1st Edition Editorial, It could be up to us, (March 1971 #1)

Community columnists: The Heart of the Paper, by Jeff Green

Dear, Dear Martha

A Cornerstone For Pine Meadow. (July 21, 1992  #718)

Important dates in the history of “The North Frontenac”  by Jeff Green

Joe the Porter (Oct 16, 1984 #329)

Marathon of Hope (July 11, 1980 #221

Oso Hall full to capacity for meeting of uranium mining (Sept. 5, 1980, #225)

Seniors' housing project rejected, July 1985

Editorial: It could be up to us? 

1st edition March 1971

Many citizens are concerned about the lack of development in the Northern Townships of Frontenac County. What have the ‘70s to offer the North Frontenac residents? Is it only game preserves, pockets of governmental privilege, few services and spotty seasonal employment? Why is it that Lanark County (directly to the east of us) and Hastings County (roughly parallel to the west) can persuade government, business and industry to stake resources in their northern areas? Do we have to wait, cap-in-hand, for regional governments to take over our townships, because the councils have not acted together in their own best interest?

A number of residents of Oso, Kennebec, Hinchinbrooke and Olden Townships say it is time to ask deeper questions and to find out what is happening to the whole area. A questionnaire was answered by these citizens and a class of local high school students. Issues mentioned frequently were – Recreation; Pollution; Schools; Roads; Lack of industry; Economic Opportunity.

There is a strong feeling that local citizens are not participating in any real way – in the decisions of councils and quasi-governmental boards. In fact, the average person of North Frontenac is not getting complete enough information to make a fair choice on anything.

As a first step, the group has decided to study this communications lag in the community – with the back-up resources from St. Lawrence College when needed.

We will begin with the issue of the community arena. What action has been taken on the $100,000 County grant promised to 5 northern townships who would work together on such a project? We feel that a public meeting is necessary, now, on this important issue. The Communication Group meeting will meet again at Sharbot Lake High School on Tuesday, March 30th, at 7:30 p.m. At this time a public meeting on the arena can be arranged.

Please send your comments to Don Morrow or Merv Rutherford, c/o Communications Course, Sharbot Lake District High School, Sharbot Lake, Ontario.

Watch for our next release on these important issues.

The first edition of the North Frontenac News was published in March, 1971 by the Communications Group. No actual day of issue is indicated. Circulation was 1000 copies. John Lee was one of the seven who bought ads at $2.00.

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Community Columnists: The Heart of the Paper By Jeff Green, March 2011

We like to say that the community columns are the heart of the newspaper.

They certainly are the longest lasting feature of the Frontenac News, and to this day they remain as the most direct way that the newspaper satisfies the core mission that was identified when it was founded.

The idea was to allow people from diverse communities to communicate with each other, in order to build connections between people. As a volunteer-based enterprise, the role of community columnist has always been one of the major volunteer roles with the Frontenac News. It always has, and still requires an extraordinary commitment to make all the necessary phone calls to community members each week to find out what is coming up; how events went; how much the baby weighs; etc.

In the years since 2000, when the paper was purchased by David Brison and went into private hands, we have continued to be buoyed up by the work done by the community reporters. It would be impossible for a small news gathering staff of one or two people to follow all the events that take place between Sydenham and Denbigh, which is a drive of 2 ½ hours.

Our community reporters continue on writing, week after week, out of a commitment to their neighbours, and we strive to support that commitment in the rest of the paper.

Vie McInnis knows all about being a columnist. She started submitting stories in the 1970s, and after leaving Plevna for a time in the 1980s, she came back to the column late in the decade, sharing it for a time. She carried on until a few years ago when she retired. Vie is now 90 and still lives just outside of Plevna.

“When I saw that the North Frontenac News was coming out, I thought it was a shame there wasn't something in it each week from Plevna because it is such an active place all year round. So I called over to Sharbot Lake and they called right back, inviting me to be a columnist.”

Vie’s time at the News spanned some major changes in technology. “I never wanted to phone the office too often because long distance charges were pretty high,” she said, “and I used to have to put my news in the mail on Tuesdays to get in the paper. It wouldn't get in that week; it would be in the week later.”

All that changed with email, and Vie was happy to jump into submitting her content electronically. When Mazinaw Online started up, Vie got an account straight away, and started using email.

Jean Campbell is the longest serving volunteer with the paper. She has been the Godfrey columnist since 1972.

In 1988, in the special edition of the News celebrating the 500th edition, Jean Campbell described some of the ins and outs of community reporting.

“Over the years I have learned that some people do not want to see their names or activities in the paper, while others condemn you for not printing something that is not a reporter's business to report,” she wrote.

Jean Campbell used to hand deliver her columns or have someone drive them to Sharbot Lake for her. About a dozen years ago her granddaughter set her up with a fax machine, which has made her job easier. But we shouldn’t expect to start getting emails from Jean Campbell.

“I don’t have any interest in those new fandangled machines,” she said when interviewed this week. Jean hasn’t written much lately, as she has been ill, but she said she is back on her feet and will be back at it shortly.

One thing about the columns, which continues to this day, is the fact they are open to news that you can't find in other newspapers. Sometimes it is births, illnesses and visits by long lost relatives or interesting friends that make the columns, and sometimes there are some pretty colourful reports.

Among the columnists who have written for the paper over the years there are a number that are remembered with special fondness, including Hilda Geddes, who wrote about Snow Road, Mississippi Station and Elphin over the years.

