Feature Article February 3, 2005

Feature article February 3, 2005

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Contact Us

Talking about heating up the business climate on a cold day

by Jeff Green

On a cold late January morning last week, at the first-ever Business Breakfast in Addington Highlands, a succession of Economic Development Officials talked about how they could help the business community in the township. The event was held at the Northbrook Hotel.

While the participating business people asked a few questions, it was only when Reeve Ken Hook asked the audience if they had any questions of the township that things really heated up.

Whats the story with the resort project? What happened with that? someone piped up.

Hook answered that the contract for marketing the project has run out, but There was a company that was looking seriously at a specific location. In the end, though, the property owner decided not to sell. The company is still interested, however. We are still working on this.

A four-season resort would likely bring $25 to $30 million in increased assessment to the township, Hook said, which would make a big difference to our budget. The possibilities of freeing up Crown land for a resort, and of developing a matrix of available private lands are being looked at by the Economic Development Committee of Addington Highlands.

The four-season resort concept has been developed by using funds provided by a provincial funding program. While that funding has run out, another $20,000 is forthcoming from the federally funded Eastern Ontario Development Fund. Craig Desjardin, from the Prince Edward Lennox and Addington (PELA) Community Futures Development Corporation said it wont be official for a week or so, but the grant is coming through. Another grant was tentatively announced, this one for the development of multi-purpose trails in Addington Highlands, to foster an ATV trails initiative.

Hollee Kew, the Economic Development Officer for Lennox and Addington County said the County is in the process of upgrading all County roads to accommodate bicycles. While she spends much of her time promoting the manufacturing sector in the southern end of the county, Kew said she didnt sese much of a chance that a manufactuiring plant will come to Addington Highlands.

Everybody wants to be near or on the 401; thats the reality, she said. But we can expanding the recreation and tourism possibilities in this region, and I am available to help make that happen. She also said she has been involved in an attempt to develop a wood processing industry in the region. Most of the logging in the township takes place on Crown land for which the township receives no stumpage fees, and with the logs being shipped to Quebec or overseas for processing, the local economy receives little benefit from the industry.

There was much talk among the business people in atendance about developing events, like the now defunct Blueberry Jamboree, to bring people into the area.

Bill Brown, the volunteer chair of the AH Economic Development Committee and the organizer of the Business Breakfast, remarked that the Blueberry Jamboree faded away mainly because of lack of volunteers, and said I get jumped on every time I say this, but why not develop a Business Association in this area, to work together on problems, plan events, etc.

The Business Breakfast produced a large crowd and a lively debate, and a follow up event is being planned for April.

Letters, February 24, 2005

Feature article February 24, 2005

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Contact Us

Small business not wanted

In Nov/04 an article was printed in our daily newspaper about big box stores like Wal-Mart ruining small retailers. For every Wal-Mart that comes into a community several small stores close up.

We seem to welcome these big box stores that force others to renovate and increase or discontinue business. Wal-Mart is based out of Canada and it appears Canadian governing bodies would rather deal with other countries. Small business is not wanted.

The beef industry is suffering greatly but the Canadian government allows beef to be imported here and sold here every day It forces farmers to almost give their beef away. With the lack of federally inspected processing capacity causing the real problem, we are helping the United States take advantage of our hardship. Our government leads people to believe the US border closing is the real problem while they are doing nothing to help our beef producers over-supply.

Thanks go out to Rev. J. Craig, who has helped organize a mini-market in Hartington, providing success until the government finds a problem with it.

Transportation is no different. Our local school board took several of our routes and gave them to other companies major ones based out of Canada, leaving those who provided service for a lifetime with no retirement.

Even our local council has disputed for months over an entrance to our property that would have provided a service to people. This discourages Canadians to do business at every turn.

I repeat Small business is not wanted in Canada.

J. Kerr

Letter to the editor

Same-sex marriage

It seems to me that the Bible was written quite a time ago. For example: What does the Bible say about the 39,000 kids that die (every day of the year) of malnutrition? Did those bad homosexuals make those children?

Does the Bible say that only white Christians have the right to life? It seems that the Right to Life President of the USA sure doesnt think twice about killing people.

What does it say about the millions of women who have been abused, or raped, or even gang-raped and cant even look at a man without wanting to puke. Maybe they dont want to spend their whole lives alone.

