On February 21, 20 lucky plungers were treated to balmier weather as they took to the lake at the Frontenac Heritage Festival's sixth annual Polar Bear Plunge. The event was originally scheduled for February 14, but was postponed due to brutally low temperatures. The delay paid off for the plungers, as the weather was much improved on Feb. 21.

The plunge was headed up by Art Holloway, who also raised the most money this year ($600). As always, it was a highly entertaining event for the sizable crowd of spectators, who also appreciated the nicer weather.

Town Crier Paddy O'Connor emceed the event and introduced the 20 brave souls, who ranged in age from 15-year-old Amber White of Perth to 64-year-old Vera Fanning of Sharbot Lake. The spirited plungers, each sporting colorful costumes, leapt from the wind-swept docks of the Sharbot Lake Marina into the icy depths of Sharbot Lake's west basin.

This year’s best-costumed plungers went to the Scottish stylings of Andrea and Martha MacLeod and Gerald Daviau. Other highlights of the day included Anne Howes' hesitant and hilarious leap of faith and Shane Steeves’ graceful back flip, which was well deserving of a perfect 10 score.

Altogether, over $5000 was raised on Sunday and the proceeds will support the Central Frontenac Fire Department, GREC's student council, the Child Care Centre in Sharbot Lake and the Alzheimer's Society. Congratulations to all the plungers and to those who generously supported the event.

Are you interested in having wholesale fruits and vegetables available in Sharbot Lake? Ordering in groups helps to decrease costs of fresh, healthy produce below regular store prices! If there’s enough community interest, Mike Dean’s and Sharbot Lake Family Health Team are ready to offer this deal to the community.

$10 small box includes approx. 10 items

$15 large box includes approx. 15 items

Although food prices fluctuate, the Good Food Box prices will stay the same each month and we will work to provide variety month to month.

Pay by the 1st Thursday of each month at the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team and pick it up on the 3rd Friday of each month between 2 and 4pm in the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team downstairs community room.

This program was offered several years ago and was quite popular; however, it was discontinued primarily due to lack of space for packing and storing the boxes. Our hope as a Family Health Team is that this can help make it easier for you and your family to eat healthy fruits and vegetables!

Need some motivation to start increasing your fruit and vegetable intake?

A diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Individuals who eat more than five servings have about a 20% lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, compared with individuals who eat less than three servings per day.

Some types of fruits and vegetables may protect against certain cancers.

Increased consumption of leafy vegetables and whole fruits is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. High consumption of fruit juice however, is associated with a greater risk of type 2 diabetes.

Orders for March are due Thursday March 3, 2016. Please contact Megan Burns at 613-279-2100 ext. 107 for more information or to place an order.

Those who attended this year's Frontenac Heritage Festival variety show on February 12 may recall one new and notable performer who took to the stage. Jen Argyle performed an impressive five-song set at the festival opener, which included a number of classic country and original tunes.

In both her sound and stage presence, she seemed the epitome of a seasoned performer. Appearing relaxed, and comfortable in front of a full house, she sang with such ease and naturalness that one would have thought her a veteran. Surprisingly, that is not the case.

Argyle first started singing publicly this past August, and she said that in fact she suffers from incredible stage fright. “I have been working really very hard to overcome it and it is still something that I have to consciously fight every time I get on stage to perform.”

Argyle, who teaches at Clarendon Central Public School in Plevna, has been singing in private for most of her life. She said she began singing and playing guitar in front of her students as an initial first step in playing publicly. Next, she was encouraged by friends to play at an open mic event in Kingston, where she was received very positively. “I was absolutely terrified and incredibly nervous when I did it but I had some friends there supporting me, which made it a bit easier and when I saw the positive response, it egged me on to keep trying.”

She has since performed at the Cove in Westport alongside Shawn McCullough and has made a number of videos of herself performing, which are now public on her own YouTube channel.

No stranger to music, Argyle studied classical guitar for years as a high school student in London, Ontario where she grew up but it was just this year that she decided to bring her talents to the public eye.

