Back to HomeFeature Article - October 1, 2009 Up-and-coming and established players shine at Arden piano concertby Julie Druker

(l-r) Willem N. Sont, Ina Hunt-Turner and Trevor Sabourin

The fourth annual Arden Piano concert that took place on September 26 at the Kennebec Hall in Arden demonstrated that not only is there high quality local talent in the community but that it spans generations.

And for those who find contemporary music sometimes flat, taking refuge in the classics is not without its rewards.

Ina Hunt-Turner set the tone of the concert and focused listeners’ ears and opened the concert with a heartfelt rendition of the Sinatra classic “All the Way”.

Next, Trevor Sabourin, a 15-year-old resident of the Lanark Highlands, dazzled listeners with a play list that included works from the classical cannon by Mozart, Chopin, Bartok, Lecuona, Bach and Liszt, pieces not usually attempted by a piano student who has been playing for just three years.

Trevor demonstrated his technical prowess and emotional understanding of his musical choices that included the dreamy Nocturne in B flat minor Opus 9, No. 1 by Chopin, and an Arabesque by Debussy, among many others.

His technique shone through in the four Inventions and Sinfonias by Bach. Overall, he demonstrated a technical prowess and emotional connection to the music that greatly surpasses his age and three years of study.

He admitted his favorites to play are Chopin and Liszt and said that before taking up piano his music experience was very limited.

That apparently changed one Christmas when his parents brought home an electronic keyboard for the family that had some classical music built into it. Trevor listened to it and fell in love.

I asked Trevor if he considered himself a kind of a prodigy. He answered, “No, I would not want to call myself that since that refers to younger kids who can do anything at a very young age. I learn fast but it takes a lot of hard work. I practise four to five hours a day.”

Cynthia Bredfeldt is his teacher and is thrilled to be teaching a student of Trevor’s calibre. She stated, “I’ve been teaching for over 25 years and you don’t see this very often. It’s astounding and Trevor has a real gift.”

Trevor is working towards his grade 10 piano and then hopes to complete the ARCT diploma in piano performance.

After a short intermission Willem N Sont took to the stage and charmed the audience with his confident and seasoned playing of a number of selections, including works by Brahms, Liszt, and Grieg. Two Mussorgski’s sketches, “The Seamstress” and “In the Crimea” were expertly executed and delightfully demonstrated the comfort and confidence of this seasoned player.

Sont’s playing, like that of all experienced performers, creates a world that invites you in and leaves you hesitant to leave.

Originally from the Netherlands and now a resident of McDonalds Corners, Sont has been playing since he was eight years old and has a teaching diploma from Utrecht Conservatory of Music.

The annual Arden concerts are sponsored by the Township of Central Frontenac and were instigated by Larry Lightstone, a piano tuner/technician who continues to offer his support and technical skills.

Mayor Janet Gutowski and Mr. Lightstone are hoping, with the support of the township and members of the music-loving community, to secure the future acquisition of a grand piano that may be made in partial donation to the hall. The mayor explained, “If we could raise something in the neighbourhood of $1,000 to $1,200 it might be a possibility that we could make a grand piano appear on the stage for the next concert.”

Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible donation for the grand piano, can contact Mayor Janet Gutowski at 613-374-1355.

Back to HomeFeature Article - October 29, 2009 Geminis Come to ArdenBy Jeff Green

The Duthie family have been on Big Clear Lake for a long time.

Sheila Duthie has been coming up to Arden in the summers since she was a baby, and Jim ever since he met Sheila. Their summer home in Arden was the only permanent home the Duthie’s and their three children had for many years because they kept moving across the country following Jim, who was an RCMP Officer.

(Sheilla and Jim are now permanent residents of Arden, where they are fixtures in the local scene, with Jim being the top drummer in town)

So it is fair to say that their son Jamie is an Arden boy. Especially since Jamie has made good.

Better known as James Duthie, Jamie has finally won a Gemini Award as the top sports Anchor in Canada, after being nominated 7 times.

James Duthie brings wit and knowledge to his job as the host of TSN’s hockey coverage week in and week out, and his long deserved Gemini Award, which was stolen several times by the CBC mafia and given to Ron Mclean and others in past years, will only be one highlight of this winter.

In February, James Duthie will be the afternoon host of CTV’s Olympic coverage from Vancouver, (a job that Ron Maclean had when CBC broadcast the Olympics)

The Gemini award caps off a charmed carreer for Duthie.

