Let the township know what you think

The South Frontenac Recreation Committee is working on a new version of its five-year plan, but this time instead of simply discussing it at a meeting, they are going out to the public in the form of an online survey that can be accessed at the township website, southfrontenac.net.

The survey, which does not take much time to fill out, asks residents where they live and what sports they are interested in. It also asks the blue sky question: “If money were no object, what types of facilities, services or new amenities would you like to see in the township?”

That's where the bowling alley, pickle ball facility and indoor pool come in.

Tim Laprade, the township recreation co-ordinator, set up the survey.

“We want to find out what people are doing, how they get around. There is a lot of opportunity in the survey to produce feedback that will help the committee decide what they want to recommend to Council,” he said.

The survey also asks whether residents would be willing to add a donation towards a recreation fund as part of their tax bill, and whether they think that user fees are adequate or should be decreased.

“It will make for a better discussion at the committee if we know what the residents really want us to look at,” said Laprade.

In addition to ideas about new facilities, the committee wants to know if residents are concerned about the condition of some of the existing parks and other facilities in the township. The survey also asks about transportation issues, to see how many residents are able to access services in nearby villages by bicycle or on foot.

The survey has already been well received. It was launched on May 30 and has been promoted through email to recreation groups in the township and through the Frontenac Arena's social media platforms. As of Tuesday, 321 people had filled it out, and Laprade is now hoping to see at least 500 surveys filled out, or more.

It will remain available on the township website until mid-August and will also be available in paper form at events this summer for people who are not inclined to or able to fill out an online survey. It will also be promoted through an insert in the next tax bill.

Once the results are tabulated, the recreation committee will consider them when they meet in September.

(There are three recreation events set for this Sunday, June 12 in South Frontenac – Cycle Fest at Prince Charles School in Verona from 11-3, and the Third Annual Frontenac Fury Run at the Arena starting at 9am, with “Hockey Day in the Frontenacs” to follow starting at noon. See Northern Happenings for details)

For 26 years, the Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation (SFCSC) has been a community hub, providing health and social services to seniors, and at-risk and low-income families in rural Kingston and South Frontenac.

In 2015, the agency served over 850 clients and provided over 17,000 services, an increase of 72% in just five years. Some of these services include: hot meals on wheels, adult day programs, food bank, diners’ clubs, foot care, transportation to appointments, respite training, homelessness support, and so much more.

Behind every statistic is a personal story about how SFCSC services have made a difference in the lives of those most vulnerable in our community. This June, SFCSC is sharing a few of those stories during its fundraising campaign. In the June 9 edition of the Frontenac News, you will find an insert showing real people and their words describing the impact that SFCSC has had on their lives.

Annually, SFCSC receives core funding from the Province of Ontario and local municipalities. But the demand continues to outpace the funding, and some services, such as the Food Bank and Hot Meals program, are funded partially or entirely through donations.

SFCSC is seeking your donations to enable it to continue supporting seniors and other at-risk people in our rural region. SFCSC has also elected to run their campaign during June to take advantage of the Great Canadian Giving Challenge: for every one dollar donated online in June, SFCSC will receive one entry into a chance to win a $10,000 donation from Canadahelps.org.

Check out the flyer, read a few short stories, and consider making a donation to support SFCSC. Together with its donors, SFCSC is Making a Difference.

The Sydenham High School School to Community class qualified for the provincial school championships, which is put on by Special Olympics Ontario each year at this time.

The team, which is coached by teacher Pietro Cutrona, won a tournament in Kingston two weeks ago and heard last week that they have been invited to compete at the provincial championships, along with 600 other athletes from schools across Ontario. In addition to soccer, competitions in bocce ball, floor hockey, basketball, and track and field will be contested at the three-day event, which takes place in Oshawa this week.

“The students are very excited about going to Oshawa. We are going by train and for some of them it is the first time they have taken the train. Also there are opening ceremonies at the games, which will be exciting, and then there is the competition,” said teacher Karl Hammer, who will be accompanying the students to the games.

After losing out to Regiopolis at the Kingston Area Secondary Schools Athletic Association (KASSAA) final in a 5-4 squeaker on May 19, the Sydenham High School senior girls soccer team regrouped, and less than a week later they were crowned champions of the AA Eastern Ontario Secondary School Athletics Association (EOSSA) soccer championship.

