Over the past 10 days, three sets of break-ins have been reported, each affecting multiple cottage properties, on lakes in South and Central Frontenac. Eleven cottage properties were vandalised on Bobs Lake on the evening of Friday, January 12, five on Sharbot Lake, and six or more on St. Andrews Lake.

As reported in the News last week (Vol.18, no.2 – January 18) an alarm and camera system led one property owner who was in Florida to call both the Ontario Provincial Police and a year round resident who lives nearby, to properties on Bobs Lake near Steele Road in the Tichborne area in South Frontenac. The resident went to survey the damage and came upon the vandals as they were travelling from cottage to cottage, smashing windows, patio doors, tv sets, sinks and toilets as they went.

The witness said he saw two vandals, who jumped off an ATV and ran into the woods just as police arrived. 11 cottages were attacked in that incident, according to witnesses, although the OPP have not confirmed the number.

On January 17th, the OPP were called to investigate another set of break-ins, which took place sometime over the last month on Craig’s Island, Sharbot Lake (West Basin).

In that case one of the cottage owners went to inspect his property on January 17th, and saw that it had been vandalised. In a release that came out on January 19th, the Frontenac OPP said that 5 cottages had been affected by the incident. The release said the following:

Sometime between December 17, 2017 and January 17, 2018, culprit(s) entered five cottages on Craig Island and totally destroyed the insides. Items were thrown around and smashed in each cottage. Estimated damage in total is approximately $75,000. Only item reported stolen was a bush buggy that is valued at $300.

In separate reports from witnesses, the News has learned that toilets, sinks, and patio doors were targeted in the Sharbot Lake incident, as they had been on Bobs Lake.

Then, this past Monday (January 22) a seasonal resident on St. Andrews Lake, which is located off Ball Road in Central Frontenac, emailed the News about another set of cottages that had been vandalised sometime over the last few weeks.

The email included the following description of the damage: “at least a half dozen or more cottages have been vandalised on St. Andrews Lake. Just this weekend we learned about it, some cottagers have been up to survey damage. Broken windows, smashed patio doors, interiors wrecked, fire extinguishers let off inside, toilets and sinks smashed, and more.”

The only OPP release related to these incidents was the one concerning the Sharbot Lake case, although the Frontenac detachment has confirmed they are investigating the Bobs and St. Andrews Lake incidents as well.

Police have not, as of yet, said anything about whether they consider that these incidents are linked, directly or indirectly.

A major complicating factor affecting communications from the local detachment in regard to these cases, is the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) investigation into the death of Debra Hill (Teal), who had an interaction with police while they were in the area investigating the incident on Bobs Lake.

On January 17 SIU spokesperson Monica Hudon, updating a preliminary SIU news release from January 13, made the following statement: “At approximately 11pm on Friday, January 12, 2017, OPP officers came across a vehicle which was parked on Steele Road, between Bradshaw 3 Road and Maple Grove Lane. One of the occupants of the vehicle fled. The second occupant, a 49-year-old woman, was located outside of the vehicle. Around 1 a.m. - after conducting an investigation - the officers took the woman to her home and they left.

“At approximately 5:30am emergency responders attended the woman’s residence after receiving a call. At this time, two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to this incident.”

There is no information linking Ms. Hill’s vehicle with the vandalism itself. She did live on Steele Road and was not far from home when police came upon her. When asked if the SIU are also investigating the vandalism, Monica Hudon said that the “SIU’s investigation is focused on the interaction that occurred between police and Ms. Hill.”

The OPP have not said whether they consider that the vandalism incidents on Sharbot Lake and Andrews Lake are related to the Bobs Lake vandalism, although the damage seems to have been very similar in all three cases.

All that the Frontenac OPP are saying at this point about the vandalism is that police are “continuing to investigate into these mischiefs and are seeking assistance from the public. If anyone has any information they are being asked to contact the Sharbot Lake OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at https://www.tipsubmit.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward.”

(TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH FRONTENAC, ON) - On December 4, 2017 at approximately 5:00 p.m., the Frontenac detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to break and enter in progress at a cottage residence on a secluded laneway that runs off of Charlie Green Road in South Frontenac Township.

The cottage owner arrived at his property and confronted the suspect in the residence. The suspect exited through the front door and the owner gave chase and observed the lone male suspect drive away in a light blue Chevy vehicle possibly a Malibu or Impala.

On December 3, 2017, OPP responded to a previous Break and Enter at a cottage residence off Opinicon Road in South Frontenac Township in which the cottage was ransacked with several various electronic items stolen with an estimated value of $1,500.

A trail camera near the Opinicon Road Break and Enter was able to capture an image of the suspect who the police believe is the same individual involved in the Break and Enter off Charlie Green Road.

The male suspect is described as a white male approximately 30 years old, wearing blue jeans, dark boots and wearing a baseball cap with the letters "TRD" on the front.

Police are continuing to investigate into these recent break-ins in our community and are seeking assistance from the public. If anyone has any information they are being asked to contact the Fronte nac OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward.

For more information on how to protect your home and business, visit the OPP website and type SafeGuard in the search field at: https://www.opp.ca/index.php.

Photo of suspect:

Letters, June 30, 2005

Letters June 30, 2005

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Contact Us

Thank You

Thank you for supporting the Sharbot Lake Public School 75th Anniversary Celebrations. Your timely articles helped to spread the word and helped to make the day very successful. We appreciate Jocelyne Steeves informative articles.

