With her drum-making, songs, language projects and various other pursuits, Danka Brewer has been on a quest of sorts to preserve and pass on as much First Nations culture and lore as she can.

One thing she’s been trying to learn has been the traditional practice of quilling — taking porcupine quills and adding them to birch bark and/or other materials to form designs such as flowers, animals, birds, etc.

She hadn’t been having much success in finding someone with the traditional knowledge to teach her because there simply aren’t that many people around who know how it’s done.

“It’s a dying art,” Brewer says. “At one time, porcupines were a part of the Anishinabe diet and true to their culture, every part of the animal was treated as an available resource and was used for something.

“But it’s not much of a food source any more.”

As well, there’s a lot of preparation time involved in the art — harvesting, dyeing and such — and the actual crafting part is quite intricate and time-consuming. So, not a lot of people have the time or inclination to pursue it.

However, there is a lady, one Kim Muskrat of the Hiawatha First Nation near Rice Lake, who had been taught by an elder in Curve Lake. Muskrat has considerable history with the art as her great grandmother Pauly Soper and her sister, Margaret Anderson, were skilled in quilling. In fact, such was their skill that in 1860, a basket and briefcase made by them was presented to Prince Edward, who later became King Edward VII, and to this day the pieces are part of the Royal Collection.

Muskrat holds occasional workshops but Brewer’s schedule had never meshed with Muskrat’s until last weekend.

So, Brewer along with compatriot Tanya Strickland headed off to make the 166 kilometre (each way) trip to the Hiawatha Band Office for lessons.

They came home enamoured with their new skills and traditions.

“This will make my rotation,” said Strickland. “It’s the first craft in 10 years with Mother (Brewer) I’ve been able to do.

“I enjoyed it with ease.”

On this day, Brewer and Strickland made birch bark medicine boxes, punching small holes into the bark and inserting the quills to form images. There’s no gluing or anything like that involved, the quills make their own attachments and are folded over on the inside with tweezers. A second layer of birch bark is added on the inside to hide the quills.

It’s painstaking work, but something Brewer has always wanted to do.

“It’s the traditional knowledge,” Brewer said. “I already know how to make birch bark baskets and this (decorating them with quill work) is the next evolution.

“I can now pass this knowledge down.”

Brewer teaches a lot of classes, both in connection with school boards and other organizations and she plans on incorporating quill work in these.

But she also does traditional crafts just for the sheer love of it.

Although quill art can fetch prices of $50-500 depending on the piece (jewelry, wall hangings, feather boxes, etc), the amount of quills and the time it took to put together (antique pieces have been valued at $1,500)

But that’s not why Brewer does it.

“You never get back the time spent harvesting, dyeing and work,” she said. “I do crafts because I enjoy it and to pass it on to next generations.

“To keep the knowledge and traditions alive so we don’t lose them.”

It has certainly been a long haul for Andrew Kovacs, but the results are pretty spectacular.

When he purchased the former Shabot Lake Senior’s Home in November of 2014 it was a building in need of some major improvements. It had served the community well for over 20 years, but needed modernisation and a new business model.

Andrew Kovacs had hoped to have it opened within 6 or 8 months but that did not happen.

A little over 2 years later, with the building basically completed except for the elevator which was being worked on while we were talking in the main lounge overlooking Sharbot Lake, he talked about some of the delays that took place.

“Things took longer to do than I expected and there was more to do once we got into it as well,” he said.

But there were other personal reasons for the delays. After working on the building for a couple of months, during which time he gutted it, Kovacs realised he needed to divest of some other properties he owned. While he was fixing those properties for re-sale, his father took ill and died.

It set him back at least eight months. For the past 14 months, all new electrical, insulation, a new kitchen, upgraded sprinkler systems, new lighting, new windows, two sets of automatic doors, new flooring, complete renovations of rooms, installation of senior friendly showers, and on the list goes of changes that have been made to make the building sparkle.

“What we have now is a clean, inviting space where people can live a hassle free life,” he said.

The monthly fees start at $3,250 for a village facing single room, and $3,500 for a water facing room, and going up to $4,500 for a suite that can accommodate two people.

“Our concept is to include everything in one fee, there are no add-ons except for a phone line, which can’t be included because of CRTC rules,” he said. “we do include all meals and snacks, cable, internet, laundry, a 24 hour Personal Support Worker on site, cleaning, parking for residents with a car. Other residences have hidden fees, ours are all in.”

