Volunteers at the North Frontenac Food Bank held a first-time community garage sale fundraiser on May 30 in Sharbot Lake. The sale took place in the parking lot of the Sharbot Lake Country Inn and included a wide variety of items donated by the volunteers and members of the community: furniture, clothes, sporting goods, books, home, kitchen and garden wares and more.

Kim Cucoch, a volunteer with the NF Food Bank, said that the volunteers wanted to try a different kind of fundraiser this spring and by the end the day, just over $1,000 was raised. Those who missed the fundraiser and would still like to make a cash donation to the NF Food Bank can do so by calling 613-532-8855 or by mailing a cheque to The North Frontenac Food Bank, P.O. Box 151, Sharbot Lake, K0H 2P0.

Proposed Septic Re-inspection program

In a delegation to council, members of the Septic Re-inspection Committee, Terry Kennedy and John Duschene, outlined a proposed septic re-inspection plan for the township.

The plan involve asking the existing septic haulers (the honey men) in the township to keep records and inform the township of properties owners who have and have not serviced their systems in the proposed regular 3-5 year time frame.

The estimated cost to township to maintain records and to provide the necessary licensing is approximately $6,000 per year. Property owners will be expected to pay to keep their systems properly functioning. Councilors Tom Dewey and Bill MacDonald were the first council members to congratulate the committee representatives on their work and their proposed plan, saying it is a definite step in the right direction.

Councilor Brent Cameron he praised the committee for their hard work but he said felt that the report also fell drastically short on one key point.

“It is the 2-4% of property owners you cited in your report who have systems in need of either significant repairs or total replacement that bothers me. In some cases that could cost anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 and we live in a community where many home owners are barely hanging on. Some people will simply not be able to afford this and will be forced to leave their homes. This on the whole is a good report but it's incomplete. There is a huge hole here and I have a problem going forward with this until this fact is properly dealt with” Cameron said. The report was accepted for information and council instructed their staff to prepare a detailed report regarding the adoption of the recommendations the committee proposed.

Council approves waste management agreement with Product Care

Council approved the contract with Product Care regarding waste diversion for household hazardous waste. The agreement reimburses municipalities for schedule materials that include paints, stains, coatings, and aerosols.

K&P Trail gets councils endorsement to go ahead to Sharbot Lake

Anne Marie Young, manager of sustainability at Frontenac County got the approval of council in her request that they support the County of Frontenac's application for Canada's 150th Community Infrastructure Program for the K&P Trials extension to Tichborne and Sharbot Lake. In the motion passed by council, the township will approve the use of municipal lands required to endorse the application.

NFLT storage request denied

CAO Jim Zimmerman suggested that council not approve a request from Brian Robertson that the North Frontenac Community Theatre be allowed to store a trailer at the township yard on Wagarville Road. Zimmerman cited lack of space at the site for his recommendation, which was endorsed by council.

Proposed 150th anniversary funding options move from Parham Library to Mountain Grove

Due to specific funding deadlines in Canada's 150th anniversary infrastructure funding grants, Mayor Frances Smith proposed that council consider those particular funding options for the Mountain Grove fire hall and library stating that they “would qualify very nicely for this program more so than the proposed the Parham library. “Although this is not in the budget, given the grant deadlines, Mountain Grove fits the criteria far better than Parham,” she said.  

Music students from GREC demonstrated their musical chops in an eclectic line up of musical offerings that delighted the large crowd who attended GREC's Celebration of Music event that took place in the schools cafetorium on May 25.

The evening included performances by the Young Choristers, a choir comprised of students from various local schools under the direction of Christina Wotherspoon, and the GREC Band who who offered three jazz and blues based offerings. In the second half of the show these two ensembles came together for two rousing numbers that included the Best of Glee which had many toes tapping. In addition to these larger ensembles, a number students who played either solo or in small groups covered a wide range musical territory from Lexi Pride's lovely Arabesque on piano, Devon Scott's heart felt version of Adele's Someone Like You, Brianna Drew and Kristin Collis' flute Minuet by J.S. Bach and Joelle Parr's delightful and boppy version of Bright by Echosmith.

