La source, 4 février 1998, Cahier 1

[" TEL: 264-5364 Wednesday, February 4, 1998 FAX: 264-9521 OSPREY iE ood COR SIRT ag Re \u201ca | J Vv beckpoint F Brief items from f around the Valley PP Robert E.Ness named to Order of Canada Another honor has been bestowed upon Robert Earle Ness of Howick, who recently was named as Member of the Order of Canada.He was among 44 appointments made by Governor-General Romeo Leblanc.See NESS page 7 January 27 fire destroys house on Island Road Some 30 Mutual Aid firemen worked to save surrounding buildings and livestock barns at Dewittville\u2019s Neverett Farms on January 27, after a mid-afternoon blaze broke out in the herdsman's residence at the Island Rd.property.Ommstown firemen arrived to find the house \u201ccompletely engulfed in flames,\u201d assistant chief Gordon Furey said.Hinchinbrooke and Huntingdon firefighters assisted in extinguishing the fire.The occupant, who was in a barn working when the fire started, reported the fire around 3 p.m.The house is a total loss, Furey added.See FIRE page 7 Mutual Aid firemen worked hard the afternoon of January 27 to subdue the blaze which engulfed an Island Rd.house.(Photo: V.F.) 24 pages .75° TEs COVERING HUNTINGDON, ORMSTOWN, HEMMINGFORD, HOWICK, CHATEAUGUAY, FRANKLIN, ST-ANICET, STE-BARBE, VALLEYFIELD AND SURROUNDINGS FOUNDED IN 1863 SZ San \u2019 N\\( ) Spurr, LEONTDAS TEL: 829-2367 \u201cWhen only the best will do.\u201d JEAN-PAUL LALIBERTÉ - e DAILY SPECIALS PHARMACIST * TABLE D'HÔTE * À LA CARTE .4 BRIDGE STREET, ORMSTOWN, QUE.Tel: 264-2323 \u201cLes Galeries d'Ormstown\u201d (9 Chateauguay, Huntingdon y _ OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK J Repair costs, municipal protests are snags for Haut-St-Laurent\u2019s Industrial Motel plan Hugues Théorét THE GLEANER The road to an Industrial Motel for the Haut-St-Laurent is proving to be a rocky one, with many questions remaining unanswered and a growing ground-swell of protest from one third of the 15 municipalities involved.Setting up a special building where new industries can rent space and share services will cost between $1 million and $1.25 million.Negotiations to buy a $375,000 building on a 900,000 square-foot lot in St-Jean- Chrysostome from businessman A.Lassonde are ongoing, and MRC secretary- treasurer Francois Landreville hopes the deal will be tied up by the end of February, following December changes to the project required by Quebec's Municipal Affairs ministry.An engineers\u2019 study on the costs of converting the 55,000 square-foot building into administrative space and units to be rented out to industry concluded that the renovations could cost anywhere between $50,000 and $300,000, Landreville said.The estimites vary widely depending on whether the whole building will be converted right away, or only its newer section, he added.Roof a question mark The condition of the roof in the older part of the building was not good, even efore the recent ice storm, and one ar » Al # 165 AR e brighter si Py a Fly à 2 \u201d .KA \" se de of winter Ormstown\u2019s Winter Carnival began last weekend, and under sunny skies on Sunday afternoon, the youngsters turned out in droves to slide and play soccer-in- the-snow behind the Recreation Centre.It's not easy to find a white ball in the snow, and even then, kicking it effectively is not easy, as these players found out.(Photo: J.T.) Authorities agree advance planning essential to good crisis management Hugues Théorêt THE GLEANER As things began to return to normal in the Chateauguay Valley following the ice storm, those people who headed civil emergency -planning measures in several communities agree that there are lessons to be learned.Among the 15 municipalities making up the MRC du Haut-St-Laurent, those with emergency plans already in place found themselves better able to deal with fallen trees, power blackouts, and people isolated in unheated homes.Other communities had to \u201cwing it\u201d, improvising as they went along in order to help their residents cope.Vital help came from volunteers, fire departments, police, institutions such as the CLSC, Centre d\u2019Accueil and the two hospitals, but co-ordinating all these elements is made much easier with a preexisting plan.And different emergencies require different plans.Specific plans needed Each municipality have an emergency plan specifically for each type of disaster, such as flooding, blizzards, power See PLANNING page 3 source told The Gleaner that it would need major repairs, which would push the cost up toward the larger figure.\u201cWhat we choose to do will depend on the needs of future tenants,\u201d Landreville said.If we use the older section of the building, renovation costs will definitely be higher than we originally thought.\u201d Meanwhile, Huntingdon, Godmanchester, Ste-Barbe and St-Malachie d'Ormstown have already passed resolutions withdrawing from the project , and in St-Anicet, residents are also protesting a council decision to join in the project.The MRC, however, plans to push on regardless, making up the difference in contributions by asking for a larger grant.See MOTEL page 11 Name chosen for new school board As long as Quebec's Toponymy Commission and the Education ministry approve, the new English-language school board in this area will be called the New Frontiers School Board.The name was chosen as the ice storm raged around the Saturday Jan.17 meeting of the provisory committee in charge of starting up the new larger school board by next fall.About 30 suggestions had been submitted and these were narrowed down to three \u201cfinalists\u201d: New Frontiers, New See BOARD page 3 Inside The Gleaner \u2018Special features: Surviving a series of misfortunes H\u2019ford area last to get power back.Page 12 Tribute to the late Lyell Graham.Page 6 Regular items: This and That Letters Births, Deaths .Sports news .Classified ads .Affiliated Real Estate Agent Chartered Rea! 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WE HAVE BUYERS FOR FARMS - ALL TYPES OF LAND & COUNTRY PROPERTIES US FOR MORE me R.Fo ) 2 a + Rid Nunti ; i.de y \u2019 a = a y ee\" ngdon, 130 arpents\u2019, brick Dundee, 11 Gores, on Saimon River, $t-Antcet, 190.246\u201d farm house, stable, new shed, many 4 bedroom Collage, frepiace, dou- 80 Alable, Molivaled vendor.bedroom home on 14 arpont*, outbuiidings, mopie bush, large bis garoge, paved laneway.Asking Reduced price.pund.Asking $180 000.$50 000.Whether you're buying or selling, we'll help you make your biggest decision, your best decision.Almost six years experience and over 4700 Arpents® sold.À garage.motivoted vendor. 