“When people consider the cost of insurance, maintenance, snow removal, taxes, yard maintenance, food, etc. they will find they may be paying just as much as they would here while spending their time and energy on a home,” he added.

The residence also has access to Sharbot Lake, for fishing, boating, or enjoying from the shore line.

“We want to make this a community, and a part of that is the lounge overlooking the water,” he said.

Pretty soon after buying the building Andrew decided to move the dining area near to the kitchen and turn the dining room into a comfortable lounge, a shared space for all the tenants.

“If residents want to hold Euchres, do crafts, whatever they decide we will help make that happen,” he said. “I think this is a beautiful area, a great place to live.”

The residence is open for viewing now, and the website slrr.ca is up and running.

“It takes people time to deal with making this kind of change, I know that, which is why they can delay moving in for 60-90 days or longer once they pay a deposit on a room,” he said, adding that he is offering the first month free as well for new tenants.”

The home is licensed for 20 occupants but Kovacs is capping it at 18. He can be reached at 613-279-7799 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Super Dave is doing it again! Long-time volunteer Dave Linton raised over $2,700 last year to support healthy school snacks provided by the Southern Frontenac Food Bank in Sydenham. And he’s asking you to help him do the same or better this year.

Dave will be skiing in the 51 km Gatineau Loppet cross country ski marathon on February 18, and is seeking donations in support of his efforts. “Super Dave,” as called by his close friends, feels strongly that feeding children healthy snacks helps them learn and perform better. The Food bank based in Sydenham serves about 50 families each month with fresh and non-perishable food, and during the school year, this includes items for children to ensure they get to school with a healthy snack.

The school snack program provides healthy and fun snacks to children in families with limited incomes to ensure kids receive the fuel they need for their bodies and brains to succeed. For five years, the food bank has been providing children with non-perishable snacks, such as pudding and apple sauce. In 2015, thanks to the one time grant, these snacks were enhanced with perishable items like yogurt, cheese, grape tomatoes, baby carrots, and celery, making them even healthier. The cost of purchased items is about $4.00 per snack, with an annual cost of over $2,400.

A 51 km international level ski race sounds daunting enough, but it can be especially challenging if you are 76 years old. “I’m an advocate of daily exercise and physical activity,” says Dave, “I’ve been able to compete at this level for a long time and still hold my own. I’m excited to race again this year, and dedicate it to this cause.”

Dave – a long-time volunteer with SFCSC – has a goal of raising $2,500 once again to support and enhance the kids’ healthy school snack program. “I want to dedicate it to helping kids in our community achieve greatness, and often that starts most simply, with active living and nutritious food.”

Dave is challenging his friends, family, local businesses and the community in general to support his fundraising efforts by pledging to donate an amount per kilometre, or make a flat rate donation.

Donations can be made to support Dave by dropping by the SFCSC office or Food Bank – now located at 4295 Stage Coach Road – or donate online at http://www.sfcsc.ca/super-dave-ski-fundraiser

It was standing room only at the Clar-Mill Hall in Plevna last Saturday as more than 30 pickers got together to honour Jack and Lois Weber on the occasion of Jack’s Jam’s 10th anniversary.

There were 90 people in total at that first jam (which went from 1 p.m. to “five to ll”) and there had to be a lot more than that for the 10th anniversary.

“Jack’s Jam is one of the key community events both for entertainment and socializing,” said North Frontenac Mayor Ron Higgins while presenting plaques commemorating the event to Jack and Lois. “It’s popular for musicians, visitors and residents alike.

“It’s key to ensuring community spirit (and) lives on by sustaining historical traditions.”

Jack’s Jam started out in the Webers’ basement but soon outgrew its modest beginnings. After a few years, health issues required the Webers to scale down their organizational duties which were handed over to Karen and Roger Hermer.
“We started this just for enjoyment,” said Lois. “We still haven’t got many young children (although their 12-year-old cousin Hayden Weber was in the band and there was a 101-year-old young lady in the audience).

“Hopefully, Roger and Karen can fulfill my dream.”

“Age is catching up with me but I’m still not over the hill,” said Jack.

Jack grew up in the area and actually got his first guitar at age “16 or 17” but didn’t get much playing in.

“I learned a few chords but there was nobody in the country that you could get lessons from,” he said. “I didn’t sing much then either.

It wasn’t until he was in the army and stationed with NORAD that a buddy, Richard Frasier started showing him a few things.

