Students in grades four through eight at Granite Ridge Education Centre in Sharbot Lake were taken on a wild ride thanks to a special presentation in the school gym on April 20. The dramatic production titled “Spirit Horse” is a professional traveling show put on by Roseneath Theatre in partnership with the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario. Currently in its fourth week of touring, it will be presented to a total of 100 schools in Ontario.

The production is a highly energetic tale about an Aboriginal family who have lost their mother and are faced with a number of real life challenges as they try to exist in an urban setting.

The tale involves a horse called Wild Wind, who appears thanks to a vision of the children’s grandfather as the family struggles with issues of racism, poverty, illiteracy and the death of a loved one in an urban setting, all of which deal them a number of challenging blows. The production aims to teach students through dramatic story telling about a number of difficult social issues while giving students a chance to explore a different aspect of life that they might be unfamiliar with.

The plot centers around two First Nations youth struggling in a single parent home and trying to find a balance between their traditional ways and the urban world. The play is a Native American adaptation by Drew Hayden Taylor of the Irish play Tir Na N' Og by Greg Banks and is based on a re-telling of the Stoney Nakoda Nation legend about Spirit Horses.

The four-member cast had their work cut out for them as they aptly brought to life 65 different characters in the play, which lasted just under one hour and was performed at break neck speed. With the help of a small but inventive set that included an old car seat and a dramatic piece of scaffolding that the actors climbed in, over and on top of, the actors used a combination of inventive dramatic styles and music to bring this energetic and cathartic tale to life. Musician Alex Lamoureux played a number of instruments including drums, jaw harp, accordion, fiddle, flutes and his own boot-clad feet to add a musical dimension to the piece, which kept the action rolling along.

Tim Hill, who played the main roles of the children’s father and grandfather as well as the very proud, spirited and sure-footed horse, Wild Wind, was both comedic and emotionally engaging and covered a broad swath of dramatic ground in the play.

Equally engaging were Brianne Tucker and Dakota Hebert who played the other two main roles, daughters Jessie and Angie respectively. Both showed depth in their portrayals of the young daughters who were faced with the challenges of trying to live life with a grieving single father while grieving themselves and facing the struggles and engaging adventures that come their way.

The story ends on a positive note as the family comes together to accept their mother’s death while demonstrating how perseverance and team work can enable them to overcome the obstacles that they are presented with.

The GREC students appeared mesmerized by the tale and their questions following the performance showed how story telling through the dramatic arts can engage youngsters in a number of difficult real life issues.

The cast, who are representatives of Canada's Métis, Inuit, and First Nations communities, should be commended on their performances. Prior to the show at GREC they, along with behind the scenes stage manager Dana Paul, were interviewed on CBC's Ontario Morning with Wei Chen. Following their performance the cast and crew packed the set into their pick up truck and headed off to Lombardy, where they performed the play again that afternoon.

For teachers wanting to bring attention to a number of important social issues that face youngsters today, Spirit Horse offers a creative outlook on the challenges that face us all as we struggle to maintain balance in what can often be a difficult, challenging and sometimes dangerous world. For more information visit Spirithorse.ca

By Andrea Dickinson

Spring has finally sprung and in Frontenac County that means another big production is in the works. North Frontenac Little Theatre’s 2015 spring production is “The Music Man” – a large musical production with a cast of over 40 local actors, including 15 local children and youth. Once again, I’ve had the privilege of watching this production come together during the cold winter months. Set in 1912, this play includes an entertaining storyline, fun choreography and music that everyone will recognize and enjoy.

Being part of a theatre production requires commitment and for a community as small as ours, it’s remarkable to see so many volunteers come out, including the parents of youngsters – to help get this play off the ground. Some of the children participating have been in past productions and for many it’s their first time. It’s never too late to start! It’s a fantastic creative outlet for children and youth and I’ve witnessed children evolve from being terribly shy to extremely confident over the course of the rehearsal schedule. I volunteer in the capacity of guiding and supervising the children in the play and I find the theatre program to be an important and worthwhile component of our community. The children and youth participating learn all about how a production comes together, how to work within a team and how to express themselves creatively. When interviewed, the most common response I received to the question, “What’s the best part about being part of this production?”, the answer was consistently, “the friends I have made.” In my experience, that’s what really matters to kids – having friends, being creative and keeping busy. After all their hard work and commitment, a big audience and loud applause is the payoff!

