Feature Article - August 7, 2008

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Feature Article - July 31, 2008 Flinton Jamboree draws a crowdBy Julie Druker

Performers Larry Birney, Albert St. Pierrre and Jack Biernacki

The Flinton Country Bluegrass Jamboree has developed a loyal following over its 4-year history and has become a favourite destination for music lovers from miles around.

On Saturday the property surrounding the township recreation centre in Flinton was full to capacity with 250 trailers, and the ball field was lined with what was estimated to be an audience of 1200, all enjoying the music.

The jamboree is put on by the Flinton Recreation Club, who in August 2007 were thrilled to receive a $25,000 trillium grant. The grant was divided up for 2007and 2008.

The festival lineup was impressive and included headliners Virginia Run from Virginia, U.S.A., the well-known and loved Randy Family from Quebec, and various local groups including White Pine.

At the stage, local musicians gathered on the steps informing the dandily dressed MC, Harold Bonner of Kingston, of their names and the songs they would be performing. Local performer, Jamie Whitelock of Flinton was joined on stage by Courtney King from Camden East and performed a heart-felt version of Tim McGraw’s “If You’re Reading This.”

Larry Bronson of Madoc got the crowd going with his rocking version of the Johnny Cash classic “Folsom Prison Blues”.

There was also a competition on Saturday, the Loyalist Singing Competition, run by Dennis Witty.

Duane Thibault, president of the Flinton Rec Club, and his brother, both music lovers, came up with idea for the music festival four years ago.

Duane’s wife Donna is one of 12 directors of the jamboree and was thrilled with the turnout this year. “The festival has gotten progressively bigger every year which is just great”. She was happy to add that this year Murry Northey of Murry’s Music had donated a fiddle for a draw to raise money for the Kaladar/Barrie Fire Department, and on Sunday Duane was able to present Fire Chief Casey Cuddy with a cheque for about $400. The fiddle was won by Cam Arsenault of Northbrook.

One minute of silence was also observed at the jamboree, in memory of firefighter Bill Salmond, who died in an accident last year, while he was on standby for the jamboree.

The funds raised from the jamboree will go directly to the Flinton Rec Club, to be spent on the various programs that the club offers in the community.

Ossie and Faye Moulton from Middleville are first-time visitors to the Flinton Jamboree and heard of it on a radio station in Renfrew. Blue grass lovers through and through, they came especially to see one of their favourites, the Randy Family of Quebec.

Due to the quality line up of talent, the friendliness of the crowds, the intimacy of the venue, and the many services that are offered by the volunteers, it is no wonder that the Flinton Jamboree is well on its way to establishing itself as one of the favourite Bluegrass/country festivals in the area.

Festival organizers would like to especially thank all the volunteers who worked so hard. Without them the event would never take place.

Feature Article - August 7, 2008

Back toHome

Feature Article - July 31, 2008 Flinton Jamboree draws a crowdBy Julie Druker

Performers Larry Birney, Albert St. Pierrre and Jack Biernacki

The Flinton Country Bluegrass Jamboree has developed a loyal following over its 4-year history and has become a favourite destination for music lovers from miles around.

On Saturday the property surrounding the township recreation centre in Flinton was full to capacity with 250 trailers, and the ball field was lined with what was estimated to be an audience of 1200, all enjoying the music.

The jamboree is put on by the Flinton Recreation Club, who in August 2007 were thrilled to receive a $25,000 trillium grant. The grant was divided up for 2007and 2008.

The festival lineup was impressive and included headliners Virginia Run from Virginia, U.S.A., the well-known and loved Randy Family from Quebec, and various local groups including White Pine.

At the stage, local musicians gathered on the steps informing the dandily dressed MC, Harold Bonner of Kingston, of their names and the songs they would be performing. Local performer, Jamie Whitelock of Flinton was joined on stage by Courtney King from Camden East and performed a heart-felt version of Tim McGraw’s “If You’re Reading This.”

Larry Bronson of Madoc got the crowd going with his rocking version of the Johnny Cash classic “Folsom Prison Blues”.

There was also a competition on Saturday, the Loyalist Singing Competition, run by Dennis Witty.

Duane Thibault, president of the Flinton Rec Club, and his brother, both music lovers, came up with idea for the music festival four years ago.

Duane’s wife Donna is one of 12 directors of the jamboree and was thrilled with the turnout this year. “The festival has gotten progressively bigger every year which is just great”. She was happy to add that this year Murry Northey of Murry’s Music had donated a fiddle for a draw to raise money for the Kaladar/Barrie Fire Department, and on Sunday Duane was able to present Fire Chief Casey Cuddy with a cheque for about $400. The fiddle was won by Cam Arsenault of Northbrook.