2 \u2014 THE GLEANER \u2014FEBRUARY 4TH 1998 This and That GOOD-BYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE \u2014 to January and all its woes.Already the days are longer and recent temperatures have been mild.BUT \u2014 on Monday, the two foremost groundhogs to be consulted each February 2, Wiarton Willie in Ontario and Punxatawney Phil in Pennsylvania, both saw their nasty little shadows, auguring six more weeks of winter.Who needs it?DURING JANUARY \u2014 local weather statistics show an average temperature of -7.3° C., warmer than last year\u2019s - 9.2° and above the 20-year average of - 9.0° says Ormstown weatherman Peter Finlayson, whose chart last week showed us that we had indeed been dumped on during the ice storm.Total monthly fi, show 100 mm of rain (about four inches) and 32 cm of snow which melts down to another 1.5 inches of water, making a total of 5.5 inches, more than double the normal figure.WARNINGS CONTINUE \u2014 about the danger to inexperienced people who climb up on the roof to get rid of ice accumulation.On Montreal's South Shore, at least three or four people daily were turning up at hospitals with injuries related to falls.Leave it to the experts, say public health officials.In the meantime, if ice on a flat roof is more than six inches thick, it might be wise to reinforce it temporarily, says a provincial government source.AFTER THE STORM \u2014 the Orms- town-based Economic Development Corporation for the MRC announced emergency services for local businesses, including assessing damages and losses and applying for financial aid from government.For more information contact Pierre Brassard, 829-2829.And the Caisses Populaires Desjardins are offering emergency loans interest- free as long as they\u2019re paid back by April 12 this year.For more information on these, call 1-800-361-5121.A GALA SOCIAL EVENT \u2014 Montreal's annual Robbie Burns Night, raised a total of $6,000 this year, and $2,000 of that was earmarked to buy a generator for Hinchinbrooke, says Gleaner correspondent Diane Farquhar.Scots solidarity shows itself in concrete ways, it seems.AT HUNTINGDON ARENA \u2014 Saturday night free skating has been cancelled for Saturday Feb.7 (hockey game featuring C.A.T.) and Saturday Feb.28, when the annual benefit hockey game between local firemen and the CFCF No-Stars will be held.Contest finalist Carrie Hersey, 12, a Grade 6 student at Hun n\u2019s St.Joseph School, was one of 24 finalists nationwide in the \u201cVisa Olympics of the Imagination\u201d art contest.Carrie\u2019s drawing, showing her mom Catherine speed-skating among other figures, was chosen to one of four entries from Quebec going on to the national level.There were 3,300 entries altogether in the contest, which offered a first prize of a trip to the Nagano Winter Olympics in Japan.On January 28, Carrie was presented with her prizes: an official Canadian Olympic windbreaker, a backpack and a dozen contest pins in various languages.\u201cWe're very proud,\u201d said her mother last week, admitting that she had never actually tried speed-skating herself: \u201cThat's where the imagination comes in.\u201d (Photo: H.T.) MAPLE PRODUCERS \u2014 with more than 1,000 taps can get help with post-ice- storm clean-up, in the shape of free labor, by calling one of the UPA\u2019s three crisis centres: Franklin (827-8555); St-Rémi (454- 5115) or St-Clet (456-3818).The special aid program has been launched by Human Resources Canada.A FAREWELL SERVICE \u2014 for Rev.lan Liversuch of St.Luke\u2019s Anglican Church in Hemmingford, will be held this Sunday Feb.8 at 11 a.m., followed by a Pot-luck Lunch in the Church Hall GENERATORS \u2014 are still in demand around the Hemmingford area, and if you are willing to lend or rent yours to help those still without power, call Lorne Healey at 247-2112.THE LIBRARY \u2014 in Hemmingford has resumed its regular schedule, including opening hours Friday evening.The Internet/computer room will also be re-opened says Beryl Tuvim.Old and new members are welcome.A REMINDER \u2014 that Huntingdon has its own Alcoholics Anonymous group which meets weekly.New members are always welcome.For more information call 264-3118 or 264-9220.DIANE HAYVREN \u2014 dropped by to remind everyone her Senior Fitness classes will this Friday morning (Feb.6) in both Ormstown\u2019s Walshaven Residence and the Huntingdon United Church Hall.For more information or to register call her at 827-2797.RESULTS \u2014 of Minor Hockey games have been hard to come by recently, partly due to the ice storm disruptions.We did hear that the local Atom A team lost 5-0 to St-Timothée last Thursday, and snapped back to shut out Beauharnois 8-0 on Saturday, thanks to four goals by Duncan Campbell and singles from Adam Beare, Mathieu Bergeron, Robert Whyte and Cassey Laplante.We hope to get back on track with all the results by next week.FROM ST-ANICET \u2014 comes a tribute to firemen, town employees, local Hydro workers and Les Fréres du Sacre-Coeur and others who worked at the Mont-de-I'lmmaculée shelter \u2014 in short anyone who helped during the crisis in the St-Anicet, Cazaville, Port- Lewis and Pte-Trépanier area.THE SCHEDULE \u2014 for the next set of pre-natal courses to be offered by the Huntingdon CLSC in English has been announced starting this week for those giving birth next September or before.Next month a section will begin for women giving birth in May or before.And a special night for fathers-to-be is scheduled for March 31.For more information or to register for the free sessions at Ormstown\u2019s Barrie Memorial Hospital call the CLSC at 264-6108.THIS IS \u2014 the start of two School Bus Safety Weeks (February 2-13) organized by the Quebec Association of School Bus Transport under the theme \u201cGood conduct is a must\u201d for children, parents and bus drivers alike.TI IE Re vo pa ME oS 5072 ERREUR Po dr\u201c 00 vu re en UN OPERATION NEZ ROUGE \u2014 in this area reports a 50 per cent hike in the number of clients over the holidays.Over $10,700 was collected in donations, and will be used for activities for youngsters at the Valleyfield Cité des Arts et des Sports.A closin brunch for volunteers will be hel Sunday Feb.8: for information call 371-4848.THANK YOU The recent ice storm gave us the opportunity to discover many great citizens.We are grateful for all the help we received, and requisitions were accepted without hesitation.It is impossible to begin to thank each and everyone of you.There weve families who sheltered people, looked after neighbors, delivered hot meals and wood, picked up needed goods, pumped basements, shut off water, cut branches and wood, patrolled, helped at the cenfre, cooked meals, cleaned up, etc.and | am sure that | am missing as many as | mentioned.Volunteer firemen were a tremendious help, working round the clock.Our own Quebec Police along with some teams from the Outaouais and Chicoutimi regions were always on hand when needed, patrolling day and night.The Hydro Quebec and Army crews put in long hours to restore power as soon as possible.| would like to thank, Mr Harold Merson, mayor of the parish.who was present at the centre morning to late night, resourceful and calm.| am most grateful for having had the privilege of working closely with him.We certainly tried our best to help the citizens and we know it was very hard on a lot of them, but thanks to the solidarity and the help of each and everyone of you, we pulled through.| am convinced that living this experience has pulled us closer together and helped us to better ourselves.Thank you to all of you Madeleine Himbeault Greig Mayor, Ormstown village Generous Donations will help in any future civil emergency The ice storm crisis elicited a generous response from certain Huntingdon area individuals who dug deep in their pockets to help their neighbors.And now that the crisis is pretty well over, a total of some $15,000 in donations will be put to good use, said Huntingdon secretary-treasurer and emergency co-ordi- nator Diane Taillon last week.