Gays contribute more than their share to this world. Newsweek calls them the richest and best educated of ANY minority. Example: nice or not, Michael Jackson has given more than a billion dollars to charities. Liberace probably gave half a billion. Dont forget they could have lived pretty good on their first couple of millions and not put up with the verbal abuse they got.

A lot of kids have no parents in this world and a lot of gays sponsor or even adopt needy children. The best minds on earth, Nobel Laureates, are worried about over-population and the steady destruction of this earth and all of the species that God made. They surely couldnt care less about the word Marriage. Sadly the best minds dont always win in politics.

- Carmel Gowen.

Letter to the editor:

Upkeep of Central Frontenac roads

I am responding to the residents who believe the township is doing a good job on the upkeep of our local roads. Obviously they do not travel on the same roads that I travel on. The current council needs to step up to the challenge of taking the responsibility of the ongoing issues. If this problem is not the fault of the council, then could it be possible that the contractors who work on the roads do not have the expertise and proper training to enable them to do the job? In the past, I have noticed workers filling in potholes and then about a month later they were back filling them in again. Is it common practice to throw money away in this manner? Have they considered outsourcing the work to companies that have the experience and the

knowledge when it comes to maintaining the roads? Would the local council consider requesting bids from companies to have the privilege of maintaining and preserving our local roads? The idea is not necessarily to give the job to the lowest bidder, but to give the job to the company that provides the most cost effective and efficient means of completing the task to our satisfaction.

The last few years my taxes have tripled. If this has happened to everyone in Central Frontenac, then we should be able to afford to pay for proper repairs and maintenance on the roads. The taxpayers in this community are paying the council to do a job; surely they can come up with a good solution to solve some of our problems without raising our taxes even further.

Some people feel we need a new council. If this is not the case, then please prove to us that we are wrong.

- Jim Kirkland

Letter to the editor

Farewell from a paramedic

In April, 1990, I arrived from Toronto to begin my first shift with the Parham Ambulance Service. Fresh out of college, I came to the Frontenac area to pursue my career as a paramedic, and had absolutely no idea what life would be like working in rural Ontario.

At that time, David Hansen was the operator of the service. We worked long hours, much of it on standby (read: volunteer), and I began to learn about rural emergency services, and life in general, in this part of the world. There have been many changes over the years, in the service and in the community with new partners, a new operator (David Gemmill), and the downloading of paramedic services to the county.

Some things have remained the same I still feel privileged to be accepted by the communities of Frontenac County, and I am still in awe of the sense of community one finds here.

Some things never change, though. Yesterday I worked a 16-hour shift! It was just like the old days.

Today (February 17) is my last scheduled shift in Parham, and Ive been reflecting on what a wonderful experience Ive had. From childbirth to tragedy, Ive been fortunate to share your lives and to see the people and the communities around here at their best, and I cannot express what a joy it has been, most of the time. Id like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made my time in the north such an adventure, and although Im sure well cross paths again, wish you all happy trails.

Thanks so much.

- Dave Parkhill, Kingston

Fair, Open, Accountable

Three simple but important words. And three words the Township of South Frontenac council needs to learn and start to practise. We elected this council to SERVE us and to be responsible to US.

It is hoped that other communities in the township are learning from Sydenham's experience. We continue to be amazed at the blatant disregard for our

democratic rights, and the inability of our council to listen to the people that elected them - the people they claim to be working for, and with.

Once again, the people impacted by the Sydenham Water Project went to a council meeting and tried to get our point across. Once again, council stonewalled us.

Our township runs an annual budget. Once a year, they estimate the costs for all sorts of projects in the township for the year. And they estimate the revenue they will get from taxpayers - you and me. Then they cut things from the budget until it balances, so the revenue equals the expenses. Also known as a balanced budget. Responsible behaviour for elected public officials.

So, someone please explain why council thinks they are exempt from being fiscally responsible to the residents of Sydenham. This Council has NEVER

established a budget for the Sydenham water project! What that means is that there is no definition of what is too much for the people to pay. And we have seen the estimated costs of this project rise multiple times through the course of this fiasco, and we know they are going to rise again. This means that the people of Sydenham are being set up for a FINANCIAL DISASTER.