And then, in Madison, WI, he went to a George Jones/Johnny Cash/June Carter/Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs concert.

“It was listening to Earl Scruggs that made me buy my first banjo (a Gibson RB250 Mastertop in Cleveland, OH),” he said. “And I bought Lois a guitar to keep her happy.”

After coming back to the area, Jack took a course and made 11 guitars. In 1997, he bought himself a Dobro (“I’m still working on that.”).

He admits to being a little nervous getting up on stage but a love of country and bluegrass music has kept him at it.

“I’ve had to work at it,” he said. “We were on the camping circuit for 15 years.”

He also admitted to being “a little overwhelmed” by the outpouring of affection on Saturday but “I feel very good about it.

“It’s all been for music, not for money, just the love of music and a lot of nice people.

“I really, really love all these people.”

He does have one small regret however.

“When I was young, I would have given anything to get lessons,” he said.

For her part, organizer Hermer was “thrilled” with the way things went. “We always have good crowds but never like this.

“I was hoping but you’re never sure . . .”

Was anybody else stupid enough to be out driving around Tuesday night?

I don’t usually write in the first person but for this brief report, I don’t have much else.

Tuesday night was committee of the whole for South Frontenac Council. It was a productive meeting, a little long-winded for my taste, but knowing what the drive down through the mixed bag of stuff that falls from the sky was like, I left a little early. Not early enough it turns out.

First, the drive to Tichborne was bad enough, almost an hour of essentially white-knuckles. And then, you guessed it, there was a train stopped in the crossing with all the bells and whistles going and a line-up of cars on each side.
Now a nice young fella from CP came by and explained that he didn’t know much because he was there to shovel snow, not fix trains but there was a break problem 35 cars down from the engine and at least another 60 cars to get through the crossing.

“They tell me it’s going to be about 20 minutes,” he said.

“Fine, why not,” I thought.

Well, when the 20 minutes was gone along with the young fella from CP, some of us in the north bound land got to talking and sure enough, another train came into the crossing and stopped.

A discussion ensued about the chances the road guys had got to Long Lake Road with the consensus being that they probably hadn’t.

But, there was another young fella with his crew in a big, black pick-up who was headed to Arden.

I asked “is that thing 4-wheel?” and he replied “of course.”

I said, “well, I’m game if you are.”

He said “see that dent on the front there, I did that on Long Lake Road a while back.”

Of course, we decided to try it anyway.

So, away we went, the big black pick-up followed by the little green station wagon, heading off into the surreal night, me expecting to run into a zombie herd at any moment.

Long Lake Road wasn’t in the best of shape but it had been plowed some time earlier.

We took it really slow, with the pickup slowing down at regular intervals to make sure the station wagon was still following.

But it sure felt good to see those tail lights up ahead on point.

Thanks a million Avery Wilson, much appreciated from an old man.

Bottom line, two and one-half hours from Sydenham to Sharbot Lake, via Mountain Grove.

Ryan Arcand has his work cut out for him as the new Chief Building Official for South Frontenac Township.

Working for a municipality that covers more than 941 sq. kms and staged to grow, the new manager seems undaunted by a busy building season lurking around the corner.

"My main goal is to work with people," the 42-year-old said from a coffee shop in early 2017. "The Ontario Building Code is complex and a lot of people don't understand it. It's our job to work with people to help them understand it."

Wrapped in a warm sweater to ward-off cold air seeping through cracks in the windowsill, Arcand talked openly about his family and life.

Describing himself as laidback, easy going, open-minded and fair, he admitted he would like to move to the township someday. For now, he plans to stay in Amherstview where he and his partner are raising six children.

"My children are too young and are really involved in their schools," he explained about the children aged 17 to 6.

A trained Architectural Technologist from Sudbury, Arcand has been in the building business since 1997.

Before starting his new role with the township on Dec. 5, he worked for the City of Kingston for 11 years.

"I was looking for a challenge and career advancement," he noted about the career move. "This new role will allow me to expand my skill set."

Taking over from Brian Gass, the township's former Chief Building Official, Arcand will serve a population of 18,100 in areas such as Sydenham, Verona, Harrowsmith, Hartington, Bellrock, Perth Road Village, Battersea, Inverary and Sunbury as well as the rural countryside.

In addition to its large geographical area, the township has more than 75 lakes.
"It can take 40/45 minutes just to get to an inspection," Arcand says about the job requirements.

Asked about future development in the township, Arcand replied quickly, "I see a lot of development in South Frontenac. There's a lot of potential for development here."