Don’t miss “The Music Man” – being presented at Granite Ridge Education Centre, over the course of two weekends – Friday & Saturday, May 1 & 2 at 7 pm, Friday & Saturday, May 8 & 9 at 7 pm as well as a Mother’s Day matinee on Sunday May 10 at 2 pm. Tickets: students $10, adults $14, are available at Sharbot Lake Pharmacy or by calling Nina Jenkins at 613-279-2945.

by Dawn Morden

Mountain Grove Seed Company and the North Frontenac Food Bank would like you to “share your fare” this year. Keep the food bank in mind when planning and planting your garden. Add a few extra plants and share some of your harvest once or twice throughout the season.

Communities have the capacity to grow a large portion of the food they consume. Take your passion for growing food as an opportunity to contribute to your community. This initiative is based on the Kingston “grow a row” campaign, and business challenge, sponsored by the Loving Spoonful.

We would also like to challenge local businesses to participate. Grow one plant in a container, and donate the harvest. A free tomato plant will be offered to businesses from Mountain Grove Seed Company, upon request. Some small 12" plants will be available.

Suggested vegetables include but are not limited to peas, lettuce, beans, tomatoes, peppers, onions, corn, potatoes, cucumbers and watermelon. Berries from your berry patch, or apples from your trees are also welcome.

Bring donations to the food bank on Tuesdays or Fridays between 9:30 and 10am. Produce will be distributed soon after, for maximum freshness. Share your fare!

Also, the food bank would like to start a small garden in Sharbot Lake. We would like to hear from you if you have some appropriate space that could be used, or if you would like to volunteer to assist with care of the garden. For more information, contact Kim Cucoch, North Frontenac Food Bank, at 613-532-8855, or Dawn, Mountain Grove Seed Company, 613-876-8383.

Over 125 volunteers and a number of guests packed St. James Church Hall in Sharbot Lake on Monday night (April 13) for the 35th annual volunteer appreciation event put on by the staff of Northern Frontenac Community Services.

The suppertime event, which included a Lasagne dinner, cooked by Pat Rhyno and Jan MacPherson, was capped off by the presentation of the Volunteer of the Year Awards.

Karen Burke was honoured for her weekly contributions to the agency's Meals on Wheels Program. She helps run the kitchen where the fresh made meals are prepared before they are whisked across the expanse of North and Central Frontenac by volunteer drivers. One of the longest serving meals on wheels driving couples, Tom and Eileen Christenson, were singled out this year as they have finally decided to retire after delivering meals on wheels for longer than anyone can remember. The couple has been so dedicated that they continued to deliver meals even after moving to Perth a couple of years ago.

A second, surprise Volunteer of the Year award was given to Board of Directors Chair, Linda Chappel. The board had to meet in secret so Chappel would not know the award was coming. It was given to her in recognition of the extra work that she has been saddled with this winter, carrying out a search for a new executive director after the departure of Don Amos for a job in Kingston in late December of 2014.

Not only did she have over 60 resumes to filter through and send out to the other members of the search committee, she has also been the go-to person for the two interim directors of the corporation, Maribeth Scott (Children's Services) and Catherine Tysick (Adult Services) over the past four months.

Upon receiving the award, Linda Chappel said she is “pleased to announce that the search committee has had great success and we will be making an announcement very shortly”.

As Catherine Tysick pointed out, “The work of the volunteers and staff of the agency has carried on in exactly the same way it always has. Hardly anyone knew there was no Executive Director in place for the last four months. That is a tribute to the dedication of all of you who are here tonight and the many others who could not make it.”

After the award presentations, The Sage Age Players, an Almonte-based senior's comedy troupe, performed a 45 minute long set of skits, to an enthusiastic response.

Parham library branch under siege

The future of the Parham branch of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) is very much in doubt.

Central Frontenac Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Jim Zimmerman reported to Council on Tuesday, April 14. that he has been contacted by the Limestone District School Board concerning the Parham Library.

