New hope for Apple Blossom Tyme

By Andrew Keogh

The Apple Blossom Tyme Festival may get a new lease on life if a proposal made by Cramahe Community Services Director, Dan O’Brien gains community support.

In recent years the festival has fallen increasingly on the shoulders of Cramahe residents Pat Johnston with assistance from Carl Wilce. In a recent conversation with Cramahe Now, Ms. Johnston expressed her desire to retire and her concern that the festival carry on. She acknowledged Mr. O’Brien’s statement that there is a need for long-term planning and succession. In recent years the festival has been a financial and artistic success despite reduced participation from a broad cross section of the community in the organization.

Ms. Johnston has enlisted the assistance this year of Councillor Pat Westrope, but Mr. O’Brien’s vision will provide a more integrated and cohesive organization with a mandate to plan well into the future if it is put into place.

If he can find the support from inside the community, he is proposing that Apple Blossom Tyme be restructured. Mr O’Brien remarked that the event could be classified as an agricultural fair or the like so to open up opportunities for grant proposals and other funding available under the provincial Agriculture and Horticulture Act.

The director feels he can help establish an organizational structure which will ensure the festival’s continued existence. Under his proposal, interested stakeholders would create a governing board which would plan and execute the fair.

Numerous groups in the community already conduct fundraising at the festival so they may want to take an active part in keeping the festival alive and in helping it thrive in the long term.

Cramahe Council decided at its January 19 meeting to permit Mr. O’Brien to take action in building a board of stakeholders. The next step for Mr. O’Brien is to contact and bring together all interested parties including service clubs and local businesses. Through these meetings, Mr. O’Brien hopes to explain the process of instituting a board of stakeholders and gain support and commitment to the cause.

McDonald homes apartment reports updated

By Andrew Keogh

Cramahe Council has decided to accept the planning report of the McDonald Homes apartments after hearing from its Municipal Planning Consultant, Peter Josephs on January 19.

In his report, Mr. Josephs reminded council of the public meeting held last October to discuss the multi-unit building proposed for the northwest corner of Victoria and Arthur streets in Colborne. At that meeting there were numerous concerns expressed by the owners of neighbouring properties.

Some area residents, and Councillor Tim Gilligan, who lives on the adjacent crescent spoke of concerns about the potential residents in an apartment building, and suggested reasons why people might not want to live in it

Mr. McDonald and his consultant, Bob Clark, assured the group that the apartments were geared to seniors with incomes and people who chose not to own their own homes. The plans fit with all provincial guidelines and goals, said Mr. Clark.

Steve Bowskill, who is involved in the proposal, wondered aloud at the October meeting whether the people were opposed in concept, or because it would be “in their back yards”.

In the end, council asked for more details from the developer.

On January 19 council got answers to some of its questions.

By early December, the developer had provided the results of stormwater and archaeology studies. Township also has a statement from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing stating it has no concerns. The Lower Trent Conservation Authority has no objections to the stormwater plan for the property.

But the consultant’s report suggested there is still more clarification needed. An environmental assessment has been done but not reviewed yet by the township. Mr. Josephs was also uncertain about the attached drawings. The applicant forwarded the drawings as a proposed design. Mr. Joseph was not sure if this was a formal commitment to construct the building in the drawing.

The rendition placed before council on January 19 shows a raised 14-unit, two-storey building, with six units on the first and second floors and two in the basement. Parking has been moved back from the west property line to give the neighbouring property additional buffering.

Township staff has yet to consider traffic and site –servicing matters.

Copies of these reports and plans were forgotten in the Jan 19th council agenda. They were requested from Deputy Mayor Jim Williams and presumably given to all members of council to study.

It is expected that council will make a final decision regarding a proposed Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendment at its March 2 meeting.

More signs - more money

By Andrew Keogh

Cramahe Township Council decided on January 19 to spend $10,585 on three promotional and directional signs for its industrial park. The money will come from a Community Adjustment Funding grant. $12,745 was granted to the township in total.

