TRENTON, ON (24/05/13) – Barb Neri of the National Air Force Museum of Canada stands beside a mock-up simulator of a CT-114 Tutor. Which is the same aircraft that the R.C.A.F. Snowbirds aerobatic team use. Photo By: Trevor Doctor

By Trevor Doctor

The National Air Force Museum in Trenton has finished its $1.2 million renovation expansion and is now open to the public.

The renovations took place over the winter, beginning in October 2012. The museum was open during the renovations but the expansion that houses the Halifax bomber was closed off to the public.

Museum public relations coordinator Barb Neri said, “We have new interesting displays being built. Revamped and much more interactive display coming for our great escape exhibit. We have displays on different forms of training starting back in the 1930’s. With the BCATP, which is the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, was established in Canada with other Commonwealth countries. So that this would be the place where all their flight people were trained. Before they were shipped back over to Europe to go to war.”

The museum was given a $1.2 million grant from the Directorate of History and Heritage. This group helps to preserve the history of the Canadian Forces. They are responsible for maintaining archives, records and collections. As well as also funding museums, which look after the same things.

The museum has two more renovation phases to come. They hope to have them completed within the next 5 years. Future renovation plans for the museum include a new larger gift shop, more collections, and more permanent archival storage.

The museum hopes to have its whole collection moved into the addition, which houses the Halifax. They hope to use the old curling rink portion as workshops for restorations, and offices and storage.

“This won’t be completed over night. I say probably 10 years from now. The museum only has a limited budget. So we are taking small steps towards the bigger goal, “ said Neri.

With increasing needs at the local food bank, a Loyalist grad is continuing an unusual idea to collect 4,000 pounds of goods this week.

It’s called Fill-That-Bus, and without it, Gleaners Food Bank may struggle to make it through summer.

As part of her Public Relations class, Erica Holgate pitched the Fill-That-Bus idea to teachers and students in 2010.

“That particular year was when Jim Parkhurst passed away and they used to do all the Christmas parades. When he passed that year in November I had an idea that we should fill a bus, just like Jim would of. After the first year we raised 3000 pounds of food we decided it was something we should continue,” says Holgate.

Outfitting a Parkhurst double decker bus with lights and music, Holgate and her team hits the streets of Belleville, collecting donations from businesses.

After a long day, the bus parks for the evening at a central location in the community.

“This has been the first year we have seen a lot of people actually come out and participate in the community side of things. We filled four barrels based off community donations, which is awesome,” she says

Now in its third year, Fill-That-Bus has collected over 13,000 pounds of food.

This year, Holgate and her team set their sights high.

“Our goal was to almost double again but it’s been a little bit slower this year. We have seen a lot more in the monetary donation, which will go a long way because Gleaners can buy things at cost,” she said.

For Susanne Quinlan and the rest of the staff at Gleaner’s food bank, summer means an apparent lack of donations.

“Schools are closing so they don’t do anymore food drives. Summer is when we can spend up to $40,000 buying food because donations are down so much,” she said.

Gleaners had a great deal of help in getting through these difficult months.

Of the $1,100 raised already, Gleaners can purchase roughly 2,500 pounds of food.

“It’ s nice having this amount of food to help us get through the summer, because in October we do our citywide food drive. That can bring in between 18 and 20 tons of food, so were in a cycle yet again,” stressed Quinlan

This year alone Gleaners has seen an eight per cent increase in families using the food bank.

Two Prince Edward County residents met with the local Board of Health today to request additional research be carried out on the health affects of PEC wind turbines.

Garth Manning and Dr. Robert McMurtry asked the Hastings and Prince Edward County Board of Health to further research the negative health affects of turbines before more are installed.

McMurtry said that the possible health affects caused by the turbines are more important than the renewable energy they produce.

“The absence of evidence is really what concerns me,” said McMurtry.

Dr. Richard Schabas, the board of health medical officer, agreed that there are plausible adverse health affects associated with wind turbines. But he disagreed that more research should be done.

Lots of studies show that people who live close to turbines suffer from headaches and insomnia, said Schabas. However he thinks opposition may be more about lowered property value than health concerns..

“As a rural resident myself, I certainly feel lots of sympathy for people who suddenly feel their ideal rural property is dominated by wind turbines, I totally appreciate that, “ said Schabas. “But that is not the same thing as saying that there’s direct physical health affects, which really is the crux of this whole debate and controversy from a public health standpoint.

“At the current time the consensus of expert medical opinion is there really isn’t insufficient evidence of a direct physical health affect from wind turbines…frequency levels really don’t support a concern.”

“It’s a standard that sounds good, but it’s actually completely impractical. It would put us back in the stone age, which is where I don’t think we really want to go.”

Schabas compared turbines to computer tablets. There is a body of opinion that believes tablet computers are medically unsafe, but people still use them, he said.

Quinte West Councillor Paul Kyte said, residents are subjected to the turbines, whereas, they have a choice to use a tablet computer or not.

“It’s the difference between choice and no choice,” Kyte said.

