Well, they weren’t Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and the other guy, but in this case, that turned out to be a good thing.

“We’re a classic rock group that does some tenor stuff,” said Jack (The Happy Chef) Francis, one of the three lead singers of The Kings Town Tenors, who brought their brand of ‘classic’ rock to Bellrock Hall last Friday night.

They did do Puccini’s Nessun dorma (None shall sleep) from the opera Turandot (“to prove we have some chops in that area”) but mostly it was ‘stuff’ like CCR’s Have You Ever Seen the Rain, Jim Croce’s Bad, Bad Leroy Brown and Leonard Cohen’s Bird on the Wire.

Along with Tim Torgersen and Danny Young, and backed by Tony Negus on keys and acoustic guitar, Doug Smith on drums, Chris Petersen on bass and Brandon Amey on guitar, (think Three Dog Night setup) the Tenors rolled out an evening of familiar tunes and endless banter, most of which was courtesy of Francis.

For example, while singing and dancing was encouraged, when they did Michael Buble’s Home, Francis quipped “If you like singing along  . . . don’t.”

The Tenors first got together about six years ago during a Kingston production of The King and I, which featured Torgeersen in the title role.

“We are really baritones with a couple of extra notes,” Francis said. “Except for Danny.

“He’s a tenor’s tenor who can do an awesome falsetto.”

It was an interesting evening made even more so by Francis’s alter ego — Jack The Happy Chef.

As patrons were filing in before the music, they were offered a variety of canapes and sweets including skewers of chicken, spanakopita, Bailey’s espresso brownies and meatballs with a sauce like nothing you’ve ever tasted before.

Bellrock Hall’s next musical offering is the LaSalle Causeway Swing Band May 28 at 2 p.m.

They had to break out the extra chairs as a capacity crowd filled Clar-Mill Hall in Plevna last Saturday to celebrate the rich history of lodges in North Frontenac.

The afternoon began with guests invited to browse the various exhibits before CMCA coordinator Brenda Martin welcomed the crowd with her opening remarks.

Martin pointed to the various exhibits spread around the hall showcasing all 63 lodges that have existed within the boundaries of the Township and a couple from without.

“We’ve covered all 63 and even went slightly outside of the Township because of the connection with Plevna,” she said. “These lodges have provided economic benefits for years and many are over 100 years old.

“Twenty-four of the lodges are historic but 39 are still active.”

Martin said the project follows on the history of Lodges and the materials collected will be donated in binders to the Clarendon and Miller Community Archives and the plan is to also create a booklet from the material.

“The displays will be available to active lodges,” she said.

Martin acknowledged the hours of student help as well as a Township grant that got things up and running and the hope for a federal grant to buy computer equipment to digitize the project.

“We’re all about community,” she said. “When we asked for help, boy did we get it.”

“Preserving our heritage and history is paramount to remembering for future generations,” said Mayor Ron Higgins. “It is our building of pride of ownership in our community that will attract visitors.”

Higgins also announced they’ve been approved for a Community Foundation of Kingston grant but couldn’t give any details until the ‘official’ announcement May 15.

Jere and Marianne Motto presented donated the original land titles documents for Land O'Lakes Lodge and perhaps the most poignant moment of the afternoon came when Ed Giffin of Tumblehome Lodge read a poem read a poem by Skip Moyst, who couldn’t attend because of flooding.

Then it was time for “special guest” and keynote speaker/entertainer Neville Wells, who “grew up in Ompah” at the Mosque Lake Lodge.

Wells, who was the Country Music Person of the Year in 1984 for the Canadian Country Music Association told stories about “growing up in the lodge environment” when $6 a day bought accommodation, three meals and a boat as well as his 35 cents/hour wages “contributing heavily to the local economy.”

Wells told of the Ompah dances on Saturday nights where “Neil (fiddle) and Flora Perry (slide guitar) were the orchestra.

“I don’t care what people say, it was better in those days.”

“The cute little stories are what we remember,” said Martin.

The third Monday of April just happened to coincide with Easter Monday this spring. Not being certain of how many members or guests might attend our monthly meeting,  we planned a program of general interest. "Bring an Item and Tell a Tale" was a hit.  Some of the more interesting items included the following:

A tiny safety razor in its own leather case that would have been issued to military. It was made small to fit into a soldier's breast pocket.

A Victory Bell said to be made from the metal of a downed WWII German fighter plane and embossed with the faces of Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin.

