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The 12 Annual Arden Artisans Garden Party and Open Studio Event last Saturday in Arden was a homecoming of sorts for Arden Batik’s Sarah Hale.

In May, Hale moved her studio from its Elm Tree Road location to her home, essentially across the street.

“This was the old hotel in Arden and where we’re sitting was the dining room,” she said. “The man who sold it to us took his television and left everything else.

“It was a rural hotel that had been furnished in Eaton’s cheapest in 1914 (when the original hotel burnt down and this one was rebuilt).”

Hale said there were many reasons to move back here, including more and higher wall space for showing her work and access to a full-size studio on a year-round basis.

“The old cafe (on Elm Tree Road) was really only a six-month place and it needed work,” she said. “Now I can have a respectable shop in winter and not have to move things twice a year.

“Not that we get that much walk-in traffic in winter.”

But not the least of her reasoning was the fact that “I get to show off the old hotel, a lot of people are stopping by because they want to see what’s inside.”

And, she gets to tell stories.

“The story is that the town went dry because people got sick of the drunks out there on the porch,” she said.

She said the move also “makes semi-retirement easier and more productive” as she begins doing more and more custom work. Her son Isaac and his partner Sue are fixing up the old shop for use as a “garden shed” Hale said.

The open studio event also showcases the work at Judith Versavel’s Gallery on the Bay, Joanne Picket’s Arden Pottery and Gordon Wright Fine Art.

As well, the Friends of Arden opened up Kennebec Hall for the Blueberry Dessert Tea, a fundraiser for the old footbridge project which had reached 50 per cent of its $15,000 goal going in to the event.

The tea featured a variety of blueberry-based treats as well as the artwork o local artisans John DuChene, James Hanley, Arlene Uens, Carol Burbridge, Daphne & Mike and Aileen Merriam.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Old friends Sarah Hale (Arden Batik), Judith Versavel (Gallery on the Bay) and Joanne Pickett (Arden Pottery) spend a lot of time each summer greeting visitors at their respective studios. Between the cottagers who can’t let a season go by without picking up some pottery or art, passing tourists, and other visitors, they divide their time between creating work for sale and staffing their respective shops.

For many years they participated in the Inroads Tour with other artists and artisans from Central Frontenac, and for the last dozen, the July Arden Garden Party has been a great opportunity to work together on an event and invite other local artists to join them.

Now, in addition to the three studios in downtown Arden, Gordon Wright, on Blue Heron Ridge, just north of Hwy. 7 is showing his unique landscape painting at his studio, Gordon Wright Fine Art. In conjunction with the 4 open studios, six other local artists (John Duchene, James Hanley, Arlene Uens, Carol Burbidge, Daphne and Mike, and Aileen Merriam) will be showing at the Kennebec Hall.

The Friends of Arden will also be presenting a Blueberry Dessert Tea at the hall, and memorabilia from the area will also be on display, courtesy of the Kennebec Heritage Society.

It all runs from 10am-5pm on Saturday, July 20. Admission to the studios is free and their will be door prizes available as well.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

This past weekend, Oso Hall was decorated in the Christmas spirit for the 16th Festival of Trees, Villages Beautiful’s annual fundraiser (which actually began in 2000 but one year was missed in favour of a dance).

Not much has changed since the first one (except the number of entries). People donate decorated trees of all sizes, wreaths, wall hangings, Christmas baskets, gingerbread creations and other things (ie “anything goes”) and then visitors buy tickets which are deposited in boxes next to the tree they want to win. Then on Saturday, draws are made.

Since it’s been going on for 16 years, the committee pretty much has it figured out by now, and they have fun with it, said Sally Angle.

“It’s a typical female committee,” she said, jokingly. “We don’t have a boss.

“We get along as only women do.”

“Everybody knows their job,” said Linda West, who this year helped organize the judging committee. “We wear different hats each year.”

For West, the creativity on display has grown each year.

“It’s incredible,” she said. “People from businesses, individuals, groups . . . people get together on their lunch hours and put their heart and soul into it.

