Oct 9/08 - Sydenham Women's Institute

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Feature Article - October 9, 2008 Sydenham Women’s Institute

The Sydenham Branch of the Womens Institute recently held a well-attended bake and craft sale at the Sydenham Legion Hall. In the picture, are Sydenham WI members (left to right): Mary McGinnis, Marion Blackadder, Shirley Fox, Meta Gamble, Inda Spafford and Mary Shook.

Nov 6/08 - Sydenham Supports Athletes

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Feature Article - November 6, 2008 Sydenham Legion proposes “SYDENHAM SupPORTS”By Julie Druker

Derrick Anderson, vice president of Sydenham Legion, recently proposed to the Legion executive that a fund be created to help young local athletes who may require financial assistance while pursuing their athletic aspirations.

Anderson realized the need for such a fund when he worked years ago as Vice Commodore (VC) for the Sydenham Lake Canoe Club (SLCC) and witnessed cases of young, talented athletes with long-term aspirations being limited by financial needs.

Anderson recalls one athlete in particular, Natasha Ostopovich, who won a silver medal at the Nationals while a canoeist at the SLCC. She eventually changed her sport to kayaking and then to rowing. She has since won a scholarship to Washington State University, where she currently rows on the Varsity team. She is aspiring to make the Canadian Olympic team in four years’ time.

Scott Takala (photo left) is another Sydenham athlete who has serious long-term aspirations. He won the men’s 20-24 triathlon world championships in Vancouver this past summer in Vancouver and has his sights set on the 2010 Olympic Games in London.

With the specific athletes in mind, Anderson approached John Pickernell, president of the Sydenham Legion, who was 100% on board with the idea of setting up a fund to support all serious local athletes who may require financial assistance to reach their goals.

The two men approached the Legion executive and put forward a four-year proposal called “SYDENHAM SupPORTS”, which will entail a number of fundraising events. The executive was supportive and the plan is now in its very early stages.

Anderson explains his motivations, “It’s great for the community to have athletes of this caliber and with this kind of ambition, and it would be great if we as a community could support them in their endeavors.”

He says, “If you want to see Sydenham represented on the international stage….join us in a four-year commitment to support our hopefuls during this long training session.“

Sydenham Legion Branch 496 invites the business and social communities around Sydenham to join them in sponsoring the youth in the area in their athletic endeavours.

Anyone interested in donating or helping with the fundraising can contact Derrick Anderson at 613-376-3739.

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 2, 2009 More than a facelift: a transformationBy Jeff Green

Above: The new facade of the Sharbot Lake Legion. Left: Before it was improved.

When the Trillium Foundation granted $63,800 to Legion Branch 425 (The Hollowood Branch) of Sharbot Lake for renovations, it was one of the first grants to a Legion in the region.

Given the Legion's tradition of volunteerism it also turned out to be $63,000 that became a whole lot more.

Branch President Patty Middleton said, “Between the 10 or so people who worked on the application, and volunteers who worked on parts of the project not covered by the Trillium grant, 800 to 1,000 volunteer hours went into the overall renovation”.

The renovation, which improved the building on the outside through a new entrance way, siding, insulation, and a wheelchair ramp, and modernized and improved the inside of the building, has “made the building more useful for us and more attractive for outside renters,” said Patty Middleton.

An open house to show off the renovations and thank all of the volunteers who worked on the project took place last Sunday, June 28. Local adjudicator Nina Jenkins represented the Trillium Foundation at the event.

The branch was built mostly by volunteers back in 1958. “It was overdue for an upgrade,” according to Middleton, “it was run down pretty badly; the tiles were lifting, and there was no insulation on the outside.” It was losing its appeal even for members when the idea of seeking a Trillium grant struck her about three years ago.

“It was a lot more complicated than I originally thought, but people came through to work through all the details, and we got the grant and got all the work done and more,” she said.

In addition to the work that Trillium covered, Legion members built new cabinets, put on all new trim, painted throughout and did an extensive clean up throughout the building.

The Legion members also made use of their building fund to enhance the building project that the Trillium Foundation funded, but one thing they did not do was seek any form of bank loan or mortgage.