One minute of silence was also observed at the jamboree, in memory of firefighter Bill Salmond, who died in an accident last year, while he was on standby for the jamboree.

The funds raised from the jamboree will go directly to the Flinton Rec Club, to be spent on the various programs that the club offers in the community.

Ossie and Faye Moulton from Middleville are first-time visitors to the Flinton Jamboree and heard of it on a radio station in Renfrew. Blue grass lovers through and through, they came especially to see one of their favourites, the Randy Family of Quebec.

Due to the quality line up of talent, the friendliness of the crowds, the intimacy of the venue, and the many services that are offered by the volunteers, it is no wonder that the Flinton Jamboree is well on its way to establishing itself as one of the favourite Bluegrass/country festivals in the area.

Festival organizers would like to especially thank all the volunteers who worked so hard. Without them the event would never take place.

For the past three consecutive summers the Parham Fairgrounds has been the location of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington’s Relay for Life which, up until now, has been headed by Claire Macfarlane, Chair of Relay for Life for Central Frontenac.

In its short three-year history, the Central Frontenac Relay, a 12-hour event that runs through the night, where teams obtain pledges, camp out all night and walk throughout the night, has raised close to $70,000 each year.

Last year there had been talk about finding a new location for this year’s relay in order to give area residents and supporters a break, and to give another community an opportunity to host the event.

The Flinton Recreation Centre was suggested last year as a possible new venue for the event since it offers ample indoor and outdoor space along with kitchen, canteen and washroom facilities, plus ample parking.

It also helps that the Rec Club's board of directors have experience putting on large-scale events such as the Flinton Jamboree, now going into its sixth year, which has seen attendance grow to over 1000 people last year alone.

So when Helen Yanch and Mayor Janet Gutowski were speaking about Flinton as a possible location for the 2010 Relay, Yanch mentioned her sister-in-law, Carolyn Hasler, as a possible new chair.

Carolyn recalls, “I got a call from Helen and then I spoke first to Janet Gutowski and then to Claire Macfarlane and I remember that I told Claire that I would have to think about it. I knew it was a big job to take on and I really had no idea what was involved.”

Carolyn currently holds positions as president of the Flinton Community Club, secretary of the Flinton Recreation Club, treasurer at St. Paul’s Anglican Church and she sits on the library board as well, so it was no wonder she needed a bit of thinking time to consider taking on the role as Relay chair.

When she announced the possibility of taking on the position to members of the Recreation Club at their monthly meeting back in October, the 15-member committee agreed to support her and each volunteered either to head up a team or one of the committees. Carolyn also had the support of various members of the community and it was with that knowledge that she enthusiastically agreed to take on the role.

Judging by the turnout at the recent November 18 information session for the 2010 Flinton relay, Carolyn has every reason to be enthusiastic and her connectedness in the community has served her well.

Present at the meeting along with outgoing chair Claire Macfarlane was Cheryl Bird, manager for the FLA unit of the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), who along with Claire, explained the role of the CCS and that of the annual relay, the single largest fundraising event (and by far the most emotional) that the CSS holds through out the year.

After playing a documentary DVD, Claire openly admitted, “Every single time I watch that DVD I still get emotional.” She was also quick to point out that volunteers are the backbone of the CCS and “drive the emotional support, fundraising, services and leadership. In FL&A there are only three full-time staff members and a total of 852 volunteers.”

Prior to the November 18 meeting in Flinton, and to better prepare Carolyn for her new role as relay chair, Claire accompanied Carolyn to the recent 2009 Relay for Life Summit held in Toronto on November 13, 14 & 15, along with 300 other relay chairs and co-chairs from across the province.

The Flinton community’s earlier promise of support was made good and by the end of the Flinton meeting on Wednesday night many of the committee head positions had been filled: Sherry Tebo in the role as Survivor chair, and Sue Tobia as Luminary chair. Carolyn informed me also that Scott Pettigrew of the Tweed Twangers had agreed earlier to take on the role as Entertainment chair.

Carolyn has every reason to believe that this year’s relay will be a great one. She said, “We (in the Rec Club) have been organizing the Flinton Jamboree for five years and so have loads of experience. And the facilities that we have here are wonderful and offer everything that we need.”

