On Sept. 8, local quilter Judy Skeggs opened up her century-old sawmill in Verona to the art buying and viewing public in what was her first official art show. Judy has been producing high quality quilts for over 30 years. She has been sewing all her life and got into quilting in her 30s. She said that it is the creativity and sewing aspects of quilting that kept her coming back to it. “I just love sitting at my machine and getting lost in my own little world. That and the fact that quilting is something that you can pick up and put down whenever you are doing other things around the house.”

Judy had on display at the Art in the Sawmill show eight of her large quilts along with a few examples of her quilted jackets and pillows and her custom machine embroidery. One of her personal favorites is her large “Latte” quilt, which she made using silk and satin materials in mocha/coffee-colored tones. The frames are meticulously decorated with her very artful machine embroidery. “The only thing about the Latte quilt - which is one that I really love - is that I can't use it because I have two cats,” she said.

Because “Latte” is her favorite quilt, she was not advertising it for sale though she did say that if someone offered her the right price, she might consider parting with it. She also had on display her “Professional Cats” quilt, which depicts individual squares of cats dressed in the outfits of different professions. There is a cat doctor, a cat artist, etc. and it is a quilt that she created for one of her quilting classes, which she taught locally for nine years.

Along with her more modern designs are quilts of a more traditional nature. One such quilt is her “Drunkard's Path” quilt, which is from a design made in the 1930s. She saw it in a magazine, and “fell in love with it and just had to make it”. The name comes from the optical pattern created by large balloon-like flowers floating on top of a linear background pattern, which gives it that feeling of a drunkard's unfocused bliss. Her “Basket” quilt is another traditional style quilt, which Judy sewed by hand and which took her over a year to make.

Prior to quilting full time, Judy ran the X-ray department at St. Mary's of the Lake Hospital in Kingston (now Providence Care) for 31 years. She recalled how she used to hang her quilts at the hospital, which was something that the patients really loved. She retired from St. Mary's in 2002 and started quilting full time then.

While she is well known and respected locally as a quilter, Judy said that she has never formally sold or shown her quilts in art shows, or entered them in contests. “I make them for me. It makes me happy and I prefer not to have them judged.”

Art in the Sawmill, which included the work of five other local artists, was Judy's first official showing of her work and judging by the positive feedback and the constant flow of traffic at the show it looks as though it will definitely not be the last time that quilt lovers will have a chance to see the wonderful talent of this local master quilter. For more information, contact Judy at 613-374-3420

There is nothing more inspiring than gaining access to the studio of a master artist and seeing first hand great art in the place where it is created. That was the case for those who visited studio #10 on the Inroads Studio Tour, the home and studio of Martina Field.

Field is one of the original members of the 21-year-old studio tour, which took place on Labour Day weekend in and around Central Frontenac.

She has been printmaking for almost as long as she has been walking. As the daughter of two artist parents, Saul Field and Jean Townsend, both print makers, Martina recalled making her first print when she was just three years old. “My parents used to give me a little corner in their studio and they put me to work on my own stuff to keep me out of their hair. I made my first plate when I was three years old and printed it when I was four.” That first print, called “Mommy and Daddy”, shows her dad sporting his goatee and her mom with her long braid pointed vertically straight up in the frame.

As a young print maker Field entered and won numerous art contests and was included in feature articles in various publications, including the Globe Magazine. Some of her first works were also included in the Home exhibit at Montreal’s' Expo 67. At 12 years old she began assisting her parents in their studio and she recalled her dad paying her $1 for every “good” print she pulled for him. Later she became her parents' master printer and she pulled many of their print editions.

In 1963 her parents invented and developed a non-toxic method of print making that involved a substance they named compotina, an acrylic and gesso-based composition. Field uses the technique in her own print making and it allows her to both add to and take away from the print plate, offering a multi-textured print.

On display in her studio, located in her 100-year-old farmhouse, are numerous framed prints demonstrating subject matter that is based on both literary and mythological themes, often producing a series of prints that explore aspects of one theme In one series, “Zodiac”, she studied and researched myths related to the zodiac system. In another, called “In the Garden”, he husband Jeff Green wrote poems about the garden season as seen through a child's eyes. In one print from that series the text reads “Sunflower Sunflower show us your face, before summer ends and fall takes its place” and the image depicts their daughters' airy faces peeking out from behind dark green sunflower stalks that stand in an opaque and azure blue sky upon a willowy, wheat yellow dry late summer grass. These prints often have a light and airy feel with multiple textured surfaces that somehow resemble impasto, plaster or pitted rock-like surfaces with mixtures of both opaque and transparent layers of colour. They recall the works of painters like Marc Chagall in the whimsical and child-like innocence of the imagery and composition.