Mayor Lake admitted at the last council meeting that there is no definition of too much. This is beyond comprehension. How can anyone in their right mind claim to be managing in the best interest of the public, when they haven't defined an upper limit for the financial impact to the people?

How would you like it if next year council decided not to do an annual budget, but instead they spent whatever it cost for whatever projects they wanted to do? And guess what, you have to pay for it all. Imagine NO MAXIMUM on your tax bill. Now you are getting the picture of how we feel in Sydenham. This council is out of control, and we need your help to let them know this is NOT okay.

Call Mayor Lake, call your councillor. The people of Sydenham need you to tell council ALL the people of this township have had enough, and that we want a council that is fair, open, and accountable.

- David Waugh, one of the VAST MAJORITY for responsible government.

Mazinaw musings February 24, 2005

Mazinaw musings February 24, 2005

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Contact Us

Fat, sugar and salt

We have a halfway stop on the way home from a day out front. It is a coffee shop that is handy relief for our aging and weakening bladders but our Canadian consciences won't allow the unlimited use of a rest room without some recompense. Invariably as we sit in the parking lot consuming the muffins, one can handle a coffee while driving but not coffee and muffins, comments are made about the tastiness of the Fruit Explosions being devoured. I console my Significant Helpmate by suggesting that if she would use the same amounts of fat, sugar and salt in her whole-wheat/oat-meal/ wheat-germ/apple-sauce/flax-seed/raisin/bran muffins we could also have the same flavour at home and at a fraction of the cost of buying readymade. My suggestion, actually a plea, falls on deaf ears and we sup our coffee in silence for the remainder of the trip. There is no detouring in our family voyage along the healthy food highway as mapped by my SH.

Interestingly many of the fast food joints, which are being accused of contributing to the rising rates of obesity around the world, are beginning to change their ways and reduce the fat, sugar and salt in their menus. A reduction in business has hit their bottom line, their income. Profits are plummeting as enlightened customers look in the mirror and recoil in horror at the weight that has slipped on from over-indulgence and inactivity.

There is nothing like a sharp kick to the bottom line to make a business promote a healthier eating style! Stop the money, and the fat, sugar and salt quickly disappear to be replaced by healthier alternates. Who says money doesn't talk?

Some futurists are predicting that obesity will soon surpass smoking as a major cause for health problems and that the health care system can ill afford to face this onslaught. We are eating ourselves to death; we know we are doing it but are having a difficult time heeding the warning signs and as long as business can make a buck with liberal doses of cheap fat, sugar and salt in food, we wont get help from them.

Tobacco products are highly taxed in an attempt by the government to discourage smoking and to raise tax revenue. There is now discussion of additional taxes on certain unhealthy foods to discourage people from buying them. (The fat tax was swept out of sight once but I predict it will raise its head again.) We humans are a sorry lot when it takes a tax increase to encourage us to be healthy. Why pay at all for obesity-causing and artery-clogging foods when we can refuse to buy them and feel better?

Take a minute at the grocery checkout counter and reread a label, then say to the cashier, "Oh sorry, I don't want this. It has great taste but high in hydrogenated trans-fat" or "Sorry, but I didn't see that this juice cocktail has high sugar content; I wanted the pure juice. Please place the pure juice bottles where they can be found easily instead of the cheaper sugar-laced drinks." Then give the offending items to the clerk before they are scanned. By forcing the store manager to return the items to the shelves, you will be denting his bottom line and he will eventually get the message. This is not always a popular interchange when I am accompanied by SH at the checkout counter: I am not certain why she doesn't accept the explanation that I wish to make mankind healthier and am not just being ornery; but perhaps she knows me too well!

Feature article, March 31, 2005

Feature article March 31 2005

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Contact Us

The Frontenac News has been celebrating April Fools day by publishing several seemingly true, but patently false, stories each year in our issue that comes closest to Arpil 1st. This practivce was initiated by our late publisher, David Brison, in 2001. We published three such stories this year, and asked our readers to pick them out. We knew we couldn't fool our web savvy newsweb.ca fans (made up stories and the www were made for each other) so we decided to post the three fake stories on one page. Although these stories are not true now, they might come true someday, you never can tell ...

Frontenac News Consulting

After 35 years in the newspaper business, the Frontenac News has decided to expand its horizons, and is announcing the formation of a new division: Frontenac News Consulting.

