News

Homestead Organics of Berwick is moving to Morrisburg. 

Homestead Organics took over ownership of the former Chinook building along Allison Avenue in Morrisburg, Friday, December 6.

The new site for the Berwick organic processing operation, is the focus of a $2.4 million project that will eventually see all of Homestead’s operations moved from the former feed mill site in Berwick to this Morrisburg location.

The 27,000 square foot building, is more than triple the size of the Berwick operation, which has only 8,000 square feet of space, including trailers and a tent.

“It’s unfortunate we couldn’t stay in Berwick,” said president Tom Manley who did point out that the company will be staying in SDG and that all of the company’s 14 employees will eventually make the move with them to the Morrisburg site.

The two part move will be phased in over time.

This week, Homestead already started to make use of the building’s warehousing space.

 The bulk of the first phase will involve moving the soybean cleaning operations of the business. 

The cost of moving that part of the business is about $900,000 including the purchase of the building and the necessary site upgrades. 

The cost of phase one is being covered by about 30 private investors.

By March, that part of the project should be operating from the Morrisburg site, with about two employees.

Manley says that Homestead will be a two site operation, over the next couple of years, but eventually they plan to move all of their 12 staff, processing and administration to Morrisburg, and maybe even add a retail area.

Manley is extremely pleased with this new location, which offers ample warehousing  and processing space for Homestead, but also has enough extra room to offer leasing to other small organic processors. Manley has a vision of the site becoming “organics central”. 

“Morrisburg could be a hub of organic food activity in the near future,” he said.

For three years, Manley has been in search of an appropriate new location for Homestead Organics, which is growing incrementally, year after year. 

Just 16 years ago, Homestead was processing about 500 tonnes annually, and now, in their 25th year, they annually process over 7,000 tonnes of organic whole grains. 

“Organic is becoming very mainstream, just walk down the aisles of your grocery store and you will see it,” said Manley, estimating that the organics sector is growing at a rate of 10-15 per cent annually.

During the search for an appropriate facility to house their growing business, Manley looked at a number of options including large facilities in Chesterville, Long Sault, and two buildings in Morrisburg before purchasing this Allison Avenue facility. 

“We had a number of false starts over the years,” said Manley, adding that capital is often difficult for a business to access.  

Homestead Organics was founded by Tom Manley’s father Murray. Tom, the current president, returned to the family business 16 years ago. Three years ago, Tom’s son Yannik, joined them. 

All three were at the press conference hosted at the new facility last week. Joining them were project supporters, local dignitaries and media.

“We are very pleased that you found the right fit for your business here in Morrisburg and we are happy to have a new business in our municipality,” said Chuck Barkley, president of the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce.

“I will be glad to see this facility up and running,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds, adding that this new venture for this community fits nicely with the community’s backbone, which is its agricultural base. 

[…]

“I really love doing this parade,” said George Davies, the organizer and marshall for the 2013 Santa Claus parade held in Morrisburg, Saturday, December 7. “It’s not just the little ones, it’s the seniors and everybody in between who make it all worthwhile.”

And judging from the smiles and applause, people who lined the parade route through the town were enchanted with the big parade.

“It was a great day, weather wise,” Davies said, “you couldn’t have asked for a nicer day. I think we had a good turn-out to see the parade, and lots of people taking part in it.” 

Riding a 4-wheeler on loan from Jim’s Performance Plus, George was everywhere along the route. “Everything went pretty smoothly,” he said, “and the OPP were on hand to control the traffic in town and along county road 2. (Floats marshalled in the Canadian Tire parking lot and the Upper Canada Playhouse lot.) We also had spotters in key positions along the  route equipped with radios loaned by the South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services.”

The 2013 Santa Claus parade boasted over 50 floats with five bands providing seasonal music: the Brockville Lions Steel Band, the Royal West Academy of Montreal Band, the Cornwall Air Cadets Band, the Kemptville Legion Pipe Band and the Maple Leaf Brass Band from Ottawa.

There were some first time local entries this year. “Both the BIA and the Fire Services had floats this year. And we had many return participants.”

Crowds enjoyed the four legged friends who also took part in this year’s parade. These ranged from Eddie the Service Dog (who turned up on the Morrisburg & District Duck Dynasty float) to several therapy dogs, in full costume, walking the whole route, while  miniature horses, wearing their Christmas finery, either rode on a float or pranced along with the parade.

Responsibility for contacting and securing  participants and bands, organizing every aspect of the parade itself, then dealing with clean up and costume retrievals falls yearly on Davies’ cheerful shoulders, with the help of his wife and daughter. However, if you ask George who his volunteers on the actual parade day were, he laughs and says, “Everybody.”

Service clubs, schools, civic groups, many area businesses and the OPP and South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services all came to help on December 7.

Santa and Mrs. Claus were a definite high point to the parade.

They waved to the crowds,  and happily pointed out children who had been especially good this year. Later, Santa took time at the Fire Hall to listen to some small people’s Christmas hopes and dreams. 

(The word is the couple headed back to the North Pole by Elf Airlines later in the day.)

By every account, the 2013 Morrisburg Santa Claus Parade was one of the best ones yet. 

