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Funds from the John Stewart Estate Memorial Trust were delivered to Dundas County recipients Friday at the Dundas County Food Bank’s Winchester location.

The Dundas County Food Bank received $1,200. Meals on Wheels, which serves Morrisburg and Iroquois, and the J.W. MacIntosh Seniors Support Centre in Williamsburg each received $490 from the estate.

All were very grateful to receive the contributions in support of each of their programs.

“The board looks most at need,” said Estella Rose, advisory board member. Contributions are made to other groups throughout the United Counties and the City of Cornwall. In total, $8,505.91 worth of grants were made through the program to 13 organizations. The grants ranged in size from $490 to $1,200.

The money for the annual grants is investment income derived from the sale in 1991 of the John Stewart Home, once located in Cornwall. The home was opened in 1930 as a modest facility to provide housing for poor and indigent persons. 

To date, over $192,000 in income has been distributed to appropriate agencies. This is the 110th anniversary of John Stewart’s death.

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Proper nutrition through the inclusion of necessary fruits and vegetables in one’s daily diet, can often fall by the wayside in the hustle and bustle of daily life, with people all too often opting for less nutritious, convenience items.

For a few years, South Dundas has taken the lead role in helping make proper nutrition more convenient for its residents, by offing a green food program. 

The program makes it easy for residents to fill their fridges with fruits and vegetables, without having to take the time to shop for them.

“All you need to get started is $10 and an empty grocery bag,” says Ben Macpherson, recreation program coordinator for South Dundas, who administers the program.

“The green food bag program is for everyone,” he says.

“It’s $10, try it once,” encourages Macpherson. 

“If you don’t like it, there’s no commitment to continue, and if you do like it, it’s very easy to continue receiving the bag each month.”

Currently, the green food program is experiencing a downturn in usage.

“I have no idea why,” says Macpherson. “It’s such a simple and easy way to get a great value for you and your family.”

Last month, only 80 people participated in the green food program. 

Although Macpherson is used to seeing the numbers fluctuate a little from month to month this is the lowest it has been since its inception. 

The program has seen as many as 145 monthly users.

This recent downturn will not have an overall impact on the program. It will continue and the cost will remain the same $10. 

But, when more people use the program, everyone benefits from a greater value, and greater variety of produce, for their $10 contribution.

How to get started

• The first step is the hardest: Drop by either the South Dundas municipal office in Williamsburg or Community Living Dundas County, located on Allison Avenue, in Morrisburg. Tell them you want to order a green food bag and pay $10. If you order/pay before March 8, there will be a green food bag ready for you to pick up on March 20.

• Pick up day: On pick up day, which will be outlined on your order sheet, stop by the Morrisburg Arena anytime from 12:30-3:30 p.m. or 4:30-6:30 p.m. to pick up your green food bag. Take an empty shopping bag with you. When you pick up your green food, a volunteer is on hand to take orders/payments for those who wish to re-order for the next month.

How the program works

Once the order by date passes, Macpherson takes the money collected and a wholesale price list and decides what will be in the next food green food bag. 

“What I do is choose items that are the best prices for that month, so I’m stretching the dollar for everyone,” says Macpherson. 

“I try to include some staples every month, like potatoes and onions, because you can really do a lot with those. I start with the staples, and then I go from there with the dollars I have available. What I try to do is to provide a balance of fruits and vegetables each month.” 

“There’s a core group who have used this program since it started. They love it and they definitely recognize the value it provides,” says Macpherson. 

Most who use the program tend to be parents or seniors, but Macpherson stresses that the program is for everyone. “You can order as many bags as you want, it doesn’t matter who you are,” he says.

Some people have even organized themselves so that one person picks up several bags for them and their neighbours, to add to the convenience of the program.

Macpherson hopes that this valuable program will continue to grow and thrive for the value it provides the residents of South Dundas.

While Macpherson administers the program, there are many volunteers who offer their time to keep the program going. 

They pack the bags, oversee pick ups and orders and one, Neila Fowler, even donates the use of her truck on her day off to go and pick up the order from the warehouse.

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 Still going strong after nearly 20 years, the Iroquois Legion Darts for Hearts tournament was held at Branch 370 on Saturday, February 9, 2013, and raised $2,400 in total for Heart & Stroke. 