Hilda was an enthusiastic gatherer of historical information, and she published books about the history of what is now the eastern edge of North Frontenac Township and the Western edge of Lanark Highlands.

In the summer of 1989, one of the best issues in the history of the North Frontenac News was published. The 48-page supplement, written entirely by volunteer community columnists, included sections on each of the eight townships that made up North Frontenac, as well as a section on Lavant, Dalhousie and North Sherbrooke in Lanark County, and Kaladar, Anglesea and Effingham in L&A County.

The supplement is chock full of historical information about each and every small hamlet in the region. Here is a little taste from that supplement: “Burridge and Fermoy”, written by Sylena Greenslade, the long-serving Bedford columnist.

The exact year that Burridge and Fermoy were settled is not known for sure, but it is believed to be 1840 to 1850. No one really knows how Burridge got its name. Some say the original name was Barridge, as there were so many by the name of Barr settled here, and others say it was changed to Burridge, as there were so many burrs growing. It's still Burridge, with lots of burrs.

The first Council met in January 1850 at the home of Richard Lukins, Burridge, as he was made Reeve. One of the first bylaws that the Council passed was forbidding horses or vehicles from crossing township bridges faster than a walk.

The early Council meetings were held in Burridge school, later moved to the town hall in Fermoy about 1866. Much of the Council business was related to road construction. Other business was money for schools, reimbursing farmers for sheep killed by dogs as well as tavern licenses at $25 per annum and grocery licenses at $12 per annum.

After the Heritage issue was published, all the contributors got together for a meal and a party, a tradition that was rekindled last year when a luncheon for the newest generation of community columnists was held at St. Andrews Church in Sharbot Lake.

Of all the columnists who have written for the News, none can compete with Mississippi columnist and reporter Don St. Pierre in the 1990s. We didn't always know what he was trying to say, but only Don could say it the way he did. Don is now in a retirement home in Rideau Ferry and he receives the paper each week.

Here are a couple of items from those years.

“Might as well fold up this column right now because we're going to be in “Little Korea” for the next few hours. The helicopters come “flump, flump, flump” at treetop level and lower to have a glimpse of what we're doing. The one that just went by had a brown haired, brown eyed pilot and he didn't shave this morning. What could they possibly want in a village of 90% retired and 60% can't even hear them? My retired cousin is growing his first garden and was ecstatic when the helicopter came down and blew the potato bugs off. He wanted to know if it was part of their services. After cornering the driver of a police truck, he informed me he had only come to pick up a passenger from the helicopter – so when has Mississippi become a Pearson International? That answer didn't satisfy so I asked the question, ‘What is really going on?’ He replied, ‘I truly can't tell you’, and flashed a baseball cap with ‘I've travelled the #509’. Then I truly knew that this boy was off his flight path.”

Then there is Don’s take on romance for women over 40 years of age.

“Are you looking for a single male over 40? A report from Rochester University says your chances are almost nil. If the man is single after 40, he most likely is happy with his life, financially secure, independent and is not looking for ‘extra baggage’. However, all is not lost, states the report. Your best bet is to look for a recent widower. After the loss of the spouse he wanders ‘in a stupor similar to a sun stroke and will fall for anything’.”

And here is one more just for good measure.

“On a return trip home from Kingston last week, I watched as a huge yellow transport turned from the 401 onto #38 headed north. Coming a little closer the sign on the door said “Arliss-Hauling”. By the time it reached Verona, I thought, it will not go any further than this. However, following it closely, I could see it was not going to slow down until it reached its destination – and that being the restaurant at the junction of #7 and #38. Why all the fuss? This transport was carrying a load of rock to North Frontenac! Of all places! We have rocks here we would gladly give away. Ask any farmer. We've heard about taking ‘Coal to Newcastle’ or ‘Tea to China’ but this one beats all.”

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Dear, Dear Martha

One of the discoveries of looking over the old issues of the paper was Martha. We don’t know who Martha was, and whether the questions people asked her were legitimate or if Martha made them up. It makes us think we should bring an advice column back to the paper - but then again we might just reprint some of Martha's old articles now and again. Here are a couple. The first is pretty good; the second is much better.

Dear Martha (Published July 2, 1982, #270)

Boy, are parents dumb! My Mom and Dad went away for the weekend and left me in charge of the house with a few chores to do. While they were away I had a “few” of the kids over and we had a blast! I cleaned up afterwards and my parents never knew the difference. They were so pleased because I had done the chores. And they didn’t even ask if I had been good! Aren’t parents dumb?

Sweet Sixteen

Dear Sweet (or maybe not-so-sweet)

Now here’s a real “blast” for you! It would appear that you are too stupid to realize that YOU are the dumb one and not your parents!

What a lucky girl you are to have parents who totally trust you and don’t question what you do when they are away. And how have you responded to their trust? By doing things behind their back and deliberately deceiving them. And to make things worse, you even suggest that THEY are dumb! I would imagine that there are lots of my young readers who would dearly love to have parents who trust them. What are you going to do when your parents discover (and they will) that you cannot be trusted? I hope you will have the decency, when the day comes, to recognize that you have brought it on yourself! Change your ways before it is too late; respond to that trust in a responsible manner.