We will be available for private and public consultations, says editor Jeff Green, although our focus will be public policy consultations. In recent months we have seen the consulting business take off in the region. Currently there is a Transportation study going on, a Real Estate development study, several strategic plans, and thats just in Frontenac County. We intend to offer our services throughout Eastern Ontario.

The new division will be independent from the newspaper, and Green says he is not worried about any apparent conflict of interest for the newspaper, which will be working for the people it is normally covering.

Thats really a red herring, Green said, for three reasons. First, the consulting business is separate from the newspaper end. Secondly, who could be opposed to spending public money consulting the public. Finally, the newspaper is financed by advertising in the first place; we take money from the people we cover every day.

The new division, which will be officially unveiled at a reception on April 1st, will be headed by Luther Frost, who has recently moved into the area from Ottawa, where he had been working in the accounting department at Nortel after spending several years with the Federal Government in the Department of Heritage (Flag Division)

Luther knows his way around a meeting, said Green, I think with him at the helm we should land a few of those $20,000 or $50,000 contracts. The newspaper business is all well and good, but the profit margin is low. The consulting division is sure to solidify our corporate bottom line, Green concluded.

The great race #9 comes to the Land OLakes

by Brad Flear

With the dazzling array of Reality shows, all consisting of International content, CBC Canada has made a decision to produce its own home-grown series.

CBCs Alan Smithee has successfully negotiated The Great Race #9 Canadian Edition to commence next year, April 1, 2006. Smithee was quoted as saying that Canada, with its varying terrain from the East tot eh West Coast, is natural progression for the popular great Race series.

While details are sketchy it appears that the race will feature the Land OLakes during one of its episodes. It will come through the Village of Ompah and proceed west through the Mazinaw area before heading further north.

The CBC has contacted an unconfirmed source in North Frontenac to obtain approval for the idea. While no employment opportunities will be created, exposure form the show will provide and awareness of the ruggedness of the region.

10 Canadian couples will paddle, run, swim, and ride their way over a predetermined course to produce one Canadian champion.

Victorian Houses Banned by New South Frontenac Township Zoning By-Law

by Wil McKenny

Loughborough district residents were stunned to learn that the recently ratified township zoning bans two-story Victorian style houses. "I know it could be hard on some of the long-time residents who may have spent 20-30 years in their homes," says Mayor Pond, "but Im sure theyll be pleased, once they get used to the idea." Councillor Davesdad agreed: "Were in the 20th century here, so its time we got with the program, so to speak." Councillor Petunia pointed out some of the many advantages of single-storey dwellings, and wishes to remind residents that removing the top stories of their houses will provide a good deal of lumber for other projects. "Just think of the sunlight thatll get in, once those porches come off," he added. Only Councillor SuvDewal seemed to hesitate. "I dont look forward to the public meetings," he commented, adding: "But it should raise the villages appeal to low-flying airplanes."

Bedford Councillors were overheard asking each other, "Whats a second story? And whats that got to do with houses?"

None of the other council members could be reached for comment.

It should be noted that all houses built before Queen Victoria died in 1901 will be "grandmothered" in, so to speak. "Its a shame, but theres not a lot we can do about them," commented Deputy Mayor Dawn, "for our lawyer has reminded us that they are Victorian."

Letters ,April 7, 2005

Letters April 7, 2005

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Contact Us

Hi, boys and girls,

To use an old cliche, GROW UP. If I can't believe all the news you print, then why should I believe any? "Just the facts, ma'am".

Yours truly - no kidding, really,

Yours sincerely No, maybe I didn't mean that.

- Bruce Cooper

April Fools

Just went through the Frontenac News and was a bit disappointed that nothing had been put in for April Fool's Day. Then I read the editorial page "Once more into the breach". So again I read each and every article. You guys are good! I really had a difficult time picking out the flukes! But here are my guesses:

"Frontenac News Consulting"; The great race #9 coming to the Land O' Lakes"; "Kids find a big surprise in Beaver Lodge". These are all great stories and if the first one is a hoax ~ too bad ~ The News could use the revenue for sure!

- Carole Cannon

Re: Maps a go in NF

After reading the article in the March 31 issue Maps a go in North Frontenac, I decided to air my views on the subject of promoting campsites in North Frontenac. First let me give you a bit of background.

