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BEJNAMIN PRIEBE
SCUGOG: Port Perry’s #41 Army Cadets have a strong tradition in the Scugog community, and are often spotted around town volunteering for events, marching in parades, and helping in any way they can. Since forming more than a century ago in November of 1898 at Port Perry High School - leaders, officers and cadets have come and gone - leaving their legacy of community involvement for the new recruits of the future. Volunteerism and community support seem second nature to the disciplined battalion of teenagers, but what makes them tick? The Standard sat in on a recent training night at Port Perry High School, and interview the cadet’s leader, Captain Sid Bailie and several of her cadets to find out more. After years of helping the cadets program and coaching her son, former top-cadet Liam Bailie, through the program, Cpt. Bailie decided to join the reserve forces in 2006, and quickly became acting Captain and head officer of the Port Perry #41 Cadets in 2008. “Over the course of my years working with and leading the Cadets, I have seen many young people grow, thrive and discover their sense of self,” said Cpt. Bailie. As the mother of a career cadet, Cpt.Bailie knows that the cadet program isn’t all about following orders. She explained that even the youngest members are asked to take part, but must cultivate their own initiative to work hard. Cpt. Bailie said that “the most crucial piece of the program is teaching the cadets to support and motivate each other, with minimal guidance. We teach them how to teach themselves - and then they excel.” The Port Perry Cadets are exceptionally active in the Scugog community, and take part in charity and fundraiser events year-round. From volunteering with food and toy drives, to the Legion’s Poppy Campaign, and even hiking along the Hwy. 7A causeway to pick up litter and beautify the Lake Scugog shoreline. When the cadets take part in events around the community, they are often broken up into groups - with a chain of command being put into place. Chief Warrant Officer Logan Stoneburg acts as the top cadet in the program, known as the Regimental Seargent Major, the highest title a cadet can be given. As a successful senior in the group, he carries numerous responsibilities and leads his fellow cadets through their exercises. Since joining the cadets at the age of 12 in January of 2009, CWO Stoneburg has spent numerous weeks attending training courses and field challenges, at times in a supervisory role. During the summer of 2012, he travelled to the Rocky Mountain National Army Cadet Training Centre in Alberta, and participated in the cadets’ International Exchange program, where her he travelled to Wales to participate in training with the United Kingdom’s military and cadets. “The cadets is a free program, open to anyone - like many other jobs in life, recruits pay through their effort and commitment,” said CWO Stoneburg. “In return, recruits learn essential skills, camaraderie, and can even be given opportunities to travel across the world. Certian posts can also include a monetary bonus.” The exciting and integral skills which the young men and women learn range from bushcraft and orientation, to marksmanship, knot tying, leadership, and the appreciation of the Canadian military tradition. When asked what his favourite experience in the Cadet Corps was, CWO Stoneburg happily spoke of his trip to Whitehorse, Yukon, the largest city in northern Canada. “I was given a chance to visit the Yukon for a training exercise, and it was amazing to work up there,” said CWO Stoneburg. “I was able to spend 18 days with 20 Cadets under my leadership, and we worked together to go hiking, canoeing, camping and use our bushcraft in a whole new environment.” Cpt. Bailie told The Standard that many graduates of the cadet program have moved on to join the Canadian Armed Forces in a variety of positions, or have enrolled in military college to become officers - many have also become artists, or lawyers, or tradesmen - the skills and sense of motivation which the teens learn are universal. “Some cadets will join when they’re 12-years-old, and go through until they graduate at 19, and some cadets will join for only a couple of years,” said Cpt. Bailie. “The most important part is that they learn the rule of ‘you get what you put in’ and it carries through the rest of their lives.” To get in touch with Cpt. Bailie or to learn more about the Port Perry #41 Army Cadets, phone 705-786-1409, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/www.41portperrycadets.ca, or inquire at the Port Perry High School, 160 Rosa St., on any given Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. to see the cadets hard at work.