“They said that they do not want anything in the way as they try to find a buyer for the Hinchinbrooke school property, so they have offered to sell us the portable where the Parham Library branch is located as long as we move it off the site."

Councilor Jamie Riddell said, “Can we not throw it back at them? My feeling is, we tell them we will move it as soon as they get an offer on the property.”

“They made it quite clear that they have no intention of entertaining something like that,” said Zimmerman. “They want the portable out of there or abandoned by June 1.”

Zimmerman said that he has had a discussion with the executive director of the KFPL, who said that the library has had plans to close the Hinchinbrooke branch dating back a number of years. The township is planning to build a new fire hall in Parham later this year and would like to include a library branch in the new building. Zimmerman indicated that it would be possible to move the portable from its location next to the closed school to a spot nearby, next to the Parham ball field, which has washroom facilities.

“Could we not close the branch temporarily, store the books, and put them in a new branch when the fire hall is built instead of spending thousands to move it?” asked Councilor Bill MacDonald.

Zimmerman indicated that, given that the library board's commitment to the branch is lukewarm at best, closing the branch temporarily may not be a good idea.

“They also said they have no budget for outfitting a branch this year,” Zimmerman said.

Several years ago a consultant's report for the KFPL called for a radical re-thinking of library service in Central and North Frontenac. It called for a 5,000 square foot branch to be built in Sharbot Lake, and the closing of all three other branches in the township.

The report was received but not endorsed by the library board of the day. However it has never completely gone away. Since that time, Central Frontenac Township, which is responsible for the buildings that house library branches within its borders, has indicated repeatedly that they are not inclined to build a large branch in Sharbot Lake, and are committed to keeping all four branches (Arden, Mountain Grove, Parham, and Shabrot Lake) open. In the interim the Library has renovated the inside of the Arden branch, a commitment to its future, but has not done any work on any of the other branches, leaving the future of both the Parham and Mountain Grove branches in doubt.

The KFPL board has also demonstrated its willingness to close branches if it sees that usage is low - even if the host township is opposed to the closure, which is what happened with the Ompah branch in North Frontenac.

As it happens, both of the Frontenac County Citizen representatives to the KFPL board are from Central Frontenac, John Purdon and Anne Peace-Fast. South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal is the Frontenac County Council representative.

It was suggested that the local representatives on the board be brought up to speed about the situation before the KFPL Board meeting, which takes place on April 22. A representative from Central Frontenac may attend as well.

While Council is concerned about what the library board may do, there was outright anger expressed towards the Limestone District School Board.

“It bothers me that we may have to spend $10,000 to move the portable and set it up for six months while the Hinchinbrooke site sits empty. There is no buyer in sight for that property,” said Councilor Brent Cameron.

“The township went out of its way to help the school board build Granite Ridge Education Centre. We even cut the building fees and our building department did everything for them - and this is what we see from them,” said Councilor Jamie Riddell. “I think we should talk to the school board trustee from our area about this.”

The matter was left to township staff to bring back more information about options for moving the portable and keeping the branch open.

Clean Audit

Vicky Leakey from KPMG made her annual visit to Central Frontenac to present the audited financial statements that she has prepared. She brought relatively good news. Thanks to a $1.56 million provincial grant towards reconstruction of the Fifth Lake Road, which joins Central Frontenac and Stone Mills township near Tamworth, the township took in $11 million in 2014.

Meanwhile, expenditures were down marginally and the amount of money in reserve funds was up. The township has about 19% in tax arrears, which is higher than the provincially recommended 15%, but Leakey said that the percentage had been stable at that rate and “given the income levels among residents that number is not a worrisome one. If there was a sudden spike, say to 22%, then I would be more worried,” she said. Reserves are also healthy, she said, giving an overall positive tone to the presentation, which was shorter than in past years.

“I have one question,” said Councilor Bill MacDonald. “Did you do the audit for Mike Duffy?"

“I have to go now,” said Leakey.

Building permit numbers remain up

After the first quarter of 2015, permits for three new residential units have been purchased, up from 0 in 2014 and two in 2013. The total value of construction for 2015 is now at $1.15 million for the year, up from $262,000 last year and $453,000 in 2013.