I grew up in the village of Plevna and for many years my dad and mom trekked my two sisters and me, along with any other family members who were willing to go, to the Schooner Lake area for a day of fishing and a shore dinner. After I became older, I went with my friends on camping expeditions to the islands. I love that area and after moving from Plevna, my own children and grandchildren continue to go each year for four or five day campouts. We always look forward to it each year.

My point is that, yes, the campsites are one of the best-kept secrets in North Frontenac, but we would rather have it that way. Keep in mind that these are sites that are not large areas, and many of them on islands. They do not have state-of-the-art toilet facilities and in many cases (at least on Schooner Lake) there isnt even a picnic table. My family and I like it that way.

We have always been campers, and we often use provincial and private parks. We dont mind paying for the services that we receive in those parks. If the Township of North Frontenac is planning to advertise the fact that they are in the camping business to the whole of Eastern Ontario, then they had better be prepared to offer some services for the price they are charging for these sites.

Dont get me wrong, I think charging is a good business policy, but when in business you must offer something in return for the money and frankly an outhouse that falls over when you sit on it is not quite enough. The fact that the Crown Land Stewardship program, which started in 1997, has not been revenue neutral yet is astonishing to me. However, like all other government programs, Im probably not aware of all the underlying costs, but I do know from experience that the revenue is not going back into the maintenance of the sites. After having said all this, we will be back again this summer for our annual trek to the Schooner Lake area. (Gods Country) and we sincerely hope that it is still a peaceful, quiet area in which to camp and fish.

- Sharon Menard-Kring,

Feature article,April 14, 2005

Feature article April 14, 2005

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Contact Us

Tourist operators snub the internet

by Jeff Green

When Lisa Bell started interviewing members of the Land O Lakes Tourist Association as part of a marketing project she has undertaken for the Association, she did not expect to find a wariness towards internet technology.

However, now that she has interviewed about 40 of the 200 members of the Association, she has noted a surprising trend.

Only two of the operators offer or will be offering internet access to travellers at their resort, campground or cottages in the upcoming season, Lisa Bell said. She also found that most of the operators did not know the location of the nearest Community Access Portal (CAP) site where there is public internet access, in order to tell customers the nearest location where they can check email, etc.

Generally the operators said they did not think their customers were interested in internet access, thinking they came out here to get away from it all; but in the same breath the operators say they get good weekend business but need more business during the week. There are very few people that can take a week off without checking in with their business. They need to access the internet even if they are away from the office.

Offering minimal service need not cost very much money, Bell argues. It can be as simple as making a phone plug-in available for people to connect their lap top, for a reasonable fee, Lisa Bell said. People want to stay in touch with their home and business.

Its not as if Lisa Bell has been interviewing older operators, either. Few of the business owners I have contacted are over 50 years old. Many businesses in the Land OLakes region have been taken over by new people, often young couples. These new operators are coming from areas outside this region. Unfortunately some associate technology with the hectic city life that they successfully left behind.

Ironically, some of the operators who bemoan the lack of high speed access in the Land O Lakes are also reluctant to provide service for their customers. They seem to feel that because they only have dial up, their customers would not be interested in having slow internet access while on vacation.

Bell has also found that few local operators have developed email booking systems, or online booking, and this is something she would like to see change.

The Ontario Provincial Park system has a class A internet booking system, and it has been very successful, she said.

Lisa Bell thinks local tourist operators are missing out by failing to fully develop their internet capacities.

Operators need to embrace the World Wide Web; it will only help their revenue, she said.

Feature article,May 12, 2005

Feature article May 12, 2005

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Contact Us

A profitable opportunity -- or an unplanned future?

by Gray Merriam

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) will add about four million people to its population by 2025. Ottawa and Kingston also will increase.

These added people will spill out into our area to find recreational properties. At the same time as the urban populations are increasing, more older job-holders will retire and many will seek retirement homes either at their cottage or elsewhere in the Land o Lakes.

This is a business opportunity for our lake-rich municipalities. We are in a region of unmeasurable natural wealth. Catering to the recreational needs and the retirement needs of urbanites is a legitimate and preferred business opportunity. We have the resource that they need and they have the money that we need. Retirees moving into our communities and bringing their life savings with them is the foundation for a legitimate business with a long-term cash flow into our municipal treasuries. Taxes!

