Inconvenient outages Christmas Eve

The Hartford Retirement Centre hosted its first Casino Night on September 22nd from 7 to 9 p.m. Many residents were joined by family and friends for an evening of fun.

According to organizer, Marilyn Arsenault, the Hartford rented two blackjack tables, two slot machines, and two crown & anchor wheels from their sister centre in Ottawa, Rideau Place on the River.

She told the Leader that “each person was given a bucket with 20 chips in it (and) they traveled around to the different games” playing until “their chips were gone.”

Included in the night were prizes provided by Hartford manager, Kim Hodkinson. The first place went to Jean Dunbar. The second place went to Evelyn Smail and the third to Mary Lynch.

In addition, there were seven randomly chosen door prizes.

According to Arsenault, it was “such an enjoyable night that residents are still talking about it” the morning after.

“We saw people out – residents who don’t usually come out.”

She and Hodkinson estimated that there were close to 70 people in attendance.

Arsenault wanted to say “thank you to Frank Lalonde, Richard Pecore and Penny Richmire” for their help.

Casino Night at the Hartford was such a success that there’s talk of bringing it back again in the spring, but this time it will be  “bigger and better.”

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Sears Catalogue Store (the Iroquois branch recently received recognition from Sears for customer service) and River Rat Treasures jointly sponsored and hosted a fund raising fashion show held at the Iroquois Legion on Sunday, April 15. 

Wearing a sparkling mixture of modern and exciting styles from Sears and some styles that would have made great-great-grandma swoon a century and a half ago, 12 models of all ages delighted a crowd numbering over 80. The funds raised from the event, $870, will all be donated to the Iroquois and District Celebration Festival Committee.

“We included a segment of period costumes to create some excitement for our upcoming festival,” said Candace Menges of River Rat Treasures and Candy’s Hair Salon, organizer for the show. “Our theme for the September festival is “Dundas Militia…A Call to Arms…War of 1812,” so it all fit.”

Evonne Delegarde served as commentator for the fashion show. Guests enjoyed tasty treats,  took advantage of several door prizes and explored some very unique shopping opportunities over the evening.

Nancy Horton, a cancer survivor and author of the book, Hope in the Midst of Darkness, and the children’s book, The Big Fat Head (illustrated by her son, Carter) was also on hand at the fashion show. Diagnosed with cancer in 2005, Horton supports efforts, through her books, to help people cope with the disease, and with loved ones going through treatments.

“Think positive, reach out to God in times of trouble,” she said, “and don’t lose hope. The word cancer is not a death sentence.”

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“I will do my best to be the spokesman for Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry,” said South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds on December 10, 2010 when he was officially sworn in as the Warden for the United Counties of SD&G.

Byvelds’s year-long position came to an end on November 21st when he chaired his last Counties council meeting as Warden of SD&G. His replacement, South Glengarry Deputy-Mayor Ian McLeod will be sworn in on December 9th, 2011.

The Warden is the head of council and, as Byvelds explained, “in theory, the CEO of the municipality, in this case, the Counties.”

“You are expected to go to meetings and events to represent the Counties. The Warden puts the Counties first when considering issues. However, all Counties Councillors should do this when performing Counties business,” continued Byvelds.

“We need to be open to new ideas but in the end we need to work to improve and enhance the entire Counties, not just our own little part.”

At last year’s swearing in, Byvelds stated: “Our goal will be to make the United Counties of SD&G the best counties government in Ontario.”

When asked if he was successful in this goal, he said, “I do believe we at the Counties do a good job. We have the best counties road system in Ontario and Council, through the budget, decided to keep our road system well maintained.”

“Staff also do an excellent job in making sure things get done right.”

During the Warden’s Closing Address, Byvelds said, “someone asked me at the banquet what were the high and low point of the past year. The high point was easy as becoming the warden certainly was a peak. The position  is respected by many and the people of South Dundas appreciated having their mayor as warden.”

“The low point was council’s decision not to go to a two year term for warden.”

He later provided further comment on this issue: “I feel strongly that a two year term of warden is the way to go. It takes half a year to build the relationships a warden needs with Cornwall, our local member of parliament and member of provincial parliament, and especially at the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus (EOWC).”

“The EOWC lobbies Provincial and Federal issues and an important issue we worked on was the Farm Tax issue. We met with provincial ministers twice through the year and although things have changed with our new minority government, a warden with a longer term can establish the connections required to get things done.”

It would seem that Byvelds enjoyed his year as Warden for the United Counties of SD&G. He admitted that “if council had agreed in September to go forward with a two year term, I would have allowed myself to continue.”

“I  certainly enjoyed running meetings and making sure things got done at the counties level,” he said. “Counties Councillors worked well with me and I had a sense that the respect was mutual.”

“My advice to Deputy Warden McLeod is to be prepared and represent the Counties well. I have already offered my help and I feel confident that he is ready for the position.”

In the final words of his closing address, Byvelds said, “I believe we live in and operate one of the best county systems in Ontario.”

Byvelds’ promise: “I will resume being the councillor for South Dundas and I will continue to work for what is best for the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.”

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