Jewelery makers Steve and Janet MacIntyre of Napanee participated for their third year at the Inroads Studio Tour as guests at the home and studio of local woodworker Ken Waller of Sharbot Lake. The couple make a wide range of fused glass jewelry using a laser engraved dichroic glass technique to create gorgeous patterns and images. Part of the attraction of the annual Inroads Studio Tour is getting a chance to see the work of not so local artisans who participate as special guests on the tour. Jill Ferguson was another guest on the tour who showed at Judith Versavel's Gallery by the Bay in Arden and she showcased an eclectic collection of her original acrylic paintings, which are inspired by nature, travel and the Ontario countryside.

On August 29 Sharbot Lake village came alive as the sound of the CADRE (Canadian Associates Drumming Rudimental Excellence) drummers rang out through town in a special free afternoon performance on the lawn of the Sharbot Lake Country Inn.

Thanks to a generous invitation extended to the group by inn owners Frank and Sandra White, drumming fans, those just curious, and those lucky enough just to be passing by were awed by the prowess, precision and impeccable playing of this five-time world champion drumming ensemble. The players delighted listeners with what they called a “dress rehearsal” for their upcoming world championship competition, which will take place in Rochester, New York, on September 4. A total of nine players who make up the competition group performed “Camp 3”, a piece comprised of drum core classics that was written by eight different authors from the U.S. and Canada.

The highlight of the show was the competition piece that the group will be playing in Rochester, a tune called “Boy in a Red Shirt” that was written in part by Paul Mosley (who leads the competition group) and Fred Johnson, the current president of the CADRE ensemble. The piece is comprised of no less than eight different time signatures and includes a number of different sticking patterns, one called back-sticking where the drummers use the back of the drum stick to make the beat, as well as a technique called cross-sticking. For the competition piece the drummers play a series of identical snare drums, and some of the members also play a second set of tuned drums called quintuplet drums as well as one bass drum.

The drummers begin the competition each playing on the identical snares and at certain point in the piece three of the players move from the snares to the quintuplet drums to add a different sound into the mix. The wonder of the sound comes from how the players are able to play with such rapid fire precision and in perfect time while also adding a number of tricky choreographed moves that make the performance a marvel to both see and hear. At the competition the drummers will be judged on a number of different criteria including content, execution, expression, the number of mistakes they make and how varied the program is, as well as for their general presentation.

Asked what makes a good drummer, Fred Johnson, who has been drumming since 1946 and first started in an Air Cadet band in Toronto, said it's how well you play without making any mistakes. “A good drummer is able to take a score, and play it without making mistakes and many of the competitors in the group will often practise for four hours a day to hone their skills.”

At Saturday's performance Johnson also played along with the other CADRE members on a series of ancient wooden rope drums in a style of rudimental drumming that Johnson said “has not changed in 500 years”. Their repertoire on these drums included tunes that had been written in the British Isles in the 1600s, one solo tune whose roots go back to Napoleonic times and the French Revolution, along with some more modern American fife and drum selections written earlier this century.

As explained on their web site cadre-online.ca, the group adheres to some strict principles which Johnson says has contributed to the group's success as an award-winning international ensemble. They include focusing on excellence, 100% acceptance and adherence to a musical master score, and approaching the performance by emphasizing the many shades of musical dynamics to create “that elusive inner-bar magic”.

The group demonstrated that magic on Saturday afternoon in Sharbot Lake and those who were lucky enough to take it in can understand why this group continues to excel on the international stage. For those who missed the show, you can see videos of the group playing on their website.

CF Council supports Elizabeth Street reconstruction

Council passed a motion at the regular council meeting supporting the proposed reconstruction of Elizabeth Street in Sharbot Lake as “a priority project” by authorizing staff to submit a letter expressing their interest in the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) in the amount of $2,300,000. The reconstruction project, which was started in 2010, has been dormant for a number of years. The project includes a new storm sewage system as well as other changes that will “improve parking congestion, traffic flow, pedestrian safety as well encouraging economic growth.” By approving the expression of interest, council will be taking responsibility for project costs in excess of $2 million.

Speed Limit reductions approved and signage in place

Council passed a motion approving a speed limit reduction on Long Lake Road near the public beach where the speed will be reduced from 80km/hour to 60km/hour. An earlier motion approved by council reduced the speed limit on Road 38 near the Granite Ridge Education Centre from 50km/hour to 40 km/hour and new signage is now in place there.