And volunteer organizer George Davies has already started work on the 2014 event. 

[…]

It was a dream of a lifetime for young hockey fans Brody Froats and Tysen Lefebvre, who, together dropped the opening puck(s) for the Ottawa Senators versus Vancouver Canucks NHL game at the Canadian Tire Centre, last Thursday night, November 28.

In front of 17,931 cheering fans, Brody and Tysen made their way to centre ice, not only to drop the puck(s), but to introduce the teams’ Heritage Classic jerseys which will be officially worn March 2, at BC Place, for the NHL’s third Heritage Classic.

The boys were thrilled to be part of last Thursday night’s festivities and it was all made possible through Make–A–Wish® Eastern Ontario and the cooperation of the Ottawa Senators. 

“No Disney vacation for this boy,” said Brody’s mom Lisa with a laugh. “It was all Sens and dinner out, and that was all he would ever want…and of course the new captain Spezza jersey which he received. It was such a wonderful day as a family.”

The family was notified of Brody’s centre-ice appearance through a phone call. “On the Wednesday, before the Thursday night game, we received a phone call from Make–A–Wish telling us that the Senators had requested Brody and Tysen,  to be guests along with our families to drop the puck for the unveiling of the new Heritage Jerseys. Well, you can imagine our excitement, and Brody was uncontainable to say the least.”

Related Story: A Big Year of Recovery for Brody Froats

[…]

Gary Goodyear, Minster of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario was in Winchester Friday, November 27, and there he announced that the federal government will invest $48 million in the renewal of the Eastern Ontario Development Program. 

Goodyear made the announcement at the quarterly meeting of the Ontario East Economic Development Commission (Ontario East). 

Ontario East represents over 200 communities, with more than two million residents and promotes eastern Ontario as a centre for investment. 

“I am proud to announce that our Government will continue to promote business development, job creation and strengthening communities in rural eastern Ontario with the renewal of EODP,” said Goodyear. “Through EODP, the Agency will continue to act as a champion within this region, encouraging new partnerships and project development for the expansion of community economic assets, business growth and business infrastructure/services to help create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.”

Over the next five years, starting in April 2014, EODP will promote strategic economic development in eastern Ontario that will have a long-term impact in the region. To date, the Agency has invested over $80 million through 7,636 business and community development projects. 

[…]

Weather, among other factors, threw a wrench into the plan to get a first lift of asphalt put down on Lakeshore Drive this year. 

Friday, the contractor working on the Lakeshore Drive sewer project was on site doing some grading work, but Chris Bazinet, manager of public works for South Dundas, confirmed that the planned first course of asphalt will wait until spring.

“I met with the contractor earlier this week,” said Bazinet. “They will get the grading done, but the road will remain gravel until spring. Basically, the contractor ran out of time to get it done.” 

Bazinet explained that this snow event and cold weather did cause concern from the municipality about the quality of the first lift of asphalt if it is put down now. Because of this concern he felt it would be prudent to leave the stretch of road gravel for winter.

Another factor in this decision was that some potential storm sewer issues were discovered during construction. They would like to investigate those further. 

South Dundas, along with the Counties of SDG who are partners in the storm sewer project, are going to have some camera work done over the next couple of weeks. The results of that investigation may mean that the section or roadway they had planned to pave this year would have to be dug up again in the spring. 

Rather than risk asphalt quality issues and possibly dig up new asphalt in spring, South Dundas officials decided it would be more prudent to wait.

[…]

Last year he celebrated his birthday, a very sick young man, in his hospital bed at CHEO.

This year Brody Froats, the son of Mark and Lisa Froats of Morrisburg, celebrated his 18th birthday (Monday, December 2), no longer in hospital and fresh from an exhilarating experience last Thursday, November 28, when he and Tysen Lefebvre dropped the puck for the Ottawa Senators versus Vancouver Canucks hockey game

It was a long road for Brody who has Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), but thanks to a great medical team at CHEO, Brody’s willpower and the love, support and prayers from his family and community, it was a road to recovery.

And thanks to the Make–A–Wish® Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Senators, it was a road that took him, with Tysen, to centre ice at The Canadian Tire Centre last week to drop the ceremonial game-opening puck wearing the Sens newly revealed NHL Heritage Classic jersey.

The Froats were first approached by Make–A-Wish on October 19th when, “we were surprised by a visit with season Sens tickets and all kinds of gifts,” explains Brody’s mother Lisa. “We were driven by limo to that day’s game as well as to Brody’s favourite restaurant in Kanata, Jack Astors.”

“We have been enjoying the games as a family, and it is extra special because we are able to see Brody during the week, depending on game nights, and not just on the weekend.”

Lisa explains that Brody has been living happily in a group home in Orleans since September, and that he has “started back to school at the local Catholic high school there.”

“To date, he has never been as healthy as he is now.”

Lisa recalls the bleak outlook for Brody’s future one year ago when he was a patient at CHEO. At that time, he was battling with heart failure and respiratory problems all of which are complications of PWS. He was on a BiPap machine for four hours at a time, alternating with 45 minutes off, and was constantly on oxygen.

