News

 

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!!

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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.

[…]

 

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.

[…]

 

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.

[…]

 

When looking up at the water tower in Morrisburg you can’t help but see the large Canadian Tire Logo.

Canadian Tire has been renting the advertising space since 2002 and has just been accepted for another five year term with one option to renew at a fee of $350 per month.

The recommendation to extend the contract with Canadian Tire was put forth at the December 6th South Dundas council meeting by Clerk Brenda Brunt.

The store’s first contract with the township came in 2002 at a rate of $78 per month. In 2007, as Brunt reported, “a further five year term was requested and accepted at $330 per month.”

Brunt pointed out that the “increase will be applied to the water budget in 2012.”

Before passing the by-law to extend the agreement, Councillor Jim Graham asked, “has anybody else ever asked to put something else up there?”

Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke suggested that “nobody knows we own it.”

And with that, a by-law was passed extending the agreement with Canadian Tire for a further five year term.

[…]

 

Volunteers with several South Dundas festival groups were alarmed when the township’s council agreed, in 2010, to change their insurance policy to exclude coverage for festival events on township property.

At a recent council meeting, Clerk Brenda Brunt recommended “that council provide a blanket insurance policy for South Dundas Festival Groups for events on township property.”

The impetus for the recommendation came out of a September 2011 meeting between several festival volunteers and South Dundas staff.

Brunt took on the challenge of working with the township’s insurance broker to find a blanket coverage that would work for these groups. 

“I commend Brenda for coming up with a solution,” said Mayor Steven Byvelds, at the December 6th council meeting.

Brunt explained that, “all groups have not decided whether they will host their event in 2012 therefore there is no firm amount for coverage.”

“Our insurance broker has indicated the price range for this policy would be around $2,000,” she continued. “During the 2012 budget deliberations, council will have to decide if they will fund the groups or divide amongst them.”

[…]

 

It was a sad day on October 7th when the Dunbar Recreation Hall was devastated by fire.

With sighs of relief and several shout-outs of “thank you,” the South Dundas council decided on December 6th that the hall will be rebuilt.

Until that meeting, local residents had been very concerned about the fate of the former hall. So much so, in fact, that they came out in droves to the December 6th council meeting to hear the council’s verdict. 

Clerk Brenda Brunt recommended to council that they choose one of four options to determine the fate of the former hall. The first option was also the only one that allowed for the hall to be rebuilt on the same spot.

Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke quickly chose option one saying, “prior to the fire the building was not slated to close. We have full replacement cost insurance. We have a committed community group. I believe it’s an asset in that part of the township.”

Councillor Evonne Delegarde suggested council consider option two, “use the depreciated value of the building and put towards an existing building.”

Delegarde pointed out that while the building hadn’t been slated to close, it was also not being used very much. She suggested that the township building in Williamsburg would be available in the near future and could possibly become a replacement for the lost hall.

Councillor Archie Mellan, choosing option one, said, “these little communities make South Dundas great. They rally around their communities. They rally around South Dundas, and I think we should rally around them.”

Mayor Steven Byvelds also chose option one, pointing out that “it gives us our asset back and it is covered by insurance.”

He also pointed out that the well and the sewer on the site would need to be investigated. Should either require a lot of work and financing to bring to code, then “we’d have to come back to this because that could change things.”

However, at this time, Byvelds wanted to make it clear to the inhabitants of the hall’s community that “they are part of South Dundas, not part of Chesterville, and we want them to know they’re part of South Dundas.”

He concluded: “let’s take the opportunity and rebuild it.”

[…]

 

Many residents of South Dundas and many visitors from outside the township have all had the chance to enjoy a yummy snack while visiting Morrisburg’s waterfront.

The Docksyde, a canteen offering both hot and cold items, will once again be in operation for visitors to the waterfront in the summer of 2012.

The Morrisburg and District Lions Club have been leasing the land space for their canteen since 2004. At the time, South Dundas council approved the request provided the Lions Club take responsibility for all costs associated with the request, including water and sewer.

The lease was extended for a second three-year period in 2007. On November 3rd of this year, Lions Club President Bob Bechard sent council a letter requesting permission to extend the lease to include the 2012 season. In addition, he requested permission to lay brickwork under the tent where the picnic tables are located. 

Council members, at the December 6th council meeting, debated the issue of laying bricks, but in the end decided in favour of the request. 

It looks like residents and visitors can, once again, enjoy the flavours of the Docksyde for another summer.

[…]

 

This month’s meeting of the Helping Hands of Matilda group was held on December 6th and featured the talents of the OPP Auxiliary’s, Coppertones.

Helping Hands is a group of like-minded seniors who meet the first Wednesday of each month. The group’s purpose is twofold: to give people a venue to come together, socialize, and make a difference and, at the same time, to reach out to those who are “shut in.” 

The order of events for most meetings includes discussion of business, luncheon and, then, entertainment.

The group disbanded in September after their last meeting, where there were 24 members in attendance. 

Lorne Strader, recognizing the importance of the group, took it upon himself to bring the Helping Hands of Matilda back together in November, where he welcomed a whopping 55 members to the ‘restart’ meeting.

It was then that the group decided to have a Christmas celebration for their December meeting. 

Members were greeted with music during the morning, which was supplied by Ralph Jollota.

The Coppertones were invited to entertain after the luncheon, which was provided by the Iroquois Legion Branch #370 Ladies Auxiliary.

The Coppertones delighted the group with popular Christmas songs punctuated by a hilarious, if sometimes scandalous, joke between each song. The audience roared with laughter.

Sound like fun? Well, if you are aged 50 or older, you can join the group! Contact Lorne Strader at 613-652-2260. It’s only five dollars for an entire year’s membership.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Helping Hands will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2012.

[…]

 

“We’ve heard that there are many here interested in the service,” said Nanda Wubs of Wubs Transit in Winchester.

Wubs was discussing her company’s plans for a shuttle bus service to Ottawa from Morrisburg. “We have about 15 people committed. We’re looking for 30 to 35 people before we move ahead with that,” she informed South Dundas council at the December 6th meeting.

As reported in August, Wubs Transit already has a route, which includes multiple stops in both Chesterville, Winchester and Ottawa.

They offer monthly passes, single trip tickets, passes for one-way trips, and a book of 10 one-way tickets. The monthly pass is actually an OC Transpo pass that includes the Wubs Transit Daily Line Run. A monthly pass for Chesterville is $258. A pass for Morrisburg would be comparable.

For more information, phone the Wubs Transit office at 613-774-6618 or visit their website at www.wubs.ca.

Following Wubs presentation, Mayor Steven Byvelds said, “I think this is a service we will hopefully get off and running. I wish you success in that venture.”

[…]