Failed Tax Sale Policy draft review

Treasurer J. Michael McGovern fielded questions from council regarding a new RFP process that will enable staff to “put failed tax sale properties out to the public to determine an accurate value and in doing so, put the property back into an active status.” Currently when a tax sale fails, department heads decide whether to either vest or write off part of the taxes and re-list the property. McGovern's report states that while staff have had some success and some failures in writing off the taxes and re-listing a property, they have found that determining an accurate price can be difficult without outside assistance. The new policy aims to “return properties to a state where taxes are collected on a regular basis.”

Council supports county's Gap Analysis Study

In an effort to address and identify infrastructure and equipment requirements necessary to establish a county-wide communications system, the County of Frontenac in 2013 approved setting aside $25,000 in their 2014 budget for a propagation study for radio communications on behalf of the four lower tier townships. This resulted from concerns raised by the various townships' CAOs, and their fire and public works departments, who all agreed that a more effective and efficient communications system was needed to protect the safety of residents. They identified the way forward with the need for a study analysing the gaps in the communications systems. The four municipalities are aiming to each approve the study and have the issue placed on the county's September agenda.

Council approves Shared IT and GIS Services agreement

In April 2015 the Frontenac CAOs prepared and presented a report to their councils of a shared services model of which IT and GIS services were examined. The report states that though Central Frontenac is unique in that it already possesses a qualified and combined IT manager/GIS technician and 911 coordinator, the other townships have either contracted out the services or in the the case of North Frontenac, provided it in house. Currently the CAOs are proposing that the county become the service provider for the four local municipalities at no incremental cost. A shared service model has been developed, with the cost to be shared between the four municipalities. The shared services agreement aims to “see the benefits of a comprehensive management approach to IT and GIS services.”

Private E. Badour of the 20th Battalion to be focus of special Remembrance Day Video project

Council granted permission to John Stuart, manager of community relations with the Family and Childrens Services of Frontenac Lennox and Addington to film inside Oso hall, where the name of Private E. Badour of Sharbot Lake is listed on its memorial wall. Private E. Badour was a soldier killed during the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 and has no known grave.

October 2015 is proclaimed “Public Library Month”

Council supported a request from the Kingston Frontenac Public Library to officially proclaim October 2015 as Public Library Month. The purpose is to raise awareness of the valuable role that libraries play in Canadians' lives.

At a special public meeting hosted by the Township of Central Frontenac at Oso Hall on Tuesday, September 1, Peter Young and Anne Marie Young from Frontenac County made a presentation to a small group of Central Frontenac residents regarding expanding the township's community improvement plan (CIP).

Councilors Jamie Riddell and Victor Heese pushed for a geographical expansion of the program at a council meeting back in April.

The plan aims to encourage and stimulate economic development by making grants and loans available to business and home owners for facade improvements, accessibility enhancements, and business start up funding.

Currently the funding from the plan is available only to businesses and home owners that fall within the boundaries of the hamlet of Sharbot Lake.

The total available funding for the program was set at $80,000 and to date just over $46,000 has been spent, leaving $33,000 remaining. Peter Young outlined possible options to expand the program by including the hamlets of Arden, Mountain Grove and Parham or making the funding available to residents across the entire township.

The public who attended the meeting suggested that it should be expanded to include the entire township. With the limited funds left in the pot, Anne Marie Young suggested other potential changes to the current plan that could include prioritizing funding for businesses only, reducing the total maximum funding to $2,500 per project, reducing the pay-back period for loans to three years from five.

Input from the meeting will be taken back to council, who will then discuss and revise the plan. It will be up to the township to change the by-law in order implement the changes, a process that could take a number of months.

For more information about the township's Community Improvement Plan visit the township's website at www.centralfrontenac.com

Each soccer season is very gratifying for our committee members. We put a lot of effort into planning and coordinating and are rewarded when we finally get to see the kids on the fields playing. We have seen the players develop their skills over the years and it is amazing that this sport continues to be available to the kids in our area.

Some of our members have been involved and volunteering their time for over 10 years. With changing personal commitments, some of us will not be able to continue to volunteer in the capacity that we have been and new members are needed. Without new volunteers, Central Frontenac soccer will not be able to continue for the 2016 season. If your child loves the sport of soccer, you need to think about volunteering. There are various positions and tasks including chair, secretary, treasurer, referee coordinator, media liaison, and more. A committee like this works best with many members doing small parts to divide and share the work. The committee meets a few times each year to sort out positions, to plan, and to assign tasks and goals. We will be holding a wrap-up meeting on September 16 at 7pm at the Medical Centre, lower level, in Sharbot Lake. If you want to see soccer available for your children next year, come out to get more information and show your interest in continuing the sport of soccer in our community.

