The Frontenac Heritage Festival returns to Central Frontenac Township this weekend for its 12th year.

Things get underway Friday night with an opening gala at GREC and the annual local talent show — Frontenac’s Got Talent.

The Festival swings into high gear on Saturday with a variety of events and activities in Sharbot Lake, Tichborne, Arden and Kennebec Lake. You can skate for free at the Tichborne rink all day.

Sharbot Lake will be busy starting with the Lions All You Can Eat Breakfast, a bonfire at the CF Train Museum and a Bucket Drumming Workshop for kids at the Child Centre.

But the Arden area has historically been the busiest area on the Saturday and this year is no exception with the Empty Bowls lunch with proceeds going to the food bank, the annual fur-traders camp reenactment, indoor displays from the Historical Society and Trappers Council along with games for the kids outside and chainsaw wood carving demonstrations. There’s a chili cook-off at the Legion too.

And over at the Kennebec Lake public boat launch, the Kennebec Lake Association is holding its 7th annual Winter Fun Day with skating, hockey, ring-toss, snow shoeing, ice fishing, campfire and hot food and drinks.

On Sunday, the focus shifts back to Sharbot Lake for the annual Polar Bear Plunge followed by live music and chili at the Legion. At 6 p.m., the winners of the photo contest will be announced at Oso Hall followed by a family movie.

On Monday, there will be games and activities at the ball field in Sharbot Lake and demonstrations of logging skills at Glen Matson’s farm in Arden.

Although there’s no official ‘chair’ of the festival committee for this year (founder/showrunner Janet Gutowski has stepped down), Mike Procter, who’s busy with different events three of the four days, said they’re always looking for volunteers (they’re good for this year), especially when it comes to planning next year’s event.

“All it would take is a 10-15 hour commitment, all indoors if you want,” Procter said. “We will train you.”

You can call Procter at 613-279-2572.

(And you can look for Procter at his “jockularity and prestidigitation” at the talent show, the fur traders camp on Saturday and with the Frontenac Blades tomahawk/knife throwers at Matson’s Farm.)

A service club in Frontenac County is asking for the gift of hope this Christmas.

“Storrington Lions Club has been working hard to revitalize its community hall in Sunbury,” says John Beskers, President of Storrington Lions Club. “Working with very little money, we have accomplished a great deal and have now started the second phase of repairs to the hall. We are asking residents to share the gift of hope this holiday season by making a donation to the Lions Club to save the Storrington Lions Hall.”

Operated by a small group of volunteers, the hall is a central meeting place for dozens of community groups. It is a polling station, blood donor clinic and gathering place for residents to celebrate engagements, marriages and birthdays.

“We’re here as a service,” Beskers explains softly about the club and the hall. “We help people by providing an affordable and convenient space to learn, connect and celebrate life.”

Located in the heart of Frontenac County, the hall is a major part of the community. Volunteers have been working to revitalize it for more than a year despite a major setback in August when a $5,000 air conditioning unit was vandalized for a couple hundred dollars’ worth of copper coil.

“The sides were left in place. The robbers basically just cut everything and took the coil,” confirms Beskers who discovered the broken equipment while hosting a youth dance. “It was a major setback for the club, but we persevered.”

According to Beskers, volunteers have spent the last year upgrading the bathrooms, infrastructure and exterior.

The club estimates it could use another $50,000 to complete all of the renovations and upgrades needed for its sustainability.

“We have also been busy with our paint brushes inside the hall and have now moved into phase two which is an urgent upgrade of our bar area and kitchen,” he explains. “Most people have enough socks and ties. Please give the gift of hope this holiday season by donating to Storrington Lions Hall. What better way to achieve peace, love and joy than investing in our community.”

To help Storrington Lions Club save its community hall, donations are gratefully accepted through the mail at 2992 Princess Road; Inverary ON K0H 1X0 or on the club’s electronic fundraising page Go Fund Me at https://www.gofundme.com/dzyxmr7y

On July 1 of this year, Sharbot Lake Lions Bill and Linda Zwier travelled to Chicago, Ill. But this wasn’t any regular Lions convention.