This week, the team is headed to North Bay for the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) finals, which run from today (June 2) until Saturday.

The SHS girls will play at 11 this morning and 3:30 this afternoon, and at 11am and 2:30pm on Friday.

If they survive the round-robin round, they will play in the medal round on Saturday.

EOSSA track and field medalists

A number of SHS athletes finished on the podium at the EOSSA track meet in Kingston last week.

Among the medals there was some gold. Gold medalists included Shirley Hughes in the ambulatory 100 metre dash; Brianna Clow in the I&D 100 metre dash; Simon Cook in the 100 metre men’s midget hurdles event; Jaden Collier in midget men's high jump; and multi-gold medal winner Liam Sands in the Junior men 100 and 300 metre hurdles events.

SHS is sending eight individual athletes and two relay teams to the OFSAA track meet.

SHS EOSSA medalists

Junior women 80 metre hurdles: Brianna Burgess, 3rd 13.09

Junior women 300 metre hurdles: Brianna Burgess, 2nd 49.41

Junior women 4x100 metre relay 3rd 54.48

Ambulatory women 100 metre dash: Shirley Hughes, 1st 17.87

I&D Disabilities women 100 metre dash: Brianna Clow, 1st 16.37

Midget men 100 metre hurdles: Simon Cook, 1st 15.31

Midget men 100 metre hurdles: Nick Vankoughnett, 3rd 15.96

Midget men high jump: Jaden Collier, 1st 1.80 metres

Junior men 100 metre hurdles: Liam Sands, 1st 14.40

Junior men 300 metre hurdles: Liam Sands, 1st 41.65

Junior men 4x100 metre hurdles, 3rd 46.91

Junior men high jump junior: Matt Caird, 2nd 1.65 metres

Senior men 800 metre run: Brady Robertson, 3rd 1:57.50

Senior men 4x100 metre relay: 2nd 44.68

Open men 4x400 metre relay: 3rd 3:31.44

Combined team events: Junior - 3rd place

Combined team scores: Ambulatory - 1st place

You need to get up pretty early in the morning to attract many of the movers and shakers of the Sydenham Village business community, and the grateful staff and board of Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCS) did just that last Wednesday morning.

Coffee, muffins and a copious breakfast buffet greeted a full house at the Grace Centre at 7:30 am. The morning chat was interrupted briefly by SFCS Executive Director, David Townsend, who welcomed all those who have contributed to its fund-raising campaigns over the past couple of years.

Townsend pointed out that the agency depends on local fundraising to make sure it can provide service to all those who come looking for help.

Since 2011, the annual budget of SFCS has gone up 48%, to almost $1.4 million. About $1 million comes from funders such as the Ontario Ministry of Health (through the Local Health Integration Network) the United Way and the City of Kingston. The other $400,000 comes from client fees, and fund-raised dollars.

“The important statistic for us is that the overall number of people we serve each year has gone up by 72% in that same time period,” said Townsend.

SFCS receives provincial funding to serve 1,100 hot meals per year, for example.

“Last year we served 3,890 hot meals to seniors. And that was without promoting our program. And now people want us to expand the hot meals program to Fridays as well. It is only because of the generosity of the local community, and the people in this room, that we are able to continue to meet these needs,” Townsend said.

SFCS board member Mark Segsworth then addressed the audience. He outlined briefly how SFCS is looking outward to work with partners, including the township and other service organisations.

He also let it slip, in his role as SFCS fund-raising chair, that in the month of June, SFCS will be holding its major fund-raising campaign for 2016.

Southern Frontenac Community Services provides services for seniors, operates a busy Food Bank, and co-ordinates programs under the City of Kingston and Frontenac County homelessness prevention strategy.

The Limestone District School Board honoured 14 dedicated and compassionate young people with Limestone Student Achievers Awards for their outstanding achievements. The 2016 honorees have made significant contributions and accomplishments throughout their high school careers, both in their school and throughout the broader community. Congratulations to all recipients.