“We've never had a mortgage on this hall,” Patty Middleton said, “and we didn't want to start now. Even though this was the biggest renovation we've ever done, we decided that we would work with what we had, like we've always done.”

The renovations, which were completed in May, were done in time for a busy summer of use for the hall, which will be hosting the entire zone for a fishing derby this coming weekend (July 3, 4, and 5).

The building will also be more attractive as a well-equipped but informal gathering place for birthdays, anniversaries and other events, at a very reasonable rental cost.

The Hollowood branch has contributed extensively to the community life in Sharbot Lake and vicinity for over 50 years, between Friday dinners, Legion speaking, poetry and poster contests, and ceremonial events such as Remembrance Day. With the upgrades to the hall, it will be able to serve those purposes and others for many years to come.

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 4, 2009 Sydenham supports young Olympic hopefulsby Julie Druker

Olympic hopefuls Natasha Ostopovich, Scott Takala, Cia Myles-Gonzalez and Erika Gibbons

Local athletes setting their sights on the highest level of competition in their sports got a boost last Saturday when the Sydenham Legion held a fundraiser to help them along in their quests for Olympic gold.

For young athletes, the costs of travel and living expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses required to attend important qualifying events and training camps can make reaching their Olympic goals difficult.

Recognizing these difficulties, Derrick Anderson, past president of the Sydenham Legion, with the help of current president John Pickernell, Maryanne Takala and other members decided last Christmas to set up a Legion fund specifically to benefit these young athletes.

The “Sydenham Supports” event was their first effort and the $20 tickets included food and live musical entertainment by two local bands, Rock Bottom and Still Standin’. Individual community members and businesses also donated items that were auctioned off.

By 7PM close to 100 tickets had been pre-sold and organizers were expecting more tickets to be purchased at the door as the evening progressed.

Anderson explained his motivation “…to get the community of Sydenham on the world stage and thereby raise community spirit and benefit the entire community.”

Local athletes Natasha Ostopovich and Scott Takala were at the event and grateful for the community support.

Natasha, who has just completed her second year at Washington State University on a full rowing scholarship, currently rows on their varsity team. Previously a canoeist and later a kayaker with the Sydenham Lake Canoe Club, she won a bronze and silver medal in the Canadian nationals. When she realized that canoeing was not an Olympic sport, she switched her sport to rowing.

Aiming to improve her skills and to keep in shape over the summer, she is planning to enter the Ontario Summer Games Team so she can return to school in top form. As far as the Olympics go, 20-year-old Natasha realizes that while her schooling to become a teacher is her immediate concern, she knows that she must continue to train and compete in her sport in order to have a shot at the Olympics. She believes that her chances will not likely come until the 2016 games.

As far as funding goes, she admits, “There is very little funding available in Canada for rowing and if you are invited to a national training camp, you don’t have the time and energy both to work and train, so financially, it can be quite difficult.”

For Scott Takala, a tri-athlete who has just graduated from Trent University and who won first place in the short course 20-24 age group World Championships last summer in Vancouver, funding is a definite hurdle.

He explained, “There is absolutely no funding available to tri-athletes through universities or any other organizations, for that matter.”

Takala, coached by Richard Cadman of Sunbury, just returned from a one-month training session and race in Hawaii. He has a number of important upcoming races this summer and fall including the ITU Pan American Cup that takes place June 20, east of Montreal, and the World Olympic Distance Triathlon on September 13 that takes place in Australia - both costly events.

For Takala these are important races that he needs to compete in. He explained, “These races will tell me a lot about where I am at and what I need to do to be a candidate for the 2012 Olympic games in London and/or the 2016 games.”

Regarding the Legion fundraiser he said “This event will go a long way to help all local athletes.”

Natasha and Scott are not the only athletes hoping to benefit from the Sydenham Legion fund. Younger athletes Cia Myles-Gonzalez and Erika Gibbons, both successful paddlers with the Sydenham Lake Canoe Club, are also hoping to be able to compete one day on the world stage.

