(with files from Katie McNichols)

The Sydenham Golden Eagles swept the Regiopolis Notre-Dame Panthers 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-22) in the Kingston Area Secondary School Athletic Championships (KASSAA) on February 21 at Queens University.

The Eagles faced off against their long-time rivals, the Regi Panthers, for the third year in a row at the KASSAA championships. The Eagles finished in second place after the regular season with a record of 11-1, their only loss coming to the Panthers, who went undefeated all year.

But in the final game of the KASSAA tournament it was The Eagles who took the early initiative, opening up an 8-3 lead early in the first set and Regi was unable to battle back. Strong serving and impressive passing kept the Eagles in the drivers seat throughout.

Following the win, assistant coach, Scott Cashol, who has been coaching the team alongside head coach Katie May for the last seven years, credited the team’s composure for their victory.

“When the game became challenging, our team remained resilient and disciplined. So for example, when Regi would go on a point run, setter Katie McNichols stuck to our game plan of 'next job, next job'; and rather than panicking and losing focus, she stayed focused and continued to run our offense. The win was a total team effort and every single member of our team did the job they were supposed to do,” May said.

Cashol said that the girls’ hard work and commitment really paid off and he was thrilled to see the team experience success at KASSAA.

With the big win, the team now heads to the AAA OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) championships, which take place in North Bay from March 7 to 9. Cashol said that going in, the game plan for the girls “is to continue to play competitively but also to just enjoy the experience.”

On February 21, 20 lucky plungers were treated to balmier weather as they took to the lake at the Frontenac Heritage Festival's sixth annual Polar Bear Plunge. The event was originally scheduled for February 14, but was postponed due to brutally low temperatures. The delay paid off for the plungers, as the weather was much improved on Feb. 21.

The plunge was headed up by Art Holloway, who also raised the most money this year ($600). As always, it was a highly entertaining event for the sizable crowd of spectators, who also appreciated the nicer weather.

Town Crier Paddy O'Connor emceed the event and introduced the 20 brave souls, who ranged in age from 15-year-old Amber White of Perth to 64-year-old Vera Fanning of Sharbot Lake. The spirited plungers, each sporting colorful costumes, leapt from the wind-swept docks of the Sharbot Lake Marina into the icy depths of Sharbot Lake's west basin.

This year’s best-costumed plungers went to the Scottish stylings of Andrea and Martha MacLeod and Gerald Daviau. Other highlights of the day included Anne Howes' hesitant and hilarious leap of faith and Shane Steeves’ graceful back flip, which was well deserving of a perfect 10 score.

Altogether, over $5000 was raised on Sunday and the proceeds will support the Central Frontenac Fire Department, GREC's student council, the Child Care Centre in Sharbot Lake and the Alzheimer's Society. Congratulations to all the plungers and to those who generously supported the event.

On February 19 students from North Addington, Granite Ridge and Madawaska Valley competed in the National Archery School Program (NASP), at North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne.

“I like archery,” said Josh Smith of NAEC. “I like making new friends and topping my own scores.”

Secondary student archers competed to show their proficiency with a bow and arrow. From distances of 10 and 15 metres, they shot at targets with 20-pound pull bows. They were scored on a scale from 0 to 10, and shot 15 times per round.

“The day has been very positive between schools,” said coach Sarah Sproule, “North Addington will be competing in the Ontario Championships this spring!”

There were 31 archers in the second annual tournament, 16 of whom were from NAEC.

“I really enjoy this archery tournament because the pressure is on,” said Sarah Lax of NAEC.

“We are excited to see three different schools come together to participate in archery,” said David Ryrie, Youth Education Manager at Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. “It’s great to see the sportsmanship, skills improvement and the smiles on the players’ faces.” When asked about NASP, Ryrie said, “NASP was started in Ontario to encourage students to participate in the shooting sports and try a new activity that could become a lifelong passion.”

Overall, the day was on target, with Greg Garey (NAEC) with an overall score of 253 and Brittany Delyea (NAEC) with an overall score of 232, as Top Archers. NAEC won the Top Team spot in the tournament.

For more NAEC news, please follow us on Twitter @NAEC_LDSB

This Saturday, February 27, join the Snowshoe Romp & Snowball Stomp at the Clar-Mill Hall in Plevna from 10:30am-12:30pm. This fun event will be the launch of the KFL&A Region Healthy Kids Community Challenge in the Plevna area. Come and try out snowshoeing; participate in races; stomp some snowballs and enjoy a hot dog and hot chocolate. Everything at the event is free and snowshoes will be provided for anyone interested to try out!

The Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) region is one of 45 communities participating in the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and part of Ontario’s Healthy Kids Strategy.

The Healthy Kids Community Challenge is a multi-themed initiative with the first theme titled “Run. Jump. Play. Every Day.”

The City of Kingston is receiving up to $1,125,000 from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to fund the Healthy Kids Community Challenge over the next three years to support communities in KFL&A in promoting physical activity and healthy eating for children 12 years and under and their families.  