His father Jim recalls that Jamie has “been a jock almost since day one.”

His spent his early ears in Victoria, where soccer was the dominant sport with a season that ran from September to May. When the Duthies moved back to Ottawa “Jamie was two years ahead of all the soccer players, and two year behind all the hockey players” jim said.

He played soccer with the Gloucester Hornets until he was 17 and also started playing flag football and golf.

He went to Carlton for journalism and while at school was a summer fill in at CJOH TV, where he was offered a job upon graduation.

He drifted to the sports department CJOH and then got a job offer in Vancouver with a new CTV station.

“I think he would have stayed in Vancouver, but he was offered a job at TSN in Toronto, and with his love of sports it was the place to be,” said Jim.

At first he worked on SportsCentre, the sports news show, and then became the Anchor of the CFL broadcasts before becoming the host of the NHL on TSN, where he still is today.

He suffered greatly during the hockey strike a few years ago, being forced to cover golf, which involved travelling to the Open Championship in he UK, and Augusta, Georgia for the Masters. One of the highlights of the strike year for James was an hour and half dinner with Arnold Palmer.

Even with all the travel, James and his wife and three children join the family back in Arden during the summers and over Christmas almost every year.

The next time he comes to the lake, maybe Jamie will some hardware to show off to his proud parents.

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 23, 2009 Arden Garden Party this weekendBy Jeff Green

Mid-July is about the peak time for gardens. The summer flowers are in full bloom and the varied colours and leaf shapes of ornamental shrubs and grasses are also fully developed.

The Arden Artisans: Sarah Hale of Arden Batik, Joanne Pickett of Arden Pottery, and Judith Versavel of the Gallery on the Bay, have decided to hold a garden party on Saturday July 25 to show off their town, their gardens, and maybe sell a bit of their work as well.

“Arden is particularly beautiful at this time of year,” said Sarah Hale in talking about the event, “and last year was the first time we had a little garden party. This year we've got a number of things going on in town, and our studios will be open from 10 – 5 as well.”

The artisans will also be hosting guests. Artist Carol Pepper will be showing paintings and garden book author Janette Haase will be on hand with her latest book, “From Seed to Table”.

In addition to the studios, the Arden firefighters are holding a BBQ at the fire hall to benefit the department, beginning at 11am. The Kennebec Historical Society will be holding an open house to show off their renovated office and meeting room at the Kennebec Hall.

Weather permitting, artists from the area will be spending the day sketching and painting around the village.

At 3:00pm in the hall, Adrian O’Connell will be presenting a historical concert featuring songs from Canada's past, including songs from colonial days, the American Civil War, the Irish famine and the western expansion.

“It is really a chance for people to enjoy Arden; to go for a walk, a swim at the beach, have lunch, enjoy the flowers, enjoy the day,” said Sarah Hale.

To bring the garden party theme to the forefront, the Artisans are encouraging people to wear some kind of fancy summer hat. Whoever wears a hat will not only be making a fashion statement, they will be able to enter a draw at each studio for a piece of work by one of the artisans.

Judith Versavel is a landscape and portrait painter who works in acrylic and watercolour. She also creates jewelry. Joanne Pickett is a long-time potter who makes clay garden sculptures as well as well loved functional pieces for the table. Sarah Hale is a renowned landscape batik artist. She also has cards and name cards available.

For further information about the Arden Garden Party, phone Sarah at 613-335-2073. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 30, 2009 Northern arts scene alive and wellby Julie Druker

Diana Hall of Roblin purchases an original work by up and coming artist A. J. VanDrie at the Bon Echo art Exhibition and Sale at Bon Echo Park, 

It was a feast for the eyes this last weekend for art and craft enthusiasts living or traveling the northern back roads. Three major art events demonstrated the fact that the art scene is not just thriving in the northern regions but is in fact growing.

AMBIENT WOODS: At Clar-Mill Hall in Plevna, the Ambient Woods Creative Collective, just formed in March, held their inaugural group show. Members of the collective and guest artists working in a wide range of mediums displayed their wares, which included quilts, knitted sweaters, paintings, jewelry, pillows, bags, candles and organic body products. Much of the art work on display was inspired by the landscape and wildlife that these artists live side by side with all year long.

Plevna painter Gabriela Klessen’s acrylic works of ravens, roosters and chickens were vibrant and filled with energy and skillfully executed.

