Painting trees is one way that artist Gwen Frankton believes she can actively take on stand on the environment and conservation, and judging by the turnout at her new show at the MERA school house, she is definitely succeeding in bringing that conversation forward. The show titled “Every Green Tree”, on display until April 28, puts trees front and centre and for those adverse to the term “tree huggers”, her paintings go a long way in making their case.

Frankton, who calls both Ottawa and Maitland, Nova Scotia home, has been painting ever since she acquired a BFA at the University of Windsor decades ago. Now retired and a full time artist, it is her love of nature and particularly trees that inspired this show, which she chose to hold at MERA, a first for her, because as she said, “It just felt like the right kind of place to display this type of work”.

Her mostly acrylic works are lush and vibrant depictions of what she sees when venturing out in the woods of both Nova Scotia and eastern Ontario. The strength of these works is their freshness and frank honesty and the artist's refusal to follow any prescribed formula. She fittingly refers to each of these works as a “portrait”. With a botanist for a father, her childhood was filled with nature and botany so it is no wonder that this kind of subject matter, in her own words “really speaks to me.” Each of her trees is captured as she finds it in the real world, depicted in its own unique and intimate space, in various shapes and forms, and in differing states of light and shade, which gives each painting its own unique composition, color and style. “I think of how I paint trees as portraiture and I treat each tree as an individual entity like you would a person,” she said when we spoke at her vernissage, which took place at MERA on April 12.

One large work titled “Ash Tree by The River”, focuses on one tree that bears a thick, rough, undulating bark surface, which Frankton captured by applying thick, three-dimensional layers of paint that rise from the canvas and invite the viewer's caress. Up close the work is an abstract collection of large swaths of color: blues, purples and mauves on its shady sides; browns, pinks and tans on its front face, and it is unlike any other painting in the show.

Similarly, in “Birch 2, Nova Scotia”, a three trunked birch tree appears lusher than the birches from this area and Frankton explains that this is the case since this particular east coast birch grows near a water logged dyke. Unlike the ash tree, the trunks of this tree are velvety smooth, their finely blended colors slowly transitioning one to the next and with imposing splotches of lichen greens showing the lushness of this tree's wetter surrounds. This work demonstrates Frankton's new tendency to look at trees “particularly where they meet the ground, which is something that has really started to interest me.”

One series of four long thin works titled "Trees 1 through 4" focuses on four different trees at their mid-trunk and each is again a careful and unique color study. Some have a purple-blue glow and others are painted in brighter daylight and boast lively blotches of reds, purples and oranges that define each tree's special and very individual birth marks.

For those who tend to take trees for granted, Frankton's works offer viewers a chance to reconsider that position, and will likely turn those who have yet to really see trees in all their glory into ardent huggers. For more information visit www.gwenfrankton.com.

With nine albums to his credit, two of them gold, and having sold half a million records world-wide, famed Greek Canadian guitarist Pavlo will be performing his energetic and passionate style of Mediterranean flavoured music on Sunday, April 26, at The Crossing Pub at the Sharbot Lake Country Inn. Pavlo first introduced his unique brand of music to the world in 1998 and his highly original compositions are renowned for bringing together many of the world's most unique sounding instruments. In 2011 he released his ninth album to date titled “Six String Blvd” and he continues to be inspired by the words of his father, who said, “Have the courage to do what you love, and the drive to do it well.” A long-time and ardent spokesperson for World Vision and Batten Disease, he has through his concerts, supported over 1000 children world-wide to date. Known for giving away his guitars at almost every one of his shows, Pavlo has made numerous appearances on CBC Radio and Television and continues to perform internationally at over 150 shows every year.

On April 26 he brings his unique and original sound to Sharbot Lake. Tickets are $65 per person and include dinner and the show. Doors open at 6 pm. For advanced tickets call 613-279-2198 or reserve your tickets online at www.sharbotlakeinn.com. For more information about the artist and his music visit www.pavlo.com.

With spring really, really entering into our consciousness, and soon the world around us as well, gardeners around the region are already well into their season.

