News

The 2014 construction season isn’t over yet, and already area residents may want to be aware of what’s in store for the 2015 construction season.

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario is planning to rehabilitate eight overpass structures in SDG from 2015 to 2018, and two of those projects could have a significant impact on area drivers and residents here in South Dundas. 

Late last month, MTO officials and SDG Counties staff met to review and discuss the work as the designers are at the start of the detailed design process.

At the September 15, Counties council meeting, counties engineer Ben de Haan, provided a key information report regarding those projects.

Although the information is still fairly preliminary, de Haan reported that the County Road 8 (Church Road) overpass is scheduled for rehabilitation. That project would be done using traditional methods and would likely mean the structure would be reduced to one lane of traffic over the 2015 and 2016 construction seasons.

The other overpass project slated to take place in South Dundas, is the complete replacement of the County Road 16 (Brinston Road) overpass.

That project is likely to involve rapid demolition, to minimize the impact on 401 traffic, but that means the MTO is considering complete closure and detour of County Road 16 for an entire construction season (April through December).

Brinston Road is a busy local roadway with annual average daily traffic of about 1,100 vehicles per day.

Should this closure take place, all those vehicles will be detoured, likely to County Roads 40, 1 and 2.

The MTO has requested feedback from SDG officials and staff are preparing a list of formal comments for the MTO.

[…]

South Dundas voters will have three opportunities to hear from their 14 municipal election candidates, when the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce hosts all candidates nights.

The South Dundas Chamber of Commerce is organizing the all candidates nights for the upcoming Municipal Election, in keeping with its tradition of making these important forums available to the entire community so candidates have an opportunity to express their views and voters have the information they need to make informed choices on October 27th. 

The All Candidates Nights will begin at 6 p.m. and be held at the following locations and dates: Upper Canada Playhouse on Tuesday, September 30, Matilda Hall on Tuesday, October 14 and Iroquois Civic Centre on Monday October 20.  

All three meetings will feature all candidates seeking election to South Dundas council.

The format for these All Candidates Nights will be as follows: 

• All candidates will be given two minutes for opening statements. This will allow them to introduce themselves, give some background information and outline their views on specific issues and why they have offered their services to South Dundas residents. 

• The floor will then be open to a question and answer period, providing an opportunity to ask candidates specific questions that concern you and your community.

• Candidates will be given two minutes for closing statements.  

It should be noted that this is not a debate.  

There will be no rebuttals or further questions following the candidate’s answer.  

Everyone is invited to participate in these important events. 

They provide a valuable forum for voters to present their concerns to the very individuals who are vying for the position to address these concerns for the next four years. 

It also provides the unique opportunity to hear and compare all of the candidates’ views and intentions in their bid for elected office. 

[…]

Williamsburg is all decked out in its fall-finest because this is the weekend that the Williamsburg Community Association presents Williamsburg’s 23rd Annual Fall Harvest Festival.

Events kick off Friday evening with a free movie night at the Oddfellows Hall in Williamsburg with a screening of The Legend of Oz – Dorothy’s Return.

Saturday morning, one of the newest events to Harvest Festival, the Outhouse races take place at 10 a.m. along Villa Drive.

Last year was Harvest Festival’s first go at outhouse races and it proved very popular. All are looking forward to the races. For those not participating, spectators are encouraged to check out the fun-filled competition. 

Saturday morning judging will take place for various competitions including heaviest potato, largest sunflower face best decorate bicycle, and more. 

The Harvest Festival parade takes place at noon.

Saturday, park activities for the kids including face painting, pony rids and petting zoo and air bounce will be available, along with games, displays and demonstrations. Shoppers may want to check our the Craft Show and Sale at J.W. MacIntosh Seniors’ Support Centre and the Flea Market and Farmers Market at the park.

The 6th Annual Allan Doherty Memorial Horseshoe Tournament also runs Saturday at the park. 

As always, admission and events that take place from one end of the village to the other are free of charge.

Saturday night revellers can shuttle their way to Matilda Hall to dance to Landmark. The shuttle which picks up in Morrisburg and Williamsburg is free. Admission to the dance is $12.

[…]

South Branch Community fund agreement is now in place, and within 60 days, the Municipality of South Dundas should be receiving the first $30,000 cheque for the fund they will distribute.

South Branch Wind Farm officials and interested community members attend the recent council meeting when the funding guidelines were approved by South Dundas council.