\u201cA special account has been set up by the Town, and the donations will be used to prepare for any future emergency and help meet expenses incurred at that time,\u201d Taillon said.She mentioned communications equipment and supplies for emergency shelters as among the expenses involved in crisis management for Huntingdon and its three neighboring municipalities during the ice storm.\u201cTo start, we have already ordered two generators, which will be set up in the two shelter locations: Huntingdon County Hospital and St.Joseph's Parish Hall,\u201d she said.This will avoid a last-minute search for S 2 9 / month INCLUDES FREIGHT NO SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIRED First monthly payment required.License, insurance, and taxes extra.Costs of $0.08 per kilometre after 38,000 kilometres and other conditions apply.generators in an emergency, and will prevent the emergency planning group from being left at the mercy of inflated prices during another disaster, she added.Chief among the donors was local wood-products manufacturer Lawrence Prevost, who wrote a cheque for $10,000 for disaster relief shortly after the ice storm crisis began.He told Taillon that the money represented what he might have spent on his annual winter vacation, but this year he wanted it to be used to help people.Other individuals donated total of some $5,000 more, Taillon said.J.T) Lawrence Prevost .wrote $10,000 (Photo: H.T.) 73 OEPUIS : QWICE 007 160 Chateauguay, Huntingdon Québec JOS 1HO Tél., (514) 264-6166 Fax: (514) 264-2944 Co ywexslrasoeertgx OO 1998 Explorer Sport, 4 x 4, 2-door ©, 7, FORD GUARANTEES y THE BUY-BACK PRICE 2 PF MINIMIZE YOUR FINANCIAL COMMITMENT Your Ford dealers and your Lincoln Mercury dealers Assurances N.Bourgon Jnr.MESSAGE TO OUR CLIENTS following \u201cICE STORM 98\u201d in order to better serve our clients, our offices will be open for the month of February on Saturday morning from 9 a.m.to noon 4 Bridge, C.P.338, Ormstown Québe®J0S 1K0 Tél.: (514)829-4266 Fax: (514) 829-3290 PICK THE DOWN PAYMENT THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU MONTHLY Down PAYMENT OR TRADE-IN 24-MONTH LEASE OF EQUAL VALUE $299 3,995 \u2018399 1,995 NO CASH-DOWN LEASE AVALABLE LINCOLN co aa -\u2014\u2014 a B d n S p fi FN rr PE | NN I. rae HE \u2014 \u201cPeopl - pe - Ea A relatively quick return of power and a bouquet of flowers from Hydro-Quebec seem like small enough compensation for the chain of misfortunes which hit a Herdman woman during the ice storm, but Jean Robertson looks on the bright side, because she knows things could have been much, much worse.At the peak of the storm on Friday Jan.ogthe 49 year-old Customs Rd.resident t outside to scrape off her car windows.At the same moment a gust of icy wind brought down a nearby Hydro pole which crushed her car.With the pole came a transformer which fractured her leg in two places, missing her head by inches.She managed to extricate her leg and crawl away, and her daughter Marcy called 911 for an ambulance.At the Barrie Memorial Hospital in Ormstown, the doctor decided the fracture was a complex one needing surgery, so decided to transfer Mrs.Robertson to the Valleyfield hospital.To get there, the ambulance had to cross the Larocque Bridge, which, they found, was closed for de-icing.However, an exception was made and the ambulance continued to the Suroit Regional Hospital, where a metal plate was inserted in her leg to help the fracture mend strongly.All's well that ends well: Herdman woman says ice-storm woes could have been worse \u201cIt all happened so fast,\u201d Mrs.Robertson said later.\u201cI was just lucky the power was off when the pole fell.1 really got off lightly since the transformer could have hit me or one of my two daughters.\u201cIt's odd, because I hardly ever park my car in that spot; I had moved it in order to have the driveway cleared,\u201d she said.But that\u2019s not all: her family observed that some fluid leaked out of the fallen transformer onto the snow, and called Hydro-Quebec to make sure it was not PCBs.\u201cHydro told us it's only non-toxic oil,\u201d Mrs.Robertson said.Jean Robertson recuperates at home, with Hydro-Quebec flowers.(Photo: H.T.) Board gets new Horizons, and Upper St.Lawrence, direc- tor-general Howard Simpkin told The Gleaner.17 commissioners In addition, wards were agreed upon for the election of 17 school commissioners next June.These include eight wards in the rural communities (one for the newly-acquired Vaudreuil-Soulanges district); eight in Chateauguay proper and one ward in between, covering the St- Stanislas-Mercier area.Winter boots, low & tall for ladies | More than 300 new pairs © Men's / bootees winter @ Save even more! OW VS oi rng @® special low priced boots STORE HOURS | SURPLUS © Mo.Tu.Ye Jam to p.m.Ou eo Th.Fr.-9am.99 to 9 pm.NW Sesamospn MANUFACTURER SU am m\u2014 a 14 MADEN VALLEYFIELD 373-8484 name.from page 1 The rural wards are: Div.1, Vaudreuil Soulanges; Div.2, Valleyfield; Div.3 Dundee-Ste-Barbe; Div.4, Huntingdon; Div.5, Ormstown; Div.6, Franklin; Div.7, Howick-Ste-Clotilde; and Div.8, Hemmingford.The administrative staff for the new board will remain the same size as the present Chateauguay Valley Board, with the addition of the principals of St.Joseph's School in Huntingdon and St.Willibrod's School in Chateauguay.QT) Men & women SNOW boots / WORKERS and FARMERS Hydro-Quebec followed up with a Thursday Jan.29 visit from an employee bringing a bouquet of flowers and wishing her a speedy recovery.\u201cI don't know if this has anything to do with the accident, but we were one of the first families in this area to get our power back,\u201d Jean Robertson said with a smile.(HT./J.T) IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ON THE RECENT ICE STORM The scene shortly after the pole and transformer fell on January 9.(Photo: courtesy D.Hayter) mm Q Following the ice storm that affected Québec, the Government of Canada wantg to ensure that Canadians in hard-hit areas have access to information and services the Employment Insurance claims and payments in the Montérégie area 1-888-410-4686 (Monday to Friday 8:15 AM to 6:00 PM) Guaranteed Income Supplement and Old Age Security applications and payments 1-800-277-9914 (English) 1-800-277-9915 (French) 1-800-255-4786 (TTY) (Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM) Revenue Canada 1-800-959-2032 (Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM) | Assistance available to | agricultural producers and processors 1-800-410-7104 (Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) Assistance available to small businesses Info entrepreneurs (Québec residents) 1-800-322-4636 Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre 1-888-745-8888 (Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) For all other questions you may have related to the ice storm please call 1-888-665-2266 1-800-465-7735 (TTY) (Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM) Government of Canada offices are also listed | NOTE: The telephone numbers for all in the blue pages of your local telephone book.