$3 million tender

Crains' Construction of Maberly has received the largest road construction tender for Central Frontenac since Road 38 was rebuilt in 2004. At a cost of $3,000,829, which was $42,000 under budget, Crains' was the lowest of four bids on the contract to reconstruct Fifth Lake Road.

Consolidated service delivery

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Jim Zimmerman made a preliminary report on a comprehensive plan that Frontenac County CAO Kelly Pender presented to a meeting of the CAOs from the four Frontenac Townships and himself earlier in the day. The report, which was to be discussed again on Wednesday at a Frontenac County Council meeting in North Frontenac, provided a grading system for consolidating 68 different services offered within the county.

“The system is designed to determine if combining forces to deliver specific services will be beneficial or detrimental,” said Zimmerman.

While many of the items in the report will be looked at over time, Zimmerman thought that the county was in a hurry over the Information Technology and Global Information Systems departments.

“They have pans to hire three people by the end of the year, so we will have to look at that part of the plan pretty soon,” he said.

Prior to their regular board meeting on April 8 at the Limestone District School Board offices in Kingston, school trustees handed out their annual Outstanding Service Awards.

Among the recipients were three local residents who were honored for their dedicated service. The first is Cheryl Allen of Sharbot Lake, who has served on the school councils at the former Sharbot Lake public, intermediate and high schools, and at the new Granite Ridge Education Centre in various roles, including many years as council chair.

Allen began her service on school council in 1994 when her eldest daughter became a student at Sharbot Lake Public School. Since that time she has served on various councils and spearheaded the purchase of a number of requests presented to the council, which have included the school's score clocks, playground equipment, and more. The citation honoring Allen stated that over the years she has continually “set a mood on council supportive of providing a safe and caring environment for all students”.

As a active participant in the PARC (Program and Accommodation Review Committee) she was a tireless supporter of the new Granite Ridge school, recognizing the benefits that a new school could provide for future students in the area.

In the past Allen has successfully nominated several other people for LDSB awards and when I interviewed her by phone earlier this week she said that she was shocked and honored to be on the receiving end this time around.

Asked what made her get and stay involved in her local school councils over the years, she said, “I, as a parent, felt it was important to get involved and to offer my help wherever it was needed.”

Allen, who is currently the school council's vice chair, said that with the upcoming graduation this June of her youngest daughter, she will be taking a break from council and will be looking at other possible ways to continue to offer her services as a volunteer in the community.

Andrea Woogh, a grade 2/3 teacher at Loughborough Public School in Sydenham, was also honored with an award. In her citation Woogh was recognized as a “distinguished leader amongst her peers and someone who promotes each student's uniqueness while ensuring she has the training and skill sets needed to offer her students a nurturing, learning environment.“

Woogh, who has undertaken training in Aboriginal education, dispute resolution, literacy and technology, has introduced students to a number of innovative learning experiences, which have included the Yellowknife pen-pal program, and through a partnership with local high schools, woodworking and computer programming opportunities. She has helped co-create the LPS Green Team in an effort to certify LPS as an “eco-school. As an active athlete herself, Woogh recognizes that students' “growth and development can also occur outside the classroom”. She has coached soccer, track and field, volleyball and basketball at LPS as well as hockey and soccer in her local community.

Sharon Isbell, a long-time teacher at Loughborough Public School, was also honored with an Outstanding Service Award. Isbell was cited by Kim Deline, who wrote that she is “an effective educator, leader and communicator" whose positive teaching style and compassionate interactions with students demonstrate her love of teaching on a daily basis.

In her dedication to being the best teacher she can be, Isbell pursues her own personal professional development and was cited as “inspiring her students and fellow colleagues by offering extra programming through various school clubs while also acting as a liaison for the school's drama and arts programming.”

Isbell is also involved in championing the school's Green Team in their effort to gain eco-school status and is an active member of the school's 100th anniversary committee.

I spoke with Sharon Isbell by phone earlier this week and she said, on behalf of herself and Ms Woogh, that they were extremely honored to have received the award. "We both feel so humbled. There are so many teachers who go above and beyond their daily requirements and we are just grateful and feel privileged to be able to work in this school community with so many committed staff members, parents, students and administrators.”

