German graffiti legend, Loomit, will be visiting the Godfrey Sculpture Park from September 25 to October 2 to collaborate with Sculptor Stefan Duerst.

Designwars.com says Loomit is the graffiti artist that gave graffiti its current meaning. Loomit started painting for fun at the age of 14. He became obsessed with it and has become known for his big wall productions. He combines meaningful lettering and things around him in his work. He has travelled and worked all over the world.

The public is welcome to drop by and watch as the two artists work together at Godfrey Sculpture Park! The collaboration will culminate in a show of sprayed sculptures at 'Studio 22 Open Gallery' in Kingston from Nov. 15 to Dec. 23, with a reception on Nov. 19.

Loomit is also hosting a workshop on Saturday, October 1. He will share his techniques, including wall prep, priming, layout, lettering, etc. This is an amazing opportunity to learn from a world-renowned artist. The fee is $100 + $30 for materials; prerequisite: basic drawing or painting skills. To register for Loomit's workshop, please contact Stefan at 613-329-8096, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To see Loomit’s work visit www.loomit.de/version1/home

Letter from the Publisher

The summer season is a crucial part of the year for all the businesses that are the lifeblood of our communities. This week, I've been calling many of the business owners that we deal with on a regular basis to ask them for help.

There is a good possibility that this will be the last Frontenac News that readers will receive in their mailboxes for a while, as Canada Post and two of the bargaining units with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are at an impasse in negotiating a contract.

As of this coming Saturday, July 2, the union will be in a legal strike position. What will result is anyone's guess. It could be a contract; the union may launch a strike; or Canada Post might lock them out.

We distribute 9214 copies of the Frontenac News through Canada Post each week, to the far corners of Frontenac County, Addington Highlands and western Lanark County. On some weeks, we distribute an extra 2920 papers to the Inverary and Perth Road regions. While this is an expensive way to distribute newspapers, in our experience it is the only way to reach all the hamlets and back roads properties in the region. For us to set up our own distribution system would be [prohibitively?] expensive and would also be difficult to monitor effectively.

So, as we face a shut down at Canada Post, we’ve been on the phone to ask for help.

Thankfully, all the businesses we approached have been understanding, and below is a list of locations that have been lined up as of early this week. We will expand our distribution further as we contact more businesses but you can count on the ones listed here to have the Frontenac News available for free every Thursday until Canada Post is back up and running.

DISTRIBUTION POINTS:

• KINGSTON FRONTENAC PUBLIC LIBRARY branches during open hours – Sydenham, Hartington, Sharbot Lake, Parham, Arden, Mountain Grove, Plevna, and Cloyne.

• TOWNSHIP OFFICES for Addington Highlands (Flinton Recreation Centre – basement), North Frontenac (Road 506 between Ardoch and Plevna), Central Frontenac (Sharbot Lake), and South Frontenac (Sydenham)

• RETAIL OUTLETS -

• Denbigh – Glaeser's General Store

• Cloyne/Northbrook – Nowell Motors, Grand's Store, Bishop Lake Outdoor Centre, Hook's, Yourway, Northbrook Gas and Variety, Northbrook Foodland, Addison's Restaurant

• Kaladar – Kaladar Shell

• Plevna – North of 7

• Ompah – Palmerston Lake Marina

• Arden – Arden Batik?

• Sharbot Lake – Petrocan, Ram's Esso, Mike Dean's Superstore, Pharmasave, St. Lawrence College Employment Centre, Cardinal Cafe, Maples?, Sharbot Lake Country Inn, and our own office at 1095 Garrett St., rear building.

• Parham – Parham General Store

• Godfrey – Godfrey General Store

• Verona – Asselstine Hardware, Verona Hardware, Food Less Traveled, Nicole's Gifts, Verona Foodland

• Hartington - Leonard Fuels

• Harrowsmith – Gilmour's on 38, The Pizza Place

• Sydenham – Sydenham One Stop, Trousdale's Foodland ?

We are also constructing some special temporary boxes, which will be located at roadside postal locations, such as the Snow Road Community Centre, the Mountain Grove Library (outside), the Arden Post Office, etc.

Also, readers can always read the articles online at frontenacnews.ca and at that site can also access a flash version of our paper that is a .pdf copy of the newsprint version that comes to your door each week under normal circumstances.

