News

 “Weather stopping us! Never!” said Earl Nesbitt, one of the main organizers of the 2015 Iroquois Legion, branch 370, Darts 4 Hearts Tournament, held at the Legion on Saturday, February 14.

Despite some serious Valentine’s Day blizzard-like snow, 52 players came out for the event, and helped raise $1,767 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. While the numbers were down a little, players thoroughly enjoyed the tournament, organized by Earl and Randy Nesbitt. 

Prizes for the Heart & Stroke players were very generously donated from many area businesses, “from Brockville to Ingleside to Winchester,” said Earl.

Cindy Rowe, area manager of the Heart & Stroke Foundation was on hand to receive the cheque.

“We really rely on events like this,” Rowe said. “February is Heart and Stroke month, and an annual event like Darts 4 Hearts really helps create awareness, and in the process, ensures that there will be more survivors.”

The work of Heart and Stroke is ongoing, Rowe pointed out. Stents, improved drugs, pace makers, all of these aids for those stricken with heart related problems, are the direct result of  intensive research,  research that is often supported by events like Darts 4 Hearts.

“We are seeing an increase in research into women’s heart and stroke issues,” Rowe said. “Women’s problems are often different from men’s. There are also many younger people having  strokes, so we want to get the word out about proper diet and exercise. Along with programs like Jump Rope 4 Heart, we try to get educational activities into our schools.”

Cindy Rowe is joined, in the photo, by branch 370 president, Ralph Martin. Martin is himself a triple bypass survivor, from exactly one year ago.

[…]

 “Based on today’s experiences, I would say that this is probably going to become an annual event,” said Iroquois fire fighter, and one of the organizers of the first ever Fire Fighters’ Breakfast, Shawn Markell. “ We had nearly 200 people come out to enjoy the pancakes and sausages. People came steadily from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.”

The breakfast, held at the Iroquois Civic Centre on Sunday, February 15, was cooked and served up by members of the Iroquois fire station. There was no admission cost: visitors were just asked to make a donation when they came in. The funds raised will go to the Firefighters Association for the South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services, and will be used for projects in the community throughout the year such as kids events and safety awareness events. 

The maple syrup was donated from Fowler’s, while Iroquois Foodland donated the food for the event.

“My goal and Mike’s (Eastman) goal was to see that everyone was able to have breakfast as part of our community. We wanted community families to have a chance to get together and enjoy a good meal. A dozen fire fighters and their wives and kids were all working on putting this meal together, and I feel the response to our first breakfast has been great,” said Shawn Markell. 

[…]

During the fall election campaign, the idea of an open question and answer session becoming part of the regular South Dundas council meeting agenda was a recurring topic of discussion.

The idea of adding such a ‘Q&A session’ to regular council agendas has not yet been brought to the table at a regular council meeting for discussion, but it looks like it may already be scrapped.

During a recent priority setting exercise for South Dundas council and staff, which took place February 6, at council chambers in the South Dundas Municipal Centre, in Morrisburg, the topic was briefly discussed.

Members of South Dundas council had earlier last week attended a two day council training session in Cornwall, where the topic was discussed.

According to South Dundas mayor Evonne Delegarde, all of those with expertise providing advice to the council members advised against open question and answer sessions at council meetings.

It was explained to council, that council meetings are meetings for council business, and even though they are open to the public, because they are council’s meetings, it should be up to council to bring issues into the council fold, not the public.

The public already has the ability to bring an issue to their council, by way of contacting an elected official whose phone numbers and email addresses are readily available, by writing a letter to council or by following the process to make a deputation to council.

Delegarde, added that she still thinks an annual town hall meeting for public input and feedback is an important exercise that she expects to continue in this term of council. Her hope was to hold one ‘as soon as possible’ but last week conceded the first town hall meeting of this council is not likely to happen until fall 2015.

[…]

A fire Friday, February 6, caused extensive damage to the Nudell Bush Road home of Sarah Belanger and Marcel Desaulniers.

Belanger was outside shovelling the deck at the rear of the house, and could smell something burning. When she went inside she discovered smoke in the house and went to the neighbour’s to call 911.

Chris McDonough, fire chief for South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services reported that the call came in at 12:20 p.m. as a possible chimney fire. 

When fire crews arrived, heavy smoke and flames were coming from the rear of the house where the steel chimney was located.

“The fire started inside the wall surrounding the chimney and travelled into the attic area, making it very difficult to contain the fire,” said McDonough. 

Crews remained on scene until about 6 p.m. Damage was extensive, estimated as a total loss of $220,000. No injuries were reported.

[…]

The South Dundas Optimist Club, South Nation Conservation and South Dundas recreation are working together on local Family Day activities.

Family Day, which takes place Monday, February 16, 2015, is a public holiday aimed to provide Ontarians with more opportunity to spend time with their loved ones.

The first of two events in South Dundas is a Family Day Skate at the Dundela Outdoor Rink, organized by the South Dundas Optimist Club.

The event will feature skating, games and prizes. A bonfire will be made for roasting hot dogs and hot chocolate and apple cider will be served. Families are encouraged to bring toboggans and skates.

The Family Day Skate is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The second event is guided family nature tours by South Nation Conservation through Two Creeks Conservation Area in Iroquois, which will highlight ecosystems, species and interpretive stops. 

Snowshoes and cross country skis will be available for use through the South Dundas Sports Lending Library.

The tours are scheduled to run from 10 a.m. until noon.

Both events are open to everyone and are free of charge.

“This is a great opportunity for families to spend quality time together and enjoy outdoor family-fun” Ben Macpherson, South Dundas recreation program coordinator, said about the events. “We hope to make Family Day activities an annual event in South Dundas, and increase the number of activities offered in the future.”

[…]

South Dundas dog owners who don’t obey by the local rules governing dog ownership should be prepared to pay.