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DARRYL KNIGHT
UXBRIDGE: A great holiday tradition is just around the corner, as the Optimist Club of Uxbridge prepares to present their seventh annual ‘Fantasy of Lights’ in Elgin Park. From Saturday, Dec. 13 through to New Year’s Eve, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. nightly, Elgin Park is transformed into a winter wonderland with LED light displays from local businesses, organizations, schools, churches and citizen groups. Throughout this time, visitors can drive or walk through Elgin Park in the evening to enjoy the festive displays. A special grand opening event for this year’s display is scheduled for Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. Vehicles will be permitted to enter Elgin Park through the Main St. entrance and drive along the roadway in the park before exiting onto Water St. Parking is available near the Main St. entrance those wishing to drive to the park and walk through the display along a lit walking path open through the middle of the park. Admission to ‘Fantasy of Lights’ is free, but the Optimist Club will be accepting donations to support their work with the youth of Uxbridge Township through the Uxbridge Youth Centre, Scouts, as well as sports teams and scholarships for high school students. There is no fee for groups wishing to participate in ‘Fantasy of Lights’, and participants are given a 25 foot wide and 25 feet deep lot to create their LED light display, some lots have trees which can be incorporated into the display. Display setup for the event begins this weekend, and will also run next Saturday and Sunday before the grand opening event on Dec. 13. The lots are all located beside the roadway through Elgin Park to allow access to a central electrical power supply, and snow plowing will be provided on the roadway prior to and during the event. The Optimist Club will also provide a sign for each display indicating the name of the business or organization. The Optimist Club of Uxbridge require each participant to register and provide contact information. For more information on ‘Fantasy of Lights’ please visit the Optimist Club’s web site at www.uxbridgeoptimist.com/fantasy-of-lights. DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
UXBRIDGE: Pam Beach was declared the winner of the race to become Uxbridge’s Ward 1 Councillor for a second time last week, as the results of a recount held up the original decision in the recent municipal election. The recount was conducted at Uxbridge Town Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 18 - and as Township Clerk Debbie Leroux predicted prior to the recount taking place - the results were exactly the same as on Election Day with Beach winning by 22 votes over longtime Councillor Bev Northeast, who had represented the ward since 1991. The process lasted approximately three hours and it involved several members of the township’s staff to undertake. When the machines were done tabulating the votes, there was no change among the 1,206 total ballots cast in Ward 1. Ms. Beach remained the winner with 531 votes, followed by Ms. Northeast with 509, Blair Emmerson took 152 votes and a further 16 ballots were rejected. Ms. Northeast explained following the revealing of the results that she plans to remain active in the community, and plans to take over as Chair of the Ward 1 Rate Payers Association. The position should enable her to continue her crusade against truck traffic in Ward 1, as well as other community projects. On Monday, Dec. 1, Ms. Beach and the rest of the newly-elected council will be sworn into their positions at a special inaugural meeting of council, which is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Ward 4 Councillor Fred Bryan is the only other new face behind the bench, with Mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor, Regional Councillor Jack Ballinger, Pat Molloy (Ward 2), Pat Mikuse (Ward 3) and Gord Highet (Ward 5) returning to their positions on council. “There is so much to be accomplished over the next four years,” Ms. Beach told The Standard. “I’m excited to be representing the entire township, but my first allegiance is to the residents of Ward 1.” BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard
SCUGOG: The new term is right around the corner, and the township’s newly-elected council is working alongside staff and getting ready to serve their constituents over the next four years. Training classes and educational workshops began last week, and will continue through until Monday, Dec. 1, when Mayor-elect Tom Rowett will be officially given the chains of office during a special ceremony. According to Scugog Clerk, Chris Harris, “Staff will be sitting down with the new Council to review the books and budgets, and to offer insight into municipal law, risks, responsibilities.” Other priority topics include the methodology behind how the township must work with local conservation authorities, and insurance agencies. Former Mayor Chuck Mercier and Mayor-Elect Tom Rowett have met on a couple of occasions and, according to staff, are working closely to share advice and visions for Scugog Township. “The new mayor will be sent away for some head of council training from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario,” said Scugog CAO Ian Roger. “The courses mostly deal with the proper procedures and roles during a council meeting, what duties the mayor holds in public events, and how to facilitate teamwork.” The swearing-in ceremony will take place inside the Blackstock Rec Centre Hall, located at 3440 Church St., at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1. The ceremony, which is open to the public, will feature several speeches as well as refreshments. “We have moved the ceremony to the larger venue this term, to ensure that there are enough seats and accommodations,” said Mr. Roger. “We’re expecting a large turn-out of supporters, family and local business owners - and we discovered on election night, Oct. 27, that the council chambers may not be large enough.” Scugog Township’s new Mayor and councillors will take their seats at 10 a.m. on Dec. 8, during their inaugural meeting inside the chambers of the Municipal Office, located at 181 Perry St.  Victory Christian Centre in Port Perry prepares for Operation Scugog's Food Drive. Photo credit: Colleen Green / The Standard Community Sunday