Sincerely,

Ann Walsh

This is my opinion based on my experience and research.

Canaries, Frogs and Other Creatures

Many of the products we use on a daily basis contain harmful chemicals. We accept this fact and circumstance. Scientists determine a level of each chemical that, they say, is safe for the average person under normal conditions of use. This is generally done with 50L tests on white rats and the results extrapolated to the human being. Testing is seldom done on humans. These tests are generally financed by the manufacturer of the said products.

It is the people suffering from Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) or Environmental Illness (EI) who react negatively to the small levels of toxins in products, usually a confusing array of different things from soaps to carpets to insecticides. The varied reactions are those reactions that anyone would get at a higher dosage because, remember, the chemicals in question are toxic or poisonous ones. This doesn't mean all chemicals.

EI is also called Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) because the reactions occur to more than one chemical. And here's the scary part: no one has studied the effects of how all these toxic chemicals interact in the "Environment" or in our bodies. It is as if each person has a personal limit to their "toxic load" before illnesses such as EI or even cancer strikes.

Do we really know the cause of cancer? Take lung cancer, for example. Based on my personal experience, I doubt that it is ONLY caused by cigarette smoke. For me, cigarette smoke rates about a 2 (on a scale of 10) in severity of reaction compared to some colognes that rate a 7 and one particular body deodorant used by young people (not mentioning brand names) that rates a 20!

The sensitive individuals who are affected and made very ill by toxic chemicals are like the proverbial canary in the mines. Coalminers used to take a caged canary down into the mines. They knew they were in danger when the canary stopped singing and that their own demise was imminent when the canary keeled over and died. There was no particular odor to detect but the quality of air was deadly. My friends, I am your canary.

I also feel like a caged bird because this illness confines me to my house a lot of the time. Shopping is a nightmare because of fumes like formaldehyde "gassing off" new things. I don't dare go to concerts or clubs for fear the toxic chemically-based perfumes, deodorants, soaps and shampoos will knock me out or give me an instantaneous blinding migraine. I am not able to go out to work because of workplace chemicals, anything from inks and glues to paints to chlorine bleach used in restaurants, etc.

It is important to note here that this is not about odours per se but about toxic chemical odours. Efforts to ban fragrances in public places miss the point. We must all stop using so many poisons on our bodies. Manufacturers must stop adding so many poisons to their products.

There is another story about frogs. Throw a frog into a pot of boiling water and he will try to leap out. Put a frog into a pot of cool water and he will stay there as you heat it up and cook him just the same. I fear we are like that frog sitting unaware as the atmosphere "heats" up with deadly pollution and we take no notice until it is too late.

Twenty years ago, people such as myself were dismissed as psychiatric cases. Today, the weight of evidence is growing and this view is disproven.

Unfortunately, many people still do not want to believe any of what I am saying here. Sometimes their stubborn denial is insurmountable, even dangerous, yet the problem is growing. If you are interested in learning more about this illness, try a search on the internet. Next time, given the opportunity, I will discuss the day-to-day struggles of a person living with mcs/ei.

Jennifer Tsun McDonalds Corners, ON

June 22,2005

Re: Tappins Bay Dock

With respect to your article in the Frontenac News on June 16, 2005 regarding council wanting out of the dock business, I as a Mazinaw Lake property owner have an opinion of my own on this matter. The Tappins Bay boat launch and dock is the only public access to the Mazinaw Lake.

If the statement made by Councillor Dave Smith is correct, that this launch is a money pit, then perhaps the North Frontenac council would be willing to make public the apparently extravagant amount of dollars it spends to maintain it.

Also, Mr. Smith's remarks with regards to cottage owners going back to the Ministry of Natural Resources: maybe he should consider who is the beneficiary of all of the tax revenues received from cottage owners. Is it the Ministry of Natural Resources? No, I don't think so.

Mr. Bud Clayton's remark, if they don't want it, I suggest we pull it down, sounds more like it was uttered by an angry child whose allowance had just been taken away, rather than by an elected official of North Frontenac.

Without a public boat launch, property values with water access only will decrease, and I have to wonder how much out taxes will decrease along with it. In the last year they have substantially increased. How Ironic!

It would be interesting to see North Frontenac's response if all Mazinaw cottage owners decided to withhold paying their tax bill for a two year period, then begin paying only one year at a time.

Lets assume for a second that the Mazinaw Property Owners Association purchased the launch, should a gate be installed and keys be issued only to cottage owners? How much police presence would be required to prevent almost certain vandalism?

Where is our police presence more relevant, on our highways or protecting a gate? Both I might add are at taxpayers expense.

Officer Cheryl Robinson believes it should be left up to the Insurance Company to decide the fate. I think she knows as well as every other person who pays insurance premiums that the Insurance Companies look after themselves and their profits, and have little interest in public opinions about Tappins Bay.

It maybe in the best interest of North Frontenac council to give some more thought to this issue before making any rash decisions. Just one more thought: I wonder if any members of North Frontenac council own a water access cottage on the Mazinaw Lake? Ritchie Arney Mazinaw Cottage Owner

Snow Road history

I am writing you in regard to an article written by David Brison on March 30, 1999, Down Memory Lane, A tribute to the life of Hilda Geddes. According to the article Hilda wrote five books in reference to Snow Road. Would anyone be able to tell me how to obtain copies of these books?