At the Heritage Festival show she nailed her covers of Merle Haggard's “Today I Started Loving You Again” and “The Way I Am” and Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire”. She also sang two of her own originals, “The Old Cowgirl in Me” and “One Silver Bullet at a Time” which were equally impressive.

Argyle says, “I always smile and try to convince myself that I am okay and I use a lot of positive self talk and visualizations before I get on stage to help me out.” She said her motto is, “Fake it till you make it”, a modus operandi that seems to be doing the trick. Argyle also practices on average two to three hours a day, which no doubt is a confidence builder.

Coming up is her first full length solo performance, which will take place at the Snow Road Community Centre on Thursday, February 25 from 7-9pm. She plans to sing more of her favorite country standards including traditional old country classics by George Jones, Loretta Lynn and others. She will also be performing 10 of her own original tunes.

Her family will be in attendance, something that Argyle says she finds nerve-racking but judging by her first local foray into the public spotlight at GREC, no doubt she will overcome. Her advice to other musicians/performers who may suffer from stage fright is, “ I always like to remember what my friend and fellow teacher Katie always tells me....'You can do hard things.' Believe it or not, it is true.”

Argyle is hoping to bring her talent to other musical venues in the area. Tickets for her Snow Road concert are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. For advance tickets call Don at 613-278-0958

Brian Dunford, the youth coordinator at Northern Frontenac Community Services was manning the door at the Child Care Centre in Sharbot Lake at a recent United Way chili lunch fundraiser that took place there on February 11. Dunford is someone who knows first hand the importance of giving the community an opportunity to support the United Way.“ Two of the programs we offer through Northern Frontenac Community Services are supported by the United Way so we like to support the organization who in turn help us to support youth adults in our local community”, Dunford said when I spoke to him at the Child Care Centre on the day of the event. ” Dunford who heads up NFCS' youth programming which includes leadership training, after school programs and baby sitting courses said that these youth programs and in a particular the youth leadership programs help foster leadership skills for local youth by giving them an opportunity to gain confidence, develop communication skills and work alongside others in their local communities. “These programs are hugely beneficial to youth since they offer youth a chance to lead in front of their peers which gives them the confidence and leadership skills which in turn can foster opportunities in their futures, be it jobs or volunteer opportunities”, he said.

Emily Britt, who is a family counselor at NFCS, was also in attendance at the fundraiser. She said that through the United Way funding they are able to offer a number of family counseling services to adults 18 years and older in the local community. These include counseling for anxiety, depression, trauma and grief as well as two new group programs that are currently on offer.

The first, a workshop titled “Managing Powerful Emotions”, is available through NFCS and a partnership with Providence Care . The second is a wellness group that offers participants an opportunity to learn various life skills and study many other subjects related to wellness. Anyone wanting more information about these youth and family counseling programs offered through NFCS, through the support of the United Way can call 613-279-3151 (for family counseling) or 613-279-2244 (for youth services).

Due to the ridiculous cold this past weekend the Polar Plunge has been put back exactly one week, to this Sunday February 21. The first Plungers are scheduled to hit the water at noon and we expect it all to wrap up in about 30 to 45 minutes. As usual our gracious hosts are the Sharbot Lake Marina. Plungers, please bring your pledges and show up between 10:45 and 11:30am for registration, and be ready by 11:45 for the safety briefing.

Our apologies to those we weren't able to contact at the last second who showed up. For questions please check in with me - Art Holloway at 613-279-2558 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We hope to see you there.

The Table Community Food Centre in Perth has reached out to the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team as a partner in running their wellness program called FoodFit. 

FoodFit is a 12-week program for anyone who wants to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle through moderate exercise and healthy eating. The goal is to give people the tools they need to make choices that will improve their health. The program combines fun, hands-on cooking sessions and food-based activities with take-home recipes, shared meals and snacks, easy-to-understand nutrition information, group exercise and self-directed goal-setting. We will be making soups, sauces, and salad dressings from scratch as well as healthy snacks and recipes with new and interesting flavours

With the help of a nurse from the health centre, we will track blood pressure and other health indicators at the start and end of the program, and provide pedometers so participants can monitor daily steps. A dietitian at the health centre will be involved in teaching nutritional topics as well as available to answer any specific questions.

