Feature Article September 26, 2001
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The
North Frontenac News 30th reunionby David Brison
Moe Bush, former managing editor of The North Frontenac News, and Anne
McCormack, who once volunteered for the paper, organized a reunion and
potluck lunch on September 11 for all the volunteers and employees who
put The News out for the
last 30 years. A number
of people gathered at the Legion, but others who had planned to attend
probably chose to stay home because of the tragic events of the day.
Martin Walsh, MC for the reunion and one of the originators of the
paper, was the Anglican minister in Sharbot Lake at the time.
Moe asked Martin to speak about the early days and the
evolution of the paper since. Martin quoted from what he described as
an excellent summary of how the newspaper got started, written
in 1976 by Carleton University Professor Art Stinson:
With the support of St. Lawrence College in Kingston, a small group
of concerned citizens, which first met in November 1970 in the old
Anglican rectory in Sharbot Lake, was able to collect some information
from a survey and gather a few more people for a February meeting in
the Sharbot Lake High School. The
results of the survey and discussion showed that there was no sense of
a North Frontenac community.
Respondents identified with their village or township.
They also identified the major problem in the area as a lack of
some form of communication. Newspapers,
radio, and TV all originated elsewhere and carried practically no news
of North Frontenac.
Stinson went on to say, Several participants decided to form a
Communications Group, with the idea of issuing a small newspaper
and initiating as much inter-communication among residents of the area
as possible. It was
obvious to this group that no one township or village could do much on
its own, and the lack of identity should be tackled head-on.
They originated The North Frontenac News. The first edition was devoted to the theme It could be up
to us and asked the question, What has the 70s to offer North
Frontenac residents? Is
it only game preserves, pockets of governmental privilege, few
services, and spotty seasonal unemployment?
The paper was a modest mimeographed sheet distributed for free
pick-up in every local grocery store.
For the first time, the area was identified and had a public
forum.
The members of the original communications group were Martin Walsh,
Merv Rutherford, Ron Gilbertson, Don Morrow, and Marcel Giroux.
Merv and Don are no longer living but Ron, Marcel, and Martin
were present at the reunion.
Ron Gilbertson was a teacher at Sharbot Lake High School at that time.
He recalled, There wasnt a whole lot of communication
between us Merv Rutherford wrote it, then gave it to me to type. I
in turn gave it to Don Morrow after it was run off on an old
mimeograph machine in the basement of the Anglican rectory.
Don then delivered it to the stores.
Martin commented that the group felt that community issues had to be
faced, or outsiders would determine the regions future.
Merv Rutherford tackled the issues and challenged the
residents to become involved, Martin said.
He concluded his remarks by saying, the paper has a
great future with David Brison and Sara Carpenter at the helm.
I hope they will continue to take the risks, and not fear
or back away from confronting the powers that be.
As the old adage goes, The squeaky wheel gets the oil!
Over the years, about 300 people have been involved in the paper. Moe
Bush asked those present to recount memories from their days at the
North Frontenac News. Doris
(York) Thompson recounted how she constructed the first light table
(for lining up the print) out of an old television set cabinet with a
bulb placed under the glass screen cover.
Helen Armstrong, then the wife of a minister
in Sharbot Lake, said she volunteered to get out of the home,
and ended up as managing editor!
Four former reporters from McDonalds Corners were present --
Jennifer Tsun, Bill Barrett, Nancy Sont, and Nancy Sonts daughter
Scarlett Damen. Bill
Barrett regaled the group with memories (confirmed by others present)
of how he used to break up the newsroom every week with stories of
life in McDonalds Corners. Nancy Sont, now a much published and
travelled travel writer (and fresh from a trip to the Middle East),
said that she got her start writing at The
News.
There were many other tales of life at the North Frontenac News in the
old days. Moe and Anne
had assembled displays of old photographs and lists of past volunteers
and employees. The
Reverend Jean Brown (formerly a reporter, and now filling in again for
Isobel Kelsey in Henderson) honoured 31 volunteers who are no longer
living in a short memorial ceremony.
What came out most strongly from the reunion was just how much of a
unifying and defining force the paper has been in the community. At
the end of a memorable day, Moes only regret was that the four
managing editors who were present (Roxanne Beattie, Helen Armstrong,
Moe herself, and David Brison) did not get together for a picture.
That will have to wait for the 40th reunion.
