Craig Godfrey never thought he was going to write a musical, but a series of events conspired to make Turtle Crossings his first effort as a playwright and songwriter.

“The Little Theatre used the cafeteria of Sharbot Lake High School for all of their productions, and when it closed and the new school was coming in, I approached the executive with the idea of writing a local musical as a collective for the first production in the theatre at Granite Ridge. My first idea was to do a play about a High School band that reunites for the opening of a new school, just as the music teacher is about to retire,” he said, when interviewed this week as the first ever production of Turtle Crossings is just a week away. Opening night is Thursday, November 24.

It turned out that the Little Theatre Executive was headed in another direction, and put on Music Man as the first musical in the new space. In the meantime Godfrey looked at the notes he had prepared for Turtle Crossings and realised he only had a shell to work from.

“I decided that what I should do is write a short story in order to flesh out the characters and add some depth.”

The story that he wrote was about a girl who spent her summers at a cottage in the 1970s, right through her teenage years. There is a major rift between her and the local community as well as her parents and she leaves, only to return 20 years later. In the musical adaptation of the short story, all of this is revealed through a series of flashbacks. The play opens in 1993, at an open mic night in a bar in a big city, just after the protagonist, Tessa Carter, a music teacher, has performed on stage. She tells her friends about a letter she has just received from her estranged father, offering to give her the family cottage. That, and the fact that the job of music teacher at the high school near the cottage is coming up, provides the plot mechanism around which the rest of the play unfolds.

Godfrey ended up writing songs for the play as well, and has been working with director Brian Robertson on changes to the music and script as the production has been developing. Although the play is Godfrey's creation, he has taken a back seat to Robertson during the production. As actors and musicians have come on board to work on the play, he feels the spirit of collaboration, that he originally wanted to see in the writing, has taken hold in rehearsals.

“Turtle Crossings”,will be an exciting and widely anticipated presentation for the entire community.

Craig Godfrey never thought he was going to write a musical, but a series of events conspired to make Turtle Crossings his first effort as a playwright and songwriter.

“The Little Theatre used the cafeteria of Sharbot Lake High School for all of their productions, and when it closed and the new school was coming in, I approached the executive with the idea of writing a local musical as a collective for the first production in the theatre at Granite Ridge. My first idea was to do a play about a High School band that reunites for the opening of a new school, just as the music teacher is about to retire,” he said, when interviewed this week as the first ever production of Turtle Crossings is just a week away. Opening night is Thursday, November 24.

It turned out that the Little Theatre Executive was headed in another direction, and put on Music Man as the first musical in the new space. In the meantime Godfrey looked at the notes he had prepared for Turtle Crossings and realised he only had a shell to work from.

“I decided that what I should do is write a short story in order to flesh out the characters and add some depth.”

The story that he wrote was about a girl who spent her summers at a cottage in the 1970s, right through her teenage years. There is a major rift between her and the local community as well as her parents and she leaves, only to return 20 years later. In the musical adaptation of the short story, all of this is revealed through a series of flashbacks. The play opens in 1993, at an open mic night in a bar in a big city, just after the protagonist, Tessa Carter, a music teacher, has performed on stage. She tells her friends about a letter she has just received from her estranged father, offering to give her the family cottage. That, and the fact that the job of music teacher at the high school near the cottage is coming up, provides the plot mechanism around which the rest of the play unfolds.

Godfrey ended up writing songs for the play as well, and has been working with director Brian Robertson on changes to the music and script as the production has been developing. Although the play is Godfrey's creation, he has taken a back seat to Robertson during the production. As actors and musicians have come on board to work on the play, he feels the spirit of collaboration, that he originally wanted to see in the writing, has taken hold in rehearsals.

“Turtle Crossings”,will be an exciting and widely anticipated presentation for the entire community.

The regular season of the Sharbot Lake Farmers Market is over for this year, but people can continue to access their favourite local producers via the website, sharbotlakefarmersmarket.ca or on Facebook. Please use this off-season market to support the vendors. You will find a list of producers there. Click to find the list. You will be amazed at the products you will still be able to purchase all through the year. No need to wait for the opening of market next May, as you can continue to enjoy many of the items you are used to buying at the Saturday market.

