Issue 3, Janauary 29, 2026

KDH X-ray matching fundraising campaign surpasses goal

"Proudly serving our Community"

Dan Pettigrew Owner & friendly neighbour T: 613.774.1958

Dan.Pettigrew@sobeys.com foodland.ca 12015 Main Street Winchester, ON

by Jennifer Westendorp

The Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) Foundation is pleased to announce that the x-ray matching fundraising campaign has surpassed its goal of $460,000.

Gavin Murphy, an Ottawa lawyer and philanthropist, was the catalyst for the campaign; he generously offered to match every donation, up to $230,000, to purchase a new x-ray machine for the hospital. His contribution covers

approximately half the cost of the machine.

“The community answered the call to my challenge,” said Mr. Murphy. “I’m amazed by how quickly the Foundation was able to raise the funds, and I’d like to thank everyone who donated. Your support ensures that people have access to this critical diagnostic imaging tool at KDH.”

The old x-ray machine, which was in operation for nearly 16

years, stopped working right after the campaign launched in October. The new x-ray machine has been ordered and installation is scheduled for sometime in March.

“The campaign exceeded our expectations,” said Cindy Smith, KDH Foundation Executive Director. “We’re so impressed by the community response, and how fast we met our goal, which wouldn’t have been possible without

Gavin’s partnership and our incredibly generous community! The Foundation is so grateful to everyone who donated.”

The new x-ray machine is a state-of-theart diagnostic imaging tool that will improve patient outcomes and timely access to quality care. It will also improve technologist workflow, and operator safety.

“I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Gavin Murphy for his extraordinary generosity,” said Margret Norenberg, KDH Foundation Board Chair. “The matching campaign was a big draw for people because they knew their donation would be doubled. It was a wonderful way to support the hospital.”

The KDH Foundation is now fundraising for a new mammography machine. Visit www.kdhfoundation.ca for more information.

The joy of snowmobiling at Snowarama Ride for Easter Seals Kids

Snowmobilers will hit the trails on Sunday, February 1, 2026 for the Kemptville Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids. The annual event takes place on Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) groomed trails, and encourages winter enthusiasts to raise funds for children and youth with physical disabilities.

Everyone, snowmobiler or not, is welcome to come out and enjoy this year’s Kemptville Snowarama. Registration and Breakfast 8:00 a.m.11:00 a.m. Breakfast is open to the public. Rally begins at the North Grenville Fire Hall, 259 County Rd. 44, Kemptville, and ends at the Snowmobile Club House, 1505 O’Neil Rd., Oxford Mills.

All riders must have a trail permit.

Now in its 51st year, Snowarama offers attendees the chance to get outside alongside their community and hit the trails in support of children with physical disabilities. This year, snowmobilers from 10 communities across Ontario will take part in this familyfriendly event, including Timmins, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and Thunder Bay.

“For 51 years the OFSC has enjoyed a successful partnership with Easter Seals

Ontario,” said Paul Murray, President, OFSC. “Each year participants look forward to a safe, snowmobiling experience at Snowarama events across Ontario. Participants are warmed to know that funds raised help kids with physical disabilities receive essential programs and services within their communities.”

“For over five decades, the caring individuals behind our Snowarama events have made a meaningful difference in the lives of countless young people with physical disabilities,” says Kevin Collins, President and CEO at Easter Seals Ontario. “As we enter the 51st year of this tradition, we do so with profound gratitude for the impact of our partnerships with local sponsors and riders, and for the generosity, dedication, and spirit that bring this event to life year after year.”

Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids is locally sponsored and endorsed by the OFSC. To participate or donate call Bruce Robinson at 613-2583648 berobinson@ripnet.com, or visit Snowarama.org.

Easter Seals Ontario has been a leading provider of programs and services for children, youth, and young adults with physical disabilities since 1922. The organization is a registered charity commit-

ted to empowering individuals with physical disabilities to reach their full potential and make their own positive impact on the world. Easter Seals offers a wide range of programs and services, including mobility and accessibility equipment funding, accessible summer camp, post-secondary scholarships, youth ambassador opportunities, and advocacy and public awareness. Easter Seals is only able to provide these programs thanks to the generous support of its donors and sponsors. For more information or to donate, visit EasterSeals.org or connect on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

Pet Parents should take extra care during extreme winter weather

As bitter cold settles across the province, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is reminding pet parents to take precautions to help keep their animals safe. Extreme winter weather can lead to serious risks like frostbite and hypothermia, and animals rely on us to protect them from the elements.

