Back to HomeFeature Article - July 9, 2009 Residents rally to save the Bellrock community hallBy Julie Druker

Kevin Wenkoff and Doris Ritchie at the Bellrock Community Hall

It has been said that history often repeats itself. Such is the case for members of the Bell Rock Community Hall Association who, because of dwindling finances and membership, have been struggling to keep alive the last and only public building and outdoor park space left in their community.

The hall was originally a one-room school house built in 1870. Back in 1949 the school closed down when Prince Charles Public School opened in Verona. In an effort to keep the Bellrock school open as a community center, 20 concerned members of the community held a meeting and formed the Bell Rock Community Hall Association.

With 100% community support they collected donations and were able to purchase the school and its adjacent playing field, which houses a ball diamond, basketball nets and a playground. By purchasing the building, the 20-member volunteer group took on the responsibility of funding, maintaining and operating the hall and the adjoining field.

An entertainment committee was quickly formed that organized dances, receptions, reunions, card tournaments, movie nights, seasonal festivals, annual holiday celebrations and regular fundraising events making the hall a popular gathering place and a focal point in the community for the last six decades.

In the past, members have donated a well, constructed indoor plumbing and washrooms and carried out other numerous tasks involved with the building’s upkeep.

Now 60 years later, the members realize that they are in desperate need of some new volunteer muscle and, of course, money. The cost is roughly $5,000 annually just to keep its doors open.

Doris Ritchie, who is now 75, was one of the original members of the association. She was the association's secretary from 1995-2009 and understands the social and historical significance of the hall, having attended the school and celebrated her wedding reception there in 1950.

In Doris’s words, “The problem now is that a lot of the original members have either moved away or are getting on and can’t do the things that we used to.” But that is not the only issue. Doris explained, “Another problem is that some of the new people in the community have no historical connection to the hall and so are not even really aware of it." Doris still plays euchre at the hall and has been a regular visitor since she was five years old.

On May 25, in an effort to raise community awareness, Doris walked door-to-door speaking to the people of Bellrock about the historic hall. She delivered to them a letter stating the precarious financial situation the hall was in and invited them to attend an emergency meeting. Her efforts were successful. Eighteen interested people showed up, just two less than the original 20 that showed up in 1949.

Next, members of this initial small group wrote up an historical outline of the hall with a survey asking for new ideas and interested volunteers. A total of 150 surveys were sent out along with an invitation to attend a second emergency meeting.

At the second meeting held on June 15, it was found that of the 30 people who responded to the survey, 100% of them wanted to see the hall preserved. At that same meeting a new Bellrock Community Hall Committee for 2009/2010 was formed and the group immediately began brainstorming new ideas for fundraising and community events.

Kevin Wenkoff, who moved with this wife to Bellrock four years ago, is the new chair of the committee. He needs no convincing of the importance in keeping the hall alive for present and future generations. He explained, “There are a few people who definitely want to see the hall kept. A big part of the problem is that some of the younger people here are finding themselves too busy. I’m hoping, though, that we can still convince these people to come out and give any small amount of time that they do have.”

Kevin sees the issue of saving as having come full circle since 1949. He explained, “We’re asking the same questions now: ‘who can help? How can we pay the bills and who can physically help to do these things?’”

The community's wheels are once again turning and thanks to the newly formed committee, a number of events are starting to take shape. Yoga classes will begin on July 13 and a raffle, potluck and vegetable exchange will happen on September 19. Like many good things that exist in our communities, it is the initial impetus and effort of a few that bring about a common good. Thanks to the efforts and Kevin and Doris and many others too numerous to mention, the Bellrock Community Hall looks as though it is entering an exciting new era.

The committee will meet again on July 20 at 7PM and everyone is invited to bring their input. Anyone wanting further information can call Lynn Hutchison at 613-374-1470 or visit www.bellrockcommunityhall.reztel.ca

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 2, 2009 Local “Canada World Youth” volunteer faces daunting task

Luke Maloney is the first youth from Arden to be selected to participate in one of Canada World Youth's international educational programs.

Canada World Youth (CWY) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. Since its creation 37 years ago, 31,000 young people between the ages of17 and 24 have had the opportunity to live and work as volunteers in overseas communities as well as in Canada. Youth from all regions of Canada and more than 65 countries have participated in CWY programs.