At the other end of the spectrum prints like “Heron” and others from the Zodiac series offer up heavier, more strongly defined images printed in more opaque colors.

Martina Field's most recent prints, such as “First Run”, which shows the stark, dark trunks of a line of early spring maple trees hung with sap buckets, demonstrate her latest foray into landscapes, some real and others imagined. “I love trees and nature and am really awestruck by the way that light falls in a certain way on a certain tree or on a certain section of forest," she said. In “Little Shady Grove” she has imagined a section of shady forest in which she depicts a series of tree trunks that stand in a dimly lit and magical looking forest.

Field said that print-making is the perfect medium for her. “It's magic. You never know what you are going to have in the end. You have an image in your head and you work away at it on the plate and a very long time goes by before you see the finished result. There are many trials you go through before you finally work it all out and that is what makes the whole process really exciting.”

NAEC grad Misty Meeks has been chosen for Marketing Magazine’s prestigious 30 under Thirty list for 2013. Every year the national magazine names “the 30 smartest young thinkers in marketing today”

When Meeks graduated from North Addington Education Centre in 2000, there was little in the way of digital capacity in the region. Cell service and High Speed Internet were not even on the radar for the area, and the concept of online marketing was in the far distant future.

Not so at Centennial College, where Meeks went to study Creative Advertising after leaving NAEC. After graduating from Centennial she went on to an internship as a copywriter at Hamilton-based Wishart, an ad agency that focuses on the public sector. She began moving away from traditional writing and eventually became Wishart’s webmaster.

She left Wishart to take a job with the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) where she helped build up the social networking practice for the society and mentored colleagues from 10 countries around the world.

Working with WSPA enabled Misty Meeks to work towards social and behavioural change.

In 2010, she took a job with Argyle Communications in Toronto, at a time when the agency was “building out its digital practice". Meeks was chosen to lead and grow the digital media team at Argyle.

One of her most successful campaigns thus far at Argyle was a campaign to promote the Crosstown, a transit line across the Eglinton corridor in Toronto. Using an online public meeting approach to achieve 19,000 plus views on Youtube, over 1,000 fans on Facebook, and over 89,000 website visits, the Crosstown campaign won national and international awards.

“Misty has thrived at Argyle because she exemplifies the two most critical things about our corporate culture,” said Argyle President Daniel Tisch, “setting high standards and treating people well.”

Misty Meeks has been promoted to the director level at Argyle, at the age of 29 the youngest ever to attain that position.

Back in Addington Highlands, her parents Sharon and Roger are understandably proud of their daughter’s achievements.

Though many Royal Canadian Legion branches across the country are finding it difficult to make ends meet due to declining memberships and lack of funds, the Sydenham Legion Branch 496 is one example of a rural Legion striving and finding success in its goal to offer Sydenham and its surrounding communities a family-friendly place to meet, lounge, play games and enjoy a meal and/or a beverage.

First began as an organization solely to help veterans, their families and dependents, many Royal Canadian Legions like the Sydenham Legion have expanded their membership to include all members of the community.

That being said, history still holds a special place at the Legion in Sydenham. Hanging on the back wall of the downstairs meeting area in a wooden oval frame is a photo of Robert Miles Richardson, for whom the branch was named. A note beside the photo tells of Bob Richardson, who was born March 18, 1875 and died May 31, 1949. He served in the First World War and went overseas with the 146 overseas battalion before joining the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles on November 3, 1916 while serving there in the field. He served both at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele and on December 21 his regiment occupied the trenches in Loos, France and remained there for one month.

On December 22, 1917, Richardson was struck in the temple by a bullet that lodged itself part way into his skull and on December 31, he was struck off the regimental strength and repatriated to Canada. Deemed to be inoperable, the lump on his forehead was visible until the time of his death.

While remaining proud of its history, the Sydenham Legion’s executive are actively striving to debunk the idea that Legions are dark, somber places where only those associated with war veterans are apt to gather.