“Even a short time in severe cold can be dangerous for animals,” says Dr. Joey Tang, Interim Medical Director, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. “By watching for signs of discomfort and making small adjustments to your routine, you can help keep your pets safe this winter.”

Some animals love the snow, but prolonged time outdoors can quickly become hazardous in frigid temperatures. Keep a close eye when your dog is outside playing and watch for early signs of the cold, such as shivering or holding up their paws. Cats, puppies, seniors and animals with short coats are especially vulnerable during cold snaps. An insulated sweater

or coat can offer muchneeded protection for dogs who need an extra layer. But even with winter clothing, animals should only be outside for short periods during extreme cold.

As temperatures drop, frozen lakes and rivers may look inviting to curious pets, but ice can be unpredictable. Keep your pet close, steer clear of the water’s edge, and be mindful of thin or refrozen ice that could break without warning.

The Ontario SPCA also urges caution around vehicles. Cars cool rapidly in winter, making them unsafe places for pets. Engines re-

main warm for a while after being turned off and can attract cats seeking shelter. Before starting your car, knock on the hood or honk the horn to make sure no animals are hiding underneath.

If you’re worried about the safety of an animal, call the Government of Ontario’s Provincial Animal Welfare Services team at 1-833-9ANIMAL (1-833926-4625) or contact your local police. In an emergency, call 911.

For more information on winter pet safety, visit ontariospca.ca

The Annual Highway 43 Car Club general meeting –Great success!

by Luc Bisaillon, President, Highway 43 Car Club

The Highway 43 Car Club would like to thank all who attended our AGM on January 21 at the Salvation Army Church main hall. We kicked off the 2026 Season in style with a great session with lots of discussions, questions, and some excellent suggestions on how we can improve our Car Club and special events moving forward.

We reviewed our successful 2025 Season and presented a detailed event roster to our membership for the upcoming 2026 season.

In 2026, we celebrate our 18th year as an official Car Club and our 21st year of the famous Kemptville Cruise Night!

A special Thank You to North Grenville Mayor Nancy Peckford for taking the time out of her busy schedule to attend our meeting. Thank you to Calvin Wong and the Kemptville Salvation Army for opening their doors to this amazing facility!

“It`s all about the People”.

One enchanting evening......

Step into 2026 with purpose and well-being, and make yourself a

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Tree

Close to the edge

by David Shanahan Editorial

I saw a cartoon a few days ago. Two men, looking frazzled, hassled, fearful. One says to the other: “What a year, eh?”, and the other replies: “Boss, it’s only January!”. I think most of us can relate to that one. If this was January, what has the rest of the year in store for us all? I’ve written a few times over the last months that we, the world generally, have reached the end of the post-war consensus that has dominated politics and international relations since 1945. Now, I’m interested to find, Prime Minister Carney agrees with me (or I agree with him, I suppose).

No matter whether you’re a Liberal, Conservative, NDP, Green, or none of the above, Carney’s speech at Davos has to be applauded. For the first time in a very long time, a leading politician spoke plainly and directly, speaking truth to power, in a speech he wrote himself. Not a bureaucrat’s words to be read off the teleprompter,

couched in weasel words and clichés, with no actual content. He called for a new way of dealing with nations, a selective network of trade agreements sector by sector, no longer depending on a single partner. Building coalitions of middle powers as a buffer against the hegemony of the U.S. or China is the way forward, he claimed.

And, while the PM received praise and respect from world leaders (aside from the usual suspects), it seems there were Canadians who couldn’t get past the fact that he is liberal. When I said that it doesn’t matter what political stripe you are, it was because Carney himself really doesn’t have a party political hill to die on. He leads a Liberal government with Conservative policies, and comes, not from the political bubble where you find Poilievre and so many other professionals, but from the real world of banking, commerce, international relations. He is what he defined his new approach to be: pragmatic and principled. This is something new

Turkey Tales

in our society, or at least something that hasn’t been seen in a long time, and it will take some getting used to. The reality is that this new world order, as you might call it, requires a completely fresh approach to how we do politics, not just in Canada, but around the world. Looking at the appalling situation in the United States, it is clear that the gangsters, the fascists are in power. It has been the tradition not to use the word “fascist” in polite society, as it might devalue the term. But, sadly and tragically, it is the only word to accurately describe the regime that has taken power under Trump.