Everyone at the market sends their appreciation for the support the community has shown this year. The good thing about buying from your local food suppliers is that the money supports the entire local economy. This year the total sales for the market were just over $55,000. It is also interesting to know that 4,200 customers visited the seasonal market. The numbers speak for themselves.

If you were lucky enough to be able to come out the market this season you would have found many people enjoying the Butter Tart Challenge and the Taste Fest, two of the most popular and best attended events, but of course there were so many other events to attend. You will just have to come out next year to take it all in. Watch for a listing of the upcoming events for next season, as there are lots of plans for 2017, including new food events.  New vendors are signing up now, and there will be new products including a greater variety of meats.

All the vendors are appreciative of the support of the Township of Central Frontenac as well as the support of loyal customers. At the market vendors have time to talk to customers about the products they raise and sell. This is so important in a world where people have for the most part become very disassociated from the land and the farmers who grow their food. There is no denying that there is a buzz at the market. It’s the conversation, the sharing of information and, well, the great food and good coffee that you can get there. There is a special energy that you can experience on any given Saturday morning that you come out to the market.

The regular season of the Sharbot Lake Farmers Market is over for this year, but people can continue to access their favourite local producers via the website, sharbotlakefarmersmarket.ca or on Facebook. Please use this off-season market to support the vendors. You will find a list of producers there. Click to find the list. You will be amazed at the products you will still be able to purchase all through the year. No need to wait for the opening of market next May, as you can continue to enjoy many of the items you are used to buying at the Saturday market.

Everyone at the market sends their appreciation for the support the community has shown this year. The good thing about buying from your local food suppliers is that the money supports the entire local economy. This year the total sales for the market were just over $55,000. It is also interesting to know that 4,200 customers visited the seasonal market. The numbers speak for themselves.

If you were lucky enough to be able to come out the market this season you would have found many people enjoying the Butter Tart Challenge and the Taste Fest, two of the most popular and best attended events, but of course there were so many other events to attend. You will just have to come out next year to take it all in. Watch for a listing of the upcoming events for next season, as there are lots of plans for 2017, including new food events.  New vendors are signing up now, and there will be new products including a greater variety of meats.

All the vendors are appreciative of the support of the Township of Central Frontenac as well as the support of loyal customers. At the market vendors have time to talk to customers about the products they raise and sell. This is so important in a world where people have for the most part become very disassociated from the land and the farmers who grow their food. There is no denying that there is a buzz at the market. It’s the conversation, the sharing of information and, well, the great food and good coffee that you can get there. There is a special energy that you can experience on any given Saturday morning that you come out to the market.

Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS) received a $45,000 grant from the Trillium Foundation earlier this year to purchase a vehicle capable of transporting staff and equipment to play-groups, youth events, and for seniors outreach programs. “The van came just in time, since our staff were starting to worry if they were going to arrive safely in our old van. It allows us to bring people, gear, whatever we need up and down Frontenac County” said Maribeth Scott, NFCS Director of Children and Youth Services.

NFCS delivers children and youth services in South, Central and North Frontenac, through playgroups, sports programs and workshops.

The agency also delivers adult and seniors programming in the region north of Verona.

“It all adds up to a lot of driving,” said Scott, “and having a reliable van helps. Lanark, Frontenac Lennox and Addington MPP Randy Hillier attended a ribbon cutting for the new van, which has actually been in service for a while. “I'm happy to help celebrate this grant from the Trillium Foundation. NFCS is an organisation that helps rural communities thrive.”

One-stop event on aging well for seniors, their families and caregivers November 18 and 19

The County of Frontenac is organizing the Frontenac Seniors Expo, a one-stop event on aging well for seniors, their families and caregivers, on November 18 and 19 in Sydenham and Sharbot Lake.

The Frontenac Seniors Expo takes place at the Grace Centre in Sydenham on Friday November 18 between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and at the St. James Major Church in Sharbot Lake on Saturday November 19 between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p..m. Admission is free with lunch provided. Keynote speaker is Rhonda Lovell of Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health.
“The County is pleased to support a plan for age-friendly communities in Frontenac so that residents can live fulfilled lives without having to locate to urban centres,” said County of Frontenac Warden Frances Smith.

