The stands were overflowing for the Novice Rep Flyers’ third game of the all-Ontario Novice CC finals. The Flyers, coming off back-to-back 6-1 losses to the Sturgeon Lake Thunder in Fenelon Falls, were back home at the Frontenac Community Arena on March 18 for the “do or die” game 3 of the series.

The amazing turnout of fans fired up the seven and eight-year-old players, who were looking for a win on Friday night.

The event opened with Ava Ludlow performing Oh Canada. Then, each team introduced their players to the enthusiastic, mostly orange-clad crowd who cheered, blew horns, rang whistles and bells, and banged tambourines in support of their home team.

Early in the first period, the Flyers came on strong, scoring the first goal just eight minutes in. After a tripping penalty was called on the Flyers, their defense kept the puck put of their zone and prevented the Thunder from tying up the game. Some very exciting back and forth play resulted in the Thunder scoring their first goal with just 50 seconds left in the period. But the Flyers, not wanting to go to the dressing room with the score knotted at 1, scored again a mere 15 seconds later, winning back their lead.

Early in the second, the Thunder skated hard and tied up the game 2-2. Four and a half minutes later, they snuck another one by the Flyers’ posts and took the lead for the first time in the game at 3-2. The Thunder then poured on the offense, and though the Flyers' goalie made a number of great saves, the Thunder offense persisted and scored, doubling their lead to 4-2 with just over nine minutes left in the period.

The Flyers managed to keep possession of the puck, but with under a minute left, the Thunder scored their fifth, leaving the Flyers further behind and desperate to turn the game around in the final frame.

The Flyers got a few great shots early on in the third and took advantage of a number of chances their shots went wide. The Flyers then took their second penalty of the game but held the Thunder at bay, winning them a round of applause from the crowd. The Flyers’ goalie made another great glove save, and with six minutes left in the third, the crowd started chanting “Go Flyers Go!” The Thunder finally managed to get another in the net, taking a four-goal lead with just minutes remaining in the game and the Flyers’ chances fading.

The Flyers still fought hard right to the end never letting up until the final buzzer sounded. In the end, although the Thunder swept the series the Flyers received a standing ovation from the crowd for their valiant effort. An amazing first season for this new team.

The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association will be hosting their second annual Maple Weekend on Saturday & Sunday, April 2 & 3 from 10am-4pm. Many members of the Lanark and District Maple Producers will be hosting various activities at their sugar bushes. Mel & Joyce Conboy & Son, whose state of the art maple syrup operation is located at 2379 Bell Line Road, will be taking part for their second year. Last year’s event drew over 200 visitors to their farm. Clayton Conboy will be giving tours of the family sugar bush and doing numerous demonstrations. Joyce, I hear, has been busy baking up a storm and all of her treats will include maple syrup as one of the ingredients.

Visitors to the Conboy farm will be able to taste samples of the various grades of syrup and also learn about a new syrup grading system, which is aimed at standardizing grading for all maple producers across the United States and Canada.

Other producers who will be taking part include Coutts Country Flavours and Oliver's Mapleworks near Perth; Stead's Maple Syrup and Temple's Sugarbush in Lanark; and Wheeler's Pancake House & Sugarcamp in McDonalds Corners. The participants will be offering up a number of activities including pancake meals, horse-drawn wagon rides, and more.

“The main idea behind the event is to give people information about how local maple syrup is produced,” Mel Conboy said.

For more information, visit www.mapleweekend.ca

It's a tradition that has its origin with the sailors of Chesapeake Bay. After wearing the same socks all winter, it would be time to burn them once spring had arrived. Well, the spring equinox did arrive at 12:30am EDT March 20. Friends of Brown's Camp and Sail Mazinaw gathered Sunday at the home of Tina and Dana Richard on Addington Rd 5 for the 1st Annual Mazinaw Sock Burn. It was chilly for the first day of spring and Mazinaw Lake was still completely covered with ice. In fact, the cold temperatures had the lake ice moaning and complaining. The sock burning ritual was a sign of the approaching sailing season.

It was good fun and is likely to become a Mazinaw nautical tradition. Sandi Brown suggested that the 2017 sock burn should include food and beverages.