A government that can simply lie in the face of video evidence as its thugs murder citizens in broad daylight, as children and innocent citizens are harassed, insulted, arrested, beaten up, sent to detention camps far from their homes, is doing more than tending towards fascism, it is fully embracing it. We have seen warnings that this administration is reminding us of the Nazi regime in the

and bombs, they developed the rocket trap, where a flock was lured in by grain, and then rockets fired a net over the whole flock, which was then trucked to a new location. This method was successful, and became so popular that 30,000 surviving wild Turkeys expanded to several millions, in every mainland state of the Union, far beyond their native range.

1930's, now we see it happening live in front of our eyes. Threatening to invade a NATO country, bullying its way into other countries. Killing people at sea with no evidence of any wrongdoing, provoking in the most deliberate manner regimes that it dislikes: these are not the actions of a nation with which we want to be associated.

Canada, and the world, is at a time of change. Not a transition, as Carney pointed out, but a rupture that has changed things in a fundamental way. There will be no going back to the status quo pre Trump, even if and when he leaves the scene. Trust has been shattered, and there can be no guarantee that another future President will not revert to the savagery of the current one.

Canadians need to recognise the shift, to put aside, as much as necessary, party political bias and stand united behind Carney: not as a Liberal Prime Minister, but as the elected leader of the country. This is no time for the pallid and pathetic whining of tradi-

corded Turkey calls from the Ontario shore.

tional politics. It is not the time for destructive separatist rhetoric from Alberta or elsewhere. The future is here and it will not be easy. But it is real and challenging, and Canada is at the forefront of the response that is needed.

Many years ago, in the face of another fascist challenge, the Irish poet, W.B. Yeats, described the scene as he saw it. “Turning and turning in the widening gyre, The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.”

Things are falling apart, but the centre has to hold. Carney, Macron, other EU and NATO leaders, all have a major job to do. As that old warning notes: “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

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Some rural gardeners can no longer grow sweet Corn because the electric fences which repelled Raccoons don’t deter the Turkeys.

records of Turkeys in eastern Ontario, they’re a native species for which settler agriculture has made our landscape into agreeable habitat, so they’re an ongoing part of our ecology, and a reminder of how populations can recover when we stop shooting at them. Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in unharvested drought-stunted cornfield along County Road 18, SW of Oxford Mills, 27 December 2025. [ photo by Aleta Karstad]

Fred Schueler –Fragile Inheritance Natural History

In 1968, when I was an undergraduate at Cornell, my washing fat off a Turkey skin with benzene resulted in an explosive atmosphere in the mens’ washroom in the floor beneath the ornithology lab (the building was evacuated, and nothing exploded). This was perhaps the first scientific specimen of a Turkey from the restored populations in New York state, and earned my graduate-student supervisor the reproach, from his insurance agent, that he intentionally hit Deer and

Turkeys for food and specimens.

The story we were told then was that attempts had been made to repopulate the eastern US with Turkeys before World War II, but that the surviving wild Turkeys were so nervous that they were hard to raise in captivity for release, and released birds didn’t have enough of the social structure of wild flocks to survive. After the war, when wildlife professor Aldo Starker Leopold, whose doctoral dissertation had been about this wildness, was teaching veterans who had experience with guns

Through the 1970s, Ontario hunters whimpered that Turkeys had been native to such southwestern areas of Ontario as Turkey Point, but the Ministry of Natural Resources refused to permit reintroductions. In the mid-1980s, however, releases of Turkey flocks began in Ontario. It may or may not be coincidental that around then we saw flocks just south of the border in Manitoba and the Thousand Islands, so that they would have wandered into Canada on their own if they hadn’t been introduced. I have heard an MNR employee say that our Leeds & Grenville Turkeys were lured across the St Lawrence in the winter by playing re-

At first, the Ontario Turkeys were nearly as wary as their rocket-trapped ancestors: we saw one flock cross County Road 20 near Oxford Station in the late 1980s, but then no more for years afterward. The Ice Storm of 1998 may have been the turning point in their tameness, because many were seen coming to bird feeders then. Beginning in 2001, we began to see them regularly, and from 2009-2016, with the help of egg-devouring Dogs, we found nests and hatched eggs in Bishops Mills. Since then they seem to have found more secluded nesting sites, and flocks are seen in fields, and individuals forage along roadsides. They are very wary of vehicles, and with 62 records of on-road or along-roadside sightings, there have only been seven local roadkills. In the winter of 2019 & 2020, a single “Van Turken” hen was famously all around the busy traffic of Kemptville, before being caught and relocated to a more rural ambiance.