It was over a month ago, which this year was still basically the dead of winter, when gardeners started getting busy with seed packages and soil-less mixes, planting peppers and leeks, onions, dahlias and petunias and more.

So, as the snow recedes, the seedlings are up and putting out true leaves and the gardens are starting to re-appear.

This seems like as good a time as any to launch a new cooking column devoted, as much as possible, to ingredients that are or can be produced in local gardens and to cooking food that fits the season, whether that means fresh spinach salads in June, a summer BBQ, or a winter stew.

I'm calling it Leek is the new Fennel mainly because I like the way the two words sound, but also because about a year ago I started to use Fennel, a vegetable I had avoided in the past because it was too weird, sort of a cross between a cabbage and a bag of liquorice.

It turns out, it makes a great roasted vegetable, especially when coupled with a gooseberry sauce I learned to make at the same time, finally making use of the gooseberry bushes that have been on our property since we moved here some 25 years ago.

This winter, as we sunk deeper and deeper into the cold, comfort food became more desirable as the weeks dragged on.

Potato Leek soup, served hot, and if possible with a bit of sorrel, or spinach, that has been melted in hot butter, warms and keeps warming. When we had some in my house in the coldest week of February, it was total comfort. For the next month, I snatched up leeks from the grocery store and used them for just about everything. The mild onion flavour, the texture, the way they carmelize when roasted was superb.

For me, they were truly the new Fennel.

Most of us cook about ten dishes regularly, but every once in a while we experiment a little bit. We do something different, add an ingredient, check a recipe and follow it, to change it.

The idea that I would like to capture in this new food column is of simple cooking techniques using fresh ingredients to expand the repertoire of our readers just a little bit.

So, we'll start with two recipes, one looking back a little bit and one looking forward a couple of weeks.

Potage Parmentier (a fancy way of saying potato leek soup)

3 or 4 Leeks

5 or 6 medium potatoes (cut in pieces)

3 or 4 garlic cloves or more to taste (cut in half or quarters if large)

Chicken or Vegetable stock or water (enough to cover vegetables – if short of stock top up with water – no one will ever know)

Salt and pepper to taste

(one bunch sorrel or spinach or flat leaf parsley)

butter

Instructions

Clean and chop up leeks, using as much of the green part that chops easily (be careful to clean out the soil or sand under the green part as well)

Saute the leeks in a combination of butter and oil over low/medium heat until they change colour and begin to fall apart. Add garlic cloves and stir. Then add potatoes and stir fry with the leeks until the potatoes start to soften – 5 minutes. Add enough liquid to cover the vegetables, and salt and pepper as well. Increase heat and bring the liquid to the edge of a boil, then simmer with a pot lid covering about half the pot for 1 to 30 minutes, until the potatoes are mashed potatoes soft. Mash the potatoes and leeks right in the pot, enough to thicken the liquid but not so much as to make a pureed soup.

Leave the soup on low heat.

Melt butter in a pan and add the tender greens (sorrel, spinach or parsely) and cook until the greens shrink down. Ladle soup into bowls and cover with buttery greens.

Serve with bread and salad for a winter meal or as a first course.

Close to 30 youngsters attended the annual Easter Party on April 4 at the Kennebec hall in Arden. The event was organized by members of the Kennebec Recreation Committee, who had their Easter ears on especially for the event. The children, who were accompanied by their parents, enjoyed a free lunch and home made cookies and chocolate cupcakes and took part in a number of games including bean bag toss, Crokinole and more. Numerous Easter themed craft activities that included beading, bracelet making, and a special party bag craft were enjoyed by the youngsters. Wanda Harrison, chair of the Kennebec Recreation Committee, said that the annual event encourages members of the community to “come out on the holiday weekend, meet and socialize with one another while giving us a chance to do meet them as well.” Ten volunteers helped put on the event that continues to be a highlight of the holiday weekend for young and old alike.

Over the Easter weekend over 450 visitors curious about making maple syrup in Central Frontenac visited two farms located on Bell Line Road, where two local families have been producing maple syrup for generations.

