Catégorie : Tribune-Express (Hawkesbury)

Since 2019, the food bank has seen an increase of 33.7 per cent of users per month. The dollar value of donated food has also increased each year. Between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018, the food bank had donated $123,868 in food to its users. Between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, the bank donated $221,341 in food, which marks a 78.7 per cent increase since fiscal year  2017.

This increase accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2019 and 2021, the food bank saw an increase in food donations from 150,446 to 221,341, or 47.1 per cent.

Inflation

Jeanne Charlebois, president of the food bank, and Robert Lefebvre, food bank treasurer, believe that the increase in users is due to inflation. Lefebvre said that products are more expensive in grocery stores so people are more apt to ask the food bank for help to feed themselves. These same products cost more for the food bank as well, which increases the total expenses of the bank.

« With the cost of living, there are people who need a little help, » said Charlebois. « We’re there. »

The foodbank has not yet encountered any financial problems. However, it is sometimes impossible to obtain everything that is ordered because of the problems faced by grocery stores.

« Inflation has an impact in many ways, » said Lefebvre. « It’s more expensive for everyone, which means grocery stores don’t want to keep a large inventory, so there’s less surplus. »

The food bank buys food from local grocery stores. Sometimes the grocery stores don’t get all the products ordered, which means the food bank can’t get its share.

Cash donations are also reduced. Individuals have less money to donate, and social clubs, which usually donate money to the food bank, are receiving less money which means they can’t donate as much to the foodbank as they used to.

Quality Service

The food bank still wants to keep the same quality of service as in the past years and plans to donate Christmas baskets in December. This is possible thanks to the generosity of the food bank’s partners such as local grocery stores and non-profit organizations, as well as the people of Hawkesbury.

However, it can no longer provide fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis to her clients.

« Those who have gardens and those who have extra vegetables, we would appreciate donations because it’s become so expensive that we can’t afford to buy them anymore, » said Charlebois. The food bank’s clients also ask for cleaning products such as soap and shampoo, which is not included in the organization’s budget.

The food bank is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. It offers free food to anyone who needs it. The food bank also operates a free thrift store for all its users for those in need of laundry, school materials, children’s toys and dishes.

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) has started offering Moderna’s bivalent COVID-19 booster as of September 12. Bivalent vaccines protect against the original strain as well as the BA.1 Omicron variant, and preliminary studies suggest it may also protect against the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.

For now, the bivalent vaccine will be restricted to people 70 and over, healthcare workers, assisted living workers, immunocompromised individuals 12 and over, pregnant people 18 and over, and First Nations/Indigenous people aged 18 and up, as well as their families and partners.

Pregnant individuals and healthcare workers must book over the phone through the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900, or through a participating pharmacy, until September 25. After that, the vaccine will be made available to everyone 18 and over. Individuals must have completed their initial two-dose COVID vaccine, and at least three months must have passed since their last vaccine dose, to receive the booster.

“As fall begins and we enter yet another cold and flu season combined with COVID-19, I’m glad we now have access to this new bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine, » said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health at the EOHU. « I encourage everyone to get the new booster dose as I believe it will have a much better ability to prevent Omicron infections and prevent severe disease. As COVID-19 becomes one of the normally circulating viruses in the community, this booster will help us continue on our path out of the pandemic phase and into more normalcy. »

The bivalent booster is only available by appointment. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit www.EOHU.ca/vaccines. To book an appointment, visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ or call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.

Like every other festival event, the Vankleek Hill Lions Garlic Festival was suspended during the pandemic. But with the relaxtion of public health restrictions now on public gatherings, the festival is back and is now the Lions Garlic Farmers Market.

On a sunny Sunday over the September 10 weekend, more than 500 lovers of garlic passed in and out of the outdoor rink at Miner Park as they browsed among the eight stalls set up with displays of fresh wild and cultivated garlic, and bottles and jars of special cooking oils and other items with a garlic base.

