September 2014 – Morrisburg Leader

Unique ride welcomed to Old Homestead Farm

September 24, 2014 Editor

Joy and Leanne Casselman of Old Homestead Farm welcomed several two-legged and four-legged guests to their farm September 11, when the Giddy-Up for Bonnie fundraising ride passed through South Dundas. The seven people, and eight horses, were riding from Lindsay to St. Andrew’s West, to raise funds for a dear friend battling cancer. The 440 kilometre journey, included most of the group on horseback, with a team hitched to a covered wagon. Joy was thrilled that the group found her farm, where they camped for the night. The organizer of the ride had driven the back-roads route a few weeks before, stopping at various farms suitable to overnight the camping riders’ horses. They were here on day 12 of their 14 day journey. The ride was more challenging than they anticipated. However, making it a little easier were the people they encountered along the way.

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South Branch Community Fund guidelines approved by South Dundas council

September 24, 2014 Editor

South Branch Community fund agreement is now in place, and within 60 days, the Municipality of South Dundas should be receiving the first $30,000 cheque for the fund they will distribute.

South Branch Wind Farm officials and interested community members attend the recent council meeting when the funding guidelines were approved by South Dundas council.

The South Branch Community Fund has been established to provide funding to benefit the community near the South Branch Wind Farm.

Through an application process the funds are meant to help promote and/or benefit;

• Public recreational facilities and programs

• Community gathering facilities, events, and related Municipal usage fees

• Educational and job training related to sustainability or renewable energy

• Other community related activities approved by the Municipality of South Dundas.

The South Branch Wind Farm will pay $30,000 into the fund annually for a term of 20 years, starting in 2014 and ending in 2033.

To qualify for funding the facilities or residents must be from within the boundaries outlined in the agreement, which are Irish Headline Road/ County Road 5 to the north, County Road 18, including Matilda Hall in the south, Taylor Road to the west and Heritage Road, including the Dundela rink property in th east.

The fund is intended for community benefit and could help, for example, with community spaces such as the Dixon’s Corners Community Centre, Matilda Hall, Dundela rink and area parks.

Any single release of funds greater than $5,000 requires the approval of EDP Renewables Canada.

The project is owned and operated by South Dundas Wind Farm Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of EDP Renewables Canada Ltd. The project began commercial operations in March 2014. In July and August all of the site restoration work was completed.

South Dundas is awaiting a report from EDP regarding a road use agreement between EDP and North and South Dundas.

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Fall brings fun, it’s Harvest Festival time

September 24, 2014 Editor

Williamsburg is all decked out in its fall-finest because this is the weekend that the Williamsburg Community Association presents Williamsburg’s 23rd Annual Fall Harvest Festival.

Events kick off Friday evening with a free movie night at the Oddfellows Hall in Williamsburg with a screening of The Legend of Oz – Dorothy’s Return.

Saturday morning, one of the newest events to Harvest Festival, the Outhouse races take place at 10 a.m. along Villa Drive.

Last year was Harvest Festival’s first go at outhouse races and it proved very popular. All are looking forward to the races. For those not participating, spectators are encouraged to check out the fun-filled competition.

Saturday morning judging will take place for various competitions including heaviest potato, largest sunflower face best decorate bicycle, and more.

The Harvest Festival parade takes place at noon.

Saturday, park activities for the kids including face painting, pony rids and petting zoo and air bounce will be available, along with games, displays and demonstrations. Shoppers may want to check our the Craft Show and Sale at J.W. MacIntosh Seniors’ Support Centre and the Flea Market and Farmers Market at the park.

The 6th Annual Allan Doherty Memorial Horseshoe Tournament also runs Saturday at the park.

As always, admission and events that take place from one end of the village to the other are free of charge.

Saturday night revellers can shuttle their way to Matilda Hall to dance to Landmark. The shuttle which picks up in Morrisburg and Williamsburg is free. Admission to the dance is $12.

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Tough times for Combines at senior games

September 24, 2014 Editor

“We had fun.” That expression by player Jack Cole sums up the Morrisburg Combines performance at the Canada Senior Games in Edmonton from August 27-29.

