Photo: Johnny Vinkle hitting, (check out the height) with Skyler Howes and Callum McGregor covering the hit. Photo courtesy of Diana Billingsley

The Senior Boys Panthers headed to Mackenzie High school in Deep River on November 17 after winning two in eight of their KASSAA season. The team was seeded sixth at the EOSSA tournament and played Renfrew High School in their first game. Both games were extremely close, though the Panthers lost the first two sets to Renfrew, and in the second game played Rideau HS with Rideau coming out on top in the end, taking the first two set 25-20 and 25-30. Sharbot Lake coach Mark Elliot, who has been coaching volleyball at Sharbot Lake since 1985, was pleased with how the team played. “Our guys played exceptionally well. They picked up most of the other teams’ hits, blocked well and were really powerful at the net.” Elliot said even the opposing team coaches felt the Panthers might have stood a better chance if the circumstances had been a bit different and if our team had been seeded differently. Following the Renfrew game, the opposing coach told Elliott that the Panthers likely could have been third or fourth in the other pool and that if that had been the case, they likely would have made it into the semi final round.

Panthers middle hitter John Vinkle had “a mammoth tournament”, Elliot said. “I have never seen him play that well and everyone had their eyes on him… Setter Skyler Howes also had a great tournament and was consistent throughout.” Hats off to the Panthers who had a great season this year and for making it to EOSSA for their first time since 2003. Coach Elliot is already fired up for next year. “We have a number of juniors coming up so we might just be that much deeper and stronger next year and in fact might just be looking at giving OFSSA a go” Things are looking bright for Senior Boys Volleyball at SLHS.

There are still five spaces available for anyone aged 15-30 looking for a paid training/employment opportunity this fall in the Sharbot Lake and surrounding area.

The federally funded program called the Blossoms Project is being offered through the Sharbot Lake branch of St. Lawrence College Employment Centre and it commences on Monday, November 14. Program coordinator Karen McGregor hopes to see all the spaces fill up. “In a region like this where seasonal work tends to dry up in the fall, this is a great opportunity for someone to gain skills and experience when normally there would not be any employment opportunities. This program not only offers youth a chance to build on their skills and confidence but gives them a chance to carry out a number of projects in the community that have the definite possibility of opening up new doors for them.” The program pays participants for 30 hours a week at $10.25/hour for 12 weeks and also offers participants a pair of free work boots along with a bonus of $500 to those who complete the program. The program is specifically designed for those who have some barriers to employment or education, be it living in a rural area, being a single parent or having an incomplete high school education. It aims to give youth the experience and skills they need to either become more employable or to return to school.

The 12-week program begins with a six-week in-class training segment where students will learn various employment skills like resumé and cover letter writing. Professional trainers will be brought into the classroom to certify participants, free of charge, in First Aid/CPR, Smart Serve, and various safety training areas like Fall Arrest, Confined Spaces and WHMIS.

The second half of the program will offer participants hands-on work projects in the community, and local contractor Bill Young will be leading the group in various community building projects that have been proposed through the township. These proposed projects include designing and building wheel chair accessible picnic tables for area parks, designing and building a new attendant’s shed and a covered drive shed to house recyclable items at the Wemp Road dump site, and other smaller projects as well.

McGregor is especially excited about the community projects section of the program. “These projects offer participants a chance to learn a wide variety of skills including research and design skills, hands-on technical skills as well as communication skills which are all transferable. Not only that but these programs have shown when young people are actively involved in creating beauty in their community, they also will tend to take pride in the community.” ”

Organizers have already filled their quota for grade twelve graduates for the program but spaces are still available for those who have not completed their grade 12 education. Anyone interested in participating in the program can contact Karen McGregor or Ashley Barrie at 613-545-3949 ext.1890.

Photo: Dennis Burr

On October 29, about 15 people undertook a hike to the Arden Canyon, a unique geologic feature that extends for several kilometres southeast of Arden. The hike was organized by the Friends of Arden and was led by Don Scott, a born and bred Ardenite who knows the area like the back of his hand. Don has visited the gorge many times since he was young, for hunting or just to have some quiet times.

