EDP offer of millions contingent on municipal support of South Branch II project proposal

At the June 26th South Dundas council meeting, councillor Evonne Delegarde informed council of complaints she’d received from several Iroquois residents concerning use of the Iroquois Campsite dumping station.

According to Delegarde, Iroquois residents who had previously used the dumping station for free have now found that it is locked. To gain access they must pay a small fee.

“I’d like to propose that we remove the lock and eliminate the three dollar fee,” said Delegarde. 

“The people that I spoke to,” she continued, “use it only a handful of times.”

She proposed that council “in good faith allow residents to use the dumping station,” suggesting that Morrisburg and area residents have free access to the dumping station at Canadian Tire in Morrisburg and, therefore, Iroquois residents should have free access to the dumping station at the Iroquois Campsite. 

Clerk Brenda Brunt said, “the dumping station is for the campers. I’m not sure why residents who aren’t camping there, dump there.”

Deputy-mayor Jim Locke agreed with Brunt, saying, “I don’t know why they wouldn’t dump at the campground they’re coming from.”

In the end, mayor Steven Byvelds reminded that “there’s no free ride.” 

Delegarde’s proposal was voted down four to one.

[…]

Over 600 historical re-enactors, two tall ships and a long boat will be part of the spectacle that will mark the bicentennial of the Battle of Crysler’s Farm July 13-14.

In the weeks leading up to the event, Bob Irvine, a member of the Friends of Crysler’s Battlefield, the non-profit organization that has for 13 years hosted the Crysler’s Farm battle re-enactments, spoke about the coming event and the future needs of the Crysler’s Farm organization.

The Battle of Crysler’s Farm was one of the most important battles of the War of 1812, as it kept control of the upper lakes out of the hands of the Americans.

“There’s only one 200th,” said Irvine, who with fellow organizers have kept that in mind throughout their preparations for the weekend event.

The Friends are all volunteer and they are at arm’s length from Upper Canada Village in terms of funding, although they do work in partnership with them because the Battlefield land belongs to the St. Lawrence Parks Commission.

Looking to the future, beyond this weekend’s event, Irvine says that the Friends organization which has about 65 members, including only six or seven very active volunteers, is in desperate need of more volunteers. 

“We need people to step up and keep this going,” said Irvine, explaining that the organization’s president, Robin Morris is expected to step down this year for health reasons.

Irvine is from Johnstown, and says that of those who belong to the organization, most are from farther afield than South Dundas, where the site is actually located. “We have only two people who are from the Morrisburg/Iroquois area,” he said.

Of this weekend’s event, Irvine added that re-enctors are coming from as far away as California to participate in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Crysler’s Farm. “That’s how big this is in the re-enactment community.”

[…]

“For someone who’s just over three feet tall, and born with a rare bone disease, life is always a work in progress,” says Jaime A. Adams, the little girl who was born in 1977 and raised in Iroquois.

Jaime, remembered by so many as the subject of community support efforts throughout the 1980s when the small town rallied around the daughter of Glen and Lorraine Adams with Morquio Syndrome, has written a book about her life, from her perspective.

In “Mommy, when can we go to church?”, a 60 page autobiography, Jaime tells her story of how faith and determination have helped her reach milestones, no one ever thought possible.

Jaime’s parents were told that she had a short life expectancy, maybe 10 years.

This story is not one of lofty achievements, but rather the ability of someone, who despite the odds, continues to move forward, no matter how difficult.

“Writing my autobiography wasn’t all that easy,” Jaime tells The Leader. 

“I wanted to write a book to help people who are going through similar issues. Whether you are a little person or not, we all have difficulties, young or old.”

The book follows Jaime, from procedure to procedure, but shows the impact of these from the perspective of a young child.

“I wanted readers to feel like they were there with me. In order to do that I had to go back there in my mind and re-live those experiences. That was tough.”

“Writing this book has helped me to analyze my childhood emotions,” says Jaime. 

Through dealing with two emotional breakdowns, and coping with much anger, Jaime discovered, that through everything her faith in God had gotten stronger, not weaker.

“My health today is great,” says Jaime. “Stronger than ever.”

Jaime now lives in Brockville. She has degrees in business administration, marketing, medical terminology and is working on web design courses, but remains unemployed. 

Jaime hopes to find employment to help her afford a vehicle so she can continue working towards getting her driver’s licence.

She plans to write more books, but says that too takes money.

Jaime is selling her book for $25 directly. Anyone interested can contact her on her personal Facebook page or on Adamsflash Facebook to purchase a copy. It is also available through Amazon.ca

Mommy, when can we go to church? was published by Word Alive Press, December, 2014.

[…]