Performers are storytellers at heart. One way or another every song tells a story of some kind. Performers also tell stories between songs, and often develop a kind of patter that works for them as they travel from town to town.

It seems that singer songwriters who, like Matthew Hornell, are from the Maritimes, also like to tell funny and heartfelt stories between the songs. The stories help to cement the relationship between the performer and the audience. They tend to have an off-the-cuff feel even if the same story is told night after night on tour.

In Hornell's case, at least on Friday night, he would begin stories, then digress to another story, then shift to a different location at a different time in his life, and then say, “Don't worry, we'll get back to the story eventually.”

I'm pretty sure he always did, and it was a fun ride along the way. His songs have some of the melancholy edge from the East Coast, and a musicality and zip that comes from the mix of east coast Celtic and bluegrass influences. Hornell has been touring with dobro player Andrew Sneddon, but as he kicked off a mini-tour of eastern Ontario that continues in Picton, Wakefield, Ottawa and Peterborough, he performed solo, as Sneddon has backed out of the tour because of a family matter.

Hornell was more than capable of performing solo. His guitar work, singing voice, original songs and a few covers had enough variety to keep the evening flowing with no let up. He also paid tribute to the late Newfoundland songwriter Ron Hynes, the first performer ever to grace the Crossing Pub stage, with a tune during each set.

Near the end of the second set, local fiddle and mandolin partners, Gabrielle White and Nate Paul, joined Hornell on stage, and a different side of Hornell was shown, as a singer and player who loves to share the stage, on both Celtic and bluegrass-tinged numbers.

In an effort to inspire local students with the message that they too can realize their dreams while helping others, former Sharbot Lake resident Dorothy Buchanan Quattrocchi has been visiting area schools to speak about her son, Mark Quattrocchi, who for the last 18 months has been cycling solo across the globe in support of the international charity and educational partner, Free the Children.

The charity aims to empower communities to lift themselves out of poverty by developing collaborative and sustainable programs both at home and abroad.

Dorothy, who was a former teacher, principal and vice-principal for 30 years with the Catholic District School board of Eastern Ontario, was invited to both Granite Ridge Education Centre and St. Major Catholic School in Sharbot Lake on February 1 to tell students about her son's incredible story.

Mark Quattrocchi grew up in Rideau Ferry and has taught English in both South Korea and China. On July 7, 2014, he set out from Sanya, China on a bicycle he purchased there, and armed with a tent and other supplies began a two-year journey across four continents.

Inspired by a wish to explore the world and to bring education and literacy to children along the way where schools do not exist, he is hoping to raise $50,000 to support the building of five different schools in five separate locations. To date Quattrocchi has biked over 26,000 kilometres and raised over $33,000 in support of Free the Children. He traveled from China westward along the old Silk Road through Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and India before flying to Turkey and then continuing his trip through Eastern Europe. He entered North Africa and cycled across the continent. He then flew from Cape Town to Argentina where he continued his journey.

Currently he is in Peru, working his way towards Ecuador. From there he will head north through the United States and Canada and is hoping to arrive home in Rideau Ferry in time to celebrate his 28th birthday in June of this year.

On his website, www.oneadventureplease.com he blogs about his experiences and keeps interested followers up to date about his whereabouts. He writes, “Through my experiences, thoughts and ambitions about adventure, I strive to give motivation to people to follow their dreams. It is not just about travel, but showing people the tools available to succeed in life and find their true calling. To find what we are all looking for. To make life happen for yourself, to live your dreams and open yourself to new surroundings. I love this world. It is an amazing place and I hope you are able to find power through my experiences.”

In Dorothy’s presentation to the students, which included a number of Go Pro videos that Mark filmed from a camera mounted on his bike, the students were able to get a glimpse of many of the exotic places that he has visited.

Dorothy explained to the students that Mark is surviving on $5/day and also relies on the hospitality and support of people he meets along the way. She spoke of the challenges he faces riding on average 130 km a day; challenges not only from the extreme heat and cold in certain places, but also from having to be 100% self-reliant and prepared for whatever comes his way.

For Dorothy, Mark’s trip has opened up new worlds for both her and her husband. They have met up with him three times so far on his journey, in China, India and South Africa.

