Sept 11, 2008 - Rural Visions gets the message out

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Feature Article - September 11, 2008 Rural VISIONS Gets the message out earlyBy Julie DrukerJillian Manning, the family coordinator of CFCSC at Rural Visions in Sydenham is determined to get the message out early to families in North, Central, and South Frontenac who can benefit from the wealth of programs that are being offered this year.

Manning has held the position as family coordinator since May 2005 and explains “We know there are people out there who need these services and we worry that if these programs are not utilized that they may be discontinued.”

The programs are designed to help families with children and an income of less than $29,590, seniors, and those with physical disabilities who may find themselves in need, especially around the holiday season.

Manning adds, “It’s very important heading into the holiday season that we put the message out early so that we can get a clear idea of what is most needed.”

The list of services available at Rural VISIONS is extensive. Transportation services are available to those in need of rides and cost $5 - $10 depending on the length of the trip and number of stops made. Volunteer drivers are screened by the agency and rides should be booked in advance whenever possible.

The Food Security Program is run like a food bank and offers monthly boxes of non-perishable food items, milk vouchers, baby formula and diapers for infants. Rural VISIONS offers this program in connection with the Loughborough Christmas and Emergency Relief Fund.

Food and cash donations are accepted at Rural VISIONS. Anyone interested in making perishable food donations should call Rural VISIONS prior to dropping fresh foods off.

Financial Assistance is available to low income families, seniors and those with physical disabilities in South Frontenac through the Caring Community Fund in partnership with the Community Caring Foundation in Hartington and can assist those in need of payments for first and last month’s rent, arrears in rent, taxes, mortgage, hydro and oil payments. Funds are also available for certain home upgrades and replacements.

A new program this year is the Child and Youth Assistance Fund, designed to help youth and teenage needs for recreation programs and back-to-school necessities that are currently not covered by other existing programs. This program is available to residents of South Frontenac only.

The Good Food Box Program offers the purchase of fresh fruit and vegetables at wholesale prices in various quantities. Orders are due the second Thursday of every month. Host sites include Prince Charles School and the Trinity United Church in Verona, Rural VISIONS in Sydenham, Leonard’s Fuels in Hartington and 4530 Noble Lane in Battersea.

Various programs are available around the holiday season through the Salvation Army and include Christmas hampers, which offer dinners, toys and snow suits.

Christmas Angels is a program put on by St. Paul’s Church in Harrowsmith and Trinity United Church in Verona where specific children’s needs are written on tree ornaments. The ornaments are then chosen and supplied by parishioners at the church. Anyone requiring further details about certain programs and eligibility requirements can check the Rural VISIONS website at www.ruralvisionscentre.org.

Anyone wishing to sponsor a family or make a donation is encouraged to call Rural VISIONS as well.

All program applications are available in Sydenham at the Rural VISIONS Centre located at 4419 George Street.

Jillian welcomes any queries regarding any other needs that are not covered by these programs and will happily make available any information and contacts that can help to have them met. All calls to the Rural Visions Centre are confidential. For further information, call Jillian Manning at Rural VISIONS at 613-376-6477 or toll free:1-800-763-9610.

Outdoors - August 7, 2008

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Outdoors in the LandO'Lakes - August 7, 2008 The Common Nighthawk Outdoors in the Land O'Lakes by Lorraine Julien

If you stroll through open fields, or drift lazily about in a boat on a beautiful summer evening, you may be lucky enough to see the Common Nighthawk as it performs its aerial acrobatics in a search for high-flying insects.

That is the only time I’ve managed to see them as they are primarily nocturnal birds and are rarely seen in daylight.

The Nighthawk’s favourite food is large moths, which are scooped up in their huge mouths (it’s to be hoped a few mosquitoes are eaten as well!). Bright moonlight, especially during the phase of a full moon, seems to really energize this member of the Nightjar (or Goatsucker) family in its forage for insects. As the name Goatsucker would suggest, it was once thought that these birds sucked milk from goats! This bird is so in tune with the moon that it’s thought breeding may actually be timed with the lunar schedule.