Martha

 

Dear Martha (Published July 16, 1982)

My mother is an 85-year-old widow and is planning to marry a 30-year-old man. I do not think this relationship will last. I am only 40 and deeply in love with this man. I just can't understand why he would pick my mother over me. Can you offer any suggestions on how I can win his affection? Signed, Frustrated.

Dear Frustrated,

I have re-read your letter several times over the past few weeks and only today have I been brave enough to try to answer it. I have to decide if you were serious or if you were "putting me on" as the saying goes. I've decided to give you the benefit of the doubt and treat your letter as seriously as I can.

Well might you be "frustrated"...... indeed, I find it frustrating just to read your letter. Why would you be interested in a man who is ten years your junior and who is interested in your 85-year-old mother? If, in fact, you are "deeply in love" with him, then bide your time, ..... an 85-year-old can't last much longer!

And that time will allow you, I hope, to come to the realization that the man is a cad, interested only in your mother's money or is so unbalanced that he needs mothering. For your mother's sake, I would recommend that you contact her doctor and her lawyer and see it they can convince her that she doesn't need another "grandson" at this point in her life. Is your mother in possession of all her faculties?

There are many stable and fine 40-year old men who would welcome your companionship. Don't settle for a scoundrel. Isn't it obvious to you why he has picked your mother? Then

let's be blunt.......he will be saddled with your mother for fewer years than he would be with you. And I'm sorry .... my conscience won't allow me to give you any suggestions on how you could win his affection!

Martha

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July 21, 1992,  #718

A Cornerstone For Pine Meadow.  by Leigh Winwood

“The unstable weather conditions subsided and the sun shone brightly as many local dignitaries as well as approximately 200 residents attended the Cornerstone Ceremony of the future Pine Meadow Nursing Home, in the Village of Northbrook. Chairperson for the occasion, Marg Axford, welcomed the crowd and invited all to celebrate “the vision and initiative of those who dared to dream, the determination of those who brought it thus far, and to celebrate the community spirit that made it all possible.”

Shirley Sedore, Co-ordinator of Pine Meadow, related a brief history of the project and deemed this the “happiest day in the whole process”, inviting all to gather again in the late winter for the official opening.

Monetary presentations were made by Rick Greenstreet and Veronica Airth on behalf of the Highway #7 Community Development Corporation, which is dedicated to housing programs, job creation and community development.

Arriving on horseback, the Lennox and Addington Riding Association, represented by Terry Myers and Chester Allen, also presented a contribution to the facility, which was gratefully accepted on behalf of Pine Meadow by Joyce Parks.

Sincere congratulations and best wishes for continued success were expressed by Frank Calver, Warden of Lennox and Addington County, as well as Isobel Turner, Warden of Frontenac County.

Fred Wilson, MPP for the area, offered his congratulations on behalf of the Government of Ontario, stating the community “has shown us how dreams can be accomplished.”

Bill Vankoughnet, MP, speaking on behalf of Elmer Mackay, Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing, extended his and Canada's best wishes for continued success and expressed his “congratulations to Land O'Lakes for their thoughtful planning and their ability to recognize the needs of the rural senior.”

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Important dates in the history of “The North Frontenac” By Jeff Green

It all started sometime in March in 1971, when about 1,000 copies of the first one page edition of the Frontenac News were distributed.

Among the features in the first few editions were announcements about plans for a medical centre in Sharbot Lake and calls for those interested in theatre to come forward, which eventually led to the formation of the North Frontenac Little Theatre.

Throughout the 1970s the News was cranked out every two weeks on a Gaestetner machine. It generally ranged from 24 to 36 8.5x11” pages, and as North Frontenac Community Services (known today as Northern Frontenac Community Services) developed, the paper became a part of that organization. The paper was sold at local outlets and by subscription. At the centre of the production were managing editors Audrey McWilliams and Mauveen (Moe) Bush, and the influence of NFCS' second executive director, Larry Leafloor, is evident. The front cover drawings, which were done by local artists, were an especially distinctive feature of the paper in that era.

In the 1980s the paper became a tabloid, eventually moving to free weekly distribution throughout the eight northern Frontenac townships, the Highway 41 corridor, and western Lanark County.

The founding of Land O'Lakes Community Services and the efforts at bringing Pine Meadow Nursing Home on stream, including the fact that the home was named through a contest that was won by a grade 6 student from North Addington Education Centre, were chronicled in its pages.

Unsuccessful efforts at bringing seniors' housing to North Frontenac were also documented, as was the role of the provincial government in local affairs. Announcements of even small grants to local groups such as ball teams were made by MPs and MPPs.

In the mid-1980s, the current events section of the paper was re-branded as Northern Happenings and was placed on the front page for a number of years. Now taking up most of a page, even on slow weeks, Northern Happenings remains a prime feature of the publication to this day.

In the 1990s Portland Township was added to the North Frontenac family and the paper was sent to Verona and Hartington each week.

Financial problems developed in the mid 1990s. The newspaper had always been able to pay its managing editor (Moe Bush had filled that role since the mid 1980s) and North Frontenac Community Services (NFCS) was able to cover any losses that may have occurred. However, as NFCS' own funding situation took a turn for the worse when it lost its base funding in 1995, the News became a potential drain on resources.

From 1998 on there were several articles in the paper about the financial difficulties. The managing editor position was eliminated, and in place of Moe Bush, Roxanne Beattie took on a part-time co-ordinator position.