Carved in Stone, a Cramahe sign manufacturer was awarded the project after bidding in a Request for Proposal process.

Township Development Officer, Rebecca Goddard-Sarria recommended that council accept the $10,585 bid of the local firm, Carved in Stone.

Port Hope-based LB Graphics submitted the lowest bid of $7,760. The other four bidders were from outside of this area and ranged from $9,750 to $14,189.

Ms. Goddard-Sarria advised council that she had contacted seven county-based companies before Christmas. Of these, only 5 requested proposal forms. 2 local companies ultimately submitted proposals to compete with 4 others outside of our county.

Each of the criterion was broken down into segments and given an overall value. Bids were ranked according to their scores.

Deputy Mayor Jim Williams added that while Carved in Stone has a Brighton number, it does in fact lie within Cramahe borders and approved the support of a local business.

Councillor Pat Westrope questioned Ms. Goddard-Sarria, asking for justification for spending 35% more than the lowest bid on the project.

Ms. Goddard-Sarria highlighted the townships history with the company, and the suitability of the design, the locality of the business. Her comments were enough to earn Councillor Westrope’s approval.

Councillor Ed Van Egmond wondered how the evaluation criteria of different companies were allotted.

Ms. Goddard-Sarria explained that she based her preference on a company overview (10%), work plan and project development (10%), experience with similar projects(20%), creativity and suitability of the proposed design (30%) and cost (30%).

Ms. Goddard-Sarria couldn’t specify on how the remaining $2,160 would be used but suggested it would be eaten up in the negotiations with Carved in Stone.

Watch for our new writer

Keep your eyes open for the latest news - brought to you by Andrew Keogh.

Andrew has joined our team and will cover various community events and some meetings of Cramahe Council. His first council notes will be on your screen within the next 24 hours.

Some of you are already familiar with Andrew's camera work. He was the official Cramahe Now photographer for the 2009 Rotary Harvest Auction.

Keep those doggies rollin'...

The Community Services Department reported to Cramahe Council on January 19 that the Optimist Club has donated a hot dog roller machine to the Keeler Centre kitchen in Dec of 2009.

In his written report, Community Services Director Dan O'Brien stated, "This machine is a valuable asset to our kitchen facilities and assists us in improving our generation of revenue while providing food service at the Keeler Centre.

Colborne water meets all standards

Cramahe Township Council was advised on January 19 that its municipal water supply is safe and meets all requirements of the Ministry of the Environment.

The report, tabled by Chief Administrative Officer, Christie Alexander and Works Director, Barry Thrasher, explained how this year's report was a slight improvement over the 2008-9 year when the township was 99.48% compliant.

The 2008-9 score was a result of a lack of detail in indicating the sampler and exact time of test on the Daily Log Sheets. Subsequent to that score being received, senior staff met with Paul Kairns, Drinking Water Inspector, Ministry of the Environment, to determine what would be required in the way of improvements to the operational log sheets. As a result a modified operational log sheet was designed and put in use. The Ministry of the Environment confirmed that the modified log sheets met their requirement and as a result a rating of 100% was attained this year.

The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has a rigorous and comprehensive inspection program for municipal residential drinking water systems. Its objective is to determine the compliance of municipal residential drinking water systems with requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, associated regulations and MOE Certificates of Approval.

Their tests cover capacity, treatment processes, operation manuals, emergecny planning and water quality monitoring.

County has new Growth Strategy

Northumberland County now has a Growth Management Strategy which it has forwarded to the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
The strategy, created by the county consultant, Meridian Planning Consultants, and passed on December 9, 2009, outlines how the county and the seven lower-tier municipalities will implement the province's Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

The provincial plan sets out to coordinate where the population and emplyment will grow between 2009 and 2036.