Nightjars are the most mysterious group of birds in North America. Because of their nocturnal nature, very little is known about their biology, habitat use and population, although they are being studied more closely by conservationists than ever before. Indicative of the species are the long, pointed wings, short legs, large wide mouth with really short bill and large eyes. Their call is an occasional short “peet”. One or two patterned eggs are laid on the bare ground or occasionally on an old stump.

Unless they are in flight, it is difficult to spot Common Nighthawks because their mottled brown feathers provide such an effective camouflage. In fact, the plumage is coloured exactly like bark chips and leaves. There are white patches on the throat, wings and tail but these patches are hardly noticeable when the bird is sitting on the ground.

The Common Nighthawk is closely related to the Whip-poor-will but it is a bit smaller at 8-10 inches. It is not a hawk, as the name would suggest.

During courtship you may see the males interrupt their search for food and make dramatic vertical plunges where they almost hit the ground (or water) before quickly gaining altitude again much like the fighter planes in old war movies. Just near the end of its steep dive, the Nighthawk’s wings sweep into a braking position and the air rushing through the feathers produces a kind of sonic boom. I suppose all of this showmanship is to impress the female nighthawks!

I had a great picture of a Common Nighthawk sitting on its eggs but it was so indistinguishable from the surrounding ground that I knew the picture wouldn’t reproduce very well in the newspaper.

The next time you are outside during a summer evening, keep an eye on the sky and you may spot a Nighthawk or at least hear one.

Please feel free to report any observations to to Steve Blight at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Lorraine Julien at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Christmas 2008 - Students Talk about Christmas

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Christmas Edition - December 18, 2008Christmas 2008

Christmas Art Contest

Christmas Cakeby John Diamond

Christmas Messageby Rev. Jean Brown

Christmas Celebrations:a Photo Gallery

Early Literacy:Christmas Books

Festival Of Trees

How Chanuka Saved Christmas

Interview with Maryby Pastor Jeff Nault

Legalese:Holiday Legal Quiz

Prince Charles Students Talk about Christmas

Recipes

Remounting ofa Long Short Story

The Special Giftby Hope Attaway

Prince Charles students talk about ChristmasSome of the students at Prince Charles Public School have written about Christmas. A selection of their letters are reprinted below: Mrs. Cousins grade 2 class

Dear Santa

How are you and Mrs. Claus. Are your reindeer ready? How are your elves doing in the shop? How long does it take to deliver the gifts? I have been very good for the last few days. I love Christmas because I like giving and getting gifts. Please write back soon.

Love Olivia.

Dear Santa

Hi, how are you? Are you ready to ride your sled? Are your gifts ready? I have been good Santa. I like you. You are nice. How long will it take to give all the gifts to the children? I hope the reindeer are ready to fly.

Love Alex

Ms. O’Briens grade 3 class

Giving byCole

Giving means a lot to me.

It teaches me always to share. It teaches me always to be nice to friends so I will have friends because friends are the best.

Destiny

Destiny had just moved to a new house. Her grandma and her were putting up her tree while her pa was putting up Christmas lights. Just then it started snowing. Destiny ran outside and jumped in it. When she came in she said, “that stuff is cold.”

“Yes,” said her pa, “snow is cold.”

Then her grandma asked why did you not help me hang the stockings. Then all of them went out and made a lovely snow woman.

After that Destiny said, “I’m going to name her Catrina.”

Then he threw her into the snow. When she got up she said “It’s too cold for me.”

Pa said we come from Thailand there is never any snow there. It is always too hot and stinky there. It would melt the snow.”

The Christmas Carol byDalton Hurren

When winter comes so does Christmas. Christmas isn’t about getting, it’s about giving and spending time with your family. When you put up your stocking you get candy and clementines, and sometimes a toothbrush.

The feeling of Christmas is happiness. Santa knows when you’re good or bad so be good this Christmas.

