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The Sharbot Lake & District Lions Club is offering to spruce up the gazebo across from the Township office in Sharbot Lake.

In a letter that was accepted for information at Tuesday’s regular Central Frontenac Council meeting, Lions secretary Bill Pyle said: “re: the gazebo across from the Township office seems to be in need of some TLC.

“With Council’s permission, the Lions are willing to take a close look in the spring and see what is needed to spruce it up . . . the Lions would do any needed minor repairs and paint or stain the gazebo. We understand that there is a neglected flower bed beside it and we would see what we could do to restore it as well.”

Pyle went on to say that if there appears to be any major structural difficulties, they would consult with Council before proceeding and invited members of Council to join them in inspecting the gazebo and flower bed.

Dep. Mayor Tom Dewey volunteered to go and Mayor Frances Smith pointed out that since she is a Lion, she’d probably be there too.

Council passed a resolution to express thanks and appreciation to the Lions but didn’t give its permission. Part of the resolution was for staff to contact the Lions to coordinate and confirm the scope of the repairs and bring a report back to Council.

Coun. Bill MacDonald observed that “there were no fire calls anywhere in Central Frontenac in January and asked Fire Chief Jamie Riddell if he could offer an explanation.

“I like to give credit where it’s due,” Riddell said. “It’s a credit to our volunteers who go out and do fire prevention and door-to-door smoke alarms.”

There were however, eight medical calls, four vehicle accidents and one carbon monoxide call in January.

Council passed a resolution to finalize an agreement with Rideau Valley Conservation Authority on behalf of Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office to complete the septic re-inspections contemplated under Bylaw 2020-04 for the 2020 Year.

Council also received for information the annual report on Council remuneration in 2019 for information.

Mayor Frances Smith received $24,450.15 plus $900 in per diem and $894.85 in mileage. Deputy mayor Victor Heese received $17,269 plus $375 in per diem, $443.30 in mileage, $359 in professional development & conferences. Coun. Tom Dewey received $15,137.20 plus $1,425 in per diem and $2,097 in mileage. Coun. Cindy Kelsey received $15,137.20 plus $600 in per diem, $368 in mileage and $194.30 in professional development. Coun. Sherry Whan received $15,1137.20 and $167.20 in mileage.

Coun. Bill MacDonald, Brent Cameron, Elwin Burke and Nicki Gowdy each received $15,137.20.

Each member of Council also received an expense allowance of $800.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Despite the rainstorms that dissuaded many from venturing outside their homes last Saturday, the Sharbot Lake Lions went ahead with a wellness day at Oso Hall and were encouraged enough to plan for a second one.

“Lions do service projects, it’s not just all fundraising,” said Lion Dawn Hansen, organizer of the event. “We thought we could do some vision screening, diabetes awareness, youth outreach and hearing tests.”

Hansen said they had planned on having people bring in their old eyeglasses to be sent to third world countries as well as used prescriptions for disposal but that can be done another day. For her, the only real disappointment was not many children coming in for vision screening.

“We were hoping for more children to get vision screening,” she said. “They only do it in senior kindergarten now.

“But this was just the first one. I think we’ll try another in better weather.”

Hansen wanted to remind everyone that monthly Lions Breakfasts begin again on Jan. 25 and “we’re always looking for new members.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

For the first time in its 27-year history, the Verona Christmas in the Village tree-lighting ceremony was held indoors.

“With the weather this year, we thought we’d hold it indoors rather than have everybody have to dress up to go outside,” said Verona Community Association president Wayne Conway.

For years, the tree lighting was held at McMullen Park in downtown Verona but it turned out that the lights were killing the old Christmas tree in the park so it moved to the Lions Hall a few years ago.

But, Conway said, the Association is re-evaluating.

“The VCA will look at and assess the possibility of going back to our roots,” Conway said. “We’re looking at enhancing the program for next year and maybe even ways of returning to McMullen Park.”

Holding events at the Lions Hall does have advantages. For one thing, the kitchen is available and the Lions provided a nice spread including chilli and hot dogs, along with the popcorn and goodies.

“This is the second year the Lions have become more involved,” said Lions spokesperson Doreen Morey. “Last year we did it and this year we’re doing it together as a shared event.

“We’re very happy to join together as a community and by doing so, it maximizes the number of volunteers available.”

This year’s event featured the music of Jessica Weddon and Jon McClurg and the group Vocal Legacy.