Turkeys are deplored by some for the way they change forest floors by scratching around, eating invertebrates, small amphibians and reptiles, and the eggs of ground-nesting birds, especially Ruffed Grouse. While there are no historic or archaeological

www.northgrenville.ca

Stay informed! Council Meetings: www.northgrenville.ca/meetings

Need to see us? Municipal office hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 285 County Road 44, Kemptville

Need to reach us? Contact us: Call 613-258-9569 or email: general@northgrenville.on.ca

Need additional information? Visit us: www.northgrenville.ca

Trevor Andrew Strike

April 1, 1963 - Janurary 9, 2026

It is with great sadness that our brother, Trevor Strike of Orangeville, passed away suddenly on January 9th at 62 years of age.

He was a skilled Locksmith who took pride in his work and was known for his reliability, patience and willingness to help others. He approached his trade with care and integrity, always doing his best to make people feel safe and supported. Outside of work, Trevor enjoyed golfing, finding enjoyment on the course with his friends. He was also an animal lover at heart, known for his compassion and kindness toward animals, especially his many dogs he had over the years.

In his younger years, he attended North Grenville District high school and was an avid hockey player, enjoyed his cars and motorbikes.

He is survived by his brother Richard Strike (Pam), sister Karen Froome, Nieces Christine, Angie, Katie, Kayla and Chelsea. He was preceded by his parents, Ken and Gwyn Strike and brother-in-law Greg Froome.

He will be remembered for his generosity and the quiet ways he showed love. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Applications for Student Jobs at Ontario Parks are Open

Build your skills, make new friends and gain valuable work experience while working in some of Ontario’s most beautiful locations. Applications are now open for summer positions at parks across the province including:

• gate attendants

• maintenance workers

• Discovery rangers

View all opportunities on the Ontario Parks hiring map: www.ontarioparks.ca/careers/hiringmap, and learn how to apply on the Ontario Parks website at: OntarioParks.ca/careers.

Every summer, Ontario Parks hires 1,600 students. By applying early, students will give themselves the best opportunity to secure their preferred job.

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville Brrrrr: it's cold outside. We're Can’jans, though, don’cha know. I've given you a number of scone recipes, but this one is cooked on a griddle. My preference is, of course, the cast iron variety: we have a number of them of various sizes kicking ‘round the farm. We have a large one keeping warm on top of our kitchen wood stove. The recipe then, is for Griddle Scones, another Nova Scotia recipe collected by Marie Nightingale.

Griddle Scones

Ingredients:

· 3 cups of flour

· 2 teaspoons cream of tartar

· 1 teaspoon baking powder

· A dash of salt

· ½ cup of butter

· ½ to ½ cup of whole milk

Preparation:

· Sift together the flour, cream of tartar, baking powder and salt

· Cut in the butter

· Add just enough milk to make the dough still enough to handle

· Roll out to ½ inch thickness on a floured board

· Cut into round of some 8 inches across

· Cut each round into four pieces

· Bake on a hot griddle with a bit of butter, turning over until both sides are lightly browned

· Serve ‘em hot; serve ‘em often

I don't need to tell you what to have with a scone hot off the griddle: you have the choice of some softened butter, some peanut butter, your favourite jam or conserve, etc. Try these when you've come in from doing some winter activity like walking, skating or playing hockey or broomball. Add some craisins or raisins to the recipe if you've a mind to. Hot dark roast coffee or Orange Pekoe tea are great with any kind of scone.

Stay warm! Many thanks from Paul at pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

ROCK MY HOUSE

LOOKING FOR TEACHERS

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Saturdays 10:30am-11:30am Ages 1-5

Parent/Toddler rhythm play for all. No appointment needed!

Kevin Eamon, proprietor and educator 699 South Gower Drive, Kemptville ON (613)258-5656

kevin@rockmyhousemc.com rockmyhousemc.com

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Music Lessons

Monday to Friday 3:00P.M.- 9P.M

Contact Rock My House for details.

Step into our house, where the heartbeat of music pulses beneath the roof, and where endless possibilities await. Join us, and let's make music together!

Perkins Mills: The forgotten hamlet

Perkins Mills in 1859, with the planned subdivision to the north. Holy Cross Church is seen on the east edge, and the area is full of industrial activity.

by David Shanahan

Today, the area around the junction of Clothier, Hurd and Somerville on the outskirts of Kemptville is a place people only drive through. But a hundred and sixty years ago, this quiet crossroads was known as Perkin’s Mills: an active and noisy residential and commercial hub that seemed on the verge of great expansion. Out of this crossroads came flour, timber, woven cloth, furniture and leather goods that supplied the people of the region for decades.