Saturday night’s dance raised $4811. Thanks to the Sydenham Legion and community supporters, these athletes’ dreams of going for gold stand a greater chance of being realized. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 7, 2009 Pine Meadow receives Legion funding

Ernie Ballar, legion member; Bonnie George, administrator of Pine Meadow Nursing Home; Shirley Shouldice, padre of the Northbrook Legion Branch; Cecil Hawley, president of the Northbrook Legion Branch; Sonja Alcock, chair of the Board of Directors of Land O’ Lakes Community Services; Harry Andringa, legion member; Cathy Ballar, legion member and Board member of Land O’ Lakes Community Services.

We have all heard the statement, “You do not receive what you do not ask for” or “Ask and you will receive”. Well, Pine Meadow Nursing Home asked and we were rewarded for our efforts.

Last year Pine Meadow was approached by a Board member of the Land O’ Lakes Community Services which oversees the home, and a member of the local Northbrook Branch of the Legion with an application for funds to help us purchase much needed items for our home. So we applied. We went out on a limb and asked what we wished for and on April 7 we were rewarded for our efforts and were presented with a cheque for the amount of $6079.49 to pay for three new beds and an oximeter (a medical instrument that is placed on a patient’s finger that measures their oxygen level).

Pine Meadow is very grateful to the Legion for granting our wish and we have been encouraged to apply for more funding in the future. It is a pleasure to know that our home is able to take care of the needs of our residents by our local veterans, of which once jokingly noted, “We are just making the place better for when we come to live here.”

Back to HomeFeature Article - April 9, 2009 Honours and awards dished out at Legion dinnerby Julie Druker

Patricia Middleton, Marlene Beattie, Helene Riddell and Dave Whalen

It was during the Sharbot Lake Legion’s second biggest event of the year, their annual Honours and Awards Dinner, that members at Branch 425 had a chance to hand out awards recognizing their comrades (plus one special non-member) for dedicated service.

Guests and members feasted on a delicious roast beef dinner cooked up by well-known cook and Legion member Tim Cota of Parham. After supper guest speaker Deputy District G Commander Ron Goodwin from Russell, Ontario, addressed the dinner guests and focused on the importance of the work that members perform in the community.

He credited their Meals on Wheels service and their bursary program, which awards graduating students from Sharbot Lake High School. He highlighted the ongoing fundraising the Legion does throughout the year, specifically raffles, bingos and dinners that support such national charities as Easter Seals, Cancer, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Legion members Dave Whalen of Parham and Colleen Riddell of Sharbot Lake both received the Volunteer of the Year Award. This award was presented by Marlene Beattie, wife of the late Ken Beattie, in whose memory the award is named.

Many members received their year pins; associate member John Jarvis and member Vern Crawford of Sharbot Lake each received a 30-year pin. Vern Crawford, who joined the Legion first in Ottawa, then Perth and finally in Sharbot Lake, has acted as treasurer for three terms, has run the poppy fund for years and is also involved with the Meals on Wheels service. He expressed his gratitude: “I’m very proud to receive it and feel as though I have really accomplished something".

The Friendship Award was the final award presented and it went to Mayor Janet Gutowski for her help with the Legion’s successful application for a $63,000 Trillium grant.

Legion President Patricia Middleton and Honours and Awards Chair Tyrone Seeley explained that it is the first time the award has been given out in the Legion’s 63-year history. President Middleton said, “The award can go only to a non-member and this is the first time that a non-Legion member has made such a substantial effort”.

Seeley said that a grant application had been attempted the year before but was left incomplete when the process became overwhelming. The mayor, knowledgeable with the process, offered to step in and assist with the application.

The Legion received the grant in August 2008 and it has been used to renovate the hall. Since September, with the addition of a ramp and washrooms, the hall is now wheelchair accessible. The renovation included new insulation, siding, a new floor, plus new doors and windows. The renovation will be completed by mid-April and President Middleton is looking forward to a grand opening slated to happen sometime this summer.

Mayor Gutowski was surprised, honoured and visibly moved by the award. Her grandfather was a career soldier and her mother, father, and father-in-law, as well as her husbanc, were all Legion members.

“I have a number of recognition awards of my dad’s in my home,so this can go right along beside those”.