Brody’s future wasn’t great and with Lisa undergoing intensive chemotherapy treatment for Indolent Follicular non-Hodgkins Lymphona the family was experiencing a truly difficult time.

“To think a year ago where we were, and the bleak outlook that was upon us in regards to Brody’s survival is outstanding,” says Lisa. “He is now completely oxygen free, which the doctors thought he would always need. Although he still needs the BiPap for sleeping, he is otherwise very healthy.”

“Many of his physicians have said, ‘he is a medical miracle, definitely one for the medical journals’.”

So when the phone call came last Wednesday, inviting Brody to drop the puck with Tysen, to say there was excitement in the Froats’ household is an understatement.

Lisa says that both families were given the royal treatment from the start of the evening to the finish. “We received awesome seats and after the game, our two families were able to meet the players. What an amazing group of guys. Every player not only autographed, but they took the time for pictures and stood and talked and laughed with our kids.”

While Lisa and Mark can’t say enough about last week’s pleasurable outing they also “extend our thank you to our community family and friends and everyone who supported us through this last year. The kindness and generosity, to say the least, has been overwhelming and the genuine concern for our family will always be remembered.”

“At this time we are all well and are feeling so very blessed for our health and being a family again.”

As for Tysen, the trip to centre ice last Thursday night was a thrill, but it was on November 12, 2012, that his wish came true. That was when he got to meet Adam Sandler!

Tysen writes on the Make-A-Wish Facebook page that, “when I entered his cool office, I noticed a wall filled with pictures and souvenirs representing all the good things he has done for others. It made me think…If Adam Sandler can be a comedian, writer, producer, dad, husband, own his own production company, star in 38 movies and STILL have time to grant my wish and help others then the sky is the limit to what I can do!”

As a result, Tysen set out on a mission to raise $1 million for Make-A-Wish which will help grant 100 wishes! This marvelous young man has now raised $14,894 and anyone who would like to support him can do so by going to the Make–A-Wish Facebook page and following the link.

The only disappointing part of last Thursday’s adventure for the two boys was the Sens 5-2 loss to the Canucks.

[…]

Christmas is fast approaching. One of the events in South Dundas which makes the season a little more special is the annual concert by the Seaway Valley Singers.

The 46-voice choir, under the direction of Choir Master Robert Jones, will perform Sing Gloria! on Sunday, December 8, at 3 p.m. at the Iroquois United Church in Iroquois. Pianist Margaret Whisselle accompanies the singers as they celebrate the Christmas spirit in song.

A highlight of the concert will be Handel’s beloved Hallelujah Chorus, which will also feature trumpeter Shawn Snider. Dan Edwards, violinist, is performing with the Singers in the traditional Hymn of Advent. The Winchester Handbell Ringers plan to bring their beautiful sound to the concert as well. 

By popular demand, Dr. Gerry Rosenquist is returning to act as Master of Ceremonies for the joyful event. 

The Singers have been in rehearsal since the fall: their twice yearly concerts are eagerly anticipated in South Dundas.Tickets are $10 in advance (available from choir members, the Seaway Pharmacy in Morrisburg or by calling 613-543-3863). Tickets will also be available at the door for $12.

Sing Gloria! with the Seaway Valley Singers on December 8, and welcome the Christmas season. 

[…]

Led by their senior LINK crew, and the grade 10 WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) crew, the students and teachers at Seaway District High School in Iroquois made it clear that bullying has no place in school or community life.

During the week of November 18-22, there was a board wide initiative in schools to make students aware of the nature of bullying, and what can be done to stop it.

“There is more awareness of bullying, more discussion in the schools,” said teacher Heather Thompson, who also leads the successful LINK program at the high school which matches senior mentors with grade nine students. “Kids have to know that it is okay to stand up ‘for the silent.’ It takes only 10 seconds to stop the bullying when peers intervene.”

Lindsay Waddell, who is the teacher organizer (with fellow teacher Rodney Benton) of the WEB program that matches grade 10 students with intermediate school grade sevens, says the week of Anti-Bullying activities got kids thinking, and encouraged them to act.  “We focused in WEB on how words can be harmful and hurtful. If your words are long-lasting, why not make them positive. We led discussions about ‘safe spheres’ and the ‘role of the bystander.’” 

The high school/intermediate school staffs were very supportive of the anti-bullying activities, and welcomed WEB and LINK representatives into their classes to bring a message of tolerance and respect. The OPP has also been invited to present workshops on cyber-bullying, sadly a growing factor in recent, reported teen suicides.

Jessica Wright, a LINK senior, organized an anti-bullying scavenger hunt. A big flag with power words on it from LINK and a collage from WEB will be displayed in the school. Grades 7-12 students were also encouraged to sign the Anti-Bullying Banner and make a commitment.

Teachers Thompson and Waddell joined the students in the gym, all wearing pink to signify anti-bullying, for a large and positive group photo. Both had great praise for the leadership and the dedication displayed by their WEB and LINK students in this recent campaign.

“It’s amazing the amount of work our LINK and WEB kids take on, and follow through on. When you give kids responsibility, they don’t let you down.”

[…]