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HEADLINES FOR THIS PAGE
(NOTE: Some of the stories may no longer be available on the Internet)
Our area is at risk for big earthquake
Vars fire causes gas leak, 40 homes evacuated
Helen Collier C-R's Interim Chief Administrative Officer
Clarence-Creek resident, OPP officer Guy Boucher,
saves baby's life
Enbridge Gas customers: Your rates going
up by 40 per cent, could go higher!
In 2013 Bouvier declared one of 10 worst roads
in Ontario
Ottawa residents: Order of Ottawa nominations
now open
True Vote proponents collect signatures
C-R mayor is P.O'd at the media
CIH hockey player skates into powerful issue
Canada Post hiking price of stamps on March 31
Ottawa scientist’s digital vaccination
app goes national
Ontario's interactive map pinpoints Traffic &
Road Info
C-R Chamber of Commerce holds its 2014 AGM
Michel Bellemare dismissed as C-R CAO
What's happening with C-R's planning director?
Cumberland-based Re/Max Citywide Realty has acquires Clarence-Rockland’s Riveria
2000
Distracted drivers: Ontario proposes fines of up $1K and 3 demerit points
Kevin Trudeau: Finally! somebody saw through the scam
C-R Council votes to sell off the Jean-Marc Lalonde arena
Clarence Creek man killed in single-car rollover
The latest on the college closures in Alfred and
Kemptville
Ivanie Blondin captures speedskating bronze
Dole’s Italian Blend salad being recalled due to possible
Listeria contamination
St. Albert Cheese gets $1M from province to replace
razed factory
Early morning fire claims the life of Rockland resident
Gatineau contractor charged with fraud
- Police looking for other victims
Amazing Women from the past to the present
Driving in Ottawa/Gatineau? Beware -STEP themes for
March and April
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Our area is at risk for big earthquake
Destruction could be far worse than in Christchurch, New Zealand |
(CBC Ottawa) Seismologists and structural engineers say this area is at risk for a big earthquake.
The Val-des-Bois quake that shook the capital last year reminded people that we sit in an earthquake zone. And
there is a chance it could one day produce a destructive quake far worse than February's deadly magnitude-6.3 tremor
in Christchurch, New Zealand. Read more... |
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Vars fire causes gas leak, 40 homes evacuated
(Vars, March 29, 2014) A two-alarm fire in Vars took Ottawa fire crews nearly two  hours to put out. Then they noticed a gas leak and called Enbridge.
At that point 40 homes were evacuated while the company repaired the leak. Hydro crews turned the power off to
the entire block to prevent possible ignition. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)
 Ottawa’s Salvation Army were
on the scene to provide hot meals to fire fighters and those affected by the gas leak. Residents were not able
to return to their homes until 3:00 a.m. Sunday. Click here for more/pictures...
The picture on the left, taken from Google maps, shows what the home looked like before
the fire. The link above will show pictures of the house today.
OC Transpo provided shelter (buses) to residents who did not choose to go elsewhere while waiting to be allowed
back home.
Damage was estimated at $175,000 to the building and $25,000 to the contents inside. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, though it appeared to officials as though it was due to an accidental
natural gas leak |
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Helen Collier C-R's Interim Chief
Administrative Officer
(Rockland, March 25, 2014) The City of Clarence-Rockland has named Helen Collier as Interim Chief Administrative Officer.
Her previous positions with Clarence-Rockland were Acting Deputy Treasurer and Development Charge / Asset Management
Planner.
Click
here to read more, including Collier's quick change to her LinkedIn page and other references. |
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OPP Constable Guy Boucher
Local Clarence Creek resident helps to save a baby
 (March 28, 2014) In an
online news story, the Vision Newspaper is reporting that OPP Constable Guy Boucher (right in photo)
from the Ottawa detachment, was instrumental in saving the life of a baby, during a trip to Boston in February.
(Click on the pic to enlarge.)
The 45 year old officer, a resident of Clarence Creek, was presented with a commendation for his heroic act, by
OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis. You can read the full story in the April 3rd edition of the Vision. |
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Enbridge Gas customers: Your
rates going up by 40 per cent and could even go higher
(March 25, 2014)Customers of Enbridge Gas will soon be hit with an average increase of nearly $400 a  year on their gas bills, at least on
an interim basis. The Ontario Energy Board approved the company's application to boost its rates by 40 per cent.
