Municipal budgets and beyond... Coming to a school near you PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO Under the approach of Cmdr. Richard Thouin (centre) Station 1 community police officers including Const. Mélanie Allard (left), Const. Giovanni Di Legge (right) and Const. Jean-Pierre Lévis (not pictured) will be increasingly present in the many elementary and high schools in the five West Island towns in its territory in outreach work aimed at preventing problem behaviour before it begins. See story on page 9. “Pragmatism is good prevention for problems.” - Amit Kalantri 102 Frère André Daoust, Rigaud 1817 Des Mimosas, St-Lazare A TRUE TURN KEY- Nothing left to do, all has been well thought to enjoy inside and out. Finished BMT, double garage. This home is fully equipped, must see! IN THE HEART OF ST-LAZARE - 3+1BDR, 2 BTH. stylishly remodeled with an expansion of 480 sf + new roof. Walking distance to stores, pharmacies, parks. Must be at the top of your visit! Centris #23472514 Centris #26086384 $275,000 $294,500 2630 Du Ruisseau, St-Lazare 2320 Des Sables, St-Lazare SUPER LAYOUT – Close to amenities. 4 BDR, 1+1 BTH, 17,241sq ft. lot, secure crescent/cul-de-sac. Good investment, excellent potential! NO REAR NEIGHBOR – Large bungalow 3 BDR, 2 BTH, double size garage, oversize lot.Walking distance to parks, schools, easy access to hway. Centris #16803809 Centris #15371933 $324,900 2790 Du Cristal, St-Lazare 1173 Champêtre, St-Lazare NATURE LOVERS - Bungalow in great neighborhood backing on large forest, with access to trails & walking to park. 3BDR , finished BMT: + 2 rooms, family room, BTH and access to large garage. Centris #24292332 FULLY FINISHED A-Z - Terrific living space, 3+2 BDR, 2+1 BTH, double garage, fenced yard, pool, large patio and shed. Excellent value! Centris #26401079 $349,900 1242 Lexington, St-Lazare $374,900 1658 Blueberry Forest, St-Lazare FARMETTE – The greatest equestrian street of St-Lazare! 3+1 BDR, 2+1 BTH. Very well kept & lots of updates, warm & inviting! Centris #28380466 $439,900 1041 du Metayer, St-Lazare HORSE FARM - Bi-generation bungalow, 82,519 sq. ft., lot, barn 6 paddocks, 6 shelters, riding ring 105’X 70’ rare find. Trail network entry, motivated vendor! Centris #9837789 $637,500 2861 Alstonvale, Vaudreuil-Dorion EQUESTRIAN ESTATE - Over 2,150,000 sf lot agricultural/ equestrian zoning. Bi-generational, garage, barn, wooden lot and trails. Centris #10139812 $850,000 164 Main, Hudson WATERFRONT - Gorgeous Custom, Open concept, double walls, all wood floors are ‘Mahogany’. 4 levels above ground, 5 balconies. Spectacular! Centris #23159920 EXIT Performa is currently seeking Devoted, Enthusiastic, Professional Brokers to be part of our experienced and dynamic Team. 2 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL $374,000 78 Deer Hill, Rigaud TENNIS COURT – European home, 75,000sf lot, Mountain Ranch, 4 BDR, 2 BTH, 2 wood fireplace. Enchanting atmosphere. Centris #28714770 $379,000 MUST SEE INTERIOR! – Rustic elegance, fabulous KIT high ceilings, fireplace, 3+1 BDR, 2+2 BTH, 19,996sf lot, private entry to BMT. Roof lifetime warranty! Centris #14549445 $329,900 Thursday, December 18, 2014 $1,145,000 T H E P A G E T H R E E S T O R Y Ste. Anne’s imposes 3.5 per cent residential property tax hike John Jantak Your Local Journal Most Ste. Anne de Bellevue homeowners will see their property taxes rise by 3.55 per cent next year, while owners of buildings with six or more rental units will have to endure a five per cent tax increase, as city council approved its 2015 municipal budget during a special public session at Centre Harpell December 16. Details of the budget, which was presented by the city’s Director General Martin Bonhomme during a public information session last Thursday, December 11, that revealed the city has total revenue shortfall of $855,000 for 2015. Almost two-thirds of the revenue loss is attributed to provincial transfer payment cuts and loss of revenue from potable water consumption at John Abbott College and the McDonald Campus of McGill University due to a reduction in the province’s fiscal pact contribution to the municipality. The city is also trying to make up for an increase of almost $150,000 to the Montreal Agglomeration. The total cost of Ste. Anne’s contribution to the agglomeration next year will be just under $10 million, which represents 55.3 per cent of the city’s $17,767,551 budget for 2015. For homeowners, the 3.55 per cent property tax rise translates into an increase of $134 for a home evaluated at $378,500. To make up for the loss of revenue, Mayor Paola Hawa said the city had to make some difficult choices including cutting back on funding to some annual events such as the Magie de Noël and to organizations such as the Société de développement commercial (SDC), while trying maintain direct essential services for residents. “Obviously, people are concerned about the cuts to events, but I think the people understood why – that it’s a PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK Ste. Anne de Bellevue Mayor Paola Hawa replies to a resident’s question about the 2015 municipal budget during a special information session at the Harpell Centre last Thursday, December 11. must-do under the circumstances with the reality of our financial situation,” said Hawa. The city also increased the potable water consumption rate to $80 for the initial 100 cubic metres with a subsequent $0.80 charge per cubic metre on additional usage. This news prompted one resident to complain that the fee represented just another tax hike that would have to be borne by residents and the city should do more to transition to a system based on individual consumption. “The city doesn’t control the water tax,” Hawa told Your Local Journal. “It’s an agglo responsibility so we’re at their mercy for a large portion of that. What everybody has to keep in mind is that even with the increase, the city is still subsidizing water. “If we were to charge the entire amount it costs the city, it would be substantial,” Hawa added. “We’ve inched it up over the past few years to get to more of a user-pay type of scenario, but I think we’re still subsidizing 45 per cent of the total cost.” Several residents said the city could have cut its expenses further if Hawa had kept her election promise to reduce the number of administrative employees at city hall. Hawa said that some personnel cuts had been made and that 16 staffers remained, but the figure was disputed when residents said the city’s organizational flow chart showed over 20 personnel. For the SDC, the funding cut expected from the city will not have an impact on the organization’s operations provided Ste. Anne fulfills its obligation to continue collecting SDC member fees as stipulated in the city’s by-laws, said spokesperson JeanClaude Provost. Among the numerous projects planned for 2015, $2.75 million has been set aside for the configuration and construction of a new T-intersection that will reconnect Boulevard des Anciens-Combattants north to Chemin Ste. Marie at the westbound Highway 40 service road interchange. Another $2 million has been earmarked for major infrastructure work on Garden City Avenue. Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 3 One man’s trash Kudos to the Town of Hudson for following in the footsteps of at least 50 other cities across Quebec in reducing residential garbage pick-up to once every two weeks in the colder season, thereby implementing not only a financial benefit to the town’s strapped coffers but also forcing residents to more closely examine their waste disposal practices. The associated costs revealed by Mayor Ed Prévost for monthly garbage collection (see page 8) for a town with a population of 5000 are especially mind-boggling when financially transposed to neighbouring, larger towns. Do the math – garbage collection is becoming a luxury. Many of us can remember when garbage pick-up was twice weekly and year-round. Each new evolution of waste-disposal management in terms of pick-up schedules and recycling programs was met with the predictable grumblings, resistance, and final acceptance as residents adopted new habits and, hopefully, recognized the environmental efforts being made. The weekly garbage pick-up should not be reinstated once the warm weather rolls around. The concept of fortnight decomposition taking place mere steps from one’s home is bound to impart a better lesson in composting and recycling than any financial incentive. 4 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Dear Editor: [email protected] Dear Editor, It was with considerable dismay that I read the letter from Naomi Henshaw that was published in the December 11 edition of Your Local Journal. Although the Town of Hudson is flat broke, primarily due to mismanagement by prior administrations, handed down tax burdens from our cash-strapped provincial government, and alleged criminal activity, the current administration is to be commended for the action it is taking to provide good management to pursue any alleged criminals. I agree that new and innovative ways are required to set a course for the future of our small town, however, I cannot agree with Henshaw’s suggestion to become a real part of the francophone community. It is not apparent how this would lead to a future of prosperity and diversity, as she claims. Most of the francophone municipalities in Quebec are NOT prosperous, largely due to various laws passed by our provincial government. So much for prosperity! Also, she seems oblivious to the obvious. Either she does not realize that Quebec laws presently in force to protect the French language and culture are based on an alleged threat from the English community and are designed to eradicate the English language and culture from this province or she places little or no value on the English presence in this province. So much for diversity! (So much for freedom of choice, new outside investment, new business, new immigrants, etc. etc. too.) Hudson is at a crossroad. Do we want a unilingual Québécois town, or bilingual Canadian town? On the one hand, there are people who are Thursday, December 18, 2014 prepared to give up their rights as Anglophones and to become a real part of the francophone community, possibly by having the Town of Hudson join up with a neighbouring community, as Ms. Henshaw seems to propose. On the other hand, there are those who wish to retain their rights as Canadians and the bilingual status the town currently enjoys. A merger may even be a viable proposition if it results in a town with a legal bilingual status. The Town of St. Lazare could possibly regain its recently lost bilingual status through such a merger. If legal bilingual status is to be preserved, Hudson should continue its development in such a way as to attract like-minded people to live here, while preserving its rural atmosphere. By-laws should be reviewed to ensure that new construction is in keeping with our rural atmosphere. The influx of new residents would help to alleviate the town’s financial problems and revitalize the commercial centre (and maybe even attract more tourists too.) In order to attract such new residents, the town could launch a publicity campaign promoting Hudson as a great place to live. The rewards of such a campaign will go a long way towards alleviating Hudson’s problems, at the same time making it an even more beautiful place to live. Perhaps good PR could be generated with a website promoting Hudson highlights such as the Village Theatre, the Yacht Club, Jack Layton Park, the numerous nature trails, the commuter trains to downtown Montreal, and maybe even Pine Lake. H.D. Reilly Hudson Havre du Lac campground owner takes legal action against Vaudreuil-Dorion John Jantak Your Local Journal The owner of the proposed Havre du Lac campground on rue Meloche just off rue Lotbiniére has taken legal action against the City of VaudreuilDorion after council scrapped the project at the December 1st council meeting. Diane Lévesque, an entrepreneur who also owns and operates Hôtel Balto – a boarding facility for dogs and cats – told Your Local Journal during an interview last Friday that she was disappointed with council’s decision to stop the project. The most troubling aspect for Lévesque is that the revamped Havre du Lac campground was unanimously adopted by all 15 members of the city’s urban planning committee in August 2013, and that all the work and the $700,000 she has spent to finance and promote the project has ostensibly been for nothing. Lévesque said that when her aunt and uncle previously operated the campground, there were spots for 43 trailers. The revamped campground would have hosted 31 spots for motorized camper vehicles or caravans, with an additional spot reserved for visitor parking. A tent site would also have been located on the east side of rue Meloche along the waterfront directly across the street from the caravan campground. For the residents of Meloche who only learned about the scale of the project after several mature weeping willow trees were cut down at the campsite mid-October, 31 trailer spots were still too many. Area residents joined forces and presented a petition at the November 17 council meeting asking the city to stop the project. Mayor Guy Pilon told a small group of residents present at the meeting that the petition would have no bearing on whether the city would decide to cancel or proceed with the project because the city was already looking PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK Diane Lévesque, the owner of the Havre du Lac campground in Vaudreuil-Dorion is taking legal action against the city after the municipal council stopped the project from proceeding. into certain aspects that apparently weren’t in line with the proposal that was originally presented and accepted by the city’s urban planning committee. Lévesque said she’s complied with all provincial environmental ministry requirements regarding plans to revamp the septic system and potable water piping that will connect to each motorized caravan. She is also contesting the $16,000 fine imposed by the city for cutting down the 32 mature trees on her property without obtaining a municipal permit, saying the contractor came ahead of schedule because of weather concerns which didn’t give her enough time to apply for the permit. Lévesque contends that even without the permit, Weeping Willows are not allowed in Vaudreuil-Dorion and had to be removed for the project because their invasive root system can easily damage water pipes and septic tanks. The city’s decision means that Lévesque had to let go of six employees who were promoting the project and the city would lose an additional source of tax revenue. She said the purpose of her legal action is to recoup the $700,000 already invested including money spent for the manufacture a model caravan that prospective buyers could visit before making a purchase. Instead of arbitrarily cancelling the project, Lévesque said she would have preferred to have worked with the city to see if there was anything she could have done to change things. She noted that the concept of the campground was that the caravans would remain on site throughout the winter and only be occupied by their owners from early April until late October. Thursday, December 18, 2014 Continued on page 10 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 5 Paper trail I already know the upcoming holiday season will include the requisite shortbread, downtime with my boys, days on end spent wearing pyjamas, at least one road trip, spiced rum, and hopefully, copious amount of sleep. But another seasonal tradition comes in the form of the bundle that arrives via courier on my doorstop containing a number of newspapers from across small towns in Ontario as, once again, I have the privilege of being a judge in the Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA) Better Newspaper Competition. There’s a definite reassuring factor in just how many entries the judging competition involves and while the English weekly newspapers may be a minority in this province, our counterparts in the rest of Canada represent respectable numbers and are an affirmative reminder that residents still care greatly about their towns and neighbourhoods, and, by extension, their community newspapers. While a town’s geographic location often differentiates its issues from ours – lobster trap problems don’t present the same importance here as they do in Atlantic Canada – the heart of the stories share a commonality of small-town theme, whether political, educational, or, best of all, human interest. My kids watch, bemused, as I sit in my pyjamas (drinking spiced rum and eating shortbread) and enter data into a spreadsheet of newspaper article grading criteria. And if an article makes me burst out laughing or start to blink back a tear, even better. I’ve gotten to know people’s stories in small communities from across Canada, from the young newlyweds who photographically document their lives wearing Star Wars storm trooper masks to all the perks a small town benefits from by having a medical marijuana facility set up shop in their midst. I honestly had no idea you could make cannabis butter. Earlier this year I joined the International Society of Newspaper Editors (ISWNE) where moral, ethical, or pretty much any dilemma you can imagine encountering as a newspaper editor will elicit advice and guidance from community paper editors from around the world. Situations range from suggestions on how to handle a reporter meltdown, to protecting unnamed sources, to the latest, and one of the more unusual, an editor at a Texas newspaper whose local police chief reportedly offered to release information to her in exchange for sexual favours. Responses and advice came from as far away as Ireland and South Africa and the lessons gleaned along the way are worth more than could be gained in a semester studying international journalistic law. While we’re continually reminded by naysayers that the newspaper industry is dying, we all still chug along putting out our weekly publications and whether we can chalk it up to denial, stubbornness, or sheer stupidity, one thing is certain – people care much more about having their names in a physical newspaper than they do about being posted on Facebook or a blog. I like to think it’s a primal factor that recognizes the physical nature and loyalty of the medium– there is no deleting or unlike-ing a newspaper article. Far from infinite, it will yellow with age, become more fragile, and ultimately tear just like the rest of us. And maybe that’s why we hold it just a little bit closer. 