I recently met with John Pickernell at the Sydenham branch, now in his tenth year as Legion president, and he explained how he and his executive are actively striving to attract newcomers and younger members who may in the past have stayed away. The Sydenham Legion offers up what Pickernell describes as a friendly, “Cheers”-like environment where people go to meet up with friends and/or family on a regular basis and enjoy a game of cards, pool or shuffle board free of charge. Every day of the week, staff, members and volunteers offer visitors and members a wide range of activities.

On the third Mondays of every month members gather for regular meetings. Wednesday night is pool night and a local league of six teams get together to shoot a friendly game of eight ball. Every second Thursday is Wing Nite, when hungry folk can enjoy a pound of wings in a flavor of their choice for $8.99.

When I was visiting many groups were gathered downstairs, some chatting at tables and chairs and others leaning on the central bar, where long-time bartender Cindy Van Luven was serving up beverages to a number of regular customers.

The Sydenham Legion, like many other Legions, also strives to assist an array of local charity groups and organizations in the community. Last year alone they offered up the hall for free 81 times for various local fundraisers, which included events for the Canadian Cancer Society. They have also held Tai Chi classes in the past, as well as meetings for the local Girl Guides.

Membership over the years has continued to remain strong and currently there are 177 paid members. In their particular zone, the Sydenham Legion is the fourth largest. Pickernell says that is the case because, “We strive to attract younger people by offering our games free of charge, free music picks on Friday nights and free WIFI for those looking for free internet access … Basically we try not to be too strict. We have an open door policy here, unlike some other branches, where members are required to sign their guests in. We chose not to do that and feel that if people want to come and check us out first before they join up, they can.” Kids are also welcome.

Pickernell says also that part of the Legion’s success is because the building is entirely paid off, which makes the costs of running it much less than it would be otherwise. The Legion also boasts a “stellar executive board”, many of whom have long-time professional experience in their fields of expertise. One example is their financial officer, Jay Sheff, who has been a chartered accountant for over 40 years. Other long-time members like Marv Ostopovich, owner of Eskerod Signs, donates all of the organization’s event signage free of charge. Member Derrick Anderson, who is the entertainment director, is able to attract big name entertainment to the branch, like the band Ambush, who will be playing at their upcoming Halloween Dance on October 26 at 8pm.

Also upcoming is the Legion’s Car Rally/Dinner and Dance event, which will take place on October 5 (please register as soon as possible). For more information about membership or about any of the upcoming events contact Cindy Van Luven or Phil Somers at 613-376-6808. The Sydenham Legion is located at 4376 William Street in Sydenham and the hours are Monday to Thursday from 3 – 11pm; Fridays from noon till closing (which varies depending on the turnout) and Saturdays from noon to 8pm.

We are saying goodbye to someone who we never thought would stay as long as he did, but who we hoped would never leave.

It was eight years ago and we were looking for an ad sales representative. For a business that is entirely supported by advertising revenue, this was obviously a crucial hire for us. Jane Drew, who was running the Treasure Trunk, which at the time was located next to our office in Sharbot Lake, said her husband Garry would be interested. I knew Garry a little from the auction business that he was running at the time, so I called him.

“I guess I should come and work for you,” he said, as Jane had obviously forewarned him of the call. I'm not sure if he was hired from the phone call or if we had a formal interview, but it was clear we were not going to find someone else with his experience and local knowledge. He was a sales manager for Moore Business Forms for most of his adult life and had recently retired from that job, but as anyone who knows Garry can tell you, he wasn't ready to sit at home, not quite yet.

So, he came on and took over the ad department. He made sure all of our valuable regular advertisers were taken care of by our office, and he not only sold advertising but also promoted the Frontenac News wherever he went in Frontenac County, Addington Highlands, and Lanark County from the day he came into our office until the day he left two weeks ago.

Garry was our face to the people who make the newspaper’s existence possible, and while those of us back at the office might suffer from inconsistencies now and then, Garry never wavered in making sure his customers were satisfied. And he was the first to let us know when we fell short of that goal.

I sometimes thought that his main reason for working for us was that it gave him an opportunity to talk to a lot of people, which he likes doing, and to find out some of the interesting details of life in Cloyne, or Harrowsmith, Perth or Plevna. He also enjoyed bringing those stories back to the news office after his daily travels, and I would sometimes linger in the office, waiting for his return to hear the real “news” from the road.

For a few years now Garry has said at the beginning of each January that it would be his last year, and then on or around August 1 he would say he was willing stay another year. Last August he said he wanted to stay for six months into 2013, and later he said he wanted to leave after Labour Day but would stay until the end of the year if necessary.