She added, “I was just glad to be a part of it (the grant) and the Legion is one of the strongest service clubs in our community. They do so much and they really deserved it”. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - January 29, 2009 Sydenham welcomes home resident mountain climberBy Julie Druker

Leslie Myles of Sydenham summits Mount Kilimajaro

The Sydenham community recently welcomed home Leslie Myles, their resident mountain climber, who, at 7 am, January 12th , successfully reached the 19,341 foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. This is Africa’s tallest mountain, and Leslie reached the summit along with her entire team: 11 women, 6 porters and 4 guides.

Friends family and community members gathered at the Sydenham Legion on Sunday to welcome her home and to congratulate her on her successful endeavor, the “Kili Climb for Kids”, which raised $61,000 for the Amani Children’s Home in Tanzania.

The organization, located at the base of the mountain, provides a safe, nurturing and healing environment to homeless Tanzanian children. It provides healthy meals, ongoing access to education, health care, counseling and also strives to reconnect children with relatives or village members in their community.

After the climb, Leslie had time to visit Amani House, its staff, and the children they serve. “I was touched by the children and really impressed by the efforts of the staff and the positive effect their work is having.” Currently 89 children are involved in the program which began in 2001 in a small two bedroom house which initially supported 6 children.

Photo: Vicki Veldman, Maryanne Takala, Heather Quinn and Margie Johnston host welcome home for Leslie Myles (centre)

Back at home, the Sydenham Legion was wall to wall with well wishers as Leslie set up a slide show of her trip and spoke to the large group about her recent accomplishments. Not an easy climb, it was predicted that only half of her team would make the summit. Leslie explained, “Though not the largest mountain, it is the hardest mountain because it is the fastest. You go in and you come out in a very short time with not a lot of time to acclimatize.”

The climb took 6 days in total and the team passed through 4 eco-zones. They began in the rain forest and reached the bare, moon-like, glacier filled upper reaches of the mountain where temperatures dipped to minus 25 degrees.

The team began their final push for the top on the fifth day at 12:30 at night in howling winds and bitter cold.

Leslie told the crowd, “All of you were there in spirit with me and all the way up I remembered the words of my trainers back home, Jimmy Latimer and Brian Meyers, ‘What? Are you going to quit now?’” Quit she didn't and Leslie made it to the top of the mountain along with the 10 other women from her team.

Leslie recalled, “One of the most exhilarating moments was climbing the Barranco Wall”, a virtually vertical wall with a narrow, slippery foot path with nowhere to hold onto and no poles to assist you. “You had to really watch your footing.” In Swahili, the advice most commonly given to her and her team was, “Pole. Pole. Slowly. Slowly. One step. One breath”.

Leslie and her team were grateful to their guide Angus Murray, an experienced climber from BC, who gave in depth explanations and important demonstrations all along the way.

In her words," The trip was a great way to reevaluate what's important and what's not and how valuable time really is." She stressed the importance of her ongoing retail work, (she owns three Body Shop franchises) in that it allows her to pursue her personal interests, namely, helping children and exploring other cultures.

Leslie’s plans for the future? “My daughter Emelia is an ambassador with the Free the children: me to we” program and is interested in helping build schools for children around the world, so I’d love to help her with that. I‘d also love to take her to see the Amani House because they have great volunteer programs there.”

Following her presentation, the Sydenham Legion presented Leslie with a cheque for $250.00 for the cause and South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison presented her with a plaque recognizing her work for the children of Tanzania. In the words of the mayor, “There is a saying out there, ‘Get her done and this lady does it.’” Everyone present applauded their consent.

For more information about Amani House visit www.amanikids.org

Photo: Dan Bush, Marcel Giroux, Guy Cooke, Colonial St. Pierre

Sharbot Lake Royal Canadian Legion Br#425 partnered with the Alzheimer Society of Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) to serve over 70 famous breakfasts on July 25.

The Legion then donated the $400 profits to the Alzheimer Society. In addition, the Society received donations totaling $150 from the breakfast crowd. This partnership brought together great comradeship for all who supported the venture and for all the volunteers.