Mark’s trip is a great way to show students how to realize their dreams. Lori Bryden, vice-principal of St. James Major, said that the students at the school were looking to do some fundraising this year on a global level, and Mark’s trip has given them the perfect opportunity. “In the past the students have done a lot of local fundraising and the oldest students this year have expressed an interest in fundraising globally. When I learned of Mark's trip through Facebook I thought that it would be the perfect thing for them to support.”

The students are planning to do just that and others who may want to support Mark's efforts can visit his website at www.oneadventureplease.com

The concert of Baroque music at the Cardinal Café on Saturday night was the first of a planned series of concerts there. Edwin Huizinga, who is one of a few people in the world who play the Baroque repertoire on a period instrument on a full-time basis, said at the beginning that Baroque music was often played, not in concert halls, but in small cafes in Vienna and the surrounding region almost 300 years ago.

The cafe is located in the lovingly renovated, former Sharbot Lake Catholic Church. Although the cultural references in the music are lost on most modern Frontenac and Lanark County residents, the music had such energy and musicality in the hands of the two musicians, and the church has such great acoustics that it sounded like genuinely modern music.

This is a testament, not only to the unique talent of J. S. Bach, the composer who wrote most of the music performed on Saturday night, but also to the contemporary sensibility of the performers.

The first piece of the evening was for solo violin, Bach's Partita in E Major. The first thing that was apparent, apart from Huizinga's personal presence, was the acoustics in the cafe. The sound filled the hall completely, as if it were springing off the violin, Huizinga's breathing providing a bit of a counterpoint. Then the music itself took hold, the themes playing with each other, back and forth, the pace changing and changing again; the clarity of sound creating an unexpected emotionally punch, from exhilaration to tears in equal measure.

The next piece introduced Philip Fournier and the harpsichord, the Bach B Minor Obbligato Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord.

After the solo violin piece it took a minute or two to get used to the sound of the two instruments playing together. In the hands of the two players, the interplay between the two added more and more depth and by the end of the Sonata the audience was buzzing with enthusiasm.

The second half of the concert started with a sonata by Jean Marie Leclair, followed by a Bach Prelude and Fugue played by Fournier alone on Harpsichord. As good as the two were as a duo, there was something special about the solo pieces, a chance to focus, as a listener, on a single instrument played with facility and sensitivity. Fournier's solo performance was as satisfying as Huizinga's had been at the start of the concert.

The final piece of the night was also by J.S. Bach, the G Major Sonata. It was a show stopper, literally, as the audience broke into a standing ovation after the first movement, leading Huizinga, somewhat sheepishly, to inform the crowd after they stopped clapping that “there are four more movements, but maybe we can think of them as four short encores.”

Jonas Bonnetta, who organized the show, said he hopes to put another one on, likely jazz next time, in May. He said that as a way of tying the series together, tickets to the next concert might come with a recording of this one. The Cardinal Café will be closed for February and re-open on March 1.

Frontenac Heritage Festival organisers have issued a gentle challenge to businesses and not-for-profits in Central Frontenac. Any demonstration of festival spirit will make the businesses eligible for one of two prizes and will help to publicize the festival and their role in it.

The festival’s organising committee chair, Janet Gutowski, who set up the contest, said she doesn't want businesses to see this as anything that is difficult or a bother to do.

“They do not need to dress up in period costume if they don’t want to, although even if they do, it need not be from 150 years ago. For instance, perhaps the Royal Bank first came to Sharbot Lake in the 1920s. The staff could dress in flapper style and be celebrating their heritage,” said Gutowski.

She said that restaurants could put special dishes on the menu, and stores could put certain products on display. “As long as the establishments are feeling festive they can enter” she said.

And, she added, any kind of enterprise can enter. The not-for-profits, home-based businesses, even trades people, can enter.

In order to register, participants need only send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. saying that they will participate.

The judges, who will be in full costume, will be coming around on Friday Feb. 12, the opening day of the festival. Winners will be announced by Mayor Frances Smith after the opening ceremony, which is set for 6:45 pm at the foyer of Granite Ridge Education Centre. The ceremony will be followed by the annual Variety Show at 7pm.

*Please note – there were errors in the festival insert in the Central Frontenac tax bills. Contrary to what the insert says, there will be no fireworks on the opening night of the festival, and there is no photo contest.

Following an assembly at Granite Ridge Education Centre on January 22 where students were informed of upcoming changes in the school’s administration, staff from the school gathered at Sharbot Lake's Crossing Pub to bid farewell to long-time school principal, Heather Highet.