| | Canada \u20ac \u20148661 HLP AUVNUGAI\u2014 HIANVATO AHL 1998 = fo 4 4 \u2014 THE GLEANER \u2014FEBRUARY Editorial As our coverage of the Great Ice Storm of 1998 starts to wind down (the last few Hydro subscribers are supposed to have their power back by this weekend), we're struck by the universal warmth with which people speak of the rôle played by the Canadian Armed Forces during the crisis.If the Valley is any indication, the army\u2019s reputation, so tarnished during inquiries and scandals in recent years, stands in a good way to be restored.And that\u2019s as it should be.Especially here in Quebec, the Armed Forces had not kept a very high profile on a day-to-day basis.But their presence in several communities in recent TR * STANDING ON GUARD FOR US weeks has shown us that these are young men and women we are proud to know.In their work here, they have combined the idealism of the peace- corps mentality of the 1970s with the politeness and respect which result from good discipline.Given that the Canadian Army has its main image as a peacetime force, using its personnel to help civilians in times of disaster gives them a chance to function in real life as opposed to military exercises: the best possible practice, we suspect, for its invaluable work with international peace-keeping agencies in other countries.(J.T.) FROM GLEANER ARCHIVES.120 years ago January 31, 1878 Among the Canada new items will be found one relating to the seizure at Montreal of a box and a barrel, each containing a corpse.It being suspected at Lancaster, where they were put on the train, that they had been stolen from the St.Anicet burying ground .a grave was dug out, and on the coffin being reached, it was discovered that the body, that of a boy, 15 years of age, buried on Monday, was gone.\u2026 the father bas gone to Montreal to recover it.The other body of a man is in an advanced state of decomposition.If Parliament would make provision for a due supply of subjects for the medical schools, these borrible outrages would be spared us.A short statute, enacting that the bodies of all who die in jail or institutions receiving public grants be banded over to the colleges would suffice.OPENING OF THE ATHELSTAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH In July last we recorded the laying of the cor- ner-stone of the new Presbyterian church at Athelstan.The exterior , while severely plain, is church-like and comely.It is built of brick, and from the centre of the roof in front spring a square tower, in which is bung a bell, and tapers off into a graceful spire, which is tinned.The spire, whose finial is 100 feet from the ground, forms a land-mark for miles around, the only one by which Athelstan can be located from Huntingdon.The entire contract work was taken by Charles Levers.He sublet the mason work to Archd.Adams, jr., the plastering to Walter Thompson, and the painting to Lester Oney.The other work be did himself.The contract price was $6,500, and the extras only amounted to $119.The plans and specifications were prepared by Robert Middlemiss.\u2026 The bell, carpetting, upholstering,etc., were secured by the ladies \u2026 For the first time, the church was opened for divine worship on Sunday \u2026 was filled by a respectable congregation of over 500 worsbippers, and who, by the foresight of the managers, were all seated.60 years ago February 9, 1938 them, broke and the service.MAN'S BEST FRIEND IS HIS DOG; ORM- QUEBEC CITY CUP WON BY ORMSTOWN STOWN RESIDENT MISSES DOG The name of the Ormstown Curling Club \u2026 À few years when the dog was living all the Ormstoun resident had to do in order to get bis meal was to tell the dog to \u2018go get it\u201d.The dog would go out to the bush, catch a rabbit and bring it bome to bis master.Now the dog is dead, master is unable to get around much and lives by himself.He is exceptionally short of finances and not often in a position to buy meat.But no one will bring meat to him as did the dog.ICE BLAMED FOR WEEKEND MISHAPS \u2026 Sunday evening, for almost two bours bouses along Prince Street, Huntingdon, were in darkness.Two power lines of the Shawinigan Water and Power Company, unable to bear the load of ice which bad formed on 30 years ago February 4, 1968 RECIPIENT OF CENTENNIAL MEDAL Louis Plante, former member of the Dundee Council and at one time secretary of La Cercle Agricole, also secretary of the Church Assessment Board, member of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Society, Division \u201cA\u201d and secretary of the Catholic School Board of Ste-Agnes-de-Dundee for the past 26 years, was the recipient of a Centennial Medal.OFFICIAL INAUGURATION AND BLESSING OF NEW PREMISES OF CAISSE POPULAIRE .at 10 Prince St.in Huntingdon took place on February 4.The manager, Michel Beaudin, acted as emcee.In bis remarks, Mr.Beaudin insisted on the fact the Caisse Populaire is not a competitor for the chartered banks, but tries to complete their services, being in a position to render special services to its customers.The executive of the Caisse Populaire feels assured was once more emblazoned on the honor roll of the curling annals of the province when an Ormstoun rink won the Quebec City trophy at Quebec City.The Ormstown rink played 12 games, losing only two by only one point.In the final, skip W.G.McGerrigle defeated the Victoria rink.The Ormstoun rink was made up of T.S.Osmond, Dr.HW.McGerrigle, F.Soucy and W.G.McGerrigle.TOURIST TRAFFIC Every time you see an American tourist breezing through Huntingdon you can count on bim visiting in Canada for at least 13 days.And be will spend an average of $5.40 per day.Canada's tourism traffic in 1937 bad a value of $300,000,000.that the population of Huntingdon will take full advantage of his local service and will be proud of this beautiful, modern building in our toun.HUNTINGDON'S SHARE IN REGIONAL SCHOOL COST SET AT $146,928 The Huntingdon Protestant School Municipality meeting .The matter of the school furnaces was brought up and several inquiries bad been made and it was necessary to wait a week or two for certain people to recover from the flu before an inspection can be made.DEWITTVILLE CARNIVAL ANOTHER SUCCESS About 200 people gathered at the Dewittville skating rink to attend the carnival sponsored by the Dewittville W.I.began with a broom- ball game between the local team and Harold McCaig's team.Dewittville won the game by a 2-1 score.THE LEANER 2 of Circulations PUBLICATION MAIL REGIS TRATION NO.0733 U.S.REG.NO.UPSF 580-300 PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT CHATEAUGAY, NEW YORK, 12920 66 Châteauguay St., Huntingdon, Quebec JOS 1HO Tel.: 264-5364 + Fax: 264-9521 YOUR WEEKLY NEWSPAPER published by THE HUNTINGDON GLEANER (1985) LTEE GENERAL MANAGER; ANDRE CASTAGNIER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: JUDITH TAYLOR EDITORIAL STAFF: VALERIE FURCALL, HUGUES THEORET MOM WANTS To KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING IN TOWN 7° CAN'T THINK oF ANYTHING RIGHT Now j Letters \u2014e- Hardships of recent ice storm bring memories of earlier times Editor\u2019s note: Mrs.Bertha Sproule, 70, of Franklin dropped in a lengthy account of bow she survived the recent ice storm.She made a special point of saying bow much she appreciated the bard work of Hydro crews and the visits from police officers checking to see she was all right.She managed just fine, as she spent much of ber early life in remote areas (around Malone NY) learning all the skills involved in living without modern conveniences.This edited version of ber letter describes those years.My name is Bertha Fountaine Sproule.