In late October of 1999, the banner at the top of the paper changed from “North Frontenac News” to “The Frontenac News”. There was no reference to this change in the paper, but it was presumably made because of the changes in municipal structures that had taken place when the eight municipalities, which were collectively known as “North Frontenac”, were subsumed into the amalgamated municipalities of North, Central, and South Frontenac.

By the early part of 2000, NFCS could no longer keep the News on and a decision was made to sell or close down. Two offers came in, one from David Brison with Sara Carpenter, and one from Darryl Cembal, who was then the owner of the Heritage (based in Amherstvew) as well as a new paper, the South Frontenac Gazette.

The offer from Brison and Carpenter, who both lived in the area, was accepted and they took over on July 1, 2000. Immediately the South Frontenac Gazette expanded its range to Central Frontenac and a back-country newspaper war of attrition ensued.

The Cembal papers were eventually sold to Performance Printing and continue on today under the banner of the Kingston and Frontenac EMC.

Under Brison and Carpenter, the Frontenac News made many changes, but one that stood out from the start was the fact that Brison was a reporter as well as an owner.

The tradition of providing independent coverage of the activities of local municipalities, school boards, and other agencies, groups and individuals, which had been missing from earlier incarnations of the News, became a major part of the paper. Before purchasing the paper, David Brison had formed Newsweb.ca in partnership with the Land O'Lakes Communications Network and its director, Jim MacPherson.

Newsweb.ca became the website of the Frontenac News and was eventually subsumed under our present website Frontenacnews.ca, which includes an archive of articles going back to the year 2000.

An augmented website, Frontenacportal.ca, is now in the development stages. Plans are for it to include more interactive functions and individual sections for local village life, and also to hook into social network services such as Facebook.

At the end of 2001, Sara Carpenter left the News (we were very pleased to welcome Sara back last year as our weekly “Potluck” columnist). In 2002 David Brison became ill with cancer. His wife, Jule Koch Brison, who had been working for the paper, took on a more central role as managing editor. Earlier in 2002 Jeff Green had come on as associate editor/reporter, and Scott Cox had become the paper’s graphic designer.

In June 2002, the News began to be distributed in Harrowsmith and Sydenham and coverage in South Frontenac has been a major feature of the paper ever since. A total of 9,157 copies are now sent out by Canada Post each week.

When David died late in 2002, Jule became the publisher as well as managing editor. The staffing of the paper has remained the same to this day, with Koch as managing editor, Green as editor, Cox as designer and Suzanne Tanner at the front desk. In 2005 Garry Drew became the ad sales manager.

At the start of 2008 Jule Koch sold her interest in the paper to Jeff Green, who then became publisher, but aside from the change in ownership they both continued in their respective roles as editor and managing editor.

The News, or the “North Frontenac” as it is still called in many quarters, has undergone many changes, but the key focus on local news remains. Other outlets provide information from around the country and around the world, and while the News reflects that, we don't try to take that on. We tend to our own garden, as they say.

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(Oct 16, 1984 #329)

Joe the Porter 

By Harry Hinchley

Joe the Porter was the assistant front desk man at the Union Hotel in Sharbot Lake, or, to use his own classification, “the Porter”.

His duties were many and his hours were long and his pay was not large. Perhaps this has some bearing on cigarettes because Joe was always in short supply and often completely out of this commodity.

This brought about one of his failings – a propensity of habitually begging cigarettes from his friends. When Joe felt like a smoke, which was often, he was not at all backward in soliciting some, even though his friends did not always approve and often said so.

One cool October Saturday morning when the usual crowd had gathered in the lobby of the Union Hotel, someone took some exception to Joe's habit of “bumming” smokes. Joe admitted his shortcomings and even promised to make amends. So, to nail him down before he changed his mind, it was suggested that Joe sign an agreement to this effect. Joe was co-operative. He even produced a sheet of hotel note paper on which an agreement could be written out. A form of contract was hastily drawn up and presented to Joe for his signature.

Joe read it over and accepted it all except one final clause, which would have allowed him the privilege of accepting a cigarette offered to him only when he had none in his possession. Joe balked at this one, so in accordance with his expressed wishes, the clause was deleted by a stroke of the pen.

Then Joe signed the agreement, and promised to give up his habit of soliciting free cigarettes from all and sundry who might be “in or about the premises of the Union Hotel at Sharbot Lake”.

We have not heard of Joe for years and do not know if he is even still alive. But let us hope that he is still living and well. Joe was a good kid and he meant well. But, like so many others, at times he found it difficult not to give in to temptation.

A copy of the original agreement, written on the Union Hotel notepaper accompanies this article. As it is difficult to read, the original unedited text of Joe's contract is set out below:

“I, Joe the Porter, hereby agree that I will not bum, beg, endeavor to procure without compensating remuneration, steal, or illegally acquire any cigarette or cigarettes from any guest, customer, boarder, traveller or transient lady or gentleman who may or may not be at in or about the premises of Union Hotel in Sharbot Lake. I further agree that I will accept one if offered (provided I have none in my possession)

Signed Joe E. The Porter

Saturday, October 13, 1928

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July 11, 1980 #221

Marathon of Hope

by Doreen England and Audrey McWilliams

Terry Fox, the 21-year-old Marathon Runner, of British Columbia, whose right leg was amputated because of cancer, started running April 12th in Newfoundland with a goal of making it back to British Columbia by November, raising funds for Cancer Research

His aim is ONE MILLION DOLLARS and so far he has gone over ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS in pledges.