The Gerry Sypes Memorial Darts tournament, held on January 19, contributed $1,070 to that total. On hand to officially present a cheque for those funds were Brenda Sypes and Diane Baker, event organizers and members of Gerry’s family.

“We had 12 teams entered in our tournament this year,” said Iroquois organizer Wayne Bellinger. “The adverse weather conditions in the area affected attendance some,” said fellow organizer Tony Easter, “but we had a tremendous response for prizes from our local merchants. It was great.”

Cindy Rowe, area manager of the Heart& Stroke  Foundation of Ontario, tossed out the ceremonial dart and accepted the cheques with gratitude. “We experience 70,000 heart attacks and 50,000 strokes yearly in Canada,” Rowe said. “Research and education will help those statistics.” 

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Some days, it would just be better to browse the catalogue and shop from home.

At 3:20 p.m., February 5 a car crashed through the front window of the River Rat Treasures/Sears store in the Iroquois Plaza. 

Staff are counting themselves lucky.

Store employee Evonne Delegarde was alone in the store when the 1992 Chevy Corsica, driven by an Iroquois resident, smashed into the building. Thankfully, she was not sitting at the Sears travel desk, which is located right where the car impacted the building.

“Thank God I was not sitting at the travel desk, which I often do. We all do,” said Delegarde, who a day later was still in disbelief of what had happened.

Delegarde had come in that afternoon to cover for fellow employee Carol Merkley, who had to leave early for an appointment.

Merkley most often sits at the travel desk, and was sitting there only minutes before the crash occurred. 

“If Evonne had been only a couple of minutes later arriving, I would have still be sitting at that desk when the car came through that window, and I would have been hit,” said Merkley.

When Delegarde arrived, she decided to do some work behind the counter. 

That’s where she was when the car hit.

“I heard a vehicle accelerate, and then the glass shattered and flew everywhere,” said Delegarde. She estimated that the glass flew about 10 feet. 

Luckily, none hit her.

The force of the impact pushed the brick wall under the window inward, bowing the wall inside.

According to Delegarde, the driver’s foot had slipped off the brake and onto the gas pedal, driving her forward into the building. 

“Both passenger side tires ran right over the curbing,” she said. 

“The driver of the car was not injured, no one was walking on the sidewalk and I was away from the window,” said Delegarde. 

Police did attend the scene, however did not choose to lay any charges against the driver.

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If South Dundas council wishes to expand its fire services, they have to be prepared for the very large price tag that goes along with increased service levels.

South Dundas Fire Chief Chris McDonough presented a report to council at the February 5 council meeting outlining the services South Dundas does and does not provide, not to suggest any changes, but simply to make council aware of the costs associated with different types of services.

“Currently South Dundas does not respond to medical calls under a Tiered Response Agreement at the County  level,” said McDonough in the report. They are involved with motor vehicle extrication/rescue calls, but not medical-only calls.

In 2012, these medical-related calls cost South Dundas about $15,000, but if they were to start attending medical-only calls, that cost would increase dramatically.

According to McDonough’s report the cost would be at least $79,000 annually.

“I think we are fairly well served. Our average (medical) response time is about 14 minutes, the second best in the counties of the six townships served,” commented South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds.

“Medical responses could be a major cost to us and a major drain on our emergency services,” commented  Councillor Jim Graham.

“It would be a big responsibility for us,” agreed McDonough. “But, it would also deplete our resources, we just won’t have the manpower,” he added, explaining that the high volume of calls being handled by a volunteer force could be too much to ask of them and of their employers.

Council is willing to explore the possibility of providing high angle/low angle rope and confined space rescue, although it too has a significant price tag attached.

The additional equipment and training would cost about $50,000 according to McDonough’s report.

However, a recent donation of some equipment and this municipality’s large agricultural base have concil giving it some consideration. With far more on site grain storage than ever, the potential for an emergency situation exists. “We have some of the grain extrication equipment. It’s difficult to have it and just leave it sitting in the shed,” commented Byvelds.

He asked McDonough to provide a plan and report for council’s consideration. McDonough suggested the possibility of a joint services team, and will research the possibility.