Christmas by Sara Fitzgerald

Christmas is a fun holiday where everybody is kind to each other and giving presents too; Christmas is one of the best holidays of the year, when everyone can be happy and meet some new friends. Christmas is a holiday for everyone.

Grade 7

Jingle, Jingle byCale Sauve

“Jingle jingle” was the sound on the streets of Verona on December 5, 2008. Each year the students of PCPS (Prince Charles Public School) walk the streets of Verona all them ringing their bells loud and you might hear some singing from some of the very happy students.

How this event works is the students and staff bring in some non-perishable food items. In exchange they are given bells. All of the food items are given to the less fortunate so they can have a Merry Christmas. I love when it is time for the Jingle Bell walk. I love the idea of helping the less fortunate and I love making noise (and I don’t have to do school work so everyone wins.)

Merry Christmas everyone.

The Jingle Bell Walkby Katie Parr

The whole school went on the Jingle Bell walk today and it was cold. The Jingle Bell walk happens every year with the school. The Jingle Bell walk went through Bank Street and through the bypass. For people who do not have a lot of money and food for Christmas, so they can get into the Christmas spirit,

Jingle Bell Walk byLezlie Smith.

On December 5, 2008. All of Prince Charles’ Public School, including the staff, went on the jingle bell walk around Verona to give food to people who need it.

it was a nice day out for winter.

I had walked with two kindergartens, Owen M and Alexander. It was hard to make them hold hands. I think that it was a beautiful day for the Jingle Bell walk and I had a good time.

Outdoors - The Bobcat

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Outdoors in the LandO'Lakes - December 4, 2008 The Bobcat Outdoors in the Land O'Lakesby Lorraine Julien

Bobcats (Lynx Rufus) have occurred in Ontario since the late 1940s and their range has not changed appreciably since then other than to gradually expand northward in Canada, generally, as boreal forests become fragmented by farms, settlement and logging.

There are a few individuals scattered in Eastern Ontario mainly between Kingston and Pembroke. The Bobcat is smaller than its close relative, the Canadian Lynx, but about twice the size of a house cat. It has shorter ear tufts, smaller feet and shorter hind legs than a Lynx; otherwise, they look very similar. The Bobcat, named for its short tail (about 5”) is a medium-sized cat with a ruff of fur edging the sides of its face. The tail is black on top and pale underneath whereas the Lynx tail is completely black. The largest recorded weight for a male Bobcat is 17.6kg. although the average weight can range from 16 to 30lb. Females average about 20lb. Mother Nature provides excellent camouflage for Bobcats as their fur is dappled with dark spots on a light grey to reddish brown background.

Bobcats are very adaptable and their behaviour is similar to that of house cats. They are often found on the edge of towns though their trails show a preference for being near cover, except in the winter when prey may not be plentiful and more hours need to be spent hunting. The playful nature of Bobcats is very evident as they will play with feathers, blades of grass or anything else that can be tossed in the air and then caught. They are a solitary and mostly nocturnal animal. Scent markings, urine, feces and claw marks are used to maintain their social structure and territorial boundaries. Bobcats usually cover their feces when hunting but leave them exposed near their dens. Prey that is not immediately eaten is cached away by covering with material such as leaves and earth.

Using my tracking books, in years past, I am sure I’ve seen Bobcat tracks – certainly they were cat tracks and too large for a house cat. Tracks are about 2” square with four toes. As with all cats, the claws are retracted except when climbing or jumping.

Like members of the domestic cat family, these wild cats do not like deep snow but prefer to follow trails. As with most other wildlife, Bobcat numbers depend on the abundance of their food supply. Their favourite food is rabbit but they are not fussy eaters and will eat a variety of small animals, fish, birds and insects; in other words – virtually anything that moves! It’s hard to believe but they’ve also been known to kill deer, although only on rare occasions. Usually, the deer would have to be resting and lying down before the Bobcat could jump on its back and bite its neck or the underside of the throat. Obviously, this would provide a lot of food so most of the carcass is buried for future dining.