Darlene George and her leather creations at the Ambient Woods Creative Collective show in Plevna

Darlene George’s Manidoka Creations included a wide range of native leather crafts and her one-of-a-kind hand-made deerskin vests, each laden with fringe and delicate feathers. Also of interest were her father’s inlaid wooden bolos, western neck gear for the guys.

Organizers and members of the collective were thrilled with the turnout for their first show and are in the process of planning an even larger summer sale and community festival to be held next summer. Member Annemarie Schonauer explained “We’re really trying to get people out to the North, and thankfully, it seems to be working.” Anyone still interested in joining the collective can call Marlene Leeson at 613-479-0297.

BON ECHO: A short drive east and north up Highway 41, the 14th annual Bon Echo Art Exhibition and Sale was in full swing on the second of its three days and attracted a loyal following of both art buyers and sellers. Nestled in the towering pines of Bon Echo Park, the show is renowned for its gorgeous wilderness setting, free live music, yearly canoe raffle and for the high quality and variety of the art, much of it wilderness-themed.

Robin Deruchie of Wolf Creek Carvings in Cloyne displayed a wide selection of wooden animals that he sculpts with a chain saw. Many commissioned pieces have resulted from his exposure here.

Janice Moorhead, a glass artist from Quebec, is also a regular here. Her one-of-a-kind whimsical works are created from pieces of layered glass. Wilderness themes loom large and in one piece a lone canoeist paddles beside a towering rock cliff resembling the Mazinaw Rock just yonder.

New to Bon Echo this year was A.J. VanDrie from Codrington, a 23-year-old graduate of the Haliburton School of Fine Arts who has been painting ever since he can remember. Adopted at birth, the recent loss of his Chippewa birth parents drew him to explore his identity in the spirituality of Aboriginal art. A.J. explained his recent pictures: “When my birth parents passed away I started looking at the work of native artists and visited native art galleries and started seeing things in a more spiritual sense. I was looking for identity as part of the grieving process.”

His current work is reminiscent of paintings by Norval Morrisseau in colour and design and he said, “The strong colours represent the strong emotions that I felt then and still feel now about my birth parents’ passings.”

The Group of Seven painters were also an influence and by combining the two distinctive styles, A.J. tries to “honour both his biological heritage and the European Anglo-Scottish heritage” that he was adopted into.

ARDEN GARDEN PARTY: Back down the 41 highway and east to Arden, the 2nd annual Arden Garden party was wrapping up. In an effort to attract more visitors north, it grew in size this year and included a display by the local historical society, a free concert of Old Canadian songs and free draws to those who came clad in a fancy garden hat.

Arden resident and painter Judith Versavel hosted nine artists at her Gallery by the Bay studio. A graphic designer by trade, she drafts her watercolours meticulously and precisely. She also sells a line of one-of-a-kind-jewelry. She is the newest member of the Arden Artistans, which include batik artist Sarah Hale and local potter Joanne Pickett.

My final stop was at Joanne Pickett’s home, studio and storefront. Joanne has been potting for decades now and her functional production pottery demonstrates her solid design sense and throwing skills.

Party guests at her studio included Sharbot Lake artist Carol Pepper, whose most recent works are inspired by the vegetables she is growing in her garden. These new works incorporate images of various vegetables accompanied by text. Carol explained her intention of “drawing attention to the fact that many of the foods that we eat on a regular basis are genetically modified."

There was definitely something for everyone on Saturday, a testament to the fact that the arts community in the northern regions is continuing to come into its own. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 30, 2009 Northern arts scene alive and wellby Julie Druker

Diana Hall of Roblin purchases an original work by up and coming artist A. J. VanDrie at the Bon Echo art Exhibition and Sale at Bon Echo Park, 

It was a feast for the eyes this last weekend for art and craft enthusiasts living or traveling the northern back roads. Three major art events demonstrated the fact that the art scene is not just thriving in the northern regions but is in fact growing.

AMBIENT WOODS: At Clar-Mill Hall in Plevna, the Ambient Woods Creative Collective, just formed in March, held their inaugural group show. Members of the collective and guest artists working in a wide range of mediums displayed their wares, which included quilts, knitted sweaters, paintings, jewelry, pillows, bags, candles and organic body products. Much of the art work on display was inspired by the landscape and wildlife that these artists live side by side with all year long.

