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Wednesday, 19 February 2020 12:55

Just another Saturday in Kennebec District

The 14th annual Frontenac Heritage Festival was well represented Saturday in Kennebec District.

First of all, there was the annual display from the Kennebec Historical Society at Kennebec Hall featuring the unique tool collection of Martin Hoogstein as well as a recently acquired wooden model of the Nonsuch (explorer Henry Hudson’s ship) built by Nick Zeldenrust and a couple of old baseball scoreboards found in the basement of Kennebec Hall.

Once again the Arden Potters held the Empty Bowls project where buying a bowl of soup or chilli also got you a handcrafted bowl with proceeds going to the Food Bank and the Arden Rink Restoration project.

And speaking of the Rink Restoration project, the Recreation Committee held a bake sale fundraiser. They’ll still take donations too. Call Wanda Harrison at 613-335-3186 for information.

There was also a quilting display and outside, Mike Proctor, Bob Miller and the Frontenac Blades put on a demonstration of pioneer living and tomahawk throwing.

Over on Kennebec Lake, the lake association’s annual event got off to a bit of a rough start when Terry Kennedy took a spill on the ice while, ironically, spreading sand on the plowed walkway. Then, it was announced that a planned ice rescue demonstration under the bridge had to be cancelled as district fire chief Jeff Matson, who was organizing the demonstration, was called away to be present at the birth of his grandson.

But, as more and more people started showing up, things worked out just fine.

“This was our best one ever,” said one of the organizers, Judy Kennedy. “There were about 110 people and many of them were new faces.

“We’re getting a turnover on the lake and it was good to see a lot of kids and dogs.

“And all the food was gone.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

The 14th annual Frontenac Heritage Festival kicks off Friday night, Feb. 14, with its usual variety show, but this year things will be a little different, says producer Rob Moore.

“This year, it’s called ‘Variety Show — The Musical,’” Moore said. “After two years of Frontenac’s Got Talent, rather than rehashing what we’ve done in the past, I wanted to work with some kids I know, including my own kids.”

He said those familiar with the Glee TV show will recognize the show style, complete with a number of cameos and performances.

“Some of the songs will be backed up by a live band — Dennis Larocque, Brett Hilder and Nate Paul,” he said. “Others will use pre-recorded backing tracks.

“It will be a mixture of pop songs, ’80s rock and such — everything from The Beatles to Twisted Sister to Justin Timberlake.”

He said he and co-writer Cathy Bateman wrote scenes around the songs. The overall story arc is them blending two families together.

“They’re short skits, that culminate in songs,” he said.

He said one of the goals this year was to include a lot of people but not manipulate months of their time for a one-off show.

He said part of their inspiration was the very first Variety Night, which was kind of a takeoff on Hee Haw.

“We may return to the Frontenac’s Got Talent format next year,” he said.

The cast includes Mason and Miles Moore, Audry and Anderson Bateman, Braidey Merrigan, Sidney Potts and Nevaeh Mapleston.

There will be a half-time canteen with Cardinal Cafe hosting.

The show gets underway at 7 p.m., following the opening ceremonies in the Granite Ridge Education Centre foyer, with charcuterie and punch from Seed to Sausage and Mike Dean’s.

Entry to the show is by monetary or non-perishable food donation to the Food Bank.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 29 January 2020 12:35

Empty Bowls is also about the soup

Empty Bowls is a fundraising concept that started back in 1991 in a Michigan high school classroom by an art teacher. The students made ceramic bowls that were used as serving pieces for a fundraising meal, and the people who purchased the meals got to take their bowl home.

The idea took off over time, and there are now Empty Bowls projects in communities across the US and Canada. In Perth, Potter Jackie Seaton started Empty Bowls in 2002, and the event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last 18 years.

In Central Frontenac, inspired in part by Seaton’s commitment, Joanne Pickett of Arden Pottery worked with some other local potters, including Tracy Bamford and Sharon Matthews (Waters Edge Pottery on Long Lake), and Aileen Merriam, to start up Empty Bowls 2015. It was presented in conjunction with Frontenac Heritage Festival, with proceeds going to the North Frontenac Food Bank.

