Back to HomeFeature Article - October 16, 2009 Trade show draws 30 plus businesses

The first-ever Frontenac County business trade show will be a featured event during Small Business Week.

Although the event will not take place until next Wednesday, Oct. 21, it is already a success because it has been so well subscribed to by the Frontenac County business community.

Thirty-three businesses - from real estate to broadband internet service, catering and cottages, to frozen food and hand-dyed textiles - a broad range of business will be attending the fair, which will more than fill the Verona Lions Hall.

“We wanted to create an opportunity for the public to learn about what is available locally, and to show their support for those businesses,” said Anne Prichard of the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation, which is organizing the event in conjunction with the Business Development Bank of Canada. “It will also provide an opportunity for businesses to network with one another, and that will also be positive,” Prichard said. “We are quite pleased to have had such a positive response.”

The public is welcome to attend this free event, which will take place between 3:00 and 7:00 pm at the Lions Hall, which is located on Verona Sand Road.

Back to HomeFeature Article - October 22, 2009 Hope’s Place supports local producersBy Julie Druker

Hope Stinchcombe, the new owner and operator of the Parham General Store, aka Hope’s Place

The new sign above the door proclaims the fact that the Parham General Store is in new hands. In fact it has been, for roughly six months since Hope Stinchcombe moved back to Long Lake where she was born and raised.

She took over the business from long-time owner Melville Good in April, 2009 and hasn’t looked back since.

For Hope the move came from a desire to live a more stress-free and independent life. She left a ten-year stint as a shop supervisor at Nortel in Ottawa and so far she has no regrets. “I think I've made the right decision. It’s going well so far but the winters can be tough and I‘ll know for sure after having been in the business for a full year.”

To the less observant shopper, the store looks as charming as always but now even more so with a sitting area for coffee drinkers and artful window displays that change seasonally.

It still remains a homey century-old store where one can find pretty much anything they are looking for. Hope has kept the original wood counter, pressed tin ceiling, wooden floors, and the original shelving intact (built by her great grandfather, Earl Howes) and says that she is “continuing on with the groceries and grain products that Mel established long ago.”

There also remains the deli fridge and counter where purchases are wrapped in butcher paper and tied with string that dangles from a spool mounted on the ceiling.

Upon closer inspection, one realizes that Hope is definitely making an effort to make the store her own by incorporating a wide range of items and products from the local community. One finds on the shelves Wilton cheese, frozen M & C Meats from Sharbot Lake, local honey from Steele’s Apiaries on Long Lake Road, pumpkins and gourds from Ken and Lori Howes’ neighbourhood farm, plus apples and home-made preserves from Maw’s Lakeview Orchard in Prince Edward County.

And it does not end there. Sarah Hawley’s heritage seeds are available seasonally and Hope will soon be selling Sarah’s organic body products as well.

Local craft objects are also available such as Parham artist Heather Hugh’s hand painted t-shirts, along with custom embroidered shirts by Upper Frontenac Graphics. Hope says that she is still in the early stages of setting up the store and is "still looking to carry more local products by other local artisans and producers."

Hope is also selling furniture and other antique collectibles, including glass, ceramics and china pieces that she and other local consignors are buying up at local auctions.

In the summer months she allows local vendors to set up a flea market adjacent to the store outdoors in the parking area, which she says helps bring business into the store.

For Hope there is a comfort and joy in being able to support her local community through her work. She explained, “For me, being able to promote local businesses and vendors from the local area is definitely my priority whenever possible. It makes the community as a whole stronger.”

The Parham General Store - Hope’s Place, is located at the junction in Parham and is open Mon.- Sat. from 7:30AM – 6PM.

Any local artisans and/or producers looking to market their wares there can call Hope or Annette at the store at 613-375-6335.

Back to HomeFeature Article - October 29, 2009 Frontenac County Council – Oct. 27/09By Jeff Green

In the absence of South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison, who was on his honeymoon, the other three members of Frontenac County Council held off on deciding major matters at their October meeting.

The meeting almost didn’t happen at all, because Frontenac Islands Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek has been away much of the month of October, fulfilling his duties as county caucus chair with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

County Council composition debate deferred

The 18-month-old discussion about the future composition of Frontenac County Council was deferred, at which time Frontenac County Council will be under pressure to make a final decision.