The county report contains recommendations that address how the population and employment forecast in the Growth Plan developed by the Province should be allocated to the seven local municipalities; what the minimum intensification and Greenfield density targets should be in the six urban area with built boundaries; and what policies should be considered by the local municipalities when bringing their Official Plans into conformity with the Growth Plan.

The Growth Plan was allowed a county-wide population growth of 16,000 between 2001 and 2031. By 2006, the county population had already grown by 3,705, leaving only 11,877 to allocate in the plan which has been sent to the province for approval.

Of the 4,000 jobs recommended in the plan, 1,000 were already created by 2006, leaving 3,000 to allocate to the various municipalities.

In Cramahe the strategy allocates a population growth of 611 in Colborne and 184 in the rest of Cramahe by 2031. Given the current average household size and number of house starts in the township in 2009, the prediction is relatively accurate.

Brighton has been allocated 1,245 of which only 87 are slated for rural areas.

Bearing this mind, the report states the strategy does not serve to restrict population growth, provided infrastructure is available.

The potential does exist to exceed the provincial forecast. In the case of intensification, the only test to be met is whether it is good planning.

It is important to note a provincial statement indicating,“A land supply that exceeds the growth currently forecasted does not mean the County’s municipalities must halt development (subdivision and zoning) approvals. Local municipalities may approve new development where land is already designated for development and for which servicing has already been approved and allocated. The municipality’s decisions to approve future development must however meet the Growth Plan objectives of building complete communities, directing major growth to settlement areas that offer municipal water and wastewater systems and limiting growth in rural areas.”

It will be up to the local municipalities to determine how they will bring their Official Plans into conformity with the Growth Plan. Public meetings will be held, and residents and landowners will have an opportunity to comment on the decisions made at the local level to implement the Growth Management Strategy under the Planning Act.
The Final Summary Report entitled “County of Northumberland and Its Member Municipalities Growth Management Strategy” that may be viewed by the public on the County’s website at: http://www.northumberlandcounty.ca/forms/growthmanagement.asp

Students get first aid training

East Northumberland Secondary School Physical and Health Education Students in Ms. Simm’s and Mr. Larry’s Grade 11 classes recently were certified in Emergency First Aid. The program was carried out in class over the period of 4 days. East Northumberland is grateful to both the St John’s Chapter in Belleville for providing the expertise of instructors Ron and Dennis and to the Brighton Rotary Club for providing funding.

Repatriation set for Tuesday

The repatriation of the body of Canadian soldier, Sergeant John Faught is set for Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Sgt. Faught was killed by an improvised explosive device while on patrol near Nakhonay last Saturday. Sgt. Faught is the 139th Canadian soldier to die on the Afghanistan mission since 2002. He was a member of the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, Alberta.

Who are you?

Several times in the past few months someone sitting on the equator in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa has been on Cramahe Now. We can't even seem to find land in that area. If you read this can you send us an email - to satisfy our curiosity.

Salem Sampler - reprise

Anyone who has lived in this area for any length of time and read the Colborne Chronicle will remember the down-to-earth musings and recollections of Nancy Ellis in her regular Salem Sampler column. The column was discontinued some years ago, but Nancy has generously agreed to bring it back – 2010 version, once a month. Today’s posting is her first in the new online Salem Sampler.


A Salem Sampler –reprise

Let me see, now where was I…

Oh yes… I was passing on information about events in Salem community.

It’s a new year, 2010.

Do you realize we’re now a whole decade advanced into the much-vaunted Millenium? How will you pronounce it? Two thousand and ten, or the shortened twenty-ten?

Anyway, now that we’ve packed Christmas firmly away for another year, I’d like to give it one more thought.

Christmas for us at Salem invariably begins with the annual Country Fare Bazaar and Tea which takes place at the end of November. This year’s event, dubbed “The Magi” was outstanding due to the talent, creativity, dedication and plain hard work of its organizing committee, its members and the Salem community. Everyone participated.