What is the risk? The obvious risk is that we could reduce the desirability of our lake environments by putting inappropriately planned developments around them. The lake-rich, highly desired environment that we live in is not a resource to be used up. It is equivalent to the capital structure and production facilities of an industry. It is infrastructure. Any smart business manager would make sure that the infrastructure of the business was used in ways that made the most profit for the business over the mid- to long-term. Certainly it would be bad business to let the infrastructure or production facilities be used in ways that will lead to lower capacity for continued production.

Our lake-rich environment is our production facility. Our plant. We need to make sure that we use that facility so that our business will continue to produce over the mid- to long-term. We need to ensure that cottagers and retirees continue to find this area attractive enough that they will continue to bring their earnings and their life savings and put them into our tax coffers while also supporting local small business. That does not mean just increasing the number of severed lots or increasing the annual value of building permits. Instead it means using our high value facility in ways that will protect its high value into the future. Guarantee the continuing high flow of tax dollars, not just a short-term blip in building permits.

Are we doing what is needed to stay in this business? Are we prepared to ensure that our facilities our lake lands and rivers will continue to be attractive as the wave of people from the GTA flood into the Land o Lakes? No, we are not ready. It is not clear that we are even thinking about it. The planning for how to maintain the quality of our high value sites along lake and river shorelines is barely started; and the municipalities seem either uninterested or uninformed. Certainly it is not a high municipal priority.

Provincial agencies are unable to do local planning and are also unable, due to budget cuts, to even monitor existing conditions. To defer to their mandated responsibilities is simply to ignore the reality. Conservation Authorities and the Ministries of Natural Resources and the Environment all need the help of partners to even partially fulfill their mandates. The municipalities and volunteer citizens groups must partner with the cash-strapped agencies. There is a difference between legislated responsibility and capability. Municipalities cannot ignore that. They must cooperate with all who can help in the planning that is vital and is needed ASAP.

Do municipalities recognize that the flow of life savings brought here by retirees is their business opportunity? Lets face it; our tax base is not going to be swelled by heavy industry, or even light industry, flooding into this region. We would be unwise to encourage or allow any development industrial or residential that will bring costs that exceed the tax increment or that reduce the value of the landscape infrastructure. The lessons are everywhere: dense developments that demand services in excess of their tax contributions; industries that bring unpredictable and unavoidable costs both environmental and in real dollars; plastic factories that burn; paper and steel mills that must be cleaned up later.

Many municipalities are trying to get a clean, dependable base for their economy. We have the basis for such a business. But we are not planning our business into the future. Without definitive and sensitive planning, we risk allowing our valuable infrastructure to be degraded by poorly planned use that can make the Land o Lakes less than desirable.

Feature article, May 26, 2005

Feature article May 26, 2005

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Contact Us

Desert Lake Gardens goes to town

by Jeff Green

In a time when the news only goes from bad to worse for the family farm, a small market garden that has been built up over the past 14 years just keeps expanding.

Desert Lake Gardens, which has been operating out of Pat and Rick Dawsons family homestead at the junction of the Bedford and Desert Lake Road, will be moving the warehousing part of its business to a former Karate Studio in the heart of Sydenham.

The business grew out of a commitment to organic gardening. Soon after beginning to sell their own garden and powerless greenhouse-grown produce, the idea of augmenting their produce with that of other organic growers took hold, and Desert Lake Gardens began delivering a wide range of organic produce year round, mainly through weekly deliveries to customers in the Kingston area.

When the Internet took hold, ordering became web based. Now only about 10 to 15 of our 200 or so customers order over the phone; the rest use our website, said Pat Dawson.

A few years ago, the product line expanded to include organic juices and other products from the Ontario Organic Food Co-Op, and then the idea of putting the raw materials for meals together in packages was developed. This led to Desert Lake Gardens setting up a kitchen to prepare organic, pre-cooked frozen soups and meals for customers.

Eventually, trying to run a wholesale business out of a rural location with a steep, curved driveway, while maintaining seven greenhouses, open air gardens and a kitchen became rather complicated.

So when the idea of moving much of the business end of Desert Lake Gardens to Sydenham came up, the Dawsons made the move and took out a lease on the building at the foot of Mill Street that has been a Karate studio and an antique shop in the past.