You see, this year’s gathering of Lions featured a ceremony wherein Bill would be inducted as the Governor of District A3, a large geographic area stretching from Courtice to Storrington, Denbigh to Cherry Valley. It’s an area that contains 50 Lions clubs, seven Lioness clubs, three Leo Clubs and some 1,300 members.

Needless to say, it’s a time commitment but so far, so good for the new Governor.

“I get a lot more emails and phone calls,” he said. “There’s a lot of paperwork and a lot of visiting other clubs for activities and fundraisers.”

But he’s fine with that.

After all, it takes seven years to become Governor, starting out with being club president, then moving up to zone chair, region chair, 2nd vice-Governor, 1st vice-Governor and then Governor.

“Then, after a one-year term as Governor, you become immediate past Governor and then you’re on an honorary committee that finds solutions,” he said.

This is the second time the Sharbot Lake club has provided a District Governor. Dave Hansen filled the post in 1976-1977.

As Governor, Zwier will be able to set priorities aided by his advisory council as Lions International enters its second century.

“I’d like to see us doing more service, as opposed to fundraisers,” he said.

He cites several Lions programs in that, such as vision and hearing screening, environmental programs, youth programs and two new programs — diabetes and pediatric cancer.

“We managed to raise enough to send 11 athletes to the Special Olympics last weekend,” he said.

He’s also big on the vision and hearing screening programs in schools, citing examples of children who were doing poorly in school before screening programs identified a need for glasses or hearing aides.

“And we do a lot of disaster assistance,” he said. “For example, during the Ice Storm, we had $10,000 here in 10 days.”

And while all the Lions programs are important to him, there is one that seems to have a special place in his heart, judging by the way he talks about it — the Lions Foundation Guide Dog program that provides service dogs free of charge to those with vision or hearing impairments, epilepsy, seizures, diabetes or autism.

He tells a story about collecting bottles at the Beer Store one day when two people from B.C. came up and thanked him personally. Their son has autism and they got a dog and training for free.

“That’s what I get out of this,” he said. “It’s not money, it’s things like those two people from B.C.”

Zwier retired five years ago from Home Hardware in Perth. He didn’t have any aspirations of becoming a District Governor at the time (“I joined to serve”) but there is some pride there when he shows off his new blazer with the governor’s patch (as well as the Helen Keller pin and Founder Melvin Jones pin).

But, Linda puts it all into perspective.

“He’s not a put on fancy clothes kind of guy,” she said. “He’s a blue jeans, T-shirt, scramble the eggs kind of guy.”

Bill nods in agreement.

Mayor Vandewal, Lion Roy Wilkinson and Neil Allen, chair of the Township’s accessibility committee, cut the ribbon on one of the two new benches donated by Sydenham Lions and installed by Public Works.

Both benches are accessible from the path down through the Point park in Sydenham. Lion Wilkinson spearheaded the fundraising and acquisition processes.

An open meeting will be hosted by the Sharbot Lake & District Lions Club on April 26th at the S. L. Legion on Cannon Rd. The public is invited to join the Lions for social hour between 5 and 6 PM and then sit down to a delicious dinner ($15 for entrée, dessert & tea or coffee) served up by the Legion kitchen staff.

Then stay for the regular Lion’s meeting 7 PM. Haven’t you ever wondered what exactly the Lion’s Club does? How their meetings are run or how they raise money and where that money goes? Well, now you can see for yourself! You will learn first-hand how the Lions Club has been serving the Sharbot Lake area for over 65 years.

The Lion’s Club supports Adopt-A-Highway, their pavilion at Oso Beach, the Central Frontenac summer swim program and the parades at Christmas and on Canada Day. Over the years they have purchased equipment for the medical centre, the playground at the beach and have provided financial support to the dog guides, the Salvation Army, Diabetes Canada, the food bank and many others, including people with specific needs within this community. They could do none of this without the support of local folks like you! When a Lion asks you to buy a chocolate Easter bunny, a Christmas fruit cake or a raffle ticket on any of their great prizes, your money goes to support all of the above – and more!