“I am excited about running this program because it doesn’t pretend that everyone is at the same stage, it gives people room to set their own goals based on where they are at in life,” says The Table’s Community Kitchen Coordinator, Rosie Kerr. She explains that the Foodfit model is designed to respect the limits of people’s individual circumstances, and encourage everyone to “take small steps, and make changes they can live with.”

This program will be free of charge and open to any age. Childcare will be provided upon request. The program will take place at the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team Mondays from 1-4pm starting March 7. Priority will be given to community members who self identify as living in a low-income household.

For more information or to register contact Rosie Kerr, the Community Kitchen Coordinator at the Table, 613-267-6428 ext. 6 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please register as soon as possible (preferably by March 1) for this exciting new program so organizers can prepare.

Shari Tallon knows well the many benefits that youngsters experience when given the opportunity to express themselves creatively in a safe and nurturing environment. Tallon, who is a musician and music teacher, was a former children's entertainer and educational assistant at Granite Ridge Education Centre in Sharbot Lake. With that in mind, she began a special after-school program there this year, which invites students to engage in the dramatic arts.

The program is funded by a grant from Marcel Giroux of W.A. Robinson Asset Management and the Sharbot Lake Pharmacy, and is now in its second installment. It focuses on dynamic, improvisational dramatic play rather than a structured dramatic process. The students are given an opportunity to explore their own creativity while interacting with others, and to express their inner personae without fear of being judged. The experience allows the students to share their ideas, to take risks and develop friendships; to improve their social skills and academics while gaining the acceptance of their peers.

The program encourages the participants to find their own voice through exploring the dramatic arts, media technology, sound effects, and music in a truly spontaneous and collaborative environment. Tallon is a firm believer in the benefits of free-form creative play, something she says is becoming rare in our increasingly structured world, where youngsters are not often enough given the opportunity to let their imaginations run wild. “When you think about school and after-school programs these days, there are not a lot of unstructured programs. This program is open-ended and kids can initiate expressive communication and play in a safe, open, and caring environment. When you offer kids creativity, it is not only fun for them, but through role playing and playing off of others, the students learn problem-solving and social skills. This helps build an inner strength that they can take with them out into the world.”

Similarly, Tallon stressed the positive mental health benefits of this kind of program. “I believe this program is great for kids' mental health because students can express themselves outwardly in a positive way instead of keeping their thoughts inside.” She has witnessed some students who, since joining the program, have slowly come out of their shells. “I have seen some students who, in the beginning, have perhaps concentrated mainly on doing sound effects but as we continued on, have begun to act out roles totally from their own volition. The key here is that students feel they have a safe place to be themselves.”

At each class, the students begin by agreeing on a scenario, which often revolves around a theme like comedy, murder mystery, or fantasy; however, each is given the opportunity to respond and add their own ideas into the mix.

The program also encourages the participants to organize themselves since they have to remember cues, record sound effects, play musical accompaniment and/or film videos of their creations. Currently, the students have been filming their scenarios, which has opened up a whole new world to them. There are plans to start a YouTube channel where the students will share the work they've been doing.

Two assistants in the program, Michelle McCumber and Tabitha Freeman, are also planning to put together a newsletter to keep fans updated on the program's progress.

Some parents of the students said they have seen their children gain confidence since joining the program and, not surprisingly, the students themselves also had good things to say. Will, who is in Grade 7, said he has lots of fun and often plans and writes his ideas at home before coming to school. Draven said that the program “is a once in a lifetime opportunity” and something that he really loves to do. Grade 9 student Aurora said that she loves being able to explore different styles of acting and play multiple characters. “Playing different roles really teaches you empathy, since you have to really think about and try to feel what it would be like to be that person.”

