Review-Mirror

The provincial Ombudsman's office is not going to conduct an inves- tigation into the affairs of the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, the township was informed in an Aug. 3 letter. In a July 21 e-mail to councillors and staff Councillor John Paul Jackson relayed that the Ombudsman's office is investigating his concerns that Mayor Joe Baptista abused his power in the making of an in-camera decision. "It's another example of misinformation being put out there," said the mayor whose call to the ombudsman's office was followed by their Aug. 3 correspondence. This spring, councillors based their decision to dis- cipline four staff members on an 11-page executive summary of a full report from an investigation by the municipality's lawyers of sexual harassment com- plaints. A motion by Jackson for the release of the full report didn't make it to the council table after two meetings in June and another meeting in July. A similar motion is on the Sept. 5 meeting agenda. The motion, in itself releases in-camera infor- mation said the mayor. Baptista has noted that the rest of the report has been protected to maintain client solicitor privilege and was not misconduct on his part. This summer, council appointed an integrity commissioner to investi- gate Jackson's conduct which has included allega- tions of sharing in-camera information with the media, including the dis- closure of the identity of two staff members who were terminated, the trea- surer and the public works manager. In a motion to council, Jackson is now seeking the appointment of an integrity commissioner with the purpose of inves- tigating Baptista, who the ombudsman would not investigate. "Clearly we followed the rules, unlike him who is being investigated," said Baptista who sees Jack- son's disclosures as poten- tially laying the munici- pality liable to legal action. "It is clear by the posi- tion he's taken by releas- ing in-camera information he's working against the municipality and the tax- payers. Ultimately his actions will cost the municipality. It's his actions, not anything else," said the mayor. "The municipality is required to protect their employees if a member of council decides to slander or liable an employee," he said. By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror Eric Ritchie found a hobby for life when in his youth he discovered the pleasures of painting miniature soldiers and war gaming. Next weekend at the Lyndhurst Turkey Fair, on Sept. 16 he and a fellow gamer will be putting on a war game demonstration game at the United Church. The duo will be repli- cating the 1812 war battle of Chrysler's Farm, a skir- mish between the British and the Americans. The soldiers he brings next week are just a small part of a huge collection. "My interest in the hobby developed from an interest in history," said Ritchie whose first army of soldiers were ancient Carthaginians. Over 50 years, Ritchie has painted thousands of miniature soldiers, has won painting competitions and won and lost hundreds of battles around the world with his armies. Painting the figures is only half of the hobby for Ritchie who belongs to miniature groups in Ottawa and Kingston and gets together with them several times a month to game. Rule books are used for each game to determine the many elements which can put a unit of soldiers in advance or in retreat. A roll of the dice and the number it reveals cor- responds to the move- ments and capacities of the player's soldiers which could become elite, veter- ans or raw green with the roll of a dice. While players some- times literally come from the same mould it's the painting which distin- guishes them. Ritchie has developed a distinctive wash style of painting which sets his soldiers apart. "It's different. Most people don't paint that way. It's a style I devel- oped in the seventies when I started," he said. Along with a supply of figures, paints, and brush- es Ritchie's needs also include reference material to ensure the authenticity of the colors of his men's uniforms. He is loathe to use digital media as a ref- erence and treasures a large number of books to refer to in his work. The retired architect used to paint at night to relax. These days he gets up in the morning and will paint for a couple of hours to begin his day. While Ritchie has changed, the soldiers have not. "They make the same ones as when I was grow- ing up," he said. Since his youth Eric Ritchie has had the pleasure of painting miniature soldiers and war gaming with them. He has collected and painted thousands during his lifetime from ancient times to the 19th century. Ombudsman declines to investigate TLTI mayor The Review-Mirror September 7, 2017 – 3 War gaming and miniature soldiers a hobby for life Westport Lions Fish Fry Saturday September 23 Last Westport Lions Outdoor Dinner for 2017 4-6:30 pm • Takeout available 4-5 pm Lions Sand Lake Beachhouse Fish by Mike Mundell • $15 ea. Come Grow With Us! Nancy Hales Open: Daily 9-5 Cty. Rd. 42, Newboro 272-2059 OPEN FALL MUMS ORNAMENTAL GRASSES FALL ANNUALS FALL COMBO PLANTERS PERENNIALS Sale on all GARDEN GIFTWARE NEWBORO FARM GATE GARDENS Quality Plants at Great Prices Upper Rideau Branch 542 10099 Cty. Rd. 10, Westport 613-273-3615 1952 2017 UPPER RIDEAU #542 We are the Guardians of REMEMBRANCE Follow us on Facebook for the latest on Legion 542 events Monday Bingo at 7 p.m. • Toonie Pot over $550 Bonanza $350 • Jackpot $850 • All 55#s or less General Meeting Tuesday, Sept. 12 7 pm. Everyone is encouraged to attend. All-you-can-eat Spaghetti Fri., Sept. 15th, 6 pm (3rd Fri. of the month) UPPER RIDEAU OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT RIDEAU LAKES GOLF CLUB Saturday, September 9, 2017 Package -18 Holes, Cart and Dinner- $50 Dinner Only $20 • Package Special for RLGCC Members $20 Register & Prepay at Branch 542. Registration only, also available at Evergreen and Rideau Lakes Golf Courses Jim Ritchie 613-273-8367 or Ron Plunkett 613-273-2020 Proceeds to the Legion Generator Celebrating Legion Week September 17-24 Sept. 17 launches the week with one of our favorites "Sunday in the Country" with Jeff Code and Silver Wings 2-6pm. Light luncheon. Monday Night Bingo full of surprises. 7 p.m. Wed., Sept. 20 Membership Open House 2-6pm. Special afternoon, delectable snacks and early bird draws. Open to the public. Sun., Sept. 24, First Annual Legion Week Dart Tournament. 1-5pm. Food, prizes and fun. Register ahead by contacting michellebeckermann@gmail.com. Cost is $10 per team of two. Please come and support this event as everyone is welcome – not just Legion members. Proceeds to the Legion generator. We are really hoping to make this an annual event which gives everyone a day of fun and friendship. See you there! Lounge hours Tues. 4-7•Wed 4-7•Thurs 4-7•Fri 3-7•Sat 2-6 We are already booking for the Christmas season. Call Juanita for a tour at 613-273-8455. We are striving to put a generator into the Legion as soon as possible to have a back up for the community schools and people in the area. Your support has been greatly appreciated. A & B FORD COLLISION CENTRE Telephone 613-267-5749 Fax: 613-264-1099 collision2@abford.com A&B Ford Sales Ltd. 37 Lanark Rd., Perth

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