Mills reveals Seaway split projections

A woman facing the trauma of cancer and the often harsh effects of chemo and radiation therapy already has a lot on her mind. Particularly devastating for many women is the loss of their eyebrows and hair, and the subsequent alteration in their appearances. 

Look Good Feel Better is devoted to helping women combat the toll cancer can take by helping them to learn how to maximize their looks as they heal. 

“If you don’t feel good, it’s harder to heal,” said Joanne Notman, who has been a volunteer with Look Good Feel Better workshops for seven years. “Women, especially cancer victims, need the morale boost of looking their best.”

The two hour work shops are designed to work with women, one on one, so they can learn tricks about how to minimize hair loss, puffiness, dry skin, and how to cope with nail issues, all of them by-products of cancer treatments. The workshops give women a chance to share and relax, to try on wigs and experiment with make up secure in a private and supportive atmosphere.

“When I attend a workshop,” Notman explained, “I find the participants are always amazed at the quality and quantity of the goods they receive for free. Each work shop has a team leader (Notman is a leader) and a group of cosmetic advisors. These advisors are all volunteers and are all in the cosmetic business.”

“There are three aspects to each workshop,” Notman explained. “Makeup and skin care, nail care and the hair portion. We also talk with women about what to expect as they undergo treatments so that the changes they face are easier to bear.”

The Look Good Feel Better movement began in the United States about 20 years ago, when an oncology nurse witnessed women, devastated by the changes in their appearances, essentially “dropped” once their medical treatments were finished. The idea of workshops to help them cope took hold.

In Canada, the program is sponsored by the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association. 

Each participant in a workshop receives a complimentary kit of products donated by this group, all of them designed for traumatized skin. 

“There is even a workshop held at CHEO,” Joanne explained, “for teenage girls who are undergoing treatments.  The teenagers, we’ve found, are less concerned with the whole background program. They just want to get into the makeup,” Joanne laughed, “but then what girl doesn’t?” 

There are already workshops held in Ottawa and Kingston. And now Winchester District Memorial Hospital also holds a free workshop bi-monthly.

The free workshops at WDMH are held every other month, with the next one scheduled for Wednesday, September 26, in the afternoon. Women of any age can register, whether they are currently undergoing treatment, or will be starting therapy. The number is 613-774-2420, extension 6792.

Joanne Notman believes that the Look Good Feel Better program  is of great value to women facing the trials of cancer.  

“If we can make a woman (and her family too) feel happier and more confident, then it’s all worth it. I call Look Good Feel Better my charity of choice. I love it.”

[…]

“The strain on food banks is always high at this time of year, but for the Dundas County Food Bank this is unprecedented,” said Ian McKelvie, DCFB administrator.

While the food bank has been fortunate to receive much community support over the holiday season, the generosity hasn’t been enough to keep the shelves stocked.

Over the last several weeks, food is going out the door as fast as it is coming in.

Food bank use has increased by about 15 percent across Dundas County, but McKelvie says that it has increased even more here at the South Dundas location in Morrisburg.

With food going out the doors so quickly, the food purchasing budget for 2014 has been completely depleted. 

DCFB officials estimate that the food budget will be overspent by about $12,000 just to meet demand. “It’s possible that we could have our first deficit since the food bank was established in 1991.”

“We would like to appeal to the community to help us reduce this shortfall,” said McKelvie. 

Right now they are asking that people focus on monetary donations, cash or cheques payable to the Dundas County Food Bank.

Monetary donations allow the food bank to focus on their most immediate food needs, and gives purchasers a little more buying power to buy in bulk to turn the dollars into more food.

The need is immediate. 

Donations can be dropped off at the food bank.  They are open next January 5, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For added convenience, the Municipality of South Dundas and Township of North Dundas have agreed to accept donations for the Dundas County Food Bank at the municipal offices in Morrisburg and Winchester during regular business hours from January 2 on.

Donations are also accepted online at canadahelps.org : search for Dundas County Food Bank.

[…]

 

Although local residents have succeeded in stopping the sale of the ‘400’, they may have incidentally created barriers to its future usage.

On April 18th, South Dundas clerk Brenda Brunt sent out the following statement to the papers: “Council passed a resolution last night to decline the offers on the 397 acre parcel of land. They have asked for a report from staff with other options for the land.”

This statement followed the April 17th South Dundas council meeting where council chambers overflowed with concerned residents opposed to the sale of the land on County Road 8, opposite the Williamsburg Landfill site.

South Dundas resident Sara Dillabough presented council with a petition last Tuesday night in an effort to save the land from being sold. “I live on Weegar Road,” said Dillabough, “and I’m here on behalf of the people of South Dundas.”

She told council she had a petition with 606 signatures “asking you, council, to reconsider the sale of the ‘400’.”

“We are disturbed that council has plans to change this. We want to make council aware of how valuable the land is,” she said.

“Many here tonight have taken full advantage of what this land has to offer. We pride ourselves on being a vibrant rural community.”

She finished with a plea for council to “take into consideration the feelings of constituents.”

Following Dillabough’s address to council, mayor Steven Byvelds revealed “why council looked at selling this property.”

“Some time ago,” he said, “council instructed staff to look at all surplus land. We felt that it was an opportunity to put these properties back into the hands of the public.”

“Council was already aware that people were interested in buying that property for hunting. We took that opportunity to put it on the market.”

He assured the assembled residents that there was “no intention of any councillor to have that property used for farming.”

He then commented on the fact that both he and Brunt had recently been “bombarded with emails and phone calls.”

“We will,” he stated, “take this under advisement. Council is now aware of what you, the public, desire for that land.”

With that said, Byvelds addressed the many activities the land has been used for past and present, referring to many as “liabilities. “We will have to look into all of the challenges that property represents.”

Councillor Jim Graham told the audience that “I’ve never heard of this property as a recreational site. We are now aware of what it’s being used for… the liabilities.”

“We have to take responsibility for what’s taking place on that property now that we do know,” said Councillor Evonne Delegarde, referring to a concern about the hunting, in particular.

“Liability is going to be the issue,” agreed Councillor Archie Mellan.

Byvelds indicated to the residents in attendance that “there are some options available.”

He assured them that “there was no intent to do any malicious damage in this.”

At this point in the meeting, Byvelds allowed a few comments and questions from members of the audience, one of whom made the following plea, “don’t give away what we’ve got in this township.”

Another, addressing Delegarde’s concern over the hunting issue, said that many or most of those who use the property belong to the Ontario Hunter and Anglers Association. “They’re covered up to $5 million,” he said. “You can avoid the liability. There’s always a way around it.”

“It’s always about the money,” said one woman. “My family has used the ‘400’ more than any other service you offer.”

Another man told council that he had “actually walked the ‘400’ tonight. I’m a forester. Most of it is forested… some trees are over 100 years old… in the middle is the Huckleberry marsh, loaded with water, moose and deer.” He finished his short speech offering council a guided tour of the land, if they wished.

Byvelds ended the topic saying “council will take all of this into consideration… we get an issue that people take to heart… you show pride in your municipality. Once in a while we hit something we’re not ready for.”

“It’s a democracy in the end,” he reminded residents, “we will make the decision that’s best for the township… for everyone.”

The motion to receive the petition was passed. Council discussed the issue in closed session later in the evening. 

[…]