One of the features that makes Empty Bowls distinctive, is the symmetry of the event. Volunteers make the bowls, volunteers fill them with soup, and proceeds go to helping to feed people. And all within the same community.

The 6th Empty Bowls is taking place this year, once again as part of the Frontenac Heritage Festival, on Saturday, February 15, between 10am and 4pm. Neil Purcell of Henderson is one the potters who have provided bowls this year, along with Matthews, Bamford, Merriam and Pickett.

It is not only the pots that people have to choose from, the soup is also the thing.

“There are some amazing soups that local cooks make for this occasion,” said Joanne Pickett, who is a central organiser of the event, “and since we hold it in the middle of winter, a hearty soup is as important as a nice bowl.”

The fundraising goal this year is $3,000, and donated funds will be split between the North Frontenac Food Bank, and the Arden Rink project.

In addition to soup, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and pie/cake by the slice will be available.

Soups on

With Empty Bowls coming, winter getting ready to really settle in, and with lent pending, it is time for soup. We hope to have the recipe from one of the Empty Bowls soups next week, and would like to include soup recipes every week between now and Easter – a 15 week stretch. We are therefore putting out the call to readers to share a favourite soup recipe, one that is tried and true and preferably not hard to make. No one really wants to fuss over soup. Send soup recipes to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with Soups On in the subject line.

The get things started, I am including a recipe we have made at home at least three times this winter, a simply, hearty lentil soup. It is one that my wife Martina has adapted. Don’t skip the lemon, it brings the flavours to life.

Ingredients

2-3 tablespoons olive oil

3 onions, chopped 

5-6 garlic cloves, minced

2-3 large carrots, chopped

2-3 medium parsnips, chopped

2 stalks celery

2 cups / 400g dried lentils, green or brown (if you only have red, use red)

1 can tomatoes (whole or crushed)

1.5 litres (6 cups) vegetable or chicken broth or water (or combination)

1 tsp each cumin and coriander powder plus 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (optional)

2 tsp paprika powder

2-3 bay leaves

Salt and pepper to taste

One cup baby spinach (optional)

Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro, for garnish

Lemon

Warm bread, to serve

Method

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until clear, 3 to 4 minutes.

Add celery, parsnips and carrot. Cook for 7-10 minutes or until softened and the onion is sweet.

Add all remaining ingredients except the lemon and salt. Stir. 

Increase heat and bring to simmer. Place lid on and turn heat down to medium low. Simmer for 35-40 minutes or until lentils are soft.

Add a touch of water if you want to adjust soup consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Fish out the bay leaves and discard! Add a squeeze of lemon juice and the spinach just before serving. Garnish with parsley (or cilantro) if desired and serve with warm crusty buttered bread

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

There was a time, not so very long ago, when horses and hand saws were the tools of the trade in the logging industry. Arden’s Matson family was very involved in all that.

So it probably comes as no surprise that they decided to do some demonstrations and displays as part of the Frontenac Heritage Festival this year.

“I worked in the bush and I’m the fourth or fifth generation,” said Glen Matson, current patriarch of the clan. “We’re all interested in the history and we’ve all worked with horses in the bush.”

And, it almost seems there’s more than nostalgia at work here. Matson makes a case for horse-power actually doing a better job than modern machinery.

“Dad did a lot of forestry work for the Ministry,” he said. “They gave you a lot of small plots to clear.

“The horses did it a lot quicker as it was easier to hitch a log to a chain and lift it up to make it easier on the horses.

“And, they didn’t make such a mess, tearing up the forest and all.”

Matson said this year’s new addition to the Heritage Festival was actually the brainchild of son Duane, said the elder Matson.

“We did wagon rides last year,” said Duane. “But being part of the historical society, we all like the old stuff and we wanted to show people how to attach chain to stuff.