“I feel there is a lot of urgency to this,” said North Frontenac Deputy Mayor Jim Beam, the interim representative for North Frontenac on the four-member Council. “There needs to be a public meeting if we decide to make a change, and the four lower-tier municipalities will need to ratify it. That doesn't leave a lot of time before the end of the year. Back in the spring Mayor Vanden Hoek said there was ‘no fire under this’, well now there is.”

Before the matter was deferred Jim Vanden Hoek asked a question about comments that have come back from the four municipalities on council composition.

“My understanding is that three of the municipalities would like to see eight or nine members on council and South Frontenac five, but I am unclear if the second representative from the townships will be a four-year appointment or if we will see new people every year,” he asked

“My understanding is that the second person will be appointed for four years,” said Jim Beam. “Similarly, even though the municipalities did not like the idea of a four-year warden, they felt that should be left up to county council to decide.”

The matter of county council composition was then deferred.

TRAILS: Council did agree, however, to accept the County Trails Master and Implementation Plans, after receiving assurances that neither document ties the county to any funding commitment.

Mayor Vanden Hoek was concerned that the trail not become a county-run program, and sought wording to the effect that a managing partner for the project be sought at the outset.

“I’m trying to separate the county from the activity of the trail. My fear is that if we don’t do this now, it becomes a very large thing that the politicians can’t cut off and move on its own,” he said.

Speaking for the trails development committee, South Frontenac Councilor Alan McPhail said, “The only thing that staff is doing now is putting the implementation plan together, with a new trails advisory committee. Finding a management group for the trail cannot come until we make some basic decisions about the kind of trail we are going to develop.”

The trails implementation committee will now begin its work

Money released for transportation – Frontenac County set aside $80,000 in the 2009 budget for transportation under the heading “Grants to Service Providers”, but the money was held back, pending receipt of a business plan from the fledgling Frontenac Transportation Collaborative.

Rural Routes, which offers transportation service in North and Central Frontenac, and Southern Frontenac Community Services, which does the same in South Frontenac, have been working together to develop a business plan.

That plan was delivered to the county earlier this month. With Mayor Davison absent from the meeting, Mayor Vanden Hoek insisted that the county simply receive the document for information and release the 2009 money to the two agencies involved.

Jane Drew from Rural Routes and Deborah Andrews from Southern Frontenac Community Services expressed relief that the 2009 money will finally be flowing, because their agencies had been stretched to the limit covering the shortfall.

The business plan, which calls for annualized funding from the county in the amount $80,000, will be considered on November 18 at the next county meeting. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - October 29, 2009 Fairs demonstrate the resilience of county’s business communityby Jeff Green

Dave Storm from Fronatenac Shores and Ken Hook of the Land O'Lakes Tourist Association.

A trade fair at the Lions Hall in Verona on Wednesday, October 21 was chock full of businesses, old and new, which represent some of the future directions for business in the county.

Then on Saturday, Oct 24 in Sharbot Lake there was a Natural Health Fair that filled the Oso Hall with a range of practitioners and producers of a variety of products - everything from alternative therapies to natural skin creams and soap products - for an ever-growing market.

The two shows bustled with energy and vision for the future.

The Small Business Trade Show, which was put on by the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation (FCFDC), was conceived by FCFDC Chief Executive Officer Anne Prichard.

“I really didn't know how many businesses we would attract,” a tired Anne Prichard said as about 30 businesses were packing up and heading home in the rainy dark of an October evening, “and all in all it went better than I had hoped.”

The businesses in attendance provided a pretty good glimpse of the opportunities that are cropping up in a region characterized by the twin economic engines of waterfront and the service requirements of an older population. In addition to Lake District Realty, which re-branded itself as a waterfront specialist two years ago, there were representatives from Frontenac Shores, a fractional ownership resort on Mississagagon Lake that is entering its second phase of growth, and Stoneridge Cove, a new seven-cottage development on Bobs Lake.

Alternative energy solutions were on display as well, in addition to three high-speed internet providers, investment companies, and companies such as Hubby’s House, a cleaning service. The Pampered Chef, Something Cool Frozen Foods, and Moms to the Rescue - three food companies all willing to take care of cooking needs for busy families or those looking for a bit of luxury - were also on hand.