According to Arcand, his plan is to provide a welcoming place for business to come-in and get good customer service. He plans to accomplish this through an open-door policy and a strong customer-focus.

Citing 71 new home starts in 2016, the Chief Building Official admitted he will have a better sense of development in South Frontenac this year after the permit season which is typically March to October.

"I welcome any contractor, builder or citizen," said Arcand. "If they have questions, please call our development department. We're here to help."

NFLT said goodbye to one of their own with a lifetime recognition award last Saturday evening at a special ceremony at “The Crossing Pub” in Sharbot Lake. Veteran actor and director Doug MacIntyre has sold his house in Verona and will be moving to Vancouver Island for new adventures in life and theatre.

Upon moving to Central Frontenac in 2004, MacIntyre, originally from the Toronto area, brought with him extensive theatrical experience in countless productions with companies that include the Yorkminstrels and Etobicoke Musical Productions. He also appeared in film and television, acting in commercials, documentaries and even a Bryan Adams rock video!

Doug first appeared on the NFLT stage as Ebenezer Scrooge in the 2005 production of “A Christmas Carol”. The following year he jumped into the challenging role of the frustrated director in the zany comedy, “Noises Off”.

He went on to direct three successful shows in Sharbot Lake, including the highly acclaimed “Beyond Reasonable Doubt” where he incorporated a theatre-in-the-round stage effect for the first time in NFLT history.

In 2012, MacIntyre turned his attention to the newly refurbished Bellrock Schoolhouse, just outside of Verona, where he mounted three highly successful dinner theatre shows, including the classic “Miracle on 34th Street”. In 2014 he staged a hilarious comedic version of the fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel” at Prince Charles Public School in Verona.

Passionate about theatre and forever promoting the Arts, Doug has been a tireless advocate of community theatre. In a recent letter promoting NFLT (for which he had been serving as a member-at-large), he stated, “Needles need to sew, hammers need to pound, brushes need to hold paint - voices need to speak and sing. Call now or at least go out for an audition when you see it advertised in the newspaper. See you soon!”

Martin Webster is having trouble focusing these days. He has lived at the Cooke family cottage on Sharbot Lake, off Gordon Crescent, since 1997, next to the house where his mother Deanna lives with his step-father Ronnie Cooke. Now he is fortunate to be able to take refuge with them, but his home of nearly 20 years has been reduced to ashes.

He had been doing work on the inside of the building, and was almost done save for dry-walling his bedroom, when a short circuit in an extension cord sent out a spark that caught the house on fire on January 5th. He shared an account of what happened that day with the News.

“I was in the house at the time, doing some gaming on a PS3 player, when my pet red squirrel started chirping frantically. I opened the bedroom door to see that the plastic vapour barrier I had put up in preparation for new drywall had caught fire and smoke was pouring out. The flames had already climbed the walls and were spreading on the ceiling. I ran to get a hose to try and put the flames out but when I got back I realised it was too late. I grabbed one of my guitars on the way out of the house. The fire department arrived but there was no saving the house. Fortunately they managed to prevent the fire from spreading to my mother’s house,” he said.

The house is a total loss. It left Martin devoid of his home and all his possessions save for the guitar and some papers.

“I pretty well lost everything else,” he said this week, “it’s  a hard thing to get my head around. I’m sitting in my mother’s living room and I say ‘I guess I’ll go home now, and then I realise my home is gone.”

He has had help from The Treasure Trunk and the Sharbot Lake Pharmasave. The extended Cooke family has deep roots in Sharbot Lake, and has provided support for Martin, but he is still struggling to cope with the loss.

The property where the cottage was located is the site of the original Cooke family home, and where 9 children were raised by Samuel and Mildred Cooke. It sat on a hill overlooking the K&P Trail and Sharbot Lake.

Martin Webster can be reached at 613-279-3261.

(Editors note – The fire took place on January 5th, but we missed out on coverage last week. We apologize for the omission)

One of the more popular events in the annual Frontenac Heritage Festival (Feb. 17 – 20 this year, the Festival’s 11th year) has been the Polar Plunge. You know, it’s the event where brave souls jump into Sharbot Lake down at the marina to raise funds for local organizations and charities.

Individuals have their own motivations for participating in what some call lunacy, be it altruism, a lost bet, or even a candidate for a federal government seat.

This year, Ray Fletcher will be completing his 73rd trip around the sun (“I’m turning 74 for the arithmetically challenged”) and contemplated taking the plunge himself.