“We wanted to show some of the logging history and even with the sleigh rides, the top parts where people sit are all new but the bottom parts (the skis and struts) are all old.”

And so they did, with all sorts of demonstrations of log cutting and hauling and axe throwing.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 21 February 2018 10:54

Turtles and owls and bears — oh my!

Over the past 15 years, the custom animal carvings of Robin Deruchie have begun showing up at cottages and northern locations all across Ontario. He’s done demonstrations from Sarnia to Ottawa to Timmins.

One park near Sarnia has 32 of his works spread throughout the park.

Last Saturday, he was in Arden for the Frontenac Heritage Festival, a gig he’s done several times before.

Many of his creations come to life at Wolf Creek Carvings, his studio/home in the Cloyne area, but he always draws a crowd at events, perhaps because he seems to be enjoying himself when he’s taking a chainsaw to a log.

“Well, it is relaxing,” he said, taking a break from the owl he’s been working on. “I also do some fine-detailed carving, mostly on birds of prey like hawks and owls, which are my favourite subjects.”

The public seems to like his owls too, along with bears and strangely enough — turtles.

“I’m sold out of turtles today,” he said.

Deruchie has always had a passion for art and wildlife, having painted as a boy. But he sort of found his life’s calling somewhat by accident.

“I stumbled across it while building a house on Skootamata Lake,” he said. “I just started fooling around with it.”

He said he’s probably done more bears than anything but that’s probably because he can do them quickly and they sell well.

But while he estimates he’s done close to 5,000 (about 250 to 300 per year) carvings in his career, he maintains each one is different and that helps keep him going.

“I don’t work from drawings,” he said. “I let the wood dictate what the end result will be.

“I may say ‘I’m going to do a bear but the pose, and the variety the facial expressions, will all come from the individual piece of wood.

“If you draw them first, they tend to be all the same.”

Deruchie likes to work in walnut but that can be hard to come by, so the majority of his works are pine. That also works well with his personal philosophy.

“I tend to work with the community,” he said. “If somebody wants a tree taken down, I’ll do it in return for the wood and I’ll likely leave them a little carving as a token of appreciation.

“I’m not going out there cutting down trees just for carvings.”

Like many artists, when he first began he was a little reluctant to give up his creations, he said. But now that he’s making a living from it, not so much.

“My wife (Jackie) has scored maybe five over the years,” he said. “But when I retire is when I’ll do pieces for our own yard.”

Deruchie’s works start at as little as $45 with most in the $100-$125 range. They’re based on size however with a two-foot bear costing as much as $250.

His website is wolfcreekcarvings.com

Published in ADDINGTON HIGHLANDS
Wednesday, 21 February 2018 10:54

Kennebec then and now

On the agenda of the July 5, 2017 council meeting held in Arden, a presentation was made by Glen Matson and Wanda Harrison requesting permission to remove a large pine tree in front of the Community Centre. With permission granted the tree was safely and efficiently removed September 18. It had been decided, at that time, to make a dedication to the past forefathers of Kennebec Township, at the opening of the new Heritage Garden, but unfortunately due to a multitude of reasons, that did not happen.

After some discussions, it was decided that the Heritage Festival Weekend would be the more, appropriate time to reschedule that dedication, so with the help of Paddy O’Connor, Town Crier, the unveiling of the plank, milled from the old tree, along with photos and a framed tribute took place Saturday February 17.

Glen briefly explained how in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s the Township of Kennebec council showed appreciation to the seniors of the day, by hosting annually, a catered meal with entertainment. The tradition was started by Reeve Dorothy Gaylord and continued under the leadership of Reeve George Pringle. At the 1984 dinner Reeve Pringle arranged to have a Pine tree moved from the woods and planted at the Community Centre, in the Seniors honour. And so this tree stood, until it unfortunately had to be removed for safety reasons.

Glen, the Historical Society and the Recreation Committee, all felt that there had to be a lasting tribute to those who proceeded us, establishing our Hamlet. Looking at the photographs and those pictured you will see many familiar names; Knight, Woodcock, See, Monds, Scott, Barnett, Peterson and Matson to name just a few. It’s those folks who formed the backbone of the Community we know today.