Helen Peterson, principal at LPS, was thrilled that two of her staff members received awards and said “Sharon Isbell and Andrea Woogh represent the epitome of excellence in teaching. They focus on quality education for all students. They are both examples of the reality that it is just as much about who you are as what you teach. They lead students and other staff by example. Sharon and Andrea are part of the outstanding staff at Loughborough that put the needs of our students, our future, first!"

Heather Highet, principal at Granite Ridge, was equally pleased with Cheryl Allen's award and said she was “thrilled that the LDSB has recognized Cheryl for her unwavering support and decades-long contributions to our school councils."

With the spring and summer seasons fast approaching, those looking for a bit of personal buffing up will be happy to know that Brenda Repaye, owner of a newly opened business, Northern Radiance Aesthetics in Sharbot Lake, is offering a number of treatments and services that will no doubt give her customers confidence as they get ready to shed their winter layers.

Repaye, who is originally from Sydenham, is no stranger to the local community. She has lived and worked in and around the Sharbot Lake area for the past nine years, as an employee services provider at Community Living-North Frontenac and as a personal support worker providing in-home palliative care.

Due to health reasons she made a recent career change and in 2014 enrolled in a medical aesthetician course offered at the Ottawa Beauty Academy located in Kingston. Following her graduation in July 2014 she is now a certified medical aesthetician.

Repaye, who has a naturally upbeat and friendly personality, is thrilled to be in business for herself. Word travels fast and since her unofficial opening on March 9, she has been busy offering her clients a number of basic aesthetic services that include manicures, pedicures, eye lash and eye brow tints, relaxation massage and body and facial waxing. In the near future she also plans to offer a number of more medically involved aesthetic services that will include micro-derm abrasion treatments, permanent hair removal by electrolysis as well as laser light treatments for the removal of body and facial hair, as well as spider veins, sun-damaged skin and age spots, acne and nail fungus.

Her business space, though small, is very private and well ordered. It is a cozy space that makes one feel immediately welcome, relaxed and at home. Clients enter into a main office area, off of which is located a comfortable treatment room where clients can relax while enjoying spectacular views of Sharbot Lake. Repaye also offers private group sessions as well as individual appointments and has already booked a number of wedding party engagements for May. She plans to utilize an additional outdoor deck area for her clients.

Thanks to a loan she recently received from the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation in Harrowsmith, Repaye was able to purchase some of the more expensive equipment she needs to serve her clients, including a hydrolic bed, a facial steamer and a micro-derm treatment machine.

To celebrate the opening of her new business she will be holding an official Grand Opening on Saturday, April 25 from 9am-3pm, which will coincide with the Treasure Trunk's Summer Stock opening day.

On that day she will offer visitors light snacks and refreshments and she said it will be “a great opportunity for future clients to view the new space and to have all their questions about the services I offer answered.” Guests will have a chance to win $170 in free services as well as 12 other door prizes. Northern Radiance Aesthetics is located at 1171 Canon Road in Sharbot Lake, just behind the Treasure Trunk and is currently open by appointment from Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-6pm. For more information call 613-279-2552 or toll free, 1-844-279-2552.

With nine albums to his credit, two of them gold, and having sold half a million records world-wide, famed Greek Canadian guitarist Pavlo will be performing his energetic and passionate style of Mediterranean flavoured music on Sunday, April 26, at The Crossing Pub at the Sharbot Lake Country Inn. Pavlo first introduced his unique brand of music to the world in 1998 and his highly original compositions are renowned for bringing together many of the world's most unique sounding instruments. In 2011 he released his ninth album to date titled “Six String Blvd” and he continues to be inspired by the words of his father, who said, “Have the courage to do what you love, and the drive to do it well.” A long-time and ardent spokesperson for World Vision and Batten Disease, he has through his concerts, supported over 1000 children world-wide to date. Known for giving away his guitars at almost every one of his shows, Pavlo has made numerous appearances on CBC Radio and Television and continues to perform internationally at over 150 shows every year.

On April 26 he brings his unique and original sound to Sharbot Lake. Tickets are $65 per person and include dinner and the show. Doors open at 6 pm. For advanced tickets call 613-279-2198 or reserve your tickets online at www.sharbotlakeinn.com. For more information about the artist and his music visit www.pavlo.com.