The South Branch Community Fund has been established to provide funding to benefit the community near the South Branch Wind Farm.

Through an application process the funds are meant to help promote and/or benefit;

• Public recreational facilities and programs 

• Community gathering facilities, events, and related Municipal usage fees

• Educational and job training related to sustainability or renewable energy

• Other community related activities approved by the Municipality of South Dundas.

The South Branch Wind Farm will pay $30,000 into the fund annually for a term of 20 years, starting in 2014 and ending in 2033. 

To qualify for funding the facilities or residents must be from within the boundaries outlined in the agreement, which are Irish Headline Road/ County Road 5 to the north, County Road 18, including Matilda Hall in the south, Taylor Road to the west and Heritage Road, including the Dundela rink property in th east.

The fund is intended for community benefit and could help, for example, with community spaces such as the Dixon’s Corners Community Centre, Matilda Hall, Dundela rink and area parks. 

Any single release of funds greater than $5,000 requires the approval of EDP Renewables Canada.

The project is owned and operated by South Dundas Wind Farm Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of EDP Renewables Canada Ltd. The project began commercial operations in March 2014. In July and August all of the site restoration work was completed.

South Dundas is awaiting a report from EDP regarding a road use agreement between EDP and North and South Dundas.

[…]

Joy and Leanne Casselman of Old Homestead Farm welcomed several two-legged and four-legged guests to their farm September 11, when the Giddy-Up for Bonnie fundraising ride passed through South Dundas. The seven people, and eight horses, were riding from Lindsay to St. Andrew’s West, to raise funds for a dear friend battling cancer. The 440 kilometre journey, included most of the group on horseback, with a team hitched to a covered wagon. Joy was thrilled that the group found her farm, where they camped for the night. The organizer of the ride had driven the back-roads route a few weeks before, stopping at various farms suitable to overnight the camping riders’ horses. They were here on day 12 of their 14 day journey. The ride was more challenging than they anticipated. However, making it a little easier were the people they encountered along the way.

[…]

 

If you are looking for some food to spice up your life, you can head on down to Auto Wonderland, east of Morrisburg, where partners Luigi Cerquozzi and Tony Crea are cooking up some authentic Italian dishes at their Pizza•Pasta•Panini concession stand.

“It’s a venture dealing with authentic homemade Italian cuisine,” says Crea of he and his brother-in-law’s concession stand located on the Auto Wonderland property. The property, in recent weeks, has been undergoing some landscaping which has unveiled a beautiful pond along with some attractive treed areas.

Canadians, Luigi and Tony each has roots in Italy. “We are from two different parts of Italy,” says Crea. “That’s what makes it so nice. I am from Southern Italy, and I specialize in the Italian Panini and sausages. Luigi is from middle Italy, and he is more into pizza, pastas and desserts.”

“What you will eat here is what I feed my kids,” explains Crea as he takes a moment to relax on one of several picnic tables available to diners.  “Basically, everything is homemade, we even have homemade sausage.”

Cerquozzi and Crea live in Ottawa and have had their Italian cuisine concession stand on the Auto Wonderland property open for approximately one month. In addition to the on-site food service, Pizza•Pasta•Panini will cater on and off site for birthday parties, anniversaries, weddings, festivals etc.

“I am getting a good response,” says Crea. “People are telling me that finally they have something to look forward to other than fries. We are family owned and operated, and we are trying to give good food.”

The decision to open the Italian concession stand came about from the partners love of cooking and of course their love of their Italian food.

Cerquozzi has owned the Wonderland property for about 18 years, but has mainly used the building storage area.

Now with the addition of Pizza•Pasta•Panini, the Wonderland property is being enhanced to make it available to host events or festivals, such as car or boats shows, anything really that needs property for an event. The brothers-in-law also plan to host their own events.

 “It’s a change of life and a change of work as well,” says Crea, whose background is in construction. “I adore people and like to see them smile. I look forward to that each day. And when I see the smiles, then I know I am doing something right.”

With the steady traffic on County Road 2, easy access to the site off the 401 and nearby Upper Canada Village the partners are hoping they have a winning combination.

Crea proudly points to the Pizza/Pasta/Panini menu which features Paninis (10 selections), Pasta (five selections), Pizza (eight inch round personal, nine selections), Salads, Snacks and Desserts of Tiramisu and Italian Ice Cream. 