If there is a strike, this distribution system will remain in place for at least the July 7 and 14 editions. If there is a stoppage that extends beyond mid-July, we will take stock of the success of our system and may consider changes.

We thank our readers in advance for their patience, and hope that those who enjoy the Frontenac News each week will be able to continue to do so next week.

Sculptor Stefan Duerst thanked his family, his neighbours, and other community members who have helped him bring about his latest venture, a sculpture park and selfguided trail behind his home and welding shop on Buck Bay Road, just up from the Westport Road near Godfrey.

The materials he uses in his metalwork, including re-bar and reclaimed metal, somehow manage to transcend the urban and institutional trappings they are usually associated with when displayed among the hills, rocks and trees of the unique edge of Canadian Shield location where he lives with this wife, yoga insructor Tanya Harrington and their two children.

The sculpture park is open to the public from 9-5 throughout the summer months.

In one sense the idea of establishing a sculpture park came to Stefan Duerst in a flash last fall.

“It came to me on a walk through the woods. I already had some bigger work on display at our property and it seemed like a logical thing to do,” he said.

It all really started when he moved to Godfrey five years ago and began setting up his metal shop. Living among the rocks, trees and fields of the property at the foot of Buck Bay Road, just north of the Westport Road in Godfrey, on the fractured edge of the Canadian Shield, the land began to work on him just as he works on metal in his shop. He also began thinking about how to promote the local community to neighbouring communities and to tourists from further away.

Since following his intuition and committing to make the sculpture park, his vision has evolved.

“I did not know the final outcome when I started, and I am truly enjoying watching how things are unfolding,” he said.
In regards to the metal art displayed, the park is an extension of fine art galleries that represent Stefan's work in other locations. Having access to over 60 acres of Canadian Shield is not only an opportunity to show larger scale sculptures, but to do so in stunning natural scenery.

Currently sculptures on display are Stefan's creations, as well as collaborations with artist Kevin Lockau.

“Creating art while being surrounded by nature gives me a chance to 'de-stress', relax and rejuvenate.
I am inviting everyone to experience the same by taking time out of everyday life to stroll along paths and over fields, hike through the woods and enjoy art and nature,” he said.

Several sculptures are placed along hiking trails, as well as 'Land Art' work that has been created using materials from nature. These pieces are meant to be interactive, and visitors are invited to add-on, take away and completely change them. It is this direct involvement that is crucial for the creative sustainability of the trails, as it provides a constant stream and exchange of ideas and inspirations.
Stefan recommends wearing hiking boots for visitors who decide to walk the trails, as well as bug spray and long pants.

The Sculpture Park will be open for self-guided tours, seven days per week, 9 am - 5pm, until October 30. It is located at 79 Buck Bay Road, off the Westport Road. The route from Road 38 and Westport Road is well signed.

The opening is set for this Sunday, May 22, 9 am until 5 pm, and there will be a ribbon cutting. Stefan's work is always available for viewing online at www.duerst.ca.

Anyone who has met Rick Law knows that he is a pretty sociable guy. This is likely what inspired his newly-launched Godfrey Social Club, the coffee shop and gas bar that he owns and operates in Godfrey. The establishment held its official grand opening on March 5 and Law hopes to see it become a popular gathering spot for locals who like to meet and greet and enjoy a beverage.

Law bought the historic building and property in April 2013. He has 35 years under his belt working as an auto-body mechanic, which he continues to do in his present location. His creativity shows in the painting aspect of his work, and he especially enjoys restoring collectible cars.

The retro-inspired coffee shop fronts onto the Westport Road at Road 38. It was unofficially open last summer and in recent months, Law has been working to expand it. The property now has a high-test gas bar (with regular gas coming soon) and inside, there are tables and chairs, comfy couches and loungers where guests can enjoy satellite TV, Wi-Fi internet access, and play vinyl records to boot. There are retro popcorn and candy machines and the space is bright and friendly, made more so by a wide array of 1940s and 50s collectibles that include antique signs, a variety of hanging car/motorcycle parts, and one old chopper in the corner painted with an old A&W sign.

“I want people to come by, fill up with gas and come in, sit down and relax, enjoy a coffee, tea, hot chocolate, pop, or ice cream (in the summer months). If they just want a place to work on their screened devices or to meet up with friends, I want this to be a place that they think of.”