Luke's exchange will run for a period of six months starting in September, 2009. The first three months will take place in Somoto, Nicaragua, Central America, where he and other CWY volunteers will team up with local youth, live with local families and work on community-based projects.  Then he and his Canadian and Nicaraguan partners will travel to Prince AlbertSaskatchewan for a further three months where they will be involved as volunteers in a community-oriented work project.

Luke is 19-years-old. He was born and raised in Arden, graduated with honours from Sharbot Lake High School in 2007 and has just finished his 2nd year at the University of Ottawa. He says he applied to Canada World Youth "so that he could participate as a volunteer in this organization's international educational program." He chose this program for its community-based projects and because he is "interested in sharing this enriching experience with other young people from Canada and abroad."

Luke will be returning to Ottawa in March 2010 to continue with his studies when he will also give a slide show and a talk about his experiences.

Like other CWY volunteers, Luke Maloney needs to raise $2,500 so that the organization can give more young people the chance to participate in itsprograms in future years. Luke has been given the deadline of July 30 to raise the entire sum, a daunting task for a small community like Arden.

He is in the process of contacting a number of organizations and individuals in his community, informing them of his participation in the Canada World Youth program, and is looking to the public for support as well. (Donations should be made out to Canada World Youth and sent to Luke Maloney c/o P.O. Box 76, Arden, ON K0H 1B0)

For more information, please contact Luke Maloney at 613-335-2763 in Arden (weekends) or 613-782-6100, ext 6197, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 2, 2009 More than a facelift: a transformationBy Jeff Green

Above: The new facade of the Sharbot Lake Legion. Left: Before it was improved.

When the Trillium Foundation granted $63,800 to Legion Branch 425 (The Hollowood Branch) of Sharbot Lake for renovations, it was one of the first grants to a Legion in the region.

Given the Legion's tradition of volunteerism it also turned out to be $63,000 that became a whole lot more.

Branch President Patty Middleton said, “Between the 10 or so people who worked on the application, and volunteers who worked on parts of the project not covered by the Trillium grant, 800 to 1,000 volunteer hours went into the overall renovation”.

The renovation, which improved the building on the outside through a new entrance way, siding, insulation, and a wheelchair ramp, and modernized and improved the inside of the building, has “made the building more useful for us and more attractive for outside renters,” said Patty Middleton.

An open house to show off the renovations and thank all of the volunteers who worked on the project took place last Sunday, June 28. Local adjudicator Nina Jenkins represented the Trillium Foundation at the event.

The branch was built mostly by volunteers back in 1958. “It was overdue for an upgrade,” according to Middleton, “it was run down pretty badly; the tiles were lifting, and there was no insulation on the outside.” It was losing its appeal even for members when the idea of seeking a Trillium grant struck her about three years ago.

“It was a lot more complicated than I originally thought, but people came through to work through all the details, and we got the grant and got all the work done and more,” she said.

In addition to the work that Trillium covered, Legion members built new cabinets, put on all new trim, painted throughout and did an extensive clean up throughout the building.

The Legion members also made use of their building fund to enhance the building project that the Trillium Foundation funded, but one thing they did not do was seek any form of bank loan or mortgage.

“We've never had a mortgage on this hall,” Patty Middleton said, “and we didn't want to start now. Even though this was the biggest renovation we've ever done, we decided that we would work with what we had, like we've always done.”

The renovations, which were completed in May, were done in time for a busy summer of use for the hall, which will be hosting the entire zone for a fishing derby this coming weekend (July 3, 4, and 5).

The building will also be more attractive as a well-equipped but informal gathering place for birthdays, anniversaries and other events, at a very reasonable rental cost.

The Hollowood branch has contributed extensively to the community life in Sharbot Lake and vicinity for over 50 years, between Friday dinners, Legion speaking, poetry and poster contests, and ceremonial events such as Remembrance Day. With the upgrades to the hall, it will be able to serve those purposes and others for many years to come.

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 2, 2009 In the land of the silver birch, the stab of the loonBy Jeff Green

The Frontenac Stewardship Council held a highly successful all-day loon workshop at the Oso and Anglican Church halls in Sharbot Lake last Saturday. The workshop featured Dr. Charlie Walcott of Cornell University and Kathy Jones, Director of the Canada Lakes Loon Survey of Bird Studies Canada.

Other contributions came from the Nature Lover’s Bookstore in Lanark and Ontario Power Generation, which built a loon nesting platform that was used as a door prize.

Among the 120 plus people who attended the event were representatives from 12 lake associations, all interested in the life cycle of the iconic lake birds, and in their continued success as a species.