Nick Adams - Sydenham High School

Nick Adams is a true leader, a visionary and an all-around excellent young man. He broke two school records in Track and has medalled at KASSAA and EOSSA for both cross country and track. Nick has always been a strong student academically and athletically but it’s in other, less recognized ways, that Nick truly shines. He is a modest yet effective leader at Sydenham High School. He is known for taking initiative to seek out areas that need improvement, constructing plans to address these needs and seeing these plans to successful completion. Nick is always the first choice to be the master of ceremonies for school assemblies and events and he does so with wit and charm and a commanding presence. He will happily and effectively be another student’s campaign manager in the race for Co-President of Student Council. Nick is always looking to fix problems and to help others. He is always working on plans and strategies to help those less fortunate in food drives or fundraising for Syrian Refugees. When some of our students were in an accident this year, Nick was the first one at the hospital offering support in any way he could. Nick is also an integral member of the school’s Red Cross team, which works to prevent bullying and create a positive school climate. When asked to peer tutor other students he always agrees and is the most patient, clear and empathetic teacher to his fellow students.

 Riley Teal - Granite Ridge Education Centre

You have all heard, “It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s Superman!” Let us introduce you to Granite Ridge Education Centre’s Superman. His name is Riley Teal and although he cannot fly, his personal qualities make him heroic to a number of people in the classroom, on the court or field, and in the community. Academically speaking, Riley excels in all subject areas. His strong work ethic propels him to the front of the class. Like Clarke Kent, his demeanour in class may seem reserved and quiet, but do not let his mild manner mislead you, as he possesses superior learning skills. Riley is very diligent with his work. He takes initiative in what he is doing and is very thorough in all of his assignments. He may not be able to leap buildings in a single bound, but he did complete an entire week’s worth of math homework in Grade 9 in one single night. Riley sets an extremely high standard for other students in his grade. When receiving their results for the OSSLT, his classmates would ask, “Was I close to Riley?” This young man has received numerous subject awards and was the recipient of the proficiency trophy in Grade 9, 10 and 11: Riley has his sights set on attaining this for Grade 12 as well. Riley is conscientious, and a creative problem-solver. He can work in any group and can bind any team. The reference to a superhero is not accidental. A spectator can easily spot Riley on the court as he wears his trademark superman socks during the volleyball and basketball games. Given the opportunity, he would wear them during soccer, track and hardball games, as he is actively involved in all aspects of athletics. Last year, he organized three-pitch softball intramurals at lunch for the secondary students. For each team, he is a dedicated and competitive player while respecting the rules and players of the game. He is extremely coachable, winning four coach’s awards during his three years as a Gryphon. He leads by example on the court and on the field. His leadership skills extend beyond athletics and encompass the entire school and community. Riley is an active and dedicated member of the District #4 Recreation Committee and a dependable participant/volunteer for the Relay for Life. He has submitted over 200 community volunteer hours.

Andre Tryon - North Addington Education Centre

At North Addington Education Centre, we are fortunate enough to watch as small children grow into capable young adults prepared to face the future. Andre Tryon is a wonderful example of our good fortune. If there is something happening at NAEC, you can expect to find Andre working behind the scenes or upfront directing the action. As a leader and a role model, Andre’s experiences are far-reaching—literally. Last year, Andre became interested in an exchange with a student from Italy. Andre had to take an extra course load last year to ensure he would graduate this year; he did this with no reservation. While Illya visited Canada, Andre was a wonderful ambassador, and while on exchange, Andre shared his experiences in a weekly on-line forum with our Writers’ Craft class—this became a valuable learning experience for everyone. In the area of athletics, Andre has not only shown himself as a skilled and recognized hockey player outside of school, he is also a hard-working, capable athlete on the volleyball court where, this year, he served as our captain. In addition to his own skills, he is committed to helping provide athletic opportunities for others. Andre helps organize a weekly volleyball evening so students can be active all year, and led a lunchtime program aimed at developing athletes in the elementary part of our school. Oftentimes, Andre would play alongside our young athletes as he modelled good sportsmanship, a positive attitude and a genuine commitment to having fun. Andre is also committed to our school as a whole. This year, he is co-president of our students’ council; last year he was the council’s vice president. Andre often makes us wonder how he finds time and energy for everything. His work with our local volunteer fire department has led him to participate in numerous courses and certifications. This, in addition to school, athletics and a part-time job make Andre a very busy young man. Andre’s efforts are not limited to helping others. He has maintained a high academic average throughout high school and has been recognized with numerous proficiency awards. Andre has also participated in the Limestone Skills Competition. His gold medal win in Kingston allowed him to represent Limestone at the provincial level. The scope of his abilities is almost limitless.