Law is busy most days working in his body shop, so he has enlisted the help of his daughter, Stephanie, who hails from Windsor and who will be working in the coffee shop. Law said that he also hopes to be able to employ a few summer students when the fairer weather arrives and the local traffic picks up.

He admits to having lived a pretty rough life in the past, but said that despite that fact, he has been warmly welcomed into the community. “This community has really accepted me for who I am; I really enjoying being here and I just love this place. Seeing people enjoy the place as much as I do is great and the idea is not so much about making a ton of money - I know that I'm not going to make a million dollars here - but more about making people happy and seeing people get excited by what they see here”.

Another draw to the shop is Law’s gorgeous husky, a dog named Skydancer that he rescued, which he brought out to meet with the guests at the opening. Law has a number of ideas up his sleeve for the future of the shop and hopes to hold movie nights and other special events. “I want people to tell me what they are interested in, and if I can swing it I definitely will try.”

Another project he mentioned is to build a rat rod to have on display for guests. Law said he also hopes to also put in a second sink so that, in the future, he will be able to serve an assortment of snacks as well.

The shop and gas bar will be open from 7am – 7pm and in the summer from 7am - 11pm. The Godfrey Social club is located at 16 Westport Rd.

Travis Babcock, a 12-year-old grade 7 student at Loughborough Public School in Sydenham and an avid hockey player, tragically died in a car accident on November 1. A special fundraising event for his family, which was sponsored by the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association (FMHA), took place at the Frontenac Community Arena on December 12 and attracted over 1000 people. By the end of the day just over $10,000 had been raised for the family.

The event was held to support Travis' parents, Jamie and Leanne, and sister Kaitlyn, and it included a barbeque, a silent auction, a 50/50 draw and an evening skate-a-thon event at the arena.

Al Pixley, president of the FMHA, organized the event. He said that Travis had so many friends in the association that the executive, members and players wanted to do what they could to support the family. “We just really wanted to reach out to the family and to all of our members as well, who have been affected by this tragic loss,” he said.

Pixley has a son the same age as Travis, who is also an avid hockey player, and a Boston and Bobby Orr fan. He said the loss has really hit home for him. Rob Edmunds, a registrar, executive member and a manager with the FMHA's novice rep team, was also helping out at the fundraiser and said that he was overwhelmed by the turnout. “We are just blown away by the support that this community has shown to the family.”

Travis' family were also in attendance on Saturday. Edmunds said that it was a very emotional day for them and that they were equally overwhelmed by the support that the community has shown them. Nicholas Baker, a good friend of Travis, who plays with the Frontenac Flyers and is a fellow student at LPS, was helping out at the event serving up hamburgers. He said that he also just wanted to support the family in any way that he could. Following the special day, Edmunds said that the donations are still coming in, and anyone who would like to donate can still do so by contacting Rob Edmunds at 613-375-6596 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kris Caird and Jean Freeman, both members of the congregation of the Cole Lake Free Methodist church located on White Lake Road near Godfrey are the long time organizers of the annual 101 Nativities show there. The two ladies used to think that their initial goal of collecting and displaying 101 nativity scenes was ambitious but that is no longer the case. Now in its 5th year, the number of scenes in the annual show has grown to over 200 and Caird explained that people at first did not understand the concept of lending their nativities to the show but over the years that has changed. “People now understand what we are doing and want to be part of it and this year we have over 200 scenes which shows that people not only understand what we are doing but also really want to be part of it” . This years show includes nativity scenes from all over the world with entries from countries like Uganda, Ecuador, Haiti, Ghana, China, Ireland, Bangladesh, Germany and more. The scenes are made from a number of materials including ceramic, fabric, wood, various plastics, burlap and more but all strive in their own unique way to show the true meaning of Christmas. One new and notable scene that hails from Ireland is very simple yet effective scene and is made entirely from flat river stones. Caird and Freeman said the central idea for the show is to bring forth the true meaning of Christmas.