The 2016 edition of Sail Mazinaw is scheduled for Saturday July 9. Sailors are encouraged to bring their boats and their boards to Mazinaw Lake this summer to join the flotilla. Check the Sail Mazinaw Facebook page for more details.

South Frontenac Rides, the Township of South Frontenac, and KFL&A Public Health are hosting a Bicycle Friendly Communities Workshop, and they want community input.

“Communities across Canada, including a number of smaller municipalities, have found that the development of a plan for cycling can be a key to success. Cycling plans are an opportunity to learn from the experience of others and find solutions that fit the local context,” commented Alastair Lamb, Chair of South Frontenac Rides.

The community workshop is free and registration is not required. The workshop is being held at the Sydenham Library on March 30, between 7 and 9 p.m. Community members who come to the workshop will: learn about cycling priorities in South Frontenac, see three key action suggestions in South Frontenac’s cycling work plan and provide comments on the plan.

Event organizers hope the plan will enhance access for bicyclists on roads and trails; improve safety for all bicyclists; and educate citizens on the value and importance of safe bicycling for healthy lifestyles and healthy communities.

The workshop is one step in a process of defining networks, laying out programs, and planning affordable investments that can energize the public and motivate staff and elected officials. The South Frontenac workshop will be facilitated by Share the Road Cycling Coalition, a provincial organization working to build a bicycle-friendly Ontario.

For information, please call Ross Sutherland, 613-532-7846, or Alastair Lamb, 613-376-6953.

Fans of the Frontenac Flyers new novice rep team were sporting their team’s jerseys in Fenelon Falls this past weekend, where the Flyers faced off against the Sturgeon Lake Thunder in the All-Ontario Novice CC finals.

The Flyers “fought really hard but needed some bounces” said parent and League President Al Pixley after then team lost both games to the Sturgeon Lake Thunder by 6-1 scores.

The loss, however, does not mean the end for the Flyers. The team still stands a chance, however, as they are playing a 6 point series where wins are worth 2 points and ties 1 point.

In order to extend the series, they need at least a tie in the game that is scheduled for 7:30 on Friday Night (March 18) at the Frontenac Arena. If they can manage that they will play again on Saturday (March 19) at 3:00, again at the Frontenac arena. If they manage a win and a tie in the two games, the series would go to a deciding game in Fenelon Falls next Thursday (March 24).

But the focus for now is Friday's game. Team officials are calling on all community members to come out and support the 7-8 year old local heroes on Friday night, asking fans to wear Frontenac orange or Flyers sweaters if they have them.

“The boys could sure use a boost on Friday Night,” said Pixley.

Go Flyers GO!

In other arena news, the Frontenac Arena was not one the 10 Kraft Hockeyville shortlisted arenas, but upgrades to the heating system are still on tap for this summer, subject to final approvals from South and Central Frontenac Councils this week and next.

What kid - and for that matter, what adult - doesn't love a kid goat?

That was the motivation for a “Kidding Around” event on March 12 at Food Less Travelled in Verona, when the Perry children of Perry Farm in Harrowsmith, brought the latest four-legged members of their family farm to the grocery store, which is operated by their parents, Kim and Dave Perry.

Grant, Mason and Kaitlyn Perry hosted the event, which attracted kid goat lovers of all ages from near and far. Many who enjoyed meeting the goat and human kids were already doing their regular Saturday shopping at the store, while others were just passing by and noticed the lively commotion.

The four Nubian goats are cared for by the Perry children and the two oldest, Kaitlyn and Grant, are experienced at the task, having both worked at a goat farm in Harrowsmith. The goats, the youngest of which was just four days old, are still being milk fed and are mostly pets for the Perry kids, but requests have recently come in at the store for goat meat, which has the Perry parents wondering if expanding their operation to raising meat goats is an option for their farm.

“The thing with goats and other smaller animals like sheep is that it is hard to get meat on the bone and you really have to work at it to be proficient,” Kim Perry said. “Farmers who specialize in raising goats and sheep know how to do it and while we know how to do it with our beef, pork, turkeys and now chickens, we will likely just wait and see what happens with the goats, which right now are pets.”

