With the holiday season upon us, we are entering one of the most festive times of the year.  But it can also be a deadly time of the year. Central Frontenac Fire & Rescue is urging everyone to pay special attention when cooking during the holidays, and to drink responsibly. Provincial statistics reveal that careless cooking is the number one cause of fires and the second leading cause of fatal fires. “The hustle and bustle of the holidays can dramatically increase your risk of having a fire” said Fire Chief Greg Robinson. “All too often, these fires are started by unattended cooking and in many cases alcohol is involved.” Smoking is another leading cause of fires during the holiday season. “Make sure smokers extinguish cigarettes in large…

To a certain extent, last Friday’s Small Business Expo ’18 at the St. Lawrence College Employment Service in Sharbot Lake was a vendors’ market. Many of the local usual suspects were there and things were for sale. But this one was a little bit different. “We thought we’d take advantage of the expertise in the area,” said coordinator Karen McGregor. “We started calling it the entrepreneurs expo but that wasn’t sexy enough so . . . vendors sale.” But, unlike the various craft shows and farmers markets, sales and fellowship wasn’t the only thing on the agenda. “We wanted to tap into the wisdom of people who’ve been doing this for awhile,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to learn the do’s and don’ts from people…

Mr. Flegal’s grade three/four class at Granite Ridge Education Centre class was honoured to have local Métis community members, Candace Lloyd and Nicholas Delbaere-Sawchuck, visit and share their knowledge and teachings through guided discussion and questions last week,. Students learned about the Métis culture and the significance of the sash and the colours they used. They engaged in a finger weaving technique used for sash-making and created their own mini bracelet.  Candace and Nicholas introduced the students to Métis music and the basic steps of “jigging”, a traditional Métis dance.   The Indigenous Studies and Indigenous English classes (and a couple of other visitors) also learned jigging from Candace Lloyd.  It was a very energetic and fun workshop, which required fans and open windows.  Ms.…

The North Frontenac Little Theatre Production of The Red Plaid Shirt, by Ontario based playwright Greg Wilmott, was a solid production of a play that explores a topical subject: how male baby boomers handle retirement and how that affects their relationships with their wives. The play centres around two couples, but the central role is that of Marty, who was played convincingly by Greg Morris. Marty is a newly retired English teacher who does not know what to do with himself, and his sense of ennui provides the impetus for the comedic plot twists that propel the action. Of the other three characters, Marty’s wife Deb, played in a suitably befuddled manner by Sharon Rodden, has the most to do. Her transition to retirement seems…

Early on Tuesday afternoon, a tired Jean Freeman had just arrived back home when we reached her on the phone. “How’s the set up going.” I asked her. “All done,” she said. A group of 8 women spent all day Monday unpacking over 300 Nativity Scenes, and started placing them on shelving and tables that they had set up over the weekend. Working with Nativities that came from around the corner, and around the world, they carefully placed them so they would make an inviting display for the crowds who will be coming to see them on Friday evening, and Saturday and Sunday afternoon this week. “Four of us were back this morning finishing up the display and we got it all done. Now we…