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Chris McDonough, Fire Chief for South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services recently requested funding from TransCanada Pipelines, and was excited to see that result in a donation of $30,000 from the company.

These funds will be used for emergency generators at the fire stations.

“This donation will finalize our goal to have generators at the three fire stations,” said McDonough. 

“This couldn’t have been accomplished without this donation, for which I am very thankful,” he added.

“I appreciate TransCanada Pipelines working with our community,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds. “This gives us a step forward in being prepared for an emergency.”

TransCanada has a long-standing history of supporting local communities. 

“I’m happy to work for a company that helps out,” said Sean McCann, TransCanada Pipeline technician from the Zeron Road Station.

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In October, reports from the South Dundas planning department showed that South Dundas was having a good year, growth-wise.

 Last week, South Dundas council found out just how good, when they were presented with the 2012 building permit summary.

According to those figures, South Dundas experienced a record year, with construction projects valued at more than $27 million taking place.

That is a huge increase over 2011, when total construction for the year was valued at just under $13 million.

“That’s really good news,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds at the February 5 council meeting. “We have 34 new residences.”

While the number of new residences is about the same as the previous year, there were about 30 more permits for residential construction sold in 2012, meaning that more people are making improvements to existing residences.

South Dundas even experienced some industrial growth. Five industrial building permits were sold in 2012, as compared to only two in 2011.

The increase in the sale of building permits represents immediate revenue for the municipality when the permits are issued and fees are paid. South Dundas collected almost $40,000 more in permit fees in 2012, than 2011.

In the long run this growth will result in additional property tax revenue for the municipality.

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Unless it’s a campfire or a barbecue, any open air burning by any resident of South Dundas requires a permit.

South Dundas council approved the newly revised bylaw at the February 5 regular meeting.

The bylaw sets out specific regulations regarding all open air fires, including campfires, which much less than 60 cm (approximately two feet).

Burn permits cost $10 for residential purposes or $15 per permit, per property for agricultural purposes, and must be purchased annually at the municipal office.

The permits are valid for the year, but must be activated prior to each fire by calling the township office during regular business hours. 

This contact will allow staff to relay important information to the resident, such as whether or not a burn ban is currently in effect. 

During a burn ban, no open air burning is permitted, even for permit holders.

Failure to abide by the bylaw could cost the resident, as they could be held liable for any costs associated with firefighters attending the scene.

The draft form of the bylaw was available on the township website to allow residents the opportunity for comment. “We have listened to the concerns, but in the end we have to be proactive,” said South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds.

“I believe this document will serve us well,” said Chris McDonough, Fire Chief for South Dundas.

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Volunteers are appreciated in South Dundas, and to demonstrate that appreciation, the municipality will host a special event for its volunteers.

South Dundas council authorized staff to proceed with plans for a volunteer appreciation evening.

A budget of $5,000 will be allocated for the evening which will include dinner, a guest speaker and some entertainment.

“The work the volunteers do in the community save us a lot more than the $5,000 we spend on this,” said South Dundas councillor Jim Graham, who supported the township using this as an opportunity to thank the volunteers for the work they do. 

The mayor and deputy mayor agreed. 

Staff will work out the details.

[…]

 

Local Member of Parliament Guy Lauzon and his constituency office staff in Cornwall reached a special milestone last week. 

The office received their 40,000th Canadian passport application for submission to Passport Canada.

Thursday, January 31st, Apple Hill resident Scott Maloney dropped his passport application off at MP Lauzon’s 621 Pitt Street office. 

The following day, he was given a scroll marking the occasion and a Canadian flag.

“We really emphasize excellent customer service at our office, and that’s why we have such a steady stream of traffic,” said Executive Assistant Eric Duncan. “Constituents appreciate being able to walk in, be served quickly and not have the hassle of going to Ottawa or mailing their application in before someone has looked it over.” 

Constituents can submit their application with MP Lauzon’s constituency office in Cornwall, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Staff also hold satellite office hours on Monday mornings in Winchester (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m.) and Morrisburg (10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.). 

Applications can be downloaded online at www.passport.gc.ca or by dropping by MP Lauzon’s office or a Canada Post office in the riding. 

Lauzon and staff are anticipating to hold two passport clinics later this spring.

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