Close to 100 guests gathered under the outdoor pavilion at the Pine Meadow Nursing Home in Northbrook on September 11 to officially celebrate its long-awaited refurbishing and upgrading from a class B facility into a “new home” rated facility, which is one step above its initial goal of becoming a category A nursing home.

Carl Gray, on behalf of the board of directors of the Land O'Lakes Community Services (LOLCS), emceed the event, which included greetings and speeches by various dignitaries, including the Warden of Lennox Addington, Gordon Schermerhorn; Addington Highlands Councilor Bill Cox; North Frontenac Councilor Vernon Hermer; Pine Meadow's current administrator Margaret Palimka and its chair of family council Brenda Martin; and representatives from Extendicare, Sharon Gilmour and Tracey Mulcahey.

The road to the facility's redevelopment has indeed been a long one. It began 14 years ago when Kim Harvey, Pine Meadow's then administrator, initiated the process, which was approved by the LOLCS and set in motion with the appointment of a planning committee.

Ernest Lapchinski, chair of Pine Meadow’s planning and building committee, has been involved in the project from the start. He also spoke at the ceremony, thanking all of the individuals and parties involved in seeing the project through to completion. These included the LOLCS; the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care and Infrastructure Ontario; Georgina Thompson, first chair of the South East LHIN (Local Health Integration Network); the County of Lennox and Addington; Extendicare Canada; project manager Peter McConnachie and architect Gail Lamb; and Brian McMullen and Jamie Broeders of Frecon Construction of Kingston. Also thanked were the various local organizations and groups who supported the project, including the Northbrook Lions and Legion, as well as the staff and residents at Pine Meadow and the local and surrounding communities. Lapchinski ended his thanks by saying that, “Rural communities such as ours without significant political clout have learned that they must work together to get what is needed for our citizens and that takes persistence and passion, both of which have brought us to success”.

Other presentations included a plaque in memory of former mayor of North Frontenac, Bud Clayton, which was presented to Bill Cox. Clayton was very involved with the project and Cox said he would have been “very proud.”

A presentation was also made by Margaret Anderson on behalf of her partner Brian Lorimer, who gifted a large work he painted, titled “The Weathered Pine” to the facility. The painting depicts a tree located near the facility, one that residents often walk by on their hikes. Anderson said it demonstrates how an old, weathered tree is still beautiful and can still offer an important role in the ongoing circle of life it inhabits.

Betty Meeks, president of the residents’ council, also spoke on behalf of the residents and said that despite the refurbishing process, during which residents and staff endured “..lots of dirt, noise and confusion, ongoing changes in routine, we now have a much nicer building - brighter, bigger, and more pleasant with more areas to visit with friends and family.”

The upgrades, which cost approximately $5.5 million, were completed at the end of July, 2015. They include two extensions made to each of the two wings of the facility, which each now have 32 beds and an increased number of square footage per resident. There were also upgrades and renovations to the dining room, visiting areas, washroom facilities and outdoor facilities.

Emcee Carl Gray especially thanked the staff at Pine Meadow, who he said always, throughout the construction process “maintained a 'residents first' approach”. He also thanked the members of the Pine Meadow Management Committee, past and present, who he said “have worked tirelessly to see this redevelopment become a reality.”

Following the ceremony, staff, residents and guests enjoyed cake and refreshments, and staff gave tours of the new upgrades.

The 14th annual Pine Meadow Charity Golf Tournament took place on June 20 at Hunter's Creek Golf Course on Hwy. 506 near Cloyne. As in previous years, this year's tournament was generously sponsored by numerous businesses and community members, raising over $15 000. These funds are used for a variety of items at Pine Meadow, which cannot be included in their regular budget and which enhance the lives of the residents at the nursing home.

A special thank you goes to Brad Douglas of Yourway Home Building Centre, who has been our major corporate sponsor for 13 years. Brad intends to continue to support the charity as a community sponsor.

