Work

Regional mayors are backing a $25,000 "hybrid solution" to examine the impact the relocation of 10,000 federal jobs to Kanata may or may not have on the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR).

At the regular meeting of counties' council, which was held on Tuesday, March 27, the eight mayors voted in favour of giving administration the go ahead to conduct an analysis of the impact the move could have on the region, with the end result being the development of a strategic commercialization plan.

While tighter budgets and changing technology makes it difficult for public schools to keep up with changing standards, one little school in Grenville has learned the secret to success means staying closely integrated in its community and retaining a staff that treats its students like family.

Last month, Grenville Elementary School principal Nancy Bennett was named as one of Canada's top 40 principals by The Learning Partnership, a national non-profit organization dedicated to championing a strong public education system in Canada.

Mark and Lisa Henderson are no strangers to tragedy.

As owners of Hillcrest Funeral Home in Vankleek Hill, the Hendersons are often called upon to help local individuals and families deal with the death of a loved one. Because they see death on an almost daily basis, the Hendersons never forget that completing all the necessary arrangements of a funeral service is a task most families face only a few times.

Despite a few closures and the near-miss of a major commercial development, Champlain Township's economic outlook is relatively rosy for a municipality of its size, according to its economic coordinator.

There's been a lot of new developments in Robert Hardy's life lately, as the Alexandria resident and composer prepares for the premiere of his musical in Toronto next spring.

Along with composer and music editor Willard Riley, the pair recently signed on with well-known conductor Kerry Stratton and artistic director Maria Margunova to produce the theatrical premiere of "The Fifth Day: A Musical," scheduled to premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in Toronto on April 5, 2012.

Farmers and appraisers across Ontario have been seeing a steady increase in farmland values in the last two to five years, particularly in the eastern and southwestern regions of the province.

According to Farm Credit Canada's most recent report, values increased an average of 2.4 per cent during the second half of 2010, following gains of 4.3 and 3.3 per cent in the two previous reporting periods.

Horace Nixon, of Burnacres Farms in L'Orignal, exhibited this year at the Vankleek Hill Fair for his 75th year.

That feat is only the latest in a long list of accomplishments for Nixon, who is widely considered to be one of the most innovative farmers in the local area.

We spend about one-third of our lives at work or thinking about work. But Natalie Paquette, owner of Jardin Jade Garden in Vankleek Hill would go even one step further: her business has been like a second home to her and to her family for the 15 years she has owned it.

As Paquette goes over the fine details of her business to help new owner Kerri Albright, who takes over September 1, the bigger lifestyle changes coming her way started to sink in.

Two local youth bands made a big splash at last week's Bluesfest in Ottawa, when they took to the stage as part of the festival's Be in the Band initiative.

Performances by The Vivid, featuring teenagers from both Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute and Glengarry District High School, and Under the Ladder, with youth from Pleasant Corners Public School and St-Finnan's in Alexandria, were both well received last Sunday, July 17.