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While he may not know every nut and bolt on every machine at Railway Heritage Park in Sharbot Lake, the newest addition to the train staff, ‘engineer’ Jonathon Wisteard comes as close as humanly possible.

“He’s done his homework,” said Central Frontenac Railway Heritage Society member Gary Giller. “He love the job, he loves to act and he’s filling an important role for us.”

“He’s very keen,” said Society member Sally Angle, who serves as host at the park on Saturdays. “He’s taught me what everything is for, even to the point where I was able to correct a mother when she tried to tell her kids that the brake wheel was used to steer the train.”

“I’m just a tour guide essentially, and I help clean up,” Wisteard said Saturday, taking a minute in between showing people around. “But I like to think of myself as the engineer.”

This is indeed a labour of love for Wisteard, who has model trains of his own and confesses to being a fan of all things train. But it’s also a job for him.

“Back in April or May, Janet Barr offered me the job through the committee,” he said.

“She managed to tap into some Community Living Employment Grants,” Angle said. “So we benefit as well.”

“We’ve got a green light so let’s wrap the sack to the next Hog,” Wisteard said.

He said his biological dad introduced him to model trains and he’s had the bug ever since. So, working on the Kick & Push Railway all the live long Saturday is something of a dream come true for him.

“I had to learn a lot but I’ve got it now,” he said. “I tell people what the railroad used to do back in the day and what all stuff is for but also the history.

“I like the fact that the railway shaped the country and made it strong and independent.

“They bring us the things we need and of course without trains, we’d still be stuck out in the middle of nowhere.”

When his gig with the Kick & Push is over at the end of the summer, Wisteard is looking forward to using some of his earnings to take a trip out west on The Canadian.

But for now, “I’m here for the summer and I’m happy to show people around.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Thanks to a $55,000grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Thomson’s Cut portion of the K & P multiuse Trail is all but finished, and as such was recognized with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday morning in Sharbot Lake.

Gary Giller, who as a member of the Central Frontenac Railway Heritage Society and the Multi-Use Centre committee spearheaded the project to have lights installed as well as delineation as to pedestrian and ATV areas. Giller thanked the Trillium Foundation as well as Marcel Giroux of W.A. Robinson Asset Management, John Purdon and John DuChene for their contribution to the project.

He said the work will greatly enhance the safety of users.

“Expectation, circumstance and reality are three very different things,” Giller said. “Obviously things are still a work in progress but we do have the financial resources to complete it and we’re very close to that.

“This (Thomson’s Cut) will serve as a link from Railway Heritage Park to the beach.”

Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP Randy Hillier picked up on Giller’s words.

“Vibrant, healthy communities are always a work in progress,” Hillier said. “What this project shows is an illustration of community, business and politicians working together.

“Not everything has to be strictly political.”

Central Frontenac Mayor Frances Smith particularly thanked all the volunteers involved in fixing up the 300-metre stretch of the trail.

“It’s been a long time coming and while $55,000 may not sound like a lot, to a project like this, it’s huge,” Smith said. “Without the Trillium Grant, it could have been another 10 years.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded more than $108 million to 629 projects in Ontario last year.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Frontenac County received $1.534 million this past spring in one-time transfers from the Province of Ontario.

"Taxpayers need their local government to deliver modern, efficient services that show respect for their hard-earned dollars. This funding will help small and rural municipalities improve how they deliver services and reduce the ongoing costs of providing those services," said Minister of Municipal Affairs Steve Clark when Municipal Modernisation Fund (MMF) was announced on March 20.

$725,000 came to Frontenac County from MMF, in addition to $809,000 in one-time gas tax funding, to make up the $1.534 million total.

In a report to Council, Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Pender and Treasurer Susan Brant pointed out that council had already made a $2 million (estimated) commitment to extend the K&P trail north from of Sharbot to the Lanark County border. They proposed allocating all of the one-time gas tax money to that project.

The trail is to be constructed to the same recreational standards as the section of trail between Kingston and Sharbot Lake. The $2 million also covers trailheads in each of the 4 Frontenac townships at a cost of $100,000 each, as well as money for signage and marketing.

In 2018, Council provided staff with the authority to borrow up to $250,000 towards the new section, and covering loan payments could result in a 0.6% increase in county taxes, according to the report.

