Judging by the numbers at the kick off breakfast on March 29, this year's North and Central Frontenac Relay for Life will be the best one yet. Over 150 breakfasts were served up by the relay committee. The event raised donations for the local food bank and included musical entertainment by Jim MacPherson, Shawn McCullough and Adam Lake's band One Broken Ego.

A number of people have come forward to seek office in the Frontenac townships over the last week or so.

Valentini running for mayor of North Frontenac

In North Frontenac, Claudio Valentini, a music teacher at Granite Ridge Education Centre and the president of Tomvale Airport on Road 506, is the only candidate who has come forward thus far for any position in North Frontenac. He is seeking the position of mayor. Mr. Valentini has not served on North Frontenac Council before.

Gutowski seeking a third term

Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski has decided to seek another term. She had indicated early in the year that she was leaning towards running and she made it official early this week. With Councilor Frances Smith already in the race, this ensures voters will have a choice for mayor in Central Frontenac this year.

Hinchinbrooke Councilor Heather Fox has also decided to run for re-election. She joins Brent Cameron in running for the two positions in Hinchinbrooke.

There are three candidates for the two Kennebec positions: incumbents Tom Dewey and Jeff Matson and former councilor Logan Murray.

Incumbent Wayne Millar is the only candidate so far in Oso ward.

South Frontenac

In South Frontenac, two candidates without council experience but with inside knowledge of municipal operations have come forward.

Alan Revill, the former chief building official in South Frontenac, is the first declared candidate in Bedford ward, and Mark Schjerning, the Chief of Paramedic Services in Lennox and Addington County, is the first candidate for Council in Loughborough ward.

(Clarification – in a previous article about candidates in the 2014 election, we reported that Bill Robinson is the longest serving councilor in Frontenac County. While Robinson is the longest serving active councilor and the longest serving in the post-amalgamation era, Thomas Martin Neal served six years as a councilor and 28 years as reeve of Barrie Township. He started his political career in 1953, and retired from municipal politics at the end of 1997.) 

At a Committee of the Whole meeting last week (March 5), members of Frontenac County Council took turns expressing concern about a report about emergency communications that they received from the fire chiefs of the four Frontenac townships in mid-February.

The report, which was funded by Frontenac County on the request of the four local townships, was initiated in reaction to an upgrade to the communications system in both the City of Kingston and the County of Leeds Grenville.

What Council found most objectionable was the price tag of $5-7 million for an upgraded system that would be compatible with the neighbouring systems.

Frontenac Islands Mayor Dennis Doyle wanted to see the ambulance and police services involved in a cross-jurisdictional solution to the needs.

Councilor John Purdon from Central Frontenac said the matter is the responsibility of the townships, and that's where it should be discussed.

Councilor John Inglis, from North Frontenac, wondered how this need for a new system had come about. “In all the time I served on the fire department we never talked about this issue, and we have never talked about it at council, and now we are faced with this huge cost,” he said.

North Frontenac Mayor Bud Clayton said, “It is all a matter of needs versus wants. We are only required to provide fire safety and education services as a municipality. Fire suppression is an optional service. This is another want, not a need."

Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski said the study and its presentation “are an example of how things shouldn't be done. This report is real geek; it is a technical report, which I do not have the expertise to evaluate. We miss-stepped in funding the study in the first place. The advancement of this should have gone through a different chain of command. Our staff could have brought forward the study, and presented options for how to deal with it. I suggest we refer this to our staff and the fire chiefs can work with their CAOs to see how we can cost share on this.”

South Frontenac Fire Chief Rick Cheseborough attended the meeting. He was given leave to speak after all the councilors had had a chance to comment.

“I would like to start by saying that under no circumstances is it the Township of South Frontenac or myself that is doing this. This is the largest joint project of the public works departments from all the townships. I am just the lucky one who got to speak for the group. We did not bring this to the county expecting a decision from County Council. It is just that since the county funded the study we thought we should report back to the county first ... we did not go into this expecting to see these kinds of costs, but the facts are what they are ... we are going to go to our individual councils with this and we will see what happens.”

Cheseborough pointed out as well that once Leeds and Grenville and Kingston bring their new system on line, firefighters from Frontenac County will no longer be able to communicate with firefighters from those jurisdictions. He also said that he does not know how Lennox and Addington and Lanark County are dealing with this matter.