On February 11, NAEC students and staff travelled to Calabogie Peaks for a ski trip. A total of 59 students from grades 7-12 attended the trip. For the first part of the day, students partook in skiing lessons and later advanced to other hills.

High school student Nathan Baker was thrilled to see optimism from his peers. “Everybody was just so happy and excited about this trip. It was a good thing because the more people that are happy, the more positive the environment is”.

Grade 9 student Nathan Reid also had positive things to say. “It was difficult to learn at first, but once you got the hang of it, it was fun and easy to do”.

Grade 10 student Cassandra Parks-Delyea said that the trip was a “fun experience to get to learn a new skill”.

Despite the cold weather, everyone who was a part of the ski trip had a great experience. NAEC will be returning to Calabogie on March 4 and are looking forward to planning more ski trips next year.

Due to the ridiculous cold this past weekend the Polar Plunge has been put back exactly one week, to this Sunday February 21. The first Plungers are scheduled to hit the water at noon and we expect it all to wrap up in about 30 to 45 minutes. As usual our gracious hosts are the Sharbot Lake Marina. Plungers, please bring your pledges and show up between 10:45 and 11:30am for registration, and be ready by 11:45 for the safety briefing.

Our apologies to those we weren't able to contact at the last second who showed up. For questions please check in with me - Art Holloway at 613-279-2558 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We hope to see you there.

Shelby Eves, who lives near Sydenham, and Hilary Voith, from Battersea, know each other from the Frontenac 4H club.

They share a passion for travel and a desire to make a difference in the world as well. When their 4H leader, Darlene Clement, started talking about Common Hope this past fall, the girls' interest was piqued.

Common Hope was founded 30 years ago by the Huebsch family from Minnesota. They began developing educational programs in Guatemala at that time, and have since established a family center, as well as education and health programs serving 11,000 children and adults in the vicinity of Antigua, Guatemala, located to the southwest of Guatemala City.

In addition to being a 4H leader, Darlene Clement is a member of the Kingston Rotary Club, and Rotary has developed a relationship with Common Hope. Part of that relationship involves trips to Common Hope programs by groups of high school students over the March school break.

Shelby and Hilary are the only two Kingston area students who are planning to go this year.

It will be Hilary's second trip to Latin America. Last May, she went to Nicaragua with her school, Lasalle Secondary, and spent a week working in a school. The trip was transformative for her.

“I found the difference between our two countries is very great. Everything they have, they value and cherish; community and family and friends are everything. I felt they were more down to earth, more connected with each other,” she said.

The participants in the Nicaragua trip had to give up their phones for a week, and when Hilary came back to Canada she found her attitude had changed.

“I didn't want my phone back. Over there, I was just teaching English, and trying to talk in Spanish, which was hard because I know so little. They got pencils from the program, and I remember one boy that was so happy to get a pencil, something we don’t even think about at all.”

Shelby is looking forward to seeing a different world, and to helping out.

“I look forward to looking at the faces of the people; to seeing how they react to things. It is a good feeling to help people out, and to learn about them and how they live; how they see the world,” she said.

“You could say - why don't you just send money, and they can buy school supplies - but it's more about breaking down these barriers between us,” added Hilary.

The girls don't know what they will be doing once they get to Guatemala. They could be working in a crew, building houses, going into homes with a worker, or teaching English.

“Whatever is asked of us, we are ready for it,” said Shelby.

The project also includes a fund-raising component. The group includes students from Cornwall and a number from Deep River, where the Rotary Club has a focus on this project.

As an entire group, they have a goal of raising $4,000 to donate. A Go Fund Me page has been set up for the team goal at gofundme.com/e3747qm8

Each individual participant needs to raise as much of the $1,600 US cost of the trip as they can through fund raising to subsidize their own costs.

Shelby and Hilary have done fund-raising in the community and at their schools; Hilary at Lasalle, and Shelby at Sydenham High School. Shelby can be contacted at 613-376-3913 and Hilary at 613-353-6388.

There will also be a fund raising Euchre party at the Storrington Fire Hall in Sunbury on Saturday, February 27 at 7:30 pm. Admission is $5 and there will be prizes, sandwiches and a draw in addition to the card game. All are welcome.

As for Hilary and Shelby, the trip is coming up in a few weeks and they are getting pretty excited about it.

“We have been planning this for four months,” said Shelby, “ever since we heard about it at 4H. There were four or five of us thinking about it at the start, but now it's just us two.”

The girls have become close friends through the planning for the trip, even though they did not know each other well beforehand.

“We know each other pretty well now, though,” said Hilary.

The McDonalds Corners Farmers’ Market invites you to bring seeds and friends on Saturday, February 27, 10 am to 2 pm, to the MERA Schoolhouse – and take home different seeds and new friendships!

Here’s what we’ll be doing: 10 am to 2 pm – drop in to swap seeds. Bring seeds - the ones you saved from last year's garden or the left-overs (commercial or saved) that you didn't plant. Bring containers (small bottles or envelopes, plus labels and markers) for the new-to-you seeds that you’ll take home.