My father was born in the same area as Hilda Geddes, Snow Road, and I am currently researching the family history. My father is Michael Amell (born 1935 at Snow Road) one of 9 children to David Amell (born 1890 at Snow Road) and Mary Spotton. My father and his brothers and sisters attended the SS 8 Dalhousie School also known as the Gemmill Schoolhouse. The school was located on the farm (Amell farm which was purchased from the Gemmills). Some of the nearby farms were the Paul family, Wilson family, and the Shank family. I am looking for any pictures, articles and friends and stories of the Amell family to create a family tree / scrapbook full of great memories.

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

Kim Amell

4530 45 St., Sylvan Lake, AB, T4S 1L2

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 403-887-2063; Fax 403-887-2399

Re: Scott Reids Referendum

Three cheers for Scott Reid, MP for Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, who is giving a voice to his constituents.

Canada is supposed to be a representative democracy, yet most of our MPs are so cowed by the party line that we, the voters, are ignored. Thus it is incredibly refreshing and reassuring to hear that at least one MP is conducting his own constituency referendum on a critical national issue - the Same Sex Marriage Bill - and he is living up to one of his own

Election promises by so doing.Scott Reid is setting a high and admirable standard for electedrepresentatives, and he is demonstrating how representative democracy should function. Betty English Napanee

Letter to the Editor

Re: Response to mystery bugs/June 23, 2005 issue.

Re: Mystery bugs

In response to Marilyn Meeks' question of her mystery bugs, I am able to answer your question.

We have invested in a large number of fruit trees and perennials on our property and have suffered a lot of damage by these mystery bugs. In only a few short hours these bugs seemed to be eating everything in site. We tried every homemade recipe and organic recipe we could with no success in eliminating these pests. Because fruit trees are tender and there product is edible we wanted to be careful of what we were using. However we quickly acknowledged that the bugs were winning the battle.

My Nephew is a graduate of Kemptville Agricultural College and he suggested we take a bug sample of these pests to the College for identification. The college contacted Agriculture Canada and the bugs have been identified as a European Rose Chaffer. They have a three-week breeding cycle in June. As anyone that was hit by them this year knows, in three weeks they do an enormous amount of damage and will eliminate any fruit crop you have in that amount of time.

We were informed if you choose to eliminate this pest you will have to purchase products that have one of these three chemicals included in them: Methoxychor, permethrin, or carbaryl.

We have also been informed that the sample of Rose Chaffer's will be sent to a laboratory in Sault Ste. Marie for further examination and testing. We have been promised another return call if any more information is found at that time. - Angela Deline

Four seasons and still waiting

On April 9, I held a public tour of my property to show the damage done by Graphite Mountain Inc. What does it take to get some action from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines? Numerous phone calls, letters back and forth did result in something. Soon after the tour, an inspection of my property was made by three representatives of MNDM and the owner of Graphite Mountain Inc. I was promised that the trenches would be filled in as soon as the half load restrictions were removed. Then I was told that the contractor wouldnt be able to start the work for a couple of weeks. I realize that my concern for safety is being ignored. And Im still waiting for some action

It looks like I am going to spend another season without being able to enjoy the use of my property on Merkley Road off the Narrows Lock Road between Perth and Westport. As of June 26, nothing has been done to clean up the mess of deep trenches. I have decided to hold another tour on the afternoon of July 9 between 1:00 and 3:00. Mineral exploration has been going on in this area for over 20 years and shows no sign of ending. This is an excellent opportunity for you to see what types of damage is done in the name of mineral exploration and to see how rural landowners are treated in this province.

Ill be waiting

Marty Cadieux

Feature article, July 21, 2005

Feature article July 21, 2005

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Contact Us

The new face of Cottage Associationsby Jeff Green

New style cottage road:For those familiar with single-lane glorified cart tracks into their cottages, this new road into theBadour Estates waterfront development on Bobs andCrow Lake might not look like a cottage road. It will be paved next year.

Once upon a time cottage associations were mainly recreational bodies, devoted to running annual regattas, fishing derbies and the like. A change took place about 20 years ago when gypsy moths became a concern and cottage associations became active in informing their members of what was going on.

In recent years two fundamental changes have taken place that have brought on new roles. With concerns over water quality, the invasive species in the lakes, and the state of shorelines, some cottage associations have become environmental watchdogs, developing stewardship capacity. In some cases, lake plans are being put together, a slow and involved process, and one that requires cooperation with conservation authorities. Conservations authorities love this; it provides them with data that would be extremely expensive to gather otherwise.

For property owners on these lakes, lake studies, lake plans, and stewardship initiatives are invaluable in protecting their beloved properties. Probably the best example of these kinds of initiatives in our region has been the Greater Bobs and Crow Lake Association. They are well into their lake plan process, produce a newsletter that is extremely informative about watershed issues, and this year will be combining their Annual General Meeting with displays about many topics of interest to waterfront dwellers and others.

At the same time, cottage associations are becoming waterfront property owners associations. As lots start to sell for over $100,000, and homes on lots start hitting the $500,000 mark, two related things happen. One thing that happens is that properties become major assets for the people who own them, and concerns about environmental issues are also concerns about protecting investments. If cottagers cant swim in the water or eat the fish from the lake, those property values are sure to drop.