Outgoing chair Macfarlane made it clear that she will be available for support and advice. She also confided that while the first year as chair can be the most challenging, it is also the most exciting. "You just get so revved up. It's phenomenal and the feeling that you have when you stand on that stage and see all of the people who have helped can be very emotional."

Carolyn explained, “The real challenge for me will be coordinating everyone and everything to make it a successful event. I have the bonus of working with a lot of people who I have worked closely with before and who thankfully are very willing to help out. I wouldn‘t have been able to take this on without their support.”

Carolyn's impetus in becoming chair comes from a need to help fundraise for all types of cancer and, as she explained it, "as way of fighting back and raising funds that will go directly back into the community."

The Flinton Relay for LIfe is scheduled to take place on June 11/12 at the Flinton Recreation Centre. Anyone who missed the first meeting and who would like to volunteer to help or participate in the 2010 Relay for Life can contact Carolyn Hasler at 613-336-8659 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Back to HomeFeature Article - September 24, 2009 Addington Highlands Council -Sep. 21/09By Jule Koch Brison

UN-MAINTAINED ROADS: A request from Marlene Bowman of Kaladar for improvements to her road prompted a discussion about AH’s policy, or lack thereof, on un-maintained township roads.

“She’s not looking for her road to be redone,” said Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch. “She would like a culvert and some gravel; her son-in-law has heavy equipment and could do the work.”

“We’ve got to get a policy on un-maintained roads,” said Councilor Eythel Grant.

Yanch replied, “We did that at the last meeting but we left it open for them [ratepayers] to ask – it’s the least we can do. In most cases they’re not asking for a lot – a culvert, a load of gravel… they are township roads and they do pay taxes… we do have to be reasonable.”

Reeve Henry Hogg said he didn’t know what the answer is, as there are more un-maintained than maintained roads in the township.

A decision on Marlene Bowman’s request was deferred until Roads Supervisor Royce Rosenblath returns from his holidays.

SEPTIC REINSPECTION: The Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations sent a letter to council requesting that the township initiate a voluntary septic and grey water inspection program for Mazinaw Lake.

Reeve Hogg said that any such program would have to be township-wide and couldn’t be confined just to Mazinaw Lake. He said the costs would be considerable and the township couldn’t bear them; it would have to be a user-pay program.

Deputy Reeve Yanch said she had the impression that other townships that have embarked on septic inspection programs had received grants and suggested that the cottage associations could look into securing grants.

Township Clerk Jack Pauhl said that a delegation would be coming to the next council meeting with a similar request for Skootamatta Lake and a decision was deferred to the next meeting.

TENDER REFUSED: Only one tender was received for an addition to the Denbigh township garage, and it was almost twice as much as Royce Rosenblath had estimated. Council voted to accept Rosenblath’s recommendation, which was to not accept the tender. Jewell Engineering will investigate whether the work could be done in-house.

RECYCLING CENTRE: Seven municipalities including Addington Highlands, which were serviced by the Renfrew County Recycling Centre, have been looking into taking the centre over when its owner retires. Although Addington Highlands had budgeted money for the centre, the township decided not to proceed because of uncertainties about whether the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) would order it closed.

JOINT FIRE BOARD: North Frontenac Township and Addington Highlands share a joint fire board, and North Frontenac has requested that the two townships hire a lawyer to attend a meeting with both councils and re-write the joint fire board agreement. Reeve Hogg said that would cost approximately $6,000, which he did not feel was a justifiable expenditure. Township Clerk Jack Pauhl commented that North Frontenac’s concerns could be dealt with in an operational bylaw, separate from the agreement.

Council voted to decline North Frontenac’s request and instead ask North Frontenac specifically what changes it wishes to see, make the changes and then submit the agreement to the lawyer.

A ROAD BY ANY OTHER NAME: County Road 29 is also signed as the Flinton Road and Bridgewater Road. There is also a Bridgewater Road in the nearby village of Tweed. In addition, the Old Flinton Road is also signed as the Upper Flinton Road where it meets Highway 7. This all results in some confusion for emergency services trying to respond to calls. Deputy Reeve Yanch discussed an email she had received from a ratepayer, requesting an official name change of her road because an ambulance had difficulty finding her house. Yanch herself lives on County Road 29 where it is signed as Bridgewater Road and she requested that the road be only signed as County Road 29.

Township Clerk Pauhl pointed out that public notice would have to be given for road renaming and Councilors Janice Kerr and Louise Scott both said that the township should look into the costs because all the 911 numbers and mapping would have to be changed.