The new money is not being used for the completion of the trail between Tichborne and Sharbot Lake, which is slated for this fall with funding that has already been allocated.

Kelly Pender said that by using the grant dollars to reduce the need to borrow for a project that is already in the works, the need to use municipal taxation for the new trail section will be lessened. The county will continue to seek grant money for construction of the trail.

The largest expenditure under the $725,000 MMF is $250,000 towards the Frontenac County commitment to help fund the Eastern Ontario cell-gap coverage project, which is being co-sponsored by the federal and provincial governments as well as private investors.

The County has already made a commitment to provide $400,000, its share of what is, in total, and $299 million-dollar project aimed at improved cell phone and Internet service in Eastern Ontario, including bringing service to more remote corners of the region. The $250,000 will lessen the burden on county reserve funds for the project, reserve funds that need to be replenished each year with municipal tax dollars.

Other projects that are in line to be funded from the MMF include the following: 1. Long-term care review - $70,000, 2. Communications/Engagement Tool - $25,000. 3. Regional Roads Needs Update - $40,000, 4. Scheduling Software - $40,000, 5 - Continuous Improvement/Planning Intern - $90,000, 6. Administration Facility Architectural - $100,000, 7. Communal Services Implementation - $50,000, 8. Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan Energy Initiatives - $30,000, 9. EOWC – Eastern Ontario Initiatives - $25,000, 10. Municipal 5-1-1 - $5,000

 

 

 

Published in FRONTENAC COUNTY
Wednesday, 17 July 2019 13:37

Undead in Frontenac

On a still, hot summer day in Sharbot Lake, not a creature was stirring … but then came a slow thumpity thud, followed by a pause, followed by another thump, then two thumpity thuds … the zombies had appeared.

They congregated by the old Sharbot Lake Public School, drawn by the odour of decay, mold and asbestos. They did their best to scratch their way into the building before departing for the Zealand Cemetery seeking to bring some more recruits to their midst. Rumour has it that they then congregated in Clarendon, at Unusual Acres, where they gathered at sunset amidst the deer flies and a fierce lightning storm, before heading north to the ghost town of Robertsville where they will remain hidden until October.

They will be back then, with more recruits, gathered from the historic graveyards ‘north of 7’ for the 1st annual Sharbot Lake Zombie walk on October 26, presented by Unusual Acres and the Oso Recreation Committee.

Zombies from far and wide will gather in Sharbot Lake on that gloomy Saturday.

More details about the walk will be available soon. Check the Facebook page, Undead in Frontenac for all the details and more photos.

For those who fear zombie attacks, and who doesn’t, one resident expert pointed out that zombies are dead, so they are neither more agile nor more intelligent than they were when they were alive.

Look to these pages in October for the 3 steps to survive a zombie attack. The watch words are Avoidance, Termination, and Disposal – and always remember never to incinerate a zombie, it releases air borne toxins which spread infection.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 17 July 2019 13:36

CF Public works manager resigns

Central Frontenac Council accepted the resignation of Public Works Manager Brad Thake at a special meeting Monday in Sharbot Lake.

Thake formally resigned via email dated July 12.

“We need to formally accept the resignation so we can advertise the position,” said Clerk Administrator Cathy MacMunn.

Thake joined the Central Frontenac staff in April of 2017 but by July of 2018 was on leave for unspecified reasons. David Armstrong took over as “acting” public works manager but just last week Armstrong announced he was leaving for a similar job in his home town of Mississippi Mills.

MacMunn said the public works manager position would be advertised in all the appropriate trade journals but in the meantime, she said she had spoken with North Frontenac CAO Cheryl Robson about temporary assistance and the talks “sounded promising.”

“And David (Armstrong) is just a phone call away for a couple of months,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

From “Anne of Green Gables” to “Annie”; “Tom Sawyer” to “Aladdin”, children have always figured prominently in North Frontenac Little Theatre productions. To recognize this fact in this, our 40th anniversary year, students were invited to participate in a special poster contest so they too could celebrate and demonstrate their appreciation of our live theatre company.

Posters were to focus on the celebration of NFLT’s 40th Anniversary, were to have an original concept and design, and could not be computer aided.

The contest was open to students in Central and North Frontenac. All participants received a special anniversary certificate and the winners got monetary awards as well.