« Everything garlic, everything made with garlic, » said Stuart Wood, one of the Lions members officiating during the event and one of the original founders of the garlic-flavoured addition to Vankleek Hill’s summer festival season.

« We were really busy during the morning, » he said. « The patrons were all very happy, and the vendors all want to come back next year. Hats off to all the growers because they had some incredible products. »

The bilingual program’s theme for this year was myths and legends. Children learned about Greek and Norse myths and their mythological creatures. Whilst the theme for each year’s reading clujb is chosen by a vote of more than 2200 public libraries participating all across Canada, libraries can choose what they do with the topic.

In total, 98 children were signed up to take part in activities. To participate, all that was needed was to be a member of the Champlain Library. One of the most successful activities was the story walks. Signs were put up every few steps for children to read as they walked along.

“It was very well received,” says Alicia Heinzle, children’s librarian at the Champlain Public Library.

The Summer Reading Club’s aim is to instill the love of reading in children.

“They often say that kids lose a tremendous amount of their reading ability throughout the summer between the school years so this just keeps it up and even excels their reading levels,” said Heinzle. “They’re really into it.”

While the Summer Reading Club is finished until next June, much of the club’s programming remains. Story time starts every Tuesday at 10 a.m., Virtual Coding is available on Mondays twice a week, and afterschool activities such as science, art, math skill building and puzzles are offered every Thursday.

“I am against that project and I will vote against it all the way,” said Councillor Simon Rozon at the end of a presentation from AirBnB operators to council during its August 8 session. Rozon’s declaration drew loud applause from the visitors gallery.

Most of the people attending council that evening were East Hawkesbury residents, including several homeowners from the Front Street neighbourhood, where an AirBnB vacation house, also known as a short-term rental (STR) or a short-term accommodation (STA), is located. The property has become the subject of controversary after council heard complaints from a delegation of neighbouring residents during its June sesssion. Most of the complaints concerned excessive noise during the early-morning hours.

But some concerns also focused on the impact of large groups of people staying there and using a home sanitary system more suitable for a small family. Delegation members expressed concern about the impact on the local aquifer that supplies drinking water to the neighbourhood.

Most of the worry focused on the impact of large groups of people on a home sanitary system more suitable for a small family and also on the local aquifer that supplies drinking water to the neighbourhood. The local homeowners also expressed concern what the presence of a temporary vacation house will have on their own property values.

The owner Ken Lee, an Ottawa resident, owns the property. He expressed concern to council duing its August session that past reports about his property and its use are incorrect.

« There’s a misconception about my place being a ‘party house’, » he said. « I am strongly against parties. »

Lee lists his property on the AirBnB website for STRs. He said his listing states no parties and no loud music after 11 p.m. for anyone who rents his property.

« One of the basis things we tell our guests is ‘you have to respect the neighbours,’ » said Lee, adding that he paid $2 million for the riverside property. « So we don’t want people to come and destroy our place. »

He noted that the rental guidelines also include a two-day minimum occupancy and a very high rental rate to deter « weekend party crowds ». He told council that he hires local people for cleaning and lawn care for his property. He also contacted neighbouring homeowners when he bought the property, explained what he planned to do it, and provided his phone number if they experienced any problems.

« I also have the right to enjoy my property the way I want, » he said, « so long as I follow the rules. »

« It is the first time that we’ve had to deal with this in East Hawkesbury, » said Mayor Robert Kirby. « We’re a fairly close-knit community. It can be disturbing for people living beside this (STA). They never know who their neighbours are going to be. That could be a concern. »

Mayor Kirby also indicated concern that Lee did not first approach council or meet with administration to explain his plans for the property after he bought it.

A Mr. Gopi, who did not provide his full name, was present during the session. He told council that he also owned a waterfront property in the township that he rented out as an STA. He told council that he has a property manager to handle the site and also specific rules for renters. He noted that East Hawkesbury should be open to the concept of short-term rentals as part of its tourism economy.

Carole Zbacnik was part of the original delegation of homeowners that met with council in June. She told council during its August session that there were eight groups occupying Lee’s STA on Front Street during July.