Yanch asked, “What’s the price of people’s health and safety?” She also said, “It’s not a matter of costs; it needs to be done.” She brought forward a motion to rename the Flinton Road but no other council member would second the motion. Councilor Scott then suggested amending Yanch’s motion to include investigating the renaming costs first and the motion passed.

INFRASTRUCTURE: Council passed a bylaw to authorize certain capital works; to apply to the Ontario Infrastructure Projects Corporation (OPIC) for financing; and also to borrow from OPIC to meet the needs of financing the projects, which include a rebuild of the Matawatchan Road, and upgrades to the Northbrook Fire Hall.

Back to HomeFeature Article - August 6, 2009

Flinton Jamboree

Canadian Guitar Festival

Blue Skies

3 Music Festivals August Long WeekendThe region was most definitely alive with sounds of music this past weekend and music lovers had the luxury of choosing from a number of high quality events. Flinton jamboree

by Julie Druker

The Blue River Band of Kingston, one of many local bands that performed at the Flinton Country Bluegrass Jamboree on Saturday

The 5th annual Flinton Country Bluegrass Jamboree took place from July 31 to August 2 on the grounds of the Flinton Recreation Centre and was bigger than ever, with close to 300 trailers camping on site, 235 more than their first year.

A no-fuss, no-muss music event, the stage was comprised of an open-sided transport truck that straddled home plate at the Flinton ball diamond. Show goers set up their folding chairs on the infield and a big top tent provided shade for those in need. A folding chair, and an umbrella for shade were the bare essentials at this event; the Flinton Recreation Club took care of everything else, including food with a full canteen menu.

Harold Bonner of Valley Heritage Radio station CJHR emceed. The talent included a wide range of local and from-away bands. Young local talent also had their time to shine on Friday night. Singer Dallas Arney wowed the crowd with her original songs and is a bright country singing star definitely on the rise.

When I arrived midday on Saturday the sun was high and Neon Blue, a traditional new country band from Bancroft, was just wrapping up a fast and furious 45 minute set that included classics like CCR’s “Old Cotton Fields Back Home” and George Strait’s “Amarillo by Morning”. The band’s original song “Katie” won inclusion in the recent Moosetrax compilation CD. Another original song “Thank God for the Simple Man” made the gospel charts in the States.

Band member Dale Doney, who plays rhythm guitar in the band, loves the Flinton venue; it’s their second time playing here. “It’s a great crowd, not rowdy and there is a really nice family atmosphere here.”

The band New Frontier took to the stage next and lead singer Brian Cosby from Sterling nailed a number of Hank Williams classics, including “Cold Cold Heart”.

Duane Thibault, president of the Flinton Rec Club, said that Steve Piticco and his band South Mountain were a huge draw this year. Well known as one of the foremost Canadian telecaster players around, Steve Piticco has played on almost every country album produced in Canada and has won numerous awards both here and abroad. No doubt he had the undivided attention of the Flinton crowd most of Saturday night.

Wayne Brown was the winner of the raffle for the recital fiddle donated by Murray's Music of Northbrook and the Flinton Recreation Club. Proceeds from the raffle were donated to the Lennox and Addington County's EMS Ambulance Service.

Canadian Guitar Festivalby Julie Druker

The Sebastien Cloutier Band from Trois Rivieres, QC, rocked hard at the 5th Annual Canadian Guitar Festival held at its new permanent home at the Loughborough Lake Holiday Park

South of Sydenham, the 5th Annual Canadian Guitar Festival was held for the first time at Loughborough Lake Holiday Campground. Organizer Del Vezeau co-presented the three-day event with Rob Poland of CandyRat Records and it looks as though this high calibre festival, which offers an array of guitar aficionados playing in a wide variety of styles, has finally found its permanent home.

Completed just days before the event began on Friday was a 80x120 foot super structure that allowed the event to take place under cover.

Well-known and revered Canadian singer/songwriter and guitar legend Don Ross made his regular Friday night appearance. Saturday night performances by Richard Smith, who plays Chet Atkins style guitar, and Gareth Pearson from Wales, who did a reworking of a popular Prince song, received standing ovations.

On Sunday, 19 competitors, some from as far away as Philadelphia and Hawaii, entered the finger-style guitar competition. Ewan Dobson of Toronto won first place and will be heading to Kansas for the International Competition to be held there later this year.

Don Alder, another award-winning guitar player from Vancouver, held a Sunday workshop and displayed his unique finger-stylings. He was inundated with questions from up-and-coming players.