Besides food, other key factors in habitat selection are the availability of protection from severe weather, the availability of rest areas (rock piles, tall trees, hollow logs) and freedom from human intrusion. During really harsh winters, Bobcats need underground dens to survive.

The Bobcat has few predators other than humans, and, although it has been hunted fairly extensively, both for sport and fur, its population has remained fairly constant. This elusive animal has been held in awe and linked in North American mythology with its relative, the Lynx and also the Coyote. Both First Nations people and European settlers admired the cat for its hunting prowess, ferocity, cunning and grace.

Please feel free to report any observations to Lorraine Julien This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Steve Blight at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Back to HomeFeature Article - December 10, 2009 CF Festival of Trees starts todayBy Jeff Green

Pearl Robinson was a little nervous early this week as the Central Frontenac Festival of Trees approached. Even though the festival committee has everything in hand and all the details seem to have been worked out, this is Robinson’s first year at the helm of the event, though she has been involved in the past.

“Everyone that I’ve asked to do something has come through marvellously, and the support has been good, but I still have some jitters,” she said.

This year’s festival, which runs from today until Saturday afternoon, follows the familiar successful format that has been its hallmark for years.

The trees, wreaths, gingerbread houses and “anything goes” creations were all put together on Wednesday evening, and the judging took place this morning.

The opening luncheon and announcement of the awards takes place at the Sharbot Lake Legion at noon, and the festival will run until 8:00 tonight. On Friday, students will be coming in throughout the school day from schools throughout the region, and the public will also be welcome until 8:00 pm. On Saturday the festival runs until 4:00 pm, when the draws for all the trees and other items will be held. Monetary or food donations to the North Frontenac Food Bank are requested as a voluntary entrance fee, and tickets will be on sale throughout the festival for an opportunity to win all of the items.

Entertainment will run all weekend as well. Entertainers include Barbara Agnew and her piano students and Country Church on Thursday, the Young Choristers, Limestone City Cloggers, St Paul’s United Church (Perth) and the Humdingers of Friday, and the Blue Skies Fiddle Orchestra, the Arden Glee Club and the Ardenaires on Saturday. Refreshments are available as well.

For further information, call Barb at 613-279-1139 or Pearl at 613-279-2046. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - December 3, 2009SFCSC’s 20th anniversary auction:a high class affairBy Julie Druker

Dave Linton tickled the ivories and guests sipped sparkling wine, nibbled cake and gathered at the chocolate fountain prior to assessing the goods to be auctioned off at the South Frontenac Community Services’ 20th anniversary and auction fundraiser.

It is their biggest fundraiser of the year and organizer Jennifer Linton, who is the fundraising chair, wanted to celebrate the 20-year history of serving the community.

“We wanted to increase the crowds so we held the event at the Golden Links Hall and included entertainment and food to try to get more people out.”

Those who came had a wide range of items to bid on including numerous gift baskets and gift certificates, hotel, restaurant and golf club packages and a wide range of items including a stationary bicycle, a Yamaha keyboard and original artworks plus a whole lot more.

Van of Van’s Auction services in Elginburg held court and the event included for the first time a silent auction as well.

This event is the SFCSC's fourth fundraiser since May and the event hoped to attract 70 plus bidders to assist in raising a fraction of the $30,000 that the corporation must raise annually to continue offering services to the community. It is an ongoing challenge in the current economic climate.

Deborah Andrews, Executive Director of the SFCSC, said “This year we have seen the demand on our services increase double. Typically we see 20 families relying on our services in any given month; this year we are now serving roughly 50 families monthly and that is a direct reflection of the economic climate that people are faced with. People often don’t anticipate having to call us and we tend to be an agency of last resort.”

Andrews is happy with the work that has been taking place on renovating the St. Paul’s manse in Harrowsmith. SFCSC will be using the manse for their food bank program and as a Seniors Centre, where they plan to offer an Adult Day program along with other seniors programming. Brenda Crawford secured a donation of laminate flooring and Dawn Sieben of Harrowsmith recently laid it down so that seniors can soon start using the building.