A five year diary from the early 1940's with writing ever so small and written in real ink! Each page was full to the edges with births, deaths, events and activities.

A wooden coffee grinder that was once used exclusively as a pepper mill.

A radiator cap from an old Buick, complete with it's own built in thermometer, dating to a time before automobiles were built with a heat gauge.

An original copy of "Mary Melville, Psychic" , a story about her sister, written by Flora MacDonald with a notation, in Flora's own hand.

Pioneer hair curlers(strips of rags). Women once used these to create curls or ringlets in their hair for special occasions.

A collector's issue of "Susannah, A Little Girl with the Mounties", written by Muriel Denison. We have a full collection of the Susannah books in the Pioneer Museum.

Another interesting book about the road building in this area and the homesteading it created, called "Footpaths to Freeways."

A fascinating pair of handmade snowshoe miniatures made exactly to scale from thread and preserved with layers of varnish, the only pair in existence.

A geologist's rock hammer, used locally in early mining sites to chip out rock samples. In today's terms, its weight and pointed end make it quite the weapon!

The most giggles of the presentations were generated by a complex unit of electrodes, from 1925, complete with instruction manual and professing to cure headaches, toothaches, intestinal issues, sore feet and every ailment you might imagine. Just change the attachment, plug it in and apply to affected area, with supposedly guaranteed results!

Our next meeting will be on Monday May 15 at 1:00p.m. at the Cloyne Hall. More information on our website www.cloynepioneermuseum.ca. Be sure to come and learn details of our annual gigantic yard sale. The Museum and Archives will be open for business for another season on June 24. That's also the date for a Sesquicentennial celebration at the park in Cloyne, right beside the museum. This is a special day, designed to celebrate Canada's birthday but also the revitalization of the park, complete with entertainment and food! There will be more information on posters and ads coming to you very soon!

In the 10 years the Ompah Community Association’s ATV ride has been running, it has grown by exponential levels.

From about 70 participants at the first one, it grew to just over 1,000 participants two years ago and featured a still-whopping 857 participants last Saturday.

“We’re getting people from all over, including the States,” said organizer Lindy Hay, who helped organize the first ride with Denis Bedard and Rose Boivin of the Double S Marina in Ompah. “I was talking recently to some people from B.C. and they said ‘oh, I know of that event.’”

Hay said they’ve seen the number of side-by-side ATVs increasing, primarily among seniors, who are using the ride to spend time with their grandchildren.

Proceeds from the event go to a number of causes, including the community hall, firehall, firefighters and others in need in the community (they even made a contribution to the outdoor rink fund in Sharbot Lake recently).

For the past five years, there’s also been another partner.

National Ride Captain Byron Smith, who along with Garry Janz co-founded the Telus Ride For Dad program 17 years ago, said that since the Ride started adding ATV, snowmobile and watercraft runs from the original motorcycle ride, the partnership with the Ompah run has been an excellent relationship.

“We’ve been doing this as a fundraising partnership for about five years now when Denis Bedard invited us,” Smith said. “For us, we have other ATV rides but a lot of bikes come through here.”

Smith said the Ride For Dad program began when Janz was diagnosed with prostrate cancer and decided to do a little research.

“Prostrate cancer is 80 per cent curable when detected early,” Smith said. “We’ve now raised more than $23 million for research, are in 40 cities and partnered with Telus.

“This ride is the right demographics for us and helps get the word out.”

Smith said there’s another reason he likes to come here.

“It doesn’t matter what the weather is like, they still go,” he said. “These guys don’t care.

“I can’t say enough about these guys.”

We had another successful windup to the Snow Road Snowmobile Club breakfast season with three fundraisers for local charities.  Each year the club dedicates three end-of-season breakfasts to support charities in both Lanark and Frontenac.  This year, breakfast proceeds and donations collected has provided another boost to these charities.  $1,547.50 was raised on behalf of Alzheimer’s Society; and the Canadian Cancer Society benefited with $1,324 for the Wheels of Hope campaign, and $1,356.00 for Melanoma.  

The executive and members of the club want to thank everyone who has supported their fundraising breakfasts and other activities throughout the season, as well as the dedicated volunteers who make them happen.  

The club is already preparing for their annual Canada Day breakfast/bake and yard sale on Saturday, June 24th and are happily accepted donations for the yard sale or the bake sale.

