January 2015 – Page 3 – Morrisburg Leader

Eric Duncan elected 2015 Wardens’ Caucus Chair

January 21, 2015 Editor

The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, at its annual inaugural meeting held in Kingston last week, elected Warden Eric Duncan of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry as its chair for 2015.

Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones was elected as the vice-chair.

“I am honoured to chair the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and to have the opportunity to work very hard to support all property taxpayers in the 103 member municipalities across the EOWC region,” said Eric Duncan. “The EOWC takes pride in doing its homework and coming up with new ideas that contribute to positive change in our municipalities.”

“One of our major concerns is the ever escalating cost of policing, whether OPP or municipal,” Duncan continued. “We will work with groups such as the Association of Municipalities of Ontario looking at all options to reduce the burden to local taxpayers of providing emergency services.”

Both Duncan and Jones were elected to their new positions by acclamation. Chair Duncan is also mayor of the Township of North Dundas, while vice-chair Jones is mayor of the Township of Douro-Dummer.

The EOWC has established three key priorities for the coming year.

1. Beginning the implementation of the key actions proposed in the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Strategy.

2. Working in tandem with the Eastern Ontario Regional Network to prepare and submit an Eastern Ontario cellular infrastructure network improvement project.

3. Continuing its research and advocacy efforts on matters related to the financial sustainability of municipal government in Eastern Ontario.

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St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage names new board members

January 21, 2015 W. Gibb – Leader staff

“We have welcomed two new members on to our board,” said Sandra Whitworth of the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, “and we are delighted that Anna and Eric have joined us.” Eric Pietersma and Anna Boisvenue have joined the three current SLAS board members, as the outstanding 2015 season at the Stage continues. “Anna has a background in accounting and Eric has legal expertise and so they expand the skill set on the board in a range of important areas. We started a planning process a year-and-a-half ago to try to begin to move from an operational board to a more properly governance board,” Whitworth said. With artists like the Young Novelists, Harry Manx, Chick Gamine and Madison Violet coming to the Stage this winter and spring, the volunteer members of the board are hard-working and clearly dedicated to bringing great music to South Dundas. Some of the musicians who perform at the Stage have also led workshops with elementary children at the Akwasasne Mohawk School. One of the SLAS board’s long term goals is to make such outstanding workshops in many types of music available to other students in the South Dundas area. Pictured, l-r, are board members Eric Pietersma, Derek Hunter, Sandra Whitworth, Tony McCadden and Anna Boisvenue.

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Muriel MacDonald

January 14, 2015 Editor

A resident of Iroquois for the past several years, Muriel MacDonald passed away at Winchester District Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, December 31, 2014. She was 82.

Muriel was born in Kemptville, on March 2, 1932, to her parents Benjamin and Violet Simzer (nee Morris). On October 26, 1951, she married Bill Barnett and on November 2, 1960, their chosen son Donald was born.

On August 6, 1983, she married Ernald MacDonald in Newfoundland.

Ernie passed away in 1992, and is buried in Hillside Cemetery in Springhill, Nova Scotia, which is where Muriel will also be laid to rest.

Muriel moved around a lot during her lifetime. As well as living in several local towns, she also lived in Streetsville and in Nova Scotia. She worked at different jobs, but her favourite was in the electronics industry.

She loved children, country music, playing the spoons, singing Karaoke, crocheting, knitting, being with people and jumping into her car and driving wherever she decided, including Nova Scotia. She enjoyed life to the fullest!

Muriel was a 26 year member of the Royal Canadian Legion and was presently a member of the Iroquois Branch. She loved visiting different branches, treasured the friends she made there and while able, participated in their dart league and then their euchre tournaments.

Muriel is survived by her son Donald Barnett of Brockville, her sister Doreen Workman of Prescott and her brother-in-law Dalton Dillabaugh of Kemptville.

She was predeceased by her husband Ernald MacDonald and her sisters Reta Baldry, Florence Cowie and Dorothy Dillabaugh. She is also survived by nieces and nephews.

Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Iroquois, on Sunday, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service was held at the Funeral Home on Monday, January 5th at 11 a.m., with Rev. Blair Paterson officiating. Cremation followed.

Pallbearers were Casey Veltkamp, Mike Veltkamp, Josh Veltkamp, Garth Workman, Doug Workman and Raymond Dillabough.

Donations to C.H.E.O. or Heckston United Church would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com.

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Myrtle Collison

January 14, 2015 Editor

A resident of the Mayfield Retirement Home in Prescott for the past six months, Myrtle Collison (nee Levere) passed away at the Brockville General Hospital on Wednesday, July 7, 2015. She was 84.

