First ever Maple Weekend coming to Central Frontenac

As of early this week, and the forecast for this weekend into early next week indicates nothing will change too much in the very near future, the sap has been slow to come from the maples in Frontenac and Lanark County.

However, George Conboy, whose family has been making syrup for generations at their farm on the Bell Line Road north of Sharbot Lake, said that a few mild days and nights and perhaps a bit of rainy weather will soon change that.

“As the tree roots start thawing out, the sap will start running and I am guessing that come Easter weekend we should be in full production.”

The timing of the run might be late in comparison to recent years when a late February - early March season has become common, but it will be ideal for a new initiative that is coming to Central Frontenac and Lanark Highlands.

Local maple producers will be opening up their farms to maple syrup enthusiasts and consumers on Easter weekend for the first time ever Maple Weekend event.

The free event is similar to a typical back road studio tour and its goal is to celebrate, educate and share the bounty of one of nature's sweetest and most delicious treats. Locals and visitors to the area are invited to experience first hand the art of maple syrup production.

The idea for the Maple Weekend was inspired by a similar event that has been taking place in New York State for a number of years, and which has proved to be very successful. The event is being put on by the Lanark and District Maple Syrup Producers Association with support from the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association, Valley Heartland CFDC, and the Lanark County Tourist Association

Maple Weekend will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 4 and 5 from 10AM- 4PM and will include tours at 17 different locations in Lanark, Frontenac, Leeds and Grenville and the City of Ottawa.

Both George and Darlene Conboy, 2559 Bell Line Road, and Mel and Joyce Conboy, 2379 Bell Line Road, Sharbot Lake, will be giving educational tours of their facilities, which have state of the art machinery. They will show visitors how maple syrup production has changed drastically in the last few decades. Visitors will be able to experience the entire process from start to finish as well as taste free samples of the finished products.

Similarly, three producers located in McDonalds Corners: Heritage Maple Products (623 Dalhousie Concession 9A), Hali and Andrew Mackey's Sugarbush (255 Ferguson Side Road) and Wheelers Pancake House and Sugar Camp (1001 Highland Line) will also be welcoming visitors and giving tours and free samples of their products.

At Wheelers, visitors will also be able to explore their Maple Heritage Museum, which holds the Guinness World Record of having the world's largest collection of maple-related artifacts. Other related activities on the tours, depending on the location, will include horse-sleigh wagon rides, taffy-on-snow, trail hikes, and free samples of maple syrup and other related products and confections. As to be expected, the participants will also have a wide variety of syrup and other maple products for sale.

For those who have not yet toured the operations of some of these syrup-producing facilities, there is much to see and learn, and Easter weekend will the perfect opportunity for families and their visitors to tour the local back roads and learn about maple syrup making in the 21st century. Since farms tend to be muddy in the spring time, visitors are advised that boots are the recommended foot wear. For more information about Maple Weekend and for a detailed list and map of all of the participating producers, visit www.mapleweekend.ca  

Irish Ulster baskets were the focus at a special basket making workshop that took place at the MERA schoolhouse in McDonalds Corners on March 7. Veteran basket maker, Maike Polano, who lives in Brooke Valley headed up the workshop where six enthusiastic participants learned how to make Irish Ulster potato baskets, shallow circular willow baskets that were used by potato farmers in Ireland to wash and strain potatoes and sometimes also used to serve cooked potatoes in.

Polano, who has been making baskets since 2009, began by showing the participants how to make the initial hoop or rim of the basket, onto which they then secured a number of ribs that were woven into place. Individual strands of willow were then woven through the ribs and the baskets quickly began to take shape.

Polano said that the tricky part of making these baskets is their tendency to want to take their own shape. “Keeping that in mind, you have to work hard to maintain the shape that you are after and you have to work with your hands to keep a nice tight weave, since the basket always wants to do its own thing.”

Many of the participants were first time basket makers and Polano said that she was very impressed with their abilities.

The willow used for these baskets was the last crop of willow harvested from MERA's famed willow labyrinth, which is now no more. Ankaret Dean, who was participating in the workshop, said the willow came from one “mad Irishman”, who 20 years ago brought one such basket to the area from Ireland. He then proceeded to take it apart and planted the willow. Some of the cuttings from his basket made their way into MERA's labyrinth, which makes these particular workshop baskets unique, with an authentic Irish/ MERA history all their own.