“We want to stress the true biblical meaning of Christmas. These days Christmas has become more about consumerism and about Santa Claus and gift giving but we want to get back to its true meaning ,which is the birth of Jesus”, Jean said when I spoke to her at the show on Saturday.” Kris who made crafts with the youngsters who attended the show over its three day run this past weekend agreed. “A lot of the kids who come have no idea what the nativity is and the crafts that I do with them help them to better understand it.” The children were invited to paint and then bake a shrink art nativity scene and were also given a gift bag filled with Christmas themed cookies. Guests also enjoyed a selection sweet treats and beverages courtesy of the organizers. Hundreds of people return year after year to see the annual show that strives to stress the true meaning of Christmas.

Stefan Duerst was informed two weeks ago by Lafarge, the operators of a sand pit just behind his property near Godfrey, that they were applying for a permit to keep removing sand from their pit long into the future.

Even though they have just about exhausted the material on the surface, they are applying for an amendment to their site plan to permit the creation of a 10 metre deep, 18 hectare lake as they remove sand from their quarry over the next 15 years or so.

Duerst is concerned about the impact of this on the water table downstream, where he lives, and about the kinds of industrial processes Lafarge might use on their property, which they access through a right of way that passes over his land.

There is a public open house at the Bedford Hall this week being put on by Lafarge to outline their plans, and although the company has not responded to a request for information from the Frontenac News, an official from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) did get back to us this week to explain how the process works.

The process is similar in some ways, to how the local township, in this case South Frontenac, would handle a planning request such as a plan of subdivision. A hydro-geological study that was completed by Lafarge, which says that the change in site plan will not impact the neighbors' well water or the wildlife habitat in the vicinity has been sent to Quinte Conservation, the township and the county as well as to the MNRF for comment, and the MNRF will accept public submissions until January 25, after which time they will make their decision.

However, unlike the case in municipal planning matters, the public will not have the opportunity of appeal should they disagree with the decision. In municipal matters, any party to a decision can appeal the matter to the Ontario Municipal Board, but under the Aggregate Resources Act the decision by the Ministry will be final.

If the decision goes against Lafarge, they cannot appeal, and if it goes for Lafarge the opponents cannot appeal.

A meeting took place early this week with Stefan Duerst, some of his neighbors, and officials from the MNRF and the Ministry of the Environment (MoE).

The group of neighbors, who have been working together and are seeking advice from legal and environmental sources, posed a series of questions that concern groundwater impacts, air pollution from sand piles that will be drying in the breeze at the site, the potential for flooding, noise pollution, and more.

Duerst said afterwards that the MoE will be preparing a report in response to the questions, which will be presented to the MNRF on January 8 and will be available to the public as well.

A petition opposing the expanded use of the pit will be presented to South Frontenac Township early in January as well.

As I drive around our beautiful Frontenac area I notice many wonderful things. I see that people have decorated their houses with lights, snowmen, Santa Claus, the manger scene of Joseph and Mary and most importantly baby Jesus.

I hear many people saying “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays” in stores and on the streets when greeting each other. I love this time of the year. We try and encourage each other, laugh with one another. It is a time of happiness, love and compassion. I see smiling faces and I listen to little children who are all excited about the gifts they are looking forward to receiving. I even hear some adults talking about what they are looking forward to giving to their children and even hoping to receive themselves, lol!

We all get so busy running here and there this time of the year. Going to school plays, work parties, visiting family and friends and many times we forget why we celebrate Christmas. What is the real meaning?

Over two thousand years ago God sent His Son into this world to teach us His love, compassion and most importantly His forgiveness. You see, we all mess up in life and do things that aren’t good and need forgiveness. We do things that sometimes hurt others and worst of all hurt God when we break His Ten Commandments. These things that break God’s Commandments are called sin. They separate us from God. But God has fixed that problem when He gave us His Son Jesus in Bethlehem, who would later be crucified and die.

Jesus was buried, but something wonderful happened three days later. He rose from the dead and gave us forgiveness. This is Easter. This isn’t some fairy tale but the truth. Not only is it in the Bible but also recorded by many historians who also witnessed and recorded these events. Whatever your celebration includes this year, let us stop and reflect on why we celebrate Christmas and realize it is all about Jesus and His love for us all! I know that there are a lot of things many people are facing this year. Some are dealing with loss of a loved one, suffering serious illnesses, facing financial difficulties and feeling all alone. I want to say that as a new resident here I have felt the wonderful love of many people. People have showed kindness, compassion and provided many things to make me feel at home which I am so thankful. I want to encourage you that no matter what you are facing in life there is hope, love and compassion from Jesus. He is a gift we all can receive. Just like He was given to us wrapped in swaddling clothes and in a manger over two thousand years ago, He is here for you today. Do you have room in your heart for Him this year?

