Twelve members from the Sydenham and Verona Lions clubs and three volunteers recently completed vision and hearing screening of approximately 200 senior kindergarten and Grade 1 students at Harrowsmith, Loughborough, and Prince Charles Public Schools, and St. Patrick’s Catholic School.

For the past eight years, the local Lions clubs have conducted this screening of the youngest students at the start of the school year in order to detect any vision or hearing issues early. It is estimated that one in six children has a vision problem. For young students, to optimize their learning and school experience, it is critical that vision and hearing issues are detected early.

The vision screening consists of three fun visual stations that check both eyes for distance, depth perception and alignment. Hearing is screened with a sound test of both ears. The child wears headphones and is asked at increasingly lower audio levels to point to various pictures.

The results from both screening tests are sent home to the child’s parents/caregivers the same day. If the child’s results fall below the prescribed level, a recommendation is made that the child have a complete examination by a vision or hearing specialist. Parents are reminded that annual eye examinations for school-aged children by a vision specialist are covered by OHIP.

The Lions screening program is free. The expensive vision and hearing equipment was purchased by the Lions with community fund raising and is circulated to various Lions clubs to conduct screening at more than 50 local schools.

While most of the Lions screening volunteers are retired, the younger volunteers juggle their work schedules to be available for the school day screenings. Many of the Lions are grandparents who themselves have vision and hearing issues and have personal stories of struggling in school due to those problems. They understand first hand the importance of correcting vision and hearing issues early.

Trevor McKinven, who hails from North Hatley, Quebec, admits that one of the reasons he has been putting on his one-man show titled “They Came From Away”, for the last four years is because he is “a bit crazy”. “You definitely have to be a wee bit crazy to do this kind of thing because it is a lot of work and it takes a lot of energy. But I keep doing it because people continue to request it and as result, my tours have been getting longer and longer since I started performing the play four years ago.”

The show, which was created by and stars Mckinven, focuses on the events of September 11, 2001 and more specifically, on the crisis created by the closing of US air space following the attacks in New York and Washington.

One of the results of the crisis was that no fewer than 42 planes containing 6500 people from all over the world were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland that day. Newfoundlanders unhesitatingly rose to the occasion and opened their homes to these thousands of unexpected guests, the “Plane People”, displaying outstanding generosity and hospitality.

In the show, McKinven, who said he has a penchant for doing accents, has a field day playing characters from Italy, the southern United States, Brooklyn and more. He opens the show as Johnnie McDermott, an older Newfoundlander who tells of the event and his own unique history and take on the world. He speaks of the huge Gander airport, which was built for WW2 service but which following the war disappeared from the limelight like “meatloaf forgotten in the back of the freezer”. That changed when 911 happened.

With a perfect accent McKinven also plays an Italian from Florence named Giovanni Marino, who pokes fun at the differences between Italian and Newfoundland food while also mentioning Canada's famed music stars.

McKinven then transforms into Sherry, a “Hi Y'all”, southern belle from Georgia who talks her take on the event and later he takes the perspective of a Brooklyn firefighter, Frankie.

There are no sets, but McKinven more than makes up for that in his energy and enthusiasm for each persona he plays, with off-the-cuff one liners and his perfectly executed accents, which he has down spades.

McKinven did not experience the Gander events first hand, but rather had just landed in Scotland when 911 occurred. He said it was not until he returned to Canada two years later after traveling through Europe that he saw an opportunity. “I realized then that if I had been a fly on the wall in Gander, I could really do something with the situation. The fact that so many people from all over the world were gathered in this one place seemed absolutely amazing to me and so full of potential.”

He then set about writing 25 different monologues from the perspectives of various passengers, studying what their different takes might have been on the Newfoundland people, the place and their customs.

A few years later McKinven put on his first two showings of “They Came from Away” at the Piggery Theatre in North Hatley, Quebec to sold out audiences and was asked to extend the show for 10 more days. The rest, as they say, is history.

