Letters

Jeff Green | Jul 12, 2007

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Letters to the Editor

Thanks for carrying local produce

I would like to thank the Trousdale’s Foodland in Sydenham for supporting the local strawberry producers. At a time when so many big supermarkets carry only California berries; it is refreshing to see our own local, fabulous tasting strawberries available on a daily basis in the same location that I buy the rest of my groceries.

Heather McNie

VandalismToday I lost my mailbox. It was almost a foregone conclusion that this was going to happen eventually. In fact I predicted it last night, June 28, after our meeting with the mayor and our councilors. A lot of people complained about the vandalism that has been going on for the last little while and I spoke out on the issue as it had also affected me.

When I first wrote about the vandalism in my column, revenge was very swift. The day after that column came out, these brave people waited until I was away and attacked my mailbox with a rock, causing severe damage. I straightened it out the best way I could and reattached it to the board where it was temporarily living until I could install the post it came with.

The next time I wrote about vandalism I found the mailbox door wrenched and the flag twisted out of shape. This time I straightened it out, but I knew that if I spoke out again the violence would escalate. And it has. This time the mailbox has been removed altogether and, in doing that, these unfortunate people have now become criminals. They have taken property that does not belong to them. And I am in the process of installing cameras around my property. The one thing I refuse to do is give in to bullies and stop writing about vandalism. You can count on that!

- Ina Hunt Turner (Arden columnist)

Death of a loonTragedy struck on the lake in Verona in the afternoon of July 10, 2007. A newborn loon was lost to injury and drowning.The worried parentsraced up and down the shoreline frantically calling and searching for their loved one. Their efforts were all in vain.I recovered the body of their loved one from my waterfront. I was unable to communicate to the distressed pair that their pride had been lost. The parents continued to call most of that afternoon and into the evening in the hope that they would get a familiar response. But, that was not to be! Now I understand what that mournful call ofour lake loon is all about.The loon parents take so much time of a short seasonand give so much of their energy to nurture their young to an early maturity.So, it is a real tragedy to have a young one taken away by misadventure. I did not see how this young loon became injured and died. But, I suspect that man had something to do with this young loon’s demise. Verona (Rock) Lake is a small lake and at times very busy with boats and water activity. We should all try to remember that the wildlife has a priority. They were here first.

David C. Salmond

Re: Arden Cement Operation

My wife and I bought a property in Central Frontenac about four years ago with the intention of establishing an upscale country inn that would operate throughout most of the year. We later purchased the adjoining Evergreen derelict motel complex. We have spent four years getting permits and working hard to clean up and improve the properties.

To date we have spent in excess of $200,000 of savings repairing both properties and building additions to accommodate paying visitors. We were expecting to open in 2008.

We were recently informed by a simple letter in the mail that the township of Central Frontenac was considering a change to the official plan and zoning to accommodate a cement operation on a property adjacent to us on Highway 7. This industrial facility located halfway between Arden and Mountain Grove would provide cement, water and aggregate to cement trucks between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day of the week except Sunday, from April to October.

At a Council meeting on July 9, 2007, the company, 1000 Islands Concrete, was thanked profusely by council for having bought the property (most likely for back taxes) and having bulldozed away the remains of the old Stinson garage and diner. Incredibly the owner of 1000 Islands was so confident that council would accept his operation that he requested that approval be given prior to approval by the Ministry of the Environment (on the basis that he had already bought the machinery required).

What does this operation bring to Central Frontenac? Maybe, in the future, three jobs for cement truck drivers, although it was not clear that this would not be filled by his people in Brockville. He would not service his trucks here or buy aggregate here but he would definitely buy gasoline locally.

What is the cost? Possibly the environmental integrity of the area. Only lukewarm assurances were provided that particulate and waterborne contaminants would not contaminate air or watershed of Lake Kennebec. And certainly a loss of trust in the

Council of Central Frontenac to establish a coherent plan for the development of the township. A cement operation here, a pulp and paper mill there, who cares? Anything is possible as long as it pays the taxes.

As far as we are concerned, cement operations and tourism cannot coexist.

All that glitters is not gold. 1000 Islands Concrete has invested almost nothing in the township and there will be almost no benefit from its being here. Others have invested heavily in the township and will almost certainly bring more business to the area in the long-term and without disfiguring the region.

Council preaches development of the township. Now it must decide whether it will back those who are actually developing the township. Will it go for the gold or just for the glitter?

David Daski