Andrews expects that beginning in January an arthritis exercise class will be offered to local seniors in the community. There are also plans to develop a steering committee, made of up seniors from the community, who will plan the programs and services that they want to see offered at the centre in the future.

Andrews explained “We’ve been soliciting feedback from seniors at our lunch programs and for example, they have requested access to computers so that they can email their grandkids.”

The SFCSC has already begun applying for funding to assist in the development of programs at the manse and grant applications have been made to the Watkins Fund through the United Church of Canada and to the New Horizons fund through HRDC with the help of Reverend Lynda Price.

In these tough economic times organizations that rely on fundraising as part of their budget are feeling the crunch but that has not deterred Andrews, who said, "We are always looking for new opportunities to support our programs."

The auction fundraiser raised $4,000. Anyone who missed the auction and who would still like to contribute or volunteer can visit the SFCSC’s website at www.ruralvisionscentre.org or can contact Kate Lett or Deborah Andrews at 613-376-6477

Back to HomeFeature Article - December 17, 2009 Community Christmas dinners in Perth, Sharbot Lake and NorthbrookBy Jeff Green

Last years' Perth Community Dinner.

The traditional Christmas dinner is designed for a crowd. It’s hard for two or three people to polish off an 18-pound turkey in one sitting.

But for anyone who is able to get to Perth, Sharbot Lake, or Northbrook on Christmas Day, there is a community-based alternative, a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, and an extra helping of fellowship. And for people who live nearby but can’t travel to those places, delivery can often be arranged to many locations.

PERTH: The Perth Community Dinner is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. For the first 22 years, the dinner was held at Farrell Hall in Perth, and the food was cooked at people’s homes and brought to the hall, but it is now held at the banquet Hall at Code’s Mill, and JJ Stewart, the chef at Fiddleheads Restaurant, volunteers to handle all the cooking in the Fiddleheads kitchen.

“I’ve been involved for about 20 years,” said Julia Foley, who is handling the volunteer coordination for the dinner this year, a job her father has just passed on to her after doing it himself for 23 years, “and it is part of my family Christmas.”

The core committee of eight or so people are able to collect cash and food donations around the year to feed 300 people each year, including a number who have their meals delivered. The banquet hall is on the 2nd floor of the building, but there is an elevator available.

The doors open at 11AM. For further information or to volunteer to help out, call 613 – 812 – 5555

SHARBOT LAKE: The Sharbot Lake Christmas dinner is six years old, and is a mid-afternoon meal, with the doors of the Oso Hall (Soldiers Memorial Hall) being open from 2-5PM. “Last year we served 70 people, including deliveries,” said Ileene Mouck, “but most of the people come to the hall.

In addition to a turkey dinner, there are candy bags and presents for children, as well as a carol sing. People are encouraged to bring their voices and instruments as well.

“Last year, a gentleman brought a trumpet, and that really livened things up,” Ileene said.

Like all the community dinners, the Sharbot Lake dinner serves people who are new to the area and want to meet people, people who don’t want to cook, “or people who just want to have a good time.”

For further information or to volunteer, call Phyllis Badour at 613-375-6501, Wayne Shepherd at 613-375-6633 or Ileene Mouck 613-374-1843.

NORTHBROOK: In Northbrook, one person or one family has been at the centre of the Christmas Dinner.

“That’s just how it has gone,” said Marilyn Bolender, who is hosting the dinner this year, with help from a lot of volunteers.

She is not sure how long the dinner has been held in Northbrook at the Lions Hall, but it is more than 10 years.

The two local grocery stores each donate a large turkey to the dinner, and there will be ham available as well, along with squash, stuffing, salads, potatoes and pies.

For information or to volunteer contact Marilyn at 613-336-1573.