Lot 25, Concession 3, Oxford on Rideau Township, had been granted to Captain James Brackenridge in 1795. He sold it to Truman Hurd in 1815, and the Hurd family was the main presence in the area for more than a century after. Hurd’s property extended from Highway 43 south to Concession Road, and from Hurd Road on the west to Pine Hill Road on the east. By 1859, Truman’s son, Edwin, had survey plans for a major housing development to stretch from Clothier Street to Highway 43. The entire area was divided into streets, long before Cranberry Hill or Scholars Heights existed. Edwin had advertised in the Ottawa Citizen a sale of 175 Town Lots and 42 Park Lots, to include his own house and gardens on the corner of Clothier and Hurd. The area was to be called Kemptville West. Although the development was never completed, Edwin’s house is still there, now 561 Clothier West. At the time, Clothier Street west was known as Main Street, sometimes as North Main Street. In fact

the whole area has been known under many names over time. Today, it has no name of its own any more. But the real centre of the area in 1859 were the mills located on the South Branch River. Where the bridge is today on Hurd Street, there was once a stone dam, with the river waters backed up behind it in a large mill pond. On the north bank below the dam stood a Carding Mill, and opposite it on the south shore was a Tannery and Cloth Dressing facility operated by Reuben Gorham. Reuben had just bought the factory from Frederick Moore, whose stone house is still standing west of the crossroads at 2495 County Road 18. The large stone house across the road, now extended and improved, was the home of Henry Hurd, another of Truman’s sons.

The major force in the economic life of the area was John Perkins, who had bought 80 acres of land south of Clothier Street in 1850. When Perkins bought from the land, the two mills were already in place and operating. A mill race had been dug between the dam and a natural inlet in the river, and this powered the mills: the saw mill on the north side and the grist mill on the south. Around Perkins Mills, coopers, joiners, shoemakers, weavers, cabinetmakers, blacksmiths, wagon makers and merchants bought and rented land and built homes.

The impressive stone houses still standing around the crossroads indicate the wealth of the community at the time. John Perkins established a tavern on Hurd, just south of the bridge. The Kemptville Brick Yard operated on a large tract of land on the south bank

of the river just east of the mills. John Conn opened a school on Clothier Street, in the building which still stands immediately to the west of Holy Cross School today. Some of the wealthy merchants with businesses in Kemptville moved out to Perkins Mills to live.

In retrospect, 1859 was the high point for Perkins Mills. By 1869, John Perkins had died, and his widow rented out the mills to William Morrison, who had to pay a charge to the Corporation of Oxford Township to ensure he maintained his part of the bridge in good repair for ten years: an early form of development charge. The enterprise did not go well under Morrison, and was sold under power of sale in 1874. The mills were taken over by Nathaniel and George Kennedy in 1877, and they kept them going until 1914. But by then, the community of Perkins Mills, latterly known as Kennedy’s Mills, was dying.

As the mills ran down, so the jobs went and people started moving away, many back to Kemptville, as that town continued to expand. So, the next time you pass through, stop by the historical plaque set up by the new bridge on Hurd. Take a look around and try to imagine the place when the dam held back the waters of the South Branch River and mills and tanneries gave employment, energy and focus to a bustling and hopeful community.

North Grenville Photography Club

Lights, Cameras, Cupcakes

Ooey-gooey, juicy, and luscious food photography

by Kathy Tang

North Grenville Photography Club kicked off 2026 with a sweet workshop on the food photography genre. Members learned how to create mouthwatering shots by applying different lighting, angle, and focus. Photographers learned how different composition choices and props can spark memories and emotions. Best of all, after the photo shoot, members were able to devour their scrumptious cupcake subjects, baked by Oxford Mill’s Kate’s Cakes.

NGCC members off to Canadian U18 Curling Championships

L-R Tyler MacTavish skip, Aaron Benning 3rd, Alec Symeonides 2nd, Liam Rowe lead

2nd, Sydney Anderson lead, Iain coach

by Jim Dolan

T:10.25"

Two young members of the North Grenville Curling Club, Amelia Benning and her brother Aaron, are members of the winning teams at the recent Ontario Provincial U18 Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships held at the Penetanguishene Curling Club from January 14 to 18. Their teams will now move on to

the Canadian U18 Curling Championships to be held in Timmins, Ontario from February 8 to 15.

Amelia Benning is the third on the team skipped by Charlotte Wilson that plays out of the Rideau Curling Club in Ottawa. Wilson went 5-2 in the eight-team round robin to finish second behind the Madeleine Garrie team from the West-

mount Golf and Country Club in Kitchener.

