Premier Must Act Now to Reverse Kemptville, Alfred Closures

Posted on March 15, 2014 by llpayette

by Michael Jiggins, Executive Assistant to Steve Clark, MPP, Leeds-Grenville, written March 12, 2014

Clark Says Campuses Critical to Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Sector

(KEMPTVILLE) – The Wynne government is dealing a devastating blow to Eastern Ontario’s agri-food industry and rural communities if it allows the University of Guelph to proceed with a plan to close its agricultural campuses in Kemptville and Alfred.

Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark made that comment in response to today’s announcement by the university that academic programs and research at the two campuses will end by the end of 2015. – to read more>

Purple Pancakes Return to Help Fight Epilepsy

Posted on March 15, 2014 by llpayette

A delicious way to support epilepsy awareness – purple pancakes!

by Lorraine Payette, written March 14, 2014

(Gananoque, ON) As the temperatures improve and the sap starts running, it’s time once again to celebrate Purple Day in support of the Epilepsy Resource Centre. And what better way to celebrate than to sit down to a breakfast of purple pancakes.

“Approximately 30 people attended at the Gananoque location (in 2013) and enjoyed some delicious ‘purple’ blueberry pancakes, yogurt, fruit and more, while having the opportunity to learn more about epilepsy,” wrote Susan Harrison, Executive Director of the Epilepsy Resource Centre (ERC). “It was a great way of bringing the community together and your support assisted us in accomplishing our goal of helping the community with the challenges created by epilepsy.” – to read more>

Riverbank Productions to Present “On Golden Pond”

Posted on March 8, 2014 by llpayette

Riverbank Productions

by Lorraine Payette, written March 7, 2014

(Gananoque, ON) Gananoque’s Riverbank Productions will be presenting a staged reading of “On Golden Pond”, an award winning play by Ernest Thompson.

“It is a heart-warming, funny, and moving family comedy/drama that addresses aging gracefully ( and not so gracefully!), parent/child conflicts, the frustrations and joys of getting older, and the challenges, surprises and realities of enduring love,” says Diane Stapley. “Set in the 80s, it centres on a couple in their late sixties and seventies who have been married for many decades and, for forty years, have been spending their summers at a simple family cottage on a beautiful lake. When their grown daughter Chelsea shows up unexpectedly with her new dentist boyfriend and his teenage son, age-old family conflicts come to the fore. The results are wonderfully hilarious, and dramatic – just like real life!” – to read more>

Desperate Housepets Coming to Old Town Hall in Delta

Posted on March 7, 2014 by llpayette

What mysteries lurk behind such an innocent face?

by Lorraine Payette, written March 7, 2014

(Delta, ON) What are animals to do? The game’s afoot, and things have certainly turned fowl, um, uh, “foul”.

In a desperate cycle of murder, betrayal and love, we explore the deepest of relationships between the most innocent looking house pets. Who would ever suspect there could be complications for a hamster and a rabbit that just happen to cohabit, or the havoc wreaked in a fish tank by a gifted member of the school. What about the trials and tribulations faced by dogs and cats facing death at a city pound?

In a humourous satire written by Robert Watson, no holds are barred. And the Rideau Islands and Lakes Theatre School (RILTS) is delighted to present two showings on March 29 and 30. – to read more>

Lyme Disease Demands Urgent Action From Health Minister: Clark

Posted on March 6, 2014 by llpayette

by Michael Jiggins, Executive Assistant to Steve Clark, MPP, Leeds-Grenville; written March 6, 2014

MPP Calls for More Effective Diagnostic Testing for Disease

(QUEEN’S PARK) – Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark has called on the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to improve the way Ontarians who suspect they have Lyme disease are diagnosed and treated.

In a Member’s Statement on Thursday, March 5, Clark said the health-care system is failing Ontarians with the disease, including many in Leeds-Grenville – which has been identified as a provincial hotspot for the ticks that carry the bacteria that causes Lyme.