6 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Thursday, December 18, 2014 PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK Pincourt council adopted its 2015 budget at a special session on Tuesday evening, December 16, that will see residential property taxes rise by just over two per cent. Pincourt residential property taxes increase 2.2 per cent John Jantak Your Local Journal Pincourt homeowners will see their property tax bills increase by 2.2 per cent next year after the town adopted its 2015 municipal budget at a special council meeting held at the OmniCentre on Tuesday, December 16. The increase translates into $58 more for a house evaluated at $227,556. The mill rate, which represents the amount of residential property tax charged for each $100 of valuation rose .0326 cents, from 0.7385 cents in 2014 to 0.7711 cents for 2015, an increase of 4.41 per cent. One significant decrease was a reduction in the potable water consumption fee which dropped from $203 to $179 and was attributed to residents reducing their water consumption. Mayor Yvan Cardinal said his administration came up with a good budget that’s in line with the annual inflation rate and lower than the tax in- creases imposed by other municipalities. “It’s a good budget because we’ve tried to minimize the tax increase for our residents as much as possible,” Cardinal told Your Local Journal. “It took a serious effort from all our different departments to come up with a reasonable budget when we take into consideration all the increases we received, $1.5 million dollars in increased expenses whereas the budget is only increasing by $292,000 (to $20,491,800),” said Town Manager Michel Perrier. The $1.2 million budget shortfall that the town had to absorb this year is the culmination of reduced transfer payments from the provincial government and increased contributions to municipal government bodies such as the Communauté Métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) and the Agence de Métropolitaine de Transport (AMT). Continued on page 8 Jamie Nicholls to run for second term as NDP MP for Vaudreuil-Soulanges Acclaimed by the party at his own Christmas party in Hudson last week James Parry Your Local Journal With the news that he had just been acclaimed his Party’s official candidate on the eve of an election year, NDP MP for Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Jamie Nicholls, welcomed guests from throughout the riding at his own special holiday party at St. Mary’s Parish Church Hall in Hudson on Friday evening. Said Nicholls, to much applause, “I am honoured and delighted to go in to the upcoming election, no later than October, as your candidate to represent you in Ottawa to the very best of my ability. Where I will not only be open to new concerns of voters in the riding, but will also continue focusing on three specific topics that are very dear to my heart and that, I know, is equally true of so many residents in our region.” These comprised, he told Your Local Journal, rail and pipeline safety in the context of environmental security and ecological integrity, including a greater transition to renewable energy. Also arts and culture and their economic role in minority language communities such as Anglophone communities in Quebec, and Francophone communities in other provinces. Plus the development of the local economy, including local food production and support to small and medium businesses. Nicholls acknowledged, however, that this time around, he will be calling upon those who PHOTO BY JAMES PARRY Immediately following his acclamation in Hudson Friday evening, NDP Member of Parliament Jamie Nicholls (second from right) takes time out for a pic for Your Local Journal with his family. share in his concerns and believe in the NDP for both active and financial support in the upcoming campaign. “At the last election,” he laughed, “I basically had the support of my family and a handful of helpers and I went from door to door on my orange bicycle. But this time it’s important that we come together throughout the campaign and rally the troops.” Nicholls stressed that while he is looking forward to the upcoming campaign - whenever it officially starts - it will certainly not be a “dirty, mud-slinging” one. “Politics doesn’t have to be that way,” he added. “’Instead, it should be a question of working together as a community for the betterment of our community. Something positive. All too often, politics comes across as something negative. And that is certainly not my vision.” Did you know that Town of Saint-Lazare offers ecological refunds to its residents? Cloth Diapers sŝůůĞĚĞ^ĂŝŶƚͲ>ĂnjĂƌĞŝƐŶŽǁŽīĞƌŝŶŐƌĞĨƵŶĚƵƉƚŽ$100 ĨŽƌƚŚĞƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞŽĨĐůŽƚŚĚŝĂƉĞƌƐ͘ZĞĂĚƚŚĞƉŽůŝĐLJŽŶƚŚĞ website at ǁǁǁ͘ǀŝůůĞ͘ƐĂŝŶƚͲůĂnjĂƌĞ͘ƋĐ͘ĐĂͬĞŶͬĐŽƵĐŚĞƐůĂǀĂďůĞƐ ĂŶĚ Įůů ƚŚĞĨŽƌŵĨŽƌĂƌĞĨƵŶĚ͘ Mulching blades or ecological lawnmowers Trees sŝůůĞĚĞ^ĂŝŶƚͲ>ĂnjĂƌĞŝƐŶŽǁŽīĞƌŝŶŐƌĞĨƵŶĚƵƉƚŽ $25 ĨŽƌŵƵůĐŚŝŶŐďůĂĚĞĨŽƌĂůĂǁŶŵŽǁĞƌŽƌŵƵůĐŚŝŶŐ ŬŝƚĨŽƌƚƌĂĐƚŽƌ͖ $50 ĨŽƌ ĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂů ůĂǁŶŵŽǁĞƌ͘ ZĞĂĚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ website at ǁǁǁ͘ǀŝůůĞ͘ƐĂŝŶƚͲůĂnjĂƌĞ͘ƋĐ͘ĐĂͬĞŶͬƉŽůŝƟƋƵĞĂĐƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶůĂŵĞ ĂŶĚĮůůƚŚĞĨŽƌŵĨŽƌĂƌĞĨƵŶĚ͘ sŝůůĞĚĞ^ĂŝŶƚͲ>ĂnjĂƌĞŝƐŶŽǁŽīĞƌŝŶŐƌĞĨƵŶĚƵƉƚŽ$100 ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞŽĨƚƌĞĞƐ͘ZĞĂĚƚŚĞƉŽůŝĐLJŽŶƚŚĞǁĞďƐŝƚĞĂƚ ǁǁǁ͘ǀŝůůĞ͘ƐĂŝŶƚͲůĂnjĂƌĞ͘ƋĐ͘ĐĂͬĞŶͬƉŽůŝƟƋƵĞĂĐƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶĂƌďƌĞƐ ĂŶĚĮůůƚŚĞĨŽƌŵĨŽƌĂƌĞĨƵŶĚ͘ dŚĞƐĞƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐĂƌĞĂŝŵĞĚƉƌŝŵĂƌŝůLJƚŽĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚƐƚŽĂĚŽƉƚƉŽƐŝƟǀĞĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůƉƌĂĐƟĐĞƐ͘ Information at 450-424-8000, ext. 248 or www.ville.saint-lazare.qc.ca/en/aidefinanciere Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 7 New temporary garbage pick-up schedule for Hudson residents starting in January through April Commercial zone will continue to have twice-weekly service James Parry Your Local Journal While it will be business as usual in the commercial sector in the centre of town, early in the new year Hudson residents will begin having their garbage picked up once every two weeks as opposed to the current once a week - until the end of March. Depending on which sector of the town you live in, this will be effective as of Monday, January 5, and Thursday, January 8, according to Rod Hodgson, the Town’s Coordinator of Waste Management, who told Your Local Journal this week that the measure is temporary and will revert back to regular service at the beginning of April when a new contract comes into effect. Explained Hodgson, “The Town’s current contract with Robert Daoust & Fils Inc. expires December 30. It has, however, been extended for three months over the winter during which time the town will go out for tender for the following three-year period.” When reached at his home, Mayor Ed Prévost said the interim bi-weekly pick-up will serve as an experimental period in order to determine if resi- PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given by Mylène Blais, Assistant Executive Director and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, undersigned, that a resolution regarding the initiation of a comprehensive review process of its Waste Management Plan was adopted by the MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges in accordance with the Law on quality of the environment. A copy of the resolution has been forwarded to the « Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatique » as well as to the municipalities surrounding or serviced by a disposal facility located within the territory of implementation.. Hereafter the municipalities of the territory of implementation, ie: Coteau-du-Lac; Rivière-Beaudette; SaintZotique; Les Coteaux; Saint-Clet; SainteJustine-de-Newton; Pointe-Fortune; Saint-Polycarpe; Sainte-Marthe; Rigaud; Saint-Télesphore; Très-Saint Rédempteur. For more information, please contact the undersigned. Given and signed in Vaudreuil-Dorion, this Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. 8 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL dents actually need weekly garbage pick-up. “This could become a yearround practice,” he said. Prévost said the savings to the town over the next three months will be just shy of $4000 a month, from $27,930 down to $23,975, plus applicable taxes. Prévost expects the savings to be higher once the new contract is signed. Some time in March next year, Hodgson said, new 240-litre green bins will be delivered to all homes to be used for garbage collection, adding, “We had hoped to have our kitchen waste program beginning around the same time with 45L brown bins but this has been delayed.” Pincourt are using what they call regional facilities in Montreal, such as the Botanical Gardens or museums. It amounts to a contribution of over $300,000 a year.” With 93 per cent of its revenue generated exclusively from residential property taxes, resident Isabelle Germain asked what the town would do to try to raise revenue from other sources in order to alleviate the financial pressure placed on homeowners. Perrier replied that while more commercial tax revenue will come from the two new big-box hardware stores that opened in 2014, the gain will unfortunately be offset by less revenue from the Faubourg de L’Île shopping plaza because of a drop in the valuation role. The town is continuing to work with Faubourg representatives to try to rejuvenate the ailing plaza which has about 20 closed store fronts. The town is also striving to lure other businesses to set up shop in its commercial district south of Highway 20, especially at southeast intersection with Boulevard de I’Île where 1.2 million square feet of prime real estate is available for commercial development, said Cardinal. Resident Antonio Pellegrino complained that constant tax increases from all levels of government and higher living costs have depleted many people’s financial resources to the point where they cannot give anymore and asked why the town didn’t use its accumulated $2 million surplus to impose a tax freeze. Cardinal said that while the town could have used its surplus, it would have been a short-term solution that would eventually result in a substantial tax increase after the funds were completely exhausted within a one- to two-year period. When Pellegrino asked why the salary expenditure for the town’s employees increased by over nine per cent for 2015, Perrier replied that outstanding contracts were ratified with unionized employees this year and that it was necessary to increase salaries for the town to remain competitive with other municipalities that use a higher pay scale. Continued from page 6 STARTING OF THE REVIEW PROCESS OF THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN OF THE MRC DE VAUDREUIL-SOULANGES Mylène Blais Assistant Executive Director and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer PHOTO BY JAMES PARRY Driver Etienne Fortin and Michael Lauzon of Robert Daoust & Fils Inc. which, with the exception of two three-year contractual periods, has been picking up garbage throughout Hudson since 1966. Perrier said the town doesn’t mind contributing to the AMT because of the commuter train service it provides even though he’s uncertain whether the town actually receives the level of service they pay for, but bristles at having to pay the CMM simply because off-island residents drive to Montreal to visit the city’s landmarks. “That’s another government decision to incorporate us into contributing financially to the wealth of Montreal,” said Perrier. “The reason they’re giving us is that basically our citizens A Special Christmas Gift for the extraordinary person in your life. Sylvie Farmer’s Professional Cleaners offers a new service: “one-shot cleaning” for house, garage, basement, seasonal, etc. NEW Pet & house sitting Call for free estimate: 514-972-8237. Sylvie Farmer wishes all of her clients Season’s Greetings & Best Wishes for the New Year. Thursday, December 18, 2014 Pre-emptive approach to policing Carmen Marie Fabio [email protected] Focusing on using precautionary communication rather than repression measures once kids get into trouble, Station 1 police are expanding their presence and outreach work into the community, most notably into the region’s 26 elementary and high schools. “We’re community relations officers,” said Const. Giovanni Di Legge of himself, colleague Const. Mélanie Allard, and long-time socio-community officer Const. Jean-Pierre Lévis. “Our role is to be in the schools, to educate the kids, to communicate with them, and to do prevention.” The officers’ outreach programs also extend to area seniors’ facilities and Neighbourhood Watch programs. “I’m very happy to partner with the citizens of the region,” said Station 1 Cmdr. Richard Thouin, outlining work the officers at the station - that covers the largest geographical area of all the 33 Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) satellite stations on the Island of Montreal – have done in conjunction with neighbourhood watch projects, first in Kirkland following the November 2 elections, and more recently in Beaconsfield. “Like I often say, security is a shared responsibility - it’s not just the job of the police.” The Station 1 territory extends to Senneville, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, and Baie d’Urfé. Thouin also stressed the importance of calling 911 as many residents maintain a perception of not wanting to disturb police with minor incidents and instead rely on municipal public security patrols. This can lead to significant lag in response time as the process of the call itself, coupled with the information vetting process, will continue to incur delays. If the matter is deemed to require police intervention, precious time is already lost. “When people call 911, we have analysts who ask important questions including (determining) if the person is breathing, is he awake, if it’s a burglary, is it in progress, etc.” Calls are then triaged in an order of priority from 1 to 7 and statistics obtained from 911 calls give the force a better ability to allocate resources in planning their operational budgets. Di Legge said almost 85 per cent of police work done at the station is classified as repression in the form of tickets issued for traffic and municipal infractions and arrests. By heading out into the community and particularly the schools to discuss everything from Halloween security to cyber-bullying, officers are seeking not only to reach the kids but also to change the mindset of parents. “We want them to say, ‘Why aren’t they in the schools more?’ rather than, ‘Why are they at the school?’” Police say since the beginning of the school year, they’ve been working with area school administrative bodies to ensure their presence is well-known, both through personal visits and via the schools’ respective websites and social media platforms. Di Legge cites success achieved in a similar program in his nine years as a socio-com officer in Ville Lasalle, specifically after a change in the municipal loitering by-law. “Some students were selling drugs and being implicated in fights,” said Di Legge. Following the 2006 loitering by-law change and the spread of social media, police recount high school related crime rates dropped significantly as a direct result of the newly implemented by-laws that saw tickets issued for fines starting at $118. While most schools have welcomed the socio-community officers into their midst, Di Legge admits some others have presented a challenge. “Some principals want to be in control,” said Di Legge of the resistance the team has encountered. “Others have agreed to having people from the community, including the CLSC nurses, the police officers, and public speakers including anti-drug advocate and former NFL team member Alvin Powell.” While elementary school discussions centre on basic safety and security issues, the turbulent teenage years often bring in high-risk behaviours that can lead students into situations involving drugs, taxing, bullying, and theft. “We talk about the consequences,” he said, describing to the kids what will happen should they be arrested for an infraction. The officers pass by the area schools on a weekly basis, checking in with administrators to see if there are any issues requiring police intervention. Di Legge said the greatest welcome is extended to the police by the kids themselves. “They love it,” he said, describing how at the end of police presentations, the kids often surround the officers to speak with them. “If we have kids surrounding us, we know we’ve done a good job. We know that we’ve PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO Station 1 Community relations police officers Const. Mélanie Allard (left) and Const. Giovanni Di Legge (right) join Cmdr. Richard Thouin in outlining the station’s approach to connect with area elected representatives, senior citizens, and particularly students within its territory. gotten through to them.” Di Legge said that since the 2012 implementation of Law 56 requiring schools to report cases of bullying and intimidation to the provincial ministry and to parents, reports are mandatory, “... to the point where police must be involved.” Though criminal harassment must be defined as acts repetitive in nature, Di Legge said by the time police have been called, the incidents have typically already been ongoing. “All parents would love to see a ‘Big Brother’ or ‘Big Sister’ in the school,” he said, “so that when situations arise involving bullying, intimidation, and harassment, somebody’s there to deal with it and to give feedback to a parent.” Officers also regularly drop in at area seniors’ facilities and in 