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Page 2 Friday, April 1, 1977 "You Make the News' RUSSELL REVIEW, Box 359, ot, (445-2889). Russell, Ont. The Review, a non-profit news- Circulation: 700, including 70 paper sponsored by the Russell out-of-town. Recreation Association, is pub- Editor: Mark Van Dusen lished the first Friday of the (445-2080). month. Reporters: Karen Bowley, Submissions, preferably typed, (445-2051); Joyce O'Reilley, are welcomed publishable at the (445-2008); Suzanne Schroeter, discretion of the editor. Deadline (445-5709). is the Sunday before publication. Photographer: Mary Rowsell, (445-5244). Printed at Eastern Ontario Out-of-town mailing: Kate Pel- Graphics Ltd., Chesterville, Ont. Next Deadline May | Next Issue May 6 Editor's Comment... Shopping Centre -- What Price A questionnaire was circulat- ed last week asking for comments on a_ proposed shopping plaza "in the heart of Russell." The shopping plaza would have 24,000 sq. ft. divided among 10-15 stores, a heated and air conditioned mall and parking 150 cars. |, for one, answered no to the question "Do you think Russell needs a shopping plaza?" My first concern was for the village's existing merchants. The possibility that their bus- iness could be critically affected is inescapable. Russell being a_ tightly-knit community, residents enjoy an uncommonly close relationship with their merchants. In few other places will a store owner open after hours to provide you with something you badly want. Larger communities do not benefit from this type of relationship. In my opinion, a 10-15 store shopping centre is a giant step toward becoming a community where business is dispensed impersonally. As our neighbours, Russell's merchants deserve special con- sideration. We must ask ourselves if we are ready for, or even want, rapid expanded growth. A 10-15 store shopping centre would be a drawing card for prospective residents but, while newcomers are certaily welcome, in what numbers? A shopping centre of this size would obviously be designed to serve more than the 1,000 Russell Review Convenience? residents of Russell. | doubt that any sudden infusion of traffic could easily be accommodated on village streets. The push in other communit- ies in recent years has been to preserve the character of established neighborhoods. What would a 10-15 store shopping centre "in the heart of Russell'? do to the village's character. The main argument in favor of a shopping centre is conven- ience, 'everything under one roof. But with Russell's existing stores all within an easy walk of each other and the possibility that new ones_ could' be accommodated individually, we must ask ourselves what price convenience? Russell Junior The first meeting of the Russell Junior Farmers was held at Meadowview Public School, Navan, Ontario with twenty- eight members attending. Mr. Roger Pommainville presided the meeting. Officers were elected. Doug Armstrong, pre- sident; Jim Armstrong, Vice- President; Wendy Christie, Sec- retary; Karin Liptak, Treasurer; Wyatt McWilliams, Provincial Farmers Meet Director. Other directors are Wendy Armstorn, Margeret Liptak, Marian Nooyen, Glen Edwards and Debbie Armstrong. Our next meetng will be held in Bearbrook Centennial Centre, April 7, at 8:30. All new comers are welcome. We adjourned our meeting with an exciting game of volleyball in the gym. Press Reporter, Debbie Armstrong Your chance to Object RESIDENTS WISHING TO OBJECT TO THE THE NEXT TOWNSHIP COUNCIL MEETING PROPOSED SHOPPING CENTRE CAN DO SO AT APRIL 4. 4 ~ Russell's new Postmaster, Pierre L. Robinson wishes he lived closer to his new place of employment. Pierre is driving from Fournier each day but hopes to find a home in the Russell area soon. -- Staff Photo. New Postmaster Corlon, Guy Brasseur Ltd. Flooring Contractor Ceramics, Carpets Drapes Free Estimates 584 Notre Dame St. Box 278, Embrun 443-2155 Russell Township Council News 1. The Trustees of the Village of Embrun meet annually with the Township Council to propose improvements and review the budget. Their levy amounts to about $22,000. of which administration takes $5,000 and garbage collection, $13,000 so they have only $4,000. left to spend. Their proposals are varied and interesting -- the signs announcing the village should be lighted, steet decorations should be bought for Christmas, a large flower display in the center of the village would be attractive, some sidewalk repairs are required, the new bridge should be lighted and the bridge name plate corrected; etc. The Council considers all of these ideas when it reviews the budget and gives whatever additonal money it can afford to the Trustees to extend their activities. A new approach may now be taken however: the Council has proposed that garbage collection be taken on as a Township function thus freeing-up the bulk of the village levy for the trustees to manage. The Township Council, after informing the County that top priority must be given to the repair of the County road north of Russell, reviewed its own program for Township roads. Most Township roads are not paved because it is too costly but the province periodically agrees to finance at 100 percent the rebuilding and paving of a local road, these are called "development" roads. The last Council designated the Russell-Osgoode Boundary road from Marionville through Marvelville past Cochrane's dairy and north to Jack-the-Ripper's as a development road for rebuilding and paving. So far the province has not accepted the proposal. The present Council has designated the road link between the Vars Road (Township Hall), south to the boundary and west to the turn to Morewood and Winchester as a development road. Nothing so far is known of the province's reaction to this proposal. Reeve Patenaude reports provincial assurance that 12 senior citizen's apartments (and maybe more) will be built in Russell by the Province. The site proposed is on the Cumming's property behind Dr. Kinnaird's but so far the province has not been able to arrange a purchase agreement. Three tenders for crushed stone were received and rejected, one as unsuitable and two as too high. New tenders are being called. (These tender-calls incidentally are printed in a special newspaper that is distributed only to business offices so you will not see these in local newspapers. ) The gulley in the Cemetery behind the fire-hall is being eroded by floodwaters and needs to be tiled: hopefully the County can be held-up to pay for it as the gulley is an extension of the ditch beside the County road south. Council has asked the South Nation River Authority to study a conservation dam below Embrun. Later this year we will also ask if the authority will consider purchasing a 100' strip of land on the south side of the River between Russell and Embrun for recreational development. The County Council, the province, Ottawa Carleton and Cumbeland Township have all received notification from Russell Township that the north road must be treated as a high priority -- No decisions are yet reported. One of the difficulties with this road is that so many jurisdictions are involved between Russell and the 417. Reeve Patenaude is very optimistic however that we will get it rebuilt and paved this year. 2. The report on Prescott-Russell restructuring was explained to Township Council at a recent meeting by its author, Goldyn Sutherland. The report proposes to redress the imbalance of votes at the County Council between the Prescott end and the Russell end and this was well received; an amalgamation of Russell and Cambridge Townships below the 417 is proposed to create a stronger more economically viable township, and but for having to inherit the problems of Forest Park East this seems reasonable; more controversial is a proposal to wean County represenatives away from narrow local interests by electing them separately from Township Councils and at-large rather than by small localities, this evokes a fear of losing touch, of being swallowed up in big-time politics, but it might encourage broader-bases planning; Albert Bourdeau advised the consultant to consider recommending that the County seat be moved to a more central location as the present site at L'Original is too remote from Russell Township. The Township will convene several public meetings to encourage discussion of this report and hear views, in the meantime the Township Office is attempting to obtain some additional copies of the report for public distribution. 3. The Township sponsors a bilingual nursery school called Le Royaume des Petits. 38 children attend for several half days per week; 24 French speaking and 14 English speaking; they are picked up by bus from all corners of the Township; the fee for each child is $50. per year; Suzanne Maheu is the senior and qualified instructor and Francine Gregoire is her assistant; to find the Royaume, drive across the new bridge in Embrun and in behind the Lapalme Nursing Home to the blue steel building. The Nursery was founded and is managed by a dedicated group of 5 directors including Ghislaine Goydemak from Russell. The directors take a close personal interest in all aspects of the school even cleaning the floors on a volunteer basis to stay within the budget. School costs are approximately $30,000. per year of which the Township pays $5,600., the parents $1,800. and the Province $22,000. If you want to enroll a child phone Ghislaine for information. 4. Anorganization for Mentally Retarded Adults called Vanier Industries has been established in the old school house halfway between Casselman and Embrun. It is non-profit and sponsored by the Mental Health Association. The center is named after John Vanier, the modern-day saint who has devoted his life to proving that the mentally retarded have a great capacity to enjoy life and challenge, and to be productive in spite of their handicap. The school has a 2 year challenge: initially the province and voluntary contributions cover all costs but in two years it must find sufficient work for its members to finance 20 percent of its costs, in other words it must find ways of enabling the participants to become productive. At first the program will include basic learning skills, how to go to the bank, how to count change at the store, cooking and personal hygiene etc. Then as the center and the clientelle get better organized, simple productive skills will be taught, and routine types of work will be sought from local businesses. Baird McNeill, Councillor