Later that evening, Sebastien Cloutier and his band from Trois Rivieres unleashed a set of heavy guitar rock onto the crowd. They were followed by Antoine Dufour, also of Quebec, who mellowed things out with his acoustic set accompanied by violin.

According to Del, the last five festivals have proven to him that this one-and-only national guitar festival is catching on and is definitely here to stay.

Meanwhile at Blue Skies in Clarendon…..

Vancouver performers rock Blue Skies. By Jeff Green

Vancouver based musicicians, Delhi to Dublin  perform onstage at Blue Skies

“I think we saw a bit of a change this weekend,” said perennial Blue Skies MC Magoo (Bruce Macgregor) on the day after the 36th annual festival ended.

That change came in programming. Joel Leblanc, in his first year as artistic director of the wildly popular festival (the right to purchase camping passes is won in a mail-in lottery) programmed the festival with as many performers in their early 20s as those in their 40s and 50s.

For the audience, which is as multi-generational as can be found in any public event, anywhere, the 15 to 30-year-old set became a mainstream target of the music programming.

“I was talking to Roger James [a popular veteran Kingston-based performer who attends and performs at the Festival] and he said these kids are as good today as we thought we were 35 years ago. But we weren't really that good,” Magoo said as he introduced Gareth Pearson, a 20-year-old finger style guitarist from Wales who had been hustled up to Clarendon after performing at the Guitar Festival the night before.

Not only did Pearson play at breakneck speed, he leapt about the front of the stage, and danced to his interpretation of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, although he did not do the moon walk. His three-song set was extended to four, and he received two standing ovations from the Saturday night crowd.

The youth movement began earlier in the festival with the band O'Darlin' on Friday night and the Abrams Brothers, who did the Saturday afternoon show.

But the two performances that epitomized the youth movement were the Vancouver-based Delhi to Dublin on Friday evening and C.R Avery, who closed the festival on Sunday night.

Delhi to Dublin, as the name suggests, describes their music as “electro-acoustic celto-punjabi fusion, with touches of reggae, break beat, drum ‘n bass and hip hop.”

The ethnically diverse band members did more than play dance music; they were constantly on the move, in a performance style that at times seemed to verge on reckless abandon, but inevitably led to some entertaining synchronized dance. It all served to whip up the audience, young and old.

The band has a hidden goal, however, according to their website - “total global domination. Bouncy banghra leprechauns everywhere.”

After exerting their domination over the Blue Skies community, they immediately flew off to Eugene, Oregon, for a gig the following night.

Two days later, as the festival was winding down, poet C.R. Avery performed with the help of a five-piece band, featuring two fiddles, electric bass, percussion and guitar.

It's hard to characterize what C.R. Avery does, because in some ways he is a throwback to beat poets of the '50s, but he also borrows a lot from hip hop rhythms, and provides his own musical element with beat box rhythms interspersed with harmonica.

The accompanying music ranged from atmospheric background to the spoken word content, to frantic rhythms and screaming guitars. The content of his performance art, which was at times political, at times topical, and at times crude, was uniformly inventive and energetic.

He performed several pieces that are part of the show he has been developing during his summer tour with these musicians, but he left a lot of room for improvisation.

He included a piece about the festival itself after arriving on Friday, and captured in a few minutes much of the nuances of the 36-year-old event, boasting about swimming in the Mississippi River, and “jumping off the Mississippi bridge.”

Avery promised that he would end the festival with a blast instead of winding it down, and he delivered.

Other highlights included: Nova Scotia's Matt Anderson, Toronto blues man Jack Dekeyzer, and Les Temps Dantan from La Belle Province.

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 30, 2009 come to the Flinton Jamboreeby Jeff Green

Steve Pitticco and South Mountain are the featured headliners at this year’s Flinton Jamboree, which runs from Friday until Sunday at the Addington Highlands Township Recreation Centre in Flinton.

This is the fifth year for the festival and advanced ticket sales have been stronger than ever, as is the musical line-up. Joining South Mountain on the Jamboree stage will be White Pine, Handsome Molly, the irrepressible Tweed Twangers, the Moira River Ramblers, Brown Country Sound, New Frontier, Gord Wright and Gospel Grass, Neon Blue, Lazy John, Len Carr & Country Express, and Breakdown.

Emcee Howard Bonner will also be presenting the Loyalist Country Talent Contest Winners on the weekend, as well as local talent, including: Curly Taylor, Larry Birney, Doris Birney, Dallas Arney, Shane Arney, and Kendra Lynn Wilson.

Admission is $35 for a weekend pass, $10 for Friday night, $20 for Saturday, and $10 for Sunday.