Originally, his musings were more of a quixotic notion, with the caveat that pledges (which would go to Connections: Adult Learning and Community Living) would have to reach $3,000 before he’d get wet. But, the best laid plans and all that . . .

Fletcher was recently named President of the Board of Directors of Connections: Adult Learning in Sharbot Lake and now feels somewhat more obligated to immerse himself in frigid water.

“As president, fundraising is something I’m somewhat responsible for,” he said.

Fletcher maintains that the $3,000 goal is still in effect, but he’s sounding more and more like it’s a go.

“I plan to wear my 150th Anniversary shirt,” he said. “But it’s just going to be an in-and-out job.

“I’ll be coming out of that water like a Polaris missile launched from a submarine (and) I poor pity anybody’s grandmother who gets in the way of me and the heater.”

He’s even made up a little poem for inspiration:

“Here I stand, about to leap
“I know I’d rather be asleep
“If I should die in this frigid lake
“I’ll see you at my friggin’ wake.”

Actually, he’s not all that worried. When he ran into a doctor friend who suggested that the shock of jumping into a frozen lake might not be the best thing for his heart, Fletcher replied: “heart attack? My heart is the only part of me that’s untainted.”

The Polar Plunge (then called the Polar Bear Plunge) first became part of the Festival in 2011. It’s been canceled and rescheduled because of brutal cold but to date, there have been no incidents.

The Central Frontenac Fire Department is in the water to assist plungers and there is medical help available on site.

The Plunge is set for Feb. 19 this year at the Sharbot Lake Marina on Cannon Road, weather permitting.

After a whopping 68 years with the Oso/Central Frontenac Fire Department, Keith Hawley has hung up the bunker gear.

“I didn’t like him going out at night any more,” said Irene, his wife of 37 years.

Hawley, 87, is the last surviving member of the original department, formed officially in 1950.

“There were 13 or 14 of us,” he said. “In ’49, there was a fire at Keirstead’s store and that sort of brought the need for a fire department to a head.

“We had a meeting after that, and then another meeting in 1950 when we formed the department.”

That first department was high on enthusiasm but low on equipment, he said.

“Jack Simonett had a ’48 army truck that we used to haul around a two-wheel pump in the back of it,” Hawley said. “George Allen, who sold the store to the Keirsteads, had been a fire chief in Toronto but didn’t want to be one any more so Joe Harris became the first chief.

“George, however, did train the rest of us and told us what to do.”

Harris drove transport in those days and so shortly after, Verdon Morrow took over as chief. Understandably, Hawley can’t really remember how many chiefs he’s served under but a couple of names came to mind.

“Percy Lake and Bill Warren were both chiefs for quite awhile he said. “And Joel Snell.”

In 1959, Hawley and four other firefighters decided they really needed a pumper.

“We didn’t have the money, so the five of us went to the Royal Bank in Perth to borrow $1,000 each,” he said. “The Royal Bank didn’t want to give us the money so we went to another bank.

“The fellow at the other bank got on the phone to the Royal and after lunch, we had our loans.

“The Township told us if we could get the pumper, they’d build us a fire hall, which they did, but they didn’t give us any money for the pumper.”

Hawley has served as secretary for the fire department for many years, including right up until his retirement.

He seems uncomfortable with accolades and titles, despite having been a captain (“it’s just a name really”) and having been honoured by the Fire Marshall’s office with medals for 25, 50 and 60 years service (just shrugs).

“There was a need, so we filled it,” he said. “Bob England and I were on the resuscitator for many years.”
He remembers many events, such as going as far as Ompah to fight fires in the early days, and said the biggest fire was probably when the Sharbot Lake Hotel burned down in the late ’70s. Despite the inherent danger in the job, he said he was never scared.

“There were times I was a little worried,” he said.

The biggest difference he noticed over the years was the compensation a ‘volunteer’ firefighter gets.

“At first, we didn’t get paid at all,” he said. “Then Natural Resources gave us $2 an hour for fighting forest fires.

“A little bit later, the Township gave us $5 per fire.

“Now, they get paid for going to meetings.”

Hawley, an electrician by trade, said he “got along with everybody” and “never used the siren.”

“Keith was a leader,” Irene said. “He wouldn’t wait for someone else to do it.’

“I enjoyed it,” he said.

Keith and Irene are now turning their attention to writing a book on the history of the Oso Fire Department.