According to Kathy Jones, loon populations are stable in Canada. Canadian lakes are ideal habitat for the loons, which are a circumpolar species. While there are threats to loon populations, including loss of habitat, lead sinkers in fishing gear, the impact of acid rain on fish populations, and the impact of human activity such as boating, Jones said there is no indication that the peaceful call of the loon will cease to be heard on our northern lakes.

Loon calls, however, are not quite as peaceful as they might sound to human years. According to Charlie Walcott, who has been studying loons in Wisconsin for the past 16 years, most loon calls are designed to communicate territorial claims, and they are part of a complex set of interactions that are designed to establish which pair of loons will inhabit specific breeding grounds.

Loons are pretty well focused on the real estate business, and their maxim seems to be location, location, location - often with deadly results for male loons trying to protect their territory from other intruding males.

Professor Walcott showed clips of battles between female loons over nesting territory. In all the cases that his research team have studied, the losing female in a battle for territory departs bruised but unharmed.

When males battle for territory, however, the result is fatal for the loser 30% of the time. More ominously for older, established males, in cases when the intruder to a territory loses, the intruder tends overwhelmingly to survive, but when the incumbent loses, they tend to go down with the ship, so to speak. While death sometimes occurs after the battle is over, it is commonly the result of a stab wound to the heart delivered by the pointy beak of the intruder.

The male and female loon that win the desired territory for another year, seem happy to mate with one another.

Their philosophy, according to Walcott is “If you are here, I love you.”

So much for the idea that loons mate for life.

Walcott's research has focused on some smaller lakes because they tend to have a single nesting pair, while larger lakes, particularly those with many secluded bays, can have multiple pairs.

The research has shown that it is the male who chooses the nesting site, and the primary logic seems to be “If it works, do it again.” The first year that a male loon has dominion over a given territory, the hatch rate is about 47%. That rate rises to 80% after a few years.

According to Walcott, the most dangerous time for a loon is before it hatches, because of predation. Once they hatch, they have a pretty good chance of surviving.

Loons are also not very sentimental parents. In the fall, loons tend to hold what he calls “social gatherings that can number up to 15 or 20 birds or more, up to 75 I once witnessed, and we have no idea why.”

After a time the “social gatherings” tend to break up, and loons head off to the south in small groups, ranging from 2 to 10 loons in a travel party. Adult loons leave earlier than their offspring, who are left to fend for themselves, and who tend to wait until the last minute, before the lakes ice over.

Loons will return to their birthplace to start the territorial and mating battles all over again. Charlie Walcott's research has shown that males generally return to within a mile of their birthplace while females range about 15 miles.

This is a bit similar to the habits of some of the people in the audience at the workshop, who go off to disparate locations in the south each fall, only to return to the same cottage each spring or early summer.

Kathy Jones talked to the audience about their role in keeping the loon population healthy in our lakes. Maintaining shoreline in a natural state is crucial, as is water quality since the loon diet is composed mainly of fish.

In the afternoon she talked about loon nesting platforms in detail. These are rafts that are covered with a variety of vegetation to approximate tiny offshore islands. The advantage they bring for loons is to give them a suitable nesting habitat that is hard for many land predators to reach.

It generally takes two or three years for nesting platforms to be used by nesting pairs of loons, and their location is important as well. They are tethered to the shore and loons tend to prefer them to be a bit of distance from the shore.

After the presentations of both Kathy Jones and Charlie Walcott, audience members were full of questions and comments about their experiences with loons over the year.

While the myth of the peaceful loon may be just that, interest in these iconic lake birds is only piqued by information about their social and reproductive habits.

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 11, 2009 Talk about the flying fiddles of timeBy Jeff Green

The Blue Skies Community Fiddle Orchestra was once but a gleam in the eye of Orchestra Director Carolyn Stewart, but for 10 years it has been meeting to rehearse every Saturday through the school year at 10 am sharp. Twice a year, in June and December, and at the Blue Skies Festival in August, the orchestra puts on performances that showcase their collective talents.

Next Sunday, on June 21 at the Maberly Hall, the orchestra will hold their tenth annual June concert. A number of former orchestra members will come back for a reunion concert, and they will all be joined by old friends Kirk and Magoo to celebrate 10 years of fiddle music in Frontenac and Lanark County.

