| Feb 17, 2011


OK, you’ve been holed up in the house since Christmas, watching the meter drop on the oil tank or feeding the wood stove and watching the woodpile dwindle, or watching the electricity meter spin and spin at high speed - or doing all three – and almost two months have gone by.

The bad news is that winter is not about to end, notwithstanding this week's warm, slushy weather. The good news is there is something that can be done about it. It’s time you got out of the house. It’s time to shake off the doldrums and get out into the cold and wet and face up to the fact that we live in a country with winter.

It all starts tomorrow night, February 18, when the world-renowned Baroque Orchestra, Tafelmusik, will be presenting a pay what you can concert at St. James Major Catholic Church. Doors open at 6:15 and the concert starts at 7:00. There is no reserved seating, so people are encouraged to arrive early. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see a famous orchestra in Frontenac County.

At the same there is a Youth Dance scheduled for the Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake between 6 and 9 pm.

Saturday the 19th will be hopping in both Arden, where the Legion is presenting a fishing derby, fish fry and dance, and in Plevna, where music will be jamming at Jack’s Jam from 2-9pm.

On Heritage Day, Monday Feb. 21, the communities really swing into action.

Heritage Day Monday will start with pancakes in Harrowsmith at St. Paul's United Church. With Shrove Tuesday being set for March this year, there is a pent up demand for February pancakes, sausage and syrup. The normal price for community pancake breakfasts ($5 to $7) is a pretty good deal - but get this - this one is free. The church is covering all the costs so the public only has to show up between 9 and 10 a.m. and eat.

From 10:15 on events will swing into gear at Centennial Park. Events include: horse drawn wagon rides, snow games, snowshoe races, ice skating, snowman building, and log sawing and log splitting competitions.

If all this wears down the calories from the pancake breakfast, not to fear, there will be apple cider, coffee, hot dogs, and chicken noodle soup available as well.

In the afternoon at the Harrowsmith Free Methodist Church the gym will be open for floor hockey between 2 and 4 o'clock.

This event, which is a Winter Carnival and also a Volunteer Recognition Day, is being co-sponsored by the South Frontenac Township Recreation Committee and the Harrowsmith S & A Club.

Further south, the Oso Recreation Committee presents its annual fun day at the beach in Sharbot Lake starting at noon, featuring skating, broomball, smoosh races, snow shoeing, horse drawn wagon rides through the village, spider dog roasting and maple syrup snow taffy making.

As an added attraction, thanks to the efforts of the Skills Link Program, the roar of the Sharbot Lake Snow Drags will be heard once again. The Sharbot Lake Snow Drags were a major regional event on the snow racing calendar for several years until they ended in 2004, and this year they are back as more of a local event featuring stock machines.

The excitement level will be high, as racers from around the county and beyond will be hitting the ice for fun and glory. Race categories include Trail Stud, Snow, Kitty Kat and Snow 120, Powder Puff Rubber, and Powder Puff Stud. The entry fee for racers is $15 and $10 for each additional class, except for the Kitty Kat and Snow 120 classes, which are free.

Registration and tech inspections take place between 7am and 9am and racing starts at 10 am and runs all day.

Meanwhile, over in Flinton there will be skating at the rink, and activities are scheduled for Northbrook at the Lions Hall between 3 and 5 pm. The fun is followed by a spaghetti dinner. The community fun day is sponsored by the Land o’Lakes Emmanuel Pastoral Charge

Don't forget, once the Heritage Day glow wears off there is another big event coming our way next weekend. The fifth annual Central Frontenac Heritage Festival kicks off with a Business Breakfast on Friday, February 25. Don't miss the Heritage Events at the Crow Lake Schoolhouse, (Friday and Saturday), the Arden Family Day events (Saturday) the variety show and fireworks (Saturday Night) or the Polar Bear Plunge and community walk/run in Sharbot Lake (Sunday) or the Tichborne rink events (Sunday)

(See the complete festival schedule)

 

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