Dave Stacey, Manager, Trousdale's Foodland; Brenda Hollinsworth, cashier; John Trousdale, co-owner, Trousdale's Foodland; Sue Clinton, Chair, LC&ERC;  and Trudy Greenside, Cashier. 

On December 16, Sue Clinton, Chair of the Loughborough Christmas & Emergency Relief Committee (LC&ERC) was presented a cheque by Dave Stacey and John Trousdale in the amount of $621. The presentation took place at Trousdale's Foodland Store in Sydenham. The funds were generated by a recent program offered by Sobey's Canada that gave all Sobey stores and Sobey affiliate stores (Foodland, IGA, etc) the opportunity to sell 'snowflakes' to their customers for $2, $5 or $10 with all proceeds going to a local food bank. In Sydenham the LC&ERC operates the food bank that serves all Loughborough District residents.

Lions Club President Rob Kendrick hands a cheque for $1,000 to Sue Clinton, Chair of the Loughborough Christmas & Emergency Relief Committee..

Lions Club President Rob Kendrick hands a cheque for $1,000 to Sue Clinton, Chair of the Loughborough Christmas & Emergency Relief Committee. The LC&ERC, a small all-volunteer group, is funded solely by donations from its supporters in Loughborough District and nearby areas.  The Committee operates a Christmas Basket program as well as a year-round food bank and emergency relief service for residents of Loughborough District. The Committee can be reached through its voicemail at 613-572-6004. This cheque was a very timely one coming as it did just before the implementation of this year's Christmas Baskets.

Jim Stinson, Wray Gillespie andllan McPhail.

Jim Stinson, General Manager of the North Frontenac Arena at Piccadilly receiving a cheque for $1,000 from Lions Club Treasurer Wray Gillespie and Lions Club Secretary llan McPhail. This cheque is the final instalment on a 3-year, $3,000 pledge by the Sydenham Lions in support of Project End Zone.

Ainsley Jeffrey, Leah Gurr, Anne Archer, Katelyn Doreen and Katie McNichols

Students at Loughborough Public School were getting in one of their last regular rehearsals for Band Bash, the upcoming annual concert for 300 students in Limestone District School Board schools.

The concert is the culmination of the Partnership in Music Program that runs in various LDSB schools for students in grades 6, 7 and 8 and this year close to 300 students are involved.

The program brings professional musicians from the community into local schools, where they offer one hour of instruction per week to students in various band instruments, including flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet drums, lower brass horns and trombones.

The program came into existence roughly 15 years ago, when a number of elementary schools were forced to drop their music programs as a result of budget cuts.

Professional musician Anne Archer is an instructor in the program and teaches flute to students at Sharbot Lake High School and Loughborough PS. On April 27 her grade 7 flute class was putting some finishing touches to a number of pieces that they will be performing at Band Bash. After a run through of “O’ Canada”, the students worked on “Pirates of the Caribbean”, the Simpsons’ theme song, “Stratford March” and “Shalom”, a piece that the group along with Anne will be performing solo at the concert.

For the students the concert is an opportunity to hear how their efforts will come together in a professional venue.

Anne described the pleasure she takes in teaching these students. “It’s a real pleasure to get together with a small group of students, and because the students have elected to do this they are a real pleasure and a joy to teach.”

The concert takes place May 5 at the Grand Hall at Queen’s University in Kingston. A final rehearsal will take place from 3-5pm and the performance will take place from 5:30-6pm. Award-winning composer and director of the Kingston Orchestra, John Palmer, will be conducting.

The guest ensemble performing at the concert will be the La Salle Community Band under the direction of Chris Alfano and they will be playing selections from the musical “Oklahoma”.

Photo: members of the Point Improvement Committee l-r, Cheryl Irwin, Vicky Veldman, Norm Irwin, Mark Richards, Leslie Myles, Mark Segsworth and Mike Howe, (missing is Joanne Brown)

Members of the Point Improvement Committee, a sub-committee of the Loughborough and District  Parks and Rec Committee, held their second annual dance/silent auction fundraiser for the Point Improvement Fund at Sydenham High School on Feb. 5.

The Point includes the recreational land made up of Sydenham High School’s football field, baseball diamond, the Point’s swimming and boating areas, boat ramp, canteen, parking areas and roadways.

Committee member Vicki Veldman, who spearheaded the event, was hoping to “equal last year’s attendance of 325 and match the $13,600 total that was raised.”