“This event is a great opportunity for us to see what other people are doing and consider how businesses in the county can work together in the future” said Marcel Giroux, who was on hand representing the Robinson Group, a mortgage investment company that has seen an increase in business this year in spite of recession worries throughout the economy.

In fact there was little talk of recession throughout the afternoon.

“When you are in business, the only thing you can do is keep working hard every day,” said Alison Robinson of Lake District Realty, summing up the attitude of the vendors in the hall, “the rest will take care of itself”.

Photo right: Tracie Goodberry (L) presenting a cheque to Brenda Piat from the North Frontenac Food Bank, as Carol Belanger and Jocelyne Steeves hand over some of the food that was collected at the Sharbot Lake Health Fair.

From healing to pampering, the Sharbot Lake Natural Health Fair offered Reiki, foot massage, healing creams, meditation, organic coffee, bath and body products, aromatherapy, crystals/stone nutritional products, massage physiogamy, Intuitive Card Readings, and more to a very appreciative public on a sunny Saturday in Sharbot Lake.

The fair came about two years after a similar event had been held. This time the fair was organized by a core committee, headed up by Tracie Goodberry of Dewitt's Corners, who is originally from Parham, along with Carol Belanger of Tichborne and Jocelyne Steeves of Sharbot Lake. All three work in the field of Therapeutic Touch, but rather than competing for clientele they are working in a collaborative vein.

One of the people who stopped in at the fair said she had only planned to stay for 15 minutes or so, but found herself intrigued by so many of the offerings that she stayed for over two hours.

Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski, who helped out with the door prize draws in the afternoon, said it was a “great example of the vibrancy of the local business community”.

The stated goal of the event was to “support and develop our community” and in that spirit, food was collected for the North Frontenac Food Bank, and over $100 was raised from voluntary donations in place of an admission fee to the event.

“At the end of the day, people were already asking about signing up for next year,” said Tracie Goodberry.

Back to HomeFeature Article - September 17, 2009GSCA celebrates the harvestBy Julie Druker

Photo: Andrea Cumpson (centre) of Sonset Farm in Inverary with GSCA chair Lori Reed and Anne Pritchard of the FCSDC at the GSCA’s harvest celebration

The Greater Sydenham Community Association (GSCA) is a community group striving to raise awareness and business activity along the Rutledge Road corridor, and specifically in the three communities of Perth Road, Sydenham and Harrowsmith. At their meeting on September 9, the GSCA invited food producers from in and around the community to set up displays at the Sydenham Town Hall.

Lori Reed, who is chair of the GSCA and also a member of the National Farmers’ Union, explained her motivation. “It’s harvest time and our concept is always to try to promote local business, so it only makes sense that we invited local farmers and their products to help us celebrate this special time of year.”

GSCA members and guests had a chance to mingle and get to know the faces of a number of local farmers whose products are available in and around the community. The event reflected the current global movement towards locally grown, sustainable food and food systems.

The meeting proved to be both informative and inspiring for those looking for alternative sustainable food choices close to home.

Present at the meeting were many well known local farmers including Kim Perry of Local Family Farms in Verona who, along with her husband Dave, owns and operates Perry-Maine-Anjou Farms where they specialize in pastured pork, beef, maple syrup, vegetables and preserves.

Leona Andrew of Southern Frontenac Community Services represented the Good Food Box Program, (GFB) a community-based volunteer initiative whose aim is to make fresh fruits and vegetables available and affordable to everyone in the community. The program runs out of the Rural VISIONS Centre in Sydenham and offers reasonably priced boxes of fresh food and vegetables in a variety of sizes. The program began in 1995 with 40 orders taken from a single site and has grown to the point where now over 800 orders a month are made available at over 41 host sites. (For more information on the program visit www.ruralvisionscentre.org or call Leona Andrew at 613-376-6477.

Also present was Gary Gorr of Gorr’s Maple Syrup, 1085 Gorr Road in Harrowsmith. Gary brought a wide array of pure maple products that he and his family have been making for close to a quarter of a century, including a new product, maple butter. On his farm 1623 trees are tapped on 45 acres of land. His products are available at local stores and at his door.