The Irish willow is a variety known as “salix purpurea”. It is particularly long and straight and Ankaret said it is the perfect willow to use for these types of baskets. She added that the original Irish willow that was planted in the MERA labyrinth could have easily cross-pollinated with other types of willow that were also planted there.

The MERA willow labyrinth was originally planted in 1999 as part of the MERA's millennium celebrations and was inaugurated at a big party soon after its planting. It was designed with four-foot-wide walkways so that a wheelchair could easily move through it but as the willows grew over the years, the pathways slowly closed in. For that reason and the fact that it had “had its day”, it was dismantled, making more space available for the regular farmers' market, which will start up again at MERA in May. Polano brought with her to the workshop a number of her own large finished baskets, which I have included in the photo. She sometimes sells her baskets at local shows in and around Perth. Asked if she will be planning another workshop anytime soon, she said that if she has enough material she would consider putting on another workshop at MERA.

by Martina Field

The Blue Skies Community Fiddle Orchestra has a lot to be excited about these days. The entire orchestra is going on a trip out to PEI this July.

The purpose of the trip is to learn new fiddling techniques and to immerse ourselves in the culture of PEI, as well as to share music from our area. The group hopes to perform at the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival and to participate in workshops of fiddle, guitar, song and step-dance.

We've been fund-raising for this trip for almost a year because even though some of us can afford to pay for the cost of the trip, others cannot. And we want all of us to have the opportunity to go on this musical adventure. So we are launching a kickstarter campaign, our biggest fundraising project ever, on March 21st, at a show of local music at the Crossing Pub in Sharbot Lake. We are very happy that three bands will be donating their time to play.

Sympathy Ghost will open the night with their own brand of original Americana-style music. They are Dan Keeler and Kate Turner from Arden. They write songs about love, loss and life, channeling the melancholy of Appalachian folk and are currently working on their first full length album.

Next up is Trxtrmusic who are Jerrard and Diana Smith, newish immigrants to Tay Valley Township from Guelph via Peterborough. Diana and Jerrard play a good mix of rootsy country tunes, some blues, a bit of reggae and even a standard or two. Jerrard plays guitar, mandolin and viola and Diana accompanies with beautiful vocal harmonies.

The popular hometown band, The Feral Five, will play last with a wide variety of mostly rock'n' roll tunes that range from the 1950s to present day. They are sure to get your toes tapping, if they don't get you right up onto the dance floor. The Feral Five include Jim MacPherson, Terry Reynolds and Dennis Larocque on guitar, Gary Giller on bass and Dave Limber on drums.

The music starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $20, available from Kate Turner 613-305-4385 and Karin Reynolds (613) 279-2114 or contact any orchestra member. The Sharbot Lake Country Inn and The Crossing will have a limited menu available for dinner before the show. Please call them at (613) 279-2198 for information and to reserve.

We've also made a cookbook with recipes from orchestra members, which will be available on the night of the show, or at the Sharbot Lake Pharmacy, The Frontenac News, and Homing Instinct in Perth. They cost $15.

Please watch for the campaign launch on kickstarter.com/canada on March 21 and help us to circulate the project until April 30.

In their ongoing efforts to showcase the work of local artists, the Grace Centre Arts Committee held a special artists talk and reception at the Grace Centre in Sydenham on March 1. Three artists, Elaine Farragher, Jill Harris, and Virginia Lavin, whose works will be on display at the centre until March 26, each spoke on what inspires their work. The paintings that make up this expansive show are mostly landscapes and all three women spoke of being inspired by the bounty and beauty of the local nature where they live.

Farragher, who spoke first, said she has always “gone in for realism” and paints nature in all its glory and minutia. Farragher said she has always resisted the trend to paint more abstractly and her works are highly detailed and demonstrate her determination to paint the natural world that surrounds her.

Jill Harris is also inspired by Canadian land and sky and her far-flung travels throughout the country have captured various intimate and expansive landscapes including those from the far north, British Columbia's west coast as well as a number of intimate rural scenes in and around Verona and Harrowsmith. Her pictures are subtle and her virtuoso talent with colour creates paintings that are rich, diverse and sublime. Virginia Lavin spoke of the calming and therapeutic effects that painting offers her. She switched from watercolour to acrylics, opting for the latter for their “versatility and forgiveness”. Much of her subject matter is what she sees from her own back yard in Bellrock. Her swan series is especially pleasing. Her downy swans are lush and intricate and are masterfully and realistically depicted on bright and vibrant rice papered abstract backgrounds. For those who missed the opening talk and reception, the show can be viewed at the Grace Centre during regular business hours by calling the SFCSC at 613-376-6477. To arrange for a weekend viewing email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

by Pat Fisher

It's a musical. It has a big cast - actors of all ages. It will be staged the first two weekends in May at Granite Ridge Education Centre. It's The Music Man.