One of the highlights of the evening was the trio known as the World Peace Rockers, headed up by Peter Potvan on ukelele and keyboards, Michael Running-Adams on drums and keyboards and supporting them on the keys , GREC staff member Shari Tallon. The group pulled off a great three song set after overcoming a few minor technical glitches that in no way seemed to phase them.

Their versions of K''Naan's World Cup Anthem Wavin' Flag, the Imagine Dragon's Radioactive and Matisyahu's One Day brought the appreciative audience to their feet in a very well deserved standing ovation.

GREC staff also had a chance to shine. Shari Tallon performed an original piano piece titled Theme for Zelda and Julia Schall and Andrew Kirby's performed The Weight by The Band with perfectly blended harmonies and with just the right amount of heft. Last but not least was a performance by the GREC's School of Rock band for 2015, The Undecided who performed a few of their own favorites, including The Way It Is, Clocks, Let Her Go and Lose Yourself. The band put on a solid performance and they were joined by Aidan Kempe who demonstrated that he is a natural. Thanks to a number of dedicated staff members, music education is alive and well in this local community and Monday nights show demonstrated how so many students are reaping the rewards that music education and practice can bring.

Eight walkers from the Moose Cree First nation are walking from Cochrane, Ont. to Ottawa, and the group stopped in Sharbot Lake on the evening of Monday, May 25 where they were offered hospitality from Chief Doreen Davis of the Shabot Obaadjiwan First
Nation and Father George Kwari, Incumbent of the Parishes of Maberly-Lanark and Parham-Sharbot Lake St. Andrew's Anglican Church.
The walkers were also joined by numerous members of the St. Andrew's church congregation and shared conversations over dinner before spending the night at the Sharbot Lake Country Inn.

The group met again for breakfast the next day prior to leaving the village to continue their walk to Ottawa where they expect to arrive on May 30. One of the walkers, Patrick Etherington Senior of Fort Albany ON, is a survivor of the St. Anne's residential school of Fort Albany. He spent six years there in the 1960's from the age of six years old until 11, and said “the truth happened". He suffered multiple types of abuse and neglect, which have been fully documented in Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission
(TRC). Patrick feels strongly that documenting the truth in the TRC is not enough and also wants to ensure that when the TRC's national events finish in Ottawa this June, that the awareness and education about Canada's Indian residential schools continues on.

“Through this walk we wanted to access what is going on in a more descriptive manner and to educate the public. Now we have the
truth, yes, but how we begin to visit the process of reconciliation is the question.”

He said that along the way he and his group have been approached and supported by many church groups who helped them with accommodations on their journey. In the process has had many conversations about the facts and issues about the Indian residential schools, and added that the feelings and questions that have arisen have made a first start in the process towards reconciliation

Patrick Jr. said, “walking is the easy part of what we are doing. We go through and can get through the physical pain of walking but sometimes we are faced with issues of racism which can be hard. I'm trying to look at things more now from both sides and on a positive note we also get a lot of support and people often stop and talk and ask us what we are doing and when they find out what it is, that really changes things."

He said the walk has made him listen more to other people, with less anger. He said that at one point on the walk he spoke to one older RCMP officer whose role was to take children away to the residential schools and how “that is something that he will have to live with. But by talking with him I saw that most people are good but had to do some bad things and that now they are left having to get past their guilt.” The dialogue continued in Sharbot Lake. Father Kwari of St. Andrews said, “the Moose Cree First Nation and the Muskegowuk Walkers are special to us because, in assisting them with meals and accommodation in Sharbot Lake, we are living up to the Church’s commitment of reconciliation with First Nations people. We get to meet the real people as we share a meal with them, and this shows our readiness to listen to the stories of the Indian Residential School (IRS) survivors and their families, who still suffer from the consequences of the misguided operation of the residential schools. In so doing, we continue the journey of truth-telling and truthlistening towards eventual healing and reconciliation across our church communities and among the citizens of Canada.”

