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Skate the Lake organiz- ers are pleased ice condi- tions on their skating oval on Big Rideau Lakes have improved with help from last weekend's warmer weather. Organizers were specu- lating flooding of the sur- face could be necessary after the initial plowing of the oval revealed rough ice. "The ice is in absolute- ly awesome condition. I can't wait till race day to begin," said Skate the Lake chair John Bongers. Local volunteers are looking forward to wel- coming hundreds of skaters and spectators to the ice on Saturday in Portland where last week- end organizers made the final installations of warming huts and finish line. Skaters for the 5K adult race will be on the starting line beginning at 9:00 am on Saturday after opening ceremonies at 8:30. A 10K race at 9:45 comes before the race which gives the hardest test of the ice and the skaters the 25K and 50K race at 11:00. At 1:30 five member relay teams will be com- peting in the 5 x 1k relay. A Special Olympics race sponsored by RBC at 2:30 is the last race before the Kids 5K (under 12) race begins at 3:30. Public skating begins after the Kids 5K race and continues until dusk with DJ "Johnny 5" providing music and a laser light show. The comfort of food and a bonfire will continue to be available through to the evening with a canteen in the hall as well as food available outside just off the ice. Throughout the day Glen McFadden and his horses will leaving from the community hall for sleigh rides travelling out on the ice. There will be kids curl- ing at a rink off the oval and a visit from RBC Olympian rower Derek O'Farrell. The 2013 and 2014 Scotties Tournament of Heart skip, curler Rachel Homan will be vis- iting the event this year. Food will be provided on and off the ice includ- ing a canteen from the Portland FC and North Leeds Soccer in the Port- land Community Hall and a Dutch green pea soup snert, beaver tales and cof- fee and hot chocolate on the ice. Skate the Lake volun- teers tackle jobs both large and small in the weeks and months ahead of the com- petition to make the day a success. The group needs $10,000 to $15,000 a year to operate each year, which they raise with the help of sponsorships and in-kind donations and ser- vices. Organizers hope the winter experience will prompt some of the event's visitors to return in the summer. Full information about the event is available on the Skate the Lake website at www.skatethelakeport- land.com. Thursday, January 22, 2015 Serving North Leeds and area since 1893 Vol. 123, No. 3 $1incl. tax Mirror The Review TLTI council opts for provincial Ombudsman Justin Martin President 613-530-0773 RR 2 Westport, ON K0G 1X0 jtmartin@kingston.net 4 Septic Systems 4 Excavating 4 Landscaping 4 Road Work 4 Rock Excavating 4 Trucking 4 Residential & Commercial Snow Plowing & Sanding 4 Damp Proofing LTD. Westport Village Pharmacy 3 Church St., Westport, ON 613-273-2922 westportvillagepharmacy@gmail.com Mon.-Fri.: 9-6 • Sat. & Sun.: 10-4 Even MODEST WEIGHT LOSS Can Have an Enormous Impact on Your Health Join us for an OPEN HOUSE AND PRODUCT TASTING Stop in and see us for more information. 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 43 Bedford St., Westport 613-273-8848 soho@rideau.net Conditions looking good for Skate the Lake 11 The Skate the Lake oval on Portland Bay as seen from the Remax balloon during last year's event. Last Sunday's mild weather and rain brought perfect ice conditions to the oval as temeratures dropped agian starting Monday. Photo by John Truyens. Continuing a 30 year tradition serving North Leeds - Delivery & Set Up Available Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin duncan s TV & APPLIANCES Reg. $899.00 $ 699 00 Next Tuesday Ontario Ombudsman André Marin is bringing out his naughty list of municipal politi- cians with the release of his third report on investi- gations of closed meet- ings. Leeds and the Thou- sand Islands former coun- cillors in 2013 made sure they wouldn't be on his naughty list this year when at their December 9 2013 meeting they hired an independent investigator to replace the default Ombudsman services. Earlier this month the new 2014 council put a stop to the township's 2013 agreement and ter- minated the services of LAS as the closed meeting investigator. The contract came with a retainer of $660 per term and investigation fees of $225 per hour instead of the free default services of the ombudsman. The council of the day made the move after two investigations by the Ombudsman noted the council had not acted within the guidelines of the municipal act for closed meetings. The move back to the ombudsman was part of an election commitment by •Continued on page 2 www.idealprotein.com