For catering information or to order, please call 613-543-4276.

[…]

 

 Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) continued a tradition of fiscal responsibility Wednesday night, September 10, by instituting an administrative hiring freeze and moving to better monitor spending in an age of fiscal constraint. 

Members passed three motions during the first Board meeting of the new school year to ensure the UCDSB lives within the budget passed by trustees in June. 

The motions were approved out of concern due to recent hints by the Ministry of Education that the province is tightening its belt, which may affect future funding for the board.

Director David Thomas welcomed the changes.

“At this board, we have created a legacy of compliant budgets and responsible use of resources and the board has simply asked us to continue in this manner to ensure budgetary needs are met,” said Thomas. 

“These moves are consistent with the trustees’ focus on accountability as has been exemplified by the Accountability Framework,” added Chair Greg Pietersma.

Changes implemented to ensure accountability include:

•Trustees approved a hiring freeze on all administrative positions outside positions that have already been advertised. The freeze is in effect until March 11.

•Members called for a comprehensive review of service delivery that will have no impact on classroom activities.

•To better monitor spending, trustees requested financial reports any time a department budget is exceeded by three per cent or more. The motion also requires the department manager to propose a remedy.

This past June marked the 11th straight year that the board has passed a Ministry of Education-approved, compliant budget that meets all our students’ needs, said Thomas.

[…]

 

Summer may be coming to an end but the vibrant colours of fall are right around the corner.  

On Saturday and Sunday, September 20 and 21, Upper Canada Village will celebrate the bounty of harvest time with an amazing display of produce, art and artisan made works along with rare heritage breeds of livestock.

The public is invited to enter their fine art, preserves, handwork, vegetables and other items to see how they measure up against Village staff.  

All entries must comply with 1860s guidelines which can be found and downloaded at www.uppercanadavillage.com and must be registered by 9 a.m. on Friday, September 19.  

Visitors will have the opportunity to see a number of rare and unusual heritage breeds of poultry and sheep from Rare Breeds Canada and Upper Canada Village’s own Canadian horses, cows and other livestock will be on display.  

Beautiful Victorian needlework and embroidery, delicious preserves, pickles and baked goods, heritage vegetables, watercolours and oil paintings, honey, cheese as well as articles showcasing early industry will be inside the Fall Fair tent recreating the atmosphere of an 1860’s Agricultural Exhibition.  

Visitors won’t want to miss the Moss Motto, a large picture made from plant materials which has been carefully prepared by Village staff, and is a truly unique feature on display in the Fall Fair Tent.

Exhibits of agricultural and horticultural products, domestic manufactures and ladies’ work will be displayed throughout the day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and there will be special exhibits highlighting trades and industry in the 1860’s inside the Fall Fair tent.  

A full schedule of performances will keep visitors entertained throughout the day: Music at Cook’s Tavern 11:15 a.m. until noon; Abracadabra Magic by Steve Baker (on stage starting at 11:45 a.m.-2 p.m.-3:45 p.m.); President’s opening remarks and Brass Band performance 1 p.m.; Cattle and Horse Show (2 p.m.); Brass Band performance (Cooks Tavern 2:15 p.m.); Children’s Games (fairgrounds 2:45 p.m.)

The Village Fall Fair “fair” prices for treats: Apples, Village-baked bread, Village cheese, cider, lemonade and fudge will all be available at only 50 cents per serving.  

Children can participate in several 19th century games taking place throughout the weekend.  Ring toss, three-legged races, sack races, wheelbarrow races, and tug-of-war are being organized to provide young visitors with a taste of some good old-fashioned fun and tasty prizes.

Admission:  Adult (13-64 yrs) $18; Senior (65 plus) $16; Youth (6-12) $12; children 5, and under free.  

Upper Canada Village is open from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday until September 21.  The Village’s Fall event, Pumpkinferno will run on select nights from Friday, October 3 through Saturday, November 1. 

[…]

Friday was nomination day for the October 27 municipal election, and on that final day, South Dundas gained three more councillor candidates.

South Dundas voters will now have the opportunity from two mayoral candidates, three deputy mayoral candidates and nine councillor candidates.

The three new councillor candidates gained this week include Mahlon Locke, Marc St. Pierre and Robert Gillard.

“I have never been on council before, so I figured that a councillor seat would  be a good place to start,” said Locke.

“My election platform is that I don’t have a platform,” he said, explaining that he is submitted his name for councillor because he is a concerned citizen.