Myrtle was born in Morrisburg, on August 20, 1930, to her parents William and Nettie Levere (nee Richmire).

She married Brock Collison in 1947, and together they raised their family in Iroquois. They lived on the Broken Second for over 50 years.

Myrtle was a homemaker. She baked every day for her family and soon she was taking orders from neighbours and friends on a weekly basis. She baby sat for neighbours and later for many of her grandchildren.

In addition, she worked occasionally with Jean and Hartley Carkner painting and wallpapering during the day and taking care of her ever growing family.

As the years went by and Brock retired, they started a small business; selling antiques and Watkins at McHaffies Flea Market. They had a booth there for over 20 years.

In April of 2007, Brock passed away and Myrtle continued selling at McHaffie’s for a few more years until she sold the family home in 2012.

She then moved to Brockville where she resided happily at the Bridlewood Retirement Home for a couple years. She then moved on to spend her final days at Mayfield Manor in Prescott.

Myrtle is survived by her children Allen of Cornwall, Billy (Susan Ebb) of Ottawa, Gary (Madilene) of Iroquois, Daryl Kennedy (Steven) of Spencerville and Arlene Sullivan of Brockville, and by her siblings Rose Bartholomew (Freeman) of Stittsville, Shirley Bannister of Belleville, Berneice Keeler of Prescott and Dan Levere of Ottawa.

She was predeceased by her husband Brock, her infant daughter Charlene, her daughter Donna Croteau, her son Raymond, her sisters Eva Bennett, Sally Markell, Jean Annable, Ann Bouchard, Edna Levere, Byrtle Levere and brothers Douglas, Duane and Allen Levere.

Myrtle will be fondly remembered by 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Iroquois, on Saturday, January 10th from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service which was conducted by Rev. Doug Carnegie.

Spring interment will be at Spruce Haven Cemetery, Brinston. Pallbearers were Gary Collison, Calvin Collison, Paul White, Luke Myers, Brian Follett and Dustin Martin.

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

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Loss keeps Atom Bs in second place

January 14, 2015 Editor

With a showdown between the top two Atom B House teams in the eastern division of the Upper Canada Minor Hockey League on Saturday in Kemptville, the South Dundas Lions were looking to get the two points to leap frog over Kemptville 1 Panthers into first place. Unfortunately, after falling behind they gave it a good effort but ended up on the wrong side of a 3-2 count.

South Dundas carried the play early. They spent the first two shifts in the Kemptville zone and opened the scoring just 1:23 into the game.

Left winger Zach Scarbeau moved the puck into the Panthers corner. Centre Spencer Barclay dug out the loose puck and passed in front of the net to right winger Monty Dejong who knocked in the first goal of the game for a 1-0 Lions lead.

Play was back and forth, with the Panthers slowly regaining some of that momentum and starting to press for the equalizer.

With 2:32 left in the first period, Kemptville got one by goaltender Quade Mullin to knot the game at one goal each.

With 30 seconds left in the period, the Panthers made the rink a lot more uncomfortable with their second to take a 2-1 lead.

Carrying that emotion, Kemptville went up 3-1 early in the second period with Mullin being injured on the play.

Goaltender Mateo Lacroix was forced to come into the game a few minutes early instead of the half way point, and try to hold the Panther attack at bay to give the Lions a chance to battle back.

Less than a minute later, the Lions did answer with Spencer Barclay banging home the rebound after Owen Paterson rang one off the iron.

This brought the Lions within one goal with lots of time left.

Late in the second period the Lions had their opportunity with the Panthers short-handed two men with one of them being a five minute major. However, the Kemptville penalty killers thwarted the Lions power play and they escaped with no damage.

In the third period, the Lions ran out of gas, and they were not able to find the net again. The end result was a 3-2 loss which kept them in second place.

The Lions next game is Tuesday night in Akwesasne and their next home game is January 25th, a rematch against the Panthers.

Great seats are still available for this game – get your tickets early – you won’t want to miss it.

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Junior Lions lose two

January 14, 2015 Editor

The Morrisburg Junior B Lions were handed a pair of losses on the weekend, both in Gananoque.

Saturday, January 10 they opened the Rideau-St. Lawrence Division Showcase against the Prescott Flyers with a 6-1 loss.

Then on Sunday, January 11, again in Gananoque, they lost to the hometown Islanders 6-4.

Saturday, against the Flyers, Landon Veenstra managed the lone Lions goal at 7:18 of the first period for a 1-0 lead. But that was it.