“Seems like every year there’s more and more creativity.”

This year, there was a ceremony for the lighting of the tree outside Oso Hall. The mayor was a little late getting there but otherwise it went off without a hitch.

Entertainment is also a big part of the festival this year featured performances from David Yerxa, Fiddlers & Friends, the Land O’Lakes County Cloggers, Barbara Agnew-Miller and students Mabel Saunders, Paige Kring and Tyler Kring, Dave and Margaret Taylor, The Merrigan Family and Adam Lake, Young Choristers, Frontenac Skies Bucket Drummers, the Blue Skies Fiddle Orchestra and the Tay Valley Choir.

The theme this year was A Canadian Christmas and the winners were:

Large trees: 1st — Canada Eh, by the Friday Night Ladies; 2nd — True North, by Township of Central Frontenac; 3rd — Made in Canada, W.A. Robinson Asset Management

Small trees: 1st — All Things Canadian, by North Frontenac Telephone Company; 2nd — Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, by CF Railway Heritage Society; 3rd — Frolicking in a Winter Wonderland, by Medical Centre Fitness Class

Mini trees (one entry) 1st — Let it Snow, by Parham United Church Sunday School

Anything Goes: 1st — Coast to Coast on the CPR, by George Allen; 2nd — Canada Reads . . . In a One-Horse Open Sleigh, by Lakeside Readers; 3rd — Branching out to Welcome You, by Linda Devries

Baskets: 1st — A Cozy Canadian Christmas, by Friends of Arden; 2nd — The Great Canadian Cookie Exchange by Frontenac Catalyst Leo Club; 3rd — Canadian Gourmet Christmas by Sharbot Lake 39’ers

Gingerbread: 1st — Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Canada, RFCS Youth Program/Day Care; 2nd — Wishing You a Merry Christmoose, by Northern Connections

Wreaths: 1st — A Wilderness Christmas by Arden Seniors; 2nd — Sleigh Ride Reflections, by Lake District Realty; 3rd — Country Christmas Symbols of Canada, by Community Living

Wall Hangings: 1st — Christmas Eve Aurora, by Arden Batik; 2nd — Christmas in the County, by Ron Veh; 3rd — Frosty Window, by Janet’s Clip-It.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
Thursday, 24 September 2015 08:23

Puzzle Lake Provincial Park: a rare treasure

On October 7 in Arden, the Friends of the Salmon River host a special presentation on Puzzle Lake Provincial Park, a completely unique place, resplendent with rare plant and animal life.

Puzzle Lake Provincial Park is located in the Salmon River watershed between Tamworth and Arden. This area is an ANSI (Area of Natural & Scientific Interest) due to its diversity of upland and wetland habitats, and its abundance of provincially rare species and plant communities. This park is simply a fascinating place.

The Puzzle Lake area supports 16 provincially rare species: the highest known number of rarities found in an ANSI in eastern and central Ontario.

On a park outing, keep your eyes open for a five-lined skink, a Blanding’s turtle or a bald eagle.

The rugged, diverse terrain has created many unusual habitats that support this abundance of rare communities and species, including some found nowhere else in Canada.

The presentation by Corina Brdar, park ecologist, and Clark Richards, park superintendent, will highlight why it became a park, special features (such as scenic cliffs, bear oak communities and wetlands), species at risk (skinks, turtles, birds and more), and recreational activities, all accompanied by slides of the park.

Corina Brdar is the Southeast Zone Ecologist for Ontario Parks, including Puzzle Lake Park. She participated in the initial park planning work, the life science inventory, species at risk data for the park, and she continues the quest for new data. For personal recreation, she heads out on camping and canoe trips to – you guessed it - Puzzle Lake Park.

On October 7, the doors open at 6:30pm for coffee/refreshments, the show begins at 7pm, and it’s followed by the Friends of the Salmon River AGM & elections to the board. The location is the Arden Community Centre at 5998 Arden Road (County Rd. 15). All are welcome at no charge; donations are encouraged.