Earlier this fall, the County of Frontenac retained MMM Group Limited, a WSP consulting company, to assist with the preparation of an Age-Friendly Community Action Plan. This project is funded by the Government of Ontario. An age-friendly action plan sets out a framework for a community to improve its age-friendliness and ensure all residents can remain active members of the community at every stage of life.

For further information about the Frontenac Seniors Expo contact Anne Marie Young at 613-548-9400 extension 330 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

New rink in Sharbot Lake one step closer

but money needs to come from local community

The Oso Recreation has long hoped to build an outdoor rink at the Oliver Scott Memorial Park, the ball field that is located next to Granite Ridge Education Centre, and at Council this week Jeremy Neven, Manager of Development Services, presented a set of drawings for a rink that is located within all the required setbacks in the zoning bylaw, and that has the blessing of the Public Works Manager as far as distance from Road 38 is concerned.

“I must say I was surprised by how much room there was for a rink,” said Neven.

Rec committee members intend to build a change room/washroom and a canteen as well on the site, for use in the winter and for the ball field in the summer time.

In his report, Neven said “in addition to the Rec. Committees fund raising efforts, plans are being made to engage township staff to ensure monies are collected and receipted appropriately, setbacks and building codes are met and public works are not affected.”

While all systems are go for the project as far as the planning issues are concerned, it is left to the local committee to raise the necessary funds to put up the rink.

Emergency culvert replacement

Interim Public Works Manager Mike Richardson came to council to talk about a large culvert at 4th Lake Road in Hinchinbrooke ward.

Because of the low water levels, the culvert, which is normally always half full of water, has been left dry. This allowed township roads staff to inspect it, and when it looked suspicious, Richardson himself walked through it.

“I'm not that glad that I did,” he said, “I found it was in a sorry state.”

Richardson said the culvert will likely collapse if left in place until next spring. He suggested, and council agreed, that he immediately approach three engineering companies to quote on engineering for the project.

It will be funded through reserves, which will have to be replenished in 2017, curtailing other potential road and bridge upgrades next year.

Facilities update

Of the projects that were planned for this year, a number are completed or under construction. The Boat ramp at Big Gull Lake, a $20,000 project, has been completed. Construction is underway for the $220,000 addition to the Mountain Grove fire hall for a new library. A $31,000 project to update shelving in the Parham library has been completed. The $20,000 range hood for in the kitchen at the Kennebec Fire Hall has been installed.

The fencing and lighting project at the Parham ball field, originally budgeted at $37,965, has gone over budget. Council approved an increase in spending to $49,445. The extra funds will come from the recreation reserve.

The township has also applied for a number of one time federal “Canada 150” infrastructure grants. They range from larger to smaller grants: $113,052 for the rink and building project at Oliver Scott Park in Sharbot Lake, $53,000 for the Thompson's Cut Trail, $50,000 for the new Olden ball field, $6,600 for the Kennebec hall range hood, $1,650 for playground fencing at the Parham ball field, and $1,980 for the Parham ball field canteen water pressure system. No one knows exactly when the results of the massive nationwide grant program will be known.

New boat for building department

In order to enforce the building code on island properties, council was asked to support the purchase of a boat for $8,582.

Jeremy Neven said that the department is currently dependent on the property owners to ferry them across in their own boats, which raises a liability issue, “and can also lead to some uncomfortable boat rides back to shore if the properties fail our inspection.”

Icarus ascending

The representatives from Icarus Power, who were rebuffed when they tried to address council at the previous meeting because there was no township staff report available concerning the three solar power projects they were seeking municipal support for.

This time around, a staff report said they were well within the necessary setbacks for Feed in Tariff (FIT) projects, and they have also obtained signatures from neighbouring property owners in support of the projects. Council passed a motion of support for the 3 projects, two of which will generate 500 kw of power if approved, and the third 250 kw.

NFCS gets continued support for youth program

Louise Moody, the Executive Director of Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS), outlined the extensive youth program that the agency has built over the past few years. With no provincial funding, but support from foundations and the municipalities of Central and North Frontenac, the program has increased its offerings for youth over the last three years.