On Sunday, November 23rd, Victory Christian Centre will be spending their morning service in the community. The goal is to replenish the shelves at our local food bank, Operation Scugog, for the Christmas season. They are looking for help from the community to complete their 1-ton non-perishable food challenge. On the morning of November 23rd the members of Victory Christian Centre will be going door-to-door collecting food donations to be given to the Operation Scugog. Being active and helping the community is important to this church. VCC also host an after school youth program for youth ages 12 to 17, running Tuesday through Thursday each week. In addition VCC will be hosting a free Christmas Day lunch on Christmas Day at 1 p.m. All are welcome. BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard
UXBRIDGE: The project to revive a trestle rail bridge, located just north of Uxbridge’s train tracks on Main St. North, has recieved a $20,000 grant to cover the cost of an engineering study, which will determine the future of the bridge. On Monday, Nov. 17, Uxbridge Council recieved a request to support a payment of $10,000 from the Metrolinx budget, and $10,000 from the McCutcheon Foundation, in order to attain an engineering study for the bridge. According to Amanda Ferraro, Uxbridge’s Manager of Recreation, Culture and Tourism, the committee who wishes to rebuild the bridge feels it would be unethical to start fundraising without a proper dollar-figure or goal in mind. “They wanted to start a fundraising campaign in the spring, but just recently lost a $60,000 grant from the National Trails Coalition, which was ear-marked for the study,” said Ms. Ferraro. Ms. Ferraro explained that a Trans Canada Trail (TCT) grant of $125,000 has moved up to the National level, but that word will not come back until the end of December or early January, and may not leave enough time for the study. “They hope that if the ball gets rolling now, the tendering can begin in January, and have report and financial for fundraising launch in the spring,” said Ms. Ferraro. “The group hopes to raise approximately $180,000 to rebuild the bridge, before the TCT opens in 2017.” Mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor explained that the Township doesn’t wish to discourage volunteerism, but noted that the revival project may not be feasible if grants are not awarded. “The bridge will have to be torn down if a rail-line comes to Uxbridge,” said Mayor O’Connor. “My concern is that $180,000 may have to be raised – a tremendous amount of money for people walking across a river.” Ward 4 Councillor Jacob Mantle lobbied for the approval of funding for the study, stating that “Applying for grants without relevant information means you become dead in the water. If we decide not to go ahead with this, we are effectively shutting it down.” Uxbridge Council voted in favor of the project, noting that spending the money - which does not come out of the Township’s coffers - may prevent further tax-dollars being spent in the future. BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard
UXBRIDGE: The Township has been refused a funding grant for the construction of a sorely needed culvert for the Uxbridge Brook, beneath Brock St. in downtown Uxbridge. On Monday, Nov. 17, members of Council were disappointed to find that their request for funding from the province’s Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund, or OCIF, was turned down. According to a rejection letter from the OCIF to Uxbridge CAO Ingrid Svelnis, the much-needed proposal failed to make the acceptance stage due to Uxbridge’s high household income rates, high rate of taxation, and an abundance of user fees and service charges. “This assessment was based on income and taxes, not on the needs of our Township,” said Regional Councillor Jack Ballinger. “We’ve been denied because of our financial state, it’s unfair to be penalized because we act as stewards of our own accounts.” Ward 3 Councillor Pat Mikuse expressed bewilderment with the allocation of funds, stating “We’re part of the Greater Toronto Area, just like Scugog Township is - it’s disappointing that we missed funding, while Scugog received it.” However, The Standard spoke to Scugog CAO Ian Roger and Township Clerk Chris Harris, both of whom denied receipt of OCIF funding, but explained that they had simply not received a formal reply yet. Ward 2 Councillor Pat Molloy urged the residents of Uxbridge to side with Council, and understand that Councillors are also frustrated with the lack of funding grants - he said “These letters should be published so that the public can see, when people get upset about a lack of funding, it should be directed to the provincial government.” Mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor explained plans to meet with Durham MPP Granville Anderson, in order to attain an explanation as to why the funding proposal was halted before it reached Ottawa. “It’s completely unfair to base needed grants on a person’s income, high or low,” said Mayor O’Connor. “There’s something terribly wrong with penalizing a Township for not having debt, and we will be writing a strongly worded letter.” BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard
SCUGOG: The hopeful effort to bring a hotel and resort complex to Scugog Island has been stalled, after neighbours near the site filed complaints to the Ontario Municipal Board. The development, put forward by Marsh Forest Group in 2005, aims to be built on a 60-acre parcel, located at 138 Portview Rd. The proposed hotel would feature nearly 20,000 square feet of hotel, timeshare and recreation space - with room set aside for restaurant, retail and meeting space. Nearby neighbours, such as Janet Hanley-Haines, a resident of Portview Rd. for more than 40 years, have shared their concerns with Scugog Council in deputations and letters. “We’re concerned about traffic, inadequate ground water, the destruction of our local landscape and even the wildlife in the area,” Ms. Hanley-Haines told The Standard. “There are a few accidents along Island Rd. every week, and this sprawling development will only make things worse.” The appellants have numerous major issues and possible problems, while the proponent of the project, Peter Favot, defends the developer’s care and effort put into conservation. Mr. Favot has expressed frustration with the appeal, which shut down the project after many months of planning. According to Scugog’s Director of Community Services Don Gordon, efforts have been made by Marsh Forest Group to see their groundwater and sewage treatment sites tested independently, and have worked closely with Township staff over the past years. “The development satisfied the parameters of the Regional and Municipal plans, and our local by-laws,” said Mr. Gordon. “However, if a neighbour appeals to the Ontario Municipal Board and raises issues, it needs to be spoken to at a hearing.” The matter was brought to the OMB last week, on Thursday, Nov. 13, and all parties involved were called to testify and present their evidence to the tribunal. “The process is very similiar to a court case, and the development will be halted until the OMB returns its findings,” said Mr. Gordon. “The issue is entirely up in the air at this point, we could hear back in three days, or we could hear back in three months.” Further information will be updated as it becomes available. Scugog Township has estimated that the development will cost roughly $8 million to build, and will bring in about $42,500 per year in taxes.  The 2014 Uxbridge Community Toy Drive offi cially kicked off with a special event at Canadian Tire Uxbridge on Friday, Nov. 14. New and unwrapped toys will be collected at various locations in the community until Christmas Eve to ensure that everyone in the community is able to enjoy a happy Holiday season. For more details, visit www.uxbridgetoydrive.com. Photo credit: Darryl Knight / The Standard DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
UXBRIDGE: The 2014 Uxbridge Community Toy Drive officially kicked off on Friday, Nov. 14, and local merchants are encouraging residents to help make the Holidays bright for everyone. “Believe it or not, there are a lot of people in Uxbridge who need help, and we guarantee that 100 per cent of the toys we collect will stay here in Uxbridge Township,” Canadian Tire owner Pat Higgins, one of the organizers of the Toy Drive told The Standard. The Bonner Boys helped provide a jump start for the annual collection when Bret Meyers presented a cheque for $1,000 on behalf of the local group at the kick-off event on Friday. The Toy Drive van will be hitting the streets this week, and those attending the Santa Claud Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22 are encouraged to bring along a new, unwrapped toy to help fill the van. As well, toys can be dropped off at numerous locations around Uxbridge including: Canadian Tire, Zehrs, M&Ms, Walmart, McDonald’s, Little Acorn, Habitat for Humanity ReStore and all Uxbridge Bruins home games. Toys will be also be collected during the York-Durham Heritage Railway’s popular Santa Trains in December. The toy drive is often in need of gifts for teens and infants. A full wish list is posted on the Toy Drive web site www.uxbridgetoydrive.com, as well as the Toy Drive’s Facebook page. To ensure that there is time for volunteers to be able to collect, sort and distribute toys in time for Christmas, donations are encouraged to be in by Dec. 20, although donations are accepted right up until Christmas Eve. With the continued generosity of the Uxbridge community, this year’s Toy Drive will hopefully be the best yet.  Local Brokerage Ron Noble Insurance Ltd. Awarded Goalie Equipment to Donate to a Child in their Community Ron Noble Insurance Ltd., member of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) has been selected as a goalie kit ‘pick up’ location in Port Perry, as part of the ‘Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) and IBAO Goaltender Assist Program’. IBAO has sponsored the purchase of 40 goalie kits which includes a bag, chest protector, pads, blocker, catcher’s glove, stick and goaltender resources for the chosen OMHA local hockey association. On behalf of the local OMHA affiliate, Port Perry Minor Hockey Association, Jeff Boake received the donated kit today at a special presentation with Dale Hickey, President of Ron Noble Insurance Ltd. in Port Perry. The OMHA and IBAO Goaltender Assist Program is an effort to support children who have dreams of becoming a hockey goaltender, by providing a set of hockey goaltending equipment to 5-7 year old players interested in trying the position. In addition, IBAO will provide minor hockey associations with goaltending resources to aid coaches. Over forty sets of new equipment will be given to young players across the province. “IBAO and Ron Noble Insurance Ltd. are thrilled to support OMHA, an organization focused on building and growing the skills of youth in our communities,” stated IBAO CEO, Randy Carroll. “Brokers are committed to the people in their communities. This type of sponsorship directly relates to that commitment by encouraging youth to be active.” Find out more about Ron Noble Insurance Ltd. at their website www.ronnobleinsurance.com
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