Members are proud of their ‘Vision Screening’ program in which they have been testing the eyesight and hearing of local kindergarten and grade one students for more than 10 years. In October they visit the schools in Plevna and Mountain Grove, along with Granite Ridge and St. James Major Schools in Sharbot Lake. They use equipment purchased with the monies they have collected through their various fundraising activities. This year in this district they have tested over 7000 kids. And they continue to support a project called ‘No Child Without’. In this program, they work hand-in-hand with the Medic Alert Association to provide every child in our local schools with the Medic Alert bracelets they may need to keep them safe at school, at home and everywhere in between.

They also support our senior citizens. In mid-June each year they go to a Seniors Home to barbeque hamburgers and hot dogs for the residents and their families. And each October for the past 40 years they have invited local seniors to spend a wonderful evening of entertainment, prizes and good things to eat. The club even provides the buses to bring folks in from far and near.

Anyone 18 and over can become a Lion. And we have recently sponsored a LEO Club for younger members of our area who want to serve their community. Membership provides people with the opportunity to meet and work with other individuals, striving toward the common goal of helping those in need. The satisfaction gained by being a part of these efforts is one of the big rewards of being a Lion or Leo.

Mark April 26 on your calendars and in the meantime, check out their Facebook page or visit the websites: www.sharbotlions.com or www.lionsclubs.org.

To reserve your seat for dinner, just contact any Lions Club member, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 613-539-8190 or 613-375-6318.

The community of Stirrngton is reeling from a string of thefts targeting volunteer groups and children.

“This is a problem in our area,” says John Beskers, Acting President of the Storrington Lions Club which had its community hall vandalized the middle of August.

Run by volunteers, the Storrington Lions Club launched a campaign earlier this year to revitalize its aging hall. A popular and affordable meeting place for youth and families, the hall experienced a major setback recently when the air conditioning (AC) unit was vandalized.

“The sides were left in place. The robbers basically just cut everything and took the coil,” says Beskers who discovered the broken equipment while hosting a youth dance at the hall on Aug. 19.

The club estimates it will cost $5,000 to replace the unit; money the club can ill afford.

“We’re disgusted this type of thing is happening in our community,” says Beskers, visibly upset.

A volunteer with other community groups in the district, Beskers is joining a chorus of other residents who say they are troubled by a rash of break-ins, thefts and vandalism in the area.

Beskers cites examples as a broken sign and fence at the local school and a recent break-in and theft at the soccer association’s clubhouse. Other residents in the area have reported items stolen such as ATV’s and bicycles.

One family even went public with a $500 reward for the return of their new four wheeler which was stolen from their house while the family was at work and school.

“We’re here as a service,” Beskers says about Storrington Lions Club.

“We help people by providing an affordable and convenient community hall to connect residents and celebrate life. It’s disheartening to have this happen to us; especially when we’re in the middle of a revitalization campaign. We took a step forward, and now we have taken two steps back. It seems unfair that we have to take money and fix what vandals destroyed on us.”

The club has raised approximately 20 per cent of its fundraising goal of $75,000 to upgrade the washrooms, heating system and entrance ramp. The destruction of the AC is a heavy blow to volunteers who are trying to save the hall.

“It’s disgusting to think there are people in our midst, or outside our community, who would vandalize the Storrington Lions club Hall at a time when the club is working to raise funds to upgrade that much-need facility,” says Ron Sleeth, Storrington District Councillor with South Frontenac Township.

“Unfortunately, it would appear as though there is an increase in vandalism and petty crime in our community. Hopefully the OPP will catch the perpetrators soon.”

Speaking on behalf of the South Frontenac OPP Detachment, Media Relations/Community Safety Officer Roop Sandhu says thieves broke the AC to steal the copper wire. An attempt to vandalize a second AC unit at the hall was unsuccessful.

“The OPP Forensic Identification Unit was called in to gather any evidence at the scene,” confirms Constable Sandu.

“It’s hard to pinpoint what’s happening because it’s so varied,” he replies when asked if vandalism and theft is on the rise in the area. “It’s just a wide-variety of mischief and thefts that is happening.”