The Flyers came back for three to carry a 3-1 lead into the second period where another three goals produced the 6-1 win.

Keiran Weir and newcomer Brett Hahn shared the Lions net duties. Hahn replaces veteran Lions goaltender John Gilmer who recently signed with the Nepean Raiders.

Sunday, the Lions held the Islanders to a 1-1 first period tie, the Lions getting their goal from Eric Evans, unassisted.

The Islanders charged up for a second period showing that produced four unanswered goals against Lions goaltender Brett Hahn.

The Lions found themselves in the third period to make a game of it with three consecutive goals.

Landon Veenstra, unassisted on the Lions power play, got it started just 53 second in and that was followed by a Justin Lefevbre powe-play goal at 2:30.

At 11:11 of the third, Dylan Nixon cut the Islanders advantage to 5-4 with help from Ryan Griffin and Curtis Evans, but that was it.

Brett Arrowsmith scored the final goal of the game at 13:59 of the third period for the 6-4 Gananoque win.

Coming up, the Lions are in Westport this Friday night. They will host the Char-Lan Rebels, Sunday, January 18. Game time is 2:30 p.m.

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Wading closer to community splash pad goal

January 14, 2015 Editor

Since the day a group of volunteers united as the South Dundas Community Playground Committee to bring a newer, bigger and better playground to Earl Baker Park in Morrisburg in 2011, the people of South Dundas have expressed a strong interest in a splash pad.

Although still about $20,000 short of a $200,000 fundraising goal, this year, the splash pad will become a reality.

The South Dundas playground/ splash pad committee set a fundraising goal of $200,000 and had hoped to break ground on the splash pad at Earl Baker Park in Morrisburg in the fall of 2014, but were unable to get started as they had hoped.

Weather and expert advice were big factors in the committee opting to wait until spring 2015 to get the splash pad project underway.

Michael Domanko of the committee said that the project will get started as soon as weather permits.

“Once the installers arrive on site, it will take one week to complete the splash pad,” said Domanko.

“So, there’s no question, kids will be splashing out there this summer.”

The Vortex splash pad will be installed by ABC Recreation of Paris, Ontario.

They have installed many splash pads including Long Sault, Cornwall and Brockville.

The South Dundas splash pad will include the top five elements voted on by elementary school students in South Dundas.

Water tunnel, cylinder spray, loop sprayers will be elements included for the older children, while the water bug and aqua dome will be features of the toddler section of the splash pad.

“The design is a very active one,” said Domanko.

Although they have not yet reached their initial $200,000 fundraising goal, Domanko says the community has done extremely well in raising funds to support this project.

The committee had applied, unsuccessfully, for half a dozen different grants from various funding sources.

The absence of securing such a grant is the main reason for the shortfall.

To help make up for some of the shortfall, the committee is trying to secure more in-kind contributions to the project to reduce some of the overall cost.

Already, Cruickshank construction has donated 180 tonnes of aggregate for the project and Lloyd McMillan has provided some trucking, in-kind.

The committee is planning a trivia fundraiser for the early spring.

Until then, the committee is gladly accepting donations towards the splash pad.

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Benefit brings over $25,000 to Blok family

January 14, 2015 Editor

Even though tickets sold out for Saturday’s Blok Family benefit fundraising dance , the community’s generosity didn’t stop with ticket sales.

The evening featured a live and silent auction, and by the time those were finished, more than $25,000 was raised to help Jessica (Beckstead) Blok and her family as she battles stage four rhabdomyosarcoma cancer. Jessica recently married Dustin Blok and the young couple have a baby daughter Autumn.

The Iroquois-Matilda Lions Club organized and hosted the event at Matilda Hall, January 10. Eddy and the Stingrays provided the entertainment, free of charge to allow all proceeds to go the family.

“Let’s help make a difference,” was our motto as we approached this event,” said Henry Swank, president of the Iroquois-Matilda Lions. “And, I think we did.”

Swank was ecstatic to announce the fundraising tally Monday morning. “I’m just damn proud of everyone,” he said. “Not just the Lions, but the family and friends and the community who supported this. This was a real unified effort.”

“What made it even more special was the family being there,” said Swank.

“We’re just really appreciative of everything everyone has done for us,” said Dustin.

“We need to say thanks to everyone. To everyone who donated, to the Lions and Tony (Hall) and family and friends thanks so much,” said Jessica.