Each game was close, but the Combines lost all four.

The 2014 version of the Canadian Senior Games attracted over 2000 participants setting for itself a new record in attendance.

The Morrisburg Combines qualified for the Canadian Games by winning a hockey gold medal in the 2013 Ontario Senior Games in the 65-plus age division.

“This national event itself was a quite a big, well-organized deal with impressive opening and closing events, quality entertainment and darn good food,” says Jake Cole of Ottawa who was enjoying his first time at the games with the Combines.

Accompanied by several of the players’ wives, the Combines made some noise both on and off the ice.”

“It was super encouraging to hear the cheers from our fans when we scored or goalie Les McAllister made a great save,” says Cole. “It was also a fine time of laughing and teasing during the dressing room time before and after each game. In fact, as most old timers players will undoubtedly agree, hockey dressing room banter has basically not changed since we were teenagers, with the same corny jokes and everyone taunting and poking fun at each other mercilessly.”

The Combines arrived in Edmonton as a team that had only played together for four exhibition games back home.

“We learned that our competition had been playing regularly all summer and also that they had played together for years. Right away, we could tell we were up against some very good hockey teams.”

The Combines first game was against the Rocky Mountain Elks. The Elks scored first, but the Combines recovered to tie it. Alberta went up 3-1 with the Combines getting a late one back and then pulling goaltender Les McAllister only to have their goalie make a terrific save off Fern Gauvreau in the dying seconds to preserve the 3-2 win.

The second game put the Combines against Calgary’s Jeff Bowles, “a team that seemed to know just how far to bend the rules without getting penalized” says Cole. Bowles got some early goals and the Combines never really got going until near the end, losing 5-2.

The Combines final two games were close, with leads see-sawing back and forth but they lost both games identical 4-2 scores to the Elks and to Bowles. The Bowles team won the championship with a 5-2 victory over the Elks.

The Combines’ tournament scoring leaders were Lester Holmes and Jack Haines (who scored an outstanding goal on a howitzer-like shot in the Combines last game).

Special recognition was given to Combines defencemen, Bryan Helmer, Alvin Darling, Wally Ryan, and Ron Alguire, who, along with Les McAllister kept out many potential goals and basically kept the team in every game.

The “Combines”, are now a 65-plus team (with players up to 78 years old) that been competing in the Senior Games, at the provincial and national levels since 2000.

While never winning gold nationally, the team has won several provincial titles and expects to be back competing again next February in Haliburton, Ontario for another provincial gold.

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Three all candidates nights for South Dundas hosted by local Chamber of Commerce

September 24, 2014 Editor

South Dundas voters will have three opportunities to hear from their 14 municipal election candidates, when the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce hosts all candidates nights.

The South Dundas Chamber of Commerce is organizing the all candidates nights for the upcoming Municipal Election, in keeping with its tradition of making these important forums available to the entire community so candidates have an opportunity to express their views and voters have the information they need to make informed choices on October 27th.

The All Candidates Nights will begin at 6 p.m. and be held at the following locations and dates: Upper Canada Playhouse on Tuesday, September 30, Matilda Hall on Tuesday, October 14 and Iroquois Civic Centre on Monday October 20.

All three meetings will feature all candidates seeking election to South Dundas council.

The format for these All Candidates Nights will be as follows:

• All candidates will be given two minutes for opening statements. This will allow them to introduce themselves, give some background information and outline their views on specific issues and why they have offered their services to South Dundas residents.

• The floor will then be open to a question and answer period, providing an opportunity to ask candidates specific questions that concern you and your community.

• Candidates will be given two minutes for closing statements.

It should be noted that this is not a debate.

There will be no rebuttals or further questions following the candidate’s answer.

Everyone is invited to participate in these important events.

They provide a valuable forum for voters to present their concerns to the very individuals who are vying for the position to address these concerns for the next four years.

It also provides the unique opportunity to hear and compare all of the candidates’ views and intentions in their bid for elected office.