In the semi-final game, Wilson defeated the Lauren Penston team from the Ayr Curling Club 9-1. In the Championship game Wilson defeated Garrie 8-2. The other members of the Wilson team are Abigail Rushton 2nd and Sydney Anderson lead. The team is coached by lain Wilson. Wilson and her teammates also played in the 2025 Canadian U18 Championships held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Aaron Benning is third on the Tyler MacTavish team from the KW Granite Club in Waterloo. The MacTavish team finished 6-1 in eight-team round robin play to claim top spot and earn a bye to the Championship Game. In the semifinal game Aaron Genjaga’s team from the Dixie Curling Centre in Mississauga defeated Owen MacTavish’s team from the KW Granite Club 6-2.

In the championship game, Tyler MacTavish defeated Genjaga 8-5. The other members of the MacTavish team are Alec Symeonides 2nd and Liam Rowe lead. Aaron Benning’s dad, Brian coached the team at the Provincials.

With over 140 skilled trades to choose from there’s more opportunity than

COMMUNITY EVENTS events@ngtimes.ca

Community Forum

The next Forum will take place on February 11, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Parish Hall, Kemptville Campus.

Knights of Columbus Monthly Supper at Holy Cross Church Hall 503 Clothier Street West. Suppers are held at 5:30 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month, September to November and January to May. Cost $10 per person, $5 for a child under 12 and $25 for a family.

Kemptville Legion: Fridays 3-9. Free Pool and Darts. Everyone Welcome

LEGION EUCHRE will be held at 100 Reuben St., the 3rd Saturday of each month. Registration starts at 12:30, with Euchre starting at 1:00. Cost is $5 to play - cash prizes.

NG Duplicate Bridge Club Masonic Lodge 311 Van Buren Kemptivlle, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 12:15.

All Levels of bridge players are welcome. Info call 613-795-7155 Youngsters of Yore

Held at the Tallman Room of Kemptville Library on Water street. Starts at 2 pm every Thursday, so arrive before to get a chair.

Mingle with us having a cup of tea and snack after Ashley speaks and answers your questions.

We welcome All Ages!

Friendship Lunches are offered to everyone every Friday. Please join us in our lower hall by 11:30 for a free meal, companionship and fellowship at St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. and begin at 11:30. There is no charge. A free will offering is appreciated. Everyone is welcome.

NG Community Meals Association

Every Tuesday, 4-7 PM Free or by Donation Dinner ( serving dinner until 6:30 pm)

Where: Pvt. Blake Williamson Memorial Hall, (Old Fire Hall) 25 Reuben Cres.Everyone is welcome, young and not so young

Bring clean indoor shoes

For more information or to volunteer, please contact the North Grenville Community Meals Association at NGCMAssociation@gmail.com

Friendship Café is open to the community Tuesday's from 10 to noon. All are welcome to stop by, enjoy a hot beverage, a sweet treat and some friendly conversation all at no cost. At St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. Tuesday Community Hub hosted by the House of Lazarus All are welcome to drop in. Advocacy, “make a meal, take a meal” cooking opportunities, community services assistance are just a few of the weekly programs. Stop by and visit or contact House of Lazarus directly at 613-989-3830 for more details. “Building Community, Sharing Hope”. Upstairs at St. John's United Church at 400 Prescott St. Modern Square Dancing in Kemptville with the Grenville Gremlins Square Dance Club. Monday Evenings 7:30 - 9:30pm. North Grenville Municipal Center County Road 44 For more info call Debbie at 613-795-3032 or Google "Kemptville Square Dancing"

KLUB 67 invites all euchre players to join us every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month for a fun social game of euchre. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben St. Registration starts at 12.30, play starts at 1pm. Cost is $5 to play – cash prizes given. No membership required.

North Grenville Men’s Shed

A men’s shed provides a safe and friendly environment for men to socialize and/ or do projects.

Contact: Peter Ivay 343 598-1174 or website ngmensshed.com for scheduled meetings on the calendar and additional information.

Kemptville Horticultural Society - meetings are held monthly, except July, August & December. The are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm at the Kemptville Pentecostal Church.

NG Pride: 2SLGBTQAI+ Seniors and allies meet 2 - 4pm the first and third Sunday of each month at the NG Library. Join us for coffee, chat, cards and shenanigans. Looking to stay connected, informed, and inspired in retirement?

Join the Probus Club of North Grenville — a friendly group of retirees who meet monthly for conversation, laughter, and thought-provoking presentations. Gatherings take place the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church Hall. For details, email n.g.probus97@gmail.com

Spencerville Agricultural Society, February Meeting

Spencerville Agricultural Society, February Meeting

Next Meeting: Monday, February 9, 2026 Meeting: 7:00 pm

Address: 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville Ontario

Those interested in attending are encouraged to email info@spencervillefair.ca for additional details.