It is now our turn to make memories, and so 2 new ornamental shrubs were planted last fall, starting the process. This vibrant community is involved in numerous events and are represented in various venues, any or all of which, will help to continue the traditions of the Hamlet and to establish new ones.

The tribute is a wonderful addition to the Community Centre and if you have the opportunity to visit our wonderful community, drop in and see our new addition.

 

 

 

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

The Frontenac Heritage Festival returns to Central Frontenac Township this weekend for its 12th year.

Things get underway Friday night with an opening gala at GREC and the annual local talent show — Frontenac’s Got Talent.

The Festival swings into high gear on Saturday with a variety of events and activities in Sharbot Lake, Tichborne, Arden and Kennebec Lake. You can skate for free at the Tichborne rink all day.

Sharbot Lake will be busy starting with the Lions All You Can Eat Breakfast, a bonfire at the CF Train Museum and a Bucket Drumming Workshop for kids at the Child Centre.

But the Arden area has historically been the busiest area on the Saturday and this year is no exception with the Empty Bowls lunch with proceeds going to the food bank, the annual fur-traders camp reenactment, indoor displays from the Historical Society and Trappers Council along with games for the kids outside and chainsaw wood carving demonstrations. There’s a chili cook-off at the Legion too.

And over at the Kennebec Lake public boat launch, the Kennebec Lake Association is holding its 7th annual Winter Fun Day with skating, hockey, ring-toss, snow shoeing, ice fishing, campfire and hot food and drinks.

On Sunday, the focus shifts back to Sharbot Lake for the annual Polar Bear Plunge followed by live music and chili at the Legion. At 6 p.m., the winners of the photo contest will be announced at Oso Hall followed by a family movie.

On Monday, there will be games and activities at the ball field in Sharbot Lake and demonstrations of logging skills at Glen Matson’s farm in Arden.

Although there’s no official ‘chair’ of the festival committee for this year (founder/showrunner Janet Gutowski has stepped down), Mike Procter, who’s busy with different events three of the four days, said they’re always looking for volunteers (they’re good for this year), especially when it comes to planning next year’s event.

“All it would take is a 10-15 hour commitment, all indoors if you want,” Procter said. “We will train you.”

You can call Procter at 613-279-2572.

(And you can look for Procter at his “jockularity and prestidigitation” at the talent show, the fur traders camp on Saturday and with the Frontenac Blades tomahawk/knife throwers at Matson’s Farm.)

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Four years ago Joanne Pickett of Arden Pottery decided to start up an Empty Bowls project in her own community.

Empty Bowls is a fund raising project that has been embraced by potters throughout North America as a way of raising money and awareness about poverty. It was founded not by potters, but by two high school art teachers in Michigan, John Hartom and Lisa Blackburn. Students in Hartom’s class made bowls and then Hartom and Blackburn, who are a married couple, organised a lunch for students and teachers in the school. They filled the bowls with soup, and served them to everyone, then asked them all to think about those in their community whose soup bowls were empty. They then asked for donations and said, “keep the bowls”.

The concept of empty bowls was born. In 2002, Empty Bowls came to Eastern Ontario when Perth area potter, the late Jackie Seaton, started up the Perth Empty Bowls project. The project is now in its 16th year and has raised over $200,000 for local youth and food programs. The dozen potters who are involved have made over 9,000 bowls.

The experience of Empty Bowls for Joanne Pickett in Arden has been similar, although on a smaller scale. In the first year Joanne made most of the bowls herself and involved few people, raising $800 for the North Frontenac Food Bank, based in Sharbot Lake.

In the second year more people were involved and $1,400 was raised and last year $2,200 was raised.

This year local potters from Water's Edge Pottery, Aileen Merriam, Jonas Bonetta and Arden Pottery have donated over 100 bowls. For $20. diners choose from a menu of gourmet soups and chilies served in a one-of-a-kind handcrafted pottery bowl that they get to keep.