With all the volunteer efforts going on in Lanark, Frontenac, and L&A Counties, no one needs to be alone, or hungry, on Christmas Day. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - December 17, 2009 Festival of Trees lights up Harrowsmith PSby Julie Druker

HPS students light up at their annual Festival of Trees ceremony on Dec.10

The opening ceremonies of the second annual Festival of Trees celebration took place at Harrowsmith Public School on Dec. 10 and the gym was alight with close to 20 trees, one decorated by each class at the school. Representatives from each class presented their themed trees in the event whose goals Principal Jim Horan explained this way:

“Our goal as a school is to come together to share in the holiday season of giving to those who are less fortunate in South Frontenac and we do that by collecting as many non-perishable foods and as we possibly can to fill a pickup truck in the showroom of Revell’s (in Verona).”

Members of the community also purchase tickets to bid on the close to 20 trees decorated by the students, which were then raffled off the following day. The funds collected will be shared between the Harrowsmith Free Methodist Church for their voucher program and St. Paul’s United Church in Harrowsmith for their Christmas food hamper program. All of the food collected will be donated to the local food bank.

Special guests who attended the opening ceremony included Trustee McLaren of the Board of Trustees with the LDSB and Director of Education Mrs. Hunter also from the LDSB. Detachment commander Ouellette of the OPP had the privilege of lighting the school’s main tree during the ceremony. Six university teacher candidates from Queen’s University also participated in the event and led a festive carol sing-along.

Principal Horan introduced the Festival of Trees event to HPS for the first time last year. He explained, “It’s a way for the school to be part of the community and I think its very important for young people to understand that there are less fortunate people living in their community. It’s also an opportunity for our students to learn the joy of giving which in lots of ways is more important than receiving. We hope that students come to see that a great deal of comfort and happiness can be acquired through giving to those in need.”

On Friday, Dec. 11 as part of their character education program grade 8 students from the school made a trip into Harrowsmith village and walked door to door to collect more food donations for the event. Horan pointed out that this kind of experience is an important one, especially for older students. “It gives our grade eight students the opportunity to learn a lot about volunteerism, themselves and their place in society. They learn that when they do something from the heart that it can be a very meaningful, enriching and rewarding experience.”

(l-r) Charlie Cumpson, John Peters, Hailey Conium, Liberal candidate David Remmington, MPP Wayne Easter, and “Stormy”

Now that the summer harvest is winding down, local farmers are once again gearing up in their fight against the government's decision in February 2008 to close six prison farms across Canada.

Local farmers were angered most recently by the decision by Correctional Services Canada to withdraw Frontenac Institution’s cattle from entry into the Holstein Show at the recent Kingston Exhibition and Fair. Farmers saw the move as a means to silence their opposition to the closures.

So on September 24, the coalition group that united in opposition to the closures, made up of members and representatives from the Frontenac Cattlemen’s Association, the Frontenac Federation of Agriculture, the National Farmers Union Local 316, the Sisters of Providence and Urban Agriculture Kingston, met for a rally at the Frontenac Institution in Kingston, one of the six prison farm programs slated to close.

In attendance was Jeff Peters, director of the NFU’s local 316, who brought along two of his cows and a donkey. The latter bore a sign reading “PC prison farm consultant”. The large group of supporters who donned green “Save Our Farms” t-shirts generated much car honking approval of local drivers passing by.

When I spoke to Jeff Peters, he pointed to the large Frontenac Institution lawn sign “Paying their way through agriculture” and explained, “The food on this farm is consumed by the inmates and it will cost a lot more money if we are going to have to buy food for these inmates.” He continued, “We have a revitalization plan for this prison farm system and we’re not giving up. This farm here has a great future. It has 1000 acres of prime agricultural land and being within the city it has the potential to showcase how farming and people can get along.”

Peter Dowling, provincial director of the NFU explained the motivation behind the day’s rally, “We’re here to get the point across to the Liberals and other politicians that the answer here is revitalization, not closures.”

The rally included a 2PM tour of the Frontenac farm by a group of delegates including Diane Dowling, the VP for NFU Local 316, Liberal agriculture critic MPP Wayne Easter and local Liberal candidate from Frontenac, Lennox and Addington David Remmington and others. The tour was intended to present the revitalization plan to the warden for the Frontenac Institution with the hope of changing her mind.

