This week in The Leader – July 17, 2019 edition

As children in South Dundas head back to school, many with backpacks filled with all the necessary supplies for a good school year, it is difficult to imagine that on the other side of the world, there are children who stand outside the schoolyard, peering in and hoping that they will someday have the chance for an education.

Unable to go to school due to the lack of family funds, the children will have few opportunities to break out of the cycle of malnutrition and poverty.

In the summer of 2007, an elementary teacher from Maxville decided to try and change that.

Cathy Lucking was volunteering at an orphanage in central Madagascar and resolved to confront the education problem directly by building a school and staffing it with competent Malagasy teachers.

During that year, many in Eastern Ontario responded by contributing money to the registered charity that Lucking had established, and the villagers of Ambatoharanana began making and hauling the important bricks necessary for the construction of their first school. It was completed and in operation by the fall of 2008.

In the past few years, the project has gathered speed and another school has been built and opened. Cathy’s home area of Maxville has been a big supporter of the project. As word spread, more churches and community groups have become involved.

Now, a Christian outreach group from three Anglican churches in South Dundas is working on a fund raising dinner to help fund the ongoing work of operating the schools and increasing the number of classrooms.

On Saturday, October 5, Allan Hall in Morrisburg will be the site of a special dinner that will feature a menu of Malagasy foods, which will be prepared by a dedicated group of local volunteers. Tickets are $20.

Diners will enjoy foods similar to those that would be a holiday meal for the more affluent in Madagascar. Dishes will include a soup of pureed vegetables, tomato salad, also vegetables and chicken and rice, with typical spices from which you may choose. For dessert, pineapple upside-down cake.Organizers will have a small display of items from Madagascar, along with some hand-crafted jewellery for sale. 

Cathy Lucking will be in attendance to share her experiences through a video presentation. Tickets can be purchased at Seaway Valley Pharmacy in Morrisburg or by calling Joan Larocque at 543-0722. MadagascarSchoolProject.com is the online source for photos and information about the Madagascar School and Cathy Lucking’s amazing work.

[…]

The average residential property owner in South Dundas will pay about $8 more in municipal property taxes this year, and when combined with the Counties and Education levies the average property tax bill will be about $20 more than last year.

An average home in South Dundas is valued at approximately $176,000.

Capital and operating budgets approved by South Dundas council for 2014 result in a total levy of $5,231,000, which is about $85,000 more than last year.

South Dundas council wrapped up two days of budget deliberations February 20 and 21, satisfied that they had met their target to hold the municipal levy increase close to one per cent.

At the outset of budget deliberations, South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds said, “We need to concentrate on getting the projects we’ve started done. We as a council have to consider what’s good for all of South Dundas, not just for individuals.”

With reserves sitting in fairly good shape at about $3 million, Byvelds suggested, “It’s better to set the books straight for the end of this year so the new council isn’t left to question what we did over the last four years.”

With staff submitting budgets that did not include a lot of excess, council made quick work of the operational budgets. For the most part they were happy with the capital projects presented, and provided their approval.

South Dundas chief administrative office Steve McDonald said there were no service cuts in the budget and told council that the 2014 budget included a one per cent increase in wages and council honourariums. Annual contributions to the municipal return of service incentive for new doctors ended this year.

“This is not an exciting budget. It’s a stay the course budget,” added McDonald, who thanked management staff, especially the treasurer, for the months of hard work that were poured into this document.

The budget does not become official until the budget bylaw is approved by council. It will be presented to council at the March 4, regular council meeting.

[…]

Two Morrisburg golfers battled through two playoff holes to settle this years Morrisburg Ladies Open  on Wednesday August 12. Monique Patenaude beat defending champion Vicki Boivin on the 2nd playoff hole. Both ladies shot 89’s […]