This year's offerings include smoked tomato and basil soup with shaved Parmesan cheese, chicken/veg and brown rice , creamy curried squash, and baked potato soup with cheddar and bacon - just to name a few. For the adventuresome among us there will be a wild chili - all ingredients (except for the salt) harvested in Kennebec township. Soups and chilies are served with a crispy ciabatta roll and butter.

Freshly brewed coffee and tea, and mulled cider will be available with a selection of delicious homemade cookies and cupcakes.

Also this year there will be a silent auction as part of the Empty Bowls campaign, with artwork donated by local artists.

The event begins at 10 am and goes until 4 pm on the 17th, when Arden will be chock full of Frontenac Heritage Festival events.

See the blue pamphlet in this week’s paper for a complete schedule.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Lilly Legacy-Zierer picked up the drumming bug playing the snare in her high school marching band. From there, she moved on to a Djembe troupe, the Fire Drums Festival and a host of other percussive pursuits.

And now, she’s the leader of the Frontenac Skies Community Drummers, a group of a dozen drummers ranging in age from 8-13.

“We’re currently rehearsing for the Frontenac’s Got Talent Show, Feb. 16,” she said while putting the kids through their paces at Rural Frontenac Community Services Child Centre in Sharbot Lake.

Armed with support from Blue Skies in the Community, a grant from Community Foundation of Kingston and Area and some buckets donated by Home Hardware in Sharbot Lake, Legacy-Zierer has embarked on a journey to bring world drumming styles together in the northern Frontenacs.

“I was assistant choir director for Young Choristers North when some bucket drummers came and I said ‘why aren’t we doing this?,’” she said. “I went to GREC and told them I’d do this on a volunteer basis and we had 28 students.

“But how can we make this sustainable?”

So, she partnered with Blue Skies in the Community and Rural Frontenac Community Services.

“The sole purpose of this is to have a performance-ready group to support community events, like the Heritage Festival and Santa Claus Parades,” she said.

And, it also gives kids the change to let off some steam.

“Drummers have a lot of energy,” she said. “And this is a way to channel it.

“This is something brand new and it’s based on the West African Dun Dun style of drumming so it’s not only drumming but movement too.”

She said they started off with rudimentary beats using recycled materials and gradually started adding world styles.

“Our bass drum is an old tire I had,” she said. “But it’s extremely rewarding.

“I regularly get parents thanking me.”

She said she’d like to build the program with an international drumming group of high school students and they’ll be holding open auditions for the current group in late February.

“We’ll likely bring in one or two more but that might be difficult because most of the kids say ‘I’m not leaving,’” she said. “My Grade 8 student, Draven Caddick, said he’s coming back to help when he gets to high school to get his volunteer hours.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

The 12th Annual Frontenac Heritage Festival is set to go Feb. 16-19 and one of its regular features, the local talent show, is once again the big draw on opening night (6:30 p.m. at the Granite Ridge Education Centre).

Once again it will follow the Frontenacs Got Talent format with guest judges determining an overall winner.

“Last year’s winner, Zack Teal, will be opening the show as per tradition,” said emcee Rob Moore at last Wednesday night’s audition/rehearsal. “A new winner will be crowned that evening.”

Once again there will be a variety of acts ranging from musical offerings to the demonstration team from Sharbot Lake Karate to poi juggler Eric Zwier to the Sharbot Lake Line Dancing group.

“And Mike Procter will be doing a magic show,” Moore said.

Following the opening gala Friday night, there will be a range of events and activities all weekend including skating at the Tichborne Rink on Saturday, breakfast at Oso Hall, bucket drumming at the Child Centre, bonfire warming station at the C.F. Train museum and a host of events including empty bowls, log-splitting, hay rides and pioneer village in Arden.

On Sunday, there’s the ever-popular Polar Plunge at the Sharbot Lake Marina followed an open mike with chilli at the Sharbot Lake Legion.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
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