Beekeeper Tom Kaemmer of ToBa Apiaries near Sydenham comes from a long line of beekeepers and he currently manages 100 bee colonies from which he produces honey and beeswax. He was happy to share his fascination and admiration of bees and spoke of some new and serious challenges presented to bee keepers, namely mites, viruses and the Colony Collapse Syndrome. Despite these difficulties both his work and the bees continue to inspire him.

Darryl Silver of Silverbrook Garden Centre on Rutledge Road between Sydenham and Harrowsmith was also present with the wide array of fresh farm produce and products that he grows right at his businesses location

Andrea Cumpson, president of the NFU’s local 316, operates Sonset Farm, a family farm in Inverary with her husband and son. They sell a variety of organic meat, milk and produce to local buyers. Ever passionate about farming and aware of the tough and critical issues facing farmers today, Cumpson recommended to me viewing the documentary film “Food Inc. to understand what today's farmers are up against.” Cumpson said, “We have to start supporting these local initiatives like Kim Perry’s and when we go to the stores we have to forget about the price. Growing food is not an easy job and neither is marketing it and we have to start really thinking about our purchases and start supporting these people. We (the public) have a lot of power in how we spend our food dollars and right now things are happening in the corporate world that are undermining the farmers' ability to make a decent living and even their ability to survive.”

Prior to mingling with the local farmers and food producers, Lori Reed had a chance to update guests about the GSCA’s recent accomplishments: namely the publication of their 2009/10 directory, the establishment of key signage in all three communities and the recent creation of a website, all of which are helping to draw attention and business to the area.

Anyone interested in joining the GSCA or finding out more about the association can visit www.tgsca, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact Lorie Reed at 613-353-1011.

Everyone is welcome at the next GSCA meeting, which will be held at the Township Hall in Sydenham on Wednesday, December 9 at 7:00pm 

Back to HomeLetters - August 27, 2009Letters: August 27

Generator Stolen From Verona Festival, Doug Lovegrove

Re: Mark Segworth's Warning, Bill Robinson

Where is the local talent?, Shawn McCullough

To the concerned citizen's from Clement Road, Jeff Green

Generator stolen from Verona Festival

Bad news from the festival. Just after the festival’s close down and clean up, a generator that was on loan from Bell Aliant to assist with power for the festival was stolen from the back parking lot at the Verona Free Methodist Church and was last seen Sunday August 16. The stolen generator is a gas-powered portable generator, model ONAN Pro 6000E, serial number I991986215. The Verona Community Association hopes that anyone who may have information on the theft or the present location of the generator would pass the information along to the local office of the OPP, 613-372-1932. They also may contact the festival manager, Wayne Conway, at 613-374-3807.

Doug Lovegrove

Re: Mark Segsworth’s Warning

Yes there was an accident at the corners of Hwy 38 in the village of Harrowsmith and nobody was hurt, and nobody was charged. It was an accident and accidents happen on straight sections of highways all over the world.

The problem has been studied here at these corners for years.

Recently a traffic count was done for a different reason, the count was approx. 4500 vehicles a day

Why spend money on something we know already…. It is a bad situation.

My observations are my own, not the words of John Sherbino, who thinks differently, Also I would like to let him know the count of council was 7 to 2 against the spending $30 K.

Besides we have our own qualified engineer: About the $30K, we could spend that for a passing lane within the settlement area of the village. There is a young couple trying to start a business in the area, who are facing a $28,000 bill from the township for a passing lane. Perhaps the money could be used to help them out.

Councilor Bill Robinson, Harrowsmith

Where is the local talent?

While reading through your paper I came across an article highlighting the entertainment for the up-coming Parham Fair, and couldn't help but wonder, "Where is the local talent?" 

There are a number of great local bands to choose from and yet the fair board seems to repeatedly hire from out of the area, ignoring the local bands. I am a musician born and raised in Parham and have been asked three times to bid on the headlining gig with our band, "Printers Alley".  All of our bids have been markedly lower than Ambush's and yet have been rejected every time. We were not contacted at all this year to bid. 