Contact Ruth Wark at 613-278-0477 or Alice Gilchrist at 613-278-1020 for information.

The St. James Catholic Church hall was filled to the brim on Monday as staff from Northern Frontenac Community Services served up a roast beef dinner for over 100 volunteers who help the agency deliver  services to disparate parts of Frontenac County on a daily basis.

This year the Volunteer of the Year award went to Bob Greer, who has been a volunteer driver for decades.

In describing Bob’s dedication, Gail Young, co-ordinator of Frontenac Transportation Services,  referred to a ride Bob gave to a young man on Christmas day a couple of years ago. “He was supposed to drive him to Perth, but the young man wanted to get to Ottawa for Christmas with his family, so Bob took him all the way. He never says no.

After dinner the volunteers were entertained by Stephen and Debra Goodberry, a popular Neil Diamond and Elvis tribute act.

Mark the date down…Friday May 19th from 6 pm to midnight – Parham Ball Field, that is the date for this year's North and Central Frontenac's Relay for Life. This year’s Relay for Life marks 10 years – that is 10 years of commitment, 10 years of volunteering, 10 years of passion, 10 years of hoping and praying for the Cure.

Cancer has affected each and every one of us, maybe we haven’t been given the diagnosis directly, but I’m sure that a loved one has. Think back and remember that time, the place, how it made you feel. How helpless you felt to want to do something but not really knowing exactly what to do or say.

I remember gathering together with my family at my parent’s house – just before Christmas to hear those dreaded words….your father has Prostrate Cancer…No – it can’t be…he’s my Daddy!!  Surely the Doctors are wrong!!! The readings were so high that we had to be prepared for the worse...the Cancer to have spread to his bones and the prognosis was not good. Bone scan.....Radiation,.....medication.. ...the numerous trips to Kingston…. again...not good. So how I ask, do you keep it together to give your kids a good Christmas when you know that this may in fact be their last Christmas with “Poppa” and you with your Precious Father. How?? Somehow we managed, it was a quiet, thankful Christmas – we lived in the moment and made memories, memories that we all could share. I am happy to report that my dad did not have Bone Cancer and my dad, my children’s Poppa and our Families Rock – walks the Survivor Lap at Relay for Life every year – as a reminder to all that we can and WILL make more survivors.

Well, here is your chance to be able to do something. Join us for our Relay – call 10 friends, family, co-workers – the team that you coach – whatever the case – gather a group together – collect $10 from each of them and you are well on your way to making Cancer History – Together we can do this.

When you hear the word Cancer what do you think of? Your mother losing her hair? Your Dad as he takes his last breath? Your Newborn Baby and what is in store for them?The travel time taking your daughter to her chemo treatment? Your son as he struggles with the reality?  We need to do something so our kids, and grandkids don't have to be scared of that diagnosis The time is now...we need your help to make things happen.  So let's all get up and walk that line (or track) We have all seen how it affect our loved ones.

We have the entertainment all lined up....we just need the people!!! Steven Goodberry - Elvis Impersonator - along with his family, Zack Teal.....HD Supply is ready to rock the night away....and Dave Limber and friends - you don't want to miss this event!!! Remember that there is no admission but donations to the North and Central Frontenac Relay for Life is greatly appreciated!!! District #4 Recreation Committee will have the canteen open, we have some fun games to entertain young and young at heart - Come one and all and help us Celebrate our 10th Year.  Registration is open - we need to confirm teams by May 5th - so don't delay - I am waiting for your email... This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

How well do you know your Canadian Trivia? Are you an armchair Jeopardy Champion?  Come out to the Blackfly Derby to show off your skills. You might bring home some prizes or one of the coveted Blackfly Derby Trophies.

Connections Adult Learning is holding the first ever Blackfly Derby Chili and Trivia Night, Friday May 5th from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, at The Granite Ridge Education Centre. Trivia questions will focus on a variety of subjects for all ages, but will all have a Canadian connection in respect to Canada’s 150th Birthday celebrations this year.  You can come on your own, or put together a team of up to four family, friends, or co-workers to compete in this fun and food filled night.  Each team will be using a hand held device, either a smart phone or tablet.  You can bring your own or one can be provided.

The program being used for the challenge is called Kahoot.  This program is used widely by more than 1.5 million educators and over 49 million students in just the three years since it was developed.   The questions have been created by Granite Ridge students with the help of Teacher, Peggy Hurley. These are multiple choice questions, and hopefully, you will find them challenging and fun.  