2015 will be implementing its ‘Coffee with a Cop’ project seeking to widen the accessibility and communication with the force by stopping in at area restaurants to sit down and engage with the local population. “We’re part of the community,” said Di Legge. “We’re here as a legal resource, so use us.” $5,325 Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 9 Minor tax increase for Rigaud in 2015 James Armstrong Special Contributor The annual budget for 2015 was presented, proposed and approved by Rigaud municipal council at two consecutive special meetings held the evening of Tuesday, December 16. Totaling $11,680,256, the 2015 budget is $265,356 higher than last year’s. Taxation rates for 2015 were also approved. The base rate for 2015 is $0.63 per $100 of evaluation. Because of changes in the transfer payment of provincial sales tax to the municipalities, a base rate of $0.01106 per $100 of evaluation in addition to the amount of $0.03143 per $100 of evaluation levied in 2014. “In our case, it represents $92,000 per year,” said Mayor Hans Gruenwald Jr. in an interview earlier this month. According to the mayor, in some cases, some individuals will see a reduction in property tax because as the debt for sector specific projects is paid, rates decrease accordingly. The budget sees increases in the cost of snow removal, road maintenance, the cost of running the parks and the swimming pool, garbage collection, and streetlights. “It’s an increase in taxes of about $0.02 per $100 of evaluation,” Gruenwald Jr. pointed out, noting that half of the increase covers the shortfall in transfer payments and the other half is for increases in the daily running of the municipality. It also PHOTO BY JAMES ARMSTRONG Rigaud town council passed its 2015 budget on Tuesday evening, December 16, with a minor increase in property taxes includes the 3 per cent increase that is part of the collective agreement the town has with its unionized workers, according to the mayor. In other business, council also renewed the lease for the current town hall at 33 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Ouest until the end of June 2016. Construc- tion of the new town hall is slated to begin late next year. Council also decided to move forward on the file concerning the non-payment of municipal taxes by the Aires de Services Rigaud, the relatively new rest stop at Exit on Highway 40. “My preference was to sell the property for non pay- ment of taxes,” said the mayor, “ but I was told we couldn’t because the provincial government is involved.” The mayor also pointed out that the town is only allowed to recover the most recent three years of unpaid property taxes. Anything older than three years is reportedly unrecoverable. Campground had originally been proposed. One aspect that concerned the city when the issue was raised during the November 17 council meeting had to do with the fact that the lots that would house the mobile campers would be sold to prospective buyers. Pilon said at the time that this con- travened the purpose of a mobile campground which is to only rent trailer sites for the length of time people stay at the campground and not to house caravans permanently on lots that would be owned by individual buyers. Continued from page 5 Cairine Jephcott-Hunt-Flis June 30, 1935 – December 13, 2014 It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Cairine: Caring sister, beloved wife, dear mother, kind grandmother, and devoted friend. Predeceased by Charlie Hunt, Bob Jephcott, and Barbara Kimpton, she leaves behind her husband Jerry Flis, her children and grandchildren: Debbie Hunt [Brad] (Mike, Jordan, Rebecca, Caitalin); Robin Hunt [Sue] (Julian, Dylan, Jessie, Graham); and Christine Hunt-Lima [Noah] (Ethan). This would allow the owners, mostly retirees who vacation at similar campsites in Florida over the winter, the flexibility to use another mode of transportation instead of driving a caravan back and forth. She said the demographic of this group of retirees distinctly shows that they always return to the same campsites each year. Mayor Guy Pilon couldn’t comment specifically on the legal action except to say that certain aspects of the current project were not in line with what She will be missed by her two surviving sisters: Kathy Warren [Norman] and Sue Jephcott, as well as by her many nieces and nephews. Cairine’s love of life, people and her garden was only surpassed by the love she held for her Savior, Jesus Christ. “Blessed in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Service will be this coming Saturday, December 20, 2014, at one o’clock, and held at the Hudson Community Baptiste Church, [located at 3141 Cote StCharles, St-Lazare, QC. J7T 2H8]. 10 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Thursday, December 18, 2014 YLJ FILE PHOTO/CARMEN MARIE FABIO Thirty-two mature trees were cut down to accommodate the proposed Havre du Lac project, raising the ire of the residents living on Vaudreuil-Dorion’s Meloche Street. New town hall, re station and garage mark new Rigaud mayor’s rst year in ofce James Armstrong Special Contributor Hans Gruenwald Jr. was elected mayor of the Municipality of Rigaud November 3, 2013 and one year later, a major infrastructure project to build a new town hall, a fire station and a municipal garage, has received the approval of the Rigaud’s citizens and the provincial government. During an interview in early December 2014, the mayor commented on the legal process involved in the required changes to lots of land in the center of town. “We have to make one large lot out of several smaller lots for the new town hall,” he said, adding, “It’s a very complicated process.” A special public consultation concerning the issue is scheduled for January 7, 2015. “We went through a very important learning curve on how things are done,” said Gruenwald Jr. referring to himself and the new members of the town council. “To me, the biggest challenge is to bring the council closer to the citizens,” he added. “The true result of the Charbonneau Commission is the loss of citizen confidence in municipal politicians,” he pointed out, noting that a very small number of municipalities have a problem. “Everything seems to take so long when we do something,” said the mayor, “and that’s an irritant for many citizens. However, in Rigaud, we seem to be moving at the speed of light.” Gruenwald Jr. was referring to the province’s immediate approval on the loan by-law for the infrastructure project. As to the reason why the province moved so quickly, the mayor suspects there are fewer projects on the provincial table due to recent cuts in transfer payments to municipalities and the increase in the download of responsibilities. He takes a positive stance on the situation. “This could work out well for Rigaud,” he said, explaining that fewer municipal construction projects in the near future could reduce costs. “People bidding on our contracts will be PHOTO BY JAMES ARMSTRONG Rigaud Mayor Hans Gruenwald Jr. (center) seen here with Yvan Lecompte (left) President of the Club d’Âge d’Or and Yves Pelletier (right) thanked them for their volunteer efforts in organizing Rigaud’s first Salon des Aînes. sharpening their pencils,” he added. Gruenwald Jr. is taking a very ‘no nonsense’ approach to managing projects. “If something doesn’t make sense then we are not going to do it,” he said, giving as an example, the recent cancellation of the Écocentre project. Although that project comes under the purview of the Municipalité Régionale de Comté de VaudreuilSoulanges (MRC V-S), the long-term maintenance costs would have fallen on the shoulders of the municipality. The revised plan is to include a satellite Écocentre in the new municipal garage construction program. “We went from a $3.1 million project down to a $750,000 project. We have adjusted, and we will have expansion capabilities without destroying half of the building,” he said. He pointed out Rigaud is planning for upcoming development by calculating future needs with a factor of 1.5 times the needs of the current populations in all projects. The importance of communication plays a big role in the new mayor’s life. “I spend time with the Club d’Age d’Or,” said Gruenwald Jr. of the local AVIS PUBLIC senior population. The municipality supported the first Salon des Aînes organized by Yves Pelletier and Yvan Lecompte. The once-monthly ‘Coffee with the Mayor’ on a Saturday morning has proven to be successful in both languages with the most recent English session attracting about 20 participants. Long-range vision and planning also plays a role in Gruenwald Jr.’s first year in office. He sees the municipality as the next area for development in the MRC V-S after Vaudreuil-Dorion. In terms of supporting new business, there are changes happening in the town. “The CLD will be operating under a new name under the MRC,” he said. “The CLD is an important component in nurturing new businesses,” he added, though recognizing this can create a handicap for an already existing enterprise on the opposite side of the street. His solution is to create a new industrial commission for Rigaud. “We are requesting candidates for our own industrial commission composed of several citizens and town councilors with a part-time commissioner,” Hudson he said. The commissioner’s mission will be to identify what already exists in the town’s industrial parks and then determine complementary industries and business that can be invited to the town. Currently, Rigaud has three industrial sectors, Parc Industrial Doctor Oscar Gendron, Parc Industrial Séguin, and Parc Industrial de la Coopérative. “I have plenty of people inquiring about coming to Rigaud,” said the mayor. “They are attracted by the price of the land, the quality of life in Rigaud and the services we have to offer,” he said. “We have the mountain, the ski hill and one of the biggest municipal parks in the area.” In terms of vision, Gruenwald Jr. points to the mayor of Varennes, Martin Damphousse as an example of how a municipality can develop. The town of Varennes purchased a parcel of land from Hydro-Québec and later sold half of it for a considerable profit. “They (Varennes) don’t need to apply for loans to build what they need,” said Gruenwald Jr. He said Rigaud is capable of doing the same thing. PUBLIC NOTICE est, par la présente, donné par Vincent Maranda, Greffier is, hereby, given by Vincent Maranda, Town Clerk DEMANDE DE DÉROGATION MINEURE AUX DISPOSITIONS DU RÈGLEMENT DE ZONAGE REQUEST FOR A MINOR DEROGATION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE ZONING BY-LAW Lot 1 833 634 343 Green Lane Lot 1 833 634 343 Green Lane Le Conseil de la Ville d’Hudson, lors d’une séance qui se tiendra au Centre communautaire, 394 Main, le lundi 12 janvier 2015 à 19h30, statuera sur une demande de dérogation mineure pour un immeuble portant le numéro 1 833 634 du cadastre du Québec, portant le numéro civique 343 Green Lane, aux fins: d’autoriser que la marge de retrait avant pour un garage détaché en cour avant soit de 34.00 mètres c’est-à-dire 36.16 mètres de moins que la marge minimum permise de 70.16 mètres établie par l’article 801 g) tableau 7 du règlement de zonage numéro 526 de la Ville d’Hudson; Le tout tel que montré sur le plan B 5514-5, minute 15 506 daté le 15 décembre 2014, préparé par Claude Bourbonnais, a.g. Toute personne intéressée peut se faire entendre devant les membres du Conseil relativement à cette demande, lors de la séance du Conseil municipal du 12 janvier 2015. The Council of the Town of Hudson, at a meeting to be held at the Community Centre, 394 Main, on Monday, January 12th, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. will rule on a request for a minor derogation for an immovable bearing number 1 833 634 of the official cadastre of Quebec, bearing civic number 343 Green Lane, for the purpose of : Donné à Hudson, ce quinzième jour de décembre, deux mille quatorze Vincent Maranda. Greffier Given at Hudson, this fifteenth day of December, two thousand fourteen Vincent Maranda. Town Clerk Authorizing that the main front setback for a detached garage in the front yard be 34.00 meters that is 36.16 meters less than the permitted setback of 70.16 meters established by the article 801 g) Table 7 of the Town of Hudson’s Zoning By-Law No 526; As shown on plan B 5514-5, minute 15 506, dated December 15th, 2014, prepared by Claude Bourbonnais, a.g. Anyone wishing to be heard by the municipal Council in relation to this application may do so at the Council meeting to be held on January 12th, 2015. Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 11 MAURICE JEFFRIES tional Startup Festival founded four years ago by Montrealer, Phil Telio, that sees aspiring startup companies looking for financial backing compete against one another in an elevator. “How it works,” Becky told me, “is that these companies have got to make their pitch to potential investors in the time it takes for the elevator to go up and down. It’s all part of a worldwide startup contest known as the Elevator World Tour that runs literal elevator pitches in some of the world’s most iconic buildings.” o think, Christmas Day is just postpone our planned move-in as To date, these have included Toa week away. And I haven’t virtually nothing was moving on the ronto’s CN Tower and the Azrieli heard The Little Drummer roads. And certainly not the company Tower in Tel Aviv, with upcoming Boy once. Not that I’m complaining, that we had hired to transport all our events being planned in New York, mind you! furniture and stuff. Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, Berlin and While some love it, to my ears it’s Undaunted, however, Mireille, mySantiago. equally as depressing as Ravel’s Boself, and her dear old Mom, Adrienne, Said Becky, “We are absolutely lero which, I suspect, classical radio were determined to celebrate Christthrilled that the first European stop on announcers only play when they need mas Eve in our new home in a village the tour is in one of the most exciting a bathroom break or want to pop out where we didn’t even know a soul. cities in the world in perhaps the most for a sneaky smoke. In fact - whatever And so, we packed a picnic hamper iconic building in the world. There will the orchestra and the particular verfull of all kinds of goodies – including be up to 100 aspiring entrepreneurs sion - I also suspect that some of the Champagne and a couple of bottles of competing for investment prizes of up musicians actually fell asleep while vintage wine – plus warm blankets and to $100,000 from a team of angel and recording it but nobody noticed and three sleeping bags – and headed out. seed investors.” Bon voyage Becky and bothered to wake them up. Ah, just call Stopping at a gas station just off the please do keep me posted! me Parrynoid! highway along the way to stock up on ---------------------kindling and logs for the fireplace, be---------------------SACRE BLEU! – Speaking of pitchfore wending our way along the lake A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS EVE es, was fascinated to learn that the Eito the village. All lit up with Christmas - No, I’m more of a Silent Night, Silffel Tower was originally supposed to lights and looking for all the world like ver Bells type of guy. Even Away in a be in Barcelona. But believing that it a scene out of a festive fairy-tale. Manger still chokes me up. And, after would end up looking like an eyesore, Once the fire was roaring and we the long-demised ‘Gentleman’ Jim the city rejected Gustave Eiffel’s plans were comfortably ensconced with Reeves, Bing Crosby remains my faand he was forced to re-pitch the projcandles everywhere, we listened to vourite caroling crooner. Even if there ect elsewhere. Fortunately, he found Christmas carols on a transistor raare those who say - including his own a home for his idea in Paris where the dio, while partaking in a royal repast family - that he was a real miserly son Tower would serve as the main archand exchanging gifts and counting our of a Scrooge in real life! way for the 1889 International Expoblessings. Not a stick of furniture in the Yeah, even without chestnuts roastsition. Unfortunately, however, many house. But tell you, dear readers, it was ing round an open fire à la Nat King Parisians weren’t enamoured with it truly magical. And, as I say, one that Cole - and one of my beautiful Suneither and it was savaged by critics in we shall never forget! shine’s favourites - it’s an emotional the media. One of whom actually deSheesh. Just hope Santa can keep time of the year. One that Mireille scribed it as a ‘metal asparagus.’ up the pace until Wednesday night and I have been celebrating together Also intrigued to discover that the when, hopefully, he will come down for exactly 40 years now. And without iron structure was never really meant our fi replace in front of which we celeever having lost any of the magic that to stay up for very long and was acbrated our first Christmas 40 years ago! Christmas brings. tually offered for scrap metal. It was I will never forget our first here in ---------------------only spared when it proved useful to our little hamlet of Hudson. Living on GOING UP IN THE WORLD - Not the French Army which found that its Nun’s Island in one of the only two sure where Becky Croll, who lives 984-ft. height was ‘parfait’ for a comhigh-rises there at the time, we bought in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, will be on munications tower. Go figure! our home here in the month of NoChristmas Eve. But I do know for sure ---------------------vember. On impulse and right out of that on January 21 she will be the City JUST TEA-SING – Meanwhile, the blue following a brief visit to the of Lights at the most iconic and treaseems I created a bit of a tempest in a town a few weeks earlier. sured monument in Paris, the Eiffel tea cup - with at least one YLJ reader It was all white three weeks later Tower. – with my mention recently of the ruwhen snow blanketed the town. Deep For Becky will be there playing a key mour that a new British Tea Emporiand crisp and even. Obliging us to role in what is billed as the Internaum serving High Tea with cucumber sandwiches and scones may be opening in our area soon. Chastising me, albeit with a chuckle I hope, Mary Jefferies e-mailed me the following. “No, no, no James. That is Afternoon Tea as served at The Ritz! “High Tea, as you should know PHOTO COURTESY ADAM LEBLANC coming from the Ste. Anne de Bellevue resident Becky Croll (second from left) takes time out for the camera between competitive elevator North of England rides by startup companies in Tel Aviv this time last year with was a meal of the Pamela Perrotti, Katherine Johnsen, and Phil Telio. T 12 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Thursday, December 18, 2014 PHOTO COURTESY CREATIVE COMMONS I was duly chastised last week for the decidedly un-British faux pas of mixing up Afternoon Tea and High Tea in my bit about the rumoured new British Tea Emporium in our ‘burg. I offer my apologies, with pinky daintily extended. workingman served between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and consisted of a hot dish plus bread and jam and cakes washed down with copious cups of strong tea. This was typical of the North and Scotland. Years ago all the restaurants along Princess Street would serve Afternoon Tea from 4 p.m. and High Tea from 5 p.m.” Added Mary, “Google this if you don’t believe. I get quite irate when I hear cucumber sandwiches and scones called High Tea. Must be getting old and cranky!” Not at all Mary. You are absolutely right. Mea culpa. And I certainly didn’t go to Google to verify. Your word is as good as gold as a cup of Gold Peak tea with me! In my defence, all I can say is that in Middlesbrough, where I grew up, we didn’t have a Ritz. Come to think of it, not sure if we even had a hotel. And everyone in our neighbourhood – when post-war rationing was still in force and I was just knee high to a grasshopper playing in a bombedout wasteland - was so poor that we shared our communal cup of tea once a week on a first-come, first-served basis. Milk and sugar was a luxury! ---------------------IDIOTIC MEN - And besides, everyone knows that we men are inherently idiots. At least according to a team of British researchers - at Newcastle University no less and also in the North - who in the prestigious British Medical Journal recently expounded on what they have dubbed the Male Idiot Theory. With apparently nothing better to do - and presumably in between copious cups of tea - they examined gender differences in ‘idiotic risk-taking behaviour’ among Darwin Award nominees over the past nine years. Gobsmacked to learn that this award actually commemorates those who die in accidents involving ‘astonishingly stupid methods.’ And that past winners have included an Iraqi terrorist who mailed a letter bomb with not enough stamps on the envelope. When it was returned, he opened it and it exploded in his face. Ouch. Oh, yes, there was also the guy who died after hitching a shopping cart to the back of a train! And on that note, think it’s time for a revitalizing, refreshing cup of cha. Even though it’s only noon! And that’s a wrap! E-mail: [email protected] Hudson Film Society launches Celebrate Hudson Competition Open to all movie-makers, both professional and amateur, for screening in June 2015 James Parry Your Local Journal Calling all film-makers. In celebration of its 10th Anniversary next year that just happens to coincide with the Town of Hudson’s 150th - the Hudson Film Society (HFS) revealed plans this week for its first-ever Short Film Competition. Open to everyone, profes- ies and who are big fans of the diverse Festivals that we screen at Hudson Village Theatre throughout the year.” Added Ward, “Looking for something special to celebrate our anniversary, and that of the town, we suddenly thought, why not our very own film contest focusing on the town and community where we live and which we love?” “The contest is really is open to anyone. Particularly the youth of our town and schools and colleges in the region for whom cinema is really the art form of the younger generation.” - Hudson Film Society President Clint Ward sionals and amateurs alike, for public screening on June 4, 2015, and a total of $2000 in prize money. The only limitation, explained HFS president Clint Ward in an exclusive interview with Your Local Journal, is that the film respects the theme of the contest, Celebrate Hudson, and does not exceed 10 minutes from opening scene to conclusion of credits. Also that the entry format is DVD and that it is in English because the contest is their contribution to a province-wide English cultural festival called Arts Alive. Said Ward, “Not only has Hudson been the shooting location for many major Canadian and Hollywood films over the years, but it is also home to many people involved in the business, as well as people who just love mov- In addition to a high profile film personality with a Hudson connection, who will act as honourary president in judging the entries and who is still to be named, judges will comprise Ward and members of the HFS executive committee. Namely, John and Inga Lawson, Michael Whelan, Carol de Sévigné, Simon Lagimodiere, Peter Mundie and Helen Kurgansky. Asked who is eligible to enter the competition, Ward didn’t need a second take. “If Jean Marc Vallée (the Quebec director of such critically-acclaimed films as Dallas Buyers Club, C.R.A.Z.Y., Young Victoria and the soon-to-be-released Wild) wanted to come out here with a camera crew and shoot a film about Hudson, we would welcome him with open arms. “But it really is open to anyone. PHOTO COURTESY CLINT WARD Photographed on Sunday, December 14, for Your Local Journal while screening a film to be possibly included in their DocFest next year are the Hudson Film Society’s (front row, left to right) Michael Whelan, Helen Kurgansky, Carol de Sevigny, (and back) John and Inga Lawson and Clint Ward. Particularly the youth of our town and schools and colleges in the region for whom cinema is really the art form of the younger generation. There is so much talent out there in our local high schools and colleges and this competition presents a wonderful opportunity for them to get involved and maybe win one of the awards while having their film shown on a big screen right here in their very own community.” The prize money - $1000 for Best Film and two Special Awards of $500 each – is being generated entirely by the HFS itself with no municipal or government grants whatsoever. Finished films must be submitted by May 4, 2015, in order to be eligible for the contest and for further info go to www.hudsonfilmsociety.ca. PUBLIC NOTICE REGULAR MEETINGS FOR THE YEAR 2015 NEWS from Branch 115 The Christmas season is quickly winding down. There was a good turnout for ‘Winnies’ Christmas office party last Friday and all who participated had a great time. The Hardy Rocks Christmas lunch took place yesterday and Sandy did her usual magic producing a scrumptious lunch. Crib night is tomorrow (Friday, December 19) at 7:30 pm. Come out and play for turkeys. There will be lots of door prizes to be won. Membership is proud to announce the winner of a complimentary membership for 2015, drawn from all the early bird members. The winner is Doris Elliott. Just in case you may have forgotten the 2015 membership fees are due now. New Year’s Eve is almost upon us so if you need a place to go, we have the venue for you. Entertainment and lots of great friends await you. The cost is $5 per member & $10 for non-members. Please reserve now at (450) 458-4882. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone from your Legion Executive and staff. Lest We Forget Notice is hereby given by the undersigned that the regular meetings of the Conseil intermunicipal de transport de la Presqu’Île, for the year 2015 will be held on the following dates: • • • • • • February 5th 2015 April 16, 2015 June 18, 2015 September 10, 2015 October 29, 2015 December 3, 2015 They will be held at 7:00 p.m. at 2555, Dutrisac in Vaudreuil-Dorion in the Council Chamber of the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion. Given in Vaudreuil-Dorion, this fourteenth (14th) day of December two thousand and fourteen (2014). Manon Charest, CPA CGA Managing director and Secretary-treasurer Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 13 Art and soul OLGD\VHDVRQ /RRN\RXU¤SDUW\EHVW¥GXULQJWKHKR PHOTO COURTESY CAROLE SAINTYVES Students of l’École Val des Prés in Saint-Polycarpe had the chance to participate in activities surrounding today’s Francoderole. A play on the words Francophone and Banderole (banner), The Francoderole is the largest work of art in the world created by Francophone children. Over 90,600 children from more than 458 primary schools and Francophone communities in seven Canadian provinces and four US states have already added to La Francoderole since 2002. This gigantic artwork that is the height of a six-storey building and covers the area of a hockey rink is too large to be displayed in most arenas. Mme. Charlebois helped the l’École Val-des-Prés students create their own mural that will remain in their Saint Polycarpe school as a souvenir. This project was made possible thanks to the collaboration of Children, School Val-des-Prés (Sacred Heart Pavilion) also realize a mural that will remain in the school of St. Polycarp as a souvenir. This event was made possible thanks to the collaboration of Lucie Charlebois, MNA for Soulanges and Deputy Minister for Rehabilitation, the Youth Protection and Public Health. 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To book an appointment call us today at 450-455-7999 www.spailocarolestpierre.com 3210 Boul. de la Gare, suite 170, Vaudreuil-Dorion 14 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Thursday, December 18, 2014 Hudson Annual Christmas Tree Collection Beginning Monday January 5th, 2015 the Town of Hudson will begin its annual collection of Christmas Trees. Please place your Christmas Tree by the edge of the road on the eve of your regular garbage collection day and your tree will be collected the next day. Starting on Monday, January 5th and Thursday, January 8th the regular garbage collection schedule will be switching to once every two weeks in both residential sectors while the commercial zone will continue to operate with the normal twice a week collection. This NEW SCHEDULE will be only for the winter months of January, February and March 2015. For more information you may contact the Town of Hudson’s Waste Management Coordinator, Rod Hodgson, at 450-458-5347 ext. 207. Spirit of the season on the way to the Ste. Anne’s Veterans Hospital Thanks to the generosity of the local community and Hudson Legion Branch #115 James Parry Your Local Journal Thanks to the generosity of the local community, members of the Royal Canadian Legion Hudson Branch #115 delivered two full car-loads of gifts and with more to follow - to the Ste. Anne’s Veterans Hospital in Ste. Anne de Bellevue this week. And organizers of the annual Veterans Christmas Gift Drive could not be more delighted. Said Linda Eames of the Legion’s Executive, “Santa was so happy to deliver the gifts and a big heartfelt thank you to our caring community and all those who answered the call. Including the management and staff at Pharmacy Brunet in Hudson, as well as Your Local Journal for generously offering to promote our drive at no cost whatsoever. “These gifts go a long way to ensuring that the Veterans, including younger veterans of the Canadian Forces and the RCMP receiving rehabilitation for post-traumatic stress disorder following active duty, enjoy the festive season. For which they too are extremely grateful.” Among the many gifts received were coats, flannel pants, pyjamas, TShirts, slippers, socks galore, mittens, hats, scarves, and an array of much needed toiletries. Plus puzzles, CDs, art supplies, books and, of course, lots of chocolates and candies. Consideration was also made for the 20 or so female Veterans in Ste. Anne’s, like hand-knitted scarves, crochet items, and scented products. Said Eames, “The residents in Ste. Anne’s Veterans Hospital come from all over Canada. And while some have relatives close by and all are able to Skype with their loved ones, Christmas is a difficult time of year to be apart from their families. Even with cell phones and laptops, however, the generosity of the local community goes a long way.” A drop-off box is located just in- PHOTO BY JAMES PARRY Sorting and Christmas wrapping donated gifts to the Ste. Anne’s Veterans from the community at Hudson Legion Branch #115 this week were Neil Tomiuk, Alex Timm, John Dalgarno, Linda Eames, and Mike Divine. side The Legion at 56 Beech Street, Hudson, and further donations will be welcomed up until this Saturday, December 18, with members of the Le- gion’s Executive presenting all gifts to Ste. Anne’s Volunteer Department for distribution to individual Veterans in plenty of time for Christmas Day. One for the books as Hudson War Memorial Library supports 10 local causes Cheques presented in the true spirit of gift giving at Christmas James Parry Your Local Journal For 10 local charitable organizations and worthwhile causes - and as it has done for many years now - The Hudson War Memorial Library which is totally self-funded through memberships, donations, and sales at the Bunker Shoppe in the basement and is run entirely by volunteers, played Santa this week with the presentation of cheques as its way of saying thank you for all that they do for the community. In presenting the cheques, library co-chairs, Elizabeth Dawe and Donna Seaman, explained that this show of support results from some 40 cents on every dollar raised throughout the year in excess of its own needs in order to continue going to help others. Recipients comprised The Alzheimer Society represented by Susan Allvey, Angels of Hudson - Marcus and Linnea Owen, Nazareth House Averil Robinson (in conjunction with Angels), Hudson Historical Society Frank Hicks, and Hudson Poppy Fund - Donna Atwood for Peter Stephenson who was unable to attend in person. Also La Passerelle’s Veronique Gerard, Vauldreuil-Soulanges Palliative Care Foundation - Julie-Anne Lambert, Nova - Peter Lang, Le Pont-Bridging Food Bank - Carol Laws, Hudson Fireman’s Christmas Basket Fund Adrian Bonnemayers, and Greenwood Centre for Living History -Audrey Wall. Speaking for many in attendance and enjoying tea and cookies following the presentation, Hicks put it this way. “Our town may be going through a rough time right now on so many fronts, but our community and volunteer spirit is as strong as ever. And everyone here at the Library is positive proof of that. We thank you most sincerely.” PHOTO BY JAMES PARRY Hudson War Memorial Library co-chairs Elizabeth Dawe and Donna Seaman share in a photo around the Christmas tree following the presentation of thank-you cheques for what they contribute to the community year round. Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 15 Local rugby team hosts food and toy drive Lauren Mitchell Special contributor At the young age of 20, Alex Langevin has started an annual food and toy drive with the help of his sports team, the Beaconsfield Rugby Football Club. When in a discussion of how to promote their rugby team, Langevin suggested a fundraiser involving a food and toy drive. President of the club Scott Laws, Vice President Tim Quinn and secretary Vanessa Vallieres decided to help him with finding the drop off location and advertising the event with flyers. People can bring clothing, nonperishable food items, and toys for ages 2-12. The toys will be going to the Montreal Children’s Hospital, the food collected will be going to Le Pont/ Bridging Food Bank in Hudson, and the clothing will be donated to Share the Warmth on St. Fortune Street in Montreal. Pet food can also be donated for homeless people who have dogs and cats. Toys will be dropped off anonymously at the hospital, keeping the magic of Santa Clause alive. All donations will be dropped off the following day, with the entire rugby team distributing the donations in person. Since both Langevin and Laws are originally from Hudson, he believes giving the donations to Le Pont/Bridging is a good way to give back to the community that they grew up in. It is not only the men’s rugby team that is participating, as the woman’s rugby team will also be taking part in the drive. His rugby team has been a huge support in the making of this project: “I have always thought of starting an event like this, but I could never do it alone,” Langevin said. “Being a part of my rugby team, my second family, gave me the spark to start what I have always wanted to do, which is to give to those less fortunate than us and will appreciate anything they can get. With the help of my team, we can accomplish this goal not only this year, but years to come.” Langevin said he hopes to make the drive an annual event, and make it bigger every year. He also attends Concordia University, and plays rugby for the Concordia Stingers and hopes to incorporate them in future Christmas fundraisers. Langevin said one of his biggest inspirations in doing this project is his parents who were always about giving, not receiving. “My message for those reading this article is to appreciate the PHOTO COURTESY ALEX LANGEVIN Some of the Beaconsfield Rugby Football Club members in cluding (left to right) Malcolm Baird, Corbin Mcgee, Scott Warcup, Joey Van Der Sluys, Scott Laws, Nik Chizenski and Dimitrious Fotiou are hosting their charitable toy and food drive December 20 at Le Club West Island. gifts you receive every day, appreciate your loving family and give back to those who deserve the things that we are grateful to have. Not everyone in this world can have a warm meal, wear a new shirt or play with a new toy. For the people in my community, I want people to feel the joy of giving to someone less fortunate than us, because their smile and tear in their eye knowing that they can eat for Christmas will put a smile on your face and warm your heart up. There is no other better feeling than making someone else happy.” The drive will be held Saturday December 20, from 3-9 p.m. at Le Club West Island located on 205 Alton drive, in Beaconsfield. For more information, please call Alex Langevin at (514)618-5834 or email him at alexandrelangevin94@ hotmail.com Giant menorah lit up