\u201c When I was three years old, my parents lived in the woods where there was no power or water.They had wood stoves and lamps, and no neighbors nearby.We carried water for washing and cleaning in 50 gallon barrels from a river about half a mile away, using a horse and wagon in summer, and a sled in winter.My mother scrubbed clothes on a washboard.We used pails to bring drinking water up to the house from a near-by well.When I was five, we moved about 25 miles closer to civilization, but there still was no running water or lights.For two years my parents carried water by wagon or sled from a neighbor\u2019s well.Then my father bought some land with wood on it, five miles from neighbors.He and my brother built a log house with poplar logs they cut themselves.Two years later we moved again (still no water or power) and my father built two cisterns, one for drinking water and one close to the house filled with rainwater from the eaves trough.This time the water source was four miles away.My sister and I took the horse and wagon with two 50-gallon barrels and made many trips to a spring on the mountain which ran all the time.This water was emptied into the cistern in front of the house.We ate our own eggs and meat, and had a couple of cows for milk.My mother salted lots of meat and we had a big vegetable garden, and two hop yards.My mother and I used to cut down trees with a cross-cut saw, and helped cut the logs to sell and for our own use.We also picked berries, canned them and sold them, along with vegetables, around the lake in summertime.I had to go five miles to pick strawberries, which we sold for 10 cents a quart at that time.In winter we had to go through snow banks up to our waists to get to school.Sometimes my father hitched the horse to a metal drum attached to the whiffletree and made us a path.The school was about six miles away.When | was 18, I married and moved away, but, all in all, I have never seen an ice storm like the one we got here this winter.And it was harder as I am older and mind the cold more.That is all I have to tell; I won't go no farther.Thanks for reading this.Bertha Sproule Franklin Don't rush out to demolish trees damaged by ice storm Editor\u2019s note: A call from St-Malachie mayor Harold Merson alerted us to a Letter to the Editor which ran on Sunday Jan.25 in the Montreal Gazette.It contains some valuable information for people attempting to cope with ice-storm damage to their trees, so we are reprinting it.As a historian of the environment and a recent immigrant to Montreal, I advise giving suckers and other forms of spontaneous tree regrowth a chance in the coming years after the ice storm.Most non-coniferous trees that have not been actually grubbed out or otherwise absolutely killed will form shoots fairly readily.After not many years, a respectable top-knot of foliage will develop on a stump.Many people may have noticed this in old back lanes where people repeatedly trim but do not bother to kill various species of so-called weed trees.If the trunk and root system are large, they will support rapid and impressive new growth.Throughout Europe for millennia, this was the main technique of sustainable forestry, especially when the aim was the production of wood rather than timber as such.Many stumps are cropped every 20 years or so for several centuries.In this tradition of woodsmanship, it was extremely rare to have to plant trees.Some were cut at 7 to 14 feet to prevent animals from eating the tender shoots, in which case the practice is called pollarding, but it is otherwise possible to let the shoots grow from much nearer ground level, in which case it is called coppicing.Given our mania for lawn-mowing, | would urge at least semi-pollarding.That means not rushing out now to slice off at ground level those trees deemed to be so See LETTER page 6 A Ut n © 2.0-litre engine, 110 bp © 5-speed manual transmission © Dual air bags © Power brakes © AM/FM stores radio with premium speakers © Child safety rear door locks '98 Escort LX Sedan x.LIMITED TIME OFFER Your Ford dealers and your Lincoln Mercury dealers GRADUATE PROGRAM: Get an extra $750 discount.See your dealer for details.MERCURY LINCOLN * Ne SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIRED.First monthly payment required.License, insurance, freight ($660), and taxes extra.Costs of $0.08 per ilemetre after 54,000 klemetres and other conditions apply.§ \u2014$661 HLY AAVNIEIA\u2014 JANVATO FHL Community news 4 Jean McEwen - 6 \u2014 THE GLEANER \u2014 FEBRUARY 4TH 1998 Ormstown Sympathy goes out to the families of the late Irene McRae and Lyell Graham who passed away last week.Now that our little comer of the world is getting back to some kind of normal, it\u2019s time to say a thank-you to the many folks who showed so much caring and kindness during that awful January.They include neighbors who kept the thermos full of hot tea or coffee as well as hot meals, the folks who worked so hard 829-2704 at the shelters, the two mayors who were always on hand to help, the army boys, the super Hydro crews and phone workers, and of course families who were quick to lend a hand, and to our firemen.They have all earned their stripes and more! The Walshaven Craft Group will resume activities on Monday, Feb.9 and there will be a hot and cold buffet at noon; members are being phoned with information.\"CARD OF THANKS, IN MEMORIAMS, ENCAGEMENTS.BORN DIED MORISON-STACEY - Our little man has arrived! Derek Stacey and Corri Morison are ecstatic to announce the birth of their son Lyam-James, born on Jan.9 at 12:34 a.m.weighing 6 Ibs.10 oz.Proud grandparents are Jim and Pat Morison of Howick and Alvin and Ruth Stacey of Riverview, N.B.COLWELL - Peter & Joy (Clark) are happy to announce the birth of their son Anders Clark on January 11 in Lake Orion, Michigan.Brother for Jullian.Grandson for Neil & Betty Colwell of Fredericton, N.B.and Glen and Ann Clark of Hemmingford.DOUGLAS, Marjorie (née Weston) - Died peacefully in her sleep January 29, 1998 at the Huntingdon County Hospital.She was the beloved wife of the late Bernie Douglas, much loved mother of Lynne and Ron, cherished grandmother of Jason and beloved sister of Iris.At Marjorie's request there will not be a funeral.Those wishing to remember her can make a donation in her memory to a charity of their choice.A memorial service will be held in the summer.GRAHAM, Lyell John - Peacefully on January 30, 1998 at the Barrie Memorial Hospital in his eighty- fifth year, after a courageous battle with cancer.Beloved husband of Beryl! Oliver.Loving father and father-in-law of Dawn and Darel (Lang), Judy and Cyril (Stewart), Shirley and John (Watson), Lyndon an Doreen (Reddick) and Val and Brian (Irving).Cherished grandfather of Beverly, Kelly, Tamara, Jeff, Jill, Wendy, Laurie, Tracy, Brad, Jason, Robyn, Meagan, Paige an five great-grandchildren.Special foster dad to Ann Berube and granddad to her three boys.Predeceased by sister, Muriel Collins.Lyell will be sadly missed by his family and friends.Visitation was held Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1 at Kelly Funeral Home, 19 Lake St., Huntingdon, Qc.Funeral service was held at