Try to think up a creative name for your team as well as an individual “Handle” for yourself.  The theme of the evening celebrates two iconic events in May – The Kentucky Derby and the unescapable Black Fly season.  Teams are encouraged to wear either Derby or blackfly attire, prizes will be awarded for the best.

The cost of this evening is a mere $5.00 in advance or $10.00 at the door. The price of your ticket entitles you to the trivia challenge as well as a delicious chili dinner.   In addition, you will be able to purchase themed mocktails like, Kentucky Derby mint juleps, Shampagne, Deep Woods Off, and Run for the Roses.

Connections Adult Learning will be holding another Blackfly Derby in Northbrook in co-operation with the Lions Club of Land-O-Lakes on Friday, May 12th. This Trivia Challenge will be held at the Lions Club Hall in Northbrook.

Tickets can be purchased at Connections Adult Learning or, if your business or office has put together a team, a Connections staff member can come out to bring your tickets to you. Please check the Connections Adult Learning Facbook page and webpage for more details. Please call 613-279-2499 to purchase tickets or get more information.

This event is to celebrate the ASITT program, created with funds from a Trillium Grant.  ASITT stands for alleviating social isolation through technology. Connections Staff has been out in the community with the assistance of wonderful volunteers, helping people to feel better about using technology and solving problems they may have.

On Saturday, May 6, enjoy the great outdoors with a spring walk in the woods and a new citizen science project offered by the Ontario Woodlot Association. The distinctive topography of the Frontenac Axis is the setting for families to take part in a half day of exploration and learning. Registration is required.

The Woods Walk will feature forester, Justin Smith, leading an examination of how the geology and the soil shaped the forest on his family’s property. The property is relatively untouched; the last timber harvest was 80 years ago, so this is a good example of a natural Frontenac Axis mixed forest. Wildflowers will be in bloom, so the group can put their heads together identifying flowers and forest plants.

In addition, the Limestone Chapter of the Ontario Woodlot Association will introduce their new “Citizen Science” project. Professional forester, Thom Snowman, will demonstrate how to set up a permanent test plot in your woods and use it to conduct a long term study of the growth characteristics of various species. This is an important step in understanding how a forest develops over time, and has applications in forest management planning and determining carbon sequestration capabilities.
Professionals will be on hand to answer questions about forestry and local resources. During lunch hour, there will be a short Annual General Meeting to discuss the program for the coming year.

The event runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at 8333 Canoe Lake Road in South Frontenac.  Bring a lunch to enjoy at the lake shore. This event is free for all OWA members; a $5 donation is requested from non-members to be used for landowner kits for the Citizen Science Project.

Register in advance; due to restricted parking, the number of participants may be limited. (Carpooling please!) Contact Dave Sexsmith at 613-373-9334 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more on the organization, visit www.ontariowoodlot.com

Good food,  great music, and the company of friends. What could be more fun on a Friday night?

The BellRock hall presents Tapas and Tenors, featuring the combined efforts of professional chef Jack Francis and the singing trio the Kingstown Tenors.

Tapas are the Spanish version of what we in Canada commonly call appetizers—a selection of delicious finger foods that are a skillful blend of flavours and textures, both savoury and sweet.   In Mexico, similar dishes are called Botanas. Jack, whose alias is “Happy Chef”,  is preparing these for your enjoyment during the concert.  And as a bonus, he can sing, too!

The Kingstown Tenors are something really special.  Talent abounds in this fun, local group.  Vocalists Tim Togerson and Danny Young are the other two tenors in the trio.   Presenting a wide range of styles, and carefully stitched-together vocal interpretations of familiar tenor classics, pop, rock and folk-rock, all three singers have terrific voices and they know how to harmonise them perfectly.   They are backed by a versatile four-piece band which easily switches musical styles to match the choice of songs.

You may have heard them perfom at local festivals .  According to others who have heard them, the jokes and banter that accompany this gang are just as good as the songs.

The concert is scheduled for  Friday May 5 at 7pm. Tickets are $15 per person; $25 per couple. Tickets available at Food Less Travelled in Verona Nicole's Gifts in Verona, Asselstine Hardware in Verona, and Sydenham Pet & Farm Supply in Sydenham
Gina Ritchie 6133295749

Bellrock Hall at 6034 Leveque Rd. www.bellrockhall.ca for more information and directions.