ACROSS

1. Pal

5. As well as 9. Combines

13. Hindu princess

14. Relinquish

16. Dreadful

17. European mountains

18. They connect points

19. Swerve

20. Footwear

22. Printer ink container

24. Coil

26. Notions

27. Heat-related

30. Situate

33. Blood cancer

35. Illustrated

37. Paintings

38. Noodles

41. By way of

42. Daughter of a sibling

45. Covering with pebbles

48. Safe to eat

51. Asserts

52. Guided visits

54. Eastern discipline

55. Dust-free room

59. Sorceress

62. God

63. Runs in neutral

65. Digestive juice

66. Rear end

67. End of life

68. Farm soil

69. Rind

70. Heavy cart

71. Stops DOWN

1. Complain

2. Angelic headgear

3. Uncontaminated

4. Identified wrongly

5. Cobbler's tool

6. Nonclerical

7. Red Sea peninsula

8. Exaggerate

9. Consultant

10. Perished

11. Remnant

12. Arid

15. Aromatic compound

21. Achy

23. Incursion

25. Panderer

27. Extended family

28. Eagle's home

29. US spy agency

31. Pilotage

32. Strong string

34. Viper

36. Badgers

39. Sri Lanka export

40. With competence

43. Stronghold

44. Black

46. Hard punch

47. Easy to make out

49. Sensational

50. Worn away

53. A type of renewable energy

55. Applaud

56. Old stories

57. Celtic language

58. Of higher order

60. Clothed

61. Stitches

64. Timid

73’s road excursions take three points of four

Not enough to close...Jacob Kulas set for redirect during Saturday evening meeting with Renfrew Wolves.

by

G.J. the sportsguy

Kemptville 73’s energized from the puck drop down the Brockville Braves 6 to 3 in their first road battle on Friday evening. Anthony D’Arienzo on his horse sniped a loner by Austen Caley after the 73’s warmed up the slab for a SHG at 3:07 of the initial frame. Nicholas Voicey transitioned with Will Mullins unto Travis Ouellette’s tape to bang it home at 12:56. Gavin McDougall reversed to Morgan Henderson on the point as Will Mullins dumped in the spoils at 16:03 for a 3 zip romp.

Brockville replaced Austen Caley with a new

Op-ed:

stopper to start the second salvo when Jack Lowry with helpers from Dervish and Gill destroyed Rylan Donovan’s SO at 11:41. Morgan Henderson combined with Brody Clookey to Owen Redmond in the slot past Nate Galbraith at 13:20 for the 73’s game winner.

The Braves came out hot for the last twenty miler when Vincent with Lumsden assisted Kayden Buller at :17 for a comeback. Sin bin time for Kemptville yet again when Jesse Lumsden PPG from Eccleston and D’Arcy put Brockville within one at 1:34. Travis Ouellette cycling with Nicholas Voicey to Gavin McDougall

for the insurance at 10:10 to make it a 5 to 3 game. The Braves survived a five minute visit in the box and pulled their stopper at 17:56. Jacob Kulas to Lucas Achim in the weeds to pull the trigger for the empty netter at 18:19 and secure the win.

The coach thought they played a solid game overall and when the Braves came on hard in the third, we adjusted to get an empty netter for the insurance.

Kemptville outgunned Brockville 42 to 25 with 0/3 PP to an unbelievable 1/9 PP.

Up the valley to meet the Wolves in Renfrew the 73’s had to settle for a one

The Truth About Trans Kids

by Spencer Wessel

As debates about transgender youth continue to influence headlines and politics, one thing is often missing from the conversation… facts. There is a widespread myth claimimg that transgender children are being rushed into irreversible, in-depth medical procedures. In reality, this narrative does not accurately reflect how trans kids are actually supported. Not even in the slightest.

For children who have not reached puberty, transition is purely social, not medical. If you don’t know what this means, that’s okay! Let’s walk through this together. Social transitioning for a trans youth may include choosing a different name, cutting or growing their hair, using different pronouns, or wearing clothes that better reflect their gender identity. These changes are fully reversible, and they’re simply focused on helping kids feel safe and respected in their daily lives. This includes, but is not limited to, feeling safe at home, school, and in their communities.