Huntingdon United Church at 2 p.m.on Monday, February 2.In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Barrie Memorial Hospital, Ormstown, Quebec or to the charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.McDERMOTT, Ernest - In Huntingdon on January 30, 1998 at the age of 66 years, passed away Mr.Ernest McDermott.Cherished husband of Mrs.Mary Booth, he also leaves to mourn his son James (Hélène Tailleur) and his daughter Diane (Ross Sutton), his grandchildren Valérie, Mathieu, Jérémie and Bradley; his brothers Albert and Aimé, his sister Thérèse Lefebvre.Visitation was held Tuesday, February 3, at the Salon Funéraire Rodrigue Montpetit et Fils Inc, 170 Chateauguay Street, Huntingdon.Funeral service was held on Tuesday, February 3 at 2 p.m.in St-Joseph Church, Huntingdon.Interment at the Rodrigue Montpetit et Fils Columbarium.Donations to the Montreal General Hospital, the Barrie Memorial Hospital or the Canadian Cancer Society would be greatly appreciated.McRAE, irene (nee Bryson) - At the Centre d'Accueil, Ormstown on February 1, 1998 in her 93rd year.Beloved wife of the late W.Kenneth McRae.Sister of Lyla Niles and sister-in-law of Edna Nussey, Evelyn Masten and the late Lydia Hope, Norman Herbert and Mabel McRae.Mother of Oakley (Dorothy McCaig), Shirley (Alvin Ziebarth) and Marion (Donald Campbell).Grandmother of Sandi, Kenneth, Kathi and Mac McRae; Carol Ann and Liz Ann Ziebarth and MacRae, Alan and Donna Campbell as well as 14 great grandchildren.Visitation was held at the McGerrigle Funeral Home, Ormstown on Tuesday, Feb.3.Funeral service at the Howick United Church Wednesday, February 4 at 2 p.m.In lieu of flowers donations to the Alzheimer's Society or to the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.Little Denmank HEMMINGFORD, QUE.TETE EEE @ (514) 247-2718 © MYRE, Daniel - At the Barrie Memorial Hospital on January 31, 1998 at the age of 64 years, passed away Mr.Daniel Myre.Beloved husband of Mrs.Jacqueline Senécal, he also leaves to mourn his children Lise (Pierre Ferland), Pierre (Suzanne Dagenais), Yvan (Sylvie Brunet), Richard (Sheri Graham) and Christine (Mark Bakos); his grandchildren Mathieu, Pierre Jr., Elyse, Anne-Marie, Emilie, Mark Jr., and Thomas; his brothers and sisters, the late Jean-Claude, Jeannot, Mariette, Laurent, Annette, Gisèle, Carmen, André, Hélène, Raymonde and Gaétan.Visitation was held on Monday, February 2, at the Salon Funéraire Rodrigue Montpetit et Fils Inc., 170 Chateauguay Street, Huntingdon.Funeral was held Tuesday, February 3 at 11 a.m.at St-Joseph's Church.Interment St-Joseph's Cemetery, Huntingdon.IN MEMORIAM LESLIE, Malcolm - In loving memory of a dear husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who passed away on February 3, 1996.It has been two years since you've been gone but our loving memories of you continue on.Sadly missed but always remembered Pauline, Rita, Gene, Phyllis, Sandra & families MACKIE, Bet - In warm & loving memory of a very special friend.Memories are like threads of gold, They never tarnish or grow old.Love Audrey & Ruby STEWART, MARGARET In loving memory of a dear lady who passed away January 23, 1974.Time may pass, Memories will always remain.J.Claude De Cosse CARD OF THANKS Special thanks to Dr.Geukjian and the doctors and staff of the Barrie Memorial for the loving care given to Lyell Graham over the past few months.Thank you to all who made Marjorie Douglas\u2019 last days so peaceful, especially Judy, Colette, Debby and the 2nd floor staff of the Huntingdon County Hospital.La Bouffe Additionnelle wishes to thank all who supported their recent Christmas campaign through donations of money, food, toys, etc.Your help is what keeps us going.Again, thanks on behalf of all the recipients.Pearl Gendron, coordinator | would like to thanks the Hinchinbrooke and Mutual Aid Firemen for their help at the time of my fire.Arthur Legault GENEROUS NEIGHBOURS.Not one person, that made it through this infamous ice storm, did so without suffering some sort of loss.Yet, despite everything, neighbours and friends still pulled together to help us out.Your generosity and help has been astonishing.Thank you.Kim & Roger Many thanks to members of the Ormstown Fire Department for their quick action on the evening of January 20, when the glacier on the roof finally moved, taking the chimney with it.Life has got back to normal; let's hope it stays that way! Judith Taylor The late Lyell Graham: More than an auctioneer This past weekend was a sad one for the Valley, as we said goodbye to one of our most colorful and best-known residents, Mr.Lyell Graham.Of course, it was as an auctioneer that most of us will remember him, with Beryl by his side, always with a story, never missing a beat.Even as late as last fall he was auctioning as if he would never leave us.No matter whether it was farm equipment, an antique cupboard or a seemingly worthless object, Lyell never lost his enthusiasm.And only once did I ever see him refuse to sell something \u2014 it was the farm dog at a sale long ago.He was community man, a spiritual man, one of the good people.In his own way he helped bring new faces to the Valley, by being featured in Montreal newspapers and television.He also nurtured several auctioneers, antiques dealers, collectors and budding farmers.| knew Lyell for some 25 years, and I know he was amused at times as I struggled to outwit him with my bids.He never pretended to be an expert, yet he had an uncanny ability to know what people were going to like.He wasn't sugprised very often.I believe it's not often that someo leaves this life without a negative wil) being said, but I never heard one said Lyell \u2014 not an easy feat in the antique and auction business.We will miss the tilted hat, the colorful vests and the hand cupped over the ear.\u201cHow much can be for?\u201d he would say.! never did understand what he meant by that.\u2014 Peter Baker Elgin Letter.continued from page 4 damaged by the storm as to require cutting and not just a trim.I urge people .to consider cutting not below 3 feet and preferably a bit higher.The result \u2014 say, two decades from now \u2014 is of course a tree form that looks odd to North American eyes: a big- diameter stump supporting a dense but shortish, upright, oblong mass of leaves, but it is common in contemporary English suburbs.In any case it is worth pointing out two considerable advantages.A pollarded tree is a highly robust form, much better able to withstand wind damage and more likely to grow up and out and so less likely to have subsequent trouble with early wet snows and freezing rain.Also, it would be the fastest and by far the cheapest way to get a lot of vertical greenery back.: Colin A.M.Duncan McGill University Montreal 264-5364 call The Gleaner for your advertising needs Rodrigue Montpetit & Fils Funeral Home Pre-arrangement - Cremation Jacques Montpetit, owner Tel.: 264-5331 + 170 Châteauguay, Huntingdon KELLY Funeral Home 19 LAKE ST.Pre-arrangement - Cremation © Giles Serre, Owner To!.: 264-5447 office - HUNTINGDON, QUE.available ie SO accepted * Gift letters (LEANER GOURCE 66 Chateauguay St., Huntingdon ° 264-5364 les .I OW to re- an le ed § ue al ÉGeneral news Fairview Rd.house destroyed by flames A fire of unknown origin destroyed a home on the Fairview Rd.early in the morning of Thursday Jan.29.The call came in to the Hinchinbrooke firemen from an officer of the Huntingdon Sûreté du Québec office, who saw \u201ca glow of fire in the sky\u201d near Dewittville all way from the SQ station on Rte.138 outside Huntingdon.The two-storey frame house, pro of Ykema, was unoccupied at time of the 1:55 a.m.call, said Hinchinbrooke fire chief Douglas Grant.