Plevna painter Gabriela Klessen’s acrylic works of ravens, roosters and chickens were vibrant and filled with energy and skillfully executed.

Darlene George and her leather creations at the Ambient Woods Creative Collective show in Plevna

Darlene George’s Manidoka Creations included a wide range of native leather crafts and her one-of-a-kind hand-made deerskin vests, each laden with fringe and delicate feathers. Also of interest were her father’s inlaid wooden bolos, western neck gear for the guys.

Organizers and members of the collective were thrilled with the turnout for their first show and are in the process of planning an even larger summer sale and community festival to be held next summer. Member Annemarie Schonauer explained “We’re really trying to get people out to the North, and thankfully, it seems to be working.” Anyone still interested in joining the collective can call Marlene Leeson at 613-479-0297.

BON ECHO: A short drive east and north up Highway 41, the 14th annual Bon Echo Art Exhibition and Sale was in full swing on the second of its three days and attracted a loyal following of both art buyers and sellers. Nestled in the towering pines of Bon Echo Park, the show is renowned for its gorgeous wilderness setting, free live music, yearly canoe raffle and for the high quality and variety of the art, much of it wilderness-themed.

Robin Deruchie of Wolf Creek Carvings in Cloyne displayed a wide selection of wooden animals that he sculpts with a chain saw. Many commissioned pieces have resulted from his exposure here.

Janice Moorhead, a glass artist from Quebec, is also a regular here. Her one-of-a-kind whimsical works are created from pieces of layered glass. Wilderness themes loom large and in one piece a lone canoeist paddles beside a towering rock cliff resembling the Mazinaw Rock just yonder.

New to Bon Echo this year was A.J. VanDrie from Codrington, a 23-year-old graduate of the Haliburton School of Fine Arts who has been painting ever since he can remember. Adopted at birth, the recent loss of his Chippewa birth parents drew him to explore his identity in the spirituality of Aboriginal art. A.J. explained his recent pictures: “When my birth parents passed away I started looking at the work of native artists and visited native art galleries and started seeing things in a more spiritual sense. I was looking for identity as part of the grieving process.”

His current work is reminiscent of paintings by Norval Morrisseau in colour and design and he said, “The strong colours represent the strong emotions that I felt then and still feel now about my birth parents’ passings.”

The Group of Seven painters were also an influence and by combining the two distinctive styles, A.J. tries to “honour both his biological heritage and the European Anglo-Scottish heritage” that he was adopted into.

ARDEN GARDEN PARTY: Back down the 41 highway and east to Arden, the 2nd annual Arden Garden party was wrapping up. In an effort to attract more visitors north, it grew in size this year and included a display by the local historical society, a free concert of Old Canadian songs and free draws to those who came clad in a fancy garden hat.

Arden resident and painter Judith Versavel hosted nine artists at her Gallery by the Bay studio. A graphic designer by trade, she drafts her watercolours meticulously and precisely. She also sells a line of one-of-a-kind-jewelry. She is the newest member of the Arden Artistans, which include batik artist Sarah Hale and local potter Joanne Pickett.

My final stop was at Joanne Pickett’s home, studio and storefront. Joanne has been potting for decades now and her functional production pottery demonstrates her solid design sense and throwing skills.

Party guests at her studio included Sharbot Lake artist Carol Pepper, whose most recent works are inspired by the vegetables she is growing in her garden. These new works incorporate images of various vegetables accompanied by text. Carol explained her intention of “drawing attention to the fact that many of the foods that we eat on a regular basis are genetically modified."

There was definitely something for everyone on Saturday, a testament to the fact that the arts community in the northern regions is continuing to come into its own. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 11, 2009 Line of sight, yes, but do we have to see itBy Jeff Green

At a public meeting on June 8 concerning the placement of five towers that are set for construction by Barrett Xplore to deliver fixed wireless internet service in parts of Central Frontenac, there was only one major issue raised: the location of the proposed tower in Arden.

Among the people attending the meeting there were a number, including Big Clear Lake Association President Art Dunham, who expressed serious concern over the proposal to put the Arden tower close to the western shore of Big Clear Lake.

“You propose to throw a tower in the Arden sunset,” said one lakefront property owner to Barrett's representative Don Ticknor.

“When the proposed tower locations were first made public, Barrett was going to build a 150 ft. tower in Arden,” Ticknor explained, “but the proposal has now been altered. The tower in Arden is now proposed for 100 feet, which means it can avoid having a 24-hour light on top of it.”