Enbridge said the higher costs are the result of colder than normal weather over the past winter and higher natural
gas prices forecast for the next year. Read more...
 After this initial story, we have now learned that a "Second natural gas
price hike could be on the way". Read more... |
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In 2013 Bouvier declared one of 10
worst roads in Ontario
(March 25, 2014) The Canadian Automobile Association has launched its annual Worst Roads campaign,
letting residents vote for which local roads are most in need of repair.
Last year, our own Bouvier Road was among the top 10 worst roads in Ontario!
Will we get another listing this year? You can vote for Ontario's Worst Road here. |
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 True
Vote proponents collect signatures
(Rockland, March 20, 2014) True Vote Clarence-Rockland, under the direction of former municipal candidate
Jacques Taillefer, is pushing for "Back to in-person voting". (Click on pic
to enlrge.)
They held a signature evening at the local Knights of Columbus hall, three days after the Clarence-Rockland City
Council voted to continue using the electronic voting system that was used in the last municipal election. We are
attempting to get the "results" of that meeting.
There is some preliminary information on Taillefer's Facebook page.
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C-R mayor is P.O'd at the media
(March 19th 2014 ) In an open message on the Clarence-Rockland website, Mayor Marcel Guibord
said that he was "disappointed by the lack of respect, judgment and work ethic from some members of the media...
surrounding the departure of Mr. Michel Bellemare". You can read his comment here. |
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CIH hockey player skates into powerful
issue
(March 16, 2014) Maddy Koughan, 16, of Mermaid, P.E.I. is in her first year with the Canadian
International Hockey Academy in Rockland and she took part in video to raise awareness about mental health. Read more...
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Canada Post hiking price of stamps
on March 31
(March 19, 2014) Canada Post is introducing a new tiered pricing structure for domestic and
international letters but customers who wish to purchase a single stamp will pay $1. Read more...
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Ottawa scientist’s digital
vaccination app goes national
(March 21, 2014) A smartphone app developed by an Ottawa Public Health expert will not only improve vaccine
record-keeping but could also reduce vaccine preventable outbreaks. Read more...
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Ontario's interactive map pinpoints Traffic
& Road Info
The Ontario Government Traveller's Road Information Portal (TRIP) web site gives you easy 24/7/365
access to Ministry of Transportation (MTO) road information on provincially maintained highways. It includes road
closures, conditions and construction information. Read more... |
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C-R Chamber of Commerce:
2014 AGM sees new members added to the Board of Directors |
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The 2014 Board of Directors gather for their first picture together. From Left-to-right:
Jocelyn Goudreault, Sophie S. Patenaude, Charles Seguin, Pierre Dauth,
Martine Nolin-Simard (President), Allister Beauchamp, Joane Brunet,
Guylaine Jodoin, Pierre Morin. (Photo - Patrick Meikle)
(Rockland, Wednesday, March 19, 2014) The Clarence-Rockland Chamber of Commerce held their 2014
Annual General Meeting in the upper concourse of the Canadian International Hockey Academy, which happens to be
the location of their office. Read
more...
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Michel Bellemare
Clarence-Rockland council dismisses their CAO
(Will the planning director be the next to go?) |
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 (March 18, 2014) The Canaan Connexion has learned that the Clarence-Rockland council has dismissed their
chief administrator, Michel Bellemare, after only nine months, the third CAO to leave in four years.
The Vision reported that Mayor Marcel Guibord and the city council voted in-camera
Monday night not to renew Bellemare’s contract.
There has been no official announcement of the decision, says the Citizen, and the mayor could
not be reached Tuesday night for comment.
Nonetheless, the decision has drawn the anger of the municipalities ratepayers.
Related items:
Ottawa Citizen - Clarence-Rockland council dismisses
top bureaucrat. More...
You can view the council meeting on local cable TVC22. Click here.
The Citoyen de Clarence-Rockland Citizens
Facebook page is awash with the Bellemare dismissal, which has emoted many, often visceral comments.
Radio-Canada (French) - "Michel Bellemare... fired...
less than a year after his appointment". More...
Vision - Bellemare will not stay on (French only). More...
Le Droit (French) - "Jamais
deux sans trois à Clarence-Rockland: le dg congédié" (Things happen in threes.) - More... NOTE: To view an English translation through Google, click here, then when the page comes up, click on the word "Translating..."
And to think that only nine short months ago, this press release was issued by the City of Clarence-Rockland:
- "The City of Clarence-Rockland welcomes Mr. Michel Bellemare as Chief Administrative Officer".
