News

Life’s most basic needs are air, water, food, shelter, and clothing. While there are people all over the world whose most basic needs are not being met, there are also people right here in Dundas County who could use a little help. 

According to Dundas County Food Bank (DCFB) Administrator Donna Quesnel, “donations received at this time of year are extremely important to the Food Bank operations. These donations help enormously with distribution of aid during the winter months when the number of visits is generally high and donations are usually down, understandably.”

At this time, the Food Bank is still in need of the following items: juice and juice boxes; canned fruit and fruit cups for school snacks; canned vegetables; soda crackers; cereal without sugar and without nuts; baby formula; hand soap; toothpaste; and toilet paper.

In addition, Quesnel said that once basic needs are met, the DCFB also tries to provide for baby needs, snacks for children, and toiletries. In addition to formula, baby needs include: junior fruit/vegetables; infant cereals; diapers; and, wipes. Snacks for children include granola bars; crackers with cheese; as well as pudding and fruit cups. 

Additional toiletries like deodorant; shampoo; and so forth are also welcome.

According to Quesnel, “the DCFB mandate is to ‘feed the hungry.’ A five-day emergency food allocation is provided once a month based on number of people in the household.”

Quesnel also provided the Leader with some statistics for the DCFB relating to the past year, from January to the end of November 2011. “The DCFB serves approximately 350 families with approximately 1,500 family visits in one year. This suggests that on average these families would visit the Food Bank on a quarterly basis.”

“Approximately 5,000 people visits are made to the Food Bank in a one-year period. This suggests that the average family size visiting the Food Bank is a three to four person household.”

She continued, adding, “children represent approximately 45 per cent of those served overall by the DCFB, while children represent closer to 50 per cent of those served at the DCFB’s Morrisburg location  and 40 per cent at the Winchester location.”

“The Morrisburg location also tends to serve more people overall, with approximately 55 per cent of people served by the south and 45 per cent by the north. The average family size in the south is slightly greater than in the north.”

DCFB hours are Mondays from 10 a.m. until noon; Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m.; and Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m.

“During the holiday period, the Food Bank is open: Thursday, December 22nd from 1 to 3 p.m.; Wednesday, December 28th from 7 to 9 p.m.; and Thursday, December 29th from 1 to 3 p.m.”

The two locations are: 17 Second Street in Morrisburg (613-543-0065) and 497 May Street in Winchester (613-774-0188).

To donate, volunteer, or ask for help, please contact one of the listed locations for more information.

“Volunteers are welcome and tours of our Food Bank locations are available on request,” invited Quesnel.

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Lloya and Dwayne Sprague, owners of the Morrisburg Home Hardware, donated generously to the Morrisburg and District Lions Club charity, the Angel Tree Fund. The charity received a load full of toys, which promise to make Santa’s job a little easier this year. The Spragues, who officially took over ownership of the Morrisburg Home Hardware location on July 18th, don’t plan to include toys in their store inventory. As reported in August, the Spragues intend to offer products the existing stores don’t offer already. Without a toy section, Lloya said the pet section can be expanded. According to the Spragues, Don Lewis, South Dundas Manager of Recreation, was instrumental in the donation. He suggested the Sprague’s consider donating the toys in the store’s inventory to the Angel Tree Fund. Thinking that was a great idea, the Spragues wholeheartedly agreed. On December 15th, Wayne Domanko, representative for the Angel Tree Fund, arrived at the store to thank owners and staff. 

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Thanks to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #48, the Morrisburg and District Lions Club charity, the Angel Tree Fund, has increased its capabilities by $1,090. In the Legion Hall, on December 15th, Inez Bilmer (left) and Rita Fowler (right) handed over the large sum to the Angel Tree Fund representative, Wayne Domanko (center). Domanko said the Ladies Auxiliary has “always been extremely generous to the Angel Tree Fund.” He went on to say, “it’s always nice when the Lions and the Legion can cooperate to help others. It’s very much appreciated by the Lions Club and the Angel Tree Fund.” According to Domanko, there are over 200 children’s names on the Angel Tree this year.