To see if there are any more rough camping spots available, contact Duane or Donna Thibault at 613-336-8354.

The canteen will be open all weekend, including Sunday morning for the popular Buffet Breakfast ($8) between 8:00 and 11:00 am.

For four years the Flinton Jamboree has been the event that marks mid-summer in the busy Hwy. 41 corridor summer schedule.

For the finest Country and Bluegrass Music North of 7, come to the Flinton Jamboree this weekend. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 2, 2009 More federal money for Addington HighlandsBy Jeff Green

Reeve Henry Hogg, MP Scott Reid, Roads Superintendent Royce Rosenblath and councillors Louise Scott and Eythel Grant are all smiles over $556,850 infrastructure money.

“So where should we do the photo this time?” asked Lanark Frontenac Lennox and Addington MP Scott Reid when everyone was gathered at the Addington Highlands township office in the basement of the Flinton Recreation Centre.

Reid presented a ceremonial cheque a few weeks ago in Flinton, and has been presenting cheques regularly over the past month in towns all across the three-county riding that he represents.

“The last time I think we took the photo in front of the Red Pines; let’s try that bench, and we’ll do the other one at the outdoor rink,” he said.

The cheque presentation had been organized in order to mark the $556,850 that has been promised to cover the federal and provincial governments’ contributions towards the Matawatchan Road in the north end of the township, and for work on the Denbigh works garage as well. The money comes from the Build Canada fund.

Those grants were announced a couple of weeks ago, but the big news on this day was a new grant, so new that Scott Reid and his assistant Mike Firth didn’t even have a cheque ready for it. This one is a recreation grant from a fund called the RInC fund, and it is a $124,000 federal contribution, to be matched by the Province of Ontario and the township, towards a coverall roof for the Flinton ice rink, which is located next to the Flinton Recreation Centre.

Members of the Flinton Recreation Committee were on hand to thank Scott Reid for that commitment.

Addington Highlands is one of two townships to receive RInC funding, but none of the Frontenac townships’ applications to the fund were successful. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 4, 2009 Addington Highlands CouncilBy Jeff Green

Derelict schoolhouse sparks concern in Flinton

Driving into Flinton from the east on County Road 29, the unmistakable shape of a 1950s era school house appears on the left. But the reality that the former Flinton schoolhouse is in terrible shape is almost immediately apparent.

Boards cover the doors, windows are smashed, and the grass has not been cut this year. On closer inspection it is clear that the building is completely derelict; the roof is gone in places, as are the floors, and there are signs that animals have moved in.

It is the sad end of a building that once was alive with the sounds of grade school children. When the school closed in 1972, it was sold to the Reverends Elgin and Beula Fisher from Sharbot Lake, who had the intention of opening a Christian school for handicapped children at the site.

The Flinton Christian Academy was a project that never really took off, and while Beula and Elgin Fisher tried to keep the building from falling into disrepair, vandalism became common at the site. As the couple aged it became more and more difficult to keep the building from falling apart completely.

Elgin died in 2005 at the age of 87, and Beula now resides at the Sharbot Lake Seniors' home.

Meanwhile the building has become a safety concern as well as a political issue.

Carolyn Hasler and Robert Wood, from the Flinton Community Policing Association, appeared before Addington Highlands Council this week to talk about their concerns about the property.

Among other things they told council that the liaison officer to their association became concerned about the schoolhouse, and paid a visit. He heard noises and found a man using the building as a convenient place to take drugs. An arrest was made.

“Our concerns are not just that the building is an eyesore but that it is not safe. If people wander in there they could be in danger,” said Carolyn Hasler.

The township’s building inspector and bylaw officer Eric Sheppey agreed with what Hasler had said.

He reported that he has tried to approach Mrs. Fisher about the state of the building but a registered letter that he sent was returned unopened.

Sheppey went to visit Mrs. Fisher but reported that she “could not adhere to what I was saying.”

Sheppey then tried to communicate with Mrs. Fisher through Susan Irwin, the Executive Director of Rural Legal Services in Sharbot Lake, but Irwin told him “she was not able to converse with Mrs. Fisher.”

Sheppey said he has been getting prices on “securing the old school”, at which time the township’s lawyer will be contacted on the “proper procedures re: costs being placed on the tax bill.”

Over the past few years there has been interest in the property from several directions. In addition to the building, there is a fair bit of acreage at the back, and the property abuts the township-owned recreation centre property.