Chief Doreen Davis was also happy and honoured to offer support to the group and at the dinner table at the Sharbot Lake Country Inn, where a diverse group was gathered. She said, “this is where reconciliation can really begin.”

The Cochrane to Ottawa walk is the third for Patrick Sr and for some of the other walkers in the group who included Patrick Senior's two sons Edmond and Patrick Jr, Remi Nakogee, Darren Hughie, Maurice Wesley and John Fox Jr.

The walkers were also being supported along the way by Sean Lee-Popham and his partner who are helping with the logistics and arranging for accommodations. The first walk took place in 2010 from Cochrane to Winnipeg and the second from Cochrane to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Patrick Sr's partner Frances Whiskeychan, also one of the eight walkers said the aim of the walk “is to give awareness as a ceremonial process (journey) from Cochrane to Ottawa. This walk is regarding residential school issues and the impact on the school survivors, their children and grandchildren."

Sawyer McKenzie, sitting on his father (Seed to Sausage owner) Michael McKenzie's shoulder, looked unimpressed by the suckling pig that was being cooked over an open fire at the annual Day of the Pig, the opening extravaganza marking the beginning of the summer eating season in the region. The event takes place each year at the world headquarters of Seed to Sausage, the award-winning producers of fresh and dried sausages, bacon and other cuts of prepared meats for the gourmet market in Toronto, Ottawa and closer to home.

The Seed to Sausage retail store is now open for the summer season, carrying their own products and those of some of the vendors who participated in the Day of the Pig, which drew thousands of food lovers to their location on Road 38 south of Crow Lake Road on Saturday.

Among the vendors on hand, most of whom sold most or all of their stock, were a number of established and newer local businesses. These included Ludwig Ratzinger of Ludwig's Chocolate, and Back Forty Cheese, which is now located in Mississippi Station. Two businesses had their debuts on Saturday: Primitive Catering – an innovative business that provides barbeque and other catering services, and Cardinal Café, which will be opening in a month or so at the former Catholic Church in Sharbot Lake across from the Sharbot Lake Country Inn. The buzz around both those booths indicates how much interest they have both generated in the region recently.

All in all the Day of the Pig was a celebration of the burgeoning food culture in Frontenac County.  

Since the start of February, the six members of the Granite Ridge School of Rock have been working together to learn to play musical instruments, build a musical ear, improve team-work and boost self-confidence. The students and their teacher, Julia Schall, have been listening to, playing and debating the merits of a wide variety of musical genres – from old time rock and roll, alternative, indie pop, country and rap. Their band, The Undecided, is composed of grade 8 students (L-R): Aurora McCumber, guitar; Esther Hoffmann, bass; Dawson King, guitar and vocals; Finn Limber, keyboards and vocals; Nic Smith, keyboards; and Maya Chorney, drums. The Undecided are very excited to be performing at the Celebration of Music at Granite Ridge on Monday, May 25 at 7 pm. Sharing the stage with the School of Rock will be the Granite Ridge High School band and the Young Choristers under the direction of Christina Wotherspoon, as well as other talented student and staff performers. The cost for the show is $5, with children under 12 free. We hope to see you there!

The new Amazing Dollar Store in Sharbot Lake attracted hundreds of shoppers looking for opening day deals at its official grand opening on May 16. Part of the success of the opening day could have been due to the fact that the store's new owner, Holly Davis, is no stranger to the area. She grew up in Arden and graduated from Sharbot Lake High School years ago.

Davis took over the Sharbot Lake business from its long-time former owner, Cindy Warren, in March 2015. Warren, who owned and operated the Sharbot Lake store for over 20 years, in fact had helped Holly Davis set up her first Amazing Dollar store in Tweed in 1998, which she sold six years ago. Currently Davis has another store in Havelock and recently closed a former location in Campbellford.