A 150 foot tower in the Mountain Grove area has been added to the original four-tower proposal, because plans to use an existing CTV tower have fallen though. The CTV tower is aging and cannot support the Barrett equipment.

Barrett Xplore made the successful response to a request for proposal (RFP) prepared on behalf of Frontenac County by the consulting firm Actionable Intelligence.

The RFP was designed to make use of $700,000 in funding dollars from the Ontario Ministry of Food, Rural and Agricultural Affairs (OMAFRA) in order to fill gaps in high speed Internet Service in South and Central Frontenac and the Frontenac Islands. Barrett will be spending $1.4 million of their own funds on the $2.1 million project.

They propose to construct four towers in South Frontenac, one on Wolfe Island, and five in Central Frontenac. Service will be provided within the “line of sight” range of the towers.

“While the signal can travel through leaves and some tree cover,” said Ticknor, “it cannot penetrate rock or heavy forest cover. We are certainly constrained in areas like Central Frontenac.”

Where available, the fixed wireless service will be priced at $45 per month, and installation fees will vary depending upon the length of service contract that consumers choose.

Ticknor, and some other Barrett representatives who were with him, explained that the company has had trouble finding suitable locations in the Arden area for a tower.

According to Maureen O'Higgins from Actionable Intelligence, an advantageous location on a ridge near Highway 7 looked promising, and could possibly have provided service towards Kennebec Lake to the north, as well as Big Clear Lake, the village of Arden, and towards Elm Tree to the west, but the land was not available.

Another constraint that the company faces is the need for hydro. “The cost of bringing hydro to more remote locations is something we cannot afford within the constraints of this project,” said Ticknor. “We looked for other sites in Arden and this is the one that will bring service to the village, the lake, and Ardendale [the territory to the west of the village towards Elm Tree].”

Terry Kennedy, of the Kennebec Lake Association, wondered how it was that Barrett was providing service to only a few of the residents of Kennebec Lake.

“Perhaps we could get to Kennebec in the future,” said Ticknor, “but not this time around.”

While there were a number of people, some angrier than others, who spoke against the Big Clear Lake tower location, Art Dunham summed up the position of the Big Clear Lake residents when he delivered a prepared statement.

“We did an online survey,” he said, “and 36 people responded. There was a lot of support for high speed, but overwhelming opposition to the tower location. Surely we could have a vote on the location of the tower.”

It turns out that the only regulatory agency that needs to approve the location of communication towers is Industry Canada. Township approval is not required.

Nonetheless the township’s planning consultant, Glenn Tunnock, had expressed concerns about the proposed towers being located too close to residences. However, Tunnock’s associate Dave Sappleton said the concerns have now been dealt with by Barrett and they have no further objections.

It is unclear where the matter goes from here.

Although Dunham said that “Barrett should go back to the drawing board and find an alternate location,” company officials seemed to indicate there were no ready alternatives.

“A win-win situation would be to get service and not have towers close to our lakes,” said Councilor Gary Smith.

Although they are not obligated to consult further, Maureen O'Higgins said, “The company’s goal is to meet its customers’ needs.”

(Attempts on Tuesday to reach Don Ticknor to clarify Barrett's future plans were unsuccessful because he was away from his office in Markham. We will endeavour to get that perspective for a future edition.) 

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 4, 2009 Trouble with towers - June 8 public meeting over internet towers back onBy Jeff Green

Barret Xplornet is the company that received the contract from Frontenac County to install 150 foot towers for high speed internet to cover service gaps in parts of Central Frontenac Township after the county received a federal grant.

Barret has found four locations for towers and has negotiated a lease agreement with the landowners where the proposed towers are to be located. They sent their plans to the township in April, and while telecommunications towers do not fall under the township’s authority, consultation is required with the local property owners and the local municipality.

Central Frontenac Council took issue with a major cell phone company over its assertion that towers are not subject to municipal processes.

On April 28 the township planner, Glenn Tunnock, issued a report that recommended that two of the Xplornet towers, the ones in Arden and Crow Lake, be located elsewhere from their proposed locations because they would be too close to dwellings and would pose a risk should they fall.

Concerning the Arden tower, Tunnock wrote, “Our main concern with the tower for this site is safety. In the rare event the 45 m (147.6 ft) tall tower was to fall to the south, it would collapse on the house on the same lot causing potential harm or death to humans. This is unacceptable.”