The Music Man was written by musician Meredith Wilson and his friend Franklin Lacey. It was rejected a few times before it was staged. They wrote 44 songs for the show but streamlined it to 18 of the best. From December 1957 to April 1961 it played on Broadway (1,375 shows) and was adapted for film in 1962, staring Robert Preston and again in 2003, staring Matthew Broderick. Theatre companies everywhere have performed The Music Man, including our own North Frontenac Little Theatre in 1981. A peek at the NFLT website will show you the programme and all those of our community who were involved in that production.

People love the music and although the story is old-fashioned (a con man is at work in a small town but love prevails), it has a charm that warms our hearts. Much more about this show will be written in the months to come. Mark your calendars for May performances. Get ready to enjoy an energetic show and the tune "Seventy Six Trombones". Visit www.nflt.ca

By Jonathan Davies

Around 70 people turned out to the Kingston Christian Fellowship Church on February 20 for an evening of songs and the stories - both poignant bits of history and humourous trivia - behind them. With 18 singers from Verona and Harrowsmith United Churches and 40 string musicians with Kingston Community Strings in addition to the audience, the event made for a cozy refuge on a cold evening.

Repertoire included a range of styles, from lively string instrumentals by contemporary English composer John Rutter, to sombre medieval French sacred music, to African-American spirituals, some rousing, others wistful.

Wayne Tindale, musical director for Kingston Community Strings and conductor for Friday's concert noted that while his ensemble has done joint concerts before with other choirs, it can be a challenge achieving a balance between choir and orchestra, especially when singers are outnumbered by their instrument-playing counterparts. Another issue with bringing these particular groups together was finding time to rehearse together prior to the event, given the distance of their respective rehearsal venues.

A dress rehearsal Thursday and pre-concert run-through gave them an opportunity to iron out rough spots and helped mesh the efforts of weeks of separate practices.

The results were well received. As choir director Annabelle Twiddy noted, “everyone in the audience was very animated and lots of people had big smiles on their faces,” as the concert finished with “Bridge over Troubled Water,” which showcased the orchestra and choir, with Twiddy on Piano.

Choir member Deborah Spaar-Mueller presented the song, offering a bit of lesser-known trivia (the line in verse three “Sail on silver girl” was inspired by Paul Simon's then wife Peggy Harper's first grey hairs.)

A mid-concert highlight was a mellow, soulful rendition of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” which, along with spirituals like “Goin' Home” and “Amen,” served to commemorate Black History Month . Gail

Robertson presented the piece, describing the symbolism of the lyrics. The line “swing low, sweet chariot” is said to be a reference to the underground railroad swinging low to the south, “coming for to carry me home,” with home being the refuge that Canada promised Black slaves.

It remains to be seen whether another joint concert between the two groups will come together, but both Twiddy and Tindale hope one does.

In the meantime, the Trinity-St.Paul's choir is gearing up for another collaboration with several local church choirs for Easter performances of John Stainer's “The Crucifixion,” while Kingston Community Strings will be performing with Orchestra Kingston on May 8 at the Isabel Bader Centre for Performing Arts at Queen's University.

Close to 100 history buffs attended the annual Bedford District Historical Research Centre's open house at the Glendower hall near Godfrey on February 21.

The event included numerous displays of archival information, historical photos, maps and more. In addition, 10 local vendors and collectors set up booths advertising their wares and services. The open house offered local residents the chance to delve into not just their own family histories but also the rich local history of the area.

The Bedford Historical Committee has been actively preserving that history for roughly 15 years, when the center's former chair and founder, June Quinn (who since passed away), began collecting, preserving and cataloging local artifacts.

Gerald Stinson, who has been chairing the committee for the last four years, said that the aim of the annual open house is to promote the center and the local artisans and service providers in the area. The historical displays included in depth histories of close to 40 local families, beginning in 1861, such as the Babcooks, the Corcorans of Godfrey, the Kellys of Fish Creek Road and others

One display included a history of the various cheese factories in the area, along with numerous photos and information about the 11 former schools located in Bedford district. None of them are still operating today but four are still standing.