The first ever Maple Weekend, designed to promote local syrup makers and their products, was organized by the Lanark and District Maple Syrup Producers Association with support from the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association, the Valley Heartland CFDC, and the Lanark County Tourist Association. If both Conboy farms are any indication of how successful the event was overall, you can bet that the organizers and participating producers must be pleased.

The farm of George and Darlene Conboy and Sons was one local hub of activity where guests were invited to take a horse drawn wagon ride through their sugar bush courtesy of Bill Lee and his team. They were able to collect buckets of sap and add them to a large outdoor boiling pot located near the family's state of the art evaporator house. The four Conboy sons, Jason, Trevor, Devon and Ryan were on hand, offering fresh maple taffy to guests and explaining in detail the entire process of maple syrup production from start to finish while also tending to the wood burning fire in their evaporator house where the sap was being boiled.

The Maple Weekend attracted many local families as well as families and individuals from as far away as Toronto, Ottawa, and Morrisburg. Guests also included visitors from Germany and Florida, some of whom were visiting family and friends for the Easter holiday weekend. Youngsters had a chance to hunt for Easter eggs and also participated in a maple-themed scavenger hunt around the property. Special guest, Mike Procter was dressed appropriately in early settler attire and was offering up tomahawk throwing lessons to visitors as well. They were also invited to sample the various types of syrup and other maple related products including maple butter, maple candy and brittle. Visitors came away with a much better understanding of how maple syrup is produced in the 21st century and for Darlene and her family the event was “not only worthwhile as a family reunion but also a chance to reconnect with many of our customers, who also have become part of the family over the years”.

Just down the road, Mel and Joyce Conboy, with the help of their son Clayton and daughter Lindsay, were offering up similar tours and sample tastes at their generations-old farm. Their guests included local families as well as guests from as far away as Seattle, Ajax and Ottawa. Joyce said that the Maple Weekend did exactly what it was designed to do: “educate people about what we do and how we do it and everyone who attended seemed to thoroughly enjoy the experience.”

Luckily for both Conboy families, the sunny bright weather probably helped with the stellar turn out. Joyce said that leading up to the event they had no idea what to expect and that she was both surprised and thrilled at how successful it was. Both families said that they would be happy to open up their farms again next year, so the first inaugural Maple Weekend of 2015 will likely not be the last.

For those who missed the event, please note that both farms are open all year round for those looking to purchase syrup and other maple related products.

by Pat Fisher

The excitement is building. Rehearsals are underway. North Frontenac Little Theatre is at it again and this time in a very big way: big cast, many costumes, great sets, and much music. They are getting ready to perform "The Music Man" on May 1st and 2nd and May 8th and 9th at 7 o'clock and on May 10th for a final matinee at 2 at the Granite Ridge Education Centre. The cast is made up of 43 people. Seven of them are under 12 years of age, seven are teenagers, and they are our friends, relatives, and neighbours. If you meet the members of the cast and ask them about the play they will smile and say how much fun it is. They especially like the dance warm-up that starts off each night's practice. That's when you hear Tim White calling out above the music, keeping the beat. The stage is crowded with people moving. Barbara Agnew is playing the piano. Christina Wotherspoon directs the music. John Pariselli looks on with his director's eye. While that is going on, Peggy Muldoon is at the back of the gym with boxes and more boxes of costumes that have been used in previous productions. She is masterfully assembling outfits for all 43 people, many needing changes for different scenes. She relies on accessories and about 5% newly created costumes. Parents of young members of the cast are there, some with their tiny children. The youngest is 11 months old but there is a 21 month old, enthralled by the action. In the music room down the hall, assistant director, Carol Belanger is working on a specific part of the play with two cast members. The whole place is alive. I asked a question to many people: what is one word to describe this production and your experience? The answers: brilliant, amazing, impressed, lovely, chaotic, beautiful. Tim summed it up. He said all the people gathered and worked together and something great happened and is continuing to happen. He is thrilled. "It just wants to burst my heart".

Save the date that suits your schedule, invite your family and friends. You will be glad that you did.