I want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas. I pray the Lord blesses, comforts and provides a wonderful Christmas to you all. Merry Christmas!

Rev. Kevin E. Tompkins,

Cole Lake Free Methodist Church

Stefan Duerst is no stranger to the Lafarge sand extraction pit that is located just behind his house and property on Buck Bay Road. The pit was there when he bought the property, and a right of way through his property to access the pit is used by trucks to haul sand out to Lafarge's plant in Kingston five days a week.

Nonetheless when he bought the property with his wife Tanya Harrington, he planned to use it for a sculpture studio and yoga centre.

“When we bought our 60-acre lot, I asked the plant manager at Lafarge what their long term plans were for the pit, and he said they would be all done in five years. We talked about the possibility of me buying the land once the pit was decommissioned,” said Duerst.

That has all changed now, as Lafarge has applied to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for an amendment to their site plan agreement at the property, which is known as the Fitzgerald Pit.

In a letter to adjacent landowners, Rod Price, Land Manager/Eastern Ontario for Lafarge, outlined Lafarge's current intentions towards the site.

“Given the number of years that the pit has been in operation and the limited area where the sand occurs, supply of this specialized type of sand has become limited. Lafarge has tested the sand material lying below the water table and found it meets its requirements when blended with the sand lying above the water table ... The current site plan for the Fitzgerald Pit limits excavation to being above the water table. In order to excavate from below the water table, the site plan must be amended,” he wrote.

Accompanying the letter was map of the land in question, which includes the outline of a lake that would be created by the expanded operation. The lake is described on the map as plus or minus 18 hectares (44 acres) in area, and plus or minus 10 metres deep. The lake is to be located over a hill at the edge of the Duerst/Harrington property.

In his letter to the landowners, Rod Price invites them to call him at his office in Ottawa “if you have any questions.”

Since receiving the notification letter, which was sent by registered mail on November 19, Stefan Duerst said he has called Price many times, each time leaving a message, but has not received a call back.

“My concern is about water running through two creeks on my property; the impact on my well; the impact of the expanded operation and excavation in terms of noise; and the impact of all this water and the materials it will carry on the watershed,” said Duerst.

The watershed drains into White Lake, within the Quinte Valley Watershed.

When contacted, staff at Quinte Conservation said they have received a hydrogeological study that was prepared for Lafarge in support of their site plan amendment application for the Fitzgerald Pit and are preparing to comment on it.

Paul McCoy, Planning and Regulations manager at Quinte, said that in these cases, hydrogeological studies are prepared by engineers working for the applicant to show that there will be no detrimental impacts on wells and groundwater in the vicinity of the site.

“As a conservation authority, we comment on whether those studies, in our view, prove the case they are making, but we have no authority in site plan amendment matters under the Aggregate Resources Act. We are simply a commenting agency. The authority lies with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. If there is also a permit to take water being sought, it comes under the purview of the Ministry of the Environment. We have received the study for this application,” he said.

The hydrogeological study and other documentation have also gone to Frontenac County and South Frontenac Township.

The News contacted the MNR, the approving agency in these matters, for details about how a site plan agreement amendment is evaluated by them under the Aggregate Resources Act, and we expect a response later this week.

Stefan Duerst has contacted his neighbors, who, he says, are upset about the potential implications of this change on their water and the use of their property going forward. He is meeting with the South Frontenac Township's planner this week, and has been in contact with the Ministry of the Environment as well.

“My understanding is that the land in question is considered a water regeneration resource for the watershed.” Duerst said.

Duerst and Hannigan are planning to develop a sculpture park and yoga retreat on their property. Duerst is a well known sculptor in Eastern Ontario. Just this week he found out that his piece “Soul Gate #4” is to be installed in the lobby of the newly established Tett Centre For Creativity and Learning in Kingston. Hannigan has moved her yoga studio, Feel Yoga, from Kingston to the property.

A public information session on the site plan amendment is set for the Bedford Hall on December 16 between 4 and 7 pm.