McMurtry, a physician and surgeon, admitted that a few years ago he thought wind turbines seemed like a good idea. His opinion changed after studying the research of

“Adverse health affects have been confirmed. No one is denying them, but now it’s ‘why’,” McMurtry said.

With more research McMurtry hopes to answer the question why, he said.

Wind turbines produce low sound frequencies, McMurtry said, and there is a debate on what we can’t hear that can actually hurt us.

Prince Edward County residents and members of the Hastings and Prince Edward County Board of Health are torn on the idea of more wind turbines.

“This is definitely is a very sensitive issue. It is dividing our community in several ways,” Prince Edward County Councillor Heather Campbell said.

The Environmental eeview tribunal is welcoming Ontarians who live near wind turbines to give their testimonies at Demorest town hall this week.

Ben Seewald has been hopping on planes and hitting the road since the beginning of April. He has traveled across Canada, from Halifax to Vancouver.

He is attending the 2013 Spring Sprints, a project developed by the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

The Brain Tumour Foundation looks to support those diagnosed with brain tumours, and their family, along with educate the public on brain tumours and how they affect someone’s life. The Spring Sprints are a fundraiser, to bring money into their research.

The money raised by the event allows the foundation to fund research into the cause and cures for brain tumours, along with providing support and information for those diagnosed with a brain tumour.

This is very important to Seewald. When he was 18 years old, he was diagnosed with a rare form of brain tumour. The tumour was removed without complications, but the affects it had on Seewald were dramatic.

“How many adults can say they’ve had to learn how to walk and talk again?” said Seewald, “It took me two years to recover fully from the surgery.”

“Attitude is everything. I just never conceived the fact that I wouldn’t get better, that I wouldn’t recover fully. And that was a huge benefit, just looking at that situation in a positive light.

Seewald attended support groups for those with brain tumours, and eventually worked with the Brain Tumour Foundation, helping to conceive the idea of the Spring Sprints

“I’ve made hugely intense relationships with some other patients, and now to honour their life and their memory, I help organize and run [the Spring Sprints], and reflect on how they affected me and how their presence won’t be forgotten. “

Seewald was an athlete in high school, and loves running. He likes the idea of the Spring Sprints because it proves that those with brain tumours shouldn’t let their diagnosis stop them from doing what they love.

He has talked with tens of thousands of patients, listening to their stories and supporting them through the tough times.

“This diagnosis tears your life apart, and every journey is unique,” he said, “I always try to bring the message of staying positive and focusing on the good things here, and not get pulled into the victim mentality.”

Belleville’s Spring Sprint this Saturday will be Seewald’s 10th and final run this year.

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the community again, and to help the Brain Tumour Foundation further research and to help support and educate those going through it right now.”

He said the brain tumour community is such a powerful, positive presence, and that across Canada, there is a preserving attitude towards dealing with their diagnosis.

“I think that brain tumours as a medical disease is one of those things that people don’t want to talk about, and is so scary and we just don’t know what’s happening in the brain…but I just want people to know that a brain tumour does not equal a death sentence.”

For more information on the Spring Sprints, check out their website.

Quinte Pediatrics Association is already ahead of the game for Safe Kids’ concussion safety week.

Prior to the minor league football’s start, they made it a requirement for their athletes to participate in ImPACT Concussion Testing. This identifies a “baseline brain”, and makes it easier to identify a concussion if it occurs. It uses simple tests including matching games and memory, two skills that are affected when a concussion happens.

“The parents loved the idea of it,” said Dr. Paul Dempsey, of Quinte Pediatrics.

Dempsey is no stranger to concussions, and strives to make every week ‘safe kid week’. He said that 50 per cent of the athletic-related injuries that come into his office are concussions.

“The problem is that a lot of these athletes really just want to get back on the field, but a concussion takes time,” said Dempsey, “I just want them to ask themselves, is it better to rest for a week and be back on the field, or keep going and have symptoms that last for months?”

He recognizes that it’s difficult for some concussions to be identified.

“People recognize that a hard head-bump followed by unconsciousness is a sure sign, but you can get a concussion without passing out,” he said.

Migraines, vision problems, a feeling of confusion, and even moodiness are all symptoms that the brain might’ve hit the skull harder than the athlete might have thought.

“Every concussion is different, and the symptoms can vary greatly,” he said.

Dempsey is in favour of the recent change in peewee hockey. Body checking will no longer be allowed for players under 13 years old. He believes that each sport should look at its rules and equipment for the best options to keep the kids safe.

“There’s no way to say that every sport should have helmets, but each sport should try to reduce the amount of concussions that are possible by introducing rules or safety equipment,” he said.

He also advised parents, coaches and anyone who is interested to look into ImPACT Concussion Testing. It provides the training to accurately identify and treat concussions when they happen.

Bay of Quinte Tourism hopes to increase visitation to the region with a new Cheddar and Ale Trail.

The new trail, which will be published on a self-guided map, features the region’s six cheese factories, three breweries and two hard-cider producers. It will be launched at this year’s Great Canadian Cheese Festival in Picton.

Anne Munro, executive director for Bay of Quinte tourism said these artisan cheese factories, brewers, and cider producers are a special part of the region.