Highet will be transferring to Bayridge Secondary School in Kingston and February 3, 2016 will be her final day at GREC. Highet took up her post in Sharbot Lake back in 2010 just after the PARC (Program & Accommodation Review) Committee was formed and the new school (GREC) that would replace the former Sharbot Lake High School was in the process of being designed.

At the farewell event last Friday afternoon, Highet said that working through that process was wonderful and that seeing the whole community come together and work through it was a definite highlight of her career.

Highet, who resides in Kingston, said that her new posting to Bayridge SS, a grade 9-12 school with a population of about 600 students in the city’s west end, is just a short five-minute drive from her home. She said that is one of the best things about the new move: “I won't be driving Road 38 any more, which is something both I and my husband are very pleased about.”

Asked about the legacy she leaves behind and some of her favorite memories, she said, “I am really pleased about how the entire school community has come together as a family and am proud of the new facility, which is also being used by the greater community as well.” She also said that working with the elementary students and their families, which was something entirely new for her, proved both challenging and rewarding.

Regarding the challenges she faces going forward, Highet said, “Moving mid-year is interesting because right now my mind is in two places, which is tough but also exciting. The biggest challenge going forward will be getting to know the students and their families at the new school.”

Highet also said she feels that she is leaving GREC in good hands. Vice-principal James McDonald has been appointed as the school’s new interim principal and Jamie McCullough, a long-time teacher at the school, will replace McDonald as the new vice-principal.

Highet is pleased with the appointments and said, “I am thrilled with the new admin team coming in because they know the school and the community and it is a great thing for Granite Ridge to have that kind of continuity.”

James MacDonald said that he is excited about his new appointment. He formerly worked for seven years at Clarendon Central Public school as teacher in charge, then was vice-principal at both Hinchinbrooke and Land O' Lakes public schools for years before moving to SLHS as vice-principal. MacDonald said, “Heather and I essentially created a lot of the programs that have happened and are happening at the school so this feels like a fluid and natural change for me.” He said that dealing with some of the extra administrative duties that he is taking on would be challenging but that he looks forward to those challenges.

Jamie McCullough has worked at the school for years in various capacities and when students found out earlier that day that he was appointed as the school’s new vice-principal, a large round of cheers filled the auditorium. McCullough grew up in Mountain Grove and attended Sharbot Lake High School. He has taught at both LOLPS and SLHS; at the latter he taught the school to community program and various courses before being promoted as the learning program support teacher, which he has worked at for the last two years.

McCullough said he is looking forward to continuing to work with staff and students at the school and said that he feels confident in his new role since over the years he has built positive relationships with both students and staff. “The students know that I am someone that they can come and talk to, which I think is really important.”

The farewell event and celebration included musical entertainment by former teacher Jim MacPherson; a slide show and awards presentation to Highet courtesy of colleagues Wade Leonard and Ben Moser; gift presentations from staff and members of the school parent council; and numerous addresses from current and former staff at the school.

Over 100 diners dressed in high style filled the Oso Hall on January 23 to celebrate famed poet, folk hero, pioneer of the Romantic Movement, and inspiration to the founders of liberalism and socialism, Robbie Burns.

Burns was born on January 25, 1759 and back in 2009 he was voted as “the greatest Scot” by the Scottish public. His poems and songs were front and center at the fundraiser, which was put on jointly by, and in support of the Central Frontenac Volunteer Fire Department and the Frontenac Masonic Lodge No. 621.

The annual event, which attracted lodge members from as far away as Napanee, Harrowsmith, Kingston and Seeley's Bay, continues to highlight the close relationship between the two organizations.

Back in 1949, when the Oso Fire Department was formed, seven Masons were among its 16 founding members and for decades after, the two groups shared the use of the lodge’s well and parking lot while working together on a number of community projects.

The newest members of each organization were honored at the dinner: firefighter/first responders Heather Rioux and Jamie Malone, who joined the CF fire department in December 2014, and the Frontenac Masonic Lodge's newest Master Mason, Matthew Innocente.

The program included words of welcome from CF Fire Chief Bill Young and the lodge's Worshipful Master, Bill Kennedy. Kennedy, who was born in Crow Lake and now resides in Kingston, said that he became involved in the Sharbot Lake lodge because two of his uncles were members, one of them a founding member.