Read the release here.
You can read our initial story on Bellemare's appointment: "Former Ottawa mayor named to
CAO position"... here.
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Mike Michaud
What's happening with the C-R planning director? |
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(Wednesday, March 19, 2014) Today, Le Droit
reported the dismissal of Clarence-Rockland's CAO (see above). What was interesting however was a short paragraph at the end of the story, where they advise that
they have learned that the City of Clarence-Rockland has suspended its director of planning and urbanism, Michael
Michaud. This information, however, could be validated but it was learned that Michaud has been on suspension for
more than a week.
Sources have speculated to the Canaan Connexion that a couple of things may be taking place:
- Some members of council are not happy with the way Michaud handles questions from council and
the explanations he gives.
- Michaud evidently had a dust up with the human resources director and was suspended, leading
to the speculation that he may be the "next to go".
We will report any further developments as they happen.
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Distracted drivers beware
Ontario proposes fines of up $1K and 3 demerit points |
 (March 17, 2014) Drivers in Ontario who flout distracted driving laws could soon feel
a pinch in their wallets — with higher fines and increased insurance premiums. That’s because the provincial government
has introduced new legislation that increases the fine for distracted driving, such as talking on a cellphone or
texting, to a range of $300 to $1,000, up from the current levels of $60 to $500.
Whether the legislature passes the bill or not, tomorrow the existing fine for distracted driving will almost double
to $280 from $155.
Drivers would also face increased fines if they “door” a cyclist and would be required to keep a distance of at
least one metre when passing cyclists.
Police say 80 per cent of the collisions they see are caused by drivers not paying attention. Read more...
Video: "Your Last Text - Texting while Driving" (Warning
- disturbing scenes,) |
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Kevin Trudeau
Finally! somebody saw through the scam |
(Monday, March 17, 2014) How many of you saw this guy on those annoying TV infomercials?
 Best-selling author Kevin Trudeau, whose name became
synonymous with late-night TV pitches, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday for bilking consumers through
ubiquitous infomercials for his book, "The Weight Loss Cure `They' Don't Want You to Know About."
As he imposed the sentence prosecutors had requested, U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman portrayed the 50-year-old
Trudeau as a habitual fraudster going back to his early adulthood. So brazen was Trudeau, the judge said, he once
even used his own mother's Social Security number in a scheme. Read more...
Here's another take for those Kevin Trudeau fans... Chasing the Dream. |
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C-R Council votes to sell off the Jean-Marc Lalonde
arena
(Rockland, March 17, 2014) St. Patrick's Day brought out the Irish dander for many residents
when council voted to sell the J-M Lalonde arena.
(Rockland, March 24, 2014) Today
the City of Clarence-Rockland posted a "correction" on the front page of their website, telling residents
"It is premature to claim that the Jean-Marc Lalonde Arena is presently for sale." More...
Read a Letter-to-the-Editor from Brian
Madden, President, CUPE Local 503, which represents City of Clarence-Rockland employees.... "Time to Get Real
About the Clarence-Rockland Arena" More...
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| Clarence Creek man killed in single-car rollover |
 (Sunday,
March 16, 2014) Clarence-Rockland Fire Department (CRFD) Fire Chief, Pierre Sabourin, has advised the Canaan Connexion that a 20-year-old Clarence Creek man has
been killed in a single car rollover near the interesection of Henri and Pilon Roads in Clarence Creek.
He has bee n identified as, Xavier Ladouceur-Rochon.
View this video from the Brunet Funeral Home and visit thier site to read the obituary notice.
CRFD and the OPP responded to a 9-1-1 call at 3:17 a.m. after a motorist discovered a vehicle flipped over in the
ditch.
The driver was partially ejected and extrication was required. He was declared dead at the scene by EMS. It appears
he was alone in the vehicle at the time, a 2002 grey Chevrolet Malibu. Alcohol and lack of seatbelt are both being
investigated as contributing factors to the collision. An autopsy is scheduled for early in the week.
Investigators were assisted at the scene by Technical Traffic Collision Investigators. The accident is under investigation.
OPP are looking for witnesses to the accident.. Please call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 if you have any information
on this collision. |
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| The latest on the college closures in
Alfred and Kemptville |
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(Posted: March 13, 2014) (We are trying to keep up with the latest information on these two proposed
college closures, but if YOU want to find out the latest, to to Google "News" and enter either "
Afred College" or "Kemptville College", or use the Google "Alerts" feature to have the
information sent to you.)