Submissions were dropped off at the Cardinal Café in Sharbot Lake and totalled twenty-eight by the May 1st deadline.

NFLT thanks all the contestants for honouring our theatre company with their art, and is pleased to announce the winners:

Intermediate Division - 1st Place: Samantha Driscoll, Harrowsmith Public School, Gr. 7; 2nd place: Sarah Powell, GREC, Gr. 7; 3rd place: Amy Watkins, GREC, Gr. 7

Junior Division - 1st Place: Jenna Rose GREC Gr. 6; 2nd Place: Sloane Putnam GREC, Gr. 6; 3rd Place: Isabelle Tryon, LOLPS, Gr. 4

Primary Division - 1st Place: Emily Parks LOLPS Gr. 3; 2nd Place: Ted Saunders, LOLPS, Gr. 3

The winning posters are on display at NFLT’s Tichborne Hall. The public is invited to see them, along with other memorabilia on Friday, 7:00 pm, August 16th, 2019 at the “Tichborne Hall Open House and Listen Along”. Please come celebrate with us, won’t you?

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Central Frontenac Council awarded the tender to fix Crow Lake Road from Road 38 up to the rail approach just before the hamlet to Gemmill’s Sand & Gravel for $1,021,681.48 excluding HST, further to a recommendation and report from acting Public Works Manager David Armstrong.

The Council meeting was held in Arden, as per Township policy to rotate meeting locations through the summer.

Armstrong said the project is set to begin “late July, early August” and should be completed by “Oct. 15.”

One potential speed bump in the road project could potentially be the fact there is a 1.5 km portion of the road that the Township does not have title to, as well as one portion over Crown Land and another which is a “registry PIN so ownership cannot be verified without further searching.”

In his report, Armstrong said “In the course of researching a location for a dry hydrant, it has come to the attention of staff that there is approximately 1.5 kilometres of Crow Lake Road that is not in the Township’s title.

“It appears to be a trespass road owned by the property owner of the concession lot,” Armstrong’s report said. “The Deputy Clerk recommends that we approach the land owner to negotiate a transfer of title so that there are no liability or other legal issues relating to the reconstruction.

‘A reference plan would be required to convey the road to the municipality, however, we can also incorporate the land needed for the dry hydrant at the same time, so we can either obtain an easement of transfer of that land as well.”

Gemmill’s was also the successful bidder on a tender for the supply and placement of gravel in the amount of $295,400 excluding HST.

Rock removal

Roadwork was the predominant item on this week’s agenda, with Armstrong outlaying plans for rock removal on Bell Line Road West (complete), Oak Flats Road (complete) and Echo Lake Road (expected to start shortly).

There was an emergency culvert replacement at Westport Road, grind-in-place work planned for the entire length of Price Road, and Henderson Road from Baker Valley Road to the Henderson/Bordenwood intersection.

He said paving repair of Road 509 is in the process of being scheduled.

“We’re also waiting for additional prices to micro-surface Arden Road (from the hamlet limits to southwest of Pit Road),” he said.

Coun. Tom Dewey thanked Armstrong for “getting to Arden Road” and asked for an explanation of what micro-surfacing is.

“Micro-surfacing is the laying down of an asphalt compound to about 2/3 of an inch,” Armstrong said. “It does act to stop water from penetrating potholes similar to crack sealant.

“It’s a bit of a band-aide solution but hopefully it’ll give us two seasons. If it gets us through next season I’ll be happy.”

He said Arden Road should be done by the end of the summer.

Roadside mowing

Armstrong said that road-side mowing is “ongoing.”

He said they only have two tractors and “limited staff” so they’re considering contracting out some of the work if they can find somebody to do it.

Obligatory Raptors reference

This was Armstrong’s last Council meeting. Much like Kawhi Leonard, he has accepted a job in his home town. Only Armstrong will be replacing Mississippi Mill’s outgoing operations manager rather than becoming small forward/shooting guard for the LA Clippers.

Stop light on Road 38?

Council passed a resolution in support of the Sharbot Lake Business Group’s request to the Minister of Transportation asking for a traffic light at the corner of Hwy 7 and Road 38. Council plans letters to both the Minister and MPP Randy Hillier.

“David (Armstrong) has had conversations with the ministry so they know we’re supportive of this,” said Mayor Frances Smith.”