The Masons currently number 50 at the Sharbot Lake lodge and the oldest member is Virgil Garrett, who was in attendance at the dinner. Summing up the work of the Masons, Kennedy said the organization “teaches a system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols.” Kennedy stated, “Essentially the teachings are to make good men better by teaching life lessons and in particular, how to live your life with faith and hope and charity.” Kennedy added that long before there was welfare, there was the Masonic lodge and the churches. Charity given through the lodge was something that was just done and never advertised: “Years ago members would just show up with a cord of wood or a pair of shoes or a side of beef to help those in need. Nowadays we do things like tonight, where we hold fundraisers to support local groups and organizations.”

Currently, the lodge is also supporting renovations at the Child Development Centre at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston, which serves both children and adults with developmental disabilities. Lodge members are also asked to bring a food donation to their regular meetings to support the NF food bank.

Following the opening words of welcome, Jeff Donnelly and Kathleen White piped in the haggis, which arrived fresh from a butcher in Kemptville and was addressed by lodge member Bill Robertson in a rousing toast.

The full course meal included appetizers of Scotch eggs, Cock-a-leekie soup, stuffed pork loin with all of the fixings and sticky pudding for dessert. Afterwards guests were entertained by Philippe Archambault, who gave the toast “to the lasses”, to which Frances Smith responded.

Kingston lodge member Ross Morton recited Burns' epic poem “Tam o' Shanter”, in which Burns paints a vivid and humorous picture of the drinking classes in the old Scottish town of Ayr in the late 18th Century. Local residents, Ken Fisher, Janet Gutowski and Simon Spanchak also recited selected verses written by the famed poet and Brent Cameron made a toast to “The Immortal Memory”.

Musical entertainment was provided by famed local fiddler Jessica Wedden and the evening was capped off with diners singing Burns' best-known song, “Auld Lang Syne”.

Proceeds from a raffle held at the celebration went to support Villages Beautiful and the North Frontenac Food Bank.

“The last time that a woman was a member of the Central Frontenac Volunteer Fire Department was back in 1997,” recalled Central Frontenac Fire Chief Bill Young earlier this week.

That changed in December 2014 when Heather Rioux and Jamie Malone, residents of Sharbot Lake, who are both married, mothers of two and also full time employees at W.A. Robinson Asset Management Ltd. and Pillar Financial Services, decided to join the Sharbot Lake detachment.

They are the most recent members to join the 25-member force, 23 of whom are men, and the two ladies were honored as special guests at the recent Robbie Burns Dinner Oso Hall on January 23.

“It shows that the department is no longer a gentlemen's club," Young said, “and it's nice to see women stepping up to the plate and getting involved. It's great for the department to have women on our team, especially for medical calls, since sometimes female patients may feel more relaxed when being attended to by a female responder."

When asked what motivated them to join the force, Rioux replied, “I personally have had to call the fire department a number of times in the past for medical calls, and I just felt that if I was in a position to be able to help out in the community in a similar way, that I wanted to do what I needed to in order to be that person.”

Rioux and her family have been long-time supporters of the local fire department through their annual Al-Apalooza music event, which for the past three summers has included a breakfast for guests put on the CF firefighters with proceeds supporting the organisation.

Jamie Malone's reasons for joining the department were similar. “I wanted to help people in the community and I also wanted to challenge myself and learn something new. Part of my motivation was also to be a good role model to my two sons and encourage them so that one day they might serve the community in some capacity.”

All applicants must undergo a medical exam to ensure that they are physically fit for the job. Also mandatory is an interview with the fire chief, who accesses the applicant’s motivations, availability, and how they might handle and react to a number of possible case scenarios.

Volunteers are also required to undergo regular training sessions on Tuesday nights in Sharbot Lake and must also participate in a 40-hour Emergency First Responders (EFR) course and pass a final exam. The EFR course covers First Aid/CPR training and other medical and primary assessment training to ensure that applicants are capable of identifying and treating victims of stroke, heart attack, seizures and other serious wounds and injuries. The weekly training sessions also cover various fire safety routines as well as the mechanical operation of pumper trucks and other related emergency equipment.

Both women agree that it is the mechanical training that is the most challenging. “There is definitely a lot to learn and it is a long process but the other volunteers are patient and more than willing to show us the ropes and to teach us exactly what we need to know,” Rioux said.