Tallon said she hopes members of the community will also get involved with the program and is hoping to encourage a few volunteers to offer their time. She is also in need of donations, which could include healthy snacks and/or costumes, wigs and props. Anyone who may have something to offer can contact Shari at 613-876-0293.

CF Council says no to two waste site recommendations

Public Works Manager John Badgley made his second recommendation to council to consider implementing a $1 tipping fee on large plastic items at the township's waste sites. He also recommended that site attendants use their discretion regarding fees to charge on smaller plastic items, which Badgley defined as those too big to fit in a township bag. Badgley made the request following a meeting of the township's waste management committee on January 27.

“With our waste sites filling up, we need to look at ways to divert these products since they are piling up and taking up too much space. Whatever the solution ends up being in dealing with these items in the future, whether it be diverting them or grinding them down, this fee would help offset the costs of whatever option we choose,” Badgley said.

Councilor Tom Dewey would not hear of it.

“I am totally against this. This is an added tax that we should not be passing on to our residents”, he said. “I gave you some information about purchasing a grinder and I think we should look at talking to our neighbouring municipalities about partnering in that, and if the oil prices go back up, I think there will be a market for this kind of material.”

Councilor Bill MacDonald asked about the costs of renting or owning a grinder, which Badgley said could range anywhere from $250,000 used to $500,000 new.

Dewey, who has been looking into pricing grinders, said that a smaller $50,000 grinder might be able to do the job. Councilor MacDonald suggested contacting the operators of the Richmond landfill site just north of Napanee.

“They must be doing something with their plastics and there is no sense in reinventing the wheel here. Perhaps there is a private contractor who could do the grinding for us.”

Mayor Frances Smith wondered about the logistics of site attendants having to deal with the cash fees. Councilor Dewey objected further, saying that a fee could result in residents littering the township with these items.

Councilor Jamie Riddell agreed with Dewey, saying he did not agree with a tipping fee and that the items would end up on the roadways and in the ditches. After Mayor Smith read the motion, Councilor Dewey called for a recorded vote on the motion, which in the end was defeated 7 -1, with Councilor Bill MacDonald as the odd man out. Councilor Philip Smith was not present at the meeting.

Council says no to ending free amnesty load program

In his second recommendation to council, Badgley asked council to consider opening up the discussion regarding ending the annual amnesty load program. The program allows residents to get rid of one load of waste for free at certain designated times each year. Badgley said the free load is one of the reasons that the sites are “filling up faster than previously anticipated. “We need to be responsible waste site operators and need to divert, grind, or find other ways to reduce our waste and no longer allow the free disposal of items.”

He said that residents need to consider either donating or re-purposing these items. In his report Badgley said that Wemp site is scheduled to be at capacity in four years and Olden in 12. Councilor MacDonald asked Badgley to look at a township of a similar size that has no landfill site and find what they spend annually to dispose of their garbage.

“If in the future we did not have a landfill site, I'm thinking that we're looking at spending $1 million a year.”

Councilor Dewey brought up the fact that a 2011 study of the expected life of the township's waste sites should be extended since recycling has much lessened the loads. He added that education is needed to make sure residents always recycle. Councilor Jamie Riddell credited the township's waste site attendants for doing a good job in recycling materials and said that canceling the amnesty program is “not the way to go.”

Mayor Frances Smith said she feels that perhaps the volume coming in during the program with just one or two attendants on site means they are not able to do what needs to be done. “For the program to continue maybe we have to make sure there are more staff working on those days.”

Councilor Dewey said that Central Frontenac should consider what Durham Township has done, use incineration.

“We need to get every one together here in the county and maybe in Kingston on board with this and to partner together and get an a incinerator set up”.