He arrived in Sharbot Lake, July 3, had dinner and at his own request, a very restful and quiet night at the Sharbot Lake Motor Inn. Periodically, he needs these peaceful times since there have been and will continue to be large receptions for him at pre-arranged designations along his route.

The following morning, Friday, July 4th at 4:00 a.m. he was driven two miles on the other side of Silver Lake and started his run. At 8:00 a.m. he arrived at Black

Lake Motel, had his breakfast and a two hour rest. He continued after his rest to 14 miles this side of Kaladar, where he was met by a group of young people and had his dinner.

On Saturday, July 5th, there was a Bike-A-Thon called "The Ladies Great Ride For Cancer", to support him in his efforts of raising funds.

He has three artificial legs with him for the run and the War Amputees Association will repair or replace limbs damaged en route.

Anyone wishing to support Terry Fox in his fund-raising drive should contact the nearest unit of the Canadian Cancer Society.

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[Periodically the issue of nuclear energy crops in our region, usually when the price of uranium jumps and mining claims are made. Back in September of 1980, a forum on nuclear energy was held in Sharbot Lake.]

(September 5, 1980, #225)

Oso Township Community Hall full to capacity for meeting of uranium mining

It was standing room only on Wednesday evening, August 27th, at the meeting organized by the Lanark-Frontenac Conserver Society, a citizens’ group dedicated to conservation and a clean environment. Chairman for the meeting was Jim King, a member of the Conserver Society and after a brief introduction from him, there was a presentation of an audio-slide show.

This presentation, titled “Nuclear Energy in Ontario, Who Asked Us?”, was produced by a Peterborough based group, the Ontario Public Interest Research Group. These slides focussed on the installations of Ontario Hydro producing nuclear power and dwelt on the problems of disposing of spent fuel safely. We also saw the horrendous piles of dusty tailings which are left at uranium mining sites.

There are millions of tons, an estimated 110 million tons of these fine sandy tailings lying exposed at Elliot Lake. Dangerous materials emitting radiation lead down from these piles into the water table. In the Serpent River there are no fish for 55 miles down stream from the Elliot Lake site. The light sandy material is also spread by the wind.

After the slide show Mr. J. R. Simonett, a former Minister of Energy Resources Management in the Ontario Government, spoke. Mr. Simonett wished to clarify the relationship between the Ontario Government and Ontario Hydro. He emphasized that Hydro

is not a part of the Ontario Government but he said that it is owned by the municipalities. Mr. Simonett stated that the move to nuclear was a result of the people's demand for more power and also of the objections to the pollution of coal and oil generation.

Mr. Ralph Torry then spoke to the meeting. Mr. Torry has been working for several years in British Columbia, where the government has placed a moratorium for seven years on all uranium mining and explorations. This action of the British Columbia government came as a result of the presentation of some one hundred groups of British Columbia citizens, including such strong groups as the Teachers' Federations, Dairy Farmers and Fruit Farmers. The moratorium will stay until there are more answers to crucial questions about the possible wide ranging consequences of uranium mining and exploration.

Mr. Torry pointed out that there are no nuclear reactors in Canada except in Ontario. British Columbia has banned uranium mining and the Maritimes are moving to conservation. Present mining operations provide more than enough uranium for Hydro's requirements. Any further exploration and mining will be strictly for export. The mining companies will sell their product out of Canada with no obligation to clean up the wastes. We, the people, will be stuck with that horrendous problem and expense. Yet Sweden who has a reactor programme as large as Ontario's refuses to mine its own uranium because of the hazards.

Mr. Bill Harvey, who has an interest in the local uranium claims took the platform and assured the audience that before any mining could begin a number of public meetings must be held. It was pointed out, then, that to attend such meetings with……..

[The article seems to be accidentally cut off at the bottom of the page – an error that we still make today.]

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[The recently completed seniors' housing project on Clement Road near Sharbot Lake has faced its share of controversy.

Back in 1984-1985, a proposal for a larger seniors' housing complex in Sharbot Lake was working its way through the approvals process. The result in that case was not positive either for the North Frontenac Not-for-Profit Housing Corporation or seniors looking for housing.

The following report outlines the end game for the project.]

July 1985

Seniors' housing project rejected

“As you are aware the process of selecting a site in the Sharbot Lake area has been a lengthy one. The nature of the available land purchase have led us to some difficult choices.

The search for a site has, we believe, covered every conceivable site in the village. After much soul searching in May of 1984 we approved and decided to move forward with, the development of a lot in Village Woods. We did indeed begin work on the site. At this point a petition against the Village Woods site surfaced. A public meting was called in May 1985 and by a slim margin it was voted that we proceed with the Village Woods site.

Following this public meeting, however, in July 1985 the Ontario Housing Corporation (our project supervisor) ‘pulled the rug from under our feet,’ and decided to turn down this site due to: 1) quantity and quality of water, 2) location of the site, and 3) level of need and demand.

The current Board at this point was feeling rather frustrated in its efforts. The three above mentioned points we felt had been or could be resolved. We decided to correspond with Mr. Alvin Surling, the Minister of Housing. As a result of our letter to him he has decided to intervene.

His ministry is willing to hire an independent consultant to evaluate the site and its related problems. The minister had indicated that if the consultant's report recommends that the project should go ahead on the Village Woods site, he will endeavour to secure the funds in the spring of 1986 for construction to begin.