To help solve the problem, the OPP encourage residents to call the police at 1-888-310-1122 to report a suspicious person, vehicle or activity.

“Why do people steal stuff like that? It’s tremendously sad,” says Beskers about the missing wires in the club’s AC unit and stolen items from the soccer association’s clubhouse.

“It’s crazy what people will steal these days.”

To help Storrington Lions Club save its community hall, donations are gratefully accepted through the mail at 2992 Princess Road; Inverary ON K0H 1X0 or on the club’s electronic fundraising page Go Fund Me at https://www.gofundme.com/dzyxmr7y  

A landmark in South Frontenac Township is in jeopardy of falling into disrepair if it doesn’t receive a life-saving injection of support.

Located in Sunbury, the Storrington Lions Club needs to upgrade the washrooms, heating system and wheelchair ramp in its community hall. Considered the heart of the community, the Storrington Lions Club Hall is showing its age after hundreds of functions such as election polls, blood donor clinics, hunter safety training, youth dances, weddings and celebrations of life.

The hall has been the centrepiece of the community for more than 45 years. It is owned and operated by the Storrington Lions Club, a popular organization that uses its resources to improve the quality-of-life for residents in Battersea, Sunbury and Inverary.

Attached to a historic limestone building known as Limestone School, the hall was enlarged in the 1970s to include a kitchen, washrooms, bar and stage area. The expansion and a roadside sign were constructed with help from the community.

Grateful for the community’s past financial assistance, the club finds itself in a situation where renovations exceed resources. The club hopes to inspire support for the hall again.

“The Storrington Lions Club Hall has been deteriorating over the last few years and is in desperate need of revitalization,” says Bob Bertrand, President of Storrington Lions Club which has served the community since 1971. “If we don’t revitalize the hall, we could lose this vital part of our community. This would be a tragedy because we will not have an affordable or convenient place for local families to gather.”

The club has set a fundraising goal of $75,000 to complete the first phase of improvements to accessibility, amenities and aesthetics. Members are holding a fundraiser at the hall (a classic country OPEN STAGE) on June 26 from 1 to 4 pm. General donations can be made to the club’s Go Fund Me page and in collection jars at Ormsbee’s Mercantile and Sunbury General Store.

“We want to make the hall great again,” exclaims President Bertrand. “To do this, we need residents to remember the time they spent here and appreciate the value of this facility. It’s been an honour for the Lions Club to serve the community. We need the community to help us now.”

“I think it’s important to save the hall because it’s the focal point of the community,” says Ron Sleeth, Storrington District Councillor with South Frontenac Township.

“It’s the only facility around that is capable of holding a major event. We need to help revitalize the hall the way the Lions Club has helped our community through benefits for families touched by tragedy such as house fires and illness. It’s time for our community to give back,” he says.

“We need to save our hall.”

On Tuesday, May 31 the Sharbot Lake and District Lions held an information night at Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake. Long-time members of the club, including President Bill Zwier, and former presidents Bill Pyle, Linda Zwier, and Dave and Dawn Hansen, all outlined some of the projects that the local Lions have been involved with over the years for an appreciative crowd of observers and potential new Lions.

They talked about the support the Lions give to causes as varied as recent donations to the Fort McMurray relief fund and the trip by students at St. James Catholic School to Knoxville, Tennessee for the Destination Imagination finals. They also talked about Vision Screening that the Lions have done for years in local schools, roadside cleanup, Canada Day, the food bank, and more.

The evening ended up taking a youthful turn with talk about a brand-new initiative for the local club, the establishment of a LEO club. LEO, which stands for Leadership, Experience, Opportunity, is a youth club for children ages 12 to 16 to organise events, socialize together and learn the spirit of service that is encompassed in the Lions' motto, We Serve.

Lion Lesley Merrigan is spearheading the establishment of a LEO club in Central Frontenac, and she was joined by Vic Smith, who is the co-ordinator for the 24 LEO clubs in Eastern and Central Ontario.

“LEO clubs tend to work best, and last the longest, in small towns,” said Smith, “and with no other youth clubs on the go in this area I think it is an ideal fit.”