Being on call is also something that can pose a bit of challenge, though in most circumstances neither of them are expected to answer calls during their normal work hours. That being said, both must be available on weekends and evenings and both understand that that is part and parcel of the job. Both agree that being female, and entering a department that has, for close to two decades, been all male has not posed any problems whatsoever. “We are treated as equals and with the utmost respect," Malone said, and Rioux agreed. “We have always felt like part of the group and have always felt that we fit right in.”

Since December 2014, they have both responded to over 60% of the 100 emergency calls that have come in. As new members, both also participate in a number of the regular events that take place in and around the community, including the department’s annual boot drive, pancake breakfast/open house and visits to local schools.

Their advice to those women who may have considered volunteering, but for whatever reason have hesitated: “There is definitely a place for women in the Central Frontenac Volunteer Fire Department.”

Jerome Thomson was the first owner, followed by his son Harold, Mr. Hearty, the M & M chain, owned and operated by Barry Eady, then by John Lee, first as the Red & White and later as the Valumart. John sold the store and business in 1993 to Bret Harvey. In 2006 Chuck Belcher became the new franchise owner of the store, which became a Freshmart.

Finally, in 2013, the store became Mike Dean's Super Food Store.
Jerome Thomson and family moved to Sharbot Lake and bought out a Mr. Heaslip. Beatrice Millikin worked in the office of Thomson & Avery's store and she and Percy met there while both were employed there.

Leverne Barker said that the framework for the first Barker Store on # 38 came from the timbers from the garage of the Thomson's store.
Thomson's store was such a landmark and quite the centre of town, that for years after the store was sold and the Thomsons were no longer connected with it, it was still known as "Thomson's".
Thomson's epitomized all that we remember about a Country General Store. It was more than a store ... it was a meeting place, a place to catch up on "gossip", both from men & women. A visit there could be for groceries, to pick up your mail, have a game of checkers or chess, leave a message, buy furniture, to buy small farm equipment or even a coffin. In the early days coffins were stored upstairs along with the furniture.

Concerns raised over proposed mandatory insurance coverage for all hall rentals in CF

Numerous councilors raised concerns over Treasurer Michael McGovern's recommendation that the township begin charging insurance for all hall rentals in the township effective March 1, 2016. Presently the township hall renters pay additional insurance only for events where alcohol is served and all other renters have their insurance covered by the township.

Frank Cowan, the township's insurance company, changed the township policy to a user fee-based program for hall rentals. The change will result in all renters, excluding recreation committees, being required to pay an insurance fee that will be determined based on the type of event, its duration and the number of people in attendance.

McGovern said the change is necessary to address “an important risk management step that will ensure that third parties (hall renters) have their own insurance when using our facilities, therefore protecting both the renter and the municipality from any possible lawsuits by creating the arm's length needed.”

McGovern suggested two possible options. Either the renter can acquire their own insurance or the township can charge the renter the insurance fee as part of the rental agreement based on the schedules from the Frank Crown Company that were included in the report. The schedules proposed rates based either on liability of $2 million or $5 million. The hourly rates charged could range anywhere from $2.50/ an hour for a non-alcohol, non-sporting event for one to 50 people, to $30/hour for a gathering of 100 to 200 people where alcohol is served, depending on which liability level is chosen.

Councilor Bill MacDonald wondered if increasing costs to the taxpayers is wise and if it might prevent rentals in the future. He asked, "Just what are we trying to prevent here since I do not know of any lawsuits in the past?”

Debra Murphy, regional manager of the Frank Cowan Insurance Company, was in attendance for the report. “This is a one-stop shopping arrangement where staff know what exactly is happening at the event and the renter can pay the insurance fee upfront, and where both the township and the renter know that they are covered. If something were to happen - let's say that a hot coffee pot were to tip over and burn someone, both the renter and the township would be covered,” she said.

Councilor Jamie Riddell was hesitant to support the request.

“We already have a policy in place where renters for events serving alcohol are covered and I think we need more time to think this over,” he said.

“Every year we look at the budget and ask ourselves why more people don't use these halls. Putting more insurance on top of the rental fee will not improve the situation,” said Councillor Phil Smith

Councilor Heese suggested reducing the rental fees so that these extra costs could be made more affordable for the renters.

Councilor MacDonald and Councilor Tom Dewey were concerned about the impact on seniors' groups, who are often not associated with rec committees and how this might affect their regular meetings and events.