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Perspectives by Rev. Janet Evans

September 24, 2014 Editor

“Elections in Scotland. Deciding who to vote for in the municipal elections. Getting a permit to build a new home. Going back to work after an illness.” There is always so much to think about!

Our lives are filled with concerns, appointments, house cleaning, cooking and driving to and from work. When we are preoccupied with our own busy-ness, we forget to place Christ at the centre of our days. We have little time to engage in prayer, reflections and meditation.

When we put God first, however, the hours of our days will be more meaningful. Our Lord will offer us guidance, inspiration and strength to help build a world where mercy, justice and tolerance reign.

God will love us and never let us fall out of His caring embrace.

In this autumn season, let us take time in a 24 hour period to offer prayers of thanksgiving, intercession and supplication to God.

May we listen for His voice and remember that all things will work together for those who trust in the Lord! Amen.

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Junior Lion keeps it close, but lose two

September 24, 2014 Editor

The Morrisburg Junior Lions opened the 2013/14 hockey season with a pair of losses, to the Alexandria Glens, 7-5 Friday night, and the Winchester Hawks 7-4 on home ice Saturday night.

Friday night in Alexandria, the Lions held the Glens to a 2-1 first period lead and tied the game early in the second period. But three unanswered second period goals from the Glens’ Ryan Sabourin, Gabriel Cuillerier and Adam Cooke gave the Glens a commanding advantage heading into the third.

The Lions won the third frame, 3-2, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Glens’ early lead.

Scoring for the Lions were Landon Veenstra, unassisted at 7:23 of the first period, and Justin Lefebvre, unassisted at 3:16 of the second period.

Dallas Blacksmith scored on the Lions power play, 1:04 into the third period, and at 4:22 Brodie Barkley connected, unassisted, to cut the Glens’ advantage to 5-4.

Bradley Gabbour made it 6-4 Glens at 5:39, and Connor MacLeod stretched their lead to 7-4 at 13:20.

Michael Paquette scored the Lions final counter, unassisted, with 49 seconds left on the clock.

Rookie goaltender Keiran Weir saw 30 minutes of action in the Lions net and was replaced by veteran goaltender John Gilmer.

Callum Cassidy-Matthews earned the win for the Glens.

Friday night on home ice the Lions again tried to play catch up hockey, but were unsuccessful in a 7-4 loss to the Hawks.

The Hawks managed just one goal in the first period, that from the stick of Austin Rothe.

The Hawks collected big time in the second period going up 4-0, before the Lions got them stopped with a Justin Lefebvre counter (assisted by Dallas Blacksmith and Jacob Kendrick) at 8:29 of the frame.

Josh Stubbings counted once more for the Hawks, and the Lions Paquette collected goal number two (assisted by Zack Renfrew and Justin Rutley) at 17:18 to end the second period 5-2 Hawks.

The Lions regrouped to start the third period with goals from Dallas Blacksmith (Cole Fowler) at 2:24 and Jacob Kendrick (Jordan Smail and Fowler) 8:33.

This cut the gap to 5-4 and that’s the way it stayed until late in the frame when the Hawks put two more into the empty Lions net for the 7-4 win.

Weir, who started in the Lions net was relieved by Gilmer.

Daylon Courchene saw action for the Hawks.

The Lions were assessed seven minor penalties and one misconduct, while the Hawks sat out eight minors and were assessed four misconducts.

Coming up this weekend, the Lions will be at home on Sunday, afternoon, September 28, to the Char-Lan Rebels. Game time is 2:30 p.m.

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Overpass project to close Brinston Road

September 24, 2014 Editor

The 2014 construction season isn’t over yet, and already area residents may want to be aware of what’s in store for the 2015 construction season.

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario is planning to rehabilitate eight overpass structures in SDG from 2015 to 2018, and two of those projects could have a significant impact on area drivers and residents here in South Dundas.

Late last month, MTO officials and SDG Counties staff met to review and discuss the work as the designers are at the start of the detailed design process.

At the September 15, Counties council meeting, counties engineer Ben de Haan, provided a key information report regarding those projects.

