SOUTH FRONTENAC

One hundred and fifty years later the question remains. The hamlet of Bellrock is currently home to 63 people, according to Virginia Lavin, one of the key organizers of the 150th Bellrock anniversary celebrations, which are slated for Saturday,...

Photo: Ryan Harriman. Ryan Harriman has been building, repairing and selling firearms for over 10 years as part of South Frontenac Rentals, the business he runs with his wife Marcie on Colebrooke Road, 1.6 kilometres west of Harrowsmith. The...

Photo: John McDougall, Paul Pospisil, David Hahn, Miguel Hahn, Dianne Dowling. The Verona Lions’ 5th Annual Garlic Festival was a smorgasbord of everything garlic as area growers specializing in the beloved bulb offered shoppers a wide range of...

While there have been incidences of extreme weather in many parts of Canada this summer, Eastern Ontario has been one region that has enjoyed warm, dry weather, with just enough rain to keep crops coming along nicely without too much watering. As...

Photo courtesy of Pat Patricia Ward Patricia Ward loves nothing more than cooking, and she aims to share her lifelong love with like-minded individuals in the community. Having recently retired from a long career in the high-tech world, Pat has just...

submitted by FCFDC If you are an association, group of engaged citizens, or a municipality interested in improving the vibrancy of your community, the Frontenac CFDC would like to hear from you.  We will initially be selecting one community to work...

Photo:  Rena Upitis of Wintergreen Studios with poet Lorna Crozier Canadian poet Lorna Crozier was recently elected as an Officer of the Order of Canada, and last weekend, August 19-21, she led a three-day writing workshop titled “A Passion for...

Last Friday morning, a very tall crane removed the bell tower and bell from the former Grace United Church in Sydenham, as part of the building’s transition into the Grace Centre, new home of Southern Frontenac Community Services. First, the roof...

The Crystal Ball Black Tie Gala fundraiser for the Limestone Learning Foundation hasn't taken place yet, but it has already taken off beyond the wildest dreams of its organizers. “We were originally planning to sell 250 tickets, and then we went...

Photo: Roger Savage and Denis Warnett of St. Jerome, QC in Verona, two of 2000 cyclists in Verona Price Charles Public School in Verona was transformed into a cyclists’ rest stop as over 2000 bikers filled the school grounds during their...

Photo:Dave Perry, Rodrick, Dakota, Hope, Regina and Merren Where's the beef? Verona, that's where. Owners and operators of Verona's Local Family Farms, Dave and Kim Perry, once again hosted the fifth annual event at their Verona store and served up...

Photo: “Buzztown” skit a favorite with festival goers This year’s Verona Cattail Festival created a new buzz with the addition of the original musical skit “Buzztown” to its on-stage stellar line up. Written by David Archibald specifically...

Motocross Madness: By Jeff Green Both sides still disagree, but no decision on motocross track near Harrowsmith. It was standing room only at a public meeting at the South Frontenac Council chambers on Tuesday night, August 2, as opponents and...

Photo: Rev. Lynda Price Reverend Lynda Price, who headed up the Harrowsmith/Verona Pastoral Charge as the minister of St. Paul's United Church in Harrowsmith and Trinity United Church in Verona, recently retired at the beginning of July, after an...

The Bedford Mining Alert (BMA) is a group of concerned citizens in Bedford District, South Frontenac Township, who have been working for over 12 years to bring about changes to the Ontario Mining Act. The goal of BMA is to allow property owners and...

Photo: Joan Shepherd, Dan Bell present Brother Brian Powley with the special FOTMC award It was with regret that co-founder and organizer of the Frontenac Old Time Music Championships, Joan Shepherd, announced that this year’s championships,...

The Harrowsmith Odd Fellow and Rebekah Lodges provided dinner for delegates on the United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth Tour on July 1 and July 8. For over 65 years the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs have been sponsoring students for this tour. The 14-day...

An infusion of cash for a province-wide initiative to combat homelessness will allow Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCS) to solidify some programming, provide counseling and make it easier for families facing poverty and housing challenges...

Photo: Mayor Davison and Gladys Lewis, first person to enter the new Sydenham branch library. Although the official opening isn't until September, a large group was on hand Monday morning eager to get their first peek inside the new library...

Photo: Seven-year-old Gabriel Hull proudly displays his fourth fish of the day at the second annual Family Fishing Day in Verona on July 9. Nearly 50 kids, plus parents pre-registered for the event and enjoyed a free barbecue lunch and prizes. The...

Photo: Richard Cadman and Scott Takala It was another successful year as close to 500 participants converged on the point in Sydenham to take part in the Sydenham Tri/Du and Run. Once again, the weather cooperated and organizers made just one major...

New Sydenham Branch Library Opens Monday Sydenham’s library has closed, and for the rest of the week library staff will be moving material to the new building. The ‘soft’ opening of the new library will be Monday July 11, at 10:00 am, when...

Photo: Ontario Volunteer Service Award recipients L-r, Dick Miller, Darlene LaBarre, John and Lois Kirkham and Dave Linton Five dedicated volunteers at Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation were recognized for the outstanding work they...

One-year Site Plan Proposal for Day Farm Harrowsmith resident Bill Day came as a delegate in relation to his application for a zoning by-law amendment which would allow recreational dirt bike motocross racing on his property east of the village. Day...

Photo: Sandra Weston On Saturday, Loughborough Housing Corporation held a farewell event for Sandra Weston, who had been housing manager for 28 years. Sandra was hired by the housing corporation before its first building, Meadowbrook, was opened,...