Once puberty is actively approaching, puberty blockers may be prescribed. If you are someone who says that “kids are too young to know

who they are”, then you should understand the value of puberty blockers during this age. Their purpose is to pause puberty to give youth more time to live their lives socially. Puberty blockers are regularly prescribed for non-trans children as well because of the value they offer in many situations. The effects of these blockers are not permanent; in fact, they’re fully reversible. No further medications, surgeries, or medical interventions are involved or offered for pre-pubescent children.

Another common claim is that children are receiving surgeries related to gender transition. This is extremely false. Gender-affirming surgeries are not performed on children, period. Major medical organizations agree that such procedures are reserved for adults only. Even for teenagers, medical care to begin transitioning is cautious, gradual, and guided by medical professionals, when it happens at all. Parents or guardians, and the youth themselves, are heavily involved in decision making, developing an understanding of what their options are long term, and therapy to consider if they are making the right decision. This could

pointer night as they lost 2 to 1 in OT. Kemptville lit the lamp in the first frame at 12:12 as Zachary Venance on the high road with William St. James to Lucas Achim that rifled it past Ayo Ogini. Renfrew made a push in the second stanza when Mathew Jukes with helpers from Rebertz and Enright behind Keegan Carswell at 18:38 to knot it at one.

The last frame ended scoreless to force OT that ended in :18 on an attack from Camaeron with Almstedt to Joshua Lalande to award the Wolves with the 2 to 1 victory. Kemptville only outshot Renfrew 31 to 30 with 0/1 PP to 0/5 PP.

Friday evening the 73’s trek over to face the Hawkesbury Hawks and then home for a Sunday matinee rematch with Renfrew Wolves.

Hockey with EDGE… see you around the wall.

take years and extensive care to ensure it is something that needs to happen.

The idea that kids are being casually pushed into permanent medical decisions is fearmongering. The stories ignore the strict medical guidelines and the reality of pediatric healthcare.

Spreading these false claims about trans kids doesn’t just confuse the public, it affects real families. It affects real children who are already in a vulnerable state. When misinformation fuels fear, trans and gender diverse kids face increased bullying and political attacks that make schools and communities less safe. Unfortunately, sometimes even their own homes are impacted. Research consistently shows that acceptance and support, especially from family and community, lead to better mental health outcomes for trans youth. Respecting a youth’s identity can be as simple as listening to them and affirming them with your words.

Representation in media, whether in films, television, or books, does not cause children to be influenced into being gay or transgender. Rather, it helps young people understand that they are not

alone; that their feelings are valid and shared by others like them. For some children, seeing themselves reflected in the world around them can be life changing. One local child, referred to here as Veronicato protect her privacy, experienced a deeply painful early childhood, due in part to the absence of such representation in her life. This story is being shared with her permission as she is older now. From a young age, Veronica felt certain that she was a girl, despite being repeatedly told by society and those around her that she was not. For example, she told one of her caregivers in day care, and they told her not to tell her parents as she isn’t a girl. Without the language or examples to explain what she was feeling, she internalized the belief that something was wrong with her. She hated herself.

At just five years old, Veronica fell into a profound depression. For six or so months, she spent nights alone in her room, crying and withdrawing, unable to express her feelings even to her parents. Since she was told not to, she feared that her parents would no longer love her. This is a reality for many trans youth. As her

Nickname:

Hockey Hero: Cole Caufield

Most Inspiring Person : My Mom Favourite Movie : Creed

Favourite Musician: Luke Combs

Favourite Actor: Michael B, Jordan

Favourite Sport (beside hockey): Ping Pongs

Life as Jr. A player: Pretty amazing

One Word that Describes Me: Cool

distress grew, her mother became increasingly concerned and made repeated efforts to encourage her daughter to open up. Eventually, Veronica found the courage to share what she had been carrying alone. She told her mother, “You made me wrong. I want to go back in your tummy, so you can make me right. I am a girl in my heart, and you made me wrong. I want to go in a spaceship and fly away.”

Those words deeply affected her parents, who immediately committed themselves to ensuring their child felt loved, supported, and understood. With the guidance of an experienced therapist, doctors, access to books featuring trans representation, and support from the broader community, Veronica began to heal. Over time, she came to understand that there was nothing wrong with her. She

was not “made wrong”; she is exactly who she was meant to be.

Trans kids are not a trend, a political tool, or a threat. They are children trying to grow up like anyone else. Supporting them is understanding science and unconditional love. It also means trusting medical experts, families, and the lived experiences of these young individuals themselves. If public debates focused more on facts, and less on the fear of something they don’t understand, the conversation around trans kids would look very different. Better yet, it shouldn’t be a political debate in the first place.