The community hall in Harlowe has seen an upsurge in activity this past year thanks to the efforts of a few community-minded music enthusiasts. The regular Harlowe Open Mic/Music Jam/Community Potluck, which takes place on the last Saturday of each month, along with the Olde Tyme Fiddlers who play there every third Friday of the month, have been attracting close to 50 guests at each event.

These musical happenings came about thanks to the efforts of members of the Harlowe Rec Club, three of whom I had a chance to meet at the hall on March 28 while the Saturday Open Mic/Music Jam was in full swing.

Marie White said that the new regular events came about after the Saturday evening dances, which had been taking place there for 13 years, since 1997, started to wane. “The dances started to sour”, Marie said, “and because we had to pay the band and pay for the advertising for the dances, well... it just wasn't worth it anymore.”

In an effort to keep some kind of regular musical events happening at the hall, Marie who loves music and just so happens to be the president of the Olde Tyme Fiddlers' Association in Harlowe, with the help of other members of the Rec committee, who include Marie's husband George White, Terry Good, Pat and David Cuddy and Jannette, initiated the Open Mic/Music Jam and Olde Tyme Fiddlers events. These now keep locals and other music lovers from further afield coming back to Harlowe regularly every month. Admission is free and guests are invited to make a donation to the hall to help pay for its upkeep.

Marie pointed out one couple from Enterprise, Al and Louise Taylor who were up dancing. “They come every month all the way from Enterprise and never miss a week”. Music lovers from Harlowe, Hendersen, Enterprise, Northbrook and other hamlets in the area as well as one couple from Ottawa also regularly attend. On the day of my visit the musical entertainers included Jimmy Dix, Mary O'Donnell, Arnold Miller, Kevin O'Donnell, Ray Whitelock, Dave Johnston, Mary Johnston and Doreen Black.

Like most former two room schoolhouses that have been converted into local community centers, the Harlowe hall has become a hub for the local community. Its hard wood floors and ample hall space plus its updated kitchen and washroom facilities make it the perfect place for entertaining large groups.

While I was there, committee members along with volunteers Fay and Ray White were busy setting up the potluck buffet table in an adjacent room with loads of home made desserts and savory dishes. Committee member Terry Good spoke of the history of the hall, which opened in 1948/49 and was run as a school until 1971/72. At that time it was taken over by the Rec hall committee and in 1986 a $60,000 Wintario grant that was matched (and then some) by funds raised by the hall committee group, allowed for some significant renovations These included moving and updating the kitchen and washroom facilities and the addition of a new roof.

While Harlowe over the years has lost its post office and general store (it used to boast three stores), Good said that he is thankful to still have the hall in the community. The Rec hall club members welcome new visitors to come out to Harlowe, where they stress, “All are welcome”. I would bet that the friendly atmosphere, great music and wonderful food will ensure that one visit to Harlowe is not enough.

A double feature puppet show put on at the Sharbot Lake branch of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library on March 20 attracted over 40 visitors - youngsters, parents and grandparents.

The show, which was in part celebrating World Puppetry Day (March 21) also provided entertainment to youngsters throughout the county at the tail of the March Break. The show was presented by two members of the programming and outreach staff at the KFPL, Brenda MacDonald and Huda Shaltry. They presented two performances, the first titled “The Mightiest”, based on a children’s picture book by Keiko Kaszo and the second, the traditional classic, “The Princess and the Pea” by Hans Christian Andersen.

Youngsters gathered around the festive satin-clad puppet theatre, which was set up in one corner of the library, and enjoyed the unfolding dramas. Many of the more uninhibited children offered up their comments as the plays unfolded.

Children love puppet shows and MacDonald said that she loves to see youngsters “light up” when watching the performances. She explained that the shows are another special way to bring literacy to youngsters. “Puppet shows are a special thing that children don't get to see every day and a new way to present a story to them - they offer up a new way for children to interact,” she said when I spoke to her prior to the performances.

Shaltry added, “A puppet show provides a new creative outlet for children and is a performance art that children, who may tend to be a bit shy, can still get involved in. It is a way that they can also be comfortable performing.” She added that a puppet show is a low cost, highly entertaining production that requires no technology and licensing. “It just requires our hands, our voices, the puppets and our portable theatre.”