\u201cThe fire was already so well-established that it was ssible to see where it began,\u201d said po e- whose 28-man crew was joined by fire trucks from Huntingdon, Godmanchester, and Ormstown to battle the blaze.An attached garage was saved although its upper portion was damaged, Grant - - ma Winter fun at Ormstown Carnival The Fairview Rd.house was completely gutted by the January 29 blaze.(Photo: J.T.) said.The fire was brought under control about 4 a.m., and investigation into the cause was turned over to the SQ.J.T) Robert E.Ness.from page 1 The member level recognizes \u201coutstanding contributions at the local or regional level or in a specialized field of activity.\u201d Robert Ness was named for his contributions to agriculture were he has achieved recognition as an international judge of cattle, a superior breeder of Ayrshire cattle, as well as taking a leadership role in the Ayrshire Association of Canada, including serving as president.He has also served as director of CIAQ and SEMEX.The most rewarding aspects of his life, Bob says, have been his family and the development of Terrace Bank Farm, the people he has come to know all around the world through the Ayrshire business, and his association with the local Calf Club where he has been a leader for 30 years.The Order of Canada is the centerpiece of our national honors systems, which includes decorations, medals and heraldic devices.It is a fraternity of merit which recognizes \u201csignificant achievement in important fields of human endeavor.\u201d Established in 1967, the order has three levels: Companion, Officer and Member.In formal ceremonies, the recipients are presented with the insignia by the Governor-General.Carole Tannahill will accompany her father as his guest when he receives the Order of Canada award this week.(JF) Fire on Island Rd.from page 1 Other fires In January, the Ormstown department responded to two chimney fires, saved one barn and put out three generator- related fires, in addition to answering countless calls arising from the ice-storm aftermath, Furey added.During the Ormstown-area clean-up, Hydro crews and Army personnel used the Ormstown station as a workshop.(V.F) These girls tackled the icy slide as a team, during Sunday afternoon activities at the Recreation Centre, part of Ormstown\u2019s annual Winter Carnival.The Carnival winds up next weekend with Saturday night's Coronation Dance.® du Suroit * Physiotherapy * Osteopathy e Occupational therapy ¢ Perineal rehabilitation ¢ Child Physiotherapy For your well being we offer: (Photo: J.T.) .a LAURENTIAN Choice of RRSP\u2019S e Guaranteed Interest » Segregated Funds e Mutual Funds Why wait till the last .moment J Call 827-2127 Lie Lapointe Agent in persons insurance de e æ e Physiothérapie A BILINGUAL SERVICE *N.B.Services covered by most insurance Evaluation made within 48 hours ZA OPEN ON SUNDAY 200,000 sq.ft.of sale area ta is Lanctôt St-Isidore 875-1954 * FAX: 4564-7511 THE FLOOR COVERING It's, more than 5000 carpet varieties more than 1000 choices of linoleum models more than 4000 carpet and linoleum remnants more than 500 patterns and colors of vinyl tiles more than 3000 kinds of ceramics and a complete selection of hardwood floors All this in demonstration on 100 000 square feet 2, 454-5424 ameublement _ 4 MACHABEE MEUBLES - MATELAS + ELECTROMENAGERS e FREE DELIVERY (Mti: 990-2024) * $500 minimum purchase, just pay the sales tax.Subject to credit approval.No interest if paid in fuil before 4 APPLIANCE PROMOTION: $2399.99 : - AT or ort | 50 Boyer, St-Isidore ° ty ENT St-Isidore (at right in ville Mercier, in front of church) January 8, 1999.L\u20148661 HLY AYVNAGAI\u2014 JANVI'TO HL \\ 8 \u2014 THE GLEANER \u2014FEBRUARY 4TH 1998 = Ice storm of \u201898 \"ws During ice storm, ha m radio club provided vital communication link Between January 5 and 7 a full-scale communications emergency developed as the ice storm disrupted power and telephone lines, and even affected cellular phones.In answer to a call from the Quebec Amateur Radio association (RAQD, the Covey Hill Amateur Radio Club helped to set up an emergency back-up communications network for the Montérégie.Jim Dawson organized 11 club members to staff the station at Ormstown\u2019s Barrie memorial Hospital on a 24 hour-a- day basis, supporting ambulance dispatch services for the Barrie and hospitals in Valleyfield and Chateauguay.They kept going until January 22, passing along messages including some relating to life-or-death situations.Besides Dawson, local volunteer operators were Mireille Dion, Croydon Snowdon, Eric Smith, Jacques Lemay, Fred Goodrow, Dan Pomminville, Marcel Léveillé, Richard Boutin and François Charette, aided by Robert Watson of Léry and Jacques Boucher of Brossard, who commuted to Ormstown along partially- blocked roads.Lacolle shelter Robert Brosseau of Lacolle set up a station in St-Bernard to monitor the condition of people at the local shelter in case anyone needed to be transported to hospital.Robert manned that station all alone throughout the emergency as no ing Ryan Porter (at the controls) and Mark McPherson (right).At left is local fire chief Steve Hébert.(Photo: courtesy CHARC) other operators were available, and also found time to help set up an amateur emergency station at the Hemmingford Gérard Maheu inc ST-LOUIS DE GONZAGUE, 77-1420 Moulées Feeds DUNDEE 3410 MTEE SMALLMAN DUNDEE, FINE CUISINE RESTAURANT S14 Bord de l'eau, Ste-Barbe Tel.: 373-3799 Caisse populaire Ste-Berbe Diane Lebrun, G.M.448 , Chemin de l'Église Ste-Borbe Tel: 373-7141 St-Anicet service center Nicole Goddu, R S.C.375, Ave.Jules Léger, Soint-Anicet Tol: 264-4335 7 25.Avenue du Pont St-Louis-de-Gonzague 2E.tue Henderson 264-5450 Huntingdon CENTRE COMMUNAUTAIRE OF STE-BARBE 475 CHEMIN DE LEGLISE, STE-BARBE Februa 1 : the Centre Communautaire 9:00 am inscription 12:00 Inscription for afternoon activities 1:00 pm sawing contest 1:30 pm 3:30 pm evening 8:00 pm hockey game MsSunday February, MOPTIMIST BRUNC At Chez Papy Pe ante Aa @ cn 0 PE ÉRÉALES D.L\u2026 ss 373-4373 : (Formerly Chez Tex) Super party with «OPUS 3» band at the Centre communautaire Admission: $4 * S.A.Q.permit Le a (Chez PAPY Fire Station (also an ambulance base).In Hemmingford, six operators took tums on duty 24 hour a day until normal communications were restored.They were : David Hughes, Gerald Ouimet, Brian Porter, Ryan Porter and Mark McPherson, all of Hemmingford, and Gerald Beaudin of Havelock.The Hemmingford group also helped isolated residents in the area with a generator hook-up service and instruction on how to run a generator safely.co-ordinat- ed by Mark McPherson, who also is a member of the local emergency planning group.The ice storm provided a valuable lesson on the need for back-up communications systems.As a result, the Village and Township of Hemmingford have set up an ice-resistant antenna site at the local fire hall, so an emergency station can be set up quickly for any future emergency.