For questions or to volunteer, contact Lynette Whan, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (613)279-2366 or message us on the Central Frontenac Soccer Facebook group.

2015 Central Frontenac Soccer Association members: Lindsay Beattie, Liz Bigelow, Niki Putnam, Lynette Whan

The Oso Recreation Committee has started the ball - or in this case “the puck” - rolling to establish an outdoor ice rink in Sharbot Lake.

In 2011, the Sharbot Lake Snow Rider’s Club presented the Oso Recreation Committee with a $10,000 donation earmarked for an outdoor ice rink in Sharbot Lake. From that time the Oso Recreation Committee, in working with the township, searched many viable locations for a suitable ice rink location - one that was easily accessible and centrally located to be used by the most people. A multi-use location was the best option for this project and viability of the rink. The location selected and approved by town council was the Oliver Scott Memorial Park in Sharbot Lake. The park now houses a ball field with existing lighting, a washroom facility that is slated for replacement this year and a canteen. This location is also in close proximity to the Granite Ridge Education Centre. Most children in Central and North Frontenac will attend this school and have access to this rink. The rink is also located in the village of Sharbot Lake, making this easily accessible as most people in the area come to Sharbot Lake to shop, bank, seek medical attention, and so much more.

At a meeting held last week, the group discussed at length the “next steps” for the rink project and also listened to some great direction on the area in question from Jeremy Neven, the township’s chief building official. Dave Willis, Oso recreation committee chair, has done a lot of the initial leg work with the support of his committee to get this project in motion. The committee is now focusing on geotechnical studies, rink design and, most importantly, fund raising.

On September 12, there will be the first in a series of OPEN MIC afternoons held at Oso Hall. All proceeds will be going to the construction of the ice rink. Admission to the hall will be by donation and light refreshments will be available for purchase. Our house band will consist of local musicians Adam Lake, Kevin Merrigan, Justin Riddell and Jim MacPherson, better known as “The Ice Rink Pickers”. These lads will open the afternoon and supply the base music for our local musicians to showcase their talents. The open mic will be run by sign up, with each performer having the opportunity to sing two or three songs. We encourage everyone, young and not so young, to come and enjoy an afternoon of music and friendship and help us make this project a success. If you have any questions, contact Lesley Merrigan at 613-279-3144.

It may have been the free breakfast, a restaurant full of clients and their families, the way the agency staff relates to the board and the community, or holding the meeting in the summer.

Whatever the reason was, the Community Living-North Frontenac Annual General Meeting that was held at the Maples Restaurant in Sharbot Lake last Wednesday (August 26) felt more like a party than the statutory meeting that all not-for-profit corporations must hold each year.

Bob Miller, the long-serving chair of the Community Living board, conducted the business end of the meeting. He said that the agency has continued to both serve its clients and encourage a healthy relationship with the broader community this year, and “The books are all balanced, so we're ok on that end as well.”

In his address, Executive Director Dean Walsh talked about some of the events that have taken place over the last year, and about some of the plans for community outreach that are under development.

One of the major outreach programs, the Treasure Trunk store, continues to be a priority. In October, Community Living is sponsoring its first ever fundraising dance, which will be a costume Ball at the Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake on October 24th.

As part of its commitment to preserve and promote the railway history of our area, the Central Frontenac Railway Heritage Society has been working diligently on the development of the Railway Heritage Park in Sharbot Lake. Visitors to the park will have noticed that a patio has recently been constructed behind the caboose to showcase artifacts with a fence that will eventually support informative signage. In hosting visitors to the caboose, one of the things that has become evident is the excitement that the railroad creates in the minds of young children. Adult visitors, whether they be parents or grandparents, are often accompanied by children anxious to climb aboard.

As a result, the CFRHS decided to build a train-based play structure as an additional attraction for our young visitors. The play structure will also allow their adult supervisors more time to further investigate the exhibits. With due diligence to the safety regulations that need to be followed in constructing a public play structure, the project became a more daunting task both financially and physically than we first imagined. But, just like The Little Train That Could, the Board of Directors forged ahead. Gratefully, with substantial funding support ($12,220) from The Community Foundation for Kingston and Area, we have been able to purchase the actual structure. As a result, we are well on our way to completing our goal; however, we need help.