While the reception at Frontenac County was rough, a presentation to South Frontenac Council a week later (March 11) found a more receptive audience.

Rick Cheseborough pointed out that the existing system is no longer being supported by manufacturers because it is basically an analogue system that is being replaced by a digital one

“In January the power to our main tower [located near Hartington] went down. Not only did we not have a battery backup, but it took two days to find some parts and three and a half weeks to find another part,” he said. “The current system will simply not be viable in the future.”

He added that the costing estimate that caused such consternation at the county is not based on any studies.

“The County insisted on seeing some pricing so we got that figure by using the $6 million that Leeds and Grenville spent and the $10 million that Kingston is spending. What we need to do is look at our own circumstances and do the technical studies to find some real pricing. Then we can figure out what we want to do and how we can pay for it.”

Mayor Davison, who missed the County meeting last week because he was on vacation, said to Cheseborough, “I’d like to publicly state that you did a good job with this report.”

June's Angels, the North and Central Frontenac Relay for Life team who are entering their third year of participation in the Canadian Cancer Society's (CCS) annual fundraiser, are starting their efforts off early this year.

They held a chili lunch and bake sale on March 1 at the IOOF hall in Parham that was very well attended. The team is made up of close to 30 members of the Fox family and is named for June Fox of Parham, who succumbed to cancer on March 2, 2012 when she was 82 years old. She left behind a very large family and their goal is to keep her memory alive by raising funds for the Cancer Society through the annual Relay for Life, which this year will take place on June 20, 2014 at the Parham fairgrounds.

Rose Lapointe, one of June's daughters, said that cancer has hit her family hard. Her brother, Roger Fox, succumbed to the disease and passed away in 2013 and her sisters Merilee and Janice both have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are currently undergoing treatments. Six-year-old Kylie Babcock is another relative who has fought a long and hard battle against the disease. She was diagnosed with cancer when she was just two years old.

Rose said that the team last year raised over $1500 for the cause and that this year they will be holding a number of events that will help them reach their fundraising goals. Saturday’s event included a chili lunch and bake sale and numerous tables were loaded with a wide array of tasty baked goods that were prepared and donated by the team’s members. Glenn Fox, June’s widower, attended the event and at 89 years of age, he is the oldest family member on the team. The youngest is one of Glenn’s 26 grandchildren, nine-month-old Emerald, who sat on her granddad’s lap for part of the event. Glenn is the proud father of 12, grandfather of 25 (or 26) and has that many great-grandchildren as well.

Lesley Merrigan, who will be chairing the North and Central Relay for Life again this year, was in attendance to show support for the team. “I'm here to support the team because without the teams there can be no relay.” Merrigan said that she is looking forward to another great Relay for Life this year. “We are in full swing and have tentatively booked our kick off date for March 29.”

Merrigan said that there will be bit of a change in focus this year although fundraising for the cause will still be number one. “We are hoping to focus and theme our committee functions this year so that they are more preventative and education-based. We are also striving this year to be more proactive. We can fight cancer with dollars but we have to fight it with education as well. This year we want to highlight certain important issues like the issues that lobbyists are fighting for.”

Merrigan gave the example of lobbyists helping to implement the law that was passed recently making 18 years the mandatory age for use of tanning beds. “The CCS is not just about a group of people raising money. They also lobby and advocate for important changes to be made in society as well as offering many services to members of the community. We are aiming now to be more than one event a year and to be broader based by helping people realize what they can do in their own homes and businesses to help the cause.”

Rose Lapointe said that she was pleased with the turn out for the event and all of the support the team has received from the community. The Angels are planning more fundraisers this year including a dance in May and a Family Fun Day in June as well as an upcoming movie might. Watch for listings in the Northern Happenings.

Smith taking a run for mayor in Central Frontenac

Perhaps it’s the weather or the fact that no one pays a lot of attention to these things until at least the summer, but there hasn’t exactly been a run on nomination papers for member or head of council positions in the coming municipal election.

In North Frontenac there are still no candidates registered for any of the seven spots (six councilors and a mayor)

In Addington Highlands, newcomer Gerry Bray is contesting incumbent Henry Hogg for reeve, and the only council candidate is Ward 2 incumbent Bill Cox.

In Central Frontenac there has been a major change in the candidate list. In addition to Brent Cameron running in Hinchinbrooke Ward, Wayne Millar in Oso, and incumbents Jeff Matson and Tom Dewey contesting with former councilor Logan Murray in Kennebec, Frances Smith has decided to run for mayor this time around.