To date he has played in Sherbrooke and Montreal, Quebec, all over the Maritimes, and at various venues in the United States. After talking to a producer in New York he said he hopes to be heading there for a tour. Asked why the play appeals especially to audiences in smaller towns, McKinven said smaller communities tend to relate easily to the Gander situation. “The fact that thousands of people landed in a strange place, one they had never been to before and found it similar but also different from their own homes is what I think people find so interesting about the play. That and the fact that the Newfoundland people were so hospitable is what really hits people most.”

“They Came from Away” is a light-hearted look at a terrible tragedy, which like some tragedies, also included its own special silver lining, which shone so brightly in Gander, Newfoundland on that day.

Bethany Garner is a long time quilter and quilt collector with an impressive collection of heritage quilts from Frontenac County. At the Trinity Quilters Heritage Quilt show in Verona on October 17, she had on display 27 quilts from her personal collection. For anyone interested in heritage quilts from Frontenac County, Garner's collection was a gold mine. No less than 24 of her quilts were what she categorized as Frontenac County farm quilts, which span a time period from 1870 to 1970.

One quilt of particular note was a red flannel-backed log cabin quilt, a piece she acquired at the Kingston Farmers' Market back in the early 1990s after she moved to Elginburg with her family.

Garner recalled how her “heart gasped” as she watched a woman unpacking her wares one market day and she first laid eyes on what she described as a 100 plus-year-old log cabin “field and furrows” quilt. “I tried to appear just slightly interested,” she remembered and quickly purchased it for $85. She then rushed home immediately with it in order to “savour each little log.”

Garner believes that the quilt came from a farm in Portland and was pieced together in 1880. The quilt boasts indigo prints, madder and clock prints and flannels and other wool and flax seed materials, all of which Garner said are staples from Ontario homes. The quilt's later backing shows that it was finished likely at the turn of the 20th century.

A second quilt of equal interest and one of Garner's favorites is a red and white feathered star quilt, which she holds in particularly high esteem for the complexity of its piecing. “The small pieces and the complexity of the angles are amazing and are why I think this quilt is so spectacular.” The quilt, which was made in Sharbot Lake, comes from two sister quilters and Garner said a similar sister quilt is in the permanent collection at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre in Kingston.

Garner, who is currently studying to be a professional quilt appraiser, has been making quilts herself for 50 years and is a past president of the Canadian Quilters Association. She said that she is actually “more interested in the encyclopedia of fabrics that every quilt contains rather than the actual pattern of the quilt”. Her collection was one of the highlights of the show for those especially interested in heritage quilts from Frontenac County

On October 24, two great horned owls, which had been orphaned and were rescued as babies by Verona resident Bill Kendall, were released into the wild at dusk. The owlets were the subject of an article, Chain of care leads to upcoming release, Sep 16/15),  by Julie Druker. Several individuals and organizations, including Connie Black of Destined to Fly, in Yarker, and Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre, helped the owlets before they found a home at the Owl Foundation on the Niagara Peninsula, where they were raised to adulthood. On Saturday the owls were eager to be released. They both went in the same direction and flew into trees 50 feet apart before flying off for good.

Quilt lovers got more than their fair share of eye candy at the Trinity Quilters' Heritage Quilt show celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Frontenac County. On October 17 the Trinity United Church in Verona was lined wall to wall and pew to pew with hundreds of quilts, offering guests a close look at a number of heritage quilts from some impressive personal collections.

Front and centre at the show and displayed on the sanctuary's front dais were a number of exquisite pieces from the personal collection of Dr. Peter Bell, the lead family physician who heads up the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team. Bell spoke of the older heritage quilts that he collects, some made of cotton, but most made of wool. He said the latter attract him most because of their deep, muted and rich colours and heavier materials. “I tend to gravitate to these older wool quilts not only because of how they look and feel but also because they were made to be compatible to the life style at that time of early rustic homes, which were cold and where the inhabitants were looking for heavier, warm coloured quilts to keep them warm.”