Retired Queen’s geology professor, Dugald Carmichael, came on the hike and was able to explain some of the gorge’s unique features to the group. He explained that the high ground surrounding the canyon is granite, while the bedrock underneath the marshy valley of the canyon is marble, and so the canyon was formed by the erosion of the marble.

The idea for the hike originally came from Glen Matson, one of the Friends of Arden, who told the group about a beautiful canyon that a lot of people haven’t seen. In preparation for the trek, Friends members David Daski and Guenter Nitsche went ahead and did some trimming and clearing to make the path easier to follow.

The hike was about a 4 kilometre round trip, so while it was not especially long or steep, there were a number of challenging points where the group had to negotiate their way across beaver dams. No one fell in.

From the route’s wooded departure point off Pitt Road, the terrain changed quickly to beaver ponds and rocks, followed by a wide expanse of open rock over which there were few landmarks. No one strayed too far from the leader.

Wintergreen with its bright red berries, among many other plants, and numerous species of mosses and lichens captured the hikers’ interests, with the latter providing a soft place to rest for lunch on the edge of the canyon. Well – a few discreet feet from the edge, anyway.

The gorge is partly on Crown land and partly on township land, and the eventual goal of the Friends is to do some signing and grooming of the trail so that others can enjoy this beautiful feature of the area.

In the meantime, they will be planning more hikes for next year.

(Dugald Carmichael was one of the contributors to the book, “Lennox and Addington”, and for those who have the book, there is an aerial photo that includes the canyon on page 17, though it is a bit hard to pick it out in the photo)

Photo: Rick Day & Beverly Gibson at the newly opened Gibson's Garage in Sharbot Lake.

Beverly Gibson and Rick Day are the new owners of Gibson's Garage, located on Hwy. 7, 1 km west of Road 38, where McKinnon's garage and later the Sharbot Lake Service Centre were once located.

A full-time mechanic, Muril Kennedy, has been hired and Gibson's Service Centre is offering a full range of automotive services. Rick, who has a background as a forester, will be also offering small engine repair service, as well as chain sharpening and chainsaw parts. The waiting room has been fixed up, with couches and a new look, and the office area has been moved to create a small retail space for chainsaw equipment. Gibson's may be starting to sell chainsaws in the future.

For now, however, the focus is on auto service, and on their opening day there was a steady stream of vehicles looking for tire and oil changes for the coming winter season. Service options in the Sharbot Lake area have diminished in recent years, so Beverley and Rick are hopeful they will see a strong demand in the market.

“We are committed to providing good service in a clean environment,” said Beverley Gibson, who has been managing the Canadian Shield Golf course for the past three years.

Beverley and Rick live at Mississippi Station.

Gibson’s Service Centre can be reached at 613-279-2727

Photo: A Spooktacular Halloween party at RKY

A great kids’ Halloween party took place at the RKY camp in Parham on Oct. 29. Put on by the District 4 Hinchinbrooke Recreation Committee with the help of staff at RKY camp and student volunteers, the campgrounds were completely transformed into a ghoulishy spooky haunted playground that had the 60 costumed attendees screaming in frightful glee. The arts and crafts building was transformed into a haunted house with strobe-lit cobwebs with every kind of terrifying Halloween bauble hanging from the rafters. It housed a live coffined ghoul, a hook-handed pirate, and a hidden grim reaper who clawed at unsuspecting visitors’ legs as they passed by. Those who dared enter shrieked in delight and many even returned for a second scare. The party included a guided haunted walk through the surrounding forest. Inside the main dining hall snacks and beverages were served and party goers enjoyed various activities including a coloring contest, pumpkin and cup cake decorating and multiple costume contests with prizes for the winners. For a final treat the costumed mob made their into the dark night to five of the camper cabins each inhabited by costumed staff who offered treats to all who came knocking. Bob Teal, who chairs the committee, said the rec. committee and the RKY staff put in numerous hours to treat local kids to a memorable party. Rhonda Vincent, the food services manager at the camp, said the idea of holding a Halloween party at the camp came to her one fall when she was working at the camp all alone and was completely spooked out. “I thought it would be a great place for the rec committee to have their annual Halloween party and they got on board last year when it was held here for the first time.”