The township committed $15,500 in 2017, the same amount they provided in 2016.

Lynette Whan has always decorated the woods around her home for her family at Halloween and she has also always wanted to do something on a community scale.

This was the year, and with the help of some of her running friends and the Railway Heritage Society, the idea of a 2 and 5 km walk/run along the K&P trail between Sharbot Lake and Road 38 came to fruition. The set up took much of the afternoon on Sun. Oct. 30 when the run was held. There were coffins that moved; zombies wandering in front of runners; lost souls looking for their loved ones; all things that runners rarely see as they chug along the scenic trail that curls around the west basin of Sharbot Lake. Many of the walkers and runners were dressed for the occasion as well, including a woman in heels who somehow managed to make it most of the way up the trail, and back, with her daughter running on ahead and calling for her every time she got scared by a moving skeleton or a monkey in the trees.

The event attracted a good, younger crowd, who also enjoyed the haunted caboose put on by the heritage museum. At the end of the run, along with water, each participant received a bag of candy, certainly once of the best ever participation prizes in a local run.

Prizes were awarded for the fastest runners: Karl Kent (m) and Christine Patterson (f) in the 5 km category, and Riley Merrigan in the 2 km category. Prizes were also awarded for costumes.

At the end of the race, it was decided this would be the first annual haunted run.  

Kim Cucoch of the North Frontenac Food Bank, flanked by members of the OPP Auxiliary at the fall 'stuff the cruiser' event in front of Mike Deans Grocery store in Sharbot Lake, on Saturday, October 29. A steady stream of store customers made food and cash donations from 10 until 2. The cruiser needed to be emptied more than once as food kept accumulating.

Excitement is growing as rehearsals in the Granite Ridge Education Centre (GREC) auditorium are getting closer and closer together, and cast and crew are getting very close to pulling all the aspects of their upcoming presentation of “TURTLE CROSSINGS” together. This is a brand new musical play that was written by one of NFLT’s and Sharbot Lake’s very own long-time members and residents, Craig Godfrey.

Craig relocated to Kingston a few years ago, but has a family property and cottage he has been spending March thru Novembers at for over 60 years. He taught in area schools while living and raising his family in Sharbot Lake for over 25 years.

As a dedicated member of NFLT from almost the beginning, he has been both a performer and has been involved in the production of too many performances to count over the years. Craig received the North Frontenac Little Theatre lifetime recognition award in 2014 for his efforts. He decided to take a turn at writing on his own, and three years ago started to work on his novel “The Custodian of Turtle Crossings”. He has now adapted it to the musical presentation we are all going to have the pleasure of seeing at the end of November.

The play revolves around Tesah Carter, a single 39-year-old high school music teacher and part-time singer in a band. While singing at an open mic night with her friends, Tesah shares her plans for the future and in so doing, travels back in time to her childhood cottage years. Tesah relives some cherished, and some not so cherished, memories of cottage days when she was young. Through her sharing, we revisit a young teen’s life as she grows up at the lake, and we witness the powerful bond she develops with Billy, the older boy next door, who used to look after her.

Tesah looked up to Billy as her guardian angel, or custodian, but on prom night her pastoral cottage life comes crashing down around her. Years later Tesah cannot escape the deep internal longing to get back to the peace and serenity the lake of her childhood and her “Guardian” used to offer her. Turning to prayer, we see how a spiritual re-awakening and the caring love of her “Guardian” combine to bring an unforeseen joy into her world as Tesah finally garners the strength to face her past and return to her family cottage.

“TURTLE CROSSINGS” has a number of returning NFLT regular performers, including Pam Giroux, John Stephen, Danielle Quenneville, Ken Fisher, Dick Miller and Martina Field, but there are going to be a lot of new faces from Sharbot Lake and surrounding areas as well.

It is very exciting to welcome new talent to NFLT’s productions, including several students (and two former students) from GREC, as well as several people from the Arden area – and of course brand new talent and singers to add even more to this original show and its original musical numbers.

The show is being presented November 24 – November 27, and tickets are available from cast & crew members, or at Sharbot Lake Pharmacy, Godfrey General Store, and Verona Hardware RONA. Make sure to get your tickets early because this is sure to be a fun one!