Councilor Brent Cameron agreed. “Whether we cancel this program or not, the fact is that more and more people are moving here, bringing more garbage, and at the end of the day the Province of Ontario has not allowed a new landfill to open for decades now.” Council received Badgley's recommendation for information.
Council adopts compressed work week for township admin staff

Beginning March 13, 2016 and ending November 19, 2016 council endorsed the recommendations put forth by the Human Resources committee, approving a compressed work week for the township's admin staff. Clerk Cathy MacMunn reported that a successful trial run last year showed the compressed work week proved doable, with admin staff choosing to opt for Fridays as their day off. The staff will continue working their regular 35-hour work week and will make up for the missed Fridays by working longer hours on the other days.

Council adopts Injury/Illness and Head Injury/Concussion policy

In accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Work Place Safety and Insurance Act, council adopted the Injury/Illness policy after the Health and Safety committee reviewed it and recommended that it be adopted. Council also adopted the recommended Head Injury/Concussion policy as a way to ensure the safety of all participants in the various programs and activities run by the township, which include baseball, soccer and a summer swim program. The policy, which will be promoted by all of the township's recreation committees and associations, aims to assist in training adults running the programs to identify the signs, symptoms and behaviors of a concussion and other serious injuries.

Olden waste sites time changes in effect

As of February 1, 2016 the Olden waste site will be closed Mondays and Tuesday and open the remainder of the week, with no changes in the hours of operation on those days.

So, where was the old station? One of the most common questions of visitors to the caboose in Sharbot Lake will soon be answered by one of many new signs which are in the works, after the Railway Heritage Society received funding from the Trillium Foundation for this project.

Twelve signs dotted along the old CP railway line (now part of the Trans-Canada Trail) from the site of the former Road 38 overpass, through the village and on to the wye (the track extension allowing the engine to turn around) will tell of the railway activity which took place in days gone by. This Heritage Trail will tell of the old village site by the beach, how the trains turned around without a turntable, how the old steam trains filled their boilers, where the cattle was loaded onto the trains and much more.

The group has many drafts ready and are working on finalizing the setup but are still open to more good-quality photos or information.

There has been some interest from the community in dedicating one or more signs in memory of family members, with appropriate recognition by way of a plaque, and the group is open to extending this idea to others, (contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). The aim is to have the project completed by the end of the coming summer.

Once completed, along with the new children’s playground structure, and repairs to the recently damaged carts, this new addition to the village should add to visitors' enjoyment of the area and will help achieve the group’s mandate to “Keep alive the railway heritage of the area.”

After a well-attended kick-off in November, Music and Friends, hosted by Feral Five, will be starting up again at The Crossing Pub in Sharbot Lake with a series of musical evenings. The evenings are designed to showcase good quality, local, amateur musicians, and will take place on the 4th Thursday of the month in February, March and April. Entertainment involves the musical antics of Feral Five along with performances by invited guests, and the opportunity to hit the dance floor if the spirit moves you. The evenings run from 7:30 to 10 p.m. keeping in mind that some people need to get up for work the next day.

Thursday, February 25 will feature TRXTRS: the husband and wife team of Jerrard and Diana Smith. The repertoire of this dynamic duo consists of rootsy country tunes mixed with blues, some old standards and even some reggae. The audience is sure to enjoy Jerrard's resonant voice and instrumental work coupled with Diana's melodic vocals. A $5 cover charge will be collected at the door with seating limited to 85. Drinks are available from the bar. Anyone interested in a meal before the music starts should make reservations at the Sharbot Lake Country Inn (613-279-2198) in advance.

Other guest performers include The Bedhead Buskers (Gabby White & Nathan Paul) on Thursday, March 24, whose music is a mixture of East Coast, Folk and Bluegrass tunes sung to the accompaniment of guitar, fiddle and mandolin. We certainly look forward to hearing the efforts of this new duo. Thursday, April 28 brings Julia Schall and Shawn Savoie back to our stage. Julia and her endearing musical talents accompanied by Shawn on stand-up bass are always entertaining, but, as an added feature, they will also be joined by Amy Gillan (vocals and mandolin) and Bruce McConnell (vocals and banjo).

So if you're looking for something to do over the cold, dark winter evenings, join us for Music and Friends. You won't be disappointed.