CENTRAL FRONTENAC

It will probably come as no surprise that the largest audience for the Central Frontenac candidate debates this election year was in Arden last week. It will probably also come as no surprise that the biggest topics were roads and septic inspection....

The future of Sharbot Lake is a big part of the new Central Frontenac Official Plan, Planner Joe Gallivan told Council at its regular meeting Sept. 24 in Piccadilly Hall. While there were comments like backyard chickens and special protection for...

Some assistance will be available for Central Frontenac residents affected by the downburst Sept. 21, Fire Chief/director of emergency services Greg Robinson told Central Frontenac Council at its regular meeting Sept. 25 in Piccadilly. “The storm...

(Editors note - the storm in the Sharbot Lake has been categorised as a Downburst by Environment Canada. 3 tornadoes touched down in Eastern Ontario, two in the Ottawa/Gatineau are and one in Calabogie) Friday’s wind storm left a path of...

Jennifer Clow has worked in retirement homes and long-term care facilities as a PSW and in other capacities for most of her working career and she knew that what she really wanted was to run a home that was more like a family home than an...

Malcolm Sampson always has a project on the go. When he first arrived in Arden 15 or so years ago he instigated the establishment of a soccer league. Over the years he has organised numerous events at the Arden Legion, all aimed at enhancing the...

Central Frontenac celebrated its 2nd annual Trail Day Saturday with most events happening at the Caboose in Sharbot Lake’s Railway Park. There were trail rides, historic walks, bands, little theatre, pickle ball, washer toss, story tent and...

It’s not unusual for candidates debate crowds to be small when the Mayor’s position is already filled by acclamation. When you take out the number of sitting Central Frontenac Council members and candidates from other districts in attendance, it...

Through an oversite, the tiered response agreement that determines which resources are deployed for emergency medical calls has run out, and in a report to Head of Emergency Services/fire Chief Greg Robinson recommended that Central Frontenac renew...

There were 14 entries with names like Queen of Tarts, Love Made Edible, Bush Bunny Butter Tarts and Tartas del Capitan, but in the end there could be only one winner in the 4th annual Sharbot Lake Farmers Market Butter Tart Challenge at Oso Beach...

“A lot of things were different this year,” Silver Lake Powwow organizer said. “Shabot Obaadjiwan gave us some funding and so we didn’t charge for admission to the Powwow, only donations. “We were too busy to take a head count but by 2:30...

Central Frontenac Mayor Frances Smith admits to taking a bit of a holiday this summer when it comes to planning for the next Council in November. After all, she won’t be facing an election herself, having been acclaimed as Mayor and as such...

Like many 16-year-olds, Jessica Wedden has a summer job. Maybe you’ve seen her work. She plays the fiddle and step-dances. Unlike most teens however, Wedden has been doing this job since she was 10 (about a year since she first started playing the...

It was billed as “Brought to you by: All of us in Arden.” “It was the seed of an idea that fell on fertile ground,” said organizer Jordan Chatwin. “This really is a great place to grow a community.” Earlier this year, Chatwin got to...

Central Frontenac has had three railroads and, a hundred and thirty years ago, almost had a fourth. That makes for hundreds of road crossings and at least two railway crossings. The oldest of these was created when The Ontario and Quebec Railway...

Phil and Lorrette Gray of the Maples restaurant can’t figure it out. Nor can Trina Wilson, the gardener who for the last six years has been diligently working the garden beds that surround the restaurant. Starting pretty much as soon as she began...

For the past three years, one of the more popular events at the Sharbot Lake Farmers Market has been burger day. That’s the day they set up the barbecue and make you a locally-sourced burger with (just about) all the trimmings coming from the area...

Central Frontenac will look at putting some money into reserves to cover potential wild fires after this summer’s blaze July 12 to July 20 east of Arden Road to the Stone Mills Township boundary. In his report to Council’s regular meeting...

The end of summer brings many things, and one of them is the 126th annual Parham Fair, which takes place this weekend, August 18th and 19th, at the Parham Fairgrounds. This year brings new features; Blackrock Climbing’s Obstacle Course, Jumpy...

There are nine aspiring young actors participating in a drama camp sponsored by NFLT this August. Tim White, choreographer and director, has coordinated a drama program for the kids along with co-facilitator Barb Scantlebury. Although some of the...

While the Frontenac Frolic is “geared towards children,” organizer Susan O’Brien Mactaggart said they hope they “have something for everyone.” In its eight year on Saturday at Glendower Hall, it certainly appeared that they were reaching a...

The Parham Fair is coming up again – and the 126th has a few changes in store. Midways have always been a staple at country fairs, but in recent years, this has started to change. Rising costs in fuel and insurance have made it very difficult for...

Organizer Wanda Harrison described the annual Arden Seniors yard sale and barbecue as “remarkable” as she was totaling up the receipts. “This is the annual fundraiser that the seniors do,” she said. “We’ve been doing it for around 25...

In its 23rd year, the annual Art Exhibition and Show put on by the Friends of Bon Echo was down a few exhibitors (to 25), but still managed to bring together a tidy little show that focused more on the “fine” art of painting than many shows of...

As a fundraising arm for Community Living, North Frontenac, The Treasure Trunk can’t really afford much in the way of staff. With the move to Road 38 south of Sharbot Lake, they’ve become more of a regional operation, drawing from as far south...