MacDonald had been touring the show to various branches of the KFPL during the week of the March break to hundreds of youngsters.

While the youngsters thoroughly immersed themselves in both performances, I was especially intrigued by the older-style puppets that were used in the second performance, The Princess and The Pea. These colourful, hand-crafted puppets are made of papier-mâché and are meticulously painted. They hearken back to puppets and shows that I had a chance to see when I was a child.

For puppet enthusiasts, World Puppetry Day is celebrated every March 21 and according to Wikipedia was begun by Dzhivada Zolfagariho, who in 2000 at the XVIII Congress of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette, (UNIMA) in Madgeburg, proposed the idea. Two years later, at a meeting of the International Council of UNIMA in Atlanta, the date of the celebration was decided and the first celebration took place in 2003.

Sara Carpenter, head librarian at the Sharbot Lake branch, was thrilled with the turnout for the special march Break event. “It's so great to be able to have had the performance here and we are hoping to have another one here again this summer. We are also hoping that the children who attended the show will be encouraged to come back to the library and enjoy what we have to offer them.”

Once again local worshipers and music lovers will be treated to a special Good Friday concert where 30 singers from the choirs of the Harrowsmith Verona United Church Pastoral Charge and St. Paul's Anglican church in Sydenham, along with singers from the community will be performing John Staynor's, “The Crucifixion: A Mediation on the Sacred Passion of the Redeemer”.

The free concert will be conducted once again by Brad Barbeau, music director at St. Paul's Anglican church in Sydenham and the choir will be accompanied on organ by special musical guest Edward Norman, who has traveled once again from British Colombia, in part to play the concert.

Norman, who is a former organist at St. Georges Cathedral in Kingston, performed the piece with the choir last year. The one hour piece features a number of solo parts, which this year will include baritone Phillip Rogers and tenor Jared Buchmayer. The oratorio also offers up a number of cameo solo parts that will be sung by Ralph McInnes and George Turcotte.

The piece tells the story of the Passion, begining at the Garden of Gethsemane and ending at the cross when Jesus “gives up the ghost”. It is a very moving piece and Annabelle Twiddy, musical director of St. Paul's, Harrowsmith and Trinity United, Verona, who has been rehearsing with the choir for weeks, is thrilled to have five or six additional singers this year. Twiddy, who will also be singing in this performance, is equally thrilled to announce that the oratorio will be performed again on Easter Sunday, April 5 at the Bridge Street United Church in Belleville at 3pm. “We put over 200 man hours of practice every year into the piece so we are thrilled to be singing it twice this year," she said.

"The Crucifixion" was performed at St. Paul's in Sydenham in 2012 and again in 2014. For those who have yet to hear the piece, it is more than worth the trip to Sydenham. Music is one special way to unite and move people and that should definitely be the case at this special event. Guests are invited to make a donation to Southern Frontenac Community Services whose numerous programs support many families and individuals in the local community.

by Barb Rodgers

This year the Frontenac Women's Chorus is celebrating its 20th year. The chorus began in 1995 under the direction of Jennifer Bennett. She directed the chorus until 2001, at which time Betty Wagner assumed the role of director. The chorus is made up of about 25 women who rehearse on Monday evenings at Trinity United Church in Verona and new and former members are always invited to join in the fun. The chorus has performed many concerts featuring a varied repertoire in local communities as well as participated in Kiwanis Music Festivals in Kingston.

Former members are invited to celebrate this special occasion with an afternoon get-together and the rehearsing of a familiar piece of music to be sung during the concert performed by the current chorus on May 31 at the Grace Centre in Sydenham, beginning at 3:30. We are requesting that all former members who wish to be a part of this exciting celebration contact either Kathie Nichols at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Barb Rodgers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible.

Our celebration will also include a farewell to Betty Wagner, who is retiring as director. This concert will be Betty's last time directing this dedicated and friendly group of women. The chorus will be welcoming Patty Smith as its new director in the fall.

You will be contacted with further details about the day of the reunion after sending us your contact information. The chorus warmly welcomes former members to come and help us celebrate!