While she said that forming a fiddle orchestra had always been “kind of a dream of mine,” Carolyn was “terrified on the first day of rehearsals because I wondered how I was going to get them all to play together - people who have never played with other people don't know how to do it.”

Carolyn said the first tune the orchestra learned was “Floppy Eared Mule because it was the simplest tune that I knew, and we worked really hard, splitting into groups, clapping along, anything I could think of to help people learn how to play in unison.”

Over the 10 years a few members are still part of the orchestra but there has been a lot of change as well. A Beginner orchestra was established to bring beginning fiddlers to the level where they could join the ever improving Fiddle Orchestra.

One of the highlights of the past ten years was a trip to Cape Breton in 2003.

And then there have been the concerts. “No matter what level the orchestra has been at, they always play their best at the concerts; I’ve come to depend on that,” said Carolyn.

In addition to their own ever-expanding repertoire, the orchestra has been joined by some fine musicians at their concerts, including Kirk and Magoo, Haines and Leighton and others, with funding help from Blue Skies in the Community, which has been a constant source of moral and financial support.

As well, guitars, mandolins and percussion have been added to fill out the sound.

In the past year or so, the orchestra has been playing a number of compositions written by its own members, which has also been rewarding.

“However I am feeling, I just love getting together on Saturdays. I'm really happy to see them every week,” said Carolyn.

And people will also be really happy to see and hear the tenth anniversary concert at the Maberly Hall. Tickets are $12 for adults, and $2 for children and the concert begins at 7:00 pm.

For more information please email Carolyn Stewart at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 613-267-0295.

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 4, 2009 Ompah Fish Hatchery needs new managerBy Linda Rush A small but very dedicated crowd attended a meeting at the Ompah Fish Hatchery on Saturday May 30 to consider the future of this hatchery. Its future is in doubt if a hatchery manager cannot be found. This is a voluntary position, and all of the considerable work that is done at the hatchery is also done by volunteers. Dave Slack, who has been acting as both president and manager of the hatchery, needs to step back from his responsibilities immediately for health reasons. He is planning to remain as president, and his wife Cecilia will remain as secretary and treasurer, but neither can take on the role of manager any longer. Dave will be happy to provide any training needed to a new manager.

The Ompah community is very supportive of the hatchery, and many people lend a hand when needed, or have taken regular responsibility over the years for the feeding of the lake trout hatchlings and the cleaning of the tanks. However someone is needed who will coordinate the volunteers, and who will be available to trouble shoot when things go awry, or when decisions have to be made. This is a major responsibility that not many people are willing to shoulder.

Sheila Bissett did step up to the plate at the meeting and she agreed to act as manager for a two-week period while a concentrated search for someone willing to be manager in the longer term is done. All of the many people who have helped with the hatchery over the years, or who have supported it in other ways, are hoping that this crisis can be solved. If not the Ompah hatchery will need to be closed, and the ministry will remove the hatchlings that are there now to another hatchery. These hatchlings are now used to stock Palmerston, Lucky and Brule lakes with Lake Trout, so anyone who fishes these lakes needs to be concerned as well.

If you have any thoughts or help to offer, call Cecelia Slack at 613-479-0016.

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 4, 2009 Popular Piccadilly Jam Changes venueby Julie Druker

Priscilla Smith of Battersea step danced while her husband Ken fiddled along with other regulars at the first Bedford jam held at the Bedford Hall

In an effort to accommodate the growing popularity of the Piccadilly Hall Jam Session, organizers moved the bi-weekly event from the Piccadilly Hall in Godfrey to the Bedford Township Hall located on the Westport Road just east of Godfrey.

The event, which costs only one dollar to attend, has been taking place in Godfrey since 2007 and has grown steadily in popularity to the point where the hall could no longer safely contain the audience and the constantly growing number of participating musicians.

Joan Shepherd, one of the founding members of the jam session, informed me that the decision to move was made by organizers on May 1. Last Sunday was the first time that the event took place at the new Bedford Hall location.

Joan explained the benefits that the new hall has to offer: more washroom facilities, a roomier kitchen and a legal capacity almost twice the size of the Piccadilly Hall. There is also ample parking, which was becoming an issue at the former location.

Judy Albertson who often co-hosts the jams, manages the sound system and participates as a guitar player and singer, admitted that the move was a difficult decision to make.

The Piccadilly Hall has been the home of the jam for most of its existence and for many musicians and audience members the hall is a nostalgic location closely tied to their lives.

