Storrington Minor Soccer finished off its 2019 season on the weekend with a fun day style championship at Gerald Ball Memorial Park in Sunbury.

Director of Officials/Registrar Greg Horton said there were 44 teams participating representing 623 players.

“We have a crew of about 25 pretty dedicated referees too,” he said, referencing the warm temperatures on Sunday.

The various Division Champions (Divisions determined by age categories) were:

Division 3A — Storrington Lions Club

Division 3B — Rich Lakins Remax Finest Realty

Division 4A — Donaldson Construction

Division 4B — Cloverview Farms

Division 5A — Levac Supply

Division 5B Petrie Ford Sales Ken Mundell

When you run a home for geriatric dogs, there are always expenses.

One way Sheba’s Haven Rescue has found to help defray costs is to set up a booth at craft fairs and shows. It helps them spread their message about providing a home for older animals and brings in a little money at the same time.

Last weekend, they set up a booth at Fantasy In The Forest, where Faye Wan was selling her daughter, Jennifer’s, spirit and healing dolls (Wandering Souls Art), with 50 per cent of the proceeds going directly to Sheba’s Haven.

“The dolls are a talisman against evil and negativity,” Wan said. “Jennifer is a (dog) foster mom herself and makes the dolls to raise funds.”

And that’s a good deal, said Bill McCormick, who along with his partner, Catherine Pokrywa, runs Sheba’s Haven.

“It’s dogs in, dogs out,” he said. “All the time and there’s always a need for funding.

“We have 19 dogs living with us and seven to foster.

“We don’t have a place to put another dog dish.”

But McCormick doesn’t mind.

“It’s all a labour of love,” he said. “They (the dogs) don’t complain when I come home.”

Sheba’s Haven is a three-acre fenced-in property on Sunbury Road in South Frontenac that rescues palliative dogs with life-limiting con-curative illnesses, allowing them to live out their lives in a well-balanced environment where they are part of the family.

It’s a non-profit organization that relies on public donations.

On Wednesday mornings, residents of Sheba’s Haven often visit the residents of Fairmount Home for a mutually beneficial exchange.

Kyleen Menard is happiest when she’s caring for others.

Speaking from Carveth Care Centre where she has worked as a Personal Support Worker for the past four years, the 29-year-old Sunbury woman is gaining recognition for helping people reach their fullest potential.

“I really like it here,” she says about the accredited long-term care home in Gananoque. “I enjoy all of the residents. My coworkers are great.”

Asked about her work, the mother of two notes, “It’s very tough. It’s also very rewarding because you get to help people with the things they are no longer able to do themselves. It makes me feel good when I help them.

“I like being in the tub room,” she explains about her favourite part of the job. “You get that one-on-one time with the residents who are relaxed and talk more.”

Speaking on behalf of the home, Assistant Director of Care Lynn Vereeken notes, “Kyleen is dedicated to the health and wellness of our residents. She is a thoughtful coworker and compassionate health care professional. We appreciate her training in Excellence in Resident-Centered Care which she is now sharing with staff. It is a pleasure to recognize her as our Employee of the Month for August. We are grateful to have her on our nursing team.”

Asked to describe herself, Kyleen notes, “I’m shy at first, but once you get to know me, I’m outgoing and friendly. I’m someone you can rely on.”

When she’s not at work, the South Frontenac Township woman likes to spend time with her husband and two sons.

“I like to read a lot,” Kyleen says with a smile. “I’m a reader.”

Asked about her future goals and plans, she replies, “Right now, I’m comfortable where I am. I have a Diploma in Social Services. Someday, I’d like to get into the school board and help children with mental health issues and addiction.”

Questions for Kyleen

If you could rule the world, what would you do on day one?

“I’d end poverty.”

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

“Probably fly. I like to travel.”

If you weren’t at your current job, what would you be doing?

“I would be working with children if I wasn’t here.”

Carveth Care Centre is grateful for the good work of Kyleen Menard. To learn more about living or working in our home, please visit www.gibsonfamilyhealthcare.com

A special event designed for young children was a big hit in Sunbury on May 8.

Held at Ormsbee’s Mercantile, children were invited to play with rabbits, plant a seed and sample maple syrup.

“This is our sixth year doing the event,” says Jenn Ormsbee, 39. “The whole idea is to bring our community together. It’s nice to see the kids having a great time.”

Looking around the parking lot where children of all ages looked busy and happy, Ormsbee admits she is pleased with the event that is part of the United Way of KFL&A Success by Six campaign.

Speaking on behalf of the Frontenac 4-H, which represented local, future farmers, volunteer leader Amey Brooks notes, “This is really for the kids. It’s all about community.”

According to Brooks, 4-H members attended from the rabbit & cavy club (guinea pigs) and clover buds to promote community involvement and the benefits of becoming a 4-H member.

“One of the big things in 4-H is community,” says Brooks, who has a 13-year-old daughter in the 15-member rabbit club. “This type of event will also help our members with their public speaking skills and give them an opportunity to proudly show-off their rabbits. This type of event helps more kids get involved.”