For more information, contact Gray Merriam at 613-335-3589 or Susan Moore at 613-379-5958, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Also visit: friendsofsalmonriver.ca.

Published in General Interest

On October 2 a small group of tree lovers gathered at the Recreation Park in Arden for a special tree planting event in conjunction with the fourth annual National Tree Day. National Tree Day, which this year was on Sept. 24, aims to celebrate the benefits that trees provide for Canadians, namely clean air, wildlife habitats, reducing energy demands and connecting Canadians with nature.

At the recreation park, members of the Friends of the Salmon River and The Friends of Arden groups joined representatives from Home Hardware in Napanee and Tree Canada to plant four large 15 foot trees. The planting is one of many projects that the Friends of Arden have carried out in their efforts over the last few years to rejuvenate the hamlet of Arden. The event came about when Susan Moore, a member of the Friends of the Salmon River, approached the Arden group, making them aware that every year Napanee Home Hardware through a partnership with Tree Canada donates some of their end of the season tree stock to help celebrate Tree Day. Four trees - two red oaks and two sugar maples - were donated to the Arden group and six more were donated to the Friends of the Salmon River and planted in Tamworth.

Terry Kennedy, a member of the Friends of Arden, said his group was eager to be part of the event and was grateful for the support both of the township who gave permission to plant the trees on township property and to the Matson family of Arden who donated their backhoe to dig the holes for the trees.

Also present at the planting were Aaron and Marsha Beebe, owners of the Napanee Home Hardware (located on the 401 at Napanee) who in partnership with Tree Canada are able to apply each year for trees to donate to area groups. Marsha said she was thrilled to be approached this year by Susan Moore, who requested the trees. “It's so nice to have people who really cherish and appreciate the trees and who will take good care of them”, she said.

Also present was Dan Baker, a representative of Tree Canada, an organization that for over 20 years has “engaged Canadian communities, governments, corporations, and individuals in the pursuit of a greener and healthier living environment by providing education, technical expertise, and resources to plant and care for urban and rural trees.” To date Tree Canada has planted close to 80 million trees in more than 550 school yards across the country. The total value of the Arden trees is estimated at between $1600-$2000.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
Thursday, 04 July 2013 16:26

Friends Of Arden Unveil New Sign

Holiday travelers passing by the Arden Road and Highway 7 may have noticed a lively gathering there on June 29. Gordon Wright sparked off the celebrations with his bagpipes as the Friends of Arden sign committee, which was headed up by Gord Brown and included Sarah Hale, Carol Morris, Gloria and Peter Smiley, and David Daski, unveiled the second of two local signs in their efforts to place the hamlet of Arden on the map.

The new sign, which highlights community information and businesses, is located just behind the larger Arden sign, which was the first phase of the local signage project. The new business and services sign is located on a beautifully landscaped piece of land that was donated and landscaped by Glen Matson, and also features concrete benches and planters donated by Val and Roy Beechey.

The sign itself was designed and created by local sign maker, Roger MacMunn. It features the Arden logo “Naturally Beautiful, Friendly by Nature", a short history of the village, and a map of the village painted by local artist Sarah Hale, plus 54 colorful panels detailing the area's over 80 businesses.

Present for the unveiling were Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski, Councilor Tom Dewey, and Anne Marie Young, manager of Economic Development for the County of Frontenac. Each spoke at the celebration and congratulated the Friends of Arden for their efforts towards community revitalization. Friends of Arden member Terry Kennedy hosted the event and spoke of the history of the Friends of Arden group, which was founded in 2010 by long-time Ardenite Dorothy Proctor. The group's goal since then has been to revitalize the community. The sign project was able to happen thanks to a grant from the County of Frontenac's Integrated Community Sustainability Planning Fund. Terry Kennedy thanked the local Arden firefighters, who assisted with the logistics of the celebrations. He stated that the new sign not only serves to identify the village and the many businesses and services it has to offer but also communicates a deeper message “This sign also demonstrates that this is a community working together, a community coming together, and a community revitalizing together.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
With the participation of the Government of Canada