The other thing that has happened is that property taxes, which are based on property values, are going through the roof. In the past couple of years associations such as the Sharbot Lake Property Owners Association in Central Frontenac, and the Mazinaw and Gull Lake Associations in North Frontenac, have started to look at municipal budgets, the workings of MMPAC (the agency that determines property values) and, increasingly, at provincial downloading of costs to the municipal level. At the recent public meeting concerning the North Frontenac budget, three of the five members of the public who attended were members of the Mazinaw Property Owners Association. The Sharbot Lake Property Owners Association formed a tax committee two years ago, and since that time has been studying various proposals, and communicating with other associations, specifically in the Muskokas, where million dollar properties are not uncommon, that would radically alter the way rural properties are taxed.

As Rem Westland, newly elected President of the Sharbot Lake Property Owners Association put it last week, It goes against the grain for us to be downplaying the value of our properties because we are afraid of MPAC. We are used to showing off to people, not saying, this property isnt worth very much.

Generally, the new interest in municipal and provincial affairs among cottagers has led to a better relationship between municipal councils and cottage associations. Both Central and North Frontenac councils have made overtures to the associations in the last two years, and these have been well received. I think its fair to say that relations, which were downright frosty a couple of years ago, have improved considerably.

The councils and the associations seem to understand their respective roles in moving politics forward, and they know that there is nothing inherent in their makeup that should lead them into dispute.

However, as noted earlier, next year assessments could increase, and the 30 or 40 per cent annual increases in property taxes on waterfront properties that were the norm in the 2001 2004 will be returning in 2006. Even if municipal councils are extremely careful in their budgeting, if a propertys assessment rises $150,000, it will translate into $2,000 more in municipal taxes.

Those kinds of increases will be a real test of the newly developed good will that has developed between cottage associations and municipal councils.

(Note: a meeting between cottage associations in Central Frontenac Council on the issue of taxation has been tentatively scheduled for September 3. Look for details in August)

Feature Article - November 24, 2005

Home | Local Weather | Editorial Policy

Feature Article

November 24, 2005

. | Navigate | .

ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims

Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

Frontenac Shores:A new wrinkle in theLand o' Lakes

by Jeff Green

For 30 years people in the Land o’ Lakes have been looking to the Muskoka region with alternating hope and fear. Business owners would love to see the amount of economic opportunity that cottage owners and business owners in the Muskokas enjoy, and cottage owners fear that over-development could ruin the peaceful character of the Land o’ Lakes.

Fractional Ownership is a timeshare resort concept that was pioneered in the Muskokas. Pat and Dave Storms are planning to build Frontenac Shores, modeled on this concept, in the next three or four years. If successful, it will provide a way for people to buy into cottage life without the financial or time commitment that comes with cottage ownership.

Although the concept may come from elsewhere, Pat and Dave Storm’s marketing will be all Land 0’ Lakes.

“With over 1300 feet of shoreline, and views to undeveloped crown land, privacy and tranquillity are yours to enjoy. Hike the rolling hills, swim in the pristine lake, snowshoe in hardwood forests or just relax on your porch and take in the majesty of the Canadian Shield”, reads a promotional postcard the Storms are using to promote Frontenac Shores.

The Storms plan to build 28 luxury log cottages, some two and some three-bedroom, which will be sold to as many as 336 families.

The minimum purchase is a one twelfth share of the cottage. This entitles a family to one week at the cottage during each season of the year. The week during the summer will be fixed at the time of purchase, but the other three weeks will rotate each year. There is a lot of flexibility for the use of cottage weeks. Weeks can be swapped between owners, they can be used by relatives or friends, or they can be sold or traded. “What this offers is an opportunity to have the cottage experience without a lot of the hassles,” says Pat Storms. “We all know that the cost of cottage property is rising, and there are rising taxes, maintenance costs, upkeep, and everything else. With fractional ownership, the costs are lower, the hassles are lower, and the benefits are still there."

When people buy in, they will become part owners of the Frontenac Shores Corporation which will have authority over all aspects of the development once it is completed. The Corporation’s Board of Directors will deal with maintenance costs and taxes for the entire development and members will pay annual service fees.

“That’s one of the big differences between Frontenac Shores and other timeshares. As developers, we will not end up owning any part of the development, it will be completely owned by the Not For Profit Corporation,” said Dave Storms.

It’s been ten years since Pat and Dave Storms purchased Twin Pines Resort on Mississagagon Lake, about halfway between Cloyne and Ardoch on Road 506. When they purchased Twin Pines, the resort included 33 seasonal trailer sites, many within a few feet of the lake, 18 cabins, and a small restaurant.

A couple of years into owning the business, Pat and Dave began to realise that instead of growing, their business was slowly slipping. They began to look around for a way to expand their business, and the only way to do that was to extend their season. Like so many seasonal businesses in the region, they were finding that only July and August were profitable.

They had thoughts of splitting up their land, selling parts of it off to trailer owners, and working towards co-op ownership, but then had second thoughts.

Finally two years ago they attended a seminar in Orillia on fractional ownership of cottages, a derivation of the timeshare vacation model but with ownership elements of a traditional condominium model, and their lives haven’t been the same since.

In taking Frontenac Shores from the concept stage to the point where site plan approvals are being sought from the township of North Frontenac, the health unit and the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Pat and Dave Storms have had to hire architects, planners and consultants. The have worked with a well established builder, Confederation Log homes, to develop a log home that both fits into the surrounding landscape and provides luxury accommodations, including indoor saunas in some models.