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The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) released the numbers for local property assessments on December 6th.

This year, South Dundas is seeing a 1.19 per cent increase. The average home in South Dundas will see a 5.48 per cent increase.

According to South Dundas Treasurer Shannon Geraghty, “the 5.48 per cent provided by MPAC represents the increase in assessments from 2011 to 2012 due to the four-year phase-in by MPAC. Therefore, from 2011 to 2012 the average increase in assessment for property owners could be approximately 5.48 per cent.”

The four-year phase-in was introduced by MPAC in 2008 and began in 2009. According to MPAC: “To provide an additional level of property tax stability and predictability, the market increases in assessed value between 2005 and 2008 will be phased-in over four years.”

“The 1.19 per cent is based on a combination of the loss in assessments and the new growth within the township,” Geraghty explained.

“Assessment loss arises from property owners appealing their assessments and thus the decision by MPAC to reduce the assessment creates an assessment loss overall for the township.”

“The 1.19 per cent growth component results in approximately $15,000 to $30,000 in new tax revenue for the 2012 year.”

Geraghty predicted, “this number (1.19 per cent) should be favourable to the residents of South Dundas as it shows a small growth within the community which we hope we can continue to build on.”

“As far as 2012, the increase in tax revenue will be included in the 2012 bottom line during the 2012 budget.”

When asked if there was anything readers should know or understand, he offered: “The overall outlook at tax rates and how much an owner will pay in 2012 is difficult to predict until we have a better forecast on revenue and expense projections, which are completed in the 2012 budget.”

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On December 15th, Morrisburg Public School opened its doors to parents and children for a holiday celebration, Christmas Craft Night.

For one hour, the school and its classrooms were open and ready for those who wanted to stop by and take part in a little Christmas cheer, complete with the sounds and smells of Christmas.

On entering the school, parents and students were greeted with the smell of warm, delicious hot chocolate. In addition, there was a bake table readily available for those who wanted a snack with their cocoa.

Each classroom was filled with happy holiday music, prepared by none other than the students themselves. The popular holiday songs, sung by the students, were shown via video in each class. If parents missed the first presentation, there was always another coming right along after, as the videos were played on an infinite loop in each classroom. 

Different classrooms offered  different options for fun Christmas crafts to make. In many classrooms, parents worked alongside their children designing some festive ornaments for their trees.

The atmosphere was fun, warm and inviting and the night held the opportunity for children to give their parents a guided tour of their school, which was nicely decorated with Christmassy art projects handcrafted by students from all grades.

For parents and teachers, this offered a wonderful opportunity to chat informally outside of regular school hours and away from the sometimes dreaded parent-teacher interview.

All in all, the night proved to be fun, productive, and delicious… just what Santa ordered to get into the Christmas spirit.

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SD&G – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Festive Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E.) Campaign is underway and goes from November 25, 2011 to January 1, 2012.

From November 25th  to December 6th, Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry OPP officers have charged three drivers with Impaired Driving and issued one three-day suspension to another driver. Police encourage motorists to report suspected impaired drivers.

SD&G OPP conducts R.I.D.E. checks throughout the year but increases enforcement over the holiday season to enhance its efforts to keep area roads safe.

Impaired driving remains the leading criminal cause of death in Canada. 

OPP officers will be out in full force across the United Counties conducting checkstops at various locations and times in an effort to remove the threat of impaired drivers.

“It is imperative that everyone make responsible choices over the Holiday Season when it comes to travel” states Inspector Mike McDonell, SD&G OPP Detachment Commander. 

He adds “If you’ve been drinking, call a cab or find a sober driver to take you home but whatever you do, don’t drink and drive!”

On behalf of SD&G OPP, we wish all a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!!

