ALMAGUIN NEWS, Wednesday, May 28, 2008 - Page 3

POWASSANFARMERS’ MARKET

CELEBRATING20th Anniversary

For further info:

724-6904 or724-3144

Main St. beside the Beer Store(Hwy. 11S Entrance)

NEW VENDORS WELCOME

Bedding Plants, Fresh Vegetables,Baking, Preserves, Local Freezer

Meat, Goat Milk Products,Handmade Furniture,

Fundraising Garage Sale & Crafts

BBQ is always onCold & Hot Drinks • Picnic Tables

Saturdays 9 to 1

88glen@sympatico.ca88 GLEN ROBERTS DRIVE, TROUT CREEK, ON

(705) 723-1782Just off Hwy. 11 at the 301 turnoff

onto McFadden Line. 1st left off McFadden Line onto Glen Roberts Drive

*INTERAC AVAILABLE, VISA, MASTERCARD

Open 7 days a weekMon. to Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sun. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

GIFT CERTIFICATES

ALL TOP QUALITY PLANTS

(Proven Winners)• HANGING BASKETS

• HANGING BAGS• PATIO POTS

• 4” & 6” POTS• FLATS

• SOIL PRODUCTS• SEEDS

• ANNUALS• PERENNIALS

• HERBS• VEGETABLES

Come in and see us!

BBurk’ss Falls,, Armourr && Ryersonn Unionn Publicc

Library

Southh River-Macharr Unionn Publicc Library

South River

CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLYinvites you

to come enjoy music with

Raye & Bev HarringtonSaturday, May 31, 2008

7:00 p.m.

Rob LearnStaff Reporter

BURK’S FALLS – New technology is coming to the Burk’s Falls and District Health Centre (BFDHC) that will let doctors see from much farther away – around the world even.

Diagnostic imaging at the BFDHC will be converted to digital files this summer, changing the classic X-Ray film to a computer file that can be shipped around the planet in seconds.

The change is part of a conversion Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) is undergoing to make all of its diagnostic image machines digital.

Chief professional and diagnostic services officer Harold Featherston says the move will be a big step in improving local healthcare.

“It improves access to specialists for patients. It improves turnaround times. It improves accuracy. The digital images are a superior system to use in more way than one,” said Featherston.

Currently the X-Ray-type imaging machine in Burk’s Falls produces an image on film that needs to be developed and physically sent to patients’ doctors. When the digital imaging is in place, pictures can be sent to specialists, the patient’s family doctor and can be archived almost simultaneously.

The new digital imaging will be done by adding a component to the existing imaging machine in Burk’s Falls. At the hospitals in Huntsville and Bracebridge, new machines are being installed to handle the technology.

“The technology we have in Burk’s Falls is the newest technology we have in our whole organization,” said Featherston. “It’s only four or five years old, so there is no need to replace it.”

The digital images will be stored on a new digital archive that MAHC is installing. The archive will be connected to a provincial health information network called the Smart System for Health.

The archive system is the big ticket item in the upgrade. Converting Burk’s Falls imaging equipment over to digital is expected to cost about $100,000. The archiving system for the Huntsville, Bracebridge and Burk’s Falls sites has a $2.6 million price tag.

Featherston says he believes the digital images will make healthcare much more efficient and make seeking treatment from southern doctors easier.

“This digital system probably won’t reduce the amount of travel patients have to do, but it will make that travel much more effective. When you get to the specialist’s office you know they will have the X-ray and perhaps have even seen it ahead of time,” said Featherston.

Digital imaging is also expected to make local physicians jobs much easier, having a faster turnaround time with clearer images.

The doctors should be able to get a second opinion on an image without anyone ever having to leave the building.

The digital imaging equipment is expected to be installed this August.

Digital imaging moves centre into modern era

PHOTO BY ROB LEARN

VISIONARY DONATION: The Burk’s Falls Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 405, is donating $5,000 from its Poppy Fund to the Burk’s Fallsand District Health Centre for digital x-ray equipment to be installed this year. The cheque was presented to the Friends of the Health Centre at its regular meeting on May 21. From front left are, Raija Rosenthal, Friends vice-chair Reina Zekas, Ina Trolove and MarionMay. Behind them are Daryl Annesly, Poppy Fund chair Monica Kerr, branch president Kathy Parry, Debi Davis of the Huntsville HospitalFoundation, Joyce Darling and Liz Trolove.

Andy CampbellStaff Reporter

SUNDRIDGE – If Central Almaguin is to reach its potential, efforts at economic development need to be co-ordinated. Central Almaguin needs a plan.