Published in SOUTH FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 11 December 2019 12:38

250,000 cans collected, and counting

Stop! Don’t toss that beer can! Don’t break that rum bottle! Since June 2013, the Sharbot Lake & District Lions Club has been collecting empty beer, wine and liquor bottles and cans from Central Frontenac’s Wemp Rd and Parham waste sites. They then transport them to the Beer Store to collect the deposit. As we approach the end of 2019 the total number of bottles and cans returned is nearing 250,000! A staggering number! Whether it’s thirty above in July or thirty below in January, the Lions will faithfully make their Tuesday dump runs. Not only is this good for waste management by diverting all this glass and aluminum away from the local dumps, but it has also helped the Lions Club to do more service and help more people in the community. Over these past five and a half years the club has realized well over $25,000 from this project. As with all Lion’s projects, every cent goes to help someone in need and there are no administration costs as all Lions members are volunteers. For example, the Sharbot Lake club is the number one donor to the local Salvation Army Christmas Hamper campaign and also donates to the Frontenac Food Bank and the Sharbot Lake Christmas Dinner. The Lions Club is very thankful for the help and cooperation it has received from the staff at the C.F. waste management sites and the Sharbot Lake Beer Store. Please help the Lions Club with this project. Drop your bottles and cans off at the designated Lion’s sheds at these two waste sites. And if you have a large quantity you would like to dispose of, we can arrange to pick them up for you. Call 613-375-6318 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 04 December 2019 10:18

Family Math Night at LPS

This sounds like…fun?? It was not only fun, but an up-roaring success, last Wednesday night (November 27) at Loughborough Public School in Sydenham, when the library filled with parents and children from kindergarten to grade 3 enthusiastically playing a variety of card and board games.

It all began with the idea of primary teacher Sharon Isbell, to help teach math and number skills through the use of games. When she approached the Sydenham Lions Club for a donation of $100 and received three times that amount, she was able to buy a lot of games, both modern and old familiar ones like Yahtzee and Snakes and Ladders.

At 6pm, the library was full of tables, each with a couple of games, and a few minutes later the room filled with parents and children. The children already were familiar with the games and keen to teach them to their parents. Isbell briefly described some of the basic skills: number recognition; counting more efficiently; learning simple math shortcuts; sharpening memory; that could be learned and strengthened by playing games involving numbers.

A few times during the evening, everyone changed tables, moving on to new games. Parents learned how playing games could be a way to have fun helping their children with homework, and may have picked up a few ideas for Christmas presents.

Several of the local Lions were also present: Lion Joanne Ankers, herself a retired teacher, said she was surprised and pleased when several people, both adults and children, thanked her as a Lions representative, for helping making this event possible.

It was a happy, raucous, delightful evening.

Published in SOUTH FRONTENAC

“For 34 years, the Legion was responsible for ceremonies on Nov. 11,” Land O’Lakes Lions Past President and Zone Chair Red Emond said Sunday night in Northbrook. “This year, we’re just assisting them.”

The Northbrook observances were a little different than what one normally expects. First of all, it was held on the night of Nov. 10. Yes, there was the traditional moment of silence, laying of wreaths, playing of The Last Post and Reveille as well as a reading of In Flanders Fields, but a couple of other things set these ceremonies apart.

What made this remembrance unique were the memories of three women, two who spent the Second World War in Kaladar and Flinton, and one who was in the thick of it in Yugoslavia and Austria.

Rose Merkler has lived in Canada for 60 years, in Toronto, Skoottamatta Lake and now Northbrook.

But when she was eight years old, she was in Yugoslavia, of German descent. (Rose’s older sister, Mitzi Mangold, was scheduled to be there as well but was unable to attend).

In 1941, Rose’s family lived in Zemun, which is now a suburb of Belgrade. Her family had been in the area for 600 years, however they still spoke German. It was at that time the Germans invaded and took over the area.

While her family wasn’t a target of the Germans, many families, particularly Jewish and Romani, were.

“I remember the concentration camp (Sajmiste) and the trucks taking people over the river,” she said. “They never returned.”

In 1944, the Russians came and took over.

“The Russian were taking revenge on all Germans,” she said. “My grandfather had an oil factory and my mother’s sister had gotten engaged to an Austrian.

“My father said we had to get out.”

She remembers a neighbour who decided to stay.

“The Russians came and killed him shortly after we left.”

Once in Wels, Austria, they thought they’d be OK but things changed quickly.