But they haven’t been working in a vacuum. “The Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation has been a great support to us, providing a loan for marketing and all kinds of practical and moral support. We have also been helped by the Land O”Lakes Tourist Association for help in marketing and for financial support through the OSTAR-rebate program. The Storms have also invested all the resources they have been able to get their hands on, into the project.

“That’s the way these things are done.” says Dave Storms, “Development companies that come in to back projects like this expect you to have put everything you have into it first.”

Frontenac Shores promises to be a very large construction project. If it becomes fully subscribed, it will mean $5 million worth of construction per year, with a total construction budget of $13 million. Presently, in the entire township of North Frontenac, about $5 million worth of construction is completed in a good year.

The construction project will create jobs for the trades and business for local suppliers, and once the project is complete 15 full time jobs will be created to maintain the resort. Because the timeshares all include fall, winter, and spring months, Frontenac Shores will bring something in the area has been wishing to have for many years, year round tourism.

But no construction can begin until some selling is done. The Storms continue to jump through bureaucratic hoops as they solidify their plans, and they understand that all levels of government are cautious where new developments are concerned, particularly lakefront developments.

“This is an entirely new kind of project for North Frontenac, and the township is being very careful that no mistakes are made, which is understandable. It is a new thing for all of us,” said Dave Storms. “What we are planning, however, will be a great improvement to the environment, the shoreline will be improved, fish habitat will be improved, and proper setbacks will be established where they were not in place before.”

Last month North Frontenac asked for some further steps to be taken before granting Approval in Principle for the plan of subdivision that was presented to them by Dave and Pat Storms, and once that takes place an aggressive marketing campaign will be undertaken.

In order to begin construction on the first 8 cottages, the first stage of the development, 50 four week units must be sold, just about half of the available spots.

In developing this new concept, Twin Pines has been wound down over the past year or so. The restaurant, never a money maker for the Storms, has been closed, and at the end of this summer season the trailer sites were eliminated. All that remains are the cabins, and several of those are slated to be torn down within the next year as construction is to begin on Frontenac Shores.

“We’ve passed the point of no return on this thing,” said Pat Storms, “we have to go ahead with it now.”

If all goes as planned, construction will begin on Frontenac Shores in about a year’s time.

For further information, call 1-866-240-5194, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Feature Article - November 23, 2006

Back toHome

Feature Article - November 23, 2006

Cottage Life

Editorial by Jeff Green

By this time of year things are quiet around the cottage. There are battens on the windows, the boats are all put away for the winter, and the peace and quiet of winter is settling over the lake.

Over at Cottage Life Magazine there is a bit of a lull as well, so much so that someone seems to have seen fit to do an internet search of the magazine’s title on Google.

Much of the first page of results from a Google search for the words Cottage Life bring up links to the Cottage Life Magazine’s own website, and then a series of scattered pages start appearing: an article from the Globe and Mail; one about composting toilets; one from Eye Weekly.

Number 20, at the bottom of the second page of results, happens to be a page from Newsweb.ca, the website that is run by the Frontenac News.

Newsweb.ca was set up in 1999 by David Brison and Jim MacPherson, as a project of the Land O’ Lakes Communications Network. Among the sub indexes of the site was a page called Cottage Life. It has links to seven articles, written by David Brison and Lloyd Jones, the most recent of which was written in April of 2000.

This was before David Brison bought The Frontenac News in July of 2000, when Newsweb.ca effectively became the online version of the newspaper.

You can’t find the Cottage Life page from the newsweb.ca home page, it is no longer listed, but it remains on the web, at www.newsweb.ca/cottage_life.htm. Check it out; the articles are interesting.

Cottage Life Magazine, however, was not happy to find this page. They contacted us and said it was an infringement of their trademark, and we should remove it from the worldwide web.

This led to a series of emails between us and the assistant to the President of Cottage Life, culminating in the following email from News’ Publisher Jule Koch-Brison to Rena Barrett, assistant to the President of Cottage Life.

Rena I honestly don't think our Cottage Life section will hurt your magazine in any way. It's 6 years old and is not a tab on our home page - it is not even easily accessible from there.

That part of our site was created by my late husband in the very beginning of our journey and I'm rather attached to it.

If anyone confuses those pages with your site .... well, what can I say? Good luck to them.

You are indeed very well known and we are indeed very local. Our articles are not of much interest to people outside our area.

Best wishes

Jule Koch Brison

About two weeks later, we received a letter from Cottage Life President Al Zikovitz, saying the magazine “owns Canadian Trade Mark Registration No. TMA429,772 and U.S. Trade Mark Registration No. 1,842,912 for their trademark COTTAGE LIFE.”

In the letter, Zikovitz said, in part, “We are concerned that the use of “Cottage Life” on your website implies a connection to our company and this is therefore somewhat misleading and violates our trademark rights.”

He then asks that an “alternative description be chosen for your website (and promotional material) and we ask that you make the changes within 14 days”. Otherwise the matter will be referred to Cottage Life’s lawyer.

More than 14 days have passed and the News hasn’t taken any action. We have checked informally and have found that it is unclear at best if trademark rights are being violated in this case.