“This is a tradition here. We want people to realize we have this tradition,” said Munro.

Bay of Quinte tourism officials wanted to look at Quinte as a whole to discover what is a prominent feature here.

“When we looked at our region, we thought ‘wow that’s an amazing number of cheese producers.’ This is a special thing going on in the region,” said Munro.

During the 1940’s, Quinte had over 100 small cheese factories and Hastings was known as the Cheese Capital of Ontario. The advent of refrigerated transportation saw many close. Six still exist and continue to craft award winning cheeses, according to the festival website.

Breweries also held a strong presence in Quinte.

The agricultural land grew both its own hops and barley. Now there are three breweries left.

Quinte has a strong agricultural heritage that should be recognized by visitors, Munro said

“I think this is part of our agricultural heritage. Its part of the fact that we haven’t seen this same agricultural development in south western Ontario,” said Munro.

At the Festival, there will be free pairings of Quinte cheeses and ales hosted by author Ian Couttes and chef Jeremy Taft on a first-come first-served basis. This will be in support of the new trail.

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival will be in Picton on Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2 at the Picton fairgrounds, Prince Edward Curling Club and Crystal Palace.

Here is Bay of Quinte Tourism’s interactive map where similar events are posted.

Heads up! Quinte’s Health Centre is participating in Safe Kids week, which is focusing on teaching the community how to avoid, identify and treat concussions.

The movement was started by Parachute, which aims for “an injury free Canada”. The organization works to protect Canadian citizens across all age groups. According to their website, www.parachutecanada.org, injuries account for over 70 per cent of youth deaths.

Last year in Quinte, 2000 teens report to hospitals with sports related injuries.

The three themes of this week are: Be alert, be safe and be aware. These are three key lessons that Safe Kids week are attempting to teach to the communities, young and old.

““Parents, coaches and even the athletes themselves haven’t been taken concussions seriously enough. Even seemingly minor blows can really change how that child may be able to move, think or behave,” said Cindy Kirkpatrick of the Quinte Health Unit.

Concussions are caused when the brain is jarred within the skull. It leads to a change in brain function, and can include such symptoms as headaches, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating and emotional instability.

“What people don’t know is that there is no evidence that helmets prevent concussions. They prevent head injuries, but not the movement that will cause a concussion,” said Kirkpatrick, “The only way to prevent concussions is to prevent kids from knocking each other over or falling.”

Kirkpatrick understands this isn’t always possible, but she suggests that educators teach their athletes about practising safer opposition and defense moves, inspecting the play area for faults and also teaching youths about respecting each other’s bodies.

Concussions are called the “invisible injury”. There is no visible injury identifiable by an MRI or CAT scan, so they often go over looked when sufferers are brought to the hospital. However, this doesn’t make them any less harmful.

The injury can last for many months if not treated appropriately, which is only done by resting. Even too much school can prolong the healing of a concussion for a youth.

Resources can be found at Quinte’s Health Centre, and Parachute hosts a multitude of online pamphlets for any teacher, parent or youth that wants to learn or teach about Safe Kids’ week’s goals on concussion education.

Follow QNet News all this week for more stories on Safe Kids week.

The QNet news team will be supplying live coverage from the event.

Check our website for updates and follow the reporters on Twitter:

John Moodie @jrmoodie

Shelden Rogers @sheldenrogers11

Shelby Wye @shelbywye

Megan Mattice @megan_mattice

While the playground days are over, a new club offers a chance for adults to have their own brand of recess.

The Quinte sports and social club (QSSC) is a sports league created, where the only requirement is that club members are over 19 and they have a good attitude.

“The goal is to have fun, and the best part is that we always go for a beer after the game,” said Matt Linton, the sport manager of QSSC.

The sports and social league isn’t a new concept. There are already other SSC clubs across Canada. The SSC began in Ottawa in 2001, and can now be found across Canada, including Windsor, Vancouver and also Kingston.

The Kingston SSC is the largest sports provider in the city. The league has around 1700 people participating each week in the various sports they offer. Linton is hoping to bring that kind of participation in the Quinte area.

“This league is the number one way for adults to make new friends,” said Linton, “It’s great. Even outside the league, you start recognizing people at the bar, on the street.”

Linton said their club noticed that Quinte had a lot of sports, but they were all either age specific, gender specific or competitive-only. He is hoping the QSSC will fill that gap, since they welcome anyone as long as they are of drinking age.

The QSSC currently offers kickball, soccer, beach volleyball and then an “all sorts of sports” league. Members are welcomed to register as a single player, with a friend or even with an entire team. Specific prices for team registration and individual registration can be found at qssc.ca.

As the numbers grow. Linton says that more sports can be added. Come winter, sports like dodgeball and hockey will be included.

QSSC will be based in Belleville as the club starts out. They use public fields for their games, including a volleyball pit at Loyalist College and a baseball diamond at a local school.

The QSSC will be hosting a free preview day, coming up this Saturday. Registration for this event is free and can be done online. Linton said that already 30-40 people have registered already.