The proprietors of the Through the Roof Ministries, located next door, had reportedly expressed interest in the property, as has the Flinton Recreation Committee.

The building however, remains the responsibility of Mrs. Fisher at this time.

There is no doubt that the image of Flinton would be enhanced if the building were demolished and the property redeveloped.

Other former school buildings in Addington Highlands have escaped the fate of the Flinton schoolhouse.

The Kaladar Community Centre and the Northbrook Lions’ Hall are both located in former schools, according to Carolyn Hasler, and the Land O' Lakes Inn in Cloyne, which is now for sale, is also located in a former school.

The issue of the Flinton school is surfacing just as the Limestone Board prepares to sell off the Denbigh School. 

Swim club donation on hold – Addington Highlands Council, June 1, 2009

The Mazinaw Lake swim program sent in a request for a cash donation towards swimming lessons this year. The cost of the program, $65 for four weeks, does not cover the cost to deliver the program to area children, and while fundraising covers some of the extra costs, a donation from the township would help the program make ends meet.

“There are many children in your area that would greatly benefit from a donation by your organisation,” said a letter to council from Chelsea Dacuk, the swim program supervisor.

In considering the proposal, the fact that the program is not offered in the Denbigh area was raised. Council decided to contact Chelsea Dacuk to see why swimming classes are not offered in the North, which would save the need for bussing, before coming to a decision regarding funding.

ROAD PAVING TENDER

Addington Highlands will continue the established practice of accepting road paving tenders prepared for the entire County of Lennox and Addington.

“Greenwood Paving has agreed to keep to the same price as last year,” said Roads Supervisor Royce Rosenblath. The township will spend $60,000 on paving this year, which is on par with budget estimates. The Weslemkoon and Jacques Bay roads, and the portion of Granny’s Lane that the township owns will be re-paved this year. The township has a 10-year road paving schedule to cover all the township's paved roads, and this year’s roads fit into that plan.

GRADER TENDER ACCEPTED

The township will be purchasing a new John Deere grader in the coming weeks, as per the 2009 budget. The tender price came in on budget.

DENBIGH SCHOOLHOUSE – Taking note that the Limestone District School Board has called a public meeting on June 15 in Denbigh to discuss the formal closing of the Denbigh school, Reeve Hogg asked council if he should attend to make a presentation from the township.

The school ceased operations several years ago as bussing children to North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne gained popularity and enrolment slipped below 10 students.

Now the school board will be considering whether to close the school and sell the building.

Henry Hogg said he intends to argue that the township should have the right of first refusal should the building be sold because it has made investments in the school over the years.

The public meeting coincides with the next scheduled Addington Highlands Council meeting, which had been scheduled for 7:00 pm on June 15 at the Denbigh Hall. The council meeting will be put off until 8:00 p.m. to allow Hogg and other members of council to attend the public meeting.

E-WASTE DEPOTS – E-waste recycling has been approved for the Kaladar waste site, and an approval for the Vennachar site is pending. However, at the Mackavoy site there has been a delay due to the wording of the certificate of approval for that site from the Ministry of the Environment, which might take some time to clear up.

CONSTRUCTION STYROFOAM REJECTED BY RECYCLER – A load of waste styrofoam from a construction project using an alternative building system has been rejected by the township’s recycler. The adhesive used on the styrofoam makes recycling impossible. The township will begin charging tipping fees for the material.

Back to HomeFeature Article - April 9, 2009 Local Health Integration Network meeting in FlintonBy Jeff Green

When the Province of Ontario established nine Local Health Integration Networks (LHINS) in 2005, the LHINS were designed to bring regional planning to many of the services that are funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

The Southeast LHIN funds hospitals, long-term care facilities, community care access centers, services for seniors, community health centres, and more in six eastern Ontario counties and the City of Kingston, to the tune of over $900 million each year.

Three years ago, the LHIN completed its first three-year plan, and this week the public sessions for the second three-year plan commenced with a meeting at the Flinton Recreation Centre on April 7.

The region that was covered by the Flinton meeting was Addington Highlands and North and Central Frontenac.

Georgina Thompson, who has been the chair of the Southeast LHIN since its inception, and will continue in the job until 2011, was at the event, and she said she has “been privileged to be involved in the development of the LHIN. Our goal at the start, which is still there, is to get the organizations that deliver care for people to see the bigger picture, and to work together to deliver better service for the people who should always be at the center of the health care system - the patients”.

Although she acknowledged that rural service agencies in Addington Highlands and North and Central Frontenac have always worked well together, she said it is “also important to develop cooperative relationships with urban-based hospitals and other service providers that people in the area access, either in Kingston, Napanee, or Belleville. Urban-rural cooperation is part of integration”.