Also present at the rally and showing support for the campaign against the closures were Federal NPD and Green Party candidates for Kingston and the Islands Daniel Beals and Eric Walton.

Constable Bryan Bowers of the Kingston City police who has a background in restorative justice was also out to support the campaign and stated, “The prison farms to me play a significant role in building relationships and from a restorative justice perspective there is an important healing paradigm here. To lose this opportunity would be very unfortunate.”

MPP Wayne Easter was very clear why he was in attendance and what he hoped to accomplish. “We hope to bring the Harper Government to its senses and change their mind about this decision. As a former solicitor general, I know this institution paid its way and so do many others. The Liberal Party wants to save these farms for a number of reasons: They provide food to the institutions across the country; there is no other approach that is more rehabilitative in terms of inmates working with livestock - it builds character, skill and pride; and finally, for the government of Canada to basically imply and, in fact, state that these skills are no longer important in Canadian society is an absolute insult to every single member of Canada’s farming community.”

A second rally was planned the following Monday on Sept. 28 in Ottawa on Sparks Street to continue to draw attention to prison farm closures. For more information, visit www.saveourfarms.ca.

Back to HomeFeature Article - October 1, 2009 New OPP community officer walks the walkBy Jeff Green

Sgt. Jim Birtch prefers walking to driving around in a cruiser all day, which makes him a bit of an anomaly with the Ontario Provincial Police.

“I like walking the streets. In municipal policing you walk an hour a day; I’ve never seen an OPP officer get out of a car yet, oh, except at a Tim Horton's.”

Jim Birtch, who took over as Community Sergeant at the Sharbot Lake satellite detachment (affiliated with the Perth detachment) back in June, knows something about walking a beat.

He worked a beat in his home town of Carleton Place for many years before the OPP took over the local force some five years ago, and has been working for the OPP ever since.

Aside from the matter of walking instead of driving, Birtch likes what the OPP has done for Carleton Place, and he is also happy to be working, at his own request, at the Sharbot Lake satellite detachment. He is also hoping to get out on the streets of the small villages in Central and North Frontenac to do a bit of walking, although he has found that some of the distances are somewhat daunting.

“I had [Officer] Chuck Peterkin take me around the township,” he told members of North Frontenac Council at a courtesy visit he made to their meeting last Thursday, September 24, “and I never thought I'd get back.”

Birtch said that his job is to work with the communities, to be the public face of the OPP in the two townships, and this is something that he has enjoyed doing throughout his career. “Community policing is what I like the most, and I think people like to see police in their communities; it adds something,” he said.

There are supposed to be eight officers assigned to Sharbot Lake, in addition to Birtch and Court Officer Carl Wagar, enough to keep a single cruiser on the road 24 hours a day, but with illnesses, leave and transfers, there have been difficulties getting that many people assigned to the detachment. Two new officers will be arriving in November, which will bring the total to seven.

“I know there were a lot more officers here when Sharbot Lake was a stand-alone detachment,” he said, “but I can assure council that the officers who are assigned to this detachment do work here. Their locker is in Sharbot Lake, and that is where their guns and equipment are stored. So they must begin and end their shift in Sharbot Lake; they cannot check in from somewhere else.”

While Jim Birtch said he has been tied down somewhat with administrative matters at the Sharbot Lake detachment since arriving in early June, he is now taking the opportunity to put a more public face to the unit.

STUFF A CRUISER FOR THE FOOD BANK: To that end, and to support the North Frontenac Food Bank, on Saturday, October 17, the Sharbot Lake detachment will be sponsoring a “Stuff The Cruiser” event at the Sharbot Lake Freshmart. A cruiser will be parked near the store, and shoppers will be invited to purchase extra food to “stuff” into the cruiser. All donated food will be brought across the street to the Food Bank headquarters at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church.

Sgt. Birtch has organized Stuff The Cruiser events at other locations, but this will be a first for Sharbot Lake.