Perry also updated me on the many recent changes at the Verona store, which will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary this June. The store has recently expanded and added chicken to its regular inventory of beef, pork and turkeys, which is something new. “This year is the first in the history of Ontario that we are now allowed to sell our own free-range chickens at the store instead of just at the farm gate,” she said.

The kitchen area has also been expanded and Perry has added a number of new pies to their inventory, such as bumbleberry/rhubarb. She and her staff will continue making last year’s popular grape pie. She also makes a wide variety of quiches, all with Perry Farm meats, local cheeses and vegetables.

The indoor dining area, now open all year round, has also been expanded with a new kitchen access, where Perry offers up weekly specials of hot and cold lunches that include entrees like shepherd’s pie, Irish stew, quiches, a wide variety of home-made meat and vegetable soups and salads. Her home- made pies are served with Kawartha Dairy ice cream.

On the store’s shelves is an eclectic selection of fresh and frozen meats, cheeses, veggies and a wide assortment of other Canadian food and cooking products all of which are either grown and/ or locally processed. They include snack foods, dressings, sauces, condiments, sweet treats, grains and flours and much more, with an emphasis on products and groceries that are organic, gluten-free and non-GMO.

“I choose suppliers who either grow locally or process locally, which means they are small manufacturers for the most part that are using as many local ingredients as they can. My aim in doing so is to help ensure diversity in our food supply,” Perry said.

For more information visit foodlesstravelled.ca or local family farms/foodlesstravelled on facebook.

The year 2017 will mark the 150th year of Canadian confederation. What better excuse for a good party? Major anniversaries like this are a way to recognize the efforts of those who went before us and enjoy the benefits of what they achieved. What might be more important, they give incentive to look forward to the things that might yet be accomplished.

In Oso Hall on March 9, a public meeting was held to launch Central Frontenac’s celebration of Canada 150. More than 30 people were present and they were a wonderful cross-section of our community. They represented service clubs, church groups, heritage societies and recreation committees. Villages Beautiful was represented, as was Branch 425 of the Legion, and the Parham Agricultural Society. Community service organizations such as NFCS and the Adult Learning Centre were there, as well as the seniors’ groups and the Friday Night Ladies. It was great!

The meeting started with a few people sharing their views of Canada, the place of our community in it, and what Canada 150 might be. Well-known citizens Janet Gutowski and Sarah Hale spoke, as did Dave Limber, drummer for the Feral Five, and Councilor Victor Heese. But the show was stolen by 13-year-old Hazuki Ono, who concluded a personal and very touching talk with, “Let’s have maple syrup all year. Eh?”

In the general discussion that followed, lots of people had good suggestions on what we could do to make a great celebration. Heritage elements got a lot of play but there were other ideas as well, ranging from fitness to festivals to forests. A committee was formed to start gathering ideas and information on available support and what’s happening in other places. One of their first tasks will be to find a slogan for the program.

Members of the initial committee are Dave Willis, Linda West, Justin Riddell, Lesley Merrigan, Dave Limber, Victor Heese, Ray Fletcher, Rosemarie Bowick and Bill Bowick. Bill Bowick was appointed chair of this committee of council and Councilor Victor Heese volunteered to be the committee’s council liaison. The committee will no doubt change with time. A couple of people were volunteered after they left the meeting and there will no doubt be others who come forward to serve. However, this is an excellent start and they have already had one meeting.

As per directive, a major agenda item of the committee’s first meeting was getting a slogan. It was decided to run a contest and announce the winning choice at Canada Day 2016.

Details of the contest will be announced soon but in the meantime, you can get your thinking caps on. “Paradise with Bugs” has already been rejected.

I chose the above words to appear on my ski wear as I participated in the annual international 51 km x-country ski competition in the Gatineau Hills on Feb 27 in order to raise money for SFCSC Food Bank Healthy Snacks Program.

Thank you service clubs, church groups, restaurants, Southern Frontenac Community Services staff, fellow volunteers, board members, and old and young friends. Together through our sponsorships, we raised $2770 for the program, which will now be able to continue this year.