Funds raised this year will be used to subsidize the monthly excursions planned for the residents and to repair the screened gazebo in the courtyard area. Several other items will be purchased as well, including slings, a specialty mattress, chairs for the activity room, a sofa for the entrance area, serving carts for the new dining areas and casino games and ipads for the residents to enjoy.

This year, 59 golfers participated in the tournament on a bright, sunny day at Hunter's Creek. Raffle prizes included a beautiful quilt made by the Treadle Quilters and valued at $1100, which was won by Glenn McFadden and an ipad mini, which was won by Joan McPhee. There was also a 50/50 draw with a prize of $105, won by Sue White, who donated the money back to the fund. The microwave, donated by Smitty's Appliances, was the prize for the chipping contest and was won by Cory Andrew. A compressor donated by Kaladar Auto Parts was purchased in a silent auction by Everett English for $170 and this money will also be added into the Special Needs fund.

The members of the first place team at the tournament (pictured) were Jeff South, John South, Miller Hodgins and Dave Anthony. There was a three-way tie for second place and the members of the three teams donated their winnings back to the charity. Many thanks to Fern Sedore, Barb Dion, Mary Locke, Michelle Walters, Lawrence Flynn, T.J. Flynn, Everett English, Richard Rashotte, Ab Meeks, Herb Clark, Phil Brown and Ron Fobert.

The men's closest to the pin was won by Ron Nowell and the women's closest to the pin was won by Dawn Reiser. The men's longest drive was won by Miller Hodgins and the women's longest drive was won by Barb Dion, who donated the funds back to the charity.

The raffle sales brought in over $5600 and we are very grateful to the many ticket sellers, who gave of their time and enthusiasm.

After a rigorous review process last month, Fairmount Home was officially awarded Accreditation with Commendation, the second-highest level of accreditation possible. According to Accreditation Canada’s website, this rating is reserved for “organizations that go beyond the requirements of Accreditation Canada and are commended for their commitment to quality improvement.”

Out of 504 criteria, only one was left unmet; meaning the home very narrowly missed an exemplary standing. Fairmount has until June to prove itself on that one unresolved criteria, and staff have already started working toward achieving exemplary standing.

“As a member of the Quality Improvement Team at Fairmount, I’ve long been confident the home could achieve this level of recognition,” says Warden Denis Doyle. “County Council is proud of staff who maintain this world-class facility right here in our backyard.”

“I’ve been going through accreditation for 30 years and this is the best one we’ve ever had,” said recently retired Acting Administrator Mary Lake. “I think our rating is so great this time around because it wasn’t just based on conversations with management. The auditors engaged with our staff and residents, and evaluated based on what they were able to see and feel. Gentle Care is truly entrenched in our daily life here at Fairmount Home, and that is reflected in this outstanding accreditation.”

Accreditation Canada is an independent third party that evaluates health care organizations to help them improve quality, safety, and efficiency. Accreditation also serves as a benchmark for potential residents and family members of residents, who can rest-assured that an accredited home works hard to meet standards and provide the best possible care and service.

Andrew Kovacs had an idea, and the former Sharbot Lake Seniors’ Home is where he is turning that idea into a reality.

Kovacs is a Certified Professional Accountant who worked for years in supply chain finance. However he has wanted to make a change and has been looking for a suitable property to turn into a residence where seniors can be active but not have to worry about property upkeep, cooking or cleaning, among other responsibilities.

“I spent over a year looking for the right opportunity and looked at a number of properties, at least eight, but nothing was suitable. Then one day my broker called me and said his daughter had seen the seniors home here when she was driving to Toronto from Ottawa, where she works for Health Canada, and she told her father to check it out,” he said last week from his makeshift construction office/living room in what is fast becoming Sharbot Lake Retirement and Retreat.

That was in late September, and when he came up and saw the building and the location he was instantly sold on it.

“The lake sold it for me; it's gorgeous,” he said.