\u201cThe antenna system is a key element, and the one which takes the longest time to set up,\u201d McPherson explained.The Covey Hill Amateur radio Club will offer a course in emergency radio communications in April and May, if enough people are interested.This course leads to an amateur radio station license.If you are interested call Margaret Dawson (264- 2361) or Mark McPherson (247-3598) as soon as possible.(MM/JT) 8:00 pm Folkloric evening with the participation of Claude Brisson, Maurice Billette at Admission: $3.00 * S.A.Q.permit February 7, 1998: The young ones, bring your skates! # 9:30 am activities for 0 - 12 years old * Broom ball game 10:30 am pool tournament (12 years and older) « spaghetti dinner adult (10 years and older): $2.99 ¢ children (0 to 9 years): $1.99 * Grill: from noon to 5:00 pm: $2.00 + * - adult mixed broom ball - hockey on air tournament - darts tournament - odd jobs, make-up Tol.: (514) 264-5312 À (514) 264-5690 Fax: (514) 264-9523 © Les Soudures J.M.Tremblay (1987) Inc.| Pierre Tremblay President 1303, Route 132 General welding Samnt-Arvcet (Quebec) J Steel frames GERALD MARLEAU & FILS ELECTRICAL proprietors Manon et Jean-Claude Chantigny CONTRACTOR « residentiel * commercial * industrial 17 Montée du Lac Ste-Barbe 373-9944 FREE ESTIMATE TEL.: 373-0238 ST-STANISLAS JARDIN ST-STAN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 268, route 132 ST-STANISLAS-DE-KOSTKA Prop.: Stéphane Lagassé Isabelle Vaudrin 373-8106 St-Louis de Gonzague 371-7015 proprietors 471, Chemin du Lac Ste-Barbe (Quebec) JOS 1P0 Tei.: (514) 373-8138 Paysagement Dépanneur G.D\u2019ANJOU enr.Vidéo Ste- Barbe 371-1690 Ginette Dubois end Denis Normandin Claude Hébert frimming, pruning of trees 14 years in ornemental horticulture ONE MAYOR'S MESSAGE Some personal observations made by a rural mayor following the ice storm of 1998.As the lights blink back on across the Chateauguay Valley and especially here in Hinchinbrooke, | would like to take this opportunity to thank all people who have eased the suffering of others through countless hours of volunteer work.As we sit comfortably in our homes again, | can not help but feel for the 80,000 people still experiencing power blackouts in South shore St- Lawrence regions.The courage shown by most people of our rural community throughout the ordeal was, at the very least.admirable as we enter into our fourth week without power in some areas.| would be remiss if | didn't acknowledge the kind work of the local Huntingdon CLSC and Huntingdon Municipal personnel for setting up the regional shelter and providing food for all who requested it from all surrounding municipalities.I must also thank the City of Lachine for the delivery of five Homelite generators which had been loaned to Lachine by that company.The Homelite division of John Deere Canada graciously loaned us those five units to be used during the power blackout and then sold them to us at a very reasonable price to be used in the future for the benefit of our citizens.Thank-you Mayor William McCullock of Lachine and Steve Czurma of John Deere Canada for your kindness and generosity.To our volunteer fire brigade who responded to some 150 calls, to the various church groups who provided warm meals at the Town Hall under Beryl Myatt's guidance, the work crews who cleaned all roads of debris, the teams of people who manned the generators to warm houses and pump out basements, and the people who made food boxes, we all owe you a huge thank-you.Our municipal employees worked tirelessly through these past three weeks to provide whatever was humanely possible, to answer the demands by you the public, not always asked for in the most polite way.To our employees and members of council who put in countless hours to help out through the ice ordeal, a huge thank-you.A very special thank-you goes to Lea Ann and Mike who manned the phone for the first week at their home.The people of Hinchinbrooke owe you a huge debt of thanks.To Marge and Denis, our Park coordinators, | could not have survived without your help.It is often said that such events bring out the best of people and this case is no exception.However, the worst side of some people also surfaced in the forms of greed, verbal abuse and lack of respect for others who were experiencing the same problems in their own homes.My hope is that out of this, we all learned a valuable lesson about how humbling Mother Nature can be, and how overly dependant we have become on Hydro-Quebec.No matter how prepared we seem to be in theory for natural disasters on a local scale, one of this magnitude depletes all human resources that would normally be available to tackles these local events.This should be particularly noted by the department of Civil Security, the provincial government, Hydro- Quebec and the Red Cross.Local municipalities do not have the resources for such long term needs nor should they be required to do the work of the provincial government in dealing with events of such proportions.(It took a full week for Civil Security personnel to get to the local municipalities).In closing, | would point out that especially in rural areas, people are for the most part, self sufficient, and those who are not should try to become more so.History has shown us that we will experience these events again (1942, 1961, 1998) so we shoud be prepared individually for such events, look at it as an added cost to country living.A thought for insurance companies who are condemning wood burning apparatus; maybe there is a common sense compromise to be reached for rural areas so they will remain self sufficient in heating.Lastly, | would like to congratulate everyone for having come through the big one of \u201898 and shown courage and resourcefulness in dealing with such a trying event.Hopefully we have all gained something be it more tolerance, self reliance or respect for others.Please note that these are my personal views and not necessarily those of my fellow council members.Donald Frier Mayor | \u2014 GLAZED FROST OPERATION A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU e As Minister of Public Security, | would like to express the Government of Québec's warmest appreciation and thanks to all the men and women who so generously offered their assistance, and are still offering their assistance, to those affected by the ice storm.The situation is trying, but the human warmth and helping concern displayed throughout Québec over the past few weeks is truly cause for cheer.WHEN THE POWER RUNS LOW, EMOTIONS RUN HIGH! People affected by the recent ice storm and power outages experience reactions and emotions that are directly linked to the situation.All stressful situations create physical and emotional reactions that are perfectly normal, such as worry, anger, feelings of isolation, difficulty sleeping, etc.By accepting and living with these reactions, most people will gradually return to their normal state of mind.Generally, people overcome even the greatest hardships.However, for some people, these reactions and emotions may be too difficult to live with.If this is your case, it is important to seek professional help.Please contact the professionals at your local CLSC.A reminder of the assistance measures implemented by the Government of Québec