$8.9 M boost to area broadband for business parks

 

 “Bluegrass is the best music in the world, with its songs, stories and links to the past,” said Chris Coole, a member of the Foggy Hogtown Boys, who were the headliners at the 2013 Galop-Canal Bluegrass Festival, held at the Iroquois Point June 14-16. “Bluegrass might have begun in Appalachia, but its appeal is now world wide. This kind of folk music is ageless, and the crowd here is really enjoying it.”

With attendance at the 3rd annual Bluegrass Festival up 35 per cent over last year, Geraldine Fitzsimmons, on the organizing committee for the event,  admitted that she was tired but “very happy.”

Last year, 98 campers stayed at the point. This year, the campground was nearly full with over 140 campers taking advantage of the stunning setting and the 10 terrific bands which performed over the weekend. And a little rain on Sunday did not seem to dampen anyone’s spirits.

“Overall, this was a very successful festival,” Fitzsimmons said. “The quality of the bands we had on the program was outstanding. I was especially impressed with our headliners, The Foggy Hogtown Boys. And I feel that having all these people staying locally was a perfect way to showcase South Dundas. Our Festival was really good for the local economy.”  

“This year we had an all-Canadian line up of talent,” said Mike Anderson, a committee member, a musician and emcee for the Festival. “We increased out band budget some and brought in performers from farther away. We also ran really well attended free workshops in the guitar, mandolin and banjo. There was even an impromptu fiddle workshop led by Wade Foster, here with the Dusty Drifters. 

Performers like Darwin Thom and Gilles Leclerc and Foster are real ambassadors for bluegrass,.They share their talents freely on stage and in the workshops.”

Fitzsimmons had a lot of praise for the months of hard work put in by the Festival committee members, all volunteers. She particularly noted the Basket Case in Morrisburg. “Hanna (Rycroft) and Carl (McIntyre) on their own raised over $5,000 in support of the festival.” Many other individuals and businesses offered up their time, their energy and their financial support.

Upper Canada Playhouse artistic director Donnie Bowes stepped in as Friday night’s emcee when mayor Byvelds, SD councillors and committee members officially cut the opening ribbon.

This year, the Bluegrass Festival also partnered with the volunteers of Love South Dundas. 

“Our Father’s Day free breakfast was organized by Love South Dundas, and it was delicious. Rev. Geoff Howard and his family were wonderful, and contributed so much to the weekend.”

While rain on Sunday kept many classic vehicles at home, a few members of the Golden Gears Car club did make it to the Point as part of the celebration. 

“And I can’t tell you how many members of the different bands came up to tell me that the food cooked and served up by the Iroquois-Matilda Lions was just great,” Fitzsimmons said.

Matt Elwood, performing with the Unseen Strangers, and presenter of the banjo workshop, summed up the entire weekend.

“This was my first visit to the Iroquois Bluegrass Festival, and I’m loving it here.”

[…]

In difficult times for manufacturing businesses in Ontario, a dental burr manufacturer located in Morrisburg is finding a way to survive, and grow.

Joanne Kydd, chief operating officer of Xenopus, and Barry Keicks, the company’s production manager, last week spoke with The Leader about the company’s building expansion.

“We are a wholly-owned Canadian firm, and we intend to stay that way,” said Kydd. “And, we are growing.”

“We knew that if we wanted to stay in manufacturing, in Canada, we needed to be making something really good,” she said, explaining that the main dental burr they are producing, is like the Porsche of dental burrs.

“We produce high quality dental burrs. Our focus is on quality, and that focus on quality will continue with this expansion,” said Kydd.

The major burr being produced by Xenopus is an all purpose burr favoured by the European market, among others.

“It’s a niche market that we’ve nestled into,” said Kydd.

Keicks said that gross production at Xenopus has increased over 60 per cent over the last five years.

Kydd adds that the increase has been steady, and has allowed them to  maintain product quality.

Money has been spent on research and development and three new machines have been developed, in house, to improve processes.

This solid and steady growth has enabled Xenopus to similarly grow their workforce, having hired an additional 12 people over the last three years.

“That’s a lot when you are small company,” said Kydd. 

Xenopus has a workforce of less than 50.

Kydd and Keicks agree that being a small company is an asset.

“When you are small, everyone works together,” said Keicks. “That’s the only way we move forward,” added Kydd.

The company’s increase in sales has allowed Xenopus to invest, most importantly, in its people.

“It takes about two years to learn to do the job well here,” says Keicks. “When you want to make a quality product, you need a stable and experienced workforce.”

That workforce will soon be benefiting from an expanded workspace.

With local contractors, Xenopus is breaking ground on a building addition this week that will double the work  area, providing an opportunity for added efficiency.

The front portion of the building will be demolished to make way for a 2,000 square foot addition. The project is expected to be complete  in September.

In the end, the 2,000 square foot addition will increase workspace, and add new offices and a sales area to the business that has been in the Morrisburg industrial park since 1991. 

While the focus of this addition is on improved efficiency, Kydd expects add new staff annually.

[…]

About six months ago, Chris McDonough, fire chief for South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services took on the additional role of Fire Coordinator for the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.

The role of fire coordinator is largely administrative and at this point, a volunteer position.

As SDG fire coordinator McDonough oversees the Mutal and Auto Aid programs whereby neighbouring departments work together, when needed at incidents or to ensure backup protection is available in case of further emergency.

In case of a large event, McDonough could be called on attend the scene or provide organizational support. Since his appointment, he has not been called on in that capacity.

When the appointment was made by the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office, it was them who approached McDonough to take on the role, as at that point he was the only person qualified.

“It’s important to the county that we have this. It’s a benefit to our community and SDG,” said McDonough. “It’s a program that is beneficial to all.”

Part of the administrative work is an inventory of fire service equipment and personnel across SDG. 

Attending regular mutual aid meetings is also part of the job. Those meetings take place evenings. 

McDonough estimates that the role involves a few hours a week of work on his part, and those hours are not done on South Dundas municipal time.

The alternate SDG fire coordinator is Vic Leroux. Leroux is full time fire chief for South Glengarry. He is former fire chief for the City of Cornwall.

[…]