Township’s Organizational Review: Still a Long Way to Go…

A meeting was held on May 4 to discuss an organizational review that was presented to South Frontenac Council in April. On Tuesday night, May 24, CAO Wayne Orr presented his take on where the review stands after that May 4 meeting.

He began by saying: “From the May 04 meeting it is clear that there is no clear direction from Council on how to proceed.” Orr went on to distill a summary of some of the challenges and recommendations reflecting Council’s discussions on May 4.. He is now recommended that instead of the seven new positions envisioned by the review, just three people should be hired: a clerk, a fire prevention officer and a director of planning and building services.

In commenting on Orr's summary, was a discussion of the fire chief’s need for a prevention officer, culminating in questions about the exact nature of the chief’s job description. There was also general agreement with the proposal to hire a clerk

Planning, however, was the main topic of discussion, as it has been at the Frontenac County table recently. Mayor Vandewal said that Frontenac County staff seem to be taking the position that “South Frontenac doesn’t know what they’re doing, so why should we try to fix it for them?” Councilor Ross Sutherland said that if the township showed a clear direction in planning, in time the County might be prepared to delegate more to the township. Councilor Alan Revill said he saw no need to hire more staff unless they have some reassurance that it is realistic for the township to work toward taking over a stronger planning role. Councilor John McDougall said that the planning process “was a mess’ and that it was “time to stop cutting bait and start fishing.”

Mayor Vandewal finally spoke.

“We’re spending a lot of time babysitting downstairs [the location of the planning and building departments]. I get very few complaints about Public Works or any of the other departments; the problems are all downstairs. It’s a total mess, it just creates work for council. The whole problem of planning is not as big as people think it is. We know where the problem is,” he said.

Council sat silent after this, and there were no decision taken on Wayne Orr's recommendation that a planning director be hired to oversee the planning and building departments

CAO Orr then informed Council that he, Mayor Vandewal and Councilor McDougall were meeting together with the county warden and county CAO on Friday to work toward improving communications and working relationships between Township and County.

Re-opening of the Point

In response to Deputy Mayor Sutherland’s query, Public Works Manager Segsworth said the Recreation Committee is planning a ‘grand re-opening’ for June 6. Meanwhile, people are being asked to respect the fenced-off areas, for the dry season has preventing the recently-seeded areas from sprouting. Segsworth says he is following up with the contractor, who has obligations to water the seed until grass has been established.

For two years now, Sharon Isbell and Alan Macdonald, both teachers at Loughborough Public School in Sydenham, have been working together with some help from the school and local community on greening and improving the school yard at LPS.

On April 23, 38 new shade trees, all heat and drought-resistant and pollinator-friendly varieties that include silver and sugar maples, lindens and locusts, were planted in the school yard.

Local business owners Daryl Silver of the Silverbrook Garden Centre and Mike Gossage of Sydenham Landscaping, along with school staff and members of the school's parent council assisted with the planting. The students, who helped select the trees, watered and mulched them.

Other recent changes to the playground area have included the construction of three raised beds and a three-chamber composter, which were built by local carpenters Peter Ramsay and Aaron Kerv. These new facilities will give students a chance to experience first hand much of the classroom curriculum they are covering, subjects like the science of photosynthesis, energy and matter cycles, ecosystems, plant biology and more. Macdonald and Isbell hope to see the beds become a kind of “edible landscape” at the school, and provide the students with an opportunity for experiential learning. “Right now the students, both older and younger are growing edible seedlings that they will plant in the beds, the idea being that when a student learns how to plant and grow salad ingredients, chances are they will be inclined eat more salad”, Isbell said.

Macdonald concurred, saying, “The best way to get students to care about environmental and food security issues is to engage them in the production of food.”