In recommending that Barret find an alternate site, Tunnock said “The topography surrounding Arden provides Barrett with many opportunities to site the tower at the elevation and height required.”

In Arden, Joanne Pickett, who lives near Clear Lake, has been organizing residents who oppose the tower location. “Locating the tower in sight of the lake is not in the interests of property owners on the lake; there are better locations,” she said.

For its part, Barret Xplornet has dismissed Tunnock's concerns. Writing on their behalf, Maureen O'Higgins of Actionable Intelligence, the consultants hired by Frontenac County to manage the wireless high speed internet project, said “ ... the risk of tower collapses is extremely low. No Barret tower has ever collapsed. A data search has not identified any instances of collapse of this kind of stand alone telecommunications tower in Canada.”

O'Higgins said that the risk of a tree collapsing on a house is much greater, and that towers are “precisely engineered; strong winds would pose greater risk to houses than towers.”

A public meeting to discuss the tower locations had been postponed at a meeting of Central Frontenac Council last Tuesday, but the township quickly realised that the meeting needs to take place this month to satisfy requirements of the initial grant, so it has been reinstated.

The proposed Crow Lake tower would be on Cross Road. Tunnock said it is within range of two houses. The Parham tower is slated for a location where Nedow Road becomes Nedow Lane. The Godfrey/Piccadilly tower's proposed location is 1931 Oak Flats road.

While Tunnock had no issue with the location of the Piccadilly and Parham towers, he said that any towers should have a 5 foot 9 inch fence surrounding them for safety reasons.

O'Higgins replied that Barrett will “install anti-climbing shields on every tower”. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 25, 2009 Central Frontenac Councilby Jeff Green

Central Frontenac moves towards mandatory septic re- inspections

Central Frontenac Council, which has sat back while neighbouring municipalities have established limited septic re-inspection programs over the years, is about to leap frog ahead with a comprehensive plan which would see every septic system inspected within 5 years.

Council received in principle a report from Building Inspector Ian Trickett and authorized township staff to make the effort “to have the program initiated starting January 1st, 2010.

In his report, Trickett said that township staff have looked at the voluntary inspections programs that have been embarked on “with varied success”.

He said that the staff of Central Frontenac believe that a successful program can be achieved through: “1. a progressive education campaign, whereby the location, construction and regular maintenance requirements associated with septic systems are stressed, and 2. a mandatory maintenance/inspection regime, implemented and sustained by the municipality.”

Trickett’s report includes detail about how the program will work. Owners of newer systems (less than ten years old) will need only provide proof that they have been pumped out within the last five years to the township, but older systems may require an inspection, which will be paid for by the property owner.

In recognition of the fact that septic systems on waterfront properties pose the greatest environmental risk, and the leadership role that lake associations have taken in pushing for regular inspections, waterfront properties will be targeted first.

“This is an excellent report,” said Mayor Gutowski. “It is a big project, a large undertaking.

“Does this have teeth?” asked Councillor John Purdon.

“It just points out the remedies that are available under the building code act. If it meets certain criteria it makes it possible to go in and fix a problem and charge it to the property owner,” Trickett said.

“In looking at other townships the main problem seems to be septic systems are not pumped out often enough. By the time it is determined that a tank needs to be pumped it has probably damaged the tile bed.”

Council accepted staffs recommended course of action.

Ken Hook for LOLTA – Ken Hook, two months into the job as General Manager of the Land O’lakes Tourist Association, paid his first visit the Central Frontenac Council. He began by thanking the township for its annual support of $6,000 to the 65 year old association, and outlined the services LOLTA offers to its 200 business members and 9 municipalities, including the popular website, travelandolakes.ca, as well as the tourist map and visitors guide.

Recently a $335,000 marketing campaign will enable member businesses, include townships, to receive a 40% rebate on marketing expensed provided they have made efforts to make their buildings accessible.

“An example of this is the Timbr Mart in Sharbot Lake which has an excellent wheelchair ramp,” Hook said. “I was telling Suki that they are eligible for this rebate if they want to do some marketing, up to $5,000 per year.”

Ken Hook said that LOLTA has also put in an application under the Federal Community Adjustment Fund to help pay for improvements at member businesses aimed at increasing accessibility.

“We are good at getting government grants,” he said, “we feel that it is one of our purposes.”

