Saturday July 8 was the third annual Sail Mazinaw.  14 different sailboats and dozens of sailors participated.  The weather was very cooperative.  There had been repeating thunderstorms through the night, but the skies cleared and a very sailable wind set from the northwest.  The fleet included a couple of sailboards, a variety of singlehanded dinghies, and a fleet of keelboats. Many of the crews met for breakfast at Mazinaw Lakeside Resort.  Then later, a few boats made their way to the lagoon in the provincial park for the Friends of Bon Echo barbecue.  After an afternoon of sailing, crews and friends met for dock drinks and a meal. This year's winners of the Mazinaw Cup are single-handed sailors Kerry Skipper of the Lower Lake and…

Making a living from June to September in this area is a relatively simple matter. However, the rest of the year is often quite problematic, as many a failed business owner has found out. But Jeff and Jenna Fenwick may have found a wrinkle that others have missed. You see, the owners of Back Forty Artisan Cheese on Gully Road in Mississippi Station have gone about things in a slightly different manner. Instead of immediately taking advantage of the readily available clientele summer in the Frontenacs provides, they got their main business — providing artisan cheese to restaurants and tea rooms — up and thriving before getting into the summer cottage and tourism market. Last Saturday, they opened their shop and patio for the season,…

It was standing room only at the former schoolhouse, now know as the Snow Road Community Centre on Saturday afternoon (June 17) Gerry Lichty, President of the Community Centre, was the Master of Ceremonies. The building was originally constructed in 1896. The local township, South Palmerston, provided the local school trustees with a debenture for $400 to cover the cost of the new building with the terms of repayment of $100 per annum with 6% interest. The school proved to be a wise investment wit attendance of up to 50 students a year. At times it was so busy that desks frequently did dual or triple duty. All this under the supervision of only one teacher. The building served serves as the local school until…

Back Forty Cheese will be open on Saturdays throughout the summer, and to mark the start of the summer season, they are holding an open house and party onn June 24 between 10am and 4pm. The converted drive shed that serves as a cheese factory and tasting room for Back Forty Cheese, and a loft studio for Jenna Rose, will be open and tours of the factory and studio will be offered at different times throughout the day. All of Back Forty’s sheep’s cheeses will be available, including Highland Blue, Madawaska, Bonnechere, Flower Station and Ompah, as well as fresh curd, ricotta and fried curd as well. Charcuterie boards and baguettes will be available as well. Meanwhile, outside in the yard that leads out to…

North Frontenac Township, in conjunction with the Ottawa Valley ATV Association,  hosted the Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicles (OFATV) Annual General Meeting last weekend, with great success. Dave Baker, the OFATV Association President, said that representatives from over 50 associations attended the meeting. “The venue, trails, accommodations, location, and volunteers were fantastic, and everyone enjoyed a great weekend. Many participants were excited to get more information about the area for future trail-side vacations!,” he said afterwards. Putting the event on was a community effort involving supporters from across North and Central Frontenac. Lodges, B&B’s and Inn’s from throughout the township held rooms for the guests, who arrived on Friday and gathered at the Ompah hall for a meet and greet, catered by Cota’s Mobile…