She said that as the second three-year plan is being developed, there are several issues that are common to all of the LHINs throughout the province. These include: wait times in emergency departments; the number of patients who are taking up hospital beds but who would be better located either in long-term care facilities or at home with the right amount of homecare; and providing chronic care management for the growing number of diabetic patients in the province.

Among the issues of specific concern to the Southeast LHIN is the need to transport patients to services. The LHIN has been able to secure funding for several transportation vans that have been located throughout the region to help the existing transportation service providers, including one in Northbrook, one in Sharbot Lake, and one in Sydenham, but Thompson said “transportation continues to be a challenge for us”.

She also said that the LHIN might be able to provide support to Pine Meadow Nursing Home in its quest for an upgrade to an “A” class facility, which would mean two and one-person rooms at Pine Meadow in place of some of the four-person dormitory-style rooms that Pine Meadow currently has.

The home would like to increase the number of patients it can house and improve the quality of care, as well as build a 32-person supportive care facility on the same grounds for patients who don’t require a nursing home-style facility.

“Our LHIN Board had a tour of Pine Meadow about a month ago, and it is an excellent facility. We agree it needs an upgrade,” Thompson said.

The LHIN oversees long-term care but does not provide funding for capital improvements. “That comes from the ministry” she said “but they do consult with us, so we may be in a position to lend our support”.

A draft version of the three-year work plan will be presented to the public in the next three months, and the plan will be presented to the LHIN Board by the end of the summer, for implementation by the end of the year. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - March 5, 2009 Addington Highlands CouncilBy Jeff Green

Monitoring of Kaladar Waste site –

“Here we have our favourite topic, it seems, the Kaladar Waste site,” said Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch, sitting in for Henry Hogg to chair this week’s Council meeting (March 2).

Council received a report from Quinte–Eco Consultants regarding leachate, groundwater, surface water and gas found in and around at the Kaladar waste site. The report was based on tests that were conducted in the spring, summer, and fall of 2008.

The test results showed there have been impacts on the groundwater in the vicinity of the site, such as increased ph levels, iron and manganese levels, etc. but “no health related parameters exceed the 'Ontario Drinking Water Standards'”.

The waste site is located near wetlands and therefore monitoring is necessary on a consistent basis. The report recommends that a monitoring and sampling program be continued in 2009, and this was accepted by Council.

“I don't think we have a choice,” said Councillor Eythel Grant.

The recommendations were accepted.

Rec. club has ambitious plans – As outlined in a letter to Council, the Flinton Recreation Club would like to enlarge the existing canteen on the grounds, a project that could include building a storage shed for a zamboni that they may be able to acquire. They are seeking council's “support and funding if necessary”. They hope to be able to get a grant from the Hydro Power Play Program to cover the expansion.

The second thing they want to do is put in a coverall for the outdoor rink. This is described in the letter as a “massive project” for which the club will need Council's “permission, guidance and financial support to obtain estimates, expertise, knowledgeable advice, etc. to move forward this project for our community.”

Club President Duane Thibault proposed to meet with Council to discuss the proposal.

Doctor recruitment ad – Ken Hook sent a letter to Council proposing that the township purchase an ad in the Bon Echo tabloid that is “presented each year to 180,000 visitors.”

Of those, a number might be health care professionals who might like to practice in the area if they knew an opportunity existed. The ad would direct readers to the Friends of Bon Echo web site, which would contain a link to the Addington Highlands Doctor Recruitment site.

Council agreed to purchase a 3” by 4” ad for $350.

Half loads on this Sunday – Anyone with major hauling to do should think about trucking this week, because half loads on township roads will be enforced as of Sunday, March 8th, said roads supervisor Royce Rosenblath.

This is consistent with previous years.

“The restrictions will be enforced whether the roads are frozen or not,” Rosenblath said.

Tower upgrades – A letter was received from the lawyers for Bell, Telus and Rogers, which said “one or more of them will be looking to improve the quality of their wireless service in this area within the next 12 months.”

The letter goes on to point out that communications towers are federally regulated and are not bound by municipal zoning laws.

It suggests that a protocol for a consultation process be followed in the mutual interest of providers and the township.

Council passed a resolution to adopt the process and appointed Reeve Hogg to be the township contact for it.

Flinton Bridge construction – Royce Rosenblath reported the Flinton bridge construction is now on track and will “hopefully be completed on time.”