The Legion was kept very busy for four hours serving breakfast, while fostering awareness of both the Alzheimer Society and the Legion. Watch for this partnership to flourish in the future as plans are being made to hold yet another breakfast.

The Royal Canadian Legion and the Alzheimer Society would like to thank cooks Dan Bush, Donna Longmire, Christine Bush and volunteers Ty Seeley, Jim Lowery, Marcel Giroux, & Colonial St.Pierre. 

 

 

Remembering their war years By Julie Druker

Photo: WWII Veterans Art Goodfellow and Ken Hollywood reminisce at the annual Veteran's Dinner at the Sharbot Lake Legion

Art Goodfellow and Ken Hollywood were just two of 18 veterans who attended the annual Veterans' Dinner put on by the Sharbot Lake Legion.

The two gentlemen, who sat across from each other, were inundated by well-wishers throughout the evening. At 86 and 93 years of age respectively, they are the oldest veterans at the Legion who served during the Second World War.

William Arthur Goodfellow of Parham served from 1942-45 as a flying officer with the 425 Air Squadron. He enlisted when he was just 18 years old and traveled across Canada while training, until he finally ended up in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia where his squadron flew numerous runs over the North Atlantic looking for enemy submarines.

“We were all assigned different areas of water and though we came close a few times we never came across any.” he recalled, before nodding in the direction of his dinner partner Ken; “Ken was in the army and saw a lot more action than I did.”

At 93 years of age, Ken Hollywood is the oldest veteran at the Sharbot Lake Legion. He enlisted when he was 23 years old and did his basic training in Canada. He then went to the training centre in Basingstoke, England in 1943 where he said “you learned to become a real soldier by living like one.”

He landed on D-Day at Juno Beach (a.k.a. Canadian beach) in France as part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. He fought as a machine gunner and was involved in the numerous battles that followed on that coast and inland on the way to their objective, the German air field at Carpiquet.

Ken chooses not speak of the details of specific battles, but instead speaks of them in general terms.

“They all involved sniping and killing and pretty much doing what you had to do in whatever circumstance you happened to be in at that moment,” he said.

He remembered one especially fierce battle.

“It happened in one small town where we fought like hell to get a water pump so we could just have some water to drink,” he said.

One of those battles resulted in the murder of over 139 Canadian and British POWs by members of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hilter Jugend at the headquarters of SS Commandant Kurt Meyers at the Abbaye d'Ardenne.

“I was right there and that was definitely some of the worst I saw by far.” Ken recalled.

In fact it was the day after the first of those murders (June 8, 1944) that Ken was seriously wounded. “It was the next morning and it was about 10 o'clock. I remember I was in an apple orchard and a sniper shot me through my eye.” The bullet exited Ken's neck from behind and the wound left him clinically blind. He spent a long time recuperating in a military hospital.

“There was a long time that I could not even pronounce the alphabet because my throat was so torn up,” he said.

Ken lost three gun crews throughout the coastal fighting and by the time he was wounded there was only one member of his squad alive.

Ken does not go into any detail about the numerous medals adorning his jacket. “That’s just war stuff and I’m not much at promoting war,” he said. “I am here tonight to remember my fallen comrades.”

Ken has never gone back to visit France. “Members of my family have been back there. I have no desire to go back but if I ever did go back I'd be looking to try to find all of the caches of food that I had buried there all along the way.”

The Sharbot Lake Legion is named after the Hollywoods.

 

Reservists Honour the Fallen; 48th Highlanders Monument, Queen’s Park

By Don Antoine

Photo: Don Antoine and the old veteran

On the Honour Rolls of our Cenotaphs written in proud and everlasting memory, are the names of those who gave their lives for Canada and in defence of the sacred liberties of all humanity. We remember the Canadian soldiers who fell during the great battles of the past 119 years. During these years 113,489 where killed, 192,559 wounded, 132 have died in Afghanistan (two members of the 48th Highlanders gave their lives), we do not have information on those wounded and we expect these numbers to rise.

Of the thin red line of soldiers who fought in Italy only a couple of dozen where able to march on parade; our veteran lines are now filled with peace-keeper and Afghanistan veterans. These veteran groups, with respect for each other, quickly formed a comradeship.