Smith served as reeve back in Oso township days, and is a former Frontenac County warden. She was township clerk before she ran for council. She was appointed to Central Frontenac Council in 2002 and has been elected three times, in 2003, 2006 and 2010. Smith has considered running for mayor in the past, but was deterred by her work responsibilities.

In South Frontenac there are three candidates for the soon to be vacated mayor’s position, Councillor Ron Vandewal, Councilor Allan McPhail, and John McEwen, but the only candidate for council thus far is long-time incumbent Bill Robinson, who with 14 years experience is the longest serving member of council in Frontenac County.

North Addington Education Centre students celebrated winter on February 28, with a Carnaval. They were joined by students from Granite Ridge Education Centre and Clarendon Public School. The event was organized by Madame Douwes, the Elementary French teacher, as part of a project involving other French teachers and students. Because of the icy temperatures, some events had to be changed so all events took place in the school, rather than outside, as previously planned. This led to some quick adjustments by Madame Douwes, assisted by a number of secondary teachers. Many secondary students volunteered to help run activities, making it a great co-operative learning experience for the entire school. Elementary students and their teachers cycled through a variety of events, including face painting, hockey golf, a three-legged race, maple taffy making, a wheelbarrow race, birdfeeder making, and crepe-eating. Points and prizes were awarded to students who made the extra effort to speak French throughout the day. Bonhomme, a mascot of the Quebec Winter Carnaval, made an appearance at the beginning of the day, and kept popping in on activities as the day progressed.

The day was a very busy one, and the students had a lot of fun as they learned about French activities and culture. Principal Angela Salmond said that at the end of the day Mr. Mooney addressed the assembly, and encouraged “Three cheers for Madame Douwes,” and the students erupted into deafening cheers. Madame Douwes remarked that it was the joint effort of all the students and staff at the school that resulted in such a successful day.

The Frontenac Addington Trappers' Council are counting on good weather, and a good turnout, for their annual fund-raising fishing derby on Big Gull Lake on Saturday, March 1.

Not only do they want the event to be as enjoyable as possible for the families that attend, and for the fishing to be good, but the council also needs money to carry on the work they do. They also want to continue to be able to support the outdoor education centre at North Addington Education Centre, the Pine Meadow Nursing Home, the Conservationists of Frontenac/Addington deer contest, anglers and hunters programs, student
bursaries, walleye spawning beds, as well as public education programs and workshops throughout the region.

Wilf Deline of Dead Creek Outfitters is the council president, and he said that there have been challenges for the council and for trappers in general in recent years due to low prices for pelts, and other factors.

“We like to point out how much work trappers have done over the years in the area of conservation. There are more fur-bearing animals in Ontario now than ever before, and because trappers are on the ground we are in the best position to track the numbers of different species. When there are threats to any of the populations we are the ones who let the MNR and others know,” he said.

The council was formed in 1981. It has a number of goals, including: fostering conservation; encouraging the wise use of land and resources; maintaining and enhancing the habitats and populations of fur-bearing animals and fish; and maintaining relationships with auction houses, buyers, suppliers and bodies such as the Ministry of Natural Resources and others.

The council is currently involved in a number of projects, including setting up duck nesting boxes and establishing walleye spawning beds on selected lakes. In addition to donating money to outdoor education and other causes, they run a youth trapper education program.

“There seems to be a bit of a renewed interest in trapping in the area,” said Wilf Deline. “Our youth program has been well subscribed, and there have been a number of baby boomers coming back into it as well.”

One incentive has been improved pricing for pelts in the last couple of years.

“The prices have been better for fisher, muskrat, coyote, mink, raccoon, all the species we tend to trap around here,” he said, “and also for beaver, which is sort of the base of the industry. There is also an over-abundance of fur bearers in this region, so there is plenty of room for more trappers to get into it.”

Prices for beaver pelts, which had dropped to $12 - $15, have rebounded, in large part because of the Asian market, to three to four times those prices.

The trappers' council members also work for landowners and local townships to help deal with beavers that cause damage to roads and property as they expand their territory and cause flooding.

“We are not going back to the time when you could make a full living from trapping. I get out about 2 days a week, there's only enough money in it for that; but if I could I would be on the trapline all the time. We like to say it's the oldest land-based industry in Canada. It is part of our heritage as a country, and we work hard at the council to keep it viable,” he said.

