not through the published Hot Line number.  Only family registrations will be accepted through the Hot Line. 

The Hot Line will be in operation from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, from November 12th to November 23rd. 

As this is a private line donated by one of our local Churches, those registering are asked not to call other than the days and times specified. The Hot Line number is 543-2005. 

Although the Christmas Exchange will be providing a well stocked Christmas Dinner Basket, we know that some families will require additional assistance. Those who do can contact the Food Bank to discuss their special needs with the coordinator.  

Receiving a Christmas Basket does not disqualify any Food Bank client from receiving their regular assistance, but is simply meant to make Christmas a bit special for them and their family. 

The Morrisburg Lions Club is again sponsoring Angel Trees, which will be located at the Scotiabank and the Bank of Montreal in Morrisburg, and at SDS Kerr/Beaver Dental.  

In Iroquois, Sandra Johnston will be coordinate the Angel Tree at the Bank of Montreal.  

Watch for the Angel Trees later in November, and remember to return all gifts by the dates specified.  

The gifts and toys collected are distributed through the Christmas Exchange, along with the Dinner Baskets.  

Those wishing to make financial donations, for which Tax Receipts will be issued, may send cheques to: The South Dundas Christmas Exchange, P.O. Box 450, Morrisburg, ON   K0C 1X0.

Donations may also be made at Valu-mart in Morrisburg, through the “Top-up Program” which will get under way later in November and is as simple as asking the cashier to adding a dollar or two to your grocery bill.

Financial donations enable organizers to purchase turkeys, hams and other perishable food items for the Dinner Baskets and are critical to the success of the Christmas Exchange.

Volunteers are also needed, particularly people interested in taking on organizational roles. 

Some volunteers have been working with the Christmas Exchange for many years, and there is a need for some younger folk to come forward to take over. 

Call Carol Richer to discuss how you can help.  

Organizers are counting on the support and assistance of everyone in South Dundas to make this 24th year as successful as those of the past 23 years.   

Make helping others part of your Christmas plans.

[…]

 

The Ministry of Finance has released the education rates for 2012. With this, the three numbers needed to decipher this year’s municipal taxes are complete and property owners can expect to pay a slight increase.

“By my speculation,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds on Tuesday, “it will be just over three per cent, but I can’t be 100 per cent positive without all the numbers.”

“There’s a small decrease from the South Dundas end.”

The Township of South Dundas completed their 2012 budget deliberations on March 12th while the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry completed their budget on March 19th. 

Byvelds pointed out that “the Counties had a 3.1 per cent increase and ours is 3.5 per cent.”

To determine the amount to be paid out by a residence for the education portion of the tax bill, South Dundas treasurer Shannon Geraghty provided a comparison example:

• A 2011 assessment at $149,090 equates to taxes of $344.40.

• A 2012 assessment with phase-in at $157,260 equates to taxes of $347.54.

The education rate, determined by the Ministry of Finance, is standard on all assessments regardless of school board, whether it be public, Catholic or French Catholic. 

As explained in the March 14th edition of The Leader, each home’s taxes are affected by the Municipal Property Assessments.

There has been a 5.48 per cent average increase on assessments due to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation’s four-year phase in.

What all of this boils down to is an approximate overall increase of just over three percent in municipal taxes for South Dundas. 

[…]