“Randy won’t have much clout,” said Coun. Tom Dewey.

Regional Roads plan clears a hurdle

Township staff has expressed concern about the legal implications of transferring minimal ownership (1%) of arterial roads in the township to Frontenac County. A proposal to undertake the transfer is being considered by all four Frontenac Townships in order to facilitate the establishment of a virtual county roads system to help secure more infrastructure grant money.

The townships lawyer, Tony Fleming, did not answer all of the detailed questions staff had about the implications of shared jurisdiction over roads, but on the key question of liability, he said that as long as the agreement between the parties is clear, liability will not be a concern. Given that, and some verbal assurances by Fleming on other issues, a staff report recommended that council consider a motion to approve the proposed virtual roads system, with one proviso, that any agreement that is reached be vetted by the township’s lawyer.

“Given the importance of the agreement between the municipalities, staff recommend the municipality seek independent legal review of that document, once we are at that stage in the process,” said the staff report on the matter.

The proposal will return in August for a vote.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

“Congratulations on your 9th anniversary,” Central Frontenac Mayor Frances Smith told the crowd at Railway Park in Sharbot Lake Saturday as the Central Frontenac Railway Heritage Society opened the Park for the 2019 season. “This has turned into a beautiful little park and such a great add-onto the village as a whole.

“People come from all over to see this, both kids and adults.’

And the park is well on its way to being what the Society members envisioned years ago when they bought a caboose and plunked it down on a stretch of Elizabeth Street without bothering to ask anybody if that was OK in a forgiveness-is-easier-to-get-than-permission moment.

“We just wanted to continue to let the public know we are here,” said vice-chair Gary Giller. “(Chair) Derek Redmond is in Australia right now but he wanted to see this done in an appropriate manner.

“He’s been a fantastic leader, keeping energy up, being instrumental in all that’s happened — working for signage, etc.”

Giller said another key member of the Society is Gene Kirkham, who was also instrumental in pulling together the walkway project.

“I’m just an amateur railroad historian and webmaster,” Kirkham said. “But it is sentimental for me.

“I come from a railroad family and as a kid, that’s all I heard.”

It’s sentimental for a lot of people.

Take John Bigham for example.

Bigham is an avid HO model railroad and has set up his system on a modular basis. One of his favourite modules is the old Sharbot Lake Station, with the Station House, water tower, freight shed, overpass, and rock cut.

He had several of his models on display Saturday.

“In 1972, I had a girlfriend who lived up on that hill right over there,” he said. “The tracks were gone by then but we could sit and watch the process of it being torn down.

“When I retired, I got into model railroading.”

“Our mandate is to preserve and promote the railway heritage of our community,” Giller said. “We rely on the community for support through membership.”

Memberships are available at the Caboose (open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Labour Day) or online at kickandpush.ca.wordpress.com or their Facebook Page.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

June 21 was Aboriginal Day across Canada and locally, Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation combined with EarlyON to join in the celebrations at Oso Beach in Sharbot Lake.

Shabot Obaadjiwan Chief Doreen Davis was visibly enjoying the proceedings, which she confirmed when asked if she was enjoying herself.

“I am,” she said. “This is a joint venture, a collaboration between aboriginal groups and EarlyON.

“We’re bringing knowledge, customs and teachings and they’re bringing funding and education.

“It’s a huge blending of resources and it’s about the little ones.

“Five of my 10 grandchildren are here.”

Aboriginal Day is about sharing culture and building bridges toward reconciliation.

Davis said they’re starting to do just that and she’s looking forward to more joint ventures in the future.

“We want to continue our relationship with the snowshoe program,” she said. “And we’d like to get kids involved in making birch bark canoes.

“We also have an outdoor facility at the cultural centre near the White Lake Fish Hatchery that we’d like to make available in the summer so kids can have activities outdoors instead of having to be inside buildings. We’re looking at two dates in July and two dates in August.”

Rural Frontenac Community Services executive director Louise Moody said they too have found the relationship with Shabot Obaadjiwan mutually beneficial.

“Rural Frontenac Community Services is fully supportive of the partnership between Shabot Obaadjiwan and EarlyOn,” she said. “Aboriginal Day continues to become an important event on June 21 and we appreciate the leadership of Chief Doreen and Marcie (Asselstine) from our staff.”