Tickets for the Big Gull Lake Fishing Derby are available at Kaladar Auto Parts, Bishop Lake Outdoors Centre and Hook's Rona, or call 336-8359 or 335-2695. Please reserve tickets by February 28.

The Physical Education classes at North Addington Education Centre were on wheels last week.  Mrs. Sarah Sproule, a secondary physical education teacher, arranged for the unique opportunity by organizing the rental of 10 wheelchairs for classes to experience sports and life from a different perspective. Throughout the week, grade 8-12 students had a chance to play basketball, dodge ball and navigate through a variety of obstacle courses.

Outside of the gym, students attempted to maintain their regular activities within the school while using the chairs: "Getting a drink wasn't hard, it was impossible" said Sarah Connell.  "Navigating the hallways during break was difficult” noted Courtney Dacuk.  By the end of the week, the students had multiple blisters, sore arms and shoulders, along with a much clearer perspective on the challenges and successes of others.

Addington Highlands Council has accepted the bid from Task Force Engineering of Belleville for the construction of a four-bay fire hall on a township-owned lot on Hwy. 41, about two kilometres south of Northbrook.

Reeve Henry Hogg said that construction is set to start in the spring.

The building will be a rigid frame steel structure building. Although the final costs of the contract are still being worked out, Hogg said the project will easily cost over $1 million. Once the land and pre-engineering costs are factored in the total price could approach $1.5 million.

The township has been setting aside money for the new fire hall for three years, and will continue to pay for the project into the future, well after the building is completed.

“If we tried to pay for that in one year we would have to put in a 20% tax increase,” said Hogg, “but since we have already built a contribution towards the building into our budgets it will not have a significant impact on the tax rate this year.”

The township had originally planned to build a fire hall/township office on the site, but when faced with daunting costs they decided to build a stand-alone fire hall and leave open the option to build onto the end of the building or to build a stand-alone office on the site sometime in the future.

It wasn't exactly easy or smooth, but on Sunday afternoon, January 5, the Limestone District School Board received an occupancy permit for Granite Ridge Education Centre.

The next morning, the school was ready to receive students, although the fact that the first day of school ended up being a snow day was not unwelcome to staff, who were still setting up their classrooms and work stations.

Tuesday morning ended up being the real opening day of Granite Ridge, and although there were still trucks parked outside, some of the trades-people were still finishing up their work, and the wind was howling as the students made their way from the buses to the front door, it was a very bright and happy day for the Limestone District School Board and families in Central and North Frontenac.

Principal Heather Highet welcomed the secondary students in the new cafeteria, which for the moment is open to the school's full-sized gym. Trustee Ann Goodfellow and School Board Director Brenda Hunter were on hand as well. Heather Highet talked briefly about the layout of the school and then the teachers led the students off to their new home rooms.

One of the major features of the school is the surrounding environment. There are very few spaces in the school that do not have at least one or two windows to the outside, and natural light infuses all the classrooms.

All of the technology in the classroom is another feature. There are SMART boards in every class, and the in-class sound systems are integrated directly into the teachers' own computers. Not only is the sound quality good, but the walls to the hallways are insulated so the sound stays in the class.

While Tuesday was the first day of classes after the break and secondary students have exams to prepare for, some of the younger elementary teachers were starting the new year by taking their students on tours of their big, new school.

Granite Ridge includes classrooms for all of the secondary school programs that were available at the former Sharbot Lake High School, including a wood and auto shop, music, art/fabric art room and a kitchen class.

Added features and upgrades from the previous school include a 6,300 square foot gymnasium, two separate change rooms, a fully equipped weight/powerfit room, a cafetorium with a 1,000 square foot stage, seating for 250 for concerts and performances, and a retractable wall that will open up to the gymnasium, allowing for large assemblies and events to permit seating for over 600.

While the school is up and running now, it will take some time for all of the moving in to be completed. The library is still filled with boxes of books, for example, which is something that will be sorted out in a matter of days. It will take longer to remove the former Sharbot Lake High School building and complete the landscaping plan that will make full use of the surrounding landscape.

Fortunately, few students were complaining about the lack of outdoor recreation areas on the first day of classes at Granite Ridge. Somehow the -20º temperatures and high winds made the students happy to explore inside, within the building itself.

The public will be invited to view the new building sometime later this winter.