Merrigan said that since she has children who are 9 and 11 she has a personal reason for starting up a LEO club.

There were a number of teenagers and pre-teens interested in joining the new club in the audience. The organising and membership work will be done this summer with a view towards starting the club in September.

Anyone interested in joining or learning about LEO is invited to email Lesleysmith181@hotmail or call 613-279-3144 and ask for Lesley.

As President Bill Zwier said, the average age of Lions club members is well into the 50s and 60s, and an infusion of youth “would be very welcome indeed”.

Alpha Leo Clubs are designed for youth between 12 and 18 years old. Kids who join Leo Clubs have fun, make new friends and experience the rewards of serving others. This gives young people a strong foundation as they learn the meaning of leadership and service. Plus, Leos learn valuable lessons and make connections that can help them succeed for the rest of their lives.

These clubs focus on social skills and the character development of teens and pre-teens. Leo Clubs are open to young people who have an interest in serving their community.

The Sharbot Lake & District Lions Club is early in the information & development stages of starting a new Leo Club in this area. A Leo Club in our community could provide young people with an opportunity for development and contribution as responsible members of their local, national and international communities. Leo Clubs can have a positive influence on today’s youth and young adults, helping them become better citizens and leaders for life.

The Leo Club motto – Leadership, Experience, Opportunity – says it all:

Leo clubs are sponsored by local Lions Clubs through Lions Clubs International. The first Leo Club was started in 1957 and there are now more than 5,700 Leo Clubs in approximately 140 countries.

The Sharbot Lake & District Lions Club invites you to attend their ‘Meet & Greet’ at the Oso (Soldiers Memorial) Hall on May 31 from 7 – 8 PM to learn more about LEOs and our Lions Club. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 613-539-8190

The Lions Club is inviting everyone to attend a Meet & Greet at the Oso Hall on March 24 from 7 to 8 pm to learn more about how they serve the community. There is no admission charge and they will be serving free coffee & desserts. The Sharbot Lake & District Lions Club was chartered in 1951 and has been serving here for almost 65 years. Lions Clubs International is the largest community service organization in the world with more than 1.5 million members. Their official Motto is “We Serve”.

In 1925, Helen Keller challenged all Lions to become her “Knights of the Blind in the Crusade Against Darkness.” We take that challenge very seriously. The International Club works constantly toward the elimination of blindness around the world. Locally, we are proud of our ‘Vision & Hearing Screening’ program. Since 2004 we have been testing the eyesight, and lately also the hearing, of kindergarten and grade one students in our local schools, including Plevna, Mountain Grove, and Sharbot Lake. We use high-tech equipment purchased with the monies we have collected through our various fund raising activities. In another program called ‘No Child Without’ we have worked hand-in-hand with the Medic Alert Association to provide every child in our area with the Medic Alert bracelets they may need to keep them safe at school, at home and everywhere in between.

We also like to serve our senior citizens. In mid-June each year we go to a seniors’ home to barbeque hamburgers and hot dogs for the residents and their families. Also, each October for the past 39 years we have invited all local seniors to a wonderful evening of entertainment, prizes and good things to eat. We even provide buses to bring folks in from all over the district.

We are also proud to support Adopt-A-Highway, our pavilion at the Oso Beach and the parades at Christmas and Canada Day. Over the years we have purchased equipment for the medical centre and provided financial support to the Guide Dogs for the Blind, the Salvation Army, the Canadian Diabetes Association, the food bank, and many others, including local people with specific needs within our own community. We could do none of this without the support of local folks like you! We are always seeking new members who have a desire to serve their fellow man and improve our community and the world we live in. Membership in a Lions club gives people the chance to meet with other volunteers and work together toward the common goal of helping those in need. The satisfaction gained by being a part of these efforts is one of the big rewards of being a Lion. For younger members there is the opportunity to develop leadership skills while older folks often join as a way to redirect their lives in retirement. We also enjoy the fun & friendship of the group as we involve ourselves in club activities. For more information please visit: www.sharbotlions.com , check us out on Facebook or call 613-539-8190. We serve!