ALMAGUIN NEWS, Thursday, April 16, 2009 - Page 7 Program helping to keep kids safe starts with Powassan Masons Rob Learn police can use right away and save children’s hearing at a young age. News Staff possibly hours of trying to collect The Masonchip (CHIP – Child all of the items we’ve collected,” Identification Program) seemed POWASSAN – A fraternity with a said Dobbs. like a natural fit for the fraternity long-time reputation for helping Kits take five to 10 minutes to with the long track record of children is starting a new initiative complete and provide parents with philanthropy. to keep youngsters safe. thorough package that includes “There was a program with Masonic Lodge 443 in Powassan a page of information about the Child Find, but what we were is the first lodge in the Muskoka- child’s appearance, a printed photo, seeing with OCF was they couldn’t District to take part a CD with an electronic document find the volunteers to run the in the Masonichip Program that of the child’s description, digital programs in all of the communities provides parents with a simple tool photos, a digital scan of the child’s with any consistency,” said Dobbs. to assist police and the public in fingerprints, a DNA sample and With 52,000 Masons spread out locating children should they ever a 20-second video of the child across Ontario with lodges in 3,509 go missing. answering basic questions. different communities and already “We tell each and every one of “The video gives a voice imprint having a program to start with the parents that we hope you never for different media that can be one from the U.S. it seemed natural to have to use this, but if you do, you’ll more thing for people to cue in introduce the program here. be prepared,” said Ontario program about the child that is missing,” More than 50 computers with director Raymond Dobbs. said Dobbs. supporting digital devices have The retired 36-year veteran of Volunteers from Powassan been purchased by the Grand the OPP says the free program will lodge, who have passed a police Lodge of Canada in the Province instantly provide police with the background check, will be filling of Ontario and the machines are tools they need to find missing out the kits during the Powassan being used across the province. children. Maple Syrup Festival and on several Each machine comes specially “To me the biggest feature about dates at surrounding communities configured so that the operating this is that the package offers a that week. system automatically erases all quick hit of information that Niles Watson says the aim is information inputted after the CD to make it as easy as possible for is burnt. parents to access the program. “The machines don’t store any “Our lodge serves a big area with of the information we input. We’re Contract members coming from as far away not starting any sort of database as Port Loring so we’re going to go here,” said Dobbs. there,” said Watson. The program is just about The Masonichip Program giving parents a tool to deal with a finalized started in New York State in 1990 nightmare situation. by the Grand Lodge there and has “I’m in Woodstock and right now ALMAGUIN – A contract for a since spread to 20 other states and there is an eight-year-old girl who is consulting firm to study the District has been growing in Ontario very missing and it is driving home to of Parry Sound’s ambulance quickly over the past year. everyone here just how important a services has been finalized. “Masons have been involved in tool like this can be,” said Dobbs. At their Tuesday night council causes for children and children’s Masonichip Programs will be meeting last week, the Town of safety across the province for a running on April 25 at the Masonic Parry Sound, which operates long time,” said Dobbs. He says Hall on Clark Street in Powassan Emergency Medical Services (EMS) many people don’t realize that from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.; on April for the entire District of Parry Shriners are Masons and that the 26 at the Argyle Community Centre Sound, entered into an agreement Shrine Children Hospitals that from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.; on April with IBI Group for an EMS service provide care free of charge at 22 29 at the Nipissing Community review at price tag of $45,000. sites across North America are Centre from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.; on The purpose of the review is to Masonic supported. Masons also May 2 at the Chisholm Fire Hall make sure EMS services are on track support the Help to Hear program from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and on SOLEMN EVENT: Kevin Norrie of carries the cross as participants and that resources are going where at the Hospital for Sick Children May 4 at the Nipissing Community in the Ecumenical Walk of the Cross exit Trinity United Church on April 10. To they are supposed to, said EMS in Toronto, providing support for Centre from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. advisory committee chair Jamie cochlear implants for children and For more information call Nyles mark Good Friday, residents of Magnetawan walked through town and stopped McGarvey. The four-month review are strong advocates for testing Watson at 724-3197. at each church for a short service. will answer questions such as: Should there be more service in the district? Do we need to shift staffing THE NEW and bases anywhere? Should the EMS continue to contract with the West Parry Sound Health Centre as a service provider? “Overall, (the study will) show DOUG GRAHAM TYE BRUCE BARTLETT SULLIVAN Business Manager Sales-Leasing where we are and … where we’re BICKLEY going … (and) how we’re going Just a little down the road. to provide future services, ” said McGarvey. 1 Bickley Country Drive Huntsville DEREK LIDDLE RYAN LEITH JEREMY OUDERKIRK Team moving 789-5524 Sales-Leasing Sales-Leasing Sales-Leasing to Powassan Continued from Page 1 the GMHL’s contract require- ments. There was also concern among Powassan councillors when Hockey Canada announced that it would impose sanction com- munities where the GMHL teams were located. When asked if Dragon manage- ment thought there would be any conflict with Hockey Canada that would affect the local minor hock- ey activities, Ricci said “other com- munities, like Gravenhurst and Desoronto, where there are GMHL teams, have had no problems with Hockey Canada. No sanctions have come down on them.” Councillor Gerry Giesler, who sits on the recreation committee that helped draft the Dragons’ contract with the Sportsplex, said, “We had considerable discussion about this and our minor hockey representatives feel confident that the Dragons will not have any neg- ative impact on their activities.” Council was in agreement with Ricci when he said, “No way can Hockey Canada tell the munici- pality who it can, or cannot, rent ice time to.” He also got council’s commitment to “fight tooth and nail” against any sanctions that might be threatened. The Dragons will be recruiting players over the summer and have altered the team logo to reflect their new home. Mayor Bob Young was the first to be presented with a new team hat during the council meeting. REGISTRATION NIGHT for the

Little Splashers

will take place on Monday, April 20 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the Sundridge Strong Joly Arena Completed Registrations must be received no later than Friday, April 24, 2009