Other displays included a large historical map of the area pinpointing the families that first settled each individual lot and concession in the Township of Bedford beginning in the early 1800's. Another postal map circa 1879 defines the stagecoach mail routes from that time.

Stinson said that many visitors came to look into their family histories and that the center's archives have a wealth of that kind of information. “Basically anyone looking for information about a resident of Bedford at any time, from the district's first settlers to the present, will likely find that name here somewhere.”

One local family, the Maddens, who were on hand advertising their Eco Tree Care Service, used part of their day to do a bit of family tree digging of their own. The Madden family has roots that go back to the district's first settlers; their great, great, great, grandfather, John Madden of Ireland, settled in Burridge in 1823. Jimmy Madden said he believes that John Madden first arrived in Nova Scotia from Ireland then traveled through northern New York before finally settling in Frontenac County. At that time, 50-100 acre parcels of land were being granted to civilians. That first John Madden settled 50 acres that were located on Burridge Road and Firehall roads. Though the original farm burned down in the late 1800s, at that time John's son, also John, moved into an adjacent property, formerly the Edward Leary property. He built the home that Jimmy's father, Jim Madden, grew up in and where Jimmy currently lives with his family.

The Maddens also took time to peruse a copy of the Bedford Township Census from 1861-1911 and came upon some new information about a previously unknown member of their family. “We just found out today about Mary, a sister of our great, great grandfather, who was born in 1841 in Burridge and who lived there until her early 20s. However, then she disappeared from the census for what could be any number of reasons."

Jimmy Madden mused about the fact that he and his family members continue to this day to live and work off the land where his ancestors also did the same. “We (the Maddens) are very much the products not only of our ancestors but also our environment and it's amazing to think that our livelihoods are still to this day sourced by the local environment.”

The Maddens' findings on Saturday demonstrated how the Bedford Historical Research Centre contains countless hidden treasures that are just waiting to be uncovered by local residents who take the time to dig into the rich history of Bedford District. For more information about the society email Gerald Stinson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Scott White, a transplanted painter and carpenter originally from Newfoundland and now residing with his family near Westport, said that if it were up to him, he'd be painting full time.

White, who is primarily a self-taught artist, has been painting for over 20 years. He said he fell in love with painting back in high school. A number of his canvases were on display at the Glendower hall near Godfrey on February 21 as part of the historical society’s open house there.

White's preferred medium is oil and his subject matter is diverse. He is particularly drawn to historical buildings and landscapes, both local and some in Newfoundland, as well as antique and vintage cars.

His works, especially his landscapes, seem to capture the drama of his eastern Canadian birth place. His Newfoundland landscape titled “Norris Point” is a particularly enticing canvas with deep and bright hues that make the expansive white house perched on the rocky shore seem to glow from within. White also paints local landscapes and he said he was fascinated and inspired by the buildings and geography at Bedford Mills, which is the subject of another painting where he captures the historic architectural charm of one older building located there.

Old vintage cars are often front and center in White’s canvases and in one painting he depicts a red 1934 Ford emergency vehicle. “I love painting older vintage cars since they have certain characteristics that you don't often get to see and I chose to paint them partly as a way to preserve their uniqueness.” White paints at his home and has set up a studio in his garage where he works in the warmer months. He moves the studio into his home in the winter time.

Asked if his carpentry in any way informs his art work, White said that while carpentry can sometimes be a creative outlet, especially when designing certain prescribed spaces, painting offers him a totally different kind of freedom. “When you are painting you don't have to follow any rules at all. The options are endless and the challenge is that you can turn a blank canvas into anything you like.” He said that he will often paint from photos especially when depicting an actual place but he also takes creative license to make his paintings more interesting and dramatic. As an example, in one landscape he added a snowy owl perched on a fence post, which he said was not actually there. In some cases he will first create a number of sketches and then paint from those.

White's work is currently hanging at the TAG Art Gallery in St. Catharines and his paintings can also be viewed at the Sharbot Lake Country Inn. He is planning to apply to a number of summer art shows this year including the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibit. Anyone wishing to view Scott White's work can visit www.2-scott-white.artistwebsites.com or visit him on Facebook at ScottWhiteFineArt. Appointments can be made to visit his studio by emailing him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Local quilter, Debbie Emery of Plevna, won the quilt design competition put on by Frontenac County in August last year in their effort to have a unique quilt designed and created to celebrate the County’s 150th Anniversary.