I finally took the hint, although I did not really want to, and began looking for a replacement.

When we found out that Terry Shea was available, I knew we could finally let Garry retire in peace. Before I say something about Terry, I have to share one more story. Garry made the rounds every week: Mondays up north, Tuesdays down south, and Wednesdays in and around Sharbot Lake or over to Perth.

A few months ago he sold an ad to a company in Perth. It was the first large ad he'd ever sold to them; until then they had sponsored events now and then, but never bit on something substantial.

But it was not the first time he talked to them about a potential ad. In fact he had almost sold them an ad every few months for years. But they never came through. This time they did. I asked Garry how many times he went to see them over the years. “About every two weeks, usually only for a few minutes, but sometimes they wanted to talk.”

The fact that Garry went back time after time to an advertiser who never came through, and the fact that he did it without alienating them, without being pushy, just waiting for them to come through - that shows what a salesman is all about - constancy and patience in equal measure.

To Jane and Garry, we wish you all the best.

I first met Terry Shea at a meeting of North Frontenac Council, in 2004. He had just started on as the general manager of the Land O'Lakes Tourist Association, and North Frontenac Township had pulled their support from the organization a few months earlier. Terry did not ask them to renew their support at that meeting. He just told them what LOLTA was doing in general and in North Frontenac particularly. He came back every few months with an update, and also kept township staff informed about projects that were ongoing. Within a year North Frontenac had renewed their support for LOLTA, and have been a major booster of the organization ever since.

While at LOLTA, Terry also initiated the Vision awards for businesses within the region, and he was the one who came up with the concept of “Accessible Wilderness”, which resulted in some significant upgrades for a number of tourist-related businesses in Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Counties. Terry worked in marketing in Kingston for many years before joining LOLTA in 2004, and since he left LOLTA in 2008 he has worked for the City of Kingston as a rural liaison officer.

He started working for us this week, and we are looking forward to his assistance in maintaining and improving the service we provide to customers and to the readers of the Frontenac News.

Welcome aboard, Terry.

Let’s start with an old country gardener’s joke. An urban hipster (we used to call them City Slickers but times have changed) is visiting his country cousin.

“Do you ever lock the door on your pickup?” the hipster asks.

“Only during Zucchini season” answers the country cousin.

The country cousin in this case is talking about baseball bat-sized zucchinis, fruits that should have been harvested when they were six inches long and were tender enough to eat raw, but were left too long and became monsters destined, at best, to be stuffed with rice, or turned into Zucchini loaf or maybe a racing car for the Maberly Fair. The worst case scenario for the giant zucchini is to become a dripping, rotting mess that is tossed unceremoniously onto the compost heap.

The story of Franco and Anna Esposito’s giant zucchinis is nothing like that. For one thing they are not really zucchinis, but rather winter zucca, or winter squash.

The seed for the single vine that yielded all three of the 40 pound hard-skinned squash in the picture below came from friends visiting the Espositos from Sicily, where they originally came from before emigrating in the 70’s. They moved to their property on Murton Road, south of Harrowsmith, about 20 years ago, and have been gardening there ever since.

“It was very wet this summer, which was not good for many things in the garden, but the zucchini really seemed to like it” said Franco, explaining how the squash grew so large. Usually the fruits from that variety are not that large at all, but this year it was different.

The fruits have thick flesh as well, two to three inches around the relatively small, seedy cavity, Franco said, and will keep until mid-winter in a cold room.

“None of it will go to waste,” said Anna, “the flesh is orange and you can use it for risotto, for pies, for soup, anything you want. We also roast the seeds with salt as a snack. And in the summer we eat the flowers off the plant. You can stuff them with ricotta, nuts, and herbs, and then fry them or do other things with them.”

Zucca are one of the plants that the Espositos grow in their backyard garden. They also grow enough Roma tomatoes to make dozens of jars of sauce, and beans for soup and fresh eating.

They also have fruit trees next to the garden, and this year there were so many plums that they pulled whole branches down.

Frosts this week and last have knocked down much of the Espositos’ garden, but dozens of tomato, eggplant, and pepper plants are still standing, as are three 10 foot high pole bean teepees.

“We don’t do as much as we used to because we have bad backs,” said Franco. “We used to have a second garden but we have down-sized. We even had to have our neighbour pick up the zucchini and carry them in to the garage.”