Photo L-r: 1st row - Padraig Brady, Carson Snider, Jack Hammer, Jacob Watson, Jacob Snider, Ray Whitehead, Brennan Brady, Owen Deyo; 2nd row - Vince Pople, Nick Cordeiro, Seth Silver, Simon Cook, Justin Jones; 3rd row - Nicholas Baker, Sheldon Tryon...

Sydenham traffic woes “My attention soon shifted from our wounded pet to concern for the safety of the vet, his assistant and my husband. The passing cars were so close they splashed us with our dog’s blood, and none of the traffic even slowed...

Frontenac County Lions clubs have been working together to raise money for the “No Child Without Program”, a program that allows each child who requires a Medic Alert bracelet or pendant to receive one free of charge as soon as they enter...

Photo:Caroline, Brodey and Sarah Nicki Gowdy, parent council chair at Prince Charles Public School in Verona, would not let the last-minute cancellation of a dunk tank dampen the festive spirit at this year’s Panther Palooza. So an eleventh hour...

South Frontenac Council recently received a letter from a ratepayer who was surprised to see a building going up in a location where they understood building could not take place. The location of the property is at the corner of Yarker and McConnell...

Hens on the Horizon? Last week, Rachel Melnik-Proud asked Council to reconsider their rejection of hens on lots under three acres in size. Accordingly, township planner Lindsay Mills reported that Council could consider an alternative, such as the...

Photo: Jane Timbrell & Lanny Newell  Seven-year Sydenham resident, Jane Timbrell, who is one of the committee members for the Canada Day celebrations at the Point in Sydenham, has come up with a new idea for a competition for this year’s...

Photo: Day of Caring team (in green) at the SFCSC's new Grace Centre with the SFCSC's executive director David Townsend and fundraising chair Jennifer Linton On June 10, a team of 10 green T-shirted employees from Bombardier Systems of Kingston...

Photo: Jillian Bandy, Katie Luffman and Molly Clow performed the song “Mean” by Taylor Swift at PCPS annual Talent Show The top five winners at Prince Charles Public School’s 2011 talent show, which took place on June 14, will be gracing the...

Photo: Cassandra Cecchini, before and after. Cassandra Cecchini of St. Patrick’s School in Harrowsmith is a very confident and well-spoken little girl who is not afraid to take on a challenge and see it through from start to finish. Back in...

The Sydenham High School (SHS) track team had a good overall showing at last week's Eastern Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association (EOSSA) track meet on May 19 and 20, and were particularly strong in the 400, 800, and 1500 metre events. Among...

Long-time Verona resident Kit Chubb is well known in the community as the founder of the Avian Ark, more formally known as the Avian Care and Research Foundation. The Ark was a charitable foundation and hospital for wild birds that she and her late...

Photo: Linda and Don Bates and her Haiti team Kevin Ryan, Lise Woods and Debbie Lovegrove Verona resident Linda Bates, who has made a number of trips to Haiti as the chair of International Scout Guide Fellowship, will be heading down to Haiti in...

Photo: Lee Casement from his new CD, In the Guestroom. Courtesy of Lee Casement Music lovers familiar with the local music scene need no introduction to Verona musician Lee Casement. Best known as the bass and keyboard player for the alternative...

The Lights Go Up! As a last item of business Tuesday night, and following a presentation by Mike Howe and Paul Wash concerning the Township’s recreational plan, Councillor McDougall rescinded his motion to delay installation of the lights on the...

Photo: L to R: Jack Fox and Kevin McNeil of the Sydenham Lake Association present a $1,000 cheque to Mike Howe, SF Recreation Committee, to be used for fireworks and activities on Canada Day in Sydenham. If you live on Sydenham Lake, one of your...

Photo: Sydenham Mom Lisa Nelder with Avery, Grace, Ava, Clara and Connor and fire fighters Kurtis Barber, Jerome Slater, Rob Driscoll and Chris Holton For the volunteer firefighters at Station 9 in Sydenham, Mother's Day presents the perfect...

Photo: Hugh Fisher owner and operator of the new Jitterbugs in VeronaFor some the thought of relocating a business to an 100 plus-year-old building in need of renovation might seem a nightmare. For Jitterbugs owner Hugh Fisher of Verona, a cabinet...

Photo: Paul and Carolyn Fodden and Terry Morey at the SFNEC's annual tree sale in Verona Members of the South Frontenac Natural Environment Committee (SFNEC) were selling trees hand-over-fist at their annual tree sale, which they held at four...

Photo: Loretta and Randall Wieting of Kingston Nurseries in Harrowsmith Though its official opening is not until Friday May 20, Kingston Nurseries, the new garden and landscape design centre located just south of Harrowsmith, has unofficially been...

Sydenham’s Natasha Ostopovich was a key figure in the glory days of the Sydenahm Canoe Club and she has gone on to make name for her self in the United States. She was one of two Washington State University seniors honoured with the 2011 Big Ten...

Backyard chickens rejected in South Frontenac Lindsay Mills, Planning Coordinator, presented a list of issues that could be considered should council wish to develop a by-law permitting rural residents living on two-acre lots to raise a small number...

Opened in 1992, Almost Home is a home located in Kingston that provides comfort and respite to the families of sick children who are receiving various types of medical treatment in Kingston area hospitals. While doctors and nurses and other medical...

South Frontenac squeaks budget through Surprisingly, four members of South Frontenac Council voted against passage of the 2011 budget, but the over $21 million levy to ratepayers for township, county and education taxes was nevertheless approved in...

Photo: Wonder Women work out in Sydenham with Marilyn Picard (front row,far right) Who says seniors can’t be Wonder Women? Not a single one of a group of close to 30 women between the ages of 59 and 67, who have been hitting the AMHO U Sports and...