« On average they stayed three days each, » Zbacnik said. « They were not all loud and obnoxious and rowdy. Two of them (renter parties) were, without a doubt, very loud. There was music on until late in the morning. I was told by other neighbours that, until about four o’clock in the morning, the music was non-stop. »

Zbacnik also reported seeing a beer table set up outside and four dogs on site and not all them on leashes.

Since the first delegation complained to council about the situation in June, the township has hired a consultant to report on possible options for dealing with short-term vacation rentals. The consultant report listed options that range from banning such operations altogether in the municipality, to classifying them as commercial operations under the zoning bylaw and creating a specific category for STAs, along with operation guidelines for the property owners and penalties for infractions.

« There are still a lot of questions we need answers for, » said Mayor Kirby.

He also noted that Councillors Karina Sauve and Stephanie Sabourin were not present for the August 8 session. He said he wanted the full council present for any final decisions on how to deal with the issue of STAs in East Hawkesbury.

Burroughs retired from the OPP in 2013 before becoming a criminal record examiner in Ottawa for six years.

He says he always wanted to run for council but never got the chance. « That’s always been a goal I’ve had, » says Burroughs. My father was on Longueuil council in the 1960s and early 1970s. I had an uncle who served on council and cousins in L’Orignal. In the 1990s, police officers had the opportunity to sit on council as councillors, but that was too much of a conflict of interest, it was not the right time. »

Burroughs has a goal of controlling expenses for the municipality, especially with regard to the L’Orignal yard. Inflation is at 8%, everything has gone up for everyone, » said Burroughs. “If we can try to maintain or reduce by looking at other options, I think that’s something to look at. »

He also hopes to promote economic development in Champlain while maintaining the rural aspect of the Longueuil neighborhood. For economic development, I am always in favor of an infrastructure that is very strong, but that the economic development is respectful of the environment we have. » said Burroughs. “The rural sector should remain as much as possible within the standards to keep it rural. Let’s keep our green spaces.

Burroughs is also concerned about the possibility of the Colacem cement plant being built a few miles from his home. « The only thing we can do is try to control it with the Ministry of the Environment. We need the Ministry of the Environment to do its job.

He thinks the municipalities that are part of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell should have more control over their own destinies. « I would push for our mayor, when he goes to United Counties meetings, to ask that municipalities be allowed to have some veto power over what industries can build in their area.”

In its 13^th year, the South Nation Conservation (SNC) Summer Fish Camps provided children ages 9 to 13 with two days full of outdoor learning experiences, connecting the youth with the natural environment that surrounds their communities. Participants were taught about fishing rules and regulations, new techniques and given important environmental knowledge on topics like water quality, invasive species, sustainability and other environmentally friendly practices.

“There is a lot of value in these camps, like promoting eco-health,” stated Kelsey Smith, SNC stewardship and outreach assistant, in a press release. “Kids are given the chance to fish all day, make new friends and connect and learn about their local environment.”

These program help promote sustainable fishing practices amongst the next generation of anglers and encourage residents to explore fishing opportunities within their own community and in Ontario Conservation Areas.

Tim Horton Restaurants in Vankleek Hill, Hawkesbury and L’Orignal will be donate every dollar for every Smile Cookie sold to the HGH foundation.

“We are so grateful to be the recipient of the funds from the Smile Cookie campaign once again this year,” said Erin Tabakman, executive director of the HGH Foundation. “What a great initiative and gesture from local Tim Hortons owner, Paul Burke, and his team members. This is just another amazing example of our community making a difference for our hospital, its patients, their families, and the entire region.”

This campaign will help support the purchase of essential medical equipment in order to bring new services to HGH such as advanced three-dimensional mammography, in hopes of enabling more specialty care at the Hawkesbury General Hospital. The focus is on enhancing services in orthopedic surgery, urology, ophthalmology, endoscopy, and advanced mammography.

Tim Hortons has helped raise more than $65,000 for the HGH foundation during the past 11 years, including $13,152 in 2021.