Don Antoine and a 92-year-old veteran from the Italian Campaign proudly watch the sentry on guard at the monument. This young sentry was a veteran from Afghanistan and the grandson of the 92-year-old. Lest We Forget

 

 

Remembrance Day Services

Remembrance services were held throughout our readership in tribute of the soldiers who have served our country in the past and continue to do so in the present...

Young and old remember in Flinton by Julie Druker

Representing the Northbrook Legion as their Padre, Pastor Bruce Kellar of Through the Roof Ministry presided over the Remembrance Day Ceremonies in Flinton, which attracted a large crowd. Participants included Legion members, representatives of the municipal and provincial government, the Cadets and girls from the First Cloyne Sparks, Brownies and Girl Guides and members of the general public. A total of 30 wreaths were laid at the Flinton cenotaph honouring and remembering those who have served our country.

 

 

 

Verona Remembrance Day 2010

Photo: PCPS students lay their flags at the Verona cenotaph

Veterans, dignitaries, students and members of the community gathered at the cenotaph in McMullen Park in Verona on November 11 to remember. The service, emceed by Kevin Wenkoff, the French teacher at Prince Charles PS, included a refection by Doug Lovegrove, original poems by PCPS students Kira Janusz and Natasha Allen, songs by member of the PCPS choir and an official wreath laying ceremony.

 

Legion wants canteen: Robert Wood, the vice-president of the Northbrook Legion, brought a proposal to Council that the Legion take over operation of the now unused canteen building beside the old skating rink in Northbrook.

The canteen has seen little use since the cancellation of the Northbrook Blueberry Festival almost 10 years ago. The Legion would like to set up games for Legion members and for local seniors as well, including lawn darts and horse shoes.

Robert Wood said that the Legion branch is aware that the building needs to be re-shingled, and if the township will pay for the shingles they will provide the labour. Wood also said that the Legion would like to negotiate a deal with the township whereby they will pay the hydro bill for the building in lieu of rent.

Council will consider the proposal and get back to the Legion with an answer.

Napanee District Community Foundation (NDCF): Dave Remington, the voluntary chief executive officer of the NDCF, came to Council to talk about the foundation's commitment to funding projects in rural L&A County.

“I know people often come to Council looking for money, and we want councils to remember that we give away money to local causes, and groups should be aware that they can come to us for support.”

The NDCF is an endowed foundation, spending the interest that is earned each year on their endowments.

“That has cut down on how much we can spend in recent years with low interest rates, but we do spend about $20,000 each year,” said Remington, "usually in grants in the $2,500 to $3,000 range."

One of the NDCF funds is the Mainaw One fund, which was set up by Ian Brummel and Marg Axford and which is oriented to projects in Addington Highlands.

In the past year, funding has gone to projects sponsored by Pine Meadow Nursing Home and Land O' Lakes Community Services (for the Land O'Lakes Food Bank).

The annual deadline for letters of intent is November 16, and full applications are due in early January. Remington encourages groups to go to NDCF.ca for further information.

Cafe in Denbigh: No one has come forward seeking to set up an alternative enterprise in the new Denbigh Community Centre, so the proposal by Joan MacLeod to open a bake shop/cafe can now be looked at by Council.

Clerk/Treasurer Jack Pauhl reported that the estimated cost of preparing the location in the new community centre for commercial use is $3,000.

“I have heard from some people who are objecting to us spending township money on a private venture,” said Deputy Mayor Bill Cox.

“It looks to some that we are building a coffee shop, but we are not,” said Reeve Henry Hogg. “We would have to do this work to pave the way for any kind of retail tenant, which was always the plan.”

“If we had to do it all over again, we would probably have done it differently, and planned to have the work done before any one came forward,” said Councilor Tony Fritsch.

Council approved the spending.

Joan MacLeod was present at the meeting. She met with Council in closed session after the public meeting was completed to discuss financial matters related to the proposed bake/coffee shop.

Job openings: The job of rink attendant in Denbigh, and the custodian position for both the Denbigh Hall and the Denbigh Recreation Centre are now open, and are being advertised this week.