outside Hudson Town Hall in celebration of Chanukah Symbolizing universal message of religious freedom in our community and throughout Canada James Parry Your Local Journal In celebration of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, and in the presence of many families and their children, Hudson Mayor Ed Prévost lit up a giant menorah outside the Town Hall on Tuesday night. One of an estimated 15,000 public menorahs worldwide including several on the West Island and throughout Montreal including Hampstead, Cote St. Luc, Westmount, Dollard des Ormeaux, and a giant one in Place D’Armes in front of the NotreDame Basilica. Hudson’s emotional ceremony, organized by the The Chabad Jewish Community Centre of St. Lazare and Hudson together with the Town of Hudson, was conducted by Rabbi Na- 16 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL chum Labkowski, who told Your Local Journal, “This menorah serves as a symbol of Hudson’s dedication to preserve and encourage the right and liberty of all its citizens to worship freely, openly, and with pride. “Specifically in Canada, a nation that vigorously protects the right of every person to practice his or her religion free from restraint and persecution, the menorah takes on profound significance, embodying both religious and constitutional principles.” Said Nancy Kohen, who watched as the menorah was lit on Main Road, “I want my kids to grow up with pride in their Jewish heritage and a feeling of equality and self-confidence as a Canadian. And Chabad’s Chanukah menorahs are arguably one of the most important developments ever to help Thursday, December 18, 2014 PHOTO BY JAMES PARRY Rabbi Nachum Labkowski (right) welcomes Mayor Ed Prévost, outside Hudson’s Town Hall for the lighting of the menorah in celebration of Chanukah. my child’s education.” Throughout the province of Quebec, Chabad will be presenting scores of Chanukah events and celebrations in the coming days, including not only public menorah lightings, but also giant ones made out of ice and Lego blocks, parades, latkes parties, huge dreidel houses, and Chanukah wonderlands. All to recall the victory more than 2,100 years ago of a militarily weak but spiritually strong Jewish people who defeated an enemy that had overrun ancient Israel and sought to impose restrictions on the Jewish way of life, prohibit religious freedom and force the Jewish people to accept a foreign religion. For more information, call the Centre at (450) 510-2203 or go to www. jewishstlazare.com Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 17 18 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Thursday, December 18, 2014 Sleighs and silver bells in St. Lazare DS EN D R 2N E . F N O F JA DON’T PAY + NEXT YEAR 1 0 % 6,000 UP TO $ OR FINANCING 2 UP TO 84 MONTHS 3 CASH BONUS ON SELECT MODELS ON ALL 2015 FINANCING OFFERS OR CHOOSE GREAT CASH OFFERS INCLUDES A BONUS OF 500 $ LIMITED TIME OFFER CASH PURCHASE PRICE FROM CASH PURCHASE PRICE FROM 23 495 INCLUDING 5 280 12 995 $ 3 $ INCLUDING $ 4 IN CASH CREDIT5 4 500 4500 $ IN CASH CREDIT5 GOLD KEY « BEST IN CLASS » LX BA 2015 LX BM 2015 SX model shown HWY (BA) : 5,3 L/100 KM. CITY (BA) : 8,0 L/100 KM 6 EX model shown HWY (BA) : 9,0 L/100 KM. CITY (BA) : 12,7 L/100 KM 6 CASH PURCHASE PRICE FROM 11 995 $4 3 600 3600 INCLUDING CASH PURCHASE PRICE FROM $ 3 20 975 $ IN CASH CREDIT5 INCLUDING 3 800 3800 $ IN CASH CREDIT5 I N CASH IN CA CAS CA ASH SH CRED CRE CR C RED RE R E EDI ED D DIT IT T CREDIT IIN NC CASH CAS CA A AS CREDIT CR CRE C RED R REDI ED EDI EDIT E DIT DI D IT T GOLD KEY « BEST IN CLASS » LX BM 2015 LX BM 2015 PHOTO COURTESY VILLE DE ST.LAZARE Last Saturday, December 13, more than 400 residents gathered at the community center in St. Lazare to see the show Le Noël de Frisket and to enjoy the sleigh rides organized by the Optimist Club of St. Lazare. Area children also met with Father Christmas and his elves who had many surprises in store for them. With a full stomach of grilled cheese sandwiches and hot chocolate, families have returned home with stars in their eyes. This was another successful edition of the community Christmas tradition that the town organizes for the first weekend in December each year. Carsley Whetstone Company We pay TOP $$$ for your OLD COINS and PAPER MONEY! 514-289-9761 SX Luxe model shown HWY (BA) : 7,0 L/100 KM. CITY (BA) : 10,0 L/100 KM 6 SX model with Navigation shown HWY (BA) : 5,3 L/100 KM. CITY (BA) : 7,3 L/100 KM 6 CASH PURCHASE PRICE FROM CASH PURCHASE PRICE FROM 18 995 INCLUDING $ 4 080 $ 22 995 $ IN CASH CREDIT5 INCLUDING 3 400 00 CASH $ IN CREDIT5 GOLD KEY « BEST IN CLASS » LX BA 2015 LX BM 2015 SX Turbo BA model shown HWY (BA) : 5,7 L/100 KM. CITY (BA) : 8,9 L/100 KM 6 EX Luxe model shown HWY (BA) : 6,3 L/100 KM. CITY (BA) : 9,2 L/100 KM 6 HEATED STEERING WHEEL BE READY FOR WINTER WITH OUR WINTER READY MODELS WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED *5-year/100,000 km worry-free comprehensive warranty. WINTER TIRES HEATED SEATS HEATED MIRRORS REMOTE STARTER 1,000 HOLIDAY BONUS $ Kia’s new Customer Friendly Pricing includes delivery and destination fees and all mandatory government levies. Prices do not include fuel-fill charges up to $100, dealer administration fees up to $399, licensing or applicable taxes. 8 TH ANNIVERSARY Ces offres sont accessibles, sur approbation de crédit, à tout particulier qualifié qui prend possession d’un modèle Kia 2014/2015 neuf sélectionné chez un concessionnaire participant du 2 décembre 2014 au 2 janvier 2015. Le concessionnaire peut vendre ou louer à prix inférieur. Une commande du concessionnaire peut être requise. Des conditions s’appliquent. Visitez votre concessionnaire Kia pour tous les détails. Ces offres sont sujettes à changement sans préavis. Les véhicules illustrés le sont à titre informatif et peuvent comporter des accessoires et mises à jour offerts à coûts supplémentaires. Le prix comprend les frais de transport et préparation jusqu’à 1 665 $, la taxe sur les pneus (15 $) et la taxe sur le climatiseur (100 $ lorsque applicable). Excluant les frais de permis, les assurances, l’immatriculation et les taxes applicables. 1L’offre de « Ne payez rien avant l’an prochain » (paiements différés pendant 60 jours) s’applique aux offres de financement à l’achat des modèles Kia 2015 neufs. Sur approbation du crédit. Aucun intérêt ne sera accumulé au cours des 30 premiers jours du contrat de financement. Après cette période, les intérêts commenceront à s’accumuler et l’acheteur remboursera mensuellement le capital et les intérêts s’y rapportant pendant toute la durée du contrat. 2Les rabais en argent sont disponibles à l’achat comptant des modèles 2014 sélectionnés et seront déduits du prix d’achat convenu avant taxes. Le rabais en argent maximal de 6 000 $ (incluant un rabais en argent de 5 000 $ et l’Éco-Crédit de 1 000 $) est seulement disponible sur le modèle Optima Hybride EX (OP74CE) neuf 2014. L’offre prend fin le 2 janvier 2015. 3Le prix d’achat comptant de 11 995 $/12 995 $/23 495 $/20 975 $/18 995 $/ 22 995 $ du modèle Rio4 LX BM (RO541F) 2015/Forte berline LX BM (FO541F) 2015/Sorento LX BA (SR75BF) 2015/Sportage LX BM (SP551F) 2015/Rondo LX BM (RN551F) 2015/Optima LX BA (OP742F) 2015 neuf inclut les frais de transport et préparation de 1 485 $/1 485 $/1 665 $/1 665 $/1 665 $/1 485 $, la taxe sur les pneus (15 $), la taxe sur le climatiseur (100 $ lorsque applicable) et un crédit en argent de 3 600 $/4 500 $/5 280 $/3 800 $/4 080 $/3 400 $ incluant 0 $/0 $/280 $/0 $/580 $/400 $ de participation du concessionnaire. L’immatriculation, les assurances, les frais de permis et les taxes applicables sont en sus. Le concessionnaire peut vendre à prix inférieur. Visitez votre concessionnaire Kia pour tous les détails. L’offre prend fin le 2 janvier 2015. 4Les crédits en argent sont disponibles aux particuliers lors de l’achat comptant seulement des modèles 2015 sélectionnés et seront déduits du prix d’achat convenu avant taxes. Ces crédits en argent varient selon le modèle. L’offre prend fin le 2 janvier 2015. Visitez votre concessionnaire Kia pour tous les détails. 5Le prix de détail suggéré du fabricant des modèles illustrés Sorento EX V6 TI (SR75HF) 2015/Forte SX BA (FO748F) 2015/Rio4 SX avec navigateur BA (RO749F) 2015/Sportage SX Luxe BA TI (SP759F) 2015/Rondo EX Luxe (RN756F) 2015/Optima SX Turbo BA (OP748F) 2015 neufs est de 34 495 $/26 695 $/22 395 $/38 495 $/32 295 $/34 895 $. 6La consommation de carburant Route/Ville est basée sur les modèles Rio4 1,6 L à injection directe 4 cyl. BA 2015/Forte 1,8 L à injection multipoint 4 cyl. BM 2015/Sorento LX 2,4 L à injection directe 4 cyl. BA 2015/Sportage 2,4 L 4 cyl. BA 2015/Rondo 2,0 L à injection directe 4 cyl. BA 2015/Optima 2,4 L à injection directe 4 cyl. BA 2015. Ces estimations mises à jour sont calculées sur la base de critères et de méthodes d’essai approuvés par le gouvernement du Canada. Veuillez vous référer à L’ÉNERguide, Guide de consommation de carburant. Votre consommation réelle de carburant variera en fonction de vos habitudes de conduite et d’autres facteurs. 7Le boni des fêtes de 1 000 $ est offert sur les modèles 2015 « prêts pour l’hiver » sélectionnés et sera déduit du prix d’achat convenu avant taxes. Seulement disponible sur les offres de financement à l’achat des modèles Forte LX+ BA « Hiver » SE (FO74SF), Rondo LX BA (5 places assises) « Hiver » SE (RN75SF), Rondo LX BA (7 places assises) « Hiver » SE (RN75TF) et Optima LX BA « Hiver » SE (OP74SF) 2015 neufs. Offre prenant fin le 2 janvier 2015. Les renseignements publiés dans cette annonce sont réputés être véridiques au moment de leur parution. Pour plus de renseignements sur la garantie sans souci de 5 ans, visitez le kia.ca ou composez le 1-877-542-2886. Kia est une marque de commerce de Kia Motors Corporation. Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 19 Exclusive interview with The Beat Breakfast Lauren Mitchell Special contributor On Tuesday, December 16th, my morning started off by waking up at 5:30 a.m., the same time The Beat Breakfast goes on air. I headed towards downtown Montreal at 6 a.m., Place Bonaventure being my destination. I arrived by 7 a.m. and was given a tour of the Cogeco Diffusion’s offices, where The Beat and multiple other stations broadcast. I observed the show for about an hour, and this was my experience: Paul Awad, producer of the morning 20 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL show, was the first member I met from The Beat Breakfast. He showed me his studio that had multiple monitors and large soundboards, and kept close to a pair of headphones. He oversees every minute of the program as monitors displayed the plan of the show, what song was coming up next and what segment they were going to do. One of the many things Paul would do is turn on a white light in the recording room, that would flash as a warning that they would be going on air in about 30 seconds. He would then turn on the red light, which now meant that the announcers were live and it was their cue Thursday, December 18, 2014 to turn on their microphones. After a little while of observing the production of the show, Paul introduced me to Cat Spencer, Sarah Bartok and Samy Lupo, best known as Stuntman Sam. I sat down in the studio with them and watched as they talked live on radio. Cat took calls from listeners involving pet peeves, how to handle Holiday shopping, and also the Beat Birthday Challenge. Cat and Paul answer the phone lines and ask questions to see if the caller qualifies as a good on-air candidate. They need to check for things like cell phone reception and also try to get a sense of the caller’s personality. It is important that the caller is energetic and is suitable for live radio. They will ask for the person’s number if they think they could use their opinion for future topics. I also discovered that some segments from the show are recorded live to tape, such as the Beat Birthday Phone Scam. I was then introduced to Natasha Hall, the news and traffic reporter. Her studio is separated from the other announcers since her job requires her own space. Continued on page 21 PHOTO BY ANTOINETTE DELLI COMPAGNI St. Lazare resident and Your Local Journal contributor Lauren Mitchell (third from right) spent the morning of December 16 hanging out with the crew from The Beat 92.5 (left to right) Stuntman Sam (Samy Lupo), producer Paul Awad, traffic reporter Natasha Aimée-Hall, hosts Cat Spencer and Sarah Bartok . Beat Breakfast Continued from page 21 I was then introduced to Natasha Hall, the news and traffic reporter. Her studio is separated from the other announcers since her job requires her own space. She has two different monitors that show over 40 different traffic cameras, a computer to keep an eye on her Twitter feed for the latest news, and a newspaper at her desk. She told me that it was difficult working in the same studios as the others as Cat has to answer phone calls from listeners about miscellaneous topics while Natasha has to answer calls about traffic tips. The team is very close - when they’re not on air, they often poke fun at each other. After the show was over, I had a chance to speak with all of the crew. I got to ask them silly questions like “If you could all switch jobs for one day, who would switch with who?” or “What audience do you imagine when you talk live on air?” I have to say my favourite answer came out of this question: “Can you all tell me in one word what you love most about your jobs?” Sarah was the first one to say laughing, and everyone couldn’t help but agree. I also asked the question, “Stuntman Sam already has his nickname, but what would yours be?” in which I got great answers. Cat was named the ‘Gentle Giant’, and ‘Dad’ was even a suggested nickname. Cat has been in the radio business since he was 17 years old, so everyone sees him as the father figure. Sarah was called the ‘Smart Aleck’, because she tells it like it is. Natasha went along with Sarah’s nickname and got nicknamed ‘Smarty Pants’ as she talks about the news, and finally Paul took on the title of ‘Captain’ because he is the leader of the show. This experience brought me closer to the announcers I listen to daily and I’m happy to report they all genuinely like each other and are just as funny off-air as they are on-air. For more information see our facebook page. Hudson New Garbage Collection Schedule for January, February and March 2015. Beginning on January 5th, 2015 the Town of Hudson will begin a new garbage collection schedule for the residential sections of Hudson. The commercial section will maintain its current regular collection schedule of twice per week. For the eastern and western sections of Hudson garbage will be collected once every two weeks. The first collection will be on Monday, January 5th for the eastern region then the next will be on January 19th and so forth. The first collection will be on Thursday, January 8th for the western region then the next will be on January 22nd and so forth. This new schedule will be in effect until the end of March 2015. Beginning April 2nd 2015 a new three year garbage collection contract will come into operation. For further information you may consult the Town of Hudson’s web site at www.ville.hudson.qc.ca Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 21 Alternative decorating ideas for a unique and green Christmas Stephanie O’Hanley Special Contributor No traditional Christmas tree? No problem! Here are some fun ideas for an alternative Christmas tree. We’ve also included D.I.Y. decorating suggestions for a unique and eco-friendly Christmas. 1. Christmas card tree. Arrange and tape cards to a wall in a Christmas 22 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL tree shape. Attach a star above. 2. A book tree. Stack your books in the shape of a Christmas tree. Add a string of lights. A variation: wrap your books in green wrapping paper before piling them up. 3. Wine cork Christmas tree. At least 50 natural or synthetic wine corks can make up a tabletop tree, so you may need to ask friends and family for Thursday, December 18, 2014 PHOTO COURTESY SARAH BURNELL/FLOURISH & KNOT PHOTO COURTESY STEPHANIE O’HANLEY A simple door decoration uses nature’s natural seasonal décor of pinecones. Don’t toss that collection of old wine corks – repurpose them for a one-of-a-kind holiday creation. donations. Buy an 11-inch paper craft cone (styrofoam isn’t as environmentally friendly) and use a glue gun to attach the wine corks. A second layer will cover the gaps. Pin on decorations and put a star on top. 4. Plant stand-ins. A bushy potted rosemary plant brought indoors for the winter makes a fine faux Christmas tree. You can also find rosemary plants pruned to resemble pine trees for sale in some grocery stores. A sturdy houseplant can also work as a substitute tree. Just add ornaments and lights. 5. Put a bare tree branch or pruned evergreen boughs in a festive pot. Decorate. 6. A wooden ladder makes a beautiful Christmas “tree” when dressed up with lights, ornaments and garlands. 7. Ornament tree. A blog called not martha shows you how to make a gorgeous Christmas tree ornament mobile you can hang like a chandelier. 8. Make a live pine or fir tree wrapped with its roots balled in burlap your Christmas tree. Follow the nursery’s care instructions and keep your tree in an unheated area after Christmas so you can plant it outdoors in the spring. Or buy a potted dwarf pine tree you can grow indoors yearround and enjoy for many Christmases. 9. Popcorn and Cranberry Garlands. Already have a traditional cut Christmas tree? Use nylon thread and a needle to string unbuttered, popped popcorn into a garland. Or craft a garland out of fresh cranberries or combine popcorn and cranberries. 10. Door décor. On her Flourish & Knot blog, Île Perrot resident Sarah Burnell tells you how to make a beautiful and simple door decoration with pine cones, ribbon and a bell. The strength of teamwork…With a reputation p ffor results. START PACKING! GREAT FAMILY HOME CHANTEREL EXECUTIVE BEAUTY D L O S Centris #14549445 $374,900 1242 Rue de Lexington, St-Lazare Centris #23723892 $399,000 1700 Du Sauternes, St-Lazare Centris #15815208 $649,000 2336 Pl. Du Gala, St-Lazare PHOTO BY MICHAEL GREEN Beautiful property located on Deer Hill in Rigaud includes two houses, main home and guest house. For more info contact domainedelamontagne.com/exit-performa.com Centris #9861118 Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 23 PLANTAGENET, ONTARIO ALFRED, ONTARIO $239,900 Monique Leduc Sales Representative REALTY EXECUTIVES PLUS LTD 613-679-2801 816 StaƟon St. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms split-level. Newer roof and natural gas furnace. Central air and vac. Fireplace. Quiet cul de sac. 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Dream master bedroom with elegant ensuite bath + dressing area. Spacious Įnished bsmt with addiƟonal room that serves as home oĸce, double playroom and loads of storage. $375,000 Pierrefonds. Popular Greendale! Lovingly maintained 4 level split feature 4 bedrooms, hardwood Ňoors and renovated kitchen. Welcome home! $349,900 ZSOLT FISCHER 514-655-4116 Real Estate Broker 514-668-9777 CerƟĮed Real Estate Broker C #11573451 514-816-0729 Real Estate Broker #12218280 Verdun. 3 large 5 ½ 2 bedroom units, each approx.. 1050 sq. Ō. living space. Hardwood Ňoors. PotenƟal revenue of $29,400! $445,000 #25001352 Pierrefonds/Roxboro. Spacious 2 bedroom condo close to all services and transportaƟon. Lots of natural light. Must see! $204,900 ANITA LASIS EVELYNE MICYK 24 514-668-9777 CerƟĮed Real Estate Broker C EVELYNE MICYK JUST LISTED! Have a Safe & Happy Holiday Season! EVELYNE MICYK Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful Holiday season as well as a healthy and prosperous 2015! YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Thursday, December 18, 2014 514-668-9777 CerƟĮed Real Estate Broker C 514-594-4964 Real Estate Broker LUCY GACKI #15310825 Saint-Lazare. Over 2400 sq. Ō. of living space on cul-de-sac in family friendly Sandcastle. Hardwood and ceramic throughout. Fully Įnished basement. $417,900 #21371384 Pincourt. One of a kind! Spacious Viceroy home on 12,000 sq. Ō. of fenced land. 1700 sq. Ō. of living space. 3+3 bedrooms. 2 full baths. $329,000 Volunteers sought for West Island Citizen Advocacy • An Anglophone woman living in Lachine with health problems who doesn’t venture out often would appreciate a female volunteer to provide some social and emotional support through regular visits. She walks with a walker. She is a smoker and does have a cat. For more information, please call Marla at (514) 694-5850. • An elderly British woman in Dorval with a number of health issues is in need of a female volunteer advocate to provide practical support such as accompaniment on outings. For more information, please call Marla at (514) 694-5850. • An elderly Pointe Claire woman would appreciate a female volunteer to provide some social and practical support while her husband goes bowling twice a week. She is a cancer survivor and has some mobility issues. Her husband is concerned she could fall while he’s out of the home. For more info, please call Marla at (514) 694-5850. • A woman in her late 50s living in a residence in Pierrefonds would appreciate having a female volunteer advocate who could visit her on a regular basis, once a week on a Tuesday would be preferable. She has MS and uses a wheelchair. She likes playing cards and would enjoy short outings, (going out for a coffee or a short ride in her wheelchair outside.) For more information, please phone Yolande at (514) 694-5850. • A woman in her early 60s living in Senneville who has recently had a stroke would enjoy having a female volunteer advocate who could visit her on a regular basis. She use to write poetry and loves to read. She has her own car which the volunteer could drive to go on short outings. For more information, please phone Yolande at (514) 694-5850. • A bilingual Pierrefonds woman in her 60s would really appreciate having a female volunteer advocate who could help her with her computer. She would like to learn how to use Skype. For more information, please phone Yolande at (514) 6945850. • A young Chinese woman in her early 40s who is suffering from depression is looking for a female volunteer advocate to visit her once a week for light conversations. She lives with her husband in Pointe Claire and has a very gentle demeanor. If you are interested in volunteering please phone Judy at (514) 694-5850. • An elderly gentleman in his 80s living in Pointe Claire is looking for a male volunteer advocate to visit with him and maybe go for the occasional coffee. He suffers from mild depression and has mobility issues. Should you wish to volunteer for this person please phone Judy at (514) 694-5850. • An English speaking 81-year-old woman living in a residence in Pierrefonds is in need of a volunteer to visit with her once a week or once every two weeks for conversations. She is paralyzed and is in a wheel chair. She is a lovely woman with a kind disposition. If this interests you please phone Judy at (514) 6945850. • We are desperately looking for male volunteers to help out in our Youth Engagement matching project, which matches volunteers with individuals with intellectual disabilities to help break their social isolation. We are looking for soccer players, coffee drinkers, chess players, etc. If you think that you can help, please call Susana at (514) 694-5850. • A Lachine man with a lovely sense of humor and a mild intellectual handicap would love to have an occasional friendly visitor to share his love of martial arts and the Power Rangers. If you think that you can help, please contact Susana at (514) 694-5850. • A very soft spoken Francophone man with a moderate intellectual disability living in a mostly Anglophone residence in Roxboro is looking for a friend to chat with. The volunteer will have to be patient as the gentleman requires additional time to complete his tasks. If you think you can help, please call Susana at (514) 694-5850. Call me.... to handle your Commercial, Residential & Income Real estate Vaudreuil Village MLS 24315373 $199,800 Rigaud MLS 21891919 2 W $229,000 011 Semi-det 1604 sf 3 bdrm cottage. Upgrad- hy buy a condo? Charming MOVEed light ¿xtures, crown mouldings, double IN condition 3 upper bedrooms + too kitchen sink, stainless hood fan, heat & A/C wall many renos & updates to list here! Fenced unit, paved driveway, 4 ¼ birch plank wood Àoors yard & 2 car driveway. throughout, landscaped with perennials & mature cedars, bsmt side door, warranty. Vaudreuil West MLS 21045443 $499,500 Montréal Rentals from $1100/month 1 & 3 bedroom renovated apartments in ature lovers’ paradise! Renovated 4 bdrm downtown MTL adjacent to Bell Center, with ¿replace, forced air, double garage, fruit trees, perennials and your own forest all gourmet shop and metro station. Available immediately. Please see Centris 10242464 set on a spectacular 73614sf lot, 3 minutes to & 26151496 hwy 40. N Entrelacs MLS 18004995 M $169,000 ountainside love nest! View and access to Lac Des Cèdres! TURN KEY home completed in 2013 with NEW; well, septic, plumbing, Àoors, modern kitchen and bathroom and more. Rosemont MLS 26130743 W Ville St-Laurent MLS 9890928 From $1000/month O pportunity to start your OWN business!!! From 276 sf to 825 sf. Can be used as Of¿ce &, retail space, meeting or showroom! Turn key within a high traf¿c, 24hr managed hotel with onsite restaurant & parking. Minutes to Airport. Turks and Caicos Islands $299,000 MLS 10109444 from $175,000 alker’s paradise! Modern open concept 2 race Bay Beach-Luxurious resort commubdrm ¿rst Àoor corner unit condo. Harwood nity, fully furnished 1,2 & 3 bdrms units. Àoors, extremely sunny with large balcony in a Saltwater pool, gym, elevator and garage. Op2008 well managed building near metro, daycares tional rental program and just a 4 hour Àight! and bordering Outremont, Mile End, Little Italy. G Send stories and/or photos about your events to: [email protected] Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 25 PHOTO BY BRIGITTE LEGAULT Mathieu Belanger-Hudon is in full action against the Montagnards last Friday night, December 12. Quebec’s Junior Hockey League The Vaudreuil Mustangs slipped in a two-game losing streak Marc C-Gaudet Special contributor There is no good time to lose a hockey game, but the Vaudreuil Mustangs missed two excellent opportunities of climbing higher in the QJHL standing. They dropped their two contests and fell into the seventh spot with 15 wins and 4 OT losses in the first 33 games. First, they travelled to Ste. Agathe to play the Montagnards on Friday, December 12. The Montagnards humiliated them 7-5. And two days later they hosted the St. Leonard Arctic who disappointed them 7-5 in their home ice on Jeanotte Street. Last Sunday afternoon, December14, the Mustangs battled hard against the Arctic. Emeric Hudon pushed the Mustangs when he scored his 31st goal in the 11th minute of play. Forty-eight seconds later, Matthew Valente tied the game and in the 19th minute of play Cedric Lachapelle propelled the Mustangs in a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. In the middle frame, Charles Ouimet brought the two teams into a 2-2 deadlock. More than three minutes later, Etienne Salvail scored and pushed the ‘Stangs in a 3-2 lead. But at 11:12 Andy Friaz-Perron tied the game at 3-3 after 40 minutes. BUON NATALE! Merci à tous mes clients et Meilleurs Voeux pour la Nouvelle Année! Thank-you to all of my customers Best Wishes for the New Year! Arnaldo Vincenzi Tailor 450 458-4858 80 Cameron, Hudson 26 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL In the ninth minute of the last frame, Samuel Landry moved the Mustangs in a 4-3 lead. But the newly-acquired Arctic Jesse Robert, from Valleyfield Braves last week, whipped his new team into a 5-4 lead with two goals in a span of two minutes and 11 seconds. Pietro Iannitelli increased that lead at 16:01. Alexandre Gauthier tried to bring the two teams closer but with 17 seconds left on the clock, Massimo Lo Russo sealed the win in scoring an empty-netter. “Those guys are our black sheep, they fight very hard against us,” commented Emeric Hudon after the game. Mustangs’ netminder Mathieu Belanger-Hudon allowed six goals on the 28 pucks he faced. At the other end, Sebastien Dube-Rochon blocked 22 of the 27 shots he faced. Last Friday, December 12, the Mustangs visited the Montagnards in Ste. Agathe. They enjoyed a very interesting time as they took a 3-1 lead in the opening frame Even if Antoine Venne opened the scoring for the Montagnards in the first minute, 35 seconds later, Alexandre Gauthier tied the game. Before the end of the initial period, Alex Lafrenière and Etienne Salvail pushed the visitors in the lead. The Mustangs blew that lead early in the second period when Samuel Landry tallied at 2:47 and more than four minutes later, Etienne Salvail carried the visitors into a comfortable 5-1 lead. The first 27 minutes of the game belonged to the Mustangs. In the 11th minute of the middle stanza, Philippe Venne reduced that lead. Six minutes later Antoine Venne recorded his second goal of the night and the Mustangs led 5-3 after 40 minutes. In the last frame, the roof of the arena fell on the Mustangs’ heads. As early as the 18th second, Zachary Beaudoin brought the two teams closer. Thursday, December 18, 2014 At 5:20 Gael Lubwele tied the game. In the 12th minute, Anthony Patriarco pushed the Montagnards in a 6-5 lead and with 47 seconds left on the clock Joel Caron secured the win. “We worked very hard the whole 60 minutes, the referee started to give us undeserved penalties in the third period, so we lost the momentum. We didn’t deserve those penalties,” said Emeric Hudon after the game. Now, the Mustangs will prepare to face the Montreal-East Rangers in a home-and-home doubleheader. This Friday, December 19, they will visit the Rangers, and two days later, on December 21st, they will entertain those Rangers at the arena on Jeanotte Street at 3:30 p.m. Sports and studies PHOTO COURTESY VAUDREUIL MUSTANGS The Vaudreuil Mustangs are very proud to support their players in their school successes. This is why they will give out a monthly $200 bursary to the player who had the best results. For November, Mathieu Amyot received that honour from Etienne Leduc (left). Amyot is a 2nd year student in Nature Science at Valleyfield College. YLJ Around the world registrations for Winter activities Saint-Lazare Community Centre (1301 Rue du Bois) Thursday, January 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. For all available activities Recreation and Community life booklet www.ville.saint-lazare.qc.ca/en/liaisons PHOTO COURTESY SANDI PRÉVOST Bride and groom, Shelley Hawkins and Chris Shadbolt, residents of Vaudreuil-Dorion, and their two children, family and friends (56 in all) enjoyed a truly joyous wedding celebration November 27 in Cuba. Beautiful bride, beautiful beach, just a tad too much breeze! ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJůŝĨĞĂŶĚƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĚĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚϰϱϬͲϰϮϰͲϴϬϬϬ͕Ğdžƚ͘ϮϮϬ Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 27 Murdock family running for dad, Lakeshore dialysis facilities Fundraising goal set at $5,000 in support of Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation Special to Your Local Journal As many West Islanders gear up for a holiday season that won’t be complete without a cornucopia of treats, indulgences, and goodies, a Beaconsfield man is having visions of his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters running long distances in his honour dancing in his head this holiday season. Beaconsfield resident Harold Murdock, who is experiencing late-stage kidney failure, gets dialysis treatments three days a week at the Lakeshore General Hospital, and his family has been so impressed by the care he has received there that they have embarked on an ambitious fundraising project – the end goal is $5,000 – called Dollars for Dialysis that will be earmarked to further upgrade the hospital’s hemodialysis facilities. His son Danny, now residing in North Carolina, will run alongside his eldest daughter Brittany in the ‘Walt Disney World ‘Dopey Challenge,’ on four consecutive days in early January in Orlando. The pair will run in five- and 10-kilometre races, followed by a half-marathon (21.1 km) and a full marathon (46.2km) on Jan. 7 through 11. Danny’s wife Kathryn and youngest daughter Heidi will also run in the five- and 10-kilometre events, while the couple’s middle daughter Vanessa will run in the five-, 10- and 21.1-km events – and they’re doing it all to honour Harold Murdock, and the care he has received at the Lakeshore General Hospital. It’s truly a family affair, Danny said. “It’s not just the person going through kidney failure that is truly impacted. It’s all of them who are the 28 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL closest. It’s to honour my father, who is the ultimate fighter and overcomes one battle after the next and has taught our family and our children that you never give up in life, even on its darkest days. It is for my mother, who without complaint gets up and takes Dad very early each dialysis morning and wheels him into the hospital,” he said, adding that their perseverance, as well as that shown by his sister Debra, who lives in Kirkland and is taking care of spearheading the fundraising and accounting, has served as an example for his children as well. “(My mom) has taught us and our children about commitment, and finally it is for my sister. She holds things together, keeps the family moving forward and without her I don’t know what I would do or how we would ever deal with this reality. She has taught all of us about selflessness.” Were it not for the Lakeshore General Hospital hemodialysis facilities in Pointe Claire, patients like Harold Murdock would be forced to spend hours on the road going to and from the West Island to hospitals in the downtown core and further for regular dialysis appointments, which can take up to four hours at a time. Debra Murdock said the excellent care her dad has received courtesy of the Lakeshore – and the fact that patients like him can receive the care they need close to home, in their own community, is a great reason to keep on working to upgrade the facilities. “As you can imagine, going on a dialysis machine four to five hours a day, three days a week, dramatically changes the life of the patient and the family. So it’s a great relief to have the Lake- Thursday, December 18, 2014 PHOTO COURTESY LAKESHORE GENERAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION This unique family will be running 78.8 km in four days in an effort to raise $5,000 for Dollars for Dialysis, a Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation fund that is earmarked to upgrade the dialysis facilities at the hospital early in the New Year. shore General Hospital Dialysis clinic so close to home and staffed with so many wonderful, caring doctors, nurses and technicians,” she said. Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation managing director Heather Holmes praised the Murdock family’s commitment to community health care, saying their dedication to helping improve the quality of patient care at the Lakeshore General Hospital makes them role models in the community. “Their perseverance is just incredible. When illness impacts an individual, it affects their entire family, and the Murdock family has taken on this challenge together – and they’re taking concrete steps to improve the facilities for every patient like Harold Murdock. That’s truly inspiring,” she said. For more information on the Dollars for Dialysis Project, please visit the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation online at fondationlakeshore.ca/dollarsdialysis-2/, or call (514) 630-2081. We Wish You a Merry Solstice Stephen Schettini Special contributor Chr istmas is an ancient festival but the twelve-day celebration around the winter solstice is not a Christian invention. It used to be the Pagan Yule—also a twelve-day feast—and before that, who knows? It’s a natural holiday for all cultures. There’s the Roman Saturnalia, the Chaomos of the Kalash Kafir people and the Asian Dõngzhì, to mention just three. The solstice is most significant in lands close to the poles, where the days grow noticeably shorter and growth ceases. It’s easy to imagine our ancestors gathered around the fire, feasting on stored produce and looking to the heavens for signs of the lengthening day. It’s a time to celebrate. Today’s enlightened cultures are less connected to the cycles of nature. We’ve blotted out the dark with electricity, and have all but lost our intimacy with the circling night sky, the phases of the moon and the mystery of the cosmos. CECI N’EST PAS UN CONTENANT The commercialization of Christmas pulls us in quite another direction, leaving us as likely to feel stressed and lonely as reflective and loved. It’s a time when family squabbles burst into the open and the joy of giving is overshadowed by the anxiety of whether it’s enough. It takes effort to get into the Christmas spirit. What sort of effort, however, isn’t obvious. Most of us just want to be happy, but find ourselves gritting our teeth at the thought of Christmas. Why can’t we just count our blessings and be of good cheer? Maybe Christmas has become crass, but that’s not all there is to it. It’s religious too, but that’s still not all there is to it. We may have lost touch with the natural emotions of the winter solstice, but because tradition brings us together we celebrate nonetheless, and it still resonates. At this time of year I take the time to turn off the lights, step into the crisp night and look up. I can’t imagine any human being untouched by the sight. It’s a blunt reminder of our smallness and impermanence, that we’re fragile, mortal and united in our need for love and fear of death. The vastness is a reminder to live, breathe and reflect on questions without answers, the way we once did as children. Our routine hardships will still be waiting for us af- CECI N’EST PAS UN EMBALLAGE PHOTO COURTESY DREAMSTIME ter twelfth night, but there’s freedom in knowing that we’re not alone, and that there’s more to life than fixing things. This is a time to return to the simple contemplation of our small place in this big world. It doesn’t solve our perennial problems, but it does put them in perspective. CECI N’EST PAS UN IMPRIMÉ Stephen Schettini hosts The Naked Monk blog and will teach a new Mindful Reflection™ workshop starting February 5th, entitled Relationships & How to Master Them. More info at www.thenakedmonk.com, or call Caroline at (450) 853-0616. CONTENANTS EMBALLAGES ET IMPRIMÉS C’EST TOUT CE QUI VA DANS LE BAC POUR TROUVER LE POINT DE CHUTE DE TOUT CE QUI NE VA PAS DANS LE BAC RECREER.CA Le placement publicitaire de la présente campagne s’inscrit dans le cadre de la Loi sur la qualité de l’environnement (chapitre Q-2) et de la réglementation relative. Les journaux assujettis sont tenus de contribuer en espaces publicitaires à leur juste part. Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 29 ATTORNEY COMPUTERS FRAMING GRAPHIC DESIGN SALES - new & refurbished units REPAIRS - CONFIGURATION SYSTEM UPGRADES - NETWORKS (450) 424-6205 www.pc-teck.com E-mail : [email protected] 590 Ave. St-Charles Vaud-Dorion MANAGEMENT SERVICES NOTARY Mtre. Kim Isings B.Sc., P. Eng, B.C.L., L.L.B., D.D.N. MOVING NOTARY – NOTAIRE CONSEILLÈRE JURIDIQUE – LEGAL COUNSEL Spécialist(e): Successions DÉMÉNAGEMENT P. ENOS MOVING LOCAL & LONG DISTANCE PACKING & STORAGE ONE ITEM OR WHOLE HOUSE LICENSED & INSURED 61 Cameron, Bureau 220 Hudson QC J0P 1H0 Tel : 450-458-0007 Fax : 450-458-0168 Tel: 450.458.4857 Cell: 514.386.1278 Your Local Journal Pierre Enos PHOTOGRAPHY RENOVATIONS [email protected] OPTICIAN REAL ESTATE RENOVATIONS ROOFING TREE SERVICE VENTILATION WHERE’S YOUR CARD? (450) 510-4007 30 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Thursday, December 18, 2014 ANTIQUES BANKRUPTCY CAT CARE Experts ABRACADABRA Local turn your hidden in matters of treasures into ready Bankruptcy and cash. International Insolvency since You are going on vacation and you need a trusted person buyer wants to pur- 1994. First Consulta- to take care of chase your antiques, tion Free. Available your cats? Nataly paintings, china, crystal, gold, silverware, jewellery, rare books, sports, movies, postcards, coins, stamps, records. 514-501-9072. APARTMENTS FOR RENT Two floor open concept studio apartment for rent. Prime location in center of Hudson Village. Includes 1 full bathroom & 1 powder room. Large private backyard with screened in porch. Immediate occupancy. $985 per month.Heating included. Call 450-458-1144. Nights & Weekends. Solid reputation for Reliability, Honesty & Integrity in our field of Expertise. Blumer Lapointe Tull & Associes Syndics Inc. www.blumerlapointetull.com. 514 426 4994 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AT T E N T I O N SELF-MOTIVATED ENTREPRENEURS - Build an income in the Health and Wellness Industry by operating a Mini-Office Outlet from home. Free online training. Visit www.dianepartenza.com to see if this is a fit for you. COLLECTIBLES WANTED A Military Collector looking for medals, flags, swords and uniforms, pins, documents, books, helmets, hats, all related war memorabilia. WWI, WWII, Canadian/ German or others. Also looking for antique items, collectibles of all kinds, aviation and nautical items, coins, badges, maps, old signs. Top dollar paid. Please call Patrick, 514-234-4323 or email patrick148@ ca.inter.net. 2760A Cote St-Charles, St-Lazare (next to Mon Village) ACCOUNTANTS KARAVOLAS BOILY, CPA INC. Taxes and Accounting 438 Main Road, Hudson Tel : 450-458-0406, ATTORNEY Aumais Chartrand 100 boul. Don Quichotte, bureau 12 L’Ile-Perrot, QC J7V 6C7 Ph: 514-425-2233 ext. 229 [email protected] BOOKKEEPING Bryan Todd, B. Comm (Acct.) Business and Personal Accounting Services, Tax Preparations & Filings Ph. (514) 730-5966 Labelle is available for Hudson,St-Lazare area. Call 514-6058237. CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR Christmas Craft Fair Charity Event. Friday Dec 19th from 7-9pm & Saturday Dec 20th from 9:30-2pm. 260 McGill Street, Hawkesbury. 1 Canned Good or 0.50$ donation. Supporting 18 local Moms. CLEANING SERVICES A Special Christmas Gift for the extraordinary person in your life. Sylvie Farmer’s Professional Cleaners offers a new service: “one-shot cleaning” for house, garage, basement, seasonal, etc. Call for free estimate: 514-972-8237.Pet and house sitting available. Sylvie Farmer wishes all of her clients Season’s Greetings & Best Wishes for the New Year. COMPUTER SERVICES Wolftech Inc. Since 2004. PC/Laptop repair, sales and services. Custom system builds. Software/ hardware upgrades, virus – malware removal Data recovery, network and internet troubleshooting. Pick up or In-home service. Very competitive rates. Windows and other software tutorials. HTTP://wolftech. ca service@wolftech. ca 514-923-5762 CUSTOMER SERVICE Customer Service Position available with E-commerce Fashion Brand in Hudson. Experience with e-mail and Facebook support. $15.00 per hour. Full or part time. Contact: Graham 514-9804848 / graham@ holyclothing.com EXCAVATION FIREWOOD FOR SALE Dry FOR SALE firewood. SAWMILLS from only $4,397. MAKE MONEY & SAVE MONEY Stacking and kindling available. Very reasonable. Dan: 514.291.1068 FINANCIAL SERVICES FINANCIAL PROBLEMS? Drowning in debt! Stop the harassment. Bankruptcy might not be the answer. Together let’s find a solution - Free Consultation. Bill Hafner - Trustee in Bankruptcy. 514-983-8700. MONTREAL AREA ONLY FOR SALE DENTISTS Dr. Don Littner & Dr. Morty Baker 472B Main Rd, Hudson Ph. (450) 458-5334 FITNESS & INJURIES Greg Lothian, B.Sc.,CAT(C), CSCS Professional strength coach & Low back/ injury reconditioning therapist. Become strong & injury free! 514-867-5684 mifitpro.com IMMIGRATION Brazolot Migration Group 35 Wharf Road, Hudson, QC (450) 458-2186 [email protected] JOIN THE PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY 450-510-4007 [email protected] Memory foam for double bed, GARBAGE REMOVAL Best Quality. All Shapes & Colours Available. Call 1-866652-6837. www.thecoverguy.ca. MAG WHEELS QCNA (Quebec (Set of 4). RTX C o m m u n i t y Baron 15” Mag Newspapers AsWheels with Kumho sociation) can P185/65R15 All Season Tires. Used one season. $400. 514705-8760 Mini-Excavation #1 high speed of any kind (10 internet $32.95/ Absoyears experi- month. Grad- lutely no ports are ence). ing, French drains, spreading of top soil and stone, driveways etc. ... RBQ and insurance. Ben 514-8385922. 60% OFF! 20x28, 30x40, 40x62, 45x90, 50x120, 60x150, 80x100 sell for balance owed! Call 1-800-457-2206. www. crownsteelbuildings. ca. never used, in original packaging. $200.00 450-458-7940 blocked. Unlimited downloading. Up to 11Mbps download and 800Kbps upload. Order today at www. acanac.ca or call toll free 1-866-281-3538. place your classified ad into 24 weekly papers throughout Quebec - papers just like the one you are reading right now! One phone call does it all! Call Marnie at QCNA 514-697-6330. Visit: www.qcna.org. NOTARIES Jean-Pierre Boyer L.L., L., D.D.N. 1576 C Ste. Angélique, St. Lazare Ph. (450) 455-2323 OPTICIANS Lunetterie Vista 1867 E Ste. Angélique, St. Lazare Ph. (450) 455-4500 ORTHODONTISTS Dr. Amy Archambault Dr. Paul Morton GUITAR LESSONS STEEL BUILD- HOLIDAY GIFT I N G S / M E T A L C E R T I F I C AT E B U I L D I N G S SPECIAL: ASSESS- with your own bandmill - cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free info & DVD: www. NorwoodSawmills. com/400OT. 1-800566-6899 ext:400OT. The LoanProvider HOT TUB (SPA) .com 750$ Loans Covers. Best Price, Approved in 1 Hour. No Credit Check. 1-866-442-8284. FOR SALE Ivan’s Garbage Removal will remove renovation debris and junk from houses, sheds, garages, basements. Also old fences, decks and balconies. Available 7 days/ week. Call 514804-8853. GENERAL HELP TEAM LEADERS REQUIRED to direct production of hand assembly products in Vaudreuil-Dorion. Afternoon shift available. Start $13.50/hr.Must be able to read, write, speak English and meet/exceed production quotas. Email resume, cover letter to careers@ portablepackaging. com. MENT PLUS 4 HOURS OF GUITAR LESSONS, TAILORED TO STUDENT, ONLY $100.00. CONTEMPORARY BLUES A SPECIALTY. CALL DOMENIC FOR DETAILS: 438-2891467. HOUSE FOR RENT Hudson-Furnished, Brick cottage. 2+Bedroom. 2 Bath. Medium to long term. $1850 /month. Telephone & Cable-Extra.Call 450763-2232. HOUSE CLEANING Cleaning available. lady Excellent references. Call Sharon: 450-424-6593. YLJ Supplying your VaudreuilDorion, St-Lazare, Hudson and West Island Regions PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES drs. Martina Kleine-Beck Psychologist 514.265.1386 martinakb _ 58@ hotmail.com PSYCHOSOCIAL SERVICES Are you feeling overwhelmed? Marianne Birch BSW, MSW, OTSTCFQ Member Anxiety Issues, Self-Esteem, Substance Abuse & Behavioral Concerns 514-240-2692 [email protected] Your Local Specialists in Orthodontics 3206, boul. de la Gare, Suite 160 Vaudreuil-Dorion (450)218-1892 PHARMACIES Marilou Leduc Affiliated BRUNET 1771 Ste. Angelique, St. Lazare Ph. (450) 424-9289 PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL SERVICES Sandy Farrell, Davis Facilitator Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD & Learning disabilities can be corrected. www.dyslexiacorrection.ca (450) 458-4777 Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 31 MOVING ¿Moving? All jobs. Reliable, reasonable, fully equipped. Local and Ontario, Maritimes, USA. 35 yrs experience. Call Bill or Ryan. 514.457.2063 OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS PIANO LESSONS PIANO FOR SALE RUST PROOFING Two Small offices or studios. Main Road Photography Wo r k s h o p s in St-Lazare!! Jacques Harvey Piano School. Ex- Professional Rustproofing. Marty Auto near Cameron in Hudson. $175 and $250 per month respectively. Immediate. Flexible. Possibility of 3 more professional office spaces. Call 514-677-7696 Learn, make friends, have fun while you master the tricks and tools to bring your photography to the next level. Now taking registrations for the Winter 2015 season!! More info at 1926 Knabe Grand Piano, 6’ 4”, Mahogany exterior. MUSIC LESSONS Music lessons for Christmas! Piano, perienced, qualified teacher offers piano lessons to beginners or advanced students. Children and adults are welcome. Call 450-455-1544. ThePhotoAdventure. com singing lessons from a qualified professional with over 20 years experience. Adults and children. Various styles. 450-424-1072. YLJ Supplying your Vaudreuil-Dorion, St-Lazare, Hudson and West Island Regions EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES New hammers. Wonderful sound. Includes 36” bench. Professionally evaluated at $10,500. Selling for $5,000. Call 450-458-4848 or 514-938-1816. Body. 84 Bellevue, Hudson, 450-4581148. SERVICES Cleaning services available. Efficient, reliable. Good references. Please call 450-202-0600 CAREER OPPORTUNITY SERVICES SERVICES PA I N T I N G PLASTERWALLPAPER . V a c u u m Cleaner. Sales and repair of all brands, 27 LET HANS AND MICHAEL DO IT. 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE. CALL:514262-3329 or 514549-1330. Brunet Renovation for all your home general repairs. Renovation big or small ,drywall paint, Bathroom ,basement years of experience. Call Sylvain 514-5922173. All renovations and construction. Free estimates. Framing, plaster, windows, doors, floors, stairs, ceramic tiling, painting. Basements, kitchens, bathrooms. Experienced work. Jonathan: 514402-9223. RBQ 5688-2244-01. Handyman. Painting, installing fixtures, locks, and most household jobs. Ask about senior discount. Call John the Handyman- 514623-5786 32 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Thursday, December 18, 2014 years in service (Electrolux, Filter Queen, Kenmore, Samsung and Central Vac) Special on Hoover Central Vac w/standard kt at $399. (other brands avaialable from $329 and up. Repair and service of all central vacuum systems. Parts and bags (all makes). Small appliance repair. Carpet cleaner rental available. NEW: Oreck Excel air purifiers $329. Aspirateurs Hudson.com 67 McNaughten Hudson, Quebec 450-458-7488 C A R P E T CLEANING also sofas, mattresses, interior of vehicles, and other. 613-675-2428 work done Saturday & Sunday only. Computer, Pets, Odd Jobs. Friendly Hudson Nerd available for computer repairs, help with pets, shopping & jobs around the house. Call Robin 514-2343780 AUTOS FOR SALE 1996 Honda Civic Si with multiple modifications: JDA B16A SIR II, cams, Exedy clutch, JDM ITR S80 LSD trans. w/short shift, urethane engine mounts, Sparco quick release steering wheel, Sparco seats w/Willans 4 pt. harness, Neuspeed sport springs w/Koni front shocks, frt/ rear strut bars, stainless brake lines and much more. $6500 or best offer. 514218-2776 1996 Camry, Toyota 190,000 km. 4 door sedan, fully loaded, new disc brakes & exhaust. Extra clean. Asking $1,225. Call 514-652-7020 AUTOS FOR SALE AUTOS FOR SALE Kia Sportage Mercury VilLX 2009 with lager minivan Convenience Pack- 1995. 275,000 km. age, (4WD), manual, 136,000kms, very good condition, never accidented, new 4 season tires, towing hitch inc., asking $8,900 neg., 450-424-4308 Still registered and roadworthy. Needs winter tires. $999. Call or text Martin 514-346-3234. Mazda 3 for sale, Mazda Protégé 2006, charcoal-black, 5-speed AC, 5, 2003, 5 doors, 4-door, 159,000 km, $3495. manual transmis- (514) 941-5320 sion, A/C, 171,000 km. Runs well. Asking $1,675. Call 450Mazda3 2006, 4 458-0581 (evenings), door, manual, sun438-822-6875 (cell) roof, fully loaded with AC 159, 000km. 1999 Lumina Includes 4 winter LS – 103,000km. tires used 1 season. Original Owner-Non Asking $ 3400. Also Smoker.A/C, ABS, selling 4 summer Cruise Control & tires with mags askTowing Hitch. 4 new ing $450. Call or text Winter Tires on Rims. 514-690-5463. Excellent Condition – $ 1,500. Call Frank at 450-458-8699. AUTOS FOR SALE 2003 Kia Rio, Automatic, Green, new all season tires, very clean, 121000kms, $2,500 2003 Kia Rio, Standard, Silver, very clean, 172000kms, $2,200 both 4door. 514773-0394 2010 Chrysler 300 LTD 3.5 litre, 89,000 km . All equipped, excellent condition, sun roof, leather interior, snow tires. $13,900. Call 450-218-3564 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Mazda 3 Sport 2007. Std. 97000 km. 4 door. Black. Excellent condition. $6,200. Phone or text 438-496-1299. Acura CSX, 2008, lady owner, 5 speed standard transmission, 169600 km. Taupe on black leather, Sun roof, AC, Includes additional snow tires on rims ready to install Upgrades in August 2014 include: New battery, Complete rear brakes and rotor. Front brakes serviced, Front lower control arms replaced, wheel alignment. No accidents. Excellent condition. $7,000. 514-941-3409 / 450-458-4778 EMPLOYMENT SERVICES BREAKFAST / LUNCH FUSION Restaurant Café Campagne ~ 3673 Harwood, Hudson (450) 4588204 ~ Breakfast daily from 7:00 am, lunch from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm ~ Specialty teas, chocolates & gifts. Carambola Café ~ 72 Cameron Ave, Hudson, (450) 458-0098 Lunch 11:00am to 2ish and Supper 5:30pm to 10ish. BYOB. New menu. Tapas - style dining available. Want to join the Restaurant Directory? Call: (450) 510-4007 Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 33 Unique gifts for pets for this Christmas season Lauren Mitchell Special contributor When thinking of getting a gift for your pet for Christmas, the suggestions are always the same; a toy and treats. But for this season, it’s time to think creatively. This is a guide on what unique gifts to get your pet, whether it is a dog or a cat, most for under $20. For dogs, there are many options to choose from including personalized ID tags to add a little more cuteness to the collar, or a bow tie collar to show his or her sense of style. A pet treat jar is an adorable and convenient item for your home displaying the treats instead of stashing them away in cupboards. There are also options for personalizing the treat jar. A doggy toy bin or basket is a great idea for all those toys you’ve been getting him each Christmas. Consider getting them a new set of feeding and water dishes, Nourish the body. Fuel the spirit. TM AVAILABLE AT GLOBAL HUDSON, ANIMALERIE TOUTOU, OU,, NATURE’S PET CENTRE POINTE-CLAIRE & MONDOU 34 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Thursday, December 18, 2014 and get rid of the old ones they’d been using to add something new to your kitchen. Speaking of water dishes, for the person who likes to go hiking with their pet, or travels a lot with them, a great idea is to get a collapsible water/food dish making it easier to keep them hydrated and fed. For small canine traveling companions, a new pet carrier might just be the thing you need. Small dogs get tired very fast, so putting them in a comfortable new carrier will help them feel relaxed. Continued on page 36 ™ Premium Pet Food nutrience.com TRA NG INI Cycling and Swimming TRE CEN Cycling and swimming training center for people of all levels and abilities At DOT Cycles, you train on your own bike. Whether you decide to train by yourself, on one of our solo stations or by attending a class, you will be a better cyclist when you will get out in spring! Is swimming your thing? At DOT Cycles, you can swim at your convenience in our 4 lane pool. Just call to reserve! 