[…]

Surrounded by their hockey family last Monday night, December 5, Nash Nesbitt and his mom and dad were at the arena where they were presented with the proceeds of a dance organized by the players and parents of the South Dundas Bantam B Rep team.

The benefit dance, held Saturday, November 12 at the Iroquois Legion for youth in grades seven to 12, in addition to some added donations, allowed the Lions to present the Iroquois family a whopping $3,500.

For Nash, his mom Tammy and his dad Earl, the support from the community has been overwhelming since Nash was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma (a cancer of the lymphoid tissue) early this past summer.

That support has seen them through a tough time, as Nash received treatment in Ottawa.

Nash has now rejoined his grade 9 classmates at Seaway High School and says that although he tired easily for the first week, he was extremely happy to be back.

Nash was able to attend the dance and in thanking the organizers and everyone who attended, he says, “the hockey team has been amazing.”

Although he had hoped to return to the Bantam B lineup, his doctor has indicated that while he can skate and practice, it is not likely he will be able to suit up for a game this season. Over the next weeks and months he will continue to be monitored and the port used to deliver his chemotherapy will remain in place until he gets an all clear.

“The support we have received from our friends, family, work and people we don’t even know has been amazing,” said Earl as he and Tammy accepted the donation that will help them to offset the travel, parking and food expenses they experienced during Nash’s treatments. “We have had people from everywhere offering to help us in any way they can. What can you say, but ‘thank you’.”

The Nesbitts thanked the Bantam B Lions team and team parents, the local youth who attended the dance, organizers Rondalyn Jarvis, Cassandra Barry and Heather  Black and everyone who made donations.

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The South Dundas township office has been receiving requests to have hall rental fees waived, mostly in relation to Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners.

At the December 6th council meeting, Clerk Brenda Brunt recommended “that council not authorize waiving the fees for any hall rentals.”

In her report, Brunt explained that “in 2009, council reviewed the fee schedule and set a reduced fee for the non-profit, charitable groups that we felt would be affordable at the time.”

“These fees help offset the expenses in the halls,” she continued.

“We recognize that these organizations contribute a great deal to the community, but at the same time the township cannot afford to continue running all of our halls/recreation facilities in the red or we will be required to increase our operational budget, which, in turn, will increase our taxes within South Dundas.”

The opinions of council were unanimous in that all agreed the present fee structure set out in 2009 is, in Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke’s words, “very very fair.There’s nothing wrong with that fee structure.”

Brunt had also pointed out that groups have the opportunity to get funding for the hall rental fees via the new grant policy.

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Students at St. Mary’s – St. Cecilia’s Catholic School in Morrisburg were given a rare opportunity on Monday, December 5th when students and teachers came together in the gymnasium to celebrate their successful Movember fundraising venture.

Organized by Chris Veltkamp, physical education teacher, the school took on the challenge of raising money for prostate cancer.

The four male teachers grew mustaches for the month of November, in tribute to the Movember cause. In addition to Veltkamp, there were: Marcel Booyink, Core French teacher; James McIntyre, grade 1-2 teacher; and, Jeff Vynckier, the grade 3-4 teacher.

Veltkamp, in an attempt to make things interesting, gave the students incentives to raise the money.

If they reached $300, they would earn 20 minutes of free time. If they reached $600, all the female teachers would wear mustaches of some kind. And, if they reached $1,000, they were given the opportunity to shave the mustaches from the four male teachers in addition to throwing “pies” (paper plates filled with whipped cream and chocolate sauce) at the teachers. 

As of December 5th, Veltkamp estimated that the students had raised about $850, which meant they were just shy of their ultimate goal.

Being good sports, the teachers called it “close enough” and took the hits. Student council members were given the privilege of shaving off the mustaches.

Eight students were chosen to throw “pies” at the teachers. Each teacher was “hit” twice by two different students.

The cherry on top? That would be kindergartner, Mickaela Macdonald, being given the chance to throw a pie in the face of principal Joy Martel.

All in all, it was messy, but oh so much fun.

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