Planned improvements for the Point solidified when a citizens’ group in Sydenham formed in 2008. Veldman credits Jimmy Latimer of Sydenham High School, who she says “initiated the efforts to get permanent lights on the field.” Soon after and with the cooperation of the Greater Sydenham Community Association (GSCA), chaired by Lori Reed, the group received a grant that paid for a professional study of the Point, which was carried out by Hughes Downey Architects of Kingston. That study has morphed into the committee’s master plan, which they have since reworked with more input from individuals and community groups.

The plan has been broken down into three separate phases. The first phase, slated for completion this year, aims to install permanent lighting on the football field. Committee member Mike Howe, who also chairs the South Frontenac Rec and Loughborough Parks and Rec committees said, “Lights have been put into this year’s budget at a cost of $125,000 but we are hoping that with additional community support we will be able to have the lights installed for about half that price.”

Other plans for Phase One include repairing one deteriorating wall of the ball diamond, updating the current watering system, and constructing a permanent stage for regular events like Canada Day.

Phase Two of the plan, which is slated to take place in the next five years, includes erecting a new multi-purpose facility, and improving the dock facilities. Phase Three includes paving roadways and entrances to the Point.

 “The Point is really the jewel in the crown as far as our recreation facilities go”, Howe said, “so there is a real need to make sure that we maintain quality programming as well and safe and dependable facilities.”

Other small-scale initiatives that came out of the initial report done by the GSCA have included the hiring of students to regularly clean the park and its washroom facilities throughout the busy summer months.

This year’s Point party fundraiser included a silent auction, cash bar, midnight buffet and a free shuttle bus service, and Veldman said it allows the whole community to come together. “The event is an important one that encompasses the entire community. The committee began basically as a group of parents and teachers hoping to see improvements made and it has evolved over the years to include many individuals and groups who use the Point. In this way we are aiming to get everyone’s needs met.”

Mark Segsworth is also a member of the committee and said, “This event is a another opportunity for the community to show their support for what we are trying to achieve at the Point, which in a nutshell is for the community. We are also trying to demonstrate to the local decision makers that the community would like to see these important changes happen. The Point has huge potential and it has all of the raw elements necessary - it’s just a matter of making some improvements.”

Anyone who would like to support the Point Improvement Fund can drop off a donation at the South Frontenac Township Office and receive a tax receipt.

Primary students at Loughborough Public School in Sydenham enjoyed a mid-day break at the Point on the football field, slipping and sliding under the steady stream of powerful water hoses on what could not have not been a better day for it.Members of the South Frontenac Fire Department were more than happy to bring heat relief and smiles to the students’ faces on June 19, a sweltering day.

The event was organized by Kindergarten teacher Sharon Isbell. School principal Helen Peterson said that not only is Water Day a great opportunity for students to enjoy a bit of physical fitness and fun but that it is also gives the younger students at the school an opportunity to become acquainted with members of their local fire department. Fire Chief Rick Chesebrough said that he and his team are more than happy to indulge the students in a bit of end of the school year summer fun.

Photo: The Loughborough Lions faced off against the Polson Park Panthers and the Lions won the game 38-27 bringing the team to 1 and 2 in the initial round robin.

There was non-stop action on the side by side courts at Sydenham High School for Loughborough Public School's annual Barnstorm Junior Basketball Classic Tournament held on April 28. The tournament, which has been running for a decade, attracted teams from 17 different school in the Limestone District School Board in grades four through six and saw close to 200 students participating.

LPS grade eight teacher Mark McCrady, who coaches the Loughborough Lions boys’ team, said the event is very popular with students. “Basketball is a great game and the students love to play for their school teams. This tournament is a great way to emphasize fun, competitive sport, good sportsmanship and fitness.” McCrady added that students from Loughborough and Sydenham High School also benefit by being invited to act as referees and score keepers for all the games. “It's also great overall for our community since it brings a lot of traffic to local areas businesses, which is also a good thing.” He said. The Lions boys’ team fared well in the tournament and made it to the consultation finals, but were beat out by J.E. Horton PS in their final game 35-24. The female Lions coached by Erik Vreeken had a great tournament and after sweeping the initial round robin 3-0 made it to championship finals where they came head to head against the Welborne Public School Wildcats in a nail biter of a game that came down to the wire. The Lions lost by a single point.

Hats off to all the participants, fans, and the student refs and score keepers who made the tournament another a great success.