10:30 am – Linda Harvey will lead a discussion group “Seed Saving - Not Just for the Third World” We need to take responsibility for preserving the plants we cherish and the rich diversity that is ours. Find out how to get quality seed from your plants and why this is important.

11:30 am – join the Seeds of Diversity’s Great Tomato Grow-out this summer. Kristine Swaren will review the objectives and requirements for participating

10 am to 2 pm – stick around to swap gardening tips, coordinate catalog orders, say hi to old and new friends.
There are no seed vendors at our event – the seeds are all priceless, as we try to live the principles of sharing and free seed supply. Bring your seeds prepackaged or in a container so other folks can help themselves to a few. Label them! Include a photo if possible; how old they are; growing instructions; any info that would be helpful to another grower.
Sally Andrews from the Farmers’ Market will have yummy treats for sale in the kitchen - coffee, tea, sweets, chili and cornbread…

For more information please visit the McDonalds Corners Farmers’ Market page on Facebook, or the MERA website at www.meraschoolhouse.org or contact Kristine, 613-278-1226, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Frontenac Heritage Festival went off as scheduled, more or less. Although the Polar Bear Plunge was cancelled due to cold, and the snowmobile trail ride was also canceled, due to lack of snow, all the other events went off. The cold did not bother the overnight campers at the winter campout in Arden on Friday night when the temperature plunged to minus 30 or so. Well, maybe it bothered them but here they are smiling nonetheless ...

Buoyed by a strong response to their campaign, Frontenac Community Arena volunteers are hopeful about their Kraft Hockeyville bid.

In order for the Frontenac arena to progress to the final stage of the contest, it will need to beat a few other contenders. The top 10 bids, in a field of 3190, will be informed that they are moving on in early March, and those 10 will then have to mobilize support for an all-out one-week sprint to the finish line.

Al Pixley, the president of the Frontenac Minor Hockey League, said that whether the Frontenac Arena's bid gets to the finals or not, the amount of support and interest that was generated over the weekend on both Twitter and Facebook have buoyed the arena executive's spirits considerably.

“Win or lose, it has brought a lot of awareness about the arena and the amount of work that needs to be done. There are a lot of positives,” he said.

Pixley added that in order to be considered for the top 10, the arena's campaign needed 250 social media posts. “We haven't calculated the final number, but we are somewhere in the range of 25,000. Things really did take off over the weekend.”

As word got out about the campaign, hockey families from the past joined with the current arena users “and it all sort of snowballed from Thursday on, all the way to Sunday,” Pixley said.

The number of supporters for the campaign is one of several factors that are considered when determining the 10 finalists, each of whom will receive $25,000 towards arena upgrades.

“I think it is worth 30% and then they look at our application, what we want to do with the money, and other factors,” Pixley said.

This leaves the committee unsure about what their chances are. “But we will make sure that when the names are announced we are ready to promote our nominations right away, because we won't have much time at all,” he said.

Central Frontenac councilor, Brent Cameron, is the chair of the arena's management board for 2016. He is one of four municipal council members, two from South Frontenac and two from Central Frontenac, who make up the board.

“We already have plans in place to upgrade a lot of the equipment in the arena and to improve the lighting and heating, but if the Hockeyville money comes through it will allow us to do a project that has been on our radar for a long time,” he said.

That project involves putting in an entirely new canteen/hall at the rear of the building on the second floor, and an elevator for access.

“The existing canteen can only be reached through the stairs, and the idea of a public part of our arena not being accessible is something we would like to address, for one thing. It would create a space that would enhance community uses of the arena on a year-round basis. There is also the idea of turning the existing canteen into a fitness room for the public,” he said.

Cameron added that these kinds of projects require a lot of public participation and fundraising, and that he has been impressed by the efforts of the hockey league.

“I have to hand it to Al Pixley, the league executive, and all the parents and volunteers. They have taken on this Hockeyville initiative and run with it. As a board, we are supportive of anything that will improve the arena, and the timing is right for something to happen, as it's our 40th anniversary this year,” he said.

Cameron added that working with his fellow Central Frontenac councilor, Sherry Whan, and with councilors Al Revill and Norm Roberts from South Frontenac, has been a good experience.

“We all bring something to the table. Al has a keen eye about building operations; Norm has a history as a hockey coach and in minor hockey; and Sherry and I both grew up at the rink.”

Cameron added that the Frontenac Community Arena, which is still referred to locally as the Picadilly or Pic Arena, has had a storied history for a small rural rink. It has produced three NHL draft picks over its 40 years. One is Trevor Steinberg, who is the coach of the St. Mary's University Huskies in Halifax, one of the top university teams in Canada. Another is Marty Abrams, who was originally drafted by the Washington Capitals and is now a coach with the Wellington Dukes, a Junior A team. The third is a certain goalie from Verona, Mike Smith of the Arizona Coyotes, who was on the Canadian Olympic team in 2014.

“Everyone loves this rink. It is not an urban multiplex and never will be. It always will have the feel of a rural rink but we want to make sure it has the best ice and the best facilities for the community,” he said.