The day featured a variety of drumming events, crafting/beading, interactive children’s stories with puppets and the Algonquin Strawberry Teaching Ceremony shared by Kokum Makwa.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Prior to Tuesday’s regular Central Frontenac Council meeting at Oso Hall, the Township held an annual tradition — naming its Seniors of the Year, complete with an opening by Township Crier Paddy O’Connor and four tunes from the Arden Glee Club.

Mayor Frances Smith welcomed a rather large crowd by praising all the work that volunteers in the community do, and noting that seniors tend to be a big part of that.

“I read a story recently that said seniors who volunteer live longer — and we’re all proof of that,” she said.

Ward One’s award recipient this year is Gord Brown, who was introduced by Coun. Tom Dewey.

“It turns out that Gord and I grew up in the same area and both went to high school in Napanee,” Dewey said. “But Gord went on to Royal Military College and after being an engineer in the military, he worked for CHEO for 13 years.

“He’s been married to his wife Karen for 43 years and is active in the Kennebec Rec Committee, the Kennebec Lake Association and Friends of Arden.

“He’s been the driving force behind the Kennebec Trail and the Blue Jays farm team, aka The Arden Seniors.”

“I’m obviously more confident on the Kennebec Trails with a weed whacker than talking in front of a large crowd,” Brown said. “The Arden community is blessed with so many wonderful people that it’s humbling to be singled out among them.”

Ward Two’s recipient is Dave Willis, who was introduced by Coun. Elwin Burke.

“I’ve known Dave for 25 years,” Burke said. “I can’t remember ever meeting a better guy.”

“Sue and I have lived across the province from Eastern to Northwestern Ontario,” Willis said. “But this is home.

“I was a policeman here for the last 17 years of my career (and) I’m so proud of the youth in this area.

“There were one or two who caused some trouble but the vast majority of them were good kids and that says a lot about their parents.”

Ward Three’s recipient is Ken Fisher. He was introduced by Coun. Bill MacDonald.

“Ken’s a relatively new member of this community, so I had to call his wife to get some information on him,” MacDonald said. “Most of it, I can’t say here. But he grew up in Ottawa and graduated from Queen’s.

“He’s been very involved in the business community and I think he lives on the internet. He’s constantly reminding people of events coming up in their email.”

“I’ve been here 11 years,” Fisher said. “I’ve lived all over the world and this is the happiest period of my life.”

Ward Four’s recipient is Heather Fox. She was introduced by Coun. Nicki Gowdy.

“Heather grew up and still lives here,” Gowdy said. “She’s been instrumental in the Godfrey Women’s Institute and helped with the Lions Club and Fire Department, among other things.”

“She’s been such a presence on both sides of the Council table,” said Coun. Brent Cameron, alluding to the fact that served as clerk in Hinchinbrooke Township before becoming Central Frontenac’s first clerk. She later spent a term as councilor for District Four.

“I just got out of hospital so I can’t talk,” Fox said. “Thanks everybody.”

Fire stats?

After the presentations and some refreshments, the regular Council meeting got underway.

Coun. Brent Cameron asked Fire Chief Greg Robinson for an update on statistics given the problem the department has had with software recently.

“From my standpoint, I have to rely on data to make decisions,” Cameron said. “It may not be entered into a computer but we should have a record of calls and training.”

“Unfortunately that’s one of the most frustrating things I’ve had to deal with,” Robinson said. “I don’t have a clear answer.”

Robinson said he would endeavor to have some statistics for Council soon.

Coun Sherry Whan asked about recruitment.

“It’s not been as successful as we’d hoped,” Robinson said.

Direction needed for OP revision

Council got an update on its Official Plan revision from County planner Megan Reuckwald. Reuckwald said she needed some direction on things like settlement areas, community wells and septic systems, garden suites, trailers and backyard chickens.

She said they’re looking at July 17 to put revisions up on the Township website and they scheduled Open Houses for July 31 (waterfront lots), Aug. 7 (settlement areas), and Aug. 14 (rural areas in general).

The open houses are scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at Oso Hall.

The current Central Frontenac Official Plan was approved 11 years ago, before there even was a County Official Plan and has to be updated to mesh with the County plan.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
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