If, however, the consultant rejects this site then this decision shall be binding as well. The implications then are that the project will not proceed at all in the Sharbot Lake area.

A sub-committee of Marcel Giroux, Frances Smith and Sharman Howes are meeting with three members of the Ontario Housing Corporation to hire the consultant and review his or her report.

You can show your support for this project in a couple of ways. 1) write a letter of support to the North Frontenac Not for Profit Housing Corporation or 2) if you are interested in an apartment in the complex PLEASE make sure your name is on the current list.”

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Photo: A bin for wood pellets to be installed at North Addington Education Centre,

Here we are with spring in sight and a good portion of the home heating season behind us, or so we hope. Within the next few weeks, 800 households, 400 each from Addington Highlands and North Frontenac, will have the opportunity to participate in an energy use study headed up by Stewart Fast, a PhD candidate from the University of Ottawa.  "In this study we hope to provide a good overall picture of energy use and learn from residents what types of energy technologies might be acceptable to people in the future", explains Fast.  The first portion of the study residents can play a part in is in the form of a mail-in questionnaire; it takes little time to complete and will come with an addressed-stamped envelope for easy return. You answer the survey anonymously. If you so choose, you can include your name and contact info to be part of the next phase of the project, discussions and focus groups. Once the results have been collated, evening sessions will be set up to present the findings, likely one each in Denbigh, Cloyne, and Ompah. 

"The area seems to be experiencing new types of energy use and production" says Fast, pointing to a rise in the popularity of wood pellet stoves, the installation of solar panels for electricity and the history of test wind turbines near Denbigh. "With many existing hydro dams, windy hilltops and wood from logging, it is certainly possible to imagine more renewable energy production.” 

If your household is in Addington Highlands or North Frontenac and does not receive a questionnaire but you would still like to participate in the study, check out the community research portal by visiting www.addington.uottawa.ca for an on-line version of the survey and more information on the project.

 

 

Editorial by Jeff Green

The Committee of Adjustment in North Frontenac seems to think their own planning consultant is at fault because the Province of Ontario has decided that development on the limited number of new cottage lots that can be found in Ontario will be limited by two things: increased lot sizes and buffer zones.

Essentially, after 100 years of cottages being built right around all of the most accessible lakes in the province, it has been determined that the lakes have been impacted - and not in a good way. So, from now on, any lake that has not already been divided up into lots will see a new set of rules, which are designed to minimise the impact of development on the water.

As well, the province has determined that when someone builds a private lane and then creates building lots on them, the state of that private roadway is not guaranteed. The people who buy those lots and build on them may form a road association and keep the road to a standard that will allow ambulance and fire crews though if they are needed, but they may not. So, the province is dictating that the road must either be brought up to a point where it can become part of the public road system through a plan of subdivision, or through a common land condominium - an association that can be created and be legally bound to keep the road up.

The North Frontenac Committee of Adjustment sees these new rules as impediments to development in a township that needs development in order to survive and thrive, and their concerns are very real. They seem to think that the township planner, Glen Tunnock, is somehow at fault because he will not bring their own recommendations to the province, but Tunnock is giving them the kind of advice the township is paying him to bring. He could put the committee's views into a proposal to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, but they would send them back. He knows this, and indications are that the committee knows this as well.

Ultimately it is not the committee, Glenn Tunnock or the township that makes these decisions. The ministry might as well write down these provisions and send them to the township to insert into their Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw.

It is true that our local townships are going to suffer financially and in terms of their ability to maintain our communities because these new rules will hinder development. It is also true that we are paying the price for what has happened in the Kawarthas and Muskokas over the past 50 years, where the lakes are being damaged by overcrowding.

But the reality is this is a done deal. Sooner or later, North Frontenac, just like Central Frontenac, will sign off on these new rules.

 

Photo: Ron Brown gives a presentation at the Cloyne & District Historical Society’s meeting on April 18.

Many who enjoy the sights and stories of Ontario’s ghost towns were treated to a presentation courtesy of the Cloyne and District Historical Society by renowned ghost town author Ron Brown at the Barrie hall in Cloyne on April 18. Brown has published 22 books to date, his most recent being “From Queenston to Kingston: The Hidden Heritage of the Lake Ontario Shoreline”, and he engaged the audience with a multimedia presentation. The hall was packed with enthusiasts who got a glimpse at many of Ontario’s ghost towns, how they were born and why they inevitably died, often leaving behind some shell of their former glory, some more intact than others.

Brown trained as a geographer at the University of Toronto and worked for 27 years as a planner with the Ontario government, which he said, “Got me up to all of the ghost towns in northern Ontario.” As a student he recalled how he “learned to love the stories of the landscapes and towns”.

It was an exchange visit with an Aboriginal community on Parry Island and a visit to Depot Harbour that got him hooked many years ago. “It was at that point that I started documenting ghost towns whenever I learned of them,“ he said. His first book, “The First Ghost Towns of Ontario” came out in 1978.

Brown’s presentation covered a myriad of ghost towns in chronological order, beginning with the old Mission villages like those on Manitoulin Island, the Moravian town near Chatham and others like Sainte Marie among the Hurons, which has been recreated.

Next, Brown spoke of the more than 200 old trading posts or “ghost posts” of Ontario, which sprouted up during the fur trade in places like Thunder Bay, and Moosonee and Moose Factory. Brown included interesting facts and photos like the Floating Church in Moose Factory, where holes were drilled into its wooden floor to prevent it from floating away when the river flooded.