The Sharbot Lake Property Owners Association held its annual general meeting Saturday at St. James Major in Sharbot Lake, and along with the regular business (elections, state-of-the-lake statements, photo contest, etc.), newly-acclaimed Mayor...

While giving a presentation on the Mississippi Valley watershed report card (they got an A), at the Sharbot Lake Property Owners Association meeting Saturday, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority biologist Kelly Stiles said something more or...

Matt Fraser, the fittest man alive in both 2016 and 2017, is the odds-on favourite to take his third straight title in Madison, Wisconsin, this weekend. Although he finished second in regional-qualifying back in March because of a slow start which...

For 11 years now, the artisans of Arden have been welcoming the public to their galleries for one Saturday in July. There are door prizes, a blueberry tea event and of course they make sales but that’s not really why they do it. “It’s nice to...

As open houses for official plan updates go, Saturday’s Central Frontenac meeting was rather well attended, with about 45 people who weren’t staff or Council members showing up to listen to what community planner Megan Ruekwald and Frontenac...

Our beautiful lakes are having enough trouble these days without the threat of an invasive aquatic weed that came to this country as an aquarium plant and is now trying to take over. Eurasian water milfoil has been spreading rapidly through central...

Central Frontenac Fire & Rescue (CFFR) called in Ministry of Natural Resources to assist with a large wildfire July 12, 2018. On July 12, 2018, at 1723hrs, CFFR received a call from a resident reporting smoke coming from a forest area in the...

A case involving two counts fraud over $5,000 against Gypsy Villas (58) and Jessica Villas (38), has been in front of Sharbot Lake court eight times previously. This time, both defendants were in court for the first time, as were representatives...

Upcoming work on Crow Lake Road is “still in the design phase,” Kevin Hawley of Greer Galloway told an open house in Sharbot Lake’s Oso Hall last Thursday, held to get public feedback. “Construction could be in the late fall (or August) or...

Normally, a contractor defaulting on a contract with a township isn’t a good thing. But in the case of Dilawri Chrysler not being able to fulfill an order for three ½ ton pickups, it’s worked out rather well, at least from the standpoint of...

The big blue and gray bouncy castle that adorned Oso Beach on Canada Day has been recovered, said District 3 Rec Committee chair Lesley Smith-Merrigan. Bouncy castles like this one are in great demand on Canada Day and picking them up often becomes...

About a dozen people turned out last Friday morning in Arden for what’s become an annual event — cleaning up the town. “It’s a Friends of Arden project, but we have support from (acting public works manager) David Armstrong and the Township;...

“The beauty of Bon Echo Park has served as an inspiration for many generations of artists,” says Friends of Bon Echo board member and art show committee member Sue Whyte, “It’s exciting to be able to continue that cultural legacy with the...

For many, nature is balm for a weary soul. It soothes, heals and puts our senses in order. For all living things, nature restores, renews and revives. Using the abundant hiking trails, waterways and parkland in Frontenac County, the Kingston Outdoor...

The AGM for North Frontenac Little Theatre was held May 14 at the Rehearsal Hall in Tichborne. Those who attended enjoyed a potluck supper before the meeting, which President Brian Robertson presided over. He began by giving us a glowing account of...

There is a level 2 burn ban in affect for all of Central Frontenac until further notice. Due to the current dry weather conditions coupled with the continued forecast of high temperatures with no appreciable rain in the near future, Central...

“We thought we’d try to get some people who’ve never been here before down to the Caboose,” said CabooseFest organizer and Central Frontenac Railway Historical Society Board Chair Derek Redmond said. And that they did, signing up more than a...

A loon pair successfully hatched a couple of chicks a week ago on Kennebec Lake. On Canada Day afternoon one of the chicks was reported abandoned. Ms Anne Levon later rescued a loon chick that was being attacked by a snake. She took it to the Sandy...

While it won’t be fully functional until the fall, work has begun on a new wigwam at St. James Major Catholic School in Sharbot Lake. Teacher Mike Veryzer said the project came about as part of a grant from the Algonquin Lakeshore District School...

Sometimes random meetings turn into something special. That’s what happened to John Neven of Sharbot Lake. John is participating in the Great Cycle Challenge, an event that is sponsored by Sick Kids hospital to raise money to fight cancer in...

The Shabot Obaadjiwan Frist Nation welcomed the community to Oso Beach last week for Aboriginal Day Celebrations. The theme was The Eighth Fire, Truth and Reconciliation. “It’s a totally interactive afternoon,” said organizer Marcie Asselstine...

Central Frontenac Township honoured its Seniors of the Year Tuesday afternoon before Council with a ceremony, entertainment by the Arden Glee Club and refreshments. District 1’s honoree, Dave Swann, was actually born and raised and worked in...

As luck would have it, it looks like Central Frontenac will be able to fix up the stairs at Oso Hall and put insulation in the roof, Council learned at its regular meeting Tuesday in Sharbot Lake. Clerk-Administrator Cathy MacMunn told Council that...

In what was easily the largest crowd at the Sharbot Lake Legion in recent memory, GREC students Corrie-Lynn Shields and Destanie Lalonde received $500 cheques to help them with their post-secondary educations. The fact that there was a steak dinner...

There was a door person, keyboard music and a red carpet leading into the 1st ever St. James International Film Festival last week at St. James Major Catholic School in Sharbot Lake. They even had popcorn. In an innovative program, the students...