Taking a well deserved break from behind the cash counter on the very busy opening day, Davis said the timing to buy the Sharbot Lake store was perfect and when she found out that Warren wanted to sell, she jumped at the opportunity.

Cindy Warren is continuing to work at the new store.

Davis has completely remodeled the space and installed a series of long, single north/south facing aisles, thereby increasing the store's capacity for inventory.

Guests were greeted not only by the renovated store, but also by number of opening days specials, which were up for grabs and included 25% off all gardening supplies as well as 50% off of a number of all-season items like candles and more. Guests also enjoyed free Tim Horton's coffee and donuts and took away free recycled shopping bags as a gift for their opening day patronage.

Holly Davis, who lives half way between Havelock and Sharbot Lake, said she will be working at the Sharbot Lake store regularly along with three to four part time employees.

For those who missed the grand opening, the Amazing Dollar Store is open Mon. - Thurs. from 9AM-6PM, Fridays 9AM-8PM, Saturdays from 9AM-6PM and Sundays 10AM-4PM. The store carries a wide selection of products, seasonal and otherwise. Davis would like to thank all of her patrons for the very successful opening day. The Amazing Dollar Store is located at 14583 Road 38 in Sharbot Lake.

Members of the team named The Dirtbagettes will be participating in the upcoming Mud Hero run, which will take place in Ottawa on June 6.

The team was out in full force for a fundraiser they held on May 16, armed with loads of fresh home-made treats that they were offering up to the local community and lucky travelers on Highway 7. The eight-member team, which includes runners from in and around Sharbot Lake and Lanark, will be taking part in the Mud Hero event for their first time and they decided to support cancer research, specifically the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation, since many of the team and their family members have been diagnosed with various forms of cancer.

Team member Tammy Weiss of Sharbot Lake, who was diagnosed with melanoma last year, underwent surgery and was lucky enough not to have to undergo any further treatments.

Autumn Cameron of Lanark, also a member of the team, was diagnosed with a type of uterine cancer five years ago and underwent six months of chemotherapy. She has been cancer free ever since. Tina Sickling, another member of the team, and her nieces were participating in support of Tina's brother, who is currently battling bowel cancer.

It is the first year the team decided to do the run and they chose the Mud Hero run in Ottawa since, as Cameron pointed out, “It looks like a lot of fun and it is something we have been wanting to do for a long time now.” Tammy Weiss added that it seemed a no-brainer since the money they raise will support Ottawa cancer programs and research.

The 6km run, which has a total of 19 muddy obstacles, also includes a huge party afterwards with live music, food, beverages and lots of fun in the mud.

At the fundraiser on Saturday, the team offered up a wide assortment of baked treats including brownies, scones, cookies and more. The event also included a BBQ, lemonade stand and a car wash. A number of different Mud Hero events take place across the country annually and many of the donations go towards supporting local cancer programs where the events take place. For those who missed the fundraiser and would like to donate to The Dirtbagettes, visit http://bit.ly/1dcKGvg

Tina Bailey, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area (CFKA) says the organisation, which provides grants for community organizations on a twice-annual basis, has been seeking to raise its profile outside of Kingston.

At the announcement for its latest crop of 24 grants, for a total value of $106,000, a healthy number went to organizations outside of Kingston, most of them in Frontenac County.

The list includes the largest grant given out, $12,200 to the Central Frontenac Railway Museum, which will be used to provide half the resources to construct a railway-themed play structure at Railway Park in Sharbot Lake. Slated for installation in 2016, the structure will consist of a steam engine, coal car and ramp surrounded by a safe engineered play surface.

Other grants include $4,000 to the Elbow Lake Environmental Centre (ELEC), which is located off the Perth Road, to fund an outreach assistant this coming fall. This will allow ELEC to encourage all local high schools to visit the center and experience their expanded selection of curriculum-based programs.

