Rental option pursued for Dundela skaters

Weather, among other factors, threw a wrench into the plan to get a first lift of asphalt put down on Lakeshore Drive this year. 

Friday, the contractor working on the Lakeshore Drive sewer project was on site doing some grading work, but Chris Bazinet, manager of public works for South Dundas, confirmed that the planned first course of asphalt will wait until spring.

“I met with the contractor earlier this week,” said Bazinet. “They will get the grading done, but the road will remain gravel until spring. Basically, the contractor ran out of time to get it done.” 

Bazinet explained that this snow event and cold weather did cause concern from the municipality about the quality of the first lift of asphalt if it is put down now. Because of this concern he felt it would be prudent to leave the stretch of road gravel for winter.

Another factor in this decision was that some potential storm sewer issues were discovered during construction. They would like to investigate those further. 

South Dundas, along with the Counties of SDG who are partners in the storm sewer project, are going to have some camera work done over the next couple of weeks. The results of that investigation may mean that the section or roadway they had planned to pave this year would have to be dug up again in the spring. 

Rather than risk asphalt quality issues and possibly dig up new asphalt in spring, South Dundas officials decided it would be more prudent to wait.

[…]

 Locally, we are all well aware of the event now known as the Battle of Crysler’s Farm, but what is not so widely known is that on two occasions Point Iroquois witnessed notable armed conflict.

The Iroquois-Matilda Lions Club is planning a to commemorate these armed conflicts with a memorial Cairn, and  a re-enactment at the point on November 9, 2013.

They requested, and received, South Dundas council support and approval for the Cairn and the event at the September 18 meeting. Township support is the first step in a process to work to obtain funding.

“We are taking this first step to try and revive one historic event that has been dormant for many years,” reported Jacques Asselin, chairperson for the War of 1812 project for the Iroquois-Matilda Lions Club.

“We are proud of the contributions made by our fore-bearers of Stormont-Dundas and Glengarry to the creation of Canada,” wrote Howard Kirkby who is also working on this project. 

The memorial Cairn to the First Regiment of Dundas Militia will be constructed of field-stones and mortar and include four plaques highlighting key historical facts. It is proposed to have a prominent location at Iroquois Point.

In addition to that static tribute, the organization is proposing a dynamic tribute for the dedication of the memorial, a re-enactment take place at Iroquois Point.

According to the documents provided to South Dundas council, re-enactment regiments from Canada and New Your State have expressed enthusiasm and sincere interest in performing a re-enactment of the 1813 skirmish on the 9th of November 2013 with approximately 100 re-enactors. They will also participate in the public dedication ceremony of the memorial and perform a solemn memorial service at the grave sites of those militia members who are buried in the Iroquois cemetery.

For the re-enacting regiments this event would occur in association with the planned re-enactment at Hoople’s Creek and memorial service at the Crysler’s Farm Battle Monument on the 10th and 11th of November.

This Iroquois-Matilda Lions 1812 project also includes an educational component whereby they plan to prepare online and printed materials and make them available to the public to help raise public awareness and appreciation of the exploits and sacrifices made by the First Regiment of Dundas Militia.

“To conclude, this project, with broad-based community involvement and support, will put South Dundas on the War of 1812 commemorative map,” reads the report.

[…]

“You, Max, are the icon of generosity,” said  executive board member Doug Grenkie, thanking guest speaker, Max Keeping, following the September 21 meeting of the Canadian Club of Morrisburg and District.

Recently retired after over three decades as anchor of CTV/CJOH television in eastern Ontario and long time community supporter and activist, Keeping shared his views of giving, of the importance of community and of the role of the media in the community. His Newfoundland sense of humour always at the forefront, Keeping delivered an inspirational and thoughtful message.

He recalled how essential a station like CJOH has been to the eastern Ontario community, bringing people together through distinctive local productions and shows that reflect rural values and strengths. He was proud that New Faces, Regional Contact, and even the off-the-wall show, You Can’t Do That on Television, are remembered and honoured for their hometown spirit. They showcased the interesting places and people that mattered to eastern Ontario communities.

“In the 1960s,” Keeping said, “when I was just starting out, Ernest L. Bushnell was the new owner of CJOH TV. I remember him saying ‘This station must exist to do more than just make me money.’ He felt that his station had to be of service and benefit to the community.”

Keeping followed that philosophy throughout his on air career, actively promoting and supporting fund raisers, funding drives and community campaigns for nearly 40 years, including his work for CHEO, raising millions of dollars for sick children during telethons.

“In this wonderful and exciting new world of technology, our definition of neigbour is going to change. My neigbours used to be anyone four miles away. Now a neighbour can mean someone 8,000 miles away. The ability to net work and to bring people together on line in a good cause is a characteristic of young people today. They still cherish our fundamental values, but they plan to use technology to remake the world.”

Although he values and supports the new technical approaches to community involvement and fund raising, Keeping shared anedotes about the “good old days” on the  CJOH TV, when there was a push to get right out into the community to broadcast.

“Once, on a four nights run of a show called Hometown Tours, we decided in one town that it would be a great idea to put J.J. Clark, the weatherman, out into the river to deliver his report,” Keeping laughed.

“With more than a minute and a half to go in the report, J.J. suddenly threw the live mike back at me and I had to cover. When I asked him why later, he indignantly replied that the current was so strong, it was pulling him under. “I was drowning!”

Another time I talked him into making his weather broadcast from atop a live elephant. Suddenly the beast took off with J.J. trapped. We used to put him into all kinds of predicaments. I don’t think,” Keeping laughed, “that J.J. really minded when I left.”

He praised the efforts of the public service employees, of individuals and service groups and ordinary people for their generosity to others.

“Throughout my long career, I have learned to recognize and value the act of giving,” Keeping concluded.

“You receive so much more when you give. You of rural Canada have set the bar high in generosity to others: we in the cities must strive to meet that same bar.”

[…]