The two teachers have also applied for a grant from the Evergreen Brick Works, a community organization in Toronto that helps communities by offering grants for outdoor environmental projects. The grant will be for 30 large limestone rocks that will provide seating in what will become an outdoor classroom area on the playground. The teachers are also waiting to hear back about a $20,000 grant from Farms to Schools, which would help establish a school-based, student-grown salad bar program involving students from LPS and Sydenham High School. The food prep will be handled by students in the high school's new culinary arts program and some produce will also be sourced from area farms.

“These days it seems more and more important for children to develop a strong relationship with the land, to understand their food sources, with the idea being that if they care about it, they will protect it and in the future will become more a part of the solution instead of the problem”, Isbell said.

The 500 students at the school have also each planted a sunflower seed, which they will be transplanting to the playground in the next few weeks.

More dust is raised by a little housekeeping

Once again Council chambers were crammed full of lakeshore residents responding to Planner Lindsay Mills’ proposal to make ‘housekeeping ‘ changes to the Official Plan. These changes: 1) would not permit buildings within the 30-metre setback to be taken down and reconstructed; 2) define a property as vacant once more than 50% of the load-bearing walls have been removed from a building within the setback (and therefore the structure would not be replaceable); and 3) remove section 5.11 which permits replacement of waterfront structures which have been destroyed by natural disasters. (Thus requiring a minor variance from the Committee of Adjustment, which has the power to deny applications.)

Thirteen delegates made spoken presentations and nineteen others filed letters, only one of which was in any way supportive of the proposed changes.

Mills’ presentation showed a picture of a seriously derelict building as an example of a structure the owner may have deliberately neglected in order to be able to rebuild, with the implication that this was a recurring problem. Jeff Canton noted that this situation was already addressed under the Township’s “safe properties’ bylaw (2007-13). “I find it curious that…(the planner) would use the Township’s inaction in the enforcement of a current bylaw to justify amending a different bylaw.”

Some were strongly critical of Council and its staff: “This is an abuse of power,” “The power of this Township is spiralling out of control,” were two such comments. Another speaker said someone had warned him “that the Township would make things difficult for me if I speak out tonight.” Another: “This is more about aesthetics than it is about lessening our impact on the lakes.” “Trying to correct history on the backs of present property owners is not reasonable.”

In reference to Mills’ interpretation of the intent of the Official Plan“…that someday all buildings will be well set back from waterbodies to ensure protection of our lakes…” many said these proposed changes would lower values of lakeshore properties with nonconforming structures, possibly even make them unsaleable. This in turn could result in less taxation income for the Township in the future. One said he would definitely not have bought his home two years ago, if these bylaw changes had been in place then.

Following the delegations, Mayor Vandewal brought a notice of motion that “If a property is destroyed by fire or other act of God the owner need only go to the building department and apply to rebuild on that footprint.”

Council’s decision on Mills’ proposed ‘housekeeping amendments’ has been postponed until the June 7 Council meeting at Councillor Roberts’ request: he will be away on vacation until then.

by Wilma Kenny

Request for Road Closure, Storrington

Planner Mills called a public meeting to consider a request by Mr Ulrich of Opinicon Road, who has asked to buy a portion of public road allowance that runs through his property to the shore of Upper Rock Lake, in Storrington. This proposal came before Council March 2015, at which time Council seemed favourable to the closure, because the road allowance falls over a steep cliff at the shoreline. Ulrich was asked to have the property surveyed, which he did (date of survey not stated.)

The survey showed a portion of the road allowance extended further along the shoreline onto the neighbouring lot to the south. The neighbouring owner has expressed interest in purchasing this remnant.

Planner Mills in his report to Council, recommends no decision be made until the survey is revised so the whole road allowance can be shown. The two property owners would need to come to an agreement and submit a new plan, before a road-closing by-law could be considered.

Mr Ulrick’s lawyer Peter Radley spoke, saying it was unfair to drag the decision out any longer: he had spoken to the other property owner’s lawyer more than a year ago, and had asked if they could work together, but nothing further had happened. “Surely you don’t want to see an 80-year old man cry?” he asked. “I can’t think we’ll push you that far,” responded Mayor Vandewal.

Councillor Sleeth said, “It behooves us to move forward.” The matter is to come before Council May 17.