“Basically the decision we need to make comes down to a budget decision and we have to decide if we want to pay the extra insurance fees as we have in the past or if we want to pass along that charge to the users,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

In the end Councilor Dewey moved to table the motion until after a budget meeting, which will take place at Oso Hall this Friday, January 29 beginning at 9 am.

Council supports application by CF Recreation and Cultural Centre

In a delegation, Sue Leslie and Bob Teal asked if council would support an application they plan to make to the Community Foundation of Greater Kingston for a feasibility study looking into the viability of turning the former Hinchinbrooke public school in Parham into a recreation and cultural center.

Leslie thanked council for “having the vision to make the purchase of the school”, which her group hopes to see turned into a center that artists, youth, seniors and other members of the community will be able to use.

Leslie said her committee had met with the township's chief building officer, Jeremy Neven, who reported that the building is structurally sound, but would have to be brought up to code and would have to have certain substances remediated. The feasibility study is priced at $10,000 and Leslie asked council if they would pay 20% of that cost, with the committee group hoping to raise the remainder. Council agreed and many members thanked Leslie and her group for taking the lead on looking into the viability of the site.

Councilor MacDonald said, “The ground work that you are doing needs to be done and the fact that you are looking into accessing funds puts me in support of this request”.

Mayor Francis Smith said “If $2,000 can get you $10,000, those are pretty good odds.”

Councilor Tom Dewey also supported the request, as did Councilor Brent Cameron, who said “ If there is an opportunity to breathe new life into that building and into the community, I support that.”

Council supported the motion and agreed to the $2,000 contribution for the application.

Plans for CF Re-Use Centre on hold re: permits

Councilor Victor Heese, who is heading up the committee looking into creating a re-use center in Central Frontenac, said that the committee had its first meeting and the minutes from the meeting highlighted the fact that a re-use centre, located at a township waste site, “requires a permit from the Ministry of Environment at a cost of $1400 and a wait time of between six and 18 months”. Due to the fact that these applications can be complicated, it was also suggested at the meeting that the committee hire waste management consultants retained by the township to write the application. The minutes from the meeting were received for information.

Council accepts Giroux's resignation with regret and heartfelt thanks

In a letter, Marcel Giroux announced his resignation as chair and member of the CF economic development committee. In the letter Giroux said, “I finally have to admit that I am growing old and no longer have the levels of energy, stamina and patience to give this good work its due.” At the committee's next meeting Giroux said that he will ask committee member Karen McGregor to take on the role as chair.

Mayor Smith said that she will be writing a letter to Mr. Giroux accepting his resignation.

Concussion policy and strategy adopted

Clerk Cathy MacMunn presented the issue of putting a township policy and strategy in place regarding concussions. The issue was brought forth in a letter to staff by Leslie Merrigan on behalf of the township's recreation committees, who are hoping to benefit from a $25,000 grant to create a lending library of sports equipment for residents.

The grant requires that such a policy be in place.

The Sharbot Lake Country Inn is kicking off another year of dinners and music next Friday, January 29, with a folk/bluegrass show by Newfoundlander Matthew Hornell, accompanied by Nova Scotian Andrew Sneddon.

Hornell began his musical career in the singer/songwriter vein, with the Newfoundland sense of story telling serving him well. However, he moved to Halifax for a few years, and he blames Halifax, as well as Sneddon, for his detour into Bluegrass.

“Once you hear a sound you like, whatever it is, even if it’s the birds singing in the morning, it just kind of takes over,” he told a St. John's newspaper in advance of a tour of the province with Sneddon last summer.

As a duo with Sneddon, a multi-instrumentalist who specializes in the Dobro, there is almost an Appalachian/melancholic feel to the originals and cover tunes that Hornell plays, an influence that plays well off the East Coast traditions that they both wear like old clothing.

These influences lead to the kind of intimate show that fits perfectly for a winter night at the Sharbot Lake County Inn and should make a good start to a season of shows that is planned.

Dinner starts at 6 pm and the show starts at 8pm. It is $50 for the dinner and show and $20 for the show only.

Other shows coming up include 2015 East Coast Music Awards Roots Traditional Recording of the Year winner, Irish Mythen; the Scots, Irish, Cape Breton fusion band The Outside Track; Oh Suzanna; Carlos Junco; the Slocan Ramblers; and more. Later in February, the Feral Five & Friends will be back as well.