“In 1944, when we got there, Austria was still under Hilter, but soon the Russians came there too,” she said.

“The Russians were like animals,” she said. “I remember one woman standing on a bridge, who cheered and put flowers on the Russian vehicles saying ‘our saviours.’

“That night, eight Russians raped her.

“I’ll never forget the screams. They (the Russians) came in, took whatever they wanted.

“There was no food.”

She said she moved to Canada when she could because “Canada is known as the peacemakers of the world.

“The horror in the world doesn’t seem to stop and it was horror. You were not safe to go anywhere but here you are safe.

“It’s great to be in Canada.”

One-hundred-and-one-year-old Meritta Parks also has memories of the War Years, albeit not as horrendous as the ones Merkler carries.

Still, they were trying times.

“In 1939, food was rationed,” Parks, who was originally from Flinton but living in Kaladar at the time. “You got so much butter, so much sugar for each child.

“If you had a big family, you got more.”

Parks shared a story of coupon booklets and rationing.

“You had a coupon booklet and I never used my butter coupons,” she said. “We had a cow and made our own butter.

“The storekeeper in Kaladar (Arnold York) asked if he could have my butter coupons.

“I bootlegged butter.”

Parks’ younger sister, Verna Andrews remembers things a bit differently.

“Before the war, nobody had money,” she said. “When I first started school, I thought we were hard up but there were kids at school who only had a single slice of bread for there lunch and maybe they had a pair of rubber boots if they were lucky.

“I had clothes because of hand-me-downs but I remember my mother made our underclothes from flour bags — and sometimes, the flour wasn’t all gone.”

She remembers when the war ended quite vividly.

“In 1945, we had a big party in Northbrook,” she said. “Everybody was dancing in on the street, and it wasn’t paved at that time.

“We had a big square dance on the gravel road.”

Published in ADDINGTON HIGHLANDS

A thunderstorm may have cancelled the geocaching event and forced the barbecue indoors, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the Lions Club of Land O’Lakes, as they gathered in their Northbrook Lions Hall Saturday to celebrate 50 years since their charter was granted.

“The actual date was Jan. 22, 1969 and clubs generally try to schedule celebrations closer to that, but we thought it might be tough to get a lot of folks to come here in the middle of winter,” said Past President Kerry Skipper. “At least you didn’t have to scrap ice off your windshield.”

As might be expected, the luncheon featured speeches and well-wishes from a variety of Lions and politicians.

There were 15 past presidents, nine past district governors, a reeve, a mayor, an MPP and three charter members in attendance, along with a host of members visiting from other chapters.

“Many organizations and individuals have benefitted from your generosity,” said Addington Heights Reeve Henry Hogg. “The list is too long to ever start.”

“Being here for 50 years proves you’re sustainable and how much you’ve done for the community,” said North Frontenac Mayor Ron Higgins.

“The motto of Lions International is Serving the World, One Community at a Time, and that’s what you’ve done here,” said Hastings-Lennox & Addington MPP Daryl Kramp.

But perhaps the best speech came from charter member Terry Halzhauer, who along with Don Wannamaker and Harold O’Brien, was part of that 1969 group.

“I have many wonderful memories,” said Halzhauer, who is now president of the Denbigh-Griffith Club. “In 1969, Weldon Bahm moved here from Sarnia and bought a lodge,” he said. “He missed his Lions Club.

“We had a charter ceremony in North Addington Education Centre with Trenton serving as sponsor club.”

He said they’ve met in many area locations before building the present clubhouse in Northbrook. They’ve held a lot of bingos and casino nights since those original days.

“There were no women in the clubs in those days,” he said. “But we could always depend on our wives to help out (and) it’s good to see so many women Lions today.”

Published in ADDINGTON HIGHLANDS

On 18 June, the 41 members of the Lions Club of Land O’Lakes donated $10,000.00 to Pine Meadow Nursing Home and $500.00 to the local Scouts/Guide Club during their last General Meeting and dinner of their fiscal year (July/June). PMNH has received $145,000.00 from the Lions since 1993. Shown above is Margaret Palimaka, PMNH Administrator receiving the cheque from Outgoing Lion President Kerry Skipper.