I have no problem with the boys in Ambush as I know all of them, but it feels like a slap in the face to our band and some of the other great local bands such as "Red Rose Express", "Tailgate, and "The Cellar Hounds", to name a few.  Whoever wrote the article is either just very opinionated or very assuming to write that "Ambush" is "our favorite group". "Our" meaning members of the board who vote against us local bands? Trust me, hire any one of these local bands I mentioned and you'll have as good a show or maybe even better. 

Remember, all of these men and woman are actively involved in our local charities and fund raisers such as "Relay For Life", etc.  I think our area residents would be very happy to see some of this great local talent. Perhaps we need a few more local people on the fair board entertainment committee. That might make a difference!!  Maybe the local musicians should consider putting on our own festival on …let’s say.....the last weekend in August next year in Parham!

As a community, we are encouraged to support local small business and agriculture, etc. But where is the support for musicians?  A local fair is a showcase for what that particular community has to offer, is it not?

Now that I've aired my opinion on behalf of all the local (very talented) musicians,  I'm curious to hear what the rest of the community has to say.

Shawn McCullough

To the concerned citizen's from Clement Road

As a member of the Board of Director's of the North Frontenac Not For Profit Housing Corporation (NFPHC) I take exception to some of the language employed in the “Open Letter to Residents of Clement and Wagner Roads” that has been circulated.

Included among the letter's assertions are the comment that locating rural housing 3.5 kilometres from Sharbot Lake is tantamount to “an ill-advised experiment in social engineering which will put fragile senior's into a forest ...”

I find that a bit rich.

Whoever wrote the letter, which is unsigned, may not like the proposal, and is fully within their rights to appeal the whole thing to the Ontario Municipal Board to be sorted out, even if it that means the housing corporation could lose out on some funding, face increasd costs, or lose the project entirely.

The letter is trying to convince the community that the objections are legitimate by including accusation that the whole thing was “railroaded” through Council, that there is “no local support for this project,” and that it is “something no one else could even hope to get through council” without presenting any evidence.

I must point out that the housing corporation has followed all of the rules that have been laid out before it, and has been open about our intentions and plans from the very beginning.

I recognise the neighbours to this proposed development have concerns, which were expressed at a meeting in which the Housing Corporation invited the neighhbours to discuss the project before it went to the township planning process.

The major concern that I came away with from that meeting is the fact there are problems with the entranceway to Clement Road, and the upkeep of the road itself, both of which are not highlighted in the letter.

I sit on the housing board. Although I am not speaking for the board in this letter, I would like to assure the public that our board is merely trying to fulfill our mandate in bringing senior's housing to our area, insteading of seeing it move to Kingston. We have no hidden agenda, and we have not skipped out on any of the procedural hoops that have been thrown our way.

Whilethe letter writer is happy to make use of his/her right of appeal, which is part of the process, but feels it is ok to say in the same breath that the rest of the process is unfair, that the whole thing is being “railroaded” through.

I have talked to many of the neighbours about this project, and have thought carefully about the concerns that have been expressed, particularly about the entranceway to the project.

But this letter only makes me feel angry that after approach everyone as neighbours, our board is being accused of manipulating a public process.

We are promoting a project we are convinced will be good for the community as a whole, in this location.

People have every right to oppose it, but this letter does more than that. It uses insult and accusation in place of information and well founded concern.

Jeff Green, Board Member(North Frontenac Not-for-Profit Housing Corporation)

Back to HomeFeature Article - August 13, 2009 The Mud House opens its doors in Veronaby Julie Druker

Connie Streatch (aka the Mud Lady) demonstrates the benefits of a mud facial to Kyla Costa of Kingston and Meghan Grimard of Verona

It was perfect timing for Connie Streatch, aka the Mud Lady. She and her staff took part in the Verona Festival Parade on Friday night as a way to invite the community to the grand opening of her new Verona business, The Mud House, which opened its doors to the public on August 8 with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Connie deals in mud, specifically Golden Moor Mud therapy products, which she sells and uses in a number of natural and organic health and beauty spa treatments.

The Golden Moor mud products are made from peat bog mud that comes from near Moose Creek near Cornwall, Ontario. Excavation of the mud began in 1994. Currently about 2000 tons a year are excavated, producing 89 products that are being sold in 13 countries. Golden Moor’s flagship product is a mud bath product that can be used in the privacy of your own home.