As we talked last week, the lake was frozen in its winter stillness, but the building was full of activity. All of the rooms have been completely gutted, down to the studs. The furniture, which had been accumulated over the years by the former owner of the property, Dr. Bell, has been or is being refurbished and is stacked in one room under cover. It is in this bare-bones state that Kovacs can see how he wants to set up the building for the 20 or so residents that he will be able to accommodate as permanent residents.

“The rooms are all 250 square feet in size, and we are putting walk-in tubs and showers in each of them. We plan to create what I call a 'boutique hotel experience' here. All the meals will be included of course, plus tray service to the room upon request, and other services such as a hair salon. In a lot of residences that are out there, the initial rent is only a part of the cost; everything comes with a charge. Here, everything will be included.”

One of the changes that came about from looking at the building once it was gutted is that the former dining room, which has large windows and the best view of the lake in the entire building, will be used as an activity lounge instead.

“While it was a beautiful room for eating in, it was not used for the rest of the day,” said Kovacs, “so we can move the dining area over and make this room a focal point for the residents.”

One of the basic improvements being made to the building is the installation of an elevator to help with mobility in the three-level structure. Further down the road, the strip of land between the building and the lake is to be landscaped and made fully accessible to the residents in the home.

“What we are going to be offering is a beautiful location, handy to all the services in the village, at a competitive price,” said Kovacs, who said he sees the region between Ottawa and Kingston as the market for the residence.

“When we are all done renovating this will be a beautiful place to live. The building has really good bones. It is solid and has an approved sprinkler system. What we will be doing is making all the residents’ rooms and all the common rooms look and feel attractive and comfortable. When people come here with their parents they will be wanting to move in themselves; that's what we are after,” he said.

A local crew is now working on the construction project as are local tradespeople, and when the residence is opened there will be employment for cooks and cleaners, personal support workers and other staff.

“Our success will bring jobs and a higher profile to the local community,” said Kovacs, who hopes to make the Sharbot Lake residence the model for others in the coming years.

Once the renovations are complete, Kovacs said he intends to bring the local public in to view the space.

Sharbot Lake will have a new housing option for seniors next year.

Hands have been wringing up and down Frontenac County ever since the Sharbot Lake Seniors' Home closed early in the summer of 2013.

Seniors' housing is a community priority in Central Frontenac and a key component of the new Frontenac County Strategic Plan, and having a 30-bed facility closed and sitting on the real estate market belied the effectiveness of those efforts.

All that changed late last week, when realtor Alison Robinson of Lake District Realty put up a "Sold" sign on the building. The really big news as far as she is concerned - and in this matter she speaks for herself and the building's soon to be former owner, Dr. Peter Bell - is that it will continue to serve the ageing population in Sharbot Lake and vicinity.

“We really wanted to sell this property to someone who was not going to re-purpose the building, and even though all the big developers we talked to said that we would have to accept that, we are happy to say it will remain a residence for the senior population,” Robinson said after the sale was announced.

Details about the nature of the new use for the home will be forthcoming later. The new owner, who is remaining anonymous for the time being, released the following statement:

“Sharbot Lake Retirement (and Retreat) Ltd., is the operating entity that will be taking over the facility. We are currently in the renovation planning stages and will begin working on the facility soon. Once we have our vision and plan worked out, we will gladly release more information when it is appropriate to do so. We look forward to a happy and long community presence and want to thank everyone we have already met and those we will meet, for the warm and wonderful welcome to the community.”

According to Robinson, the timelines that the new owner is working with are aggressive, the hope being to open in the spring or summer of 2015.

After over a year of work trying to find a buyer, and a number of near misses, there was a hint of chance in the way the sale came about.

“The daughter of the buyer's Toronto agent drove by the building. She knew her father had a client who was interested in a retirement home, so she phoned him. He gave me a call and we began the long process that led to the sale,” said Robinson.

In the run-up to the Central Frontenac election, the successful sale of the seniors' home was drafted into the pitches of some of the candidates at an all- candidates meeting in Sharbot Lake on Monday night.