Next were the old forts like those of Fort Erie and Fort George, both of which have been recreated. Others like Fort Mississauga and Fort Joseph on the shores of Lake Huron have not fared as well as did Michael’s Bay on Manitoulin Island.

Brown also spoke of the old mill towns, fishing villages, mining towns like Jackfish on Lake Superior, Cobalt, Eldorado and Silver Centre, along with the old colonization road towns many of which include those still in existence in these parts.

For those interested in their own local ghost town adventure, Brown mentioned that Massanoga is the closest ghost town to this area. When Brown visited it a few years ago he found that it was pretty much intact, including the old foundations of the sawmill, and he felt it would be worth looking into to see how it is faring. It is located on the Massanoga Road near Bob Echo.

Brown strongly believes that more should be done to save Ontario’s ghost towns. “Things definitely have to be done at the local, municipal level and that begins first off by recognizing the heritage value of these places. Municipal councils have the power to designate them as heritage sites.” Brown said that conservation groups are doing a fair bit of work in this area in particular where a lot of old mill towns used to be. “Often people need to have an economic incentive to save these buildings, which unfortunately is not an easy thing to do.”

Brown has his sights set next on the railway heritage of the prairie provinces and can’t wait to get there to look at its old railway bridges, train stations, prairie ghost towns and old railway hotels.

For more information visit www.ronbrown.ca

 

While some people find math very difficult, Ms. Shepherd’s Grade 9 Applied Math class has been having fun. They used their math skills to design and construct some mini-putt holes. Each student designed a mini-putt hole, then the class voted on the five designs they wanted to make. Students worked as a classto construct their mini-putt holes. The whole process took five days, to the accompaniment of a lot of hammering, and by October 1, the students were ready to test their projects out. They laid them out on the playground, and took turns trying to sink a ball. The designs proved very challenging, and the chances of a hole-in-one seemed to be nil. Ms. Shepherd hopes to have the mini-putt course laid out for Parent’s Night on October 10, so that the students’ parents can admire the workmanship and try to sink a ball.

On Sat. Aug. 17, the 640 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps held a pre-registration/information session at the Northbrook Foodland parking lot. The army cadet program in Addington Highlands and North Frontenac was established in 1998. It was successful from the start and after a few years there were 36 cadets in the corps. The numbers have slipped since then but that is now changing.

“We were down to about six cadets a couple of years ago but we are now back up to 20,” said Corps Commander Tim Trickey, a paramedic with the L&A ambulance service and a resident of Henderson in North Frontenac.

“We are still on probation from the military for numbers but I hope we can get back up to 25 this year, which will take us off probation.”

Trickey was the commander of the cadet corps between 1998 and 2007 and he has just taken on the job again with a three-year commitment. The cadet corps is free to join and the Canadian military covers all cost for the cadets, even providing uniforms free of charge.

“All that we ask is for cadets who decide to leave the corps to return their uniform to us,” said Trickey.

The corps meets for training weekly, on alternative Monday and Wednesday nights during the school year at North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne from 6 to 9 pm. A number of topics are covered during the training sessions.

“Three main goals are: promoting leadership in communities where we live, promoting physical fitness, and trying to create an interest in the Canadian Armed Forces, land, sea and air,” Trickey said.

In addition to the weekly sessions, the corps participate in Remembrance Day Services, which is the one event where Trickey likes to see a 100% commitment from the membership. Aside from that there are a number of weekend activities available to corps members, which include a lot of adventure training, including mountain biking, canoeing, orientation, camping, and more. Summer camps, in Ottawa and the Barrie area for army cadets, and as far away as the Yukon, are also available. Not only are the camps free to attend, cadets receive a $60 a week stipend.

As in military organisations, cadets rise through the ranks, and the corps offers leadership opportunities for older, higher ranking members who can take officer training.

“I have run into numbers of our former cadets who have moved on to some outstanding jobs,” said Trickey. “Some have gone into the military; some are reservists, and there are professional firefighters and many others who have done well.”

Trickey himself took the air cadet program out of Belleville when he was a teenager. “It was the cadet program that taught me self-discipline. As cadets we learn that if we want something we have to work for it.”

The program is open to youth between 12 & 19 years of age, both males and females. For information on the new cadet session, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 613-336-2885 

Mr. Hill, Ms. Cuthill and Ms. Buck took their students to the Secondary side to participate in a dance-off on June 11 at NAEC. This was the culmination of a project by Mrs. Walker's Grade 10 Physical Education class, which counts for 15% of the students' final mark. Deanna Allen, Jessica Chatson, Racheal Dorion, Tara Pringle, Taylor Salmond, Haily Whitelock and Cayley Wilson led the Elementary classes in dancing.

The Grade 10 students were completing an assignment which measured their leadership qualities, ability to work with peers, communication skills, and engagement in a different type of fitness activity (other than sports). The students had to learn the steps of the dance themselves, and then teach them to the Elementary students.

The Grade 10 students had to work with their Elementary peers over the course of a couple of weeks, involving two or three sessions to practice the dance. After the Elementary students had learned the dance, the teachers decided it would be fun to have an entire gym full of students dancing.

Each class ran through the dance once, as the other students looked on, and then there was a dance-off, in which all the students danced at the same time. The judges were Mrs. Salmond and Ms. Allan. They had a hard time deciding which class was the most engaged and energetic, as everyone seemed to be having a good time, particularly when doing the do-si-do. They declared all three classes winners.