Supporting Local Businesses

In response to a recent situation where a local supplier lost a contract with the Township due to a miscommunication, Councillor Schjerning had proposed a motion which would give preference to bids and tenders submitted by local businesses. The Township solicitor was quick to say that this would be a bad idea, not in keeping with best practice. However, the Corporate Services Committee made two recommendations: that the staff hold an annual education session for local businesses on the Township’s procurement process, and that the Township website develop a procurement newsfeed where vendors could subscribe for notices of upcoming opportunities. Council adopted the recommendations.

Conduct of Public Meetings

Council agreed with CAO Orr’s report on appropriate procedure at public meetings, which in summary, states: “The intent of the public meeting is to gather comment, not resolve the issues, nor to have a debate. The debate comes later, when Council is asked to recommend draft plan conditions.”

Spring Roads

Public Works Manager Segsworth requested and got approval for an additional amount up to $25,000 from the working fund reserve for pulverizing various sections of Township roads that cannot be effectively patched any longer. Three sections considered to be beyond repair are: Randy Clark Road west from Battersea for 1.5 km, York Road, and Buck Bay Road 300 m north of Westport Road to White Lake Road. These will be maintained a loose top roads until they are reconstructed.

NF Resolution Not Endorsed

Council chose not to support North Frontenac’s resolution re the review of the RFP process for the award of renewable energy contracts.

The Frontenac OPP have partnered with the local community agencies, including the Township of South Frontenac, Southern Frontenac Community Services, the KFL&A's Health Unit, Kingston Community Legal Clinic and Rural Kingston Family Health Organization to create the committee known as Seniors and Law Enforcement Together, or S.A.L.T.

The committee's focus is aimed at seniors living in the Township of South Frontenac, and their goal is to increase seniors' communication with the local police and other service agencies. The committee will provide support and information to seniors in South Frontenac, with the aim of improving their safety and overall well-being.

The committee launched their first safety information session on April 19. Presentations were held in Sunbury, Verona and Sydenham and attracted seniors from across the township.

The free sessions were comprised of three presentations: Keeping Healthy, Falls Prevention and Scams and Frauds.

The first was delivered by two registered nurses: Meredith Prikker from the Sydenham Medical Clinic, and Annie Campbell from the Verona Medical Clinic, both of whom specialize in the management of chronic diseases with the goal of keeping seniors living at home longer.

They covered numerous health-related issues, like medication reconciliation, tips to avoid medication mistakes, advanced care planning, and creating a coordinated care plan. They informed guests about two free self-management workshops on the topics of Living Well with Chronic Disease, which runs from April 20 to May 25, and a second workshop in the fall on Living Well with Chronic Pain, with dates to be announced.

Rhonda Lovell, a registered nurse with KFL&A Public Health, gave the second presentation on Falls Prevention. She spoke about the leading fall risks to seniors, how to prevent them, and how seniors who fall represent 58% of the leading causes of unintentional injury-related emergency department visits. Lovell highlighted the personal costs associated with a fall, which can include bone fractures, chronic pain, loss of independence and a decreased quality of life.

Lovell also spoke of the fears related to falling and how a “Cycle of Fear” can increase the potential for a fall. She ended her presentation on a positive note, stressing that most falls are preventable and can be avoided by making smart choices, remaining active, and planning ahead.

Community services officer with the Frontenac OPP, Roop Sandhu, made the final presentation on the topic of Scams and Frauds. He spoke of the myriad of cons that exist, including door-to-door scams involving water purification, driveway sealants, and energy and hot water tank services. He spoke at length about telephone frauds, where con artists pose as grandchildren in a fix, needing immediate cash; various prize and money scams, like free travel awards, fake charities, credit card fees; and online frauds, like fake letters from Nigeria and West Africa.

He spoke about fraudsters imitating officials from the Canada Revenue Agency and demanding payments. He also gave tips on how to avoid identity theft. In summary, Sandhu quoted the old adage, "If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.”

The S.A.L.T. Committee will be holding future workshops and members are hoping to hear from seniors about the topics they would like to see covered at the sessions. Active seniors in the community who want to become involved with the committee are invited to commit to just one hour a month of meetings. For more information about how to get involved can contact Roop Sandhu at 613-372-1932 or David Townsend at the Southern Frontenac Community Services at 613-376-6376.