After this event, the rabbit club will be showing/jumping its rabbits at the Odessa Fair in July and the Kingston Fall Fair in September.

“Who knew I would be driving around with rabbit jumps in my van all summer,” says Brooks with a smile.

To learn more about 4H, please go to https://www.4-hontario.ca/4h-in-my-area/frontenac.aspx

To learn more about Success by Six, go to www.unitedwaykfla.ca/programs/success-by-6/

May 23 is World Turtle Day. It was started in 2000 by American Turtle Rescue to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive, according to Wikipedia.

And last Thursday in Sunbury, Mabyn Armstrong of Turtles Kingston was there to do just that, as a guest speaker for the Dog Lake Association.

The first turtles emerged in the Permian Period, some 260 million years ago. While the fossil record is incomplete, it’s likely that the creatures we recognize today are relatively unchanged since the mid-Triassic, about 220 million years ago.

“The numbers are in decline,” Armstrong said. “They can’t do much about it so we have to mitigate things for them.”

Armstrong’s efforts are largely based in Kingston, but her message is equally applicable in all the Frontenacs.

“The City of Kingston is in a significant wetland,” she said. “There are five hot spots identified, including Princess Street near the Ambassador Motel.

“The worst is Collins Bay Road.”

Armstrong’s efforts include lobbying the City to pay attention to nesting sites, particularly along the side of roadways. She said road work can often destroy nests through grading and other maintenance.

“June is the peak nesting season,” she said.

One of the things she’s been actively engaged in is the creation of turtle nest protectors, a 2’X2’ screen that fits over a nest. It not only marks the location but reduces predation. The project is in conjunction with Lee Valley, who has held workshops on how to build the protectors yourself. The nest protectors are also available (at cost) at Lee Valley in the Riocan Centre.

Another initiative Turtles Kingston has undertaken is for injured and dying turtles. They work with Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in Napanee (613-354-0264) and have arranged for veterinary clinics to be temporary holding stations if you can’t transport the turtle to Napanee yourself. A list of participating clinics is on the Turtles Kingston Facebook page.

It is also important to note, she said, that even if a female turtle is beyond saving, her eggs may be able to be extracted and incubated.

Also, they are compiling a database, so reporting injured turtles is important, she said.

Finally, Armstrong said they really discourage keeping turtles as pets.

“Snappers can live 150-200 years,” she said. “You may have to put that turtle in your will.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don Bates drove the Official Pace Car of Canada Day at Centennial Park in Harrowsmith.

Franny & Beebs, hosts of the popular YouTube/Facebook phenomenon In the Breezeway, showed up all the way from Cobourg to be in the parade and headline the show at Oso Beach.

Patriotic Flag Wavers signing O Canada, on top of the lookout between Palmerston and Canonto Lakes in North Frontenac!

Preparing the cookie decorating table (Sunbury)

Although rain put the damper on half of Maberly’s Pie in the Sky event, Anne Thomlison, Mary Lou Pospisil, Sue Munro and Marlene Ambler presided over the sale featuring “at least 100” (Photos - Craig Bakay and Wilma Kenny)

South Frontenac’s enormous new “fire house” made its first appearance at Gerald Ball Park in Sunbury on Canada Day. This inflatable play structure is not a bouncy castle, but a means of helping teach fire safety to children. It’s based in the theory that no child is too young to begin learning awareness of fire hazards. Inside, there are three rooms: a kitchen, a living room, and the treat at the end, a ramp up to a window to jump out of.

The ‘house' is wheelchair accessible. Inside each of the main rooms, there are posters and firemen to explain some of the basic fire safety information related to potential household fire hazards: cooking, candles, fireplaces and cook stoves. They also explain proper use of fire extinguishers: one is prominently displayed in the ‘kitchen’.

This is the only structure of its kind east of Whitby, and will be available for display at local festivals and other outdoor events. Only four firefighters are necessary to set it up and operate it.

The bright red house came from the States, and cost over $10,000 US. Storrington Firefighters Association came up with the idea and raised most of the money, helped by donations from the Perth Road Firemen's Association and Kingston Association No2 (Glenburnie.) Firefighter Suzanne Quenneville, who took me through the house, and who did the bookkeeping for the project, said the fluctuating Canada/US exchange rates gave her some sleepless nights between making the down payment, and the final payment when the custom-built structure was ready for delivery.

While the kids played games, adults took the opportunity to visit at events throughout the region on a Canada Day where the rain held off, for the most part. The oddest event this year was certainly the best legs contest for men at Harrowsmith. Top left - waiting to get into the bouncey castle at Centennial Park (Harrowsmith) - top middle - Cooking up a storm at Gerald Ball Park (Sunbury) - top right, riding the Water Slide at the Point Park in Sydenham, and bottom right, the 2017 150th anniversary committee already promoting their plans for next year at the beach in Sharbot Lake

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“We need to save our hall.”