When asked if he had noticed any trends so far this season, Hook said “we will know at the end of the season, but in talking to members we have already seen that campgrounds and other inexpensive options are very popular this year, those people are doing very well.”

Internet voting – Council approved in principle going to internet and telephone voting for next years’ election. Three neighbouring townships, Addington Highlands, Tay Valley, and South Frontenac all used a company called Intellivote the last time around, but Councillors Smith and Purdon wanted staff to bring more information forward about available providers before making a final decision.

Trillium application – The township will apply for a $60,000 grant from the Trillium Foundation to fix up the Oso Hall (AKA the Soldiers Memorial Hall) Identified problem areas include the stairs, both porches, and the handicapped ramp.

E-Waste- Scott’s Environmental will be providing e-waste collection at the township transfer station at Elbow Lake (south of Parham on road 38) Materials that Scott’s will accept include: desktop computers, portable computers, computer peripherals, monitors, televisions and printing devices.

Smoke alarm campaign – Council approved a fire department proposal whereby local firefighters will conduct a door to door education campaign aims at encouraging township residents to comply with the Ontario fore code which requires that working fire alarms be located on every floor of a residence.

Wrong name – In a previous Council report, we mistakenly identified public works employee Matt Murphy as Matt Macdonald. We apologise for any confusion this has caused.

Central Frontenac celebrates Senior’s of the Year.

As the Central Frontenac Council meeting wound down on Tuesday (June 23) the Oso Hall began to fill with people in anticipation of the Senior’s of the Year awards ceremony.

While Kennebec Districts’ Jack Nicolson is a popular guy, it seemed strange that the vast majority of he people coming in seemed to be from Arden.

What about Boyce Fox, the recipient from Olden, Mary Cronk from Hinchinbrooke and Dorothy Fraser, don’t they have friends?

It turned out that all four recipients of the Senior of the Year had ample support. It’s just that the Arden Glee Club, of which Jack Nicolson used to be a member, was performing after the ceremony. That’s why Arden was out in force.

Mary Cronk, the senior of the ear for Hinchinbrooke, was born and raised in the Parham area. She received he award from Councillor Philip smith, who talked about her achievements as an educator. During her teaching career, which started in 1943, May taught over 1200 students in one room school houses and at Hinchinbrooke school. She is a founder of he Rebeccas lodge in Parham, taught Sunday school and played the organ at the Parham United Church, was active in the 4H club, and has been a member of the Parham Agricultural Society and Fair Board for 60 years.

Dorothy Fraser, Oso senior of the year, brought a history of volunteering with her when she came to Central Frontenac some years ago, and she has continued that practice in her new home. She works for he United Way, continues to canvas for the Cancer Society, and is a member of the Zealand Friendship Circle. In addition to volunteering for the food bank, Dorothy recently bought a van so she would be able to drive people around.

“I’m still young” she said upon receiving her award “so I drive the older people where they have to go. As long as I’m able to drive, I’ll do that.”

Boyce fox, Olden Senior of the Year, was a mainstay with the recreation committee and the local snowmobile club for many years. He works hard maintaining the hockey rink in sinter time, and the ball field in the summer, and helps out at Church Dinners whenever he can. Recently, he jumped in and put out a grass fire at a neighbours property, when the property owners’ were away.

Jack Nicolson (no relation – I’ve always wanted to say that) is the Kenenbec Senios of the Year. In listing his accomplishments, Gary Smith bypassed Jack’s career as a municipal politician, but there was plenty to talk about. Jack was the chair of the Pine Meadow Board at one time, was a member of the 911 committee, a chair of the Board at Northern Frontenac Community Services, chair of both the Quinte and Napanee Conservation Authorities, treasurer of the Arden United Church Patoral charge, and is the current chair of the Kenenbec Rec. Committee.

He said “most of time it’s been a lot of fun doing things. I’d like to thank my wife Diane for dragging me to Arden kicking and screaming 18 years’ ago.

Though he was raised in rural Prince Edward Island, Darin MacKinnon is no stranger to Ontario. The new student minister at the Arden Pastoral Charge just finished his second week of services since he was appointed to his new post on January 1. He will be leading the three congregations that make up the charge, which includes the United churches of Arden, Mountain Grove and Henderson. MacKinnon is replacing outgoing Reverend Barbara Mahood, who left the post last August after serving for 13 years to head up the Pastoral Charge of Newburg and Centreville. In the interim, a number of supply ministers served the three congregations prior to MacKinnon’s appointment.