One spectacular piece in Bell's display was a large sunburst patterned quilt, an old wool quilt from Toronto that dates back to 1886. Bell believes that it was likely made in Toronto but unlike many older crazy quilts, which were made from old worn clothes and/or bed covers, this Toronto quilt, in Bell's words, was “well planned out and was likely created from newly purchased material and used for special occasions”.

A second quilt done in the style of “Dresden Plate” has a number of disk shapes in two rows, with the disks made up of different coloured pie-shaped wedges.

A third piece, one of Bell's oldest quilts, is dated around 1840 and has a central medallion pattern with a central basket that boasts a floral arrangement. Also on display were a number of crazy quilts, many of which at that time were used to demonstrate the various stitch work patterns that could be used to stitch the pieces of the quilt together. One gorgeous log cabin style quilt is especially unique in that the primary pattern is prominent when viewed with the naked eye but when photographed, the image shows the secondary pattern moving to the fore.

One crazy quilt in Bell's collection has roots in Central Frontenac. It comes from the Cronk family of Long Lake Road near Parham and is stitch inscribed with the words “presant from mother to George, 24 Jen, 1912”. It is a unique piece, spelling mistakes and all.

Those who attended the show also had a chance to win three gorgeous quilts created by members of the Trinity Quilters group.

It was dark day for humanity. But shining through the darkness of September 11, 2001 was a light that came from the kindness and hospitality of the people of Gander, Newfoundland.

On the fateful day, that community embraced and absorbed over 6,500 stranded passengers. Theater lovers won’t want to miss Trevor McKinven's portrayal of four of the “Plane People."

How did a young man from North Hatley, Quebec, make a name for himself by writing a one-man play and performing as a Newfoundlander? When all air traffic was ordered to land on "The Rock" the locals went into action. They had the airport facilities to accommodate the influx but not the hotels/restaurants. So, the townsfolk took the displaced into their homes, giving them a place to rest their weary heads, have a good home-cooked meal, and a dose of old-fashioned Nfld hospitality. Of the “come-from-aways” who became part of the Gander family during that memorable week, many left as life-long friends of their host families.

Join four of these “plane people” as they reunite and reflect on that week-long international slumber/kitchen party. McKinven imagines their reunion as they remember their forced, and extended stay in a place they’d never heard of. With heart-warming humour, the one-man play takes a close look at the bonds formed in the midst of tragic circumstances.

During one interview, McKinven stated that the intimate atmosphere of a church auditorium lends itself perfectly to his play. The setting is meant to be a relaxed kitchen party, and that’s just what the audience experiences!

Since 2011, McKinven has performed his show more than 100 times. The venues have ranged in size from packed theatres in Montreal to church basements in the Maritimes.

See you there, Saturday, October 30, 7:30pm. Tickets $12 at the door. Light refreshments will be served.

Close to 300 hockey players aged three to eighteen years of age are currently playing hockey with the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association on their home turf located at the Frontenac Community Arena in Piccadilly. New this year and for the first time in six years the association has birthed a new novice rep team made up of 13 players aged seven and eight years of age, who will be playing their very first game on Friday, October 9 in Piccadilly, where they will face off against the Stirling Blues.

The association’s president, Al Pixley, attended the fundraiser bottle drive in support the new rep team, which took place on October 3 at the Foodland in Verona. He said he hopes to see fans at the team’s first game.

For those who missed the bottle drive or who would like another opportunity to support Frontenac minor hockey, the association is holding a Hallowe'en dance at the S & A Club in Harrowsmith on Friday, October 30.The fun starts at 8:00PM and live music will be provided the band The Stairs. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased in advance by contacting Al Pixley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Trinity Quilters will be celebrating the county's 150th anniversary with a special heritage quilt show featuring over 100 quilts and other items that will be displayed in the sanctuary of Trinity United Church in Verona on Saturday Oct. 17.

The show will feature numerous heritage and antique quilts from the collections of the group's members, and members of the local community, as well as a wide selection of heritage quilts from the collection of Dr. Peter Bell. Quilt historian, Bethany Garner, will be on hand talking about her own unique display of quilts and Eric Simkins will be displaying his collection of antique sewing machines.