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World Cup Finals
Ivanie Blondin captures speedskating bronze |
(March 15, 2014) Ivanie Blondin, a Gloucester Concordes and national team member and whose parents,
Robert and Lise, live in Rockland, won a bronze medal in the women's mass start, her third in a World Cup mass
start  speedskating
event. The World Cup Final took place in Heerenveen, Netherlands on Friday.
She now has three World Cup mass start medals. Her time of 8:37.97 was bettered only by winner Francesa Lollobrigida
of Italy (8:36.52) and Irene Scouten of the Netherlands (8:37.45). Blondin stated: “It was a tough race and I had
to work hard but in the end the hard work paid off and I ended up on the podium!”
The Orleans native, who also recently competed at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, then added: “Absolutely love
that race. I really wish they pull through and have the mass start event at the 2018 Olympics.
Fred Sherwin's Orleans Online also carried the story... click here.
Read our earlier story when Blondin competed in the recent Olympic games... click here. |
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| Dole’s Italian Blend salad being recalled due
to possible Listeria contamination |
 (Thursday, March 13,
2014) Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. is recalling Dole brand Italian Blend salad from the marketplace due to possible
Listeria contamination. The following product is known to have been distributed in Ontario:
Dole - Italian Blend Salad - 10 oz - (283 g)
Best Before: 14-MR-12, UPC - 0 71430 00819 5.
(Click on pic to enlarge.) Read more...
Consumers should check to see if they have recalled product in their home. Recalled product
should be thrown out or returned to the store where it was purchased.
Click here to visit our product recall page. |
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| St. Albert Cheese gets $1M from province
to replace razed factory |
 (St. Albert - March 10, 2014) The rebuild of the St. Albert
cheese factory got a major boost from Queen's Park Monday with a cash infusion of $1 million.
Premier Kathleen Wynne made the announcement while touring the site of the cheese co-operative that was destroyed
by fire a little more than a year ago. (Clic-on-pic to enlarge.)
“Ontario is investing a million dollars to support St. Albert’s efforts to build a new state-of-the-art cheese
manufacturing plant,” announced Premier Wynne. Read more... |
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| Early morning fire claims the life of
Rockland resident |
Paul-Emile Simard, 82, has been identified as
the fire victim and his wife was taken to hospital with minor smoke inhalation.
(Sunday, March 9, 2014) The Clarence-Rockland Fire Department (CRFD) was called to the 2900 block of Laurier Street
(just west of Rockland Ford) around 6:00 a.m. to responded to an apartment fire. On arrival, crews found a bedroom
fire that had almost been extinguished.
 "Unfortunately one person was found in that bedroom with no vital signs," said Chief Pierre
Sabourin. That person was declared dead and one other person was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries."
The coroner and investigators from Ontario Fire Marshalls office have been called in and the OPP are now guarding
the scene.
Fire was contained to one bedroom. Three adjacent apartments were evacuated as a precaution but occupants have
since been cleared to return.
The identities of the victim and injured have not been released
 REMINDER: If you clicked on the graphic, "10 Things To Do When You Set Your Clocks Forward",
you will see that one of the items on the check list was: Replace the batteries in your Smoke Detector and Carbon
Monoxide Detector. Make sure to replace and test these devices twice a year.
The CRFD urge residents to follow this practice, in fact it is a good idea to do this on the first day of every
month. It only takes minutes and it could save your life.
 The CBC News has picked up more
information on ths tragedy. Paul-Emile Simard, 82, has been identified as the fire victim and his wife was taken
to hospital with minor smoke inhalation. Click here to read more.
Ottawa CTV News also highlighted this story... click here.
Ottawa Sun News... another take on this story... click here.
(Russell County OPP request that anyone with information about this investigation call Constable Joe Barbe at 613-446-5124
or crime stoppers at 1-888-222-TIPS.) |
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| Gatineau contractor charged
with fraud - Police looking for other victims |
(Thursday, March 6, 2014) The Ottawa Police have charged Manuel Clavette, 28 years old, of Gatineau
with Fraud for unfinished construction con tracts.
Clavette has fraudulently taken money from four clients, in Ottawa, where the work was started but never completed.
Some victims were sub-contractors that Clavette hired to complete his own contracts but never paid them when they
finished the work. Some contracts started in 2010. The total amount of money that has been defrauded is $44,330.