Both students and teachers really enjoyed the exercise. Principal Angela Salmond said, "It is always good to see our teachers working together, and this was a particularly enjoyable event because the students were working together, too."

Debbie Barkley knows a thing or two about transportation services and it is her decades-long experience in the business that has prepared her for her latest business venture. For 30 years Barkley worked in the taxi business and then she worked for Frontenac Transportation Service (formerly Rural Routes) for another 5 years.

On May 1 Barkley officially opened her new business called SASI Taxi. SASI (Simply Access Service Innovations) Taxi is a transportation service that will provide wheelchair-accessible personal transportation services to individuals in need. Based out of Parham, SASI Taxi will offer trips to customers in the townships of North, Central and South Frontenac as well as Lennox and Addington. Barkley is also offering an additional driver service for those who may be experiencing health issues that prevent them from driving their own vehicles. She will drive those clients in their own car to appointments, social engagements and for any daily errands. Barkley currently has one vehicle to serve her clients, a Chevy Venture van that is equipped with a Braun power lift ramp that can accommodate two wheel chairs and one regular passenger on any one trip. She uses Q-Straint, a retractable restraint system for wheelchairs.

Debbie is hoping in the near future to add a shuttle bus service to the business, which will enable her to pick up several clients in various villages in the area and travel to major centres like Kingston, Napanee and Perth on different week days. Fees for her service are based on mileage and her rates are $1.25 per kilometre for a door to door trip. She does not charge her clients for her personal travel time to their pick up location. For return trips, Barkley offers her customers one hour of free wait time at no charge and after that she charges $15.00 per hour. Barkley said her rates are less than half of what regular taxis charge, which is the only other option, though most taxis cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Barkley said the idea for the new business came about  while working for NFCS. “When I finished up working at NFCS I said to myself, 'Now is the time to do something. There are lots of people who require this service and who better than me to do it. I have the experience and the know how. It's what I have done all my life and it’s also important for me to offer something positive in the community. '”

Barkley’s services are also available to those in need of transportation but who do not require wheelchair accessibility. For more information call or text Debbie at 613-453-7506 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On Sat. Aug. 17, the 640 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps held a pre-registration/information session at the Northbrook Foodland parking lot. The army cadet program in Addington Highlands and North Frontenac was established in 1998. It was successful from the start and after a few years there were 36 cadets in the corps. The numbers have slipped since then but that is now changing.

“We were down to about six cadets a couple of years ago but we are now back up to 20,” said Corps Commander Tim Trickey, a paramedic with the L&A ambulance service and a resident of Henderson in North Frontenac.

“We are still on probation from the military for numbers but I hope we can get back up to 25 this year, which will take us off probation.”

Trickey was the commander of the cadet corps between 1998 and 2007 and he has just taken on the job again with a three-year commitment. The cadet corps is free to join and the Canadian military covers all cost for the cadets, even providing uniforms free of charge.

“All that we ask is for cadets who decide to leave the corps to return their uniform to us,” said Trickey.

The corps meets for training weekly, on alternative Monday and Wednesday nights during the school year at North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne from 6 to 9 pm. A number of topics are covered during the training sessions.

“Three main goals are: promoting leadership in communities where we live, promoting physical fitness, and trying to create an interest in the Canadian Armed Forces, land, sea and air,” Trickey said.

In addition to the weekly sessions, the corps participate in Remembrance Day Services, which is the one event where Trickey likes to see a 100% commitment from the membership. Aside from that there are a number of weekend activities available to corps members, which include a lot of adventure training, including mountain biking, canoeing, orientation, camping, and more. Summer camps, in Ottawa and the Barrie area for army cadets, and as far away as the Yukon, are also available. Not only are the camps free to attend, cadets receive a $60 a week stipend.

As in military organisations, cadets rise through the ranks, and the corps offers leadership opportunities for older, higher ranking members who can take officer training.

“I have run into numbers of our former cadets who have moved on to some outstanding jobs,” said Trickey. “Some have gone into the military; some are reservists, and there are professional firefighters and many others who have done well.”

Trickey himself took the air cadet program out of Belleville when he was a teenager. “It was the cadet program that taught me self-discipline. As cadets we learn that if we want something we have to work for it.”

The program is open to youth between 12 & 19 years of age, both males and females. For information on the new cadet session, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 613-336-2885 

Tar & Chip – was that quality for our money?

If you had to drive on some portions of North Frontenac’s newly resurfaced Ardoch Road from Ardoch to the Austris Road you will agree whoever was responsible for the tar & chip job should be tarred and feathered.

We followed the instructions carefully. The tiny Township ad in the “News” was appropriate. It warned us to be careful and drive slowly. What it neglected to say was that we’d best just drive on the K&P trail or walk for a couple days until the flying tar & chip & stone goop settled on someone else’s car or truck.

Now it would be just as appropriate to have Greenwood Paving pay for a larger Township add in the “News” acknowledging the many complaints and apologizing. Maybe it could include the best method to clean the gravel, tar and crud off our brakes, wheels, springs and undercarriage. How about an offer to pay for windshield and paint damage?

Next year North Frontenac should waste all the “free” GST Gas rebate money on five more Dark Skies. At least it would be a lot easier on our vehicles and every local astronomer would then have his or her own personal star peepers pad.

Leo Ladouceur