Emery, who moved to Plevna over six years ago, has been quilting for close to seven years. She found out about her win just before Christmas and said that since she does not feel she is “an artist”, she was a bit surprised. At the same time, though, she feels that she did her research well and knew, going into the competition, that she had some pretty good ideas for the project. She said it was her first time entering a competition and that she was thrilled to have her design chosen.

The competition was judged by well-known local quilters/fibre artists Bethany Garner and Beth Abbott. Emery describes her winning design as a “story quilt”, one that “reflects the unique culture and people of Frontenac County from the past, present and into the future.”

The quilt, which will measure 48 x 60 inches, will incorporate multiple quilting techniques including appliqué, embroidery and hand quilting. Emery chose different subject matters to represent the various regions of North, Central and South Frontenac and said that she focused on the unique histories and characteristics of each part of the county to show their diversity.

For the north she will depict Bon Echo Provincial Park and the Dark Skies, the latter of which she says “brings the north into the future”. In Central Frontenac she is focusing on the history of the railroads and will create a steam engine as well as elements of the area’s farming and logging history. In the south she has chosen to depict the windmills of Wolfe Island and also a lighthouse to show the proximity of the southern most portions of the county to Lake Ontario.

In order to incorporate some of the more general aspects of the area as a whole, the quilt will feature some historic architecture including an old church, and school and a log cabin. Emery said that she also wanted to include the Aboriginal history of the area and she has included in her design an Aboriginal woman, a teepee and the wild rice of Ardoch Lake, the latter of which recalls the historic stand off between locals and the government in the 1970's.

Emery said that she is honored to have had her design chosen. “To know that it will be hanging in the County offices and people will be seeing it well into the future is quite exciting for me,” she said. Judging by the sample section that she had on display at the Frontenac Heritage Festival’s craft show at St. James Major Catholic Church hall on the weekend, her win is no doubt well deserved and she said it has definitely “got her creative juices flowing.”

Emery’s quilt will be unveiled at the official opening of the 150th ceremonies, which will take place in Harrowsmith from August 28 to 30. After its unveiling the quilt will be hung at the offices of Frontenac County near Battersea.

Emery also makes and sells various fashionable accessories from her home in Plevna. For more information, contact her at 613-479-8057.

Highlights included the opening Friday night talent show, which took place for the first time at the cafetorium at Granite Ridge Education Centre. A large crowd of music lovers gathered for an eclectic line up that covered a wide expanse of musical ground and included many first time performances. The Arden duo known as Sympathy Ghost, comprised of Dan Keeler and Kate Turner, gave a heartfelt performance that included one original they co-wrote and which they performed for the first time.

Rob Moore, who emceed the event, kept the ball rolling and sang an original comedic ditty about his home town of Sharbot Lake, titled “One Cold Town”, the lyrics paying respect to its local folk and businesses. The local Sharbot Lake line dancers glided their way through a number of country and pop favorites, and Brian Robertson, accompanied by brother Sid and their good friend Fred also performed a number of locally inspired originals written by Robertson, which highlighted the unique rural landscapes and communities of Maberly and Mountain Grove.

The show-stopping sibling duo of Natalie and Lucas Reynolds charmed listeners with their highly polished and mainly Celtic-inspired repertoire. These two young musicians amazed listeners at the talent show last year and this year they were even better. Mike Procter played the town clown and did an impressive set of stand up comedy. Nancy and the Plaids closed out the show with an energetic set that left the crowd wanting more.

On Saturday it was the area’s pioneer traditions that were front and center at Dr. Bell's magical pioneer log home. A horse-drawn wagon brought visitors to and from the house courtesy of Bill Lee and his gorgeous equine team. There were quilting and spinning demos courtesy of Jean Clair and Beth Abbott, and local musician Gordon Wright alternately played on the bagpipes and banjo. Dr. Peter Bell and his crew of traditionally dressed pioneers offered up warm cider and Scottish oatmeal biscuits to their guests, and Dr. Bell, who can speak at length about the house, its construction and every single artifact that graces it, was on hand to answer questions.

For those who have yet to visit it, Dr Bell’s log house is alone worth the trip to the festival. It has the ability to transport visitors back in time to what living a pioneer life might have been like and is so inviting it makes one want to move right in.