A related grant, for $7,000, is going to the Frontenac Stewardship Foundation. The money will be used to set up an invasive species demonstration at the ELEC. This partnership will provide the community with the tools and information to combat the growing problem of invasive species. Some of the target species in question include Purple Loosestrife, Dog Strangling Vine, Lilac, Zebra Mussels, Emerald Ash Borer and many more.

The Howe Island Garden Buds have received $2,393 for the Howe Island Community Development Project, which will be an enduring legacy on the island. The enriched environment will highlight the natural surroundings, beautify the island and develop public access to the waterfront where the Bateau Channel meets the St. Lawrence River.

Finally, the Blue Skies Community Fiddle Orchestra received $5,425 to support an outreach exchange trip for the orchestra to the Rollo Bay Music festival in King’s County, Prince Edward Island, this July. The festival gathers renowned Celtic, Acadian, and Olde Tyme Fiddlers from across the Maritimes.

With over $31,000 of the $106,000 in grants, Frontenac County projects have been well supported this time around.

“It really helps us to promote the opportunities we offer, particular outside of Kingston, to receive such a breadth of applications from projects in Frontenac County. We certainly hope this will help us get our message out and enhance our profile in those communities,” said Tina Bailey.

The CFKA is a local, independent foundation affiliated with 191 other community foundations in Canada and worldwide, an association which now includes over 1,600 members.

“We take a broad view of community , funding projects in all areas from heritage preservation to children's mental health but we are looking to fund more projects that address identified community needs ,” said Bailey, who referred to the recent launch of a new Smart & Caring Communities Fund to further those efforts.

The foundation is always active. As soon as they were finished celebrating recipients of the spring grants at the May 14 announcement, they began preparing for the next application deadline ON September 9. They are also working towards offering some larger grants this fall, when the foundation will consider a select number of applications for between $10,000 and $25,000 for projects related to the following areas: getting started in the community, food security and community engagement..

The CFKA also produces Vital Signs, an annual report card on the health and well being of residents in Kingston, Frontenac County, Loyalist Township and Amherst Island.

Photo by Garrett Elliott  

by Adele Colby

On May 6, Grandmothers by the Lake hosted a gathering of Eastern Ontario groups featuring Ida Mukuka, a Stephen Lewis Foundation Project coordinator in Sub Sahara Africa. The chairs of the assembled groups felt there was a need to re-energize our grannies, to inspire them and to remind us all of the very important fight we committed to in 2006.

About 60 grandmothers from five chapters: the Kingston Grandmother Connection, the Apple Route Grannies, the Lanark Perth Grannies, the Belleville Quinte Grannies and the Grandmothers by the Lake met in Harrowsmith to network, share a potluck lunch and to listen to Ida.

The day was devoted to Ida. She showed a power point presentation featuring pictures highlighting some of the projects she visits. She elaborated on the intricacies, pitfalls and successes of her daily tasks, where one project can quickly turn into ten new ones. She explained that she starts addressing one issue and inevitably secondary side issues surface and they too must be handled. Never a dull moment!

After a delicious lunch provided by all assembled we went into a Q &A session facilitated by Janet Solberg. Many questions followed. Ida and Janet ably and eloquently addressed the questions. An inspired group of grannies left the gathering raring to go, recommitted to “not rest until they can rest”.

Grandmothers By The Lake will hold their 7th Annual Plant and Bake Sale fundraiser this year on the grounds of St. Paul's United Church on Road 38 in Harrowsmith on Sat. May 30 from 10am to 1pm. NO EARLY BIRD SALES PLEASE! There will be a bake sale specializing in home baked goodies baked by Grandmothers! There will be a huge variety of plants reasonably priced including vegetables, house plants, annuals and perennials - and more! All proceeds go to fund the grassroots projects to help Grandmothers and orphans in Africa. For more information, call Adele at 613-375-8845 or Marni at 613-374-9929.