Present at the ceremony along with Connie were various corporate representatives and distributors of Golden Moor products and members of her staff, whom she calls “The Power of Mud Team”. Members of her team were on hand demonstrating mud facials on a number of interested clients.

Interested buyers had a chance to sample the pleasant-smelling products. Connie will not only be selling Golden Moor products but will be specializing in ION foot detox treatments, mud facials, wraps and mud baths and complete body detoxification at the Verona location.

She is a firm believer in the benefits of the Golden Moor products. “I have been using the products for six years and decided that, with the incredible results that I and others have been experiencing, I could base my business on services using these products."

Connie is from the Maritimes and came across the products through her brother and knew she could make a business based on the products and treatments. She visited her father here in Verona awhile back and fell in love with the house where her new business is located.

She is actively seeking an aesthetician to work along side her and one of her goals is to provide spa weekends to couples looking for a relaxing, rejuvenating get-away.

The Mud House is located at 6698 Hwy 38 in Verona. More information: www.gvmlm.com/themudlady, or call 613-374-1505, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to make an appointment. Drop-ins are also welcome.

Back to HomeFeature Article - August 20, 2009 Local charity ride and BBQ in eastern cowboy countryBy Julie Druker

Lynn and Leslie Cronk of Eastern Cowboy Horseback Adventures with their long time client Dave Arnold (centre)

Lynn and Leslie Cronk, owners of Eastern Cowboy Horseback Adventures, which is located on their 2500-acre, 4th generation family farm near Parham, will be holding a charity ride/BBQ on Sunday August 23, their first ever in the business’s 7-year history.

The BBQ will be cooked by the Hinchinbrooke Fire Department and the Rebekahs of Parham.

All funds raised by the event will go towards the fire department, the Rebekahs and also to Teja’s Animal Rescue, located north of Cornwall.

The Cronks’ family-run business includes a working beef cattle farm, horse back and trail riding, boarding facilities and a cottage rental business. The business also boasts a life-size, false-front western town called Coyote Gulch, which comes equipped with corals filled with real live horses and cattle, a saloon, a bunk house, a general store, barber shop, hitching posts and a board walk.

This Sunday’s charity event will include a Chinese auction, a donation table and a 2 hour guided trail ride led by Lynn Cronk. Riders are invited to arrive with their own horses at 11:00am and are encouraged to sign up as many sponsors as they can prior to the ride. There is a minimum requirement of $20 in pledges for all participating riders.

Non-riders are also encouraged to attend the event to experience first hand an old-style western town and working farm equipped with horses and Charolais cattle. Musical entertainment will be provided by The Countryman and Bavarian accordion player Eric Morrison.

Nicole Joncas, owner of Teja’s Animal Refuge, will be present on Sunday to give a talk on her business and the rescue operations that she carries out there. Joncas is well known for the legal battle that she is currently spearheading against the Attorney General of Quebec and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for their failure to take action against illegal puppy mills operating in Quebec.

Leslie Cronk became aware of Joncas and the refuge she operates through a client and Leslie’s ongoing support and concern for animal rescue is a big part of what motivated her to organize this charity event.

I spoke with Leslie on Saturday at her farm. “I’ve been rescuing animals since I could walk. I remember missing school to bring a bird to the vet. It’s always been something that I have just had to do and I was lucky that my parents allowed me to do it.” It is also a trait that she has proudly passed down to her four daughters.

The Cronks currently share their farm with 5 dogs, 4 cats and numerous horses that they have rescued over the years.

Dave Arnold, a long-time client and family friend of the Cronks, has been boarding his horse Eric there for the last 3 years.

“I’ve been to many stables and the horses here are extremely well kept and fed and they’re as safe to ride as sitting in church.” He added, “The trails here are magnificent. It’s a great place to come because it is a true family atmosphere filled with warmth and friendliness. You always feel welcome.”

This upcoming event is not only a chance for animal lovers to support animal rescue efforts but also a chance to spend the day in the presence of horses, cattle and other farm animals.

The Cronks are hoping to make the charity ride and BBQ an annual event and Leslie definitely sees it as an opportunity to support other local animal rescue efforts.

For more details please call Leslie Cronk at 613-375-6467, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also visit their website at www.easterncowboy.com

Back to HomeEditorial - August 13, 2009 Paging Randy HillierEditorial by Jeff Green

Basra's Petro-Canada and General Store is open year round at the corner of Highways 7 and 38, providing fuel, snacks, and as many other household items as can be squeezed into the store.