Locke has contemplated running for council in the past, but work and other commitments had put a damper on the idea at the time. Locke retired from Bell Canada in 2012. 

“I now have more time and energy to put towards things I am interested in, one of them being part of township council, if elected,” he said.

“There are events that have happened in the past that I, and others do not understand. I am hoping that be running for councillor, those answers and others will become readily available and I, in turn, will be able to pass this information on to other people,” said Locke.

“The money has already been spent. I believe we need to digest the debt we now hold and try to operate status quo.”

Locke wants to help others, and he believes being closer to the centre of activity will allow him to do just that.

Marc St. Pierre filed is nomination papers for councillor shortly after Locke.

St. Pierre has been thinking about running for South Dundas council for several years. He seriously contemplated a run in the last municipal election, but decided that then, his young daughter should be his focus. She is now 11, and St. Pierre believes that this time the position is a better fit for him and his family.

“Economic Development, fire services and waterfront planning are a few issues where I have an opinion,” said St. Pierre.  “I think I can offer some expertise,” said St. Pierre, who has experience with land development and municipal infrastructure. “I have also been a firefighter for years, so I can offer some additional viewpoints there,” he said.

Although St. Pierre works in Kanata, he plans to continue to live in South Dundas, long-term. “I like living in South Dundas. It’s a good place to live. “I think there’s always room for community improvement,” said St. Pierre, who wants to be part of those improvements.

St. Pierre believes that for a newcomer to municipal politics, being elected councillor is the right place to start. “I really think there’s a learning curve,” he said, adding that while he is learning about being a councillor, he can at the same time bring something to the decision-making process.

The final name added to the list of candidates was Robert (Rowdy) Gillard, one that is not new to the local political scene.

Gillard is a 30 year, plus, veteran of municipal council, having served in every position including councillor, deputy mayor and mayor.

He sees councillor as the best fit for him in this election.

“By being at the table, I can help those out there that need help,” said Gillard. “I think I can contribute.”

Gillard would like to find a way to pursue affordable housing opportunities. “The average person can’t afford things, the way it is now,” he said.

Gillard, who had some health issues, says he is now feeling very well, and he looks forward to getting back into municipal politics.

“Councillor is a great place to do that. It’s the position where you have the most time to listen to the concerns of local people,” said Gillard. “I like when people feel like they can come to you with their issues.”

Gillard will have a limited number of election signs, instead opting to donate those funds to local charities.

Incumbent mayor Steven Byvelds and councillor Evonne Delegarde are facing off for the top spot. The deputy mayors race is a three man race between incumbent Jim Locke, former councillor Del Jones and political newcomer Carl Matthews-McIntyre. The list of nine councillor candidates vying for the three available councillor seats includes Phillip Blancher, Bill Ewing, Bert Geertsma, Robert Gillard, Jim Graham, Mahlon Locke, Archie Mellan, Jim Mills and Marc St. Pierre.

Voters in South Dundas will have the opportunity to vote by phone or internet. A paper ballot polling station will also be available.

[…]

South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services’  Marine Rescue Unit was deployed to a submerged vehicle at 10:45 p.m., September 10, near Loyalist Park along Lakeshore Drive.

First on scene was Fire Chief Chris McDonough, who deployed the marine unit immediately, as he was unsure if there was anyone inside the car. It turned out there was not.

Also on scene was Bill’s Towing.

The six firefighters in the rescue boat, and six firefighters on shore were able to attach a rescue line to the vehicle and tether it to the tow truck at the scene to keep the car in place until a heavier tow truck arrived from Cornwall Towing to actually lift the vehicle out of the water.

“The strong winds and heavy current made maneuvering very difficult,” said McDonough. “They did a great job securing the car.”

SDFES remained on scene until 3 a.m. helping with the recovery effort.

The car recovered was a 2005 Cadillac sedan, dark blue in colour.

According to police, the Cadillac was travelling along Lakeshore Drive when it went out of control and collided with the guardrail just east of Loyalist Park, and a private dock.

When police arrived, the driver of the vehicle was not at the scene.

September 11, a 21 year old South Dundas man was identified as the driver of the car. 

Police are reporting that the driver is safe and was not injured in the collision. September 16, the investigation was still ongoing.

Police have not yet laid any charges. According to OPP media relations officer, the name of the man involved will not be released unless charges are laid.

[…]