With the move, there came an opportunity to further expand the business, so not only will the building be the staging ground for all the organic produce, meat and other goods that Desert Lake delivers to customers each week, it will also house the kitchens for prepared foods. As well, a retail outlet will be established for all the products, and a restaurant, the Mill Street Caf is being built.

While construction takes place in part of the building, Pat Dawson has a computer set up in her makeshift office; the cold room is full of produce, and various boxes of juice, canned goods, and bread from Little Stream Bakery in Glen Tay are strewn about. From Tuesdays to Thursdays, orders are being put together at the site. One of Pat and Ricks daughters and a family friend work away putting orders together.

For the rest of the week contractors are hard at work painting the walls, upgrading the electrical system, and putting in a kitchen and dining room.

To get this new venture moving weve been lucky that some of our customers have agreed to invest $1,000 each, which they will get back in food from the restaurant over the next year or so. That to me is a great testament to what weve developed over the years, and it will give them something too, I think. Theyll always feel they were part of building this place.

A liquor license has been applied for, which would make the Mill Street Cafthe only licensed establishment in the rejuvenated Village of Sydenham other than the Legion.

We plan to serve hearty lunches and keep things casual during the week, and then prepare some fancier meals during the weekends, says Pat Dawson about the restaurant plans.

Meanwhile, back at Desert Lake Gardens the growing season is well underway. Pat and Ricks son works with Rick and a friend preparing the outdoor gardens for seeding, harvesting greens, and transplanting heat- loving tomato, pepper, and eggplant seedlings to larger soil packs for summer growing in the sweltering greenhouses.

A little further away the spring shitake mushroom harvest has already taken place. Rick Dawson, who finally quit working out as a biologist in Kingston about four years ago, is keen on the Shitake mushrooms because they are well suited to the growing conditions on the Dawsons hilly acreage, and there are plenty of small gnarled oak logs available to host the shitake spores. He looks into the trees at the leaf-covered ground.

Theres plenty of nutrient available in leaf mould, he says, which could make excellent compost, but I dont know how to collect it in an efficient way.

Thats a project for another day. For now, Pat and Rick Dawson seem to have their hands full enough.

The Desert Lake Gardens store and the Mill Street Cafwill be opening for business sometime later this summer. For information about Desert Lake Gardens, go to dlgardens.com

Feature article, June 23, 2005

Feature article June 23, 2005

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Contact Us

Back to the Future: Trousdales in Sydenham

by Jeff Green

Its not much of a stretch to call Trousdale the name of retailing in Sydenham. The family business started up in 1836, making Trousdales 31 years older than Canada.

This history has been keenly observed by Ginny Trousdale, who took over management of the store this past winter, freeing up her husband John to concentrate on the IGA and Home Hardware stores that the family owns a couple of blocks away.

Ginny has been swept up by the history of the store, which was built in the late 1920s by Johns grandfather Percy, after he tore down a smaller store at the same location.

While thousands of product lines have come and gone since that time, the stores display units and fixtures have remained in place, and it is these bones of the store that Ginny has been highlighting as she has been changing the look, and focus, of the store since taking over.

You can still get pretty much anything you need at Trousdales, from a can of soup or some milk, to a fan belt or a pair of work boots, and Ginny is committed to maintaining that tradition. But she is also turning the store into a destination in itself, a place where people can go to look around, experiencing the original wood floors, the pressed tin ceilings with wrapping string hanging down from them, and 19th and 20th Century tin containers.

Some new products maintain the historic theme, including a line of penny candy, which doesnt cost a penny any more, says Ginny Trousdale with a laugh. Cards and unique garden and home decor pieces mingled with fabrics and toys have been brought in, all displayed with artistic flair. The store is also carrying out an ongoing search for local artisans and one-of-a-kind specialities.

Although Ginny Trousdale has been involved in the family business since marrying John some 26 years ago, she was a social worker until this year, when she threw herself into this new venture.

She admits to being nervous in taking on a store with such a successful history, but points out that she is not the first to make changes.

Percy Trousdale tore down the store when it was too small and built this one. As it is located on a corner lot, we are limited in how much we can expand, and limited in storage, she said.

For the past 20 years or so, Trousdales has had a well-established reputation throughout the region and among Kingstonians for their appliances, and the space that has been made in the store for new merchandise has come primarily from moving the appliance business over to Trousdales Home Hardware.