Although the information is still fairly preliminary, de Haan reported that the County Road 8 (Church Road) overpass is scheduled for rehabilitation. That project would be done using traditional methods and would likely mean the structure would be reduced to one lane of traffic over the 2015 and 2016 construction seasons.

The other overpass project slated to take place in South Dundas, is the complete replacement of the County Road 16 (Brinston Road) overpass.

That project is likely to involve rapid demolition, to minimize the impact on 401 traffic, but that means the MTO is considering complete closure and detour of County Road 16 for an entire construction season (April through December).

Brinston Road is a busy local roadway with annual average daily traffic of about 1,100 vehicles per day.

Should this closure take place, all those vehicles will be detoured, likely to County Roads 40, 1 and 2.

The MTO has requested feedback from SDG officials and staff are preparing a list of formal comments for the MTO.

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Angela Page

September 17, 2014 Editor

A lifetime resident of the Morrisburg area, Angela Page (nee Loucks) passed away suddenly at home on Wednesday, September 3, 2014. She was 42.

Angela was born on October 8, 1971, to her parents Harry and Norma Loucks (nee Roderick). Three years later, she became a big sister to Cathy. She grew up on the Deeks Road with her mother, her stepfather Merle Casselman, and sisters and brothers.

Angie’s first job was at the Exxon where, as a pleasant waitress, everyone grew to love her.

With her pleasant personality Angie developed many friendships with people young and old. She was a warm, compassionate and vibrant woman who always went out of her way to help others no matter what.

Angie was a proud dignified woman who had a passion for life. She fought many battles but always pulled through.

Angela is survived by her companion Ed Sloan, her daughter Jessica Page (Clinton Hamilton) of Morrisburg and her granddaughter Kendra.

She will be lovingly remembered by her mother Norma Casselman (nee Roderick) of Morrisburg, her sister Cathy Loucks (Howard Robinson) of Morrisburg and her step-siblings Steven Casselman (Cora) of Williamsburg, Janet Duval (George) of Cornwall, Elaine Fry (Jim) of Kelowna, B.C. and Nancy Casselman of Kelowna, B.C. She was predeceased by her stepfather Merle Casselman. She is also survived by several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Saturday, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service was held at the funeral home on Tuesday, September 9th at 11 a.m., with Rev. James Tripp officiating.

Interment of cremated remains was at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Morrisburg. Pallbearers were Clinton Hamilton, Steven Casselman, Robert Merkley and Howard Robinson.

Donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be gratefully acknowledged by the family. Online condolences may be made at the marsdenmclaughlin.com.

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Spikes volleyball expands to include grade 7 girls

September 17, 2014 Editor

Andy Lee and his team of volleyball enthusiasts are once again hosting the popular Spikes Volleyball program for girls at Seaway District High School beginning in October.

The program will run on Thursday nights from early October until mid December from 7-8:30 nightly.

“This year we are opening it up to girls in grade seven, and it will run up to grade 12,” says Lee.

“We are working on the same core philosophy of providing the girls the right skills to play the game and have some fun in the process.”

Included in the programming will be a clinic hosted by Ottawa University players/coaches. “We hope to have an Ottawa U alumni work with some of the older girls in their hitting, and we plan to squeeze a Shanna Dawley workout evening into the schedule as well.”

As in years past, the group will be provided the opportunity to travel to Ottawa, for an Ottawa U versus a University of Toronto game.

The program has become a key component in developing volleyball players for the Seaway District High School program and with it now expanded to include the grade 7s, it now becomes a valuable asset to Seaway’s Intermediate School volleyball program.

Lee is grateful to both the Upper Canada District School Board and the Seaway District High School (the school and staff) for their support.

Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. The program cost is $50 per participant or $75 for two sisters. Space is limited to 32 participants.

For more information or to register please contact Andy Lee at 613-543-3649 or andylee@sympatico.ca

For online registration forms, Google South Dundas Volleyball.

Registrations may be done in person through Lilace McIntyre at Seaway District High School or Andy Lee in Morrisburg

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