Including the above, the Club donated $24,125.00 this fiscal year to: Mazinaw Swim Club $1,000.00; Alzheimer Society $500.00; North Addington Education Centre (NAEC) Bursary $1,000.00; NAEC ManUp Club $1,000.00; NAEC Soccer $500.00; LOLCS Xmas Hamper $500.00; Red Cross Ottawa Tornado $2,000.00; Napanee Hospital $500.00; Kingston University Hospital; $500.00; Canadian Institute for the Blind $500.00; Canadian Legion $75.00; PMNH in Memoriam $50.00; Lions Dog Guide $1,000.00, Lions Club International Foundation Canada LC|F(C) $1,500.00; and $3,000.00 in kind to LARC (mLennox and Addington Resource for Children).

In the words of incoming President Phil Barchard, this Lions Club has become the envy of many and is the best organization to belong to North of Seven. Two new members, Kathy and Gary Shortt were inducted during the evening and other applicants are awaiting the Board’s

Published in ADDINGTON HIGHLANDS

It was a beautiful day Saturday in Northbrook for the 1st annual Alzheimer walk at Pine Meadows Nursing Home. And program manager Mallory Wionzek was only too happy to take credit for it.

“I ordered this nice weather,” she said.

This was the third of three such walks the KFL&A Alzheimer Society has put on this year (the others were in Kingston and Napanee) which have raised more than $42,000.

The numbers for the Pine Meadow Walk may have been smaller than the other two but there was no lack of enthusiasm as evidenced by the warm-up routine led by Alzheimer program coordinator (as well as ‘coach and head balloon maker’) Mari Vepsalainen.

One unique aspect of this walk is the relationship between the Alzheimer Society and the Land O’Lakes Lions. Pam Lemke works for the Society in Northbrook and Sharbot Lake, with much of her work being done out of a basement office at the Northbrook Lions Hall.

“Pam is a (Lions) member (and) her office is in our hall,” said Lions President Kerry Skipper. “We have a bit of an informed relationship with with Alzheimers.

“They help us out financially with the upkeep on the hall and we try to reciprocate by pitching in wherever we can.”

As well as there being a strong Lions presence at the event, the club also chipped in with a cheque for $500.

“We’ve heard about all these wonderful people of Northbrook,” said fundraising coordinator Lesley Kimble. “Pam knows all these people.

“And all of the money raised in the community stays in the community.”

Pine Meadow Nursing Home served as host for the walk and IG Wealth Management as the corporate sponsor.

Published in ADDINGTON HIGHLANDS

Many fisherfolk in the area may have thought it was too wet and rainy to go fishing last Saturday, but the weather didn’t faze the 27 blind anglers and their 16 pro guides from venturing out on Kennebec Lake for the 31st annual Blind Anglers International Tournament (B.A.I.T.). This was the second consecutive year it’s been held at Springwood Cottages on Kennebec Lake, and organizers said they plan to return for next year’s tournament.

“This was our second year here, but we’ve still got some wrinkles to work out so we’re going to do it again next year,” said tournament chair Paul Riddell. The tournament is hosted by the Stittsville Lions Club.

This year, the top prize, Catch of the Day, went to Martin Collicott, an “American by birth but from Orleans now,” for a total weight of 12 pounds, including a seven-pound pike.

His guide, Ottawa’s Scott Campbell, representing AIM Marine, said the lunker pike was caught on a No. 3 Mepps.

“It was windy and wet and the best fishing ever,” said Collicott. “Scott was really good at picking spots.

“I’ve only missed three of these tournaments since 2000.”

Collicott said that being a Maritimer, being on the water is second nature to him.

“I grew up catching brook trout,” he said. “But when my eyes went south I kinda missed all that.

“This tournament is a good chance to get all that back.”

He said this was his first Catch of the Day win.

“It’s my second trophy though,” he said. “I did win biggest walleye one year and I had a big pike in the boat but lost it when we tried to get a picture.

“This pike is the biggest fish that never got away.”

Mike Thompson from Eganville shared the boat with Collicott and Campbell.

“I’ve been in about 20 of these, including that one time with Catch of the Day,” he said. “I always have a good time.”

And so do the guides.

“It’s such a fun day,” said pro Bob Boyer. “I’ll do it til the day I die.”

One of the biggest laughs of the day was provided by Coun. Tom Dewey, who brought greetings on behalf of Central Frontenac Township.

With the rain coming down outside, Dewey said in all seriousness: “It’s apparent to me that the anglers participating in this tournament look forward to this very special experience, whether they are catching a fish, or just sitting in the boat with the warm sun rays embracing their face,” at which point his wife Shirley reminded him it had been pouring rain all day, to the delight of the laughing crowd.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
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