Members will also be showing off some of their newer quilts and various quilted items, including table runners, wall hangings, pillows, and wearable art. Three gorgeous quilts will be raffled off at the event. The first is a queen-size, hand cross-stitched, floral patterned quilt, machine quilted by Nancy Holden; the second, a Frontenac Star quilt, pieced together by group member Jean Claire and hand quilted by the Trinity members, and featuring blocks of stars with a triangular flying geese border design. The third quilt is a colorful children's pinwheel quilt, machine quilted by Doreen Morey, with blocks made by the Trinity group. It features a playful cowboy patterned design.

An on-site boutique will be offering various smaller quilted items for sale including pin cushions, scissor holders, small wall hangings, Christmas decorations and more. Wilton Creek Fabrics of Harrowsmith and Hamilton Fabrics will be selling a wide range of their related wares and Sharon Sole will be offering up her quilt photo greeting cards.

Lunch can be purchased for $6 and will be served between 11am and 2pm. Coffee and muffins will also be available for early guests. A number of door prizes will be given out to visitors throughout the day. Admission is $5 and proceeds from the quilt raffle will be donated to the church and will also help support Southern Frontenac Community Services' Day Away Program.

Don't miss this rare event on October 17, when Trinity United Church will be ablaze in colour to the delight of quilters and quilt enthusiasts alike. Trinity United Church is located at 6689 Road 38 in Verona. For more information contact Ann McDougall at 613-374-2516.

It was a lucky day for two young great horned owlets back in May 2015, when Verona area resident Bill Kendall was out for his regular walk on a trail located on an old farm property near his home. Bill, who is an amateur photographer, had been regularly watching a great horned owl nest that contained young ones in a tree, but on May 12, his eye noticed from afar that “the profile of the nest had changed and it also appeared to be vacant.”

Hiking in for a closer look, Bill noticed a baby great horned owl on the ground. “It looked okay but not having had any experience with this kind of thing, I raced home to see if I could find someone local to give me some direction.”

An internet search got Bill in touch with Connie Black of Destined to Fly, a native baby song bird rehabilitation facility that she runs in Yarker. Bill recalled that “Connie dropped everything and came straight over to assess the situation and take action.” After placing the owlet in a carrier the two did one final sweep of the area and came across a second owlet at the base of the tree.

I spoke to Connie earlier this week and she recalled that both owlets had blood around their ears and she knew they were not candidates for re-nesting and in fact “needed more medical attention than I could give”. Further, she realized they would likely end up at the Owl Foundation in Vineland, Ontario.

In the meantime, Connie knew, as a former volunteer with the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in Napanee, that there the owlets would receive immediate care they needed until they could make the trip to Vineland. So she called Sue Meech at Sandy Pines, who told her to bring the birds right over. There the young birds, which were badly dehydrated, very thin and had maggots in their ears (all signs that they had not been parented for at least three or four days) were treated by veterinarian technologist Leah Birmingham.

They stayed at Sandy Pines until a lift could be arranged and arrived at the Owl Foundation on May 16, where they have been ever since, receiving both treatment and training.

Located on the Niagara Peninsula halfway between Hamilton and Niagara falls, the Owl Foundation has been in existence since the 1970s and specializes in rehabilitating and fostering all species of Ontario owls. Annick Gionet Rollick is one of two wildlife rehabilitators/zoologists who have been caring for the birds since their arrival. At that time they were just 4.5 or 5 weeks old but are now doing extremely well.

On their first day the owlets were introduced to Big Red, a female adult great grey owl and foster mom at the center. She had been brought to the center with injuries preventing her from ever returning to the wild but she proved a viable candidate for fostering.

Staff at the center understand that minimal contact with humans is the best way to successfully reintroduce orphaned birds to the world. Big Red's fostering involves feeding the owlets dead mice and eventually they are introduced to live prey, which Rollick said they instinctively know how to kill. Currently the two siblings, one male and one female, are hunting and eating white mice and will graduate to hunting more difficult to see brown mice, then rats and then quail. This training process continues until staff at the center feel the owls, which are now juveniles at 5.5 months old, show they are confident and able hunters.