The $25,000 tally only takes into account funds raised at Saturday’s benefit. At a recent regional meeting of area Lions Clubs, Swank made an appeal to all the area clubs to contribute to the Blok family, so even more money will be raised for this family.

Shortly after the print deadline, members of the Lions club updated the fundraising total for the event to over $31,000.

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Changes to Ontario smoking regulations

January 14, 2015 Editor

As of January 1st 2015, the Ontario government has put in place new regulations to protect the public from tobacco and its harmful effects.

The new regulations that have been added to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act have made it illegal to smoke on bar and restaurant patios, and on (and within 20 metres of) playgrounds, and public sports fields and surfaces. Selling tobacco on the campuses of postsecondary education institutions is now illegal as well.

Strengthening the ban on smoking in bars, restaurants, playgrounds and public sports fields

In the past, smoking was only banned on covered or partially covered patios in Ontario. The new regulations have made it illegal to smoke on all outdoor bar and restaurant patios.

The province has also banned smoking on and around playgrounds, public sport fields and surfaces. The ban applies to all outdoor public sports facilities such as basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields, ice rinks, tennis courts, splash pads and swimming pools that are owned by a municipality, the province or a postsecondary education institution. Besides sport fields, it is also illegal to smoke on sport surfaces, in spectator areas around sport fields and 20 metres surrounding these locations. The ban includes playgrounds at hotels, motels and inns as well.

Banning the sale of tobacco products on school campuses

Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has also banned the sale of tobacco products on the campuses of postsecondary education institutions, such as colleges and universities. The new regulations apply to buildings and areas that are owned or leased by postsecondary education institutions or student unions and that are used for students’ education programs, recreational activities or residential services.

For more information visit www.eohu.ca.

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William Ernest Mongor

January 7, 2015 Editor

A longtime resident of Morrisburg, William “Bill” Ernest Mongor passed away peacefully at Dundas Manor, Winchester with his loving family by his side, on Wednesday, December 17, 2014. He was in his 95th year.

William was the son of the late Alfred Ernest Mongor and Christina Jane (nee Bullied).

Having lived in Morrisburg since 1940, William married the late Phyllis Esther Deeks, October 12, 1940, in Morrisburg, before going to serve in WWII from 1940 to 1945, as a navigation and radio instructor for night flights.

William worked for Christie’s Bread, having a daily run from Brockville to Cornwall. He later worked at Eckel Industries from 1963 until his retirement as Plant Manger in 1984. His kindness and thoughtfulness to former staff and co-workers is well remembered.

He served his community as a member of St. James Anglican Church, the Lions Club, Masonic Lodge and was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #48 for over 60 years.

His family was number one. Over the years, William passed down his belief of strong family values to his children and grandchildren. People often called him the “salt of the earth”.

Facebook is nothing when one thinks of Bill. He pioneered social networking before social networking was thought of. It was called Ham Radio, and because of that the children got to talk to Santa on the radio every Christmas Eve. Since 1950, this became his passion for a lifetime with his call number being VE3BOQ.

His quiet courage, gentle spirit and twinkling in his eyes will be forever remembered.

Bill was predeceased by his loving wife of 71 years, Phyllis. He was cherished father of Sandra Van Allen of Morrisburg, Barbara (Pete) Cougler of Madoc and Linda Droppo of Morrisburg.

He was loving grandfather of Barry (Linda) Van Allen of Morrisburg, Nancy (Garnet) Waldroff of Ingleside, Mike (Kim) Van Allen of Morrisburg, Christopher (Renee) Cougler, Matthew (Carrie) Cougler, both of Toronto, Kelly (Chris) VanBeilen of Morrisburg and Kevin (Carla) Droppo of Bradford.

Bill was dear great-grandfather of 11 and great-great grandfather of one.

He was predeceased by sisters Isabel Hardy, Marina Simpson and son-in-law, Leland Van Allen.

Friends were received at the Parker Funeral Home, 28 Sir James Morris Drive, Morrisburg on Sunday, from 6-8 p.m.

The funeral service was held at the funeral home on Monday, December 22, 2014 at 1 p.m. with Rev. Susan McCullough of St. James Anglican Church performing her last funeral service prior to her retirement. Interment Fairview Cemetery, Mariatown.

Pallbearers were William’s seven grandchildren: Nancy Waldroff, Kelly VanBeilen, Christopher Cougler, Matthew Cougler, Kevin Droppo, Barry Van Allen and Mike Van Allen.

Memorial donations to the Alzheimer Society or Dundas Manor will be gratefully acknowledged by the family. Condolences may be made at www.parkerofmorrisburg.com

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