“OHIP won’t cover the cost of an effective test to confirm a person has Lyme disease, so patients are losing valuable time by enduring multiple tests when they should be starting treatment,” said Clark. “We know the number of Lyme cases in Ontario is rising and I think the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care needs to act with some urgency.” – to read more>

TIGSAR Going for Small Business Gold

Posted on March 5, 2014 by llpayette

L-r, Phillip Durand, Cathy Gill, Kevin Gill (president) and Sherri Dufton; dogs Alex and Kera – members of TIGSAR

by Lorraine Payette, written March 5, 2014

(Leeds-Grenville) When most of us think of Ground Search and Rescue, we imagine well trained and organized professionals in uniforms heading out into remote areas with dogs, boats, ATVS and other specialized equipment as they search calmly and efficiently for missing people. We automatically expect them to be highly paid professionals, provided by our taxpayer dollars.

However, these groups of dedicated helpers are made up of volunteers in Ontario.

“Thousand Islands Ground Search and Rescue (TIGSAR) is a not-for-profit organization and registered charitable organization,” says Kevin Gill, Team Leader. “The SAR team operates under the Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association (OSARVA), which is the governing body for volunteer search and rescue teams within the province of Ontario.” – to read more>

Freedom to Read Week to Be Celebrated in Delta

Posted on February 27, 2014 by llpayette

“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading
them.” – Joseph Brodsky

by Lorraine Payette, written February 25, 2014

“IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BURN. IT was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed. With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history. With his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head, and his eyes all orange flame with the thought of what came next, he flicked the igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black. He strode in a swarm of fireflies. He wanted above all, like the old joke, to shove a marshmallow on a stick in the furnace, while the flapping pigeon-winged books died on the porch and lawn of the house. While the books went up in sparkling whirls and blew away on a wind turned dark with burning…”

So begins Fahrenheit 451, the future fantasy nightmare created by literary master Ray Bradbury. This was a world where reading and books were illegal, where the control of the people had become total and the government feared nothing so much as the free spread of knowledge to those it would enslave. – to read more>

MPP Clark Helps Put Highway Winter Maintenance Probe in Gear

Posted on February 27, 2014 by llpayette

by Michael Jiggins, February 26, 2014

Auditor General to Review Ministry of Transportation Program

(QUEEN’S PARK) – Ontario ’s Auditor General will investigate why motorists have encountered such dangerous conditions on provincial highways this winter after a motion from Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark was passed unanimously at a legislative committee meeting here this morning.

“I’m pleased the committee has asked the Auditor General to investigate the reasons motorists in Leeds-Grenville and in every corner of Ontario have had to take their lives into their hands when they get behind the wheel and travel on a provincial highway this winter,” said Clark after his motion was passed by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. – to read more>

“All Fall Down” Opening at Firehall Theatre This Weekend

Posted on February 11, 2014 by llpayette

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by Lorraine Payette, written February 10, 2014

Welcome to the year 2097. In this pristine time, the most disgusting of annoyances are being brought under control, cleaning up not only our environment but our social contacts as well. Oh, my, did I say contacts? No, no, there’ll be none of that here.

Thanks to the wonder of technology and the gracious McCloud Industries, it is no longer necessary to participate in the filthy habit of human contact or “touch” in order for our species to reproduce. Matches can be made at the most perfect level, and all breeding is taken care of selectively in our labs through the use of our wonderful machines. – to read more>

3rd Annual GDHS Chilli Fest Coming on February 1

Posted on January 18, 2014 by llpayette

Senor LaLa and Chiquita Chihuahua overwhelmingly support the GDHS Chilli Fest!

by Lorraine Payette

Listen up, you chilli chefs and aficionados, it’s going to get hot, hot, HOT! for the Gananoque and District Humane Society’s (GDHS) 3rd annual Chilli Cook-Off and Festival to be held at the Lansdowne Recreation Centre, 1 Jesse Street, on Saturday, February 1.

The Shelter is looking for chilli, chilli and MORE chilli!

“If you have it, we want it,” said Arlene Massey of GDHS. “Hot or mild, extra meaty, vegetarian, exotic – any kind of homemade chilli. We have categories for everyone. And the judges will be the general public, so we really will know who makes the best chilli around.” – to read more>

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