There is nothing on our website that implies any connection to Cottage Life Magazine. The font used on the Cottage Life page is not in any way similar to the font used by Cottage Life magazine in any of their promotional material. Further, in large type at the top of our page it says “Land o ’Lakes Newsweb” – Cottage Life is clearly a sub-heading.

So we ask our readers to do ourselves, and our friends at Cottage Life Magazine, a big favour. Go to the web page newsweb.ca/cottage_life.htm and then let us know if it causes you any confusion. Does it make you think you are in the domain of Cottage Life magazine? Let us know.

PS. While you’re there, take the time to read David’s review of “The Dammed Lakes” by Lloyd Jones, and also the article by Lloyd Jones, “Dancing with Bears”.

Other Stories this Week View RSS feed

Feature Article - March 15, 2007

Back toHome

Feature Article - March 15, 2007

Break, enter and theft unit credited with lowering incidents in South Frontenacby Jeff Green

In presenting a Policing for Results community survey and the 2007 business plan for the Frontenac Detachment to South Frontenac Council, Staff Sgt. Glenn Fowler brought news of the success the detachment has had in recent years in the number one commitment made under their plan: reducing the incidence of break and enters in the township.

“The incidence of break and enter committed in South Frontenac has declined in recent years,” Fowler said.

There were 134 break-ins in 2002, 183 in 2003, 136 in 2004, 83 in 2005, and 50 in 2006. “We have a dedicated B and E unit that aggressively pursues suspects and makes arrests as quickly as possible. This means that one or two thefts take place by a group that begins engaging in this activity, instead of 15 or 20,” Fowler told council.

There are five other commitments in the detachment’s business plan. The second is to take action against drinking and driving or operating snowmobiles, ATVs or boats. Impaired driving charges have remained relatively constant in the township over the past five years. The third commitment is to enhance safe travel on Hwys. 15 and 401 through patrolling. The fourth is to portray a positive image to the public and the fifth is to enforce rules against speeding and aggressive driving on major roads in the township, such as Road 38, Battersea Road, and Perth Road. The sixth commitment is to advise victims of crime of the outcome of police investigation within 30 days of the crime taking place.

Sergeant Fowler said that the detachment tweaks its business plan each year, but most of the commitments are ongoing. Council seemed to like what Sgt. Fowler had to tell them, commending the Frontenac Detachment for their continuing efforts.

Water treatment plant report – Engineers from Utililties Kingston presented their first annual report on the quality of water being pumped out of the Sydenham Water treatment plant. While there have been so-called “background” issues related to the plant getting up and running, the report concluded that “water of good quality which is safe to drink was produced by the treatment plant during this reporting period.”

Spurned Dog Lake cottage owner to go to OMB – Ruth Dubin, who owns a small 558 sq. ft. cottage that has no plumbing or septic system and is about 25 feet from the high water mark on Dog Lake, has made a second application for approval to build a 350 sq. ft. extension to the rear of her cottage. Her plan is to put in a septic system, an indoor bathroom and a kitchen as part of the renovation.

A report by township planner Lindsay Mills recommended rejecting the application, on the grounds that the township’s Official Plan stipulates that new construction be located at least 30 metres (98.4 ft.) from the high water mark of township lakes.

While buildings that were already in place when the Official Plan was brought into force five years ago are exempted from this provision, additions or new construction must conform. Mills said that in this case the property owner has another alternative:, to build an entirely new cottage on a six-foot ridge at the back of her property.

Dubin’s representative Ray Essiambre told council that building on the ridge would produce a structure visible from across the lake, which the Official Plan does not favour, and said that she has no intention of tearing down her existing dwelling, which in spite of some problems is still in good repair.

“I think it is narrow minded of council to say the existing situation is legal, when there is only a privy, and no water system at all, at the same time rejecting a proposal which would see an approved septic system put into place,” Essiambre said. “We will go to the OMB [Ontario Municipal Board], which will cost the township and ourselves a lot of money, if council rejects this.”

Ruth Dubin addressed council briefly, saying that the proposal that she build in the ridge would have more environmental impacts than renovating her existing cottage, because of the impacts on turtle nesting grounds and black rat snake nesting grounds.

Councilor David Hahn said he found the case made by Mr. Essiambre convincing, and the case made by township planner Lindsay Mills convincing as well. “Every similar case that has come to the committee of adjustment over the past five years has been rejected, so I think we need to reject this one as well.”

A bylaw which would have approved the zoning amendment that Ruth Dubin was seeking was defeated when it came before council later in the meeting.

Fire budget up $30,000 – Fire Chief Rick Cheseborough brought the 2007 fire budget to council for approval. Of the $30,000 increase in the budget, which equals 2.73%, $15,000 comes from an increase to the vehicle replacement budget that was approved by the previous council. Another $3,000 comes from an increase in capital requirements, and the rest comes from increased gas, diesel, safety equipment and equipment maintenance costs.

The 2006 operating budget generated a sizeable surplus, but Cheseborough recommended putting $91,000 into a reserve fund as a hedge against a busy fire year causing the wage budget to be inadequate.

“It’s good to have a wage reserve,” said Councilor Ron Vandewal, “and if we start seeing that reserve growing to $180,000 or something, we can make changes to the budget next year.” Council gave approval in principle to the fire budget.

Salt containment study – A salt containment study has been granted to Jewel and Associates. The study will look at the five salt containment sites in the township, find any deficiencies, and recommend remediation. It will be funded through the Federal Gas tax rebate.