We are now in the construction stage, and are soliciting additional funds and donations “in kind” to move the project forward. We are in need of financial donations, materials (i.e. 3/4” washed stone for the base, concrete for the footings), backhoe time, and construction expertise. If you as an individual or business see merit in this train-based play structure and wish to help, please call Gary Giller at 613-279-2723. Also consider joining us for our annual fundraiser this fall, to be advertised soon. We look forward to seeing visiting children further enjoying the captivation of our railway heritage.

Fred Johnson has lived on Sharbot Lake since the early 1990s, on a property he purchased with his late wife many years earlier.

He retired from a career with the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and turned a cottage into a waterfront home, as a number of people have done over the years. One of the things that Fred has done over his retirement years has been to put even more of his energy into a pursuit that has always been more than a hobby for him, Rudimental Drumming.

Rudimental Drumming was founded in 1933, when a group of military drummers decided to focus on 13 essential rudiments of drumming. This focus on precision and technique formed the basis for the rudimental drumming tradition, which continues to this day.

Fred Johnson's career as a drummer started in 1946, when he joined the 180th air cadets in Toronto. In the 1950s he branched out as he began to do some writing and drumming instruction while a member of the 2nd Signals Regiment.

Since then he has instructed and composed drumming arrangements and individual solos for 17 drum and bugle corps all over southern and western Ontario.

One of the drum sections he led was the Canada's Marching Ambassador drum section. That section produced two Canadian Individual Champions and five international judges.

He has an extensive resume as a judge in Canada and the United States.

In 1976, he founded the Canadian Association of Drumming Rudimental Excellence (CADRE). The CADRE competition group has been performing in events and competitions ever since. The competition group placed first in The World Drum Corps Associates ensemble championship for five consecutive years, from 2006 to 2010.

Fred was inducted to the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 1998, the first Canadian to receive that honour.

The CADRE competition group continues to be active and is preparing for this year's championship in Rochester, New York in about a week. But before they travel to Rochester they are gathering in Sharbot Lake to prepare, and while they are in the area they will be taking over the Sharbot Lake Country Inn. Not only are a number of them staying at the inn, they will be presenting a free concert there as well on Saturday, August 29, from 3 to 5pm. Weather permitting they will be playing outside near the patio; otherwise in the Crossings Pub.

For Fred Johnson it is an opportunity to share his passion with his friends and neighbours.

“The sound of these drums, when played with precision, is something else. It has a power that is hard to describe. You have to hear it,” he said.

There has not been a lot of rain in recent weeks, but last Thursday afternoon was an exception. At 5 in the afternoon Sharbot Lake was not visible from the bandshell that faces it.

Five o'clock also happened to be the start time for the annual Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS) Community BBQ, this one marking the 40th anniversary of the agency.

Although they hung on to the idea of holding the event at the beach for as long as possible, about an hour earlier NFCS staff had decided it was time to move indoors.

The balloon castle was not going to fit into the Oso Hall, so it had to go, as well as some other outdoor events, but the band set up on stage, the food was prepared and as the storm was raging outside, over 200 people crammed into the hall to eat and laugh together.

“It was the last thing we wanted to happen,” said NFCS Executive Director Louise Moody, “but in the end we pulled it off and people showed up anyway. Everybody still had fun, although it has been a bit hectic for us.”

To mark the 40th anniversary, the first executive director of NFCS, Wayne Robinson, was on hand, as were a number of staff and board members from over the years.

“It's wonderful to see that something we put together so many years ago has continued to find its way and flourish like this,” said Robinson.

NFCS had its roots in a series of meetings between community members in the early 1970s to talk about community needs. In 1973, St. Lawrence College, which was itself only seven years old at the time, gave the group a grant to hire a “community animator”.

Forty-two years later NFCS provides services to children and youth from its Child Centre location on Road 38, and to adults and seniors from its Adult Services building in the middle of Sharbot Lake.

With funding from a number of provincial ministries, the United Way and the community itself, it provides services for youth throughout Frontenac County, and for adults and seniors in the area from Verona north to Plevna and Ompah and beyond.

“When a young family needs information, a teenager needs training to become a babysitter, an adult is in crisis, or a senior needs help to stay happy and active in their own home, we are there for them,” said Moody.

The NFCS BBQ survived the rain, but that does not mean it will be scheduled as an indoor event next year.

“It is pretty hot in here,” said one mother, “and humid, too.”