12 Computrainer Lab Units 4 Endless Pools Fastlanes We look forward to meeting you! CYCLES DOT dot-cycles.ca 30-3100 Harwood, Vaudreuil-Dorion - 450-218-6211 Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 35 8 THINGS TO SEE AND DO COMMUNITIES IN ACTION To submit your “Things to See and Do”, send your information to editor @ yourlocaljournal.ca before Monday noon. All announcements should include dates, times and addresses. HUDSON KIRKLAND 1. Casting call - Hudson Players Club will be holding open auditions for their upcoming production, ‘No Sex please, we’re British’ written by Alistair Foot and Anthony Marriott, to be performed at Hudson Village Theatre in early April 2015. Director Glen Robinson will be holding auditions Wednesday January 7th and Thursday January 8th 2015 from 7-9p.m. at Hudson Village Theatre, 28 Wharf Road, Hudson. For further information please contact the producer Diana Gausden (450) 458-4220. 2. The January Book Sale will be held at the War Memorial Library, 60 Elm Street. Book sale starts at 2:30 p.m., Monday, January 5, and runs until Saturday, January 10. Classics are featured. For more information, contact http://warmemoriallibrary. blogspot.com. 4. A conference given by AWISH (Arthritis West Island Self Help) in English on Saturday, January 17 at 2 p.m. at the Kirkland Library, 17100 Hymus Boulevard. An overview of the most common types of arthritis and offer tips on the many ways one can learn to cope and manage with the disease. Registration is required at (514) 630-2726. POINTE CLAIRE 5. Stewart Hall Singers, a 45-voice community choir, Douglas Knight director, is holding auditions for Beethoven’s Mass in C. Monday night rehearsals in Pointe-Claire resume Jan.12. Auditions: 514-630-0331 www.stewarthallsingers.ca STE. ANNE DE BELLEVUE 3. A display of antique toys at the Hudson Museum continues to the end of January. Come see a unique selection of comic books, toys, action figures, and dolls from bygone eras. The museum is located at 541 Main Road in Hudson and the display is open for visits Saturdays and Sundays in December and January from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 6. DivorceCare every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. starting January 20, 2015 to April 21, 2015 at St. George’s Church, 23 Perrault Ave. Anyone struggling with the effects of separation or divorce is welcome to attend. Details about DivorceCare can be found on www.divorcecare.org. Each week we will look at a different topic on the path to healing so join us at any point in the session. For more info, call (514) 457- 6934. The onetime fee is $25 and covers a workbook for each participant. Please rsvp [email protected]. 7. Sugar Sammy to headline John Abbott College’s 7th Annual Islander Comedy Night January 24, 2015 at the Casgrain Sports Center gym, starting at 8 p.m. - doors will open at 7:15 p.m. The money raised will help the 17 sports teams in the department. Headliner Sugar Sammy will be performing a 75 minute bilingual (French/English) show on the JAC stage. The renowned Hollywood Reporter named him one of Top 10 talents to watch in the world of comedy. Two opening acts are Massimo in English and Stephan Poirier in French. A canteen including pizza from Domino’s and a cash bar will be available in the gym. Parking is free. It promises to be a great night of fun and laughter. Reserved seats $55. General admission $40. Tickets are available online at www.johnabbott.qc.ca/sugarsammy or call (514) 457-6610 Ext. 5322. VAUDREUIL-DORION 8. Call for artists’ submissions - La Maison Trestler invites all local artists to submit their artwork to the Exhibit/Art Sale titled ‘Entre-Nous.’ The artworks must be received at La Maison Trestler Tuesday, January 6 or Wednesday, January 7, 2015 from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. The vernissage will be held Thursday, January 15 between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Pets Continued from page 34 Disposable waste bags are more convenient than carrying large plastic bags. Some bags also come packaged in a dispenser, so you can attach it to the leash and walk comfortably. Instead of buying treats made in a factory, why not make your own treats with a “Bake a Bone” dog treat maker which is available on Amazon? If you were planning to get something small and affordable, many gift shops even sell edible Christmas cards for dogs. For cat lovers, there are similar ideas like new feeding and water dishes and personalized ID tags. But there are also many different options. For example, if you have a cat that loves to scratch at the furniture, there is the ‘DJ Cat Scratcher Turntable,’ which is essentially a turntable in which a record is replaced by cardboard. This gift is fun for the cat, but will probably be more fun for you. Cats love to laze around and play, so such things as a cat hammock and a cat tunnel will channel your pet’s exploratory instincts. Cat condos are also a great way for felines 36 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Thursday, December 18, 2014 PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO A display of antique toys at the Hudson Museum continues to the end of January. See listing for details. The exhibit will end Sunday, March 1, 2015. Please include a brief artist CV, typed on letter-sized paper. The work of art must be framed of have finished edges and cannot exceed the maximum dimensions of 36” x 36”, including the framing.Sculptures will also be accepted. The artwork must be well packaged and clearly identified. A $10 participation fee will be required. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any further questions at (450) 455-6290 or by email at info@ trestler.qc.ca. Please take note that La Maison Trestler will be closed from December 20 to January 4, 2015. Maison Trestler is located at 85 chemin de la Commune. For more info contact [email protected] or www.trestler. qc.ca. to nap in or to explore the dynamics of the structure. For pampered cats that like to keep warm during the cold winter season, a heated cat bed is just what they need. A last suggestion that you were most likely told not to do as a child, would be a treat maze in which cats have to spin, wobble, and manipulate a holder in order to extract their kitty treats. As children, you are told you are not allowed to play with your food. So let your cat express his or her (and your) inner child with the treat maze. PHOTO BY LAUREN MITCHELL Angus waits expectantly for one of many innovative gifts available for cats and dogs this holiday season. The Presbyterian Church of Ile Perrot, 242-5th Avenue, Pincourt invites you to; Sunday, December 21st Service and Children’s Nativity Play-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 24th Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Dessert served at 7:00 p.m. Candlelight Service at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, December 25th - Christmas Day Gathering Breakfast served- Scripture readings and Carol singing-9:30 a.m. For more information call the church: 514-453-1441 Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 37 The English Indoor Gardener PHOTO BY GREG JONES Caring for Christmas Cactus all year long James Parry Your Local Journal One of the joys of an indoor gardener at this special time of year is watching one’s Zygocatus truncatus come in to bloom. Sometimes referred to as a ‘crab’ or ‘lobster’ plant because the individual leaf links give the appearance of a small clawed crab, we all know it, of course, as the Christmas Cactus. For, introduced as a pot plant in North America over 150 years ago, it is indeed a member of the cactus family, actually native to Brazil. And it got its Christmas connotation because its bright Fuschia-like flowers appear at the ends of the branches in December. Although, hybridization over the decades has resulted in a colour range in pinks, reds, mauves and whites. In the wild, the plant grows in the high branches of the tropical forest and like its neighbours - Queen of the Night, Bromeliads, and Orchids - gets nourishment and moisture through aerial roots and the organic debris collected in the crotches of the trees it inhabits. Without wishing to sound pedantic but such plants - you may be intrigued to learn - are known as epiphylets as opposed to parasites. Since they merely live in the trees and not on the vital juices of their host. Now, come on. Admit it. Don’t you feel better for knowing that considering you have one of your very own in your home? Back here on the ground - and hopefully in a pot - it certainly remains the most popular and widely grown member of the cactus family. I have several of them - three of which are quite humungous - that I have nurtured and watched grow over the years. And all of which, I place outside in a half-sun, half-shade location during the summer before bringing them indoors in the fall to overwinter. It may be obvious, given the fact that they grow in trees, but don’t overwater and certainly not on the same watering schedule as your other in- PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO The Christmas Cactus typically begins blooming as early as November extending well into the early spring. door plants. Indeed, constant dribs and drabs of water may eventually lead to the death of the plant. So it is best to err on the side of under watering until experience is gained. And contrary to popular belief, cacti do not thrive in sand alone. And this is particularly true of Christmas Cactus. An expert once told me that an ideal soil mix would be three parts leaf mold, one part builders’ sand, one part well-rotted cow manure, and one part good garden loam. Never tried it out to be perfectly Christmas Cactus candid and I didn’t go in search of cow manure. Suffice to say that I learned that the plant prefers acid rather than alkaline soil and somehow I have found the right mix as they are all not only still growing but thriving. And did you know that you can make your own baby plants from the ones you already have? Speaking from experience, believe me it couldn’t be easier. Come spring, take a cutting from a joint. Set it aside on a shelf in a cool, dry location until a callus forms at the base. This should only take one or two weeks. Then place it in a pot of coarse, moist builders’ sand until roots are formed. After which, just plant it in a cactus soil mix that you can buy already prepared at your local nursery or gardening supply store. There, I gave my secret formula away! Plant a whole bunch of them together, and presto. In a couple of years, you will be ready to start all over again. An added bonus, by the way, they are essentially trouble free! Until next time, have fun in your indoor garden and keep those questions coming. Who knows? I may even have an answer! E-mail: [email protected] A Merry Christmas at St. Mary’s PHOTO BY JAMES PARRY In a time-honoured tradition at this time of year, St. Mary’s Family Carol Sing in Hudson -featuring the Turtle Pond Lane Gang and James Armstrong and Friends - was full of the festive spirit on Saturday. When families from far and wide congregated at the parish hall along with their own instruments and bells before welcoming Santa and partaking in complementary cookies, fruit juice for the youngsters, and sherry for their parents. Em-ceed in inimitable style by Frank Royle, all decked out in formal tuxedo and top hat as befitting a gentleman of Christmases past on such auspicious occasions, it was truly a joy to behold. Spotlighting, as it did, musicians Michael Elliott, his son Murray and wife Becky Fletcher with their five-year-old son and little drummer boy Findlay, John Manning, Andrew Skowronski, John Matheson, and James Armstrong. Accompanied, on occasion, by the Children of Together Ensemble. 38 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Thursday, December 18, 2014 Vaudreuil-Dorion Vaudreuil-Dorion Vaudreuil-Dorion Rigaud $284,900 or $1,500 per month (12 months) $1,700 per month (15 months) $169,000 $347,500 Bold 2 bed & 2 bath urban condominium, concrete structure (9.5” thick), underground parking, elevator, inground swimming pool, gym and an urban chalet. This unique real estate opportunity offering modern living is strategically located close to Vaudreuil’s shopping, easy access to highways and minutes from Montreal. A must see! Beautiful 4 bedroom house (the one above the garage can act as a family room). Finished basement. In a sought-after sector of Vaudreuil-Dorion, close to all amenities, commuter train with easy access to highways 20, 30 and 40. Renovated ground floor condo 1998. 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. 891 sq.ft. of living space. Condo fees $115/month. Sought-after location. Wood fireplace in living room. Nice windows. Gorgeous view from the backyard onto forest and river. Beautiful and affordable 1992 triplex. Revenues of $23,400. 3185 Boul. de la Gare, apt. 207, Vaudreuil-Dorion 2661 Rue des Amarantes, Vaudreuil-Dorion 137 Boul. de la Cité-des-Jeunes, Vaudreuil-Dorion 14-16 de la Gare, Rigaud Pincourt St-Lazare Coteau-du-Lac St-Clet $1,875 per month Completly renovated, prime location, good visibility. 2,000 sq.ft. Commercial location ideal for professional office space. $412,500 $274,500 $285,000 Well maintained house offering 4 bedrooms. Master bedroom has walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom. Double garage, pellet stove and double face fireplace between living room and dining room, a/c. Generator ready to use. Exterior is complete with cabana, paved U-shaped entrance, huge wood deck of 850 sq.ft. with I/G pool under a retractable dome. Spacious home offers 2,300 sq.ft. of living space. 4 bedrooms, family room on main floor. No basement. Good structure, perfect for handyman. Double detached garage. Close to highway 20. Beautiful and spacious bungalow offers 3 bedrooms, all appliances, finished basement, a spectacular 4-season solarium, spa, a huge cabana and a carport. Well maintained, many improvements done by current owner, ready to move in. Just bring your furniture! 102 5e avenue Pincourt 1762, du Bordeaux St-Lazare 27 Chasle, Coteau-du-Lac 13 Antoine, St-Clet St-Lazare Notre-Dame-de-L’Ile-Perrot Rigaud Vaudreuil-Dorion $147,042 +taxes 2 brand new condos. Semi-basement, 2 bedrooms, 5 year new home guarantee. Gas fireplace. Last 2 available, recently reduced by $10,000. $274,500 $417,500 $567,000 Recently constructed bungalow. Ideal for a small family and/or couple. Huge master bedroom. Finished basement with bedroom, family room and a powder room where a shower can easily be added, plus a storage room. Beautiful backyard with garden, pool and a lot of space. Quiet, sought-after neighbourhood , close to all amenities. Opportunity! Asking price lower than municipal valuation. Large home with 3 bedrooms, master bedroom has a newly renovated ensuite bathroom. Huge lot (60,000 sq.ft.+) 2 double garages, one detached measuring 22 x 29. Gorgeous property on the Ottawa river in Rigaud-sur-le-lac on a quiet cul-de-sac. Wood kitchen with pristine quartz counters, 4 bedrooms, 2 propane fireplaces, 3-season solarium with a stunning view of the water. Huge master bedroom with ensuite bathroom and walk-in. Double garage, I/G pool. A definite must see, call us today... 1225 Alfred-Campeau, St-Lazare 64 Iberville, Notre-Dame-de-L’Ile-Perrot 88 Ch. De la Pointe-au-Sable, Rigaud 440 Sylvio-Mantha #2, Vaudreuil-Dorion NDIP Splendid Vineyard Rigaud St-Clet $297,500 Well-maintained cottage, 2+1 bedrooms, hardwood floors and ceramic throughout. Garage, cabana, A/G pool, finished basement. $850,000 La romance du vin! Beautiful vineyard in operation since 1999 and has won many prizes since. Beautiful recent cottage with 4 bedrooms. 1200 Perrot, NDIP Vaudreuil-Dorion Commercial space in prime location on St-Charles in VaudreuilDorion. Net price is $15/sq.ft. plus administration fees and taxes of $8.51/sq.ft. Price will be increased to $16 net/sq.ft. on September 1st 2016. Sub-lease ends August 31 2020. The building can be partitioned in 2 areas, 1 of 2,762 sq.ft. and 1 of 2,530 sq.ft. and each can be rented separately. 555 Avenue St-Charles, Vaudreuil-Dorion $1,250,000 +gst/pst $160,000 Quality construction, built in 2008. Includes 6 commercial condos of 2,500 sq.ft. each. 2 condos rented for $60,000+/year, 3 condos used by owner and 1 available for rent. Excellent revenues. Well-maintained semi-detached in a quiet neighbourhood. 3 bedrooms. No neighbours behind. Perfect starter home. 108 ch. Du Bas-de-la-Rivière, Rigaud 17-27 Henri-Petit, Rigaud 22 des Oliviers, St-Clet 2,147,215 sq.ft. Bank Repossession LOT LOT $1,229,000 $90,500 2,147,215 sq.ft. Equestian zoning, Phase 1, ready to be developed. Lot ready for building. Bank repo. Soil test at the buyer’s expense. Ch. Ste-Angélique, (près de Versailles) St-Lazare Ch. Ste-Angélique, St-Lazare We are an integrated team of real estate brokers We believe that we can do more for you if we use our combined strengths. We focus on serving both individuals and businesses. We are working to improve the quality of life within our community. Thursday, December 18, 2014 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL 39 YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL Thursday, December 18, 2014
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