Other Stories this Week View RSS feed

Feature Article - April 26, 2007.class { BORDER-RIGHT: black 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: #000 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: black 1pt solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1pt solid } .class1 { BORDER-RIGHT: #9f5128 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: #9f5128 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #9f5128 1pt solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #9f5128 1pt solid } .class2 { FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #666 }

Back toHome

Feature Article - April 26, 2007

Letters to the Editor

History on Pine Lake

I own a cottage on Pine Lake, which my husband, my kids and I share with my parents and my brother.

I have been coming to Pine Lake all my life. My father, Frank, has been coming all his life. It's this way because my great grandfather James Derue built this cottage in 1950 and it's been in my family ever since. In fact, it was the first one built on the lake.

At that time, my great grandfather was the local entrepreneur in Ardoch. He and his wife, Elsie, owned and operated the general store and the saw mill. They opened and managed the Pine Lake cottages and trailer park. Even though that was in the 1950s, people still remember and talk about them today.

Last summer a group of people clear cut two pieces of land at Pine Lake -- one beside my cottage and the other across the road. Three weeks ago they drilled a well. They say they are planning to build an office building, a community centre, a parking lot and Pow wow grounds to accommodate 1700 people. They even speak of one day building a seniors home.

I am told by the Ministry of Natural Resources that this group does not legally own this land, that they have not obtained a building permit nor have they conducted an environmental assessment that has been approved by the province to ensure that environmental and safety concerns are addressed. Apparently they have hired someone to do their own assessment, which is not the same thing.

Frankly, I am confused. Why do we have a building code and environmental assessment regulations? Are they meaningless or optional? How can a group of people not abide by our laws and then justify their actions by saying they have history here?

I have history here. I also do my best to follow the laws of our country because I want to live in peace with my neighbours. All I ask is that my neighbours do the same.

Janette Derue-Lane

Re: Ontario Roadsides -

Recently when my grandson Mason Lowery and I were walking along a stretch of Hwy.41 and saw the mess on the roadside, we decided to do some cleanup. It is most frustrating when you see what people toss out the window as they pass by. This ATV trailer full of garbage is some indication of the magnitude of things left on our roadsides.

It took just one-half kilometer to fill this trailer. I think it’s deplorable the way we treat rural Ontario roadsides. I believe we live in the greatest province in this country - why do we not have the good sense to take care of it? It might be tradition to live with rough surfaces, but at least we can attempt to keep the roadsides clean. Maybe if we did our part in keeping Ontario clean, we might encourage the provincial and municipal road departments into helping out with the roads in their jurisdictions. It would sure be nice to see our roadside grass mowing being carried out again as it once was, and the brush cut -- not only to keep it looking nice, but also consider the safety factor for drivers and their families using these roads. Wildlife can be in front of you too easily with the vegetation growing along some portions of our roadsides.

For what it’s worth, last year my wife and I drove to Alaska, across Canada and back through the USA, some 23,000 kms. And I must tell you, as much as I love Ontario, it was most depressing when we came back and looked at the roadsides in Ontario compared to what we had become accustomed to seeing.

I say to you, if we all pull together and do our part, we can make Ontario roadsides second to none and something we can all be proud of.

- Larry Hartin

Dear Editor

Mayor Gutowski must have been a figure skater in a previous life. That was an impressive display of gliding around in circles to set up for the big spin that she performed in her letter that was published here last week. Since creative thinking seems to be in short supply on Central Frontenac council (and let’s not forget that the current mayor and three of the councillors were part of the previous council), here’s a plan that will mitigate the ridiculous mess that they have created. Move the Kennebec road crew and their equipment back to the Arden municipal garage. Move the Olden Fire Dept. into the new four-bay extension recently built onto the Olden municipal garage to house the Kennebec equipment. Take the $465,000 slated for the new fire truck garage in Mountain Grove, add to it the $118,000 that Bill Snyder is so desperate to spend hard topping his favourite side road and there will be plenty to spend on salt domes for Arden and Olden ($240,000 each - Frontenac News, May 25/06) with enough left over to build a nice lounge for the Olden fire crew. Or the $15,000 shortfall can simply be made up by the decreased operating costs that not driving the Kennebec equipment back and forth on the highway all day will provide. That way Mr. Snyder’s neighbours can have their pavement. . . but no lounge for Olden. I wonder if they’ll pave my road too if I keep complaining.

The facilities at the new Sharbot Lake fire truck garage along with the empty municipal garage beside it (the stupidity of that should live forever) and surrounding empty township yard should be plenty to service any of the training seminars Mayor Gutowski lauded, although you have to wonder how many generations will go by before any revenue generated will be worth bragging about.

-Patrick Maloney

Re: “Consolidate rural schools”

I read with dismay the front-page story on the proposal to close and "consolidate" our rural schools. Here is yet another Mississauga"consultant" beingpaid by our tax dollars to recommend the further evisceration of our communities.

With oil and gas prices skyrocketing,supplies dwindling, and global climate change transforming everything around us, further centralization is the last thing anyone but an ostrich should be contemplating.

What on earthcan they be thinking?

In his book, "The Long Emergency", James Howard Kunstler describes North American society as "sleepwalking into the future". If the Limestone Schoolboardshows any sign of taking seriouslythe Mississauga proposalsto close our few remaining small rural schools, we the people should give them a sharp awakening.