Since 2001 Bob Basra has been in conversation with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) about the entrances to his business and about the MTO's plans for the intersection. He has spent about $100,000 already and the MTO wants him to spend up to $100,000 more just to earn the right to spend money to upgrade his business, which he must do in order to keep Petro-Canada from severing its ties with him.

It's hard enough to keep a business alive in this part of the country without a government agency continually throwing roadblocks in your way.

The MTO has been asking for new entrances, new drainage systems, different drainage systems. They've wasted taxpayers’ money looking at this intersection for 10 years, and the net effect is hardship for business owners trying to make a living on that corner.

Bob Basra has been trying to comply, but in the end there is no satisfying a succession of MTO officials. The MTO officials don't care about Bob Basra, they don't care about small businesses in a struggling community.

So, as Mr. Basra's consulting engineer told Central Frontenac Council this week, the only outlet that is available to the township, the county, or local businesses in this matter is the political outlet.

Someone has to have the clout to take on the Ministry of Transportation, and that puts the matter into the hands of MPP Randy Hillier.

Randy Hillier has made his career out of fighting for the rights of landowners who find themselves powerless in face of the machinery of government. He has had some success, both for his advocates and for his political career by doing this.

Here is another front in that battle.

So put away that fancy suit you wore to run for Conservative Party leader, Randy, and dust off those red suspenders. Jump in your car and head over to Sharbot Lake.

There is more at stake than one business. We need help from government to survive in business out here, not more mindless roadblocks. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 9, 2009 An unforeseen business step in the right directionBy Julie Druker

Kim Gould owner and operator of The Junction Factory Outlet in Sharbot Lake

Ten years ago Kim Gould of Sharbot Lake started up her clothing store called The Junction Factory Outlet, located in the Retail Centre in Sharbot Lake. A busy mother of four she remembers being outraged at the high cost of children’s clothing.

She ran and still runs her discount/new clothing business for children and adults. She offers bargains on popular name brand swimwear like Nyguard and Baltex, and Tabi sweaters are usually priced at a third of the regular retail prices. She ran the original clothing business for 6 years in its first location until she moved it 4 years ago this past April to where it now is.

Kim recalled, “One day out of nowhere my husband came up to me and said, ’Kim, I have something to tell you. I just put an offer in on the Loves to Cook building.'”

With no plans then to become a restaurateur, eventually Kim moved her clothing business into the old restaurant building, opened a gift shop and ran a chip truck out front. Kim recalled, “One summer was enough for me in that truck.“ So she purchased all of the kitchen equipment necessary to start up her own version of a 1950s/1960s style diner, which now takes up two-thirds of the building and also brings in two-thirds of her sales.

A friend, Cheryl Matson, helped her decorate the interior, which feels diner-like, painted in red and pale greens with matching tables and chairs. Elvis, Marilyn and Coke memorabilia decorate the walls and a jukebox still tops her list of must haves.

The menu is diverse and Kim says that her most popular items are their 5-ounce fresh burgers along with their fries, cut fresh everyday and cooked in canola oil. The menu is always being improved, and new this year a wide variety of salads and wraps have been added. Kim said, “I want people to know that it’s not just burgers and fries. You can come here and also have something healthier too.”

For ice cream lovers a huge self serve unit offers customers up to 30 flavours of cones, sundaes and parfaits. Kim is not too shy to boast, “We also have the best milkshakes.”

Her staff has increased in the summer to nine including herself, whom she refers to as “ the general runner arounder”. She travels far and wide and often to purchase supplies while managing and running the two operations.

The part of the job she enjoys most is meeting and speaking with locals and tourists from all over Ontario and the world. "I have customers who will make a day trip from Ottawa and for a lot of travelers it is their regular pit stop."

Kim was happy recently to spend some time speaking to a group of tourists from England learning about their families and lives.

Open all winter and 7 days a week in the summer from 10am -6pm, The Junction Factory Outlet is located at 24601 Hwy 7 at Hwy 38, just beside the liquor store.

Anyone who knows of a jukebox for sale can contact Kim at 613-279-3939.