The weather and conditions were kind to this old 75-year-old this year. For 15 years I have had a special chosen place on the course where I pause to admire a breath-taking vista. Always the question occurs to me “Why me”? There have been years when tears froze on my face during my reflection. I have been blessed with a kind aging process and good health. “Please allow me to come back to this special place one more time”.

I was motivated to use my ski adventure as a fundraiser for the SFCSC food bank partly because of a community need, and partly because of some disturbing statistics for the year 2015 published by Canada Food banks, and the Ontario Association of Food banks:

• 850,000 people accessed food banks monthly in Canada.

• 360,000 people accessed food banks monthly in Ontario.
• One third of the above numbers were children.
• One in three jobs in Ontario are full time. The remainder are part time or contract, with little or no benefits, and less wages.

The above are just some of the disturbing stats. Unaffordable housing, and the rising food prices are contributing factors to the prediction that over a million people will have to access food banks in this year of 2016…in Canada.

Our children are Canada’s most important natural resource; each child is unique. Each may see our world differently. Each may be innovative accordingly. To preserve that innovation, we need to continue to insure that each child reaches their maximum potential in the growing years. This means all children should have proper nutrition. Dreams are the foundation of reality. No child should be deprived of the right to dream.

Thank you again to supporters of SFCSC Food Bank Healthy Snacks Program fundraiser.  

On Friday, March 4, the new Frontenac Flyers Novice Rep team won a close, hard fought game and series against Bancroft! The Flyers won all three games against the Bancroft Jets in the Ontario semis with scores of 14-6, 7-2, and 5-4, and as a result of their win, they will now advance to the all-Ontario Novice CC Finals against Sturgeon Lake next weekend.

This is the first time in over 20 years that a Frontenac Flyers rep team will be heading to the finals. The team will face off against Sturgeon Lake Thunder in two away games in Fenelon Falls, on Saturday, March 12 at 12:30 pm and Sunday, March 13 at 1:30 pm.

Their third game will take place on the Flyers’ home turf at the Frontenac Community Arena in Piccadilly on Friday, March 18 at 7:30 pm.

The team is comprised of 12 players: 10 skaters and two goalies aged 7 and 8. They won all 12 games in round robin play before heading into the all-Ontario semi-finals. Coach Jason Quesnel, along with team manager Rob Edmunds and trainer Travis Young, are pleased with the team’s hard work. Al Pixley, president of the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association, is equally thrilled with the team’s success, which he said has been two years in the making.

“This has been a two-year plan and last year we started a tyke select program, which was the building block to get these players ready for the novice rep team", Pixley said.

This is the first time the association has had a novice rep team in five or six years and Pixley credited everyone involved for the team’s success. “It's a result of a lot of practice and hard work of the players, parents, coaches, trainers and managers that has really paid off and contributed to the team’s success”.

Fans are encouraged to come out to the Frontenac Arena in Piccadilly to support the team in game three of the finals on Friday, March 18 at 7:30 pm; fans are also encouraged to wear orange. If a fourth game is necessary, it will take place at the arena on Sat. March 19.

Members of the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association have launched a brand new ball hockey league and have invited players to sign up. Games will commence in April at the Frontenac Community Arena in Piccadilly.

The new league will be open to youth aged 3-17 and will allow ball hockey players to play the sport closer to home, on their home turf at the Frontenac Arena. Since previously, many of them had been traveling to Kingston, this will be a much lesser expense.

President of the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association, Al Pixley, said that the association talked about starting up the activity last year, but was not able to due to a lack of volunteers. “This year, we had more volunteers stepping up and our executive pushed really hard to get the activity off the ground.”

He also credited Frontenac Community Arena manager, Tim Laprade, whom he said has been extremely generous in offering up the Frontenac Community Arena for use.

To date, over 150 players have already signed up and the deadline for registration is April 10, 2016. Play will commence on Sunday, April 24 at the Frontenac Community Arena in Piccadilly. For more information, visit www.frontenachockey.ca or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All proceeds from the FMHA's ball hockey will go towards purchasing new heaters at the arena.