Camp Director Christina Bonner, who is new to the camp this year, said she is pleased to offer up the camp for free to the community for this kind of special event. “Local kids often don't have an opportunity to come to the camp, so putting on events like this gives them a chance to come out and enjoy it.” She said the camp would also be hosting events for the upcoming Frontenac Heritage Festival, so those who missed the opportunity to visit this Halloween will be invited back in February. Hats off to all of the volunteers and staff who helped make this Halloween a memorable one for many local youngsters.

Photo: Gari Jones  and Geri Butler

It was with genuine sadness that the congregations from Parham, Maberly and Sharbot Lake United Churches said goodbye last Sunday, October 30, to their ministerial team Geri Butler and Gary Jones, who after more than 18 years each in the pulpit are retiring from the ministry.

The service was very moving and rich in music.

Stanley Stinchcombe, who plays piano for the Parham congregation, played a wonderful organ rendition of "Bach's Air on a g string" and also led the congregational singing along with Barbara Agnew who played the piano. Barbara was coaxed out of retirement for the occasion and accompanied Christina Wotherspoon in "Hear my cry, O God". Christina is a very talented vocalist and it is always a pleasure to listen to her sing. Christina is also the director of the "Young Choristers".

Both ministers shared the service quoting Ecclesiastes 3:1-15, which highlighted the fact that there is a time for everything; each spoke of their individual interpretation of it. At the end of the service they did a unique and moving "Passing of the Peace".

Neither one has a definite plan yet for the future but I am sure that they will soon be embroiled in something worthwhile. Both are avid environmentalists.

At the well-attended luncheon after the service, the three churches they have served for the last three years wished them well and all expressed the hope that they will often come for a visit.

Photo: SLHS graduate and Elvis Tribute Artist Stephen Goodberry will performing at SLHS on Nov. 4

Ladies looking for an evening of fine entertainment that will benefit two worthy causes should get a ticket while they last for the upcoming “Girls Night Out With Elvis” fundraiser on November 4.

The event was the brainchild of Chris Bertrim, who wanted to raise funds for two passions of hers - breast cancer research and Sharbot Lake High School’s yearbook. Ladies will be entertained by award-winning Elvis Tribute artist Stephen Goodberry, who it just so happens is also a graduate of Sharbot Lake High School. Goodberry, who has been performing as Elvis for just over a year and a half, has been climbing steadily in the ranks. He placed 12th out of 120 artists at this year’s Collingwood Elvis festival and fourth at the Tweed Elvis Festival this past summer. His spot on singing and on-stage antics will be sure to warm up the crowd and make it a night to remember.

Chris said she approached Stephen about performing at the event and Stephen instantly obliged, saying that he'd be thrilled to return to his old high school for a night of fun. The $20 ticket includes a silent auction and a chance to bid on a number of items donated by local individuals and area businesses. Chris also promises a number of secret surprises that will take place throughout the evening. For more information or to purchase tickets call SLHS at 613-279-2131. The fun will take place at the school on November 4 beginning at 7:00 PM.

Photo: Mayor Janet Gutowski, CAO Shawn Trepanier and Louise Dignum with LOLPS poster winners Leah Anne, Aurora, Rebecca, Mariah and Claire.

Students and staff and Land O'Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove gathered for a special assembly on Oct. 25, which capped off their efforts to reduce waste both at school and at home in recognition of the World Wildlife Fund’s Waste Reduction Week campaign, which ran from Oct.17-23.

The campaign was introduced to the school by LOLPS teacher Kim Fournier, who is a member of the WWF. Fournier thought the campaign would generate interest, awareness and action by students at the school. “What better way to bring to the students’ attention awareness of the environment, waste reduction and what they personally can do at school and at home to help divert the waste that is being put into our landfills”, she said.

The students were encouraged to reduce their lunch time meal waste by using food that required less packaging and by recycling whenever possible. Students were also invited to create posters from recycled materials to raise awareness of the environment and the three “Rs”. The resulting posters were judged by a panel on the criteria of creativity, clearness of message, effective use of materials and artistic design. The panel included Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski, CAO Shawn Trépanier and township volunteer Louise Dignum, who all attended the assembly and who each spoke about the ongoing issue of waste reduction, the new rules for waste disposal in Central Frontenac, and the dangers of burning garbage, especially plastics at home. The three handed out certificates and pins to the six first-place winners and ten runners up. The top six winners received complete BPH-free plastic lunch meal container sets and water bottles. All of the students were commended for their efforts and together they managed to reduce their daily school garbage from 4-5 large bags per day to just one in the week of the campaign. They have every intention of keeping that up.