But judging by the turnout on Sunday in Bedford, jam goers seemed more than willing to make the move to the new locale. By 2:00 pm every single seat in the Bedford Hall was filled and for late comers there was standing room only. It was estimated that there were close to 160 people in attendance, which proved that the move was indeed justified.

Gerry Webster hosted Sunday’s jam and as usual a slew of local musicians sat on the sidelines playing softly along to the music coming from the stage while waiting their turn in the spot light.

Brother Brian of CFRC radio at Queen’s University attended the event and raffled off two tickets to Tommi Fest, which were won by Delbert Gibson of Bedford.

The jams are renowned for the variety of music played by the performers: country, bluegrass, folk, gospel music, and yodeling. The usual instruments are banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, and spoons and it is not uncommon for step dancers to take a turn tapping out a tune on the slatted wood floor.

Musicians are asked to sign up on a sheet and then are called to play. Everyone is welcome.

According to Joan “The Piccadilly (now Bedford) jam is a place that takes people back to simpler times when folks got together and played just for the sheer pleasure of the music.”

She added, “The jam sessions seem to have taken on a life of their own and truly they carried on not only by the performers, but by the audience as well. Where will it end, only time will tell, but with the quality of performers we are seeing, it’s no wonder the sessions are being called Nashville North!”

The Bedford Jam Sessions take place every other Sunday from 1:30-4:30pm at the Bedford Hall. The next one will take place on June 14.

For more information on the Bedford Jam and their upcoming old time music competition please visit www.frontenacoldtimemusic.com

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 25, 2009 Central and North Frontenac Emergency planning group starting up, in a hurryBy Jeff Green

Members of the Emergency Planning Committee

As fears that a swine flu pandemic could become a major social issue as soon as this fall, an emergency planning group has sprung up in Central and North Frontenac.

Under the leadership of Gail Hawley-Knowles, the program co-ordinator for the newly minted Family Health Team in Sharbot Lake, and Adrienne Hansen-Taugher, the emergency planning co-ordinator with KFL&A Public Health out of Kingston, a preliminary meeting took place on June 16. The meeting included representatives from the fire service and ambulance service, North Frontenac Community Services, Community Living, Northern Connections, and the Family Health Team itself.

The meeting focussed on how the existing informal mechanisms in the two townships came through during the last major emergency event, the ice storm of 1998, and then moved on to consider how to put more formal structures in place to deal with vulnerable people and others in the case of a flu pandemic or other large-scale disaster.

Looking forward, representatives from the schools, churches, the OPP (who had been invited but could not attend on this occasion) and others will be invited to a meeting in the coming weeks.

According to Gail Hawley-Knowles, the people and agencies involved need to develop their own internal plans, including facing the possibility of high absenteeism, as well as working with a network to ensure public safety can be maintained in the case of many possible emergency situations.

Dave Gemmill, a manager with the Frontenac County Ambulance Service, who was the owner of the Parham Ambulance service back in 1998 when the ice storm hit, said “one of the first things that came to light in that case was that dialysis patients were at risk so we had to find them and get generators to them.”

There are a number of challenges that the committee will be facing as the possible implications of an emergency are considered and it tries to ramp up a network over the summer.

“I see this as positive,” said Adrienne Hansen-Taugher after the meeting.

Hansen-Taugher said she would like to expand this committee to cover South Frontenac as well, but it seems more viable to set up a parallel process in South Frontenac at some point. 

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.

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 25, 2009 North Frontenac receives grant for Broadband

Last summer a consultant for Frontenac County recommended that instead of applying for a single grant for rural broadband, the County should apply for a grant to cover gaps in the south and North Frontenac should apply for a separate grant, at a later grant intake date. That way more money could potentially flow from the Province.

The strategy worked.

The County received a grant last fall, and towers or line of site wireless internet in several locations are now into the approval stage.

Now, the North Frontenac application has been successful as well. The province will provide $334,887 and Frontenac County will provide matching funding, with the final third of the million dollar project to be paid for by the contractor who answers a request for proposal to provide service.

The granting program, the Rural Connections Broadband program, is administered by the Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) under Minister Leona Dombrowsky.

“This is a giant leap forward for the people of North Frontenac. We have worked hard to come up with an infrastructure strategy that will provide high-speed Internet to most of our residents and make our area more attractive for economic development,” said Mayor Ron Maguire in response to news of the grant.

Actionable Intelligence will oversee the request for proposal process in consultation with the township.