At the May 28 meeting of the Central Almaguin Economic Development Association, Sundridge councillor Bill de Vries presented terms of reference for developing a strategic plan, as

discussed at a previous meeting.“The last time we had a study done

of our area was seven years ago, and that was not for our area, but a study of the whole district,” said de Vries.

De Vries noted that parking lots were full in Sundridge on the long weekend.

“Part of that is because of the traffic going through,” he said. “In three to four years, that traffic will not be there.”

DeVries said that he is aware of businesses poised to expand but holding fast until they determine how things shake out. If local businesses are forced to cut back, he said, it will be the local, year-round residents who suffer.

A number of ideas have been proposed, such as developing a tourist route between Sundridge and South River, moving the South River information centre to one of the highway exits, trying to get Mikisew Provincial Park opened for more of the tourist season, and capitalizing more

on South River’s access to Algonquin Park. However, there is no consensus on what to do or where to start. The result has been no action.

“We’ve got to start somewhere,” said de Vries, indicating that the logical place to start is with a study and a plan that will provide some direction.

The proposal, to be perused individually by the four councils, has the study coming in at just under $50,000. Of this $45,000 would come from grants and the remainder would be divided between the municipalities.

Representatives of both FedNor and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines were in attendance at the meeting, but limited their participation.

Kathy Whitfield, of the Central Almaguin Business Committee, appreciated the proactive approach the municipalities would be taking with a strategic plan.

“There’s just too much at stake to do this by the seat of our pants,” she said.

Councils to consider strategic plan proposal

MPP advises CAEDA on MTO upcoming meeting

Andy CampbellStaff Reporter

SUNDRIDGE – Members of the Central Almaguin Economic Development Association (CAEDA) are hopeful that an upcoming meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) might lead to a more reasonable sign policy on Hwy. 11.

CAEDA has invited Robert Hazra, the MTO’s head of corridor management, to meet with them on June 12. Hazra has expressed a willingness to discuss signage with the municipalities.

Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller attended the monthly CAEDA meeting on May 22, to discuss provincial issues such as this, and asked for more information.

Miller was told that negotiating with the MTO at the district level has, thus far, proven ineffective for CAEDA.

“We’re getting all kinds of mixed messages,” explained Sundridge councillor Bill de Vries, pointing to other sections of highway that have the billboards and at-grade entrances that the MTO intends to eliminate in Almaguin.

He also noted the differences in the MTO policy for southern Ontario, and the topographical advantages that allow advertisers to skirt the rules on Hwy. 400, south of Barrie. With the wide-open landscape, billboards are simply set back from the MTO’s right

of way. “There, they just tell the MTO where to go. We can’t do that here.”

It was also noted that the MTO sign policy offers no explanation of why signs are not allowed.

Miller asked about aesthetic concerns with regard to large signs.

De Vries said that no one is asking the MTO for a free-for-all, but it would be nice if some moderate amount of signage is allowed.

“You need some control,” agreed Sundridge mayor Elgin Schneider.

Miller considered that a reasonable request.

De Vries also noted that the MTO has mentioned previously that a new sign policy is in the works, although none has materialized since. This would be another topic for the meeting with Hazra.

“It might be a chance to get some input into the new policy,” said de Vries.

Miller asked whether the signs would be mainly directed toward tourists.

“Do you think it should be geared toward somebody getting somewhere?” he asked, noting that Canadore College has billboards on Hwy. 124, which are clearly general advertising, and not of

particular use to the people traveling that highway.

“The businesses are interested in informing the traveling public of what’s in the villages,” said de Vries.

“I think we need some extra consideration,” said Strong councillor Merlyn Snow.

Snow pointed out that communities such as Burk’s Falls are visible from the highway, while Sundridge and South River will be bypassed entirely. “Burk’s Falls has an advantage over us.”

In planning the meeting with Hazra for June 12, CAEDA members proposed an open invitation to business owners. However, Miller suggested starting with a smaller meeting, possibly including a representative group of business owners from various sectors.

“You’ll probably have a more productive meeting if you’re not trying to intimidate the MTO at your first meeting,” he said.

Depending on the outcome of discussions with Hazra, CAEDA members suggested that they would continue “up the food chain” from there. Miller suggested that if Hazra cannot help them, the next step might be to seek a meeting with the minister of transportation.

Charges laid in assaultNORTH BAY – A Callander woman is one of two suspects charged following an attack that took place in North Bay on May 12. On that date, a woman was attacked in her vehicle while at a service station on Hwy. 11 north.

The investigation by North Bay

police led to the arrest of two female suspects, one on May 15 and the other on May 22.

Charged with assault with a weapon and mischief are Veronique Pepin, 22, of North Bay, and Ginette Menard, 43, of Callander.

Almaguin Highlands needs a better sign policy for Hwy. 11