This store has always been a general store, and that has been its strength, says Ginny Trousdale. We continue to offer a broad range of items. The basic general hardware and dry goods will remain at Trousdales, but the lumber and steel roofing are moving to the Home Hardware store.

What Trousdales offers to customers today is a bit of the fun of going shopping, and that is something that is becoming more and more unusual in the age of box store retail, where people run from one store to another to get a single kind of product.

At Trousdales, people can come in and look around at items they never knew they were looking for, wander upstairs past historic photos and old bins to find unique and useful items.

Not only has the Trousdale family been in business all this time, they are also pack rats! So I keep finding things in corners or underneath merchandise that are interesting, and that people might be interested in seeing.

One example is the old marble counter and case that is now used to display ceramic plates and bowls. At one time it was a soda fountain counter. One customer who remembers the counter is Eleanor Behm. Eleanor remembers coming to the soda fountain as a child for a taste of something cold and sweet on hot summer days. And Eleanor comes into the store most days still, for some milk or a little visit.

Trousdales has always had a major role in the vitality of the village of Sydenham. Now, with a new organic restaurant opening up across the street and the

Trousdale store undergoing a revitalisation, the Mill Street corner will be offering a kind of experience to people from Sydenham and the surrounding region, and tourists as well, that is not offered anywhere else.

Feature article, June 9, 2005, 2005

Feature article June 9, 2005

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Contact Us

Addington Highlands Council

by Jeff Green

Complaints from Cloyne

Two letters, with an attached petition, have been sent to Addington highlands Council about the condition of three front yards in the Cloyne area. The letters complain about the amount of junk in the yards, and the general upkeep of the yards. They also complain about sales out of the yards, which one letter described as a permanent yard sale. The second letter says one of the properties in question poses a fire hazard to neighbouring properties, including North Addington Education Centre. The letters ask Council to consider taking action, including insisting on a clean up; insisting on grass cutting; putting in a $5 permit for holding yard sales; and putting a limit on how many days a yard sale can last.

In reading out the letters during the open Council meeting, Reeve Hook avoided naming the locations, and the matter was left for further discussion during the in camera session at the end of the meeting.

Denbigh building to be burned

Councillor Bill Cox, in his relatively new role as Recreational Committee Chair, brought forward a proposal that a storage building at the Denbigh Ball field that has not been in use for many years, be emptied and then destroyed. The building is open at the back, and is full of junk that is just piled up in there. Its only a matter of time until someone gets in there and hurts themselves, Cox said. Council decided to flatten the building and then invite the fire department to conduct a controlled burn.

Trailer assessment on the way

A letter came to council from Cecilia Buelow of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). The letter says that a campground in southwestern Ontario has filed an application claiming that the assessment of trailers contravenes the assessment act.

The campground claims that there is no provincial legislation that permits assessment of trailers, and the assessment that is taking place is discriminatory because it only assesses trailers in privately owned campgrounds and not in provincial parks, parks owned by municipalities, the government of Canada, Conservation Authorities, and First Nations.

Nonetheless, writes Buelow, MPAC will continue to assess permanent trailers for the 2005 assessment update.

Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund

Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Stirling wrote to Council thanking it for supporting his private members Bill, #187, which calls for the development of an ongoing Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund, similar to the existing $60 million annual Northern Ontario Heritage Fund. Stirling reports that the bill received second reading, where it was unanimously supported by the house, but said, Only the government has the authority to call the Bill for third and final reading. I encourage you to contact your MPP and all members of the Liberal Government who represent ridings in Eastern Ontario to ask them to lobby to have this bill brought to third reading as quickly as possible.

Students to be hired for clean up: Two students will be hired to clear tires and appliances off the sides of certain roads where they have accumulated within the township.

Business Directory: At the most recent Business Breakfast, it was proposed that a business directory be included in the newsletter that will accompany the final tax bill. The Directory has been created, but he procedure for coming up with businesses was not extensive. Business owners are encouraged to contact the township immediately to ensure they are listed.

Economic Development: Bill Brown of the Economic Development Committee made a short report, in which he said that the petition asking phone companies to put in cell phone towers is being circulated throughout Addington Highlands and in North Frontenac as well, and at Bon Echo Park. He also told Council that two applications have been sent in to the newest round of funding through the Federal Eastern Ontario Development Fund.