At his first services, which took place on January 5 in Arden and Mountain Grove, MacKinnon was introduced to the congregations by John Purdon. MacKinnon grew up in eastern Prince Edward Island and went to school at the University of PEI. He also studied for three years at Queen's University’s School of Religion in Kingston and graduated from there in June 2013 before beginning the first of a required two-year internship. MacKinnon comes to his post with a diverse work background. He first studied education and worked as a supply teacher and also taught history courses at the University of PEI. He said that history remains close to his heart and helps to inform his style of ministering. “I like to reflect on history and heritage in my sermons. I like to know where certain ideas came from and why we say and do certain things and to know where that comes from.”

MacKinnon also worked in the environmental and heritage/culture departments for the provincial government while in PEI and said that that those experiences allow him to appreciate the natural world, its current issues and the unique heritage we share as Canadians across the country. “A lot of what these small churches are about is a unique heritage. There is a lot of personal history that people have here and they value that. I think that they want to see that history celebrated and honored and I feel that I am someone who can honor and respect that.”

For his first experience ministering MacKinnon said that this is an exciting time for him. “I look forward to meeting new people in this new place and exploring my faith with them and new ways of talking about Christianity. This is a great opportunity to test the waters of my sense of calling and for me to see how that is received. It will also present an opportunity for me to learn from the people here, to learn about their customs, values and traditions.” Regarding the challenges his new position poses, MacKinnon said that one will be trying to relate to “all generations and to come up with a relevant message that all can appreciate and one that is still true to what I feel and believe.” Serving three separate congregations will also pose its own special challenges. “I am assuming that each congregation will have its own personality and its own needs and perspectives, which is something that I will have to learn to appreciate, understand and be able to respond to.”

MacKinnon said that he has received a very warm reception so far. “I have visited some people already, at their homes and shared some meals and feel that the people here seem very open-minded and friendly.” MacKinnon said that he is looking forward to an upcoming meeting with the church elders, where he hopes to learn more about the work and life of the local church community. He added that he is also excited to be living and serving in such a naturally beautiful part of Ontario and said he hopes to do a bit of canoeing, hiking and biking.

Regular services take place on Sunday morning in Arden at 10 a.m. and in Mountain Grove at 11:15 a.m. Services will resume in Henderson at the end of February. Anyone wanting to contact the new minister can call the church office in Arden at 613-335-2474.

Editorial by Jeff Green

Normally I thank our staff, readers, and advertisers on this, our last issue of 2013, and I would like to do so this year as well.

As I look back on the stories we covered this past year, a few stories, it seems to me, have been left hanging. The saga of Frontenac County Council is one of them.

On one hand, the politicians recognise that the townships need to work together, but on the other there is resistance to giving the county any role in bringing that about. We have an article on an organizational review that was just presented to county council, which explicitly points to this dilemma.

One item that was not part of the report's recommendations but was in the narrative, refers to something I have thought about in the past but have never seen anyone take up. It says the County should consider selling or renting out its current office space adjacent to Fairmount Home in rural Kingston and coming home to the county by building a new office. If the county used some of its reserves to build an office, perhaps in Verona, it might change everything.

Other stories this year were more serious than the sometimes comical shenaningans at Frontenac County.

It has been five months since a troubled man was killed by police on the Arden Road in late July, and the Special Investigations Unit has yet to file a report. Other cases that took place at around the same time have been cleared up by the SIU and we await the report in this case.

Finally, in October, 500 members of the Shabot Obaadjiwan received form letters informing them that they are no longer electors for the Algonquin Land Claim, and while they may have Aboriginal heritage, there is not credible evidence they are descended from Algonquins.

These people are descendants of Francis and Mary Sharbot, the founders of Sharbot Lake. Until the land claim came along, the Sharbots had been considered as Mohawks, but they were recruited by the Algonquin Land Claim and their Algonquin status was verified by the same genealogist who now says they are not Algonquin.

There will be more to this story coming up as the Shabot Obaadjiwan seek to bring two-thirds of their members back into the land claim fold. I can’t help but think that this entire episode is reminiscent of how Canadian governments stole the identities of Aboriginal peoples in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Restoring identity and dignity is one of the major goals of the land claims process, but in the case of families like the the Badours. Hollywoods, and Cotas, the opposite is taking place. The only scant comfort in this lies in the fact that these families are resilient, and they will certainly persevere.

Happy Christmas.