Over the Easter weekend over 450 visitors curious about making maple syrup in Central Frontenac visited two farms located on Bell Line Road, where two local families have been producing maple syrup for generations.

The first ever Maple Weekend, designed to promote local syrup makers and their products, was organized by the Lanark and District Maple Syrup Producers Association with support from the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association, the Valley Heartland CFDC, and the Lanark County Tourist Association. If both Conboy farms are any indication of how successful the event was overall, you can bet that the organizers and participating producers must be pleased.

The farm of George and Darlene Conboy and Sons was one local hub of activity where guests were invited to take a horse drawn wagon ride through their sugar bush courtesy of Bill Lee and his team. They were able to collect buckets of sap and add them to a large outdoor boiling pot located near the family's state of the art evaporator house. The four Conboy sons, Jason, Trevor, Devon and Ryan were on hand, offering fresh maple taffy to guests and explaining in detail the entire process of maple syrup production from start to finish while also tending to the wood burning fire in their evaporator house where the sap was being boiled.

The Maple Weekend attracted many local families as well as families and individuals from as far away as Toronto, Ottawa, and Morrisburg. Guests also included visitors from Germany and Florida, some of whom were visiting family and friends for the Easter holiday weekend. Youngsters had a chance to hunt for Easter eggs and also participated in a maple-themed scavenger hunt around the property. Special guest, Mike Procter was dressed appropriately in early settler attire and was offering up tomahawk throwing lessons to visitors as well. They were also invited to sample the various types of syrup and other maple related products including maple butter, maple candy and brittle. Visitors came away with a much better understanding of how maple syrup is produced in the 21st century and for Darlene and her family the event was “not only worthwhile as a family reunion but also a chance to reconnect with many of our customers, who also have become part of the family over the years”.

Just down the road, Mel and Joyce Conboy, with the help of their son Clayton and daughter Lindsay, were offering up similar tours and sample tastes at their generations-old farm. Their guests included local families as well as guests from as far away as Seattle, Ajax and Ottawa. Joyce said that the Maple Weekend did exactly what it was designed to do: “educate people about what we do and how we do it and everyone who attended seemed to thoroughly enjoy the experience.”

Luckily for both Conboy families, the sunny bright weather probably helped with the stellar turn out. Joyce said that leading up to the event they had no idea what to expect and that she was both surprised and thrilled at how successful it was. Both families said that they would be happy to open up their farms again next year, so the first inaugural Maple Weekend of 2015 will likely not be the last.

For those who missed the event, please note that both farms are open all year round for those looking to purchase syrup and other maple related products.

by Pat Fisher

The excitement is building. Rehearsals are underway. North Frontenac Little Theatre is at it again and this time in a very big way: big cast, many costumes, great sets, and much music. They are getting ready to perform "The Music Man" on May 1st and 2nd and May 8th and 9th at 7 o'clock and on May 10th for a final matinee at 2 at the Granite Ridge Education Centre. The cast is made up of 43 people. Seven of them are under 12 years of age, seven are teenagers, and they are our friends, relatives, and neighbours. If you meet the members of the cast and ask them about the play they will smile and say how much fun it is. They especially like the dance warm-up that starts off each night's practice. That's when you hear Tim White calling out above the music, keeping the beat. The stage is crowded with people moving. Barbara Agnew is playing the piano. Christina Wotherspoon directs the music. John Pariselli looks on with his director's eye. While that is going on, Peggy Muldoon is at the back of the gym with boxes and more boxes of costumes that have been used in previous productions. She is masterfully assembling outfits for all 43 people, many needing changes for different scenes. She relies on accessories and about 5% newly created costumes. Parents of young members of the cast are there, some with their tiny children. The youngest is 11 months old but there is a 21 month old, enthralled by the action. In the music room down the hall, assistant director, Carol Belanger is working on a specific part of the play with two cast members. The whole place is alive. I asked a question to many people: what is one word to describe this production and your experience? The answers: brilliant, amazing, impressed, lovely, chaotic, beautiful. Tim summed it up. He said all the people gathered and worked together and something great happened and is continuing to happen. He is thrilled. "It just wants to burst my heart".

Save the date that suits your schedule, invite your family and friends. You will be glad that you did.