Helen Forsey

Other Stories this Week View RSS feed

Feature Article - April 5, 2007

Back toHome

Feature Article - April 5, 2007

Great Bobs and Crow Lakes Association receives award from Cottage Life

On March 31, The Greater Bobs & Crow Lakes Association received an award of merit from Cottage Life at the Cottage Life exhibition in Toronto.

In 2006 the Association entered the Cottage Life Green Cottager Awards. There were two categories for entry: an individual or family for outstanding environmental achievement and a cottager group for outstanding environmental achievement.

Three finalists were chosen in each category from entries submitted from all over Canada. The winner for each category received a $2500 cheque from Cottage Life. The other two finalists received awards of merit and recognition for their outstanding work.

Awards of merit went given to the Greater Bobs & Crow Lakes Association, in Land O’Lakes, Ontario and the Halls & Hawk Lakes Property Owners Association in Haliburton, Ontario.

The GBCLA was praised for their work on the Lake Stewardship Plan, the formation of the Bobs and Crow Lakes Foundation, their over 30 years of water quality testing and maintenance and for the many programs, workshops and their focus on the community to involve all stakeholders; cottagers, residents and government in the work for the lakes.

President Susan O’Brien Mactaggart received the award in Toronto on behalf of the Association. She was extremely pleased with the results. “Cottage Life received an amazing number of very high quality entries from across Canada. We are elated that our Association has been recognized in this way. Our volunteers and the Foundation volunteers are a remarkable group of extremely dedicated people who care, more than one can fully describe and they give countless hours and energy toward preserving the environment and enhancing the community of Bobs & Crow Lakes. This is their award and I am very proud for them.”

The Association has now completed the document of the Lake Stewardship Plan. It will be released on May 25. Working groups are now being organized to address the recommendations in the Plan and continue the work for the Lakes.

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

613 – 273-5236

Other Stories this Week View RSS feed

Feature Article - February 7, 2008

Back toHome

Outdoors in the LandO'Lakes - February 21, 2008 The Barred Owl – Haunting the Nights in the Land O’Lakes Outdoors in the Land O'Lakes by Steve Blight

One of the more common owls in the Land O’Lakes region is the Barred Owl. More often heard than seen, this bird is a brownish “earless” owl, about the size of a crow, but stockier. Its eerie, resonant call is often described as sounding like “who cooks for you, who cooks for you-all”, and is most frequently heard in mid to late winter. Both males and females call as they set up their breeding territory in dense forests, often near lakes, rivers or swamps. I have heard Barred Owls calling throughout the summer at our cottage on Bobs Lake, but they are more easily heard in the crisp, still night air of late February through early April. As the nights get warmer in spring, their calls are harder to pick out from the growing volume of night sounds from other creatures like spring peepers and tree frogs.

This year-round resident of many parts of North America prefers to live in large areas of older, relatively intact forest with lots of large diameter trees. They seem to do best in mature forests made up of a mix of conifers and hardwoods, with a scattering of large dead trees called “snags”. They frequently nest in holes in both living and dead trees, often made by another deep woods dweller, the Pileated Woodpecker. However, they seem happy to take over the abandoned tree nests of crows or hawks as well. Normally there are 2-3 eggs per pair, with laying taking place in early spring. Both parents are actively involved in rearing the young.

The number of Barred Owls seems to be slowly increasing in our area. Some researchers attribute this change to the fact that their preferred habitat is expanding as the second growth forests on many parts of the Canadian Shield mature. Others also suggest the gradual increase is because birds of prey are no longer considered “varmints” and shot on sight. Last summer, I saw a Barred Owl on four separate occasions – three times perching sleepily on hydro wires alongside a gravel road near our cottage, and once on a branch midway up a red oak tree on our bush property east of Sharbot Lake. Another memorable sighting of this owl for me was on the first Monday after the famous ice storm of 1998. I walked into our cottage to check out the damage, and the bird was surveying the scene from a perch about 15 feet off the ground on an ice covered branch drooping over our laneway. I thought at the time that it looked as discouraged as I felt about the enormous damage to the forest around our cottage and elsewhere. Fortunately, the damage to the forests did not seem to have a lasting impact on the local populations of this elegant bird.

The only other owls in our area that are likely to be confused with the Barred Owl are the Great Gray Owl and the Great Horned Owl. The Great Grey Owl is an uncommon winter visitor to our area, but its larger size, distinctive gray plumage and yellow eyes distinguish it from other “earless” owls. Two winters ago, this bird irrupted into the north eastern North America in incredible numbers – incredible for an owl, that is – and seemed to be turning up on every second fence post across our region. The Great Horned Owl is about one third bigger, and its prominent ear tufts clearly distinguish it from any of the earless owls.

When I hear the eerie but distinctive “who cooks for you-all” in the middle of the night, I know that a Barred Owl is making a living in a nearby woodlot. I consider myself lucky to be able to spend time in the Land O’Lakes – an area that makes room for such a noble creature.

Observations. Jane Badour reported having a number of redpolls among the more common winter customers at her feeder on Bobs Lake. She also reported having a lone Pine Grosbeak at her feeder back in the fall. Fred and Nancy Barrett also reported Redpolls and Pine Grosbeaks south of Maberly.

Please feel free to report any observations to to Steve Blight at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Lorraine Julien at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.