The king-sized sign on the church lawn announcing the event was cut into the shape of a camel. Despite the comments of its perpetrator, Cathy Galt, that it looked more like a donkey, I thought, as did many others, that it depicted a perfectly respectable camel.

Most folk seemed to appreciate the innovative changes made in the bazaar this year. It began at 9:00 a.m. with coffee and doughnuts and carried on till 4 in the afternoon with the serving of the traditional afternoon tea and all its delights.

The Magi, Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, clad in their gorgeous costumes were in residence answering questions about their attendance.

Atmosphere was created by the swathing of a night-blue material filled with twinkling stars across the ceiling of the hall. You could almost believe you were among the sand dunes of a Mesopotamian desert. Very impressive.

It was a most successful event, as it usually is; we are most grateful for the talent that abounds in Salem.

We offer our sincere thanks to all the folk who supported the event and have done so over the years. We do appreciate you.

There’s always something new and exciting happening in Salem.

There was an almost-packed church for the rainy-night Christmas Eve service with the Rev. Anja Guignon presiding. Our candles, snuffed out rather than extinguished, disseminated their wisps of smoke into the atmosphere as tendrils of Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love.

And now, Happy New Year!

The Salem Valley Quilters began their spring session in the church hall on January 6. These get-togethers will continue every Wednesday evening beginning at 7 and ending at 9. It’s a good group which gathers for the practice of this skill; if you’re interested just pop in and join them. Help is available if you need it.

The Quilters displayed their works of art at the bazaar and were a delightful addition.

The Salem Lunch Ladies are back, serving their delicious comfort food. The next lunch is Friday, January 22, at 11:00 a.m., and every two weeks after that.

We have a brand-new state-of-the-art kitchen at Salem – very up-to-date and efficient, and a delight to work in. Have you seen it yet?

If you have any information or news that you would like to share with other Salem folk and the greater community, please let me know as soon as you can and it will be included in the February missive. My phone number is the same 355-2051. Or you can pass the information on to any Salemite and they can contact me.

Hear from you in February?


Nancy Ellis

Another Canadian dies in Afghanistan

Sergeant John Faught is the latest Canadian to fall in Afghanistan. Forty-rour-year-old Sgt. Faught was on a joint foot patrol with Afghan soldiers on Saturday near the town of Nakhoney when he died after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED).

Sgt. Faught was on a routine patrol at about 2 p.m. local time when the roadside bomb exploded. No one else was hurt.
Nakhoney is one corner of the Panjwaii triangle and a consistent troublespot for Canadians, It has been a hub of insurgent activity, but Canadian troops have been making concerted efforts to secure the area.
Lieutenant Andrew Nuttall, who was killed during a foot patrol on Dec. 23, 2009, was among a group of soldiers who had been staying outside Nakhoney as part of the military’s new strategy of having troops live among Afghans.
At the time, senior defence officials were adamant the strategy was having “great success” despite Nuttall’s death.
They said locals had been approaching troops more often to point out the makeshift IED's, a devastatingly effective weapon of choice for the insurgents.
The combined patrol on which Faught was killed was part of Canada’s effort “to protect Afghans from insurgents and to learn more about the people of the village and their needs,” Menard said Saturday.
“I offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of our great fallen warrior.”
Sgt. Faught was a member of the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton.
In his comments following the announcement of the death, Brigadier-General Daniel Menard said Faught was affectionately known as “Toast,” because he was “hard and crusty.”
“He could always be counted on to tell it like it is when asked for his opinion,” Menard said.
“He was a very conscientious and thorough section commander who always put the needs of his soldiers above his own." Faught was “very much a father figure” to his younger section members, the Brigadier-General said.
“He protected them and looked out for them much as a father would.”
Sgt. Faught was from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. He was the 139th Canadian soldier to die since Canada sent troops to the country. It was the third fatal incident involving Canadian troops in the past three weeks.