The two are expected to be released sometime in October approximately 2-5 km from where they were found in the Verona area. Rollick said this is to ensure that they are not entering a territory possibly still inhabited by one or two of their parents, who may or may not still be living. “If the adult(s) are still there they will push the young ones out so we want to ensure that they are released into a large nearby forested area that can accommodate them.”

Staff at the center use satellite imagery on the day of release and look at various locations in that range. They also speak to the owlets’ finder to try to make sure that they are released where there is little danger from people, cars or other factors.

Asked if their release will be followed up by staff, Rollick said that though they both are banded with US fish and wildlife bands, the numbers on the bands are difficult to see so it is highly unlikely that the birds could be tracked.

Nevertheless it will be a happy day for all involved. Connie Black of Destined to Fly said she was thrilled to be part of the rescue. I was not able to speak with Sue Meech but Bill Kendall, who found the owlets, will definitely be present for their release. Kendall had nothing but praise for the people who came forward to care for the birds. The fact that these two young struggling owls received care from this network of individuals, which will end up in their release back into the wild, is remarkable.

The Owl Foundation is an excellent resource for those who may come across injured or young birds. Rollick was quick to stress that all young birds found on the ground do not require assistance. “Just because a bird is found on the ground does not means that it is not getting parental care.” She encourages people to monitor the situation and to visit their website, which includes a list of observations to note before calling the center. Also soon to be included on the Owl Foundation's website is an in-depth instruction manual titled “I Found an Owl, Now What?” It provides photos, questions and guides to dealing with the situation and prepares finders with a list of observations to note prior to calling the foundation. To learn more about the foundation visit www.theowlfoundation.ca.

I have included the contact information for the other centers mentioned in this article. Destined to Fly, native baby song bird rescue, 613-331-5191, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre (for all species), 613-354-0264 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The two owlets, May 16, 2015; photo courtesy of Connie Black of Destined to Fly

Ashley Barrie, employment consultant with St. Lawrence College Employment Services, was in Verona at the Free Methodist Church on September 10 offering satellite employment services as part of the organization’s first outreach initiative program there.

Barrie was on hand from 10 a.m. until noon that day hoping to meet one on one with individuals and identify their employment goals. St. Lawrence Employment Services is offering various kinds of assistance necessary to help people meet those goals.

With offices currently in both Kingston and Sharbot Lake, Barrie said that the new satellite services will serve those Verona and area residents who may find it difficult to get to Sharbot Lake or Kingston. Barrie said her role as an employment consultant is to meet one on one with individuals and to “identify what exactly is standing between that individual and employment”. Barrie said these could be any number of things, including lack of transportation, lack of child care, an ineffective resume, and more.

What Barrie wants people to know is that the barriers can be large or small and that she can offer a wide range of services that can address all of the issues, be they improving an existing resume; assisting with mock job interview scenarios; or bigger, more long term issues like job retraining or returning to school. “We understand that every situation is different for every client so we are aiming to be very flexible in our approach and I really strongly believe that there is always a way that we can help.”

The services Barrie offers will also include, in the afternoons, special focused workshops like SmartServe, workers’ health and safety training, and traffic control training. The workshops will be based on the needs of clients she sees.

Barrie hopes to see people take advantage of these services. “In a community like this one where jobs are often seasonal, layoffs are often a reality and people can find themselves needing something to carry them through. Sometimes it can be a simple thing like needing a certain pair of work boots and we can help with that too. We can also contact employers and offer them an incentive, which can make the difference in them hiring a new employee or not.”

Asked how long the Verona services will be running, Barrie said as long as they are needed. “We plan to be offering these services as long as we see that people are using them and if we can help even just one person to find work, it will have been worth it.”

Future dates and times for the Verona employment services can be found at the St. Lawrence College Employment Services website at www.employmentservice.sl.on.ca