Fournier intends to implement other events at the school to encourage recycling, including a Christmas Swap at the school, where students and staff can bring in items from home that they no longer want or need and can swap. Fournier felt the project was a great success and she has plans to do it again next year. She understands that the students love to know that that their actions can make a difference in the world. “These kids are the ones who will be inheriting the earth that we will be leaving them and we are at a time when we can not turn back the clock. We have to start doing things now to make a difference so that when these students grow up and have children, they too will be able to live in a world where they can view animals in the wild, and be able to venture into wild places that are clean and safe.”

The winning posters will soon be on display at the township office and on the official township website.

Photo: Sydenham's Golden Eagles soar out of the Panthers reach

Sydenham’s and Sharbot Lake’s junior girls basketball teams squared off in Sharbot Lake on Oct. 20, with the Golden Eagles giving the Panthers a run for their money. Sydenham took an early lead and maintained it throughout, never once giving the Panthers an in, though there was lots of action at both ends of the court. The Panthers played a great passing game but failed to get the ball in deep when it counted and by the end of the first quarter Sydenham was up 10-0. In the second the Golden Eagles’ leading scorers Emily Bennett and Katie McNicols shone bright and scored multiple points, increasing their team’s lead by 19 points. Sharbot Lake’s Anna Baker put the Panthers on the scoreboard late in the quarter for the first time and the quarter ended 23-2. In the third, Sydenham scored another 13 points, widening their lead, and the Panthers scored 4 more, ending the third 34-6. In the final quarter the Panthers turned it on, penetrating the net and scoring six more points, their best in any one quarter but it was too little too late. The Eagles took the game with a final score of 38-12. Panthers’ coach Ben Moser has struggled in the past to get players out for the junior girls’ team, and said he was thrilled to have 13 young and enthusiastic players this year. “We have a very enthusiastic team who are very excited to play. Right now we are working on our offense and while winning is not our focus, the main goal of the year is to improve at every game.” The Panthers, who have yet to win a game this year, are definitely improving and Thursday’s game was in their coach’s estimation “by far their best defensive game to date”.

Sydenham’s co-coach Mark Richards said his team is having a great season so far. Mid-way through the season the Golden Eagles have won 6 and lost just 2. Richard said the team’s strength is their speed and defense and he is currently having the players focus on their fast breaks. High scorers for Sydenham on Thursday were Emily Bennett, who scored 12 and Katie McNichols who scored 8. Richards says he hopes the team improves every game and is working hard to get the Golden Eagles ready for the playoffs.

NFLT presents a prize-winning Canadian play “Maple Lodge” is a winner of a Samuel French Canadian Playwrighting contest. Playwright Colleen Curran said that she was “surprised and amazed” when she was contacted with news of her win because she had forgotten that she had entered Maple Lodge into the competition.

Curran lives in Montreal and also spends time at a family owned country house in Vermont. This country house and her family activities there became part of the inspiration for Maple Lodge. She enthusiastically tells stories of her friends and family and other ideas that she used to create the play. But they cannot be told (except to the cast) until after the play has had its run. It can be said that a festival in Blyth, Ontario, an incident in Swanton, Vermont, a birthday party at the Rainbow Room in New York City and a television anchor interview all contributed to the creation of the play. She loves bringing ideas and surprises together for the enjoyment of her audiences.

Her advice for the Maple Lodge cast and audiences is “Have fun!”

Colleen Curran has written more than 20 plays. Her play “True Nature” is now running at the Centaur Theatre in Montreal. It has been described as “sassy, smart and sophisticated”. Colleen is the author of three novels and writes scripts for CBC radio. She is also an actress and performer.

The North Frontenac Little Theatre Company is presenting Maple Lodge at Sharbot Lake High School on November 10 through 13, with a dinner theatre performance on November 12 and a matinee on Sunday afternoon, November 13. Come and be entertained. For dinner theatre tickets, please contact Sally Angle at 613-279-2777.