The police feel that there might be other victims of Fraud in the area. Anyone with information with respect to
Manuel CLAVETTE is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service East District Investigator Det. Cyr-Pidcock at 613-236-1222,
ext. 3335 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS) or toll free at 1-800-222-8477. |
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Amazing Women from the past to the present
 The world celebrated International Women's Day on Saturday, March 8 and leading up to that event we
were pleased to bring back our columnist, Alberte Villeneuve. She is highlighting some of the women who were and
are special in her life.
"If a woman is sufficiently ambitious, determined and gifted
– there is practically nothing she can’t do." - Helen
Lawrenson
(March 5, 2014) March conjures up memories of strong women who have touched my life in some way and amazing women
I admire. Let’s start with someone I never met in person but admired: Cairine Reay Mackay
Wilson, Canada’s first female senator who at one time lived in Cumberland where I was
raised.
To read Alberte's column, click here. |
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| Driving in Ottawa/Gatineau? Beware -STEP themes
for March and April |
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 STEP
to focus on Distracted Driving, Unsafe Lane Changes, School Zone Safety and Cycling Safety during March and April:
The Gatineau Police Service and Ottawa Police Service’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) will focus
on following themes during the month of March and April as part of its ongoing commitment to keeping Ottawa’s roads
safe:
- Distracted Driving
- Unsafe Lane Changes
- School Zone Safety
- Cycling Safety
For more information, click
here.
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PREVIOUS HEADLINES
- Cost of cell phone tickets to rise for distracted drivers
- Calypso Park in hot water again
- Guy Félio, Ward 5 councillor, will not run in the next city election
- How to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew
- Local athletes at Sochi
- Donate your smartphone to science, but only when you sleep
- Funeral eulogies curtailed at Ottawa Archdiocese
- Ontario drivers can now renew licence online
- Fatal accident closed Highway 174 on Family Day morning
- Gatineau's La Ferme Rouge levelled by stubborn blaze
- Jean-Marc Lalonde is jumping back in to politics
- Fire destroys home on McTeer Road
- Watch Ivanie Blondin's 3000m speed skating run (Her parents live in Rockland)
- Fire destroys cabin at MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre
- Conflict of Interest Complaint Against Raymond Serrurier withdrawn
- Clarence-Rockland Municipal Employees support strike action
- Gilles Chartrand and his C-R Museum featured in the current issue
- Top Story for 2013: C-R Council members and lawyer face court Feb. 4
- More Local News Headlines from this time period...
- News Headlines from Jewel 92.5 from this time
- Other News Headlines we wanted to share at the time
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Click here to go to these stories...
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SEARCH THIS WEBSITE FOR PAST STORIES:
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Are you new to the area?
When is the last time you
had your septic tank cleaned?
(Click on pic for more)
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Kathleen Wynne shuffles cabinet.
Madeline Meilleur is the
new attorney general.
More...
Flat tire scammers hit Ottawa motorists: Police are sounding
the alarm about a theft scam targeting local drivers.
More...
Jim Watson is running for
mayor again in Ottawa. More...
What's happening in Clarence-Rockland?
More...
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Pope Francis' first year
in office, click here.
Includes links to the PBS (Frontline) specials on Pope Francis.
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Read the verbal etchings
from resident columnist
Alberte Villeneuve.
This week...
Intergenerational Storytelling: Alberte shares
her childhood memories of growing up on the family farm in Cumberland, with her granddaughter Lea. More...
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ROYAL PHOTO ROCKLAND
Lots of places in Rockland sell cameras,
but if you want professional advice and
competitive prices, visit Masoud at
Royal Photo. Click on the picture to
visit their website. Have a look at their
many services, including event
photography, passport photos,
custom framing and lamination.
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Listen to Clarence-Rockland's
own radio station.
(Click on the logo.)
Read Jewel's local news
here...
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DID YOU KNOW?
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5 Facts You Need to Know If
Your Vitamins Are From China:
one-sixth of China’s farmlands
are heavily polluted! More...
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SPORTS NEWS
On Saturday, March 15, 2014,
the ladies roller derby
came to Rockland.
Click here for more.
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The Canaan Connexion
is looking for writers
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Would you like to become a
"Country Correspondent"?
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Contact us:
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Cameron and Highway 174
Traffic Cameras at 174/Trim and
Cameron Street at 174
(Go to the main list, and Click on the camera you want to see.)
Click here to
see our updates
on Highway 174 information
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