Back to HomeFeature Article - April 16, 2009 Community Concert kicks off Easter Sundayby Julie Druker

Community choir performs at the Easter Son-Rise concert at Trinity United in Verona

The first ever Son-Rise community concert was a well-attended joyful celebration of Easter song at Trinity United Church in Verona even with its early start at 7AM.

Nine members of the community joined forces with the choirs of Trinity United Church in Verona and St Paul’s in Harrowsmith and performed an eclectic repertoire that included modern works along with well-known classics by Bach and Handel.

Choir director and organizer of the concert, Annabelle Twiddy, was joined by choir members Jennifer Bennett, John McDougall and Rob Christie, who each took turns conducting. Highlights included Cat Stevens’ “Morning has Broken”, Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” and a moving solo performance of “The Holy City” by guest choir member Rhonda Spurrell.

The sanctuary was close to full for the event, which also raised funds for the Canadian Grains Food Bank. Post concert, guests filed into the hall to share a continental breakfast.

I would have to agree with Denny Buchanan: Verona and the surrounding community always tend to serve up their mashed potatoes with plenty of gravy indeed - even at 7AM on Easter Sunday.

Back to HomeFeature Article - April 2, 2009 Inie Platenius: death of a community animatorBy Jeff Green

Inie Platenius in 2002, after being named Portland District volunteer of the year

Back in the 70’s, Inie and Peter Platenius bought an old farm on the Craig Road, near Verona. Peter taught at Queens and Inie taught high school and they set about making their farmhouse a more comfortable place to raise a family.

Living on Craig Road suited their interests well, because it gave them all the space they needed, gave them a rural community, and ready access to Kingston. Inie came to rural Frontenac County from the US, via Kingston, and she has chronicled in print several of her experiences as an outsider moving to the “hardscrabble land” (to use her phrase) at the meeting point between the Shield and the Limestone substrate.

The Plateniuses were part of a wave of “back to the landers”, and it took a bit of time for them to become part of the landscape, but over time they did that, each in their own way.

By the time Inie died on Monday of this week, after a 23-year battle with cancer, it had been well over 30 years since they made that move. They raised two sons, and helped raise the community as well. Inie was cherished by a community of people that extended the entire breadth of Frontenac County and beyond.

She was integrally involved with the Blue Skies Music Festival, and Blue Skies in the Community, the Triangle newspaper, the Verona Lions Club, the Verona Festival and the Verona Community Association. She also wrote, directed, and acted in plays in Kingston, and with the North Frontenac Little Theatre.

The shape, the very character of all of the institutions listed above was materially affected by Inie's intellect and hard work. More than that she gave them a part of their soul. That's why in addition to Peter and her close friends and family, it is hard to think of these organizations and groups without thinking about her.

It's the same for us at the News. When David Brison bought the paper in 2000, he gave Inie a quick call to ask her if she would take over the Verona column. Two and a half hours later (neither David nor Inie were short-winded) they had reached an agreement. Inie would write what she wanted to write and David would print it. That arrangement has remained in place until a couple of weeks ago.

Working on “the column” as she called it, was something that fit in with everything else Inie did, from buying as much food as possible in Verona and at the farmers’ market to shopping at the hardware store, the IGA or Local Family Farms and Jitterbugs.

We have never been under any illusions about Inie and her column. Although she certainly was supportive of the News, she was using us to help people from Vereona communicate with each other.

The thing about Inie that sticks out for me is the level of interest she took in everything. She took a complete interest in what was going on. She did not drift in conversation, and was not afraid of emotional truth, whether that meant sharing a laugh or sharing a cry.

I remember someone describing a Blue Skies Festival meeting. It got pretty heated, they said, “Inie cried.” There was a short pause, and they said, “but then again, Inie cries”.

We use the word “community” pretty loosely in the community newspaper business, but Inie took it very seriously. For her community was defined both geographically and culturally.

In the Trudeau era, government grants were given out to community animators, whose job it was to make thing happen in city neighbourhoods and rural communities. The very idea seems quaint from today’s perspective, as if any one individual could possible bring a community to life. But, if there was anyone I've met who truly animated communities, particularly the village of Verona, that was Inie.

Late last spring, as she was undergoing chemo-therapy, losing hair, and growing weaker, Inie decided to take on directing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with the North Frontenac Little Theatre. She knew she might not have the strength to complete the job herself, so she drafted John MacDougall as her co-director. (She later claimed it was all MacDougall's idea). The very audacity of the project - Shakespeare in Sharbot Lake - and the nerve to take it on when she knew she might be dying, was pure Inie; ambitious, slightly outrageous, and theatrical.

The show will be a tribute to her, one of many that will take place in the coming weeks and months.

A memorial dinner, celebration and jam session for Inie will take place at the Verona Lions Hall on Saturday, April 4, starting at 4:00 pm.

Just like Inie’s life, the evening will be full, full of laughs and tears.

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 26, 2009 Verona Festival: The Oscars may be back sooner than you think  by Julie Druker

With Sunday night’s Academy Awards still so fresh the hearts and minds of avid movie goers, it gives me great excitement to announce with certainty that the red carpet, now rolled up and shoved into a closet somewhere in the dark and dingy innards of the Kodak Theatre, may soon to be unrolled once again - and long before next February, mind you.

Yes… it is true. The red carpet will be unrolled again before the year is out right here in Frontenac County, … in downtown Verona to be precise.

That’s right. It’s now 100% official. The Verona Festival Committee passed a motion at their annual AGM on February 17 voting to have “Hollywood” as their theme for this year’s upcoming Verona Festival. One clever festival volunteer quickly suggested changing “Hollywood” to something more Canadian. Are you ready for this? “Veronawood: Hollywood North of the 401“. Brilliant.

Though not an official title as of yet, it definitely has a ring to it. And the theme is sure to be a crowd pleaser for all ages. The beauty of the theme lies in the fact that the possibilities are endless. Think of parade floats with all of the existing movie genres. And the costumes. And what about festival activities and competitions? Fashion shows, impersonators, lip synching bands of all ages shapes and genres, and of course look-alike contests. So many excellent possibilities. Why not Cameron the Bog Lemming Awards to be handed out to competition winners?

Good for you Verona Festival Committee. The theme of Pirates last year did wonders to give the festival a cohesive look and feel. This year the theme takes on an even wider scope, encompassing endless spin offs.

What a way to start your planning year - and what a way to engage the community. You’re out of the gates running and I can foresee many enthusiasts jumping on the volunteer bandwagon for this one.

Anyone interested in finding out more and/or volunteering for what is likely to be a very memorable Verona Festival please contact Wayne Conway at 613-374-3807 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Interested persons can also feel free to attend the regular Verona Festival planning meetings that are held on the third Tuesday of every month, 7:00 pm at The Verona Lions Hall. The first meeting will be held on March 17. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 12, 2009 Preparing the sounds of EasterBy Julie Druker

Music director Annabelle Twiddy

Every year the CBC airs a special Easter morning concert that is enjoyed by many listeners around the country. Annabelle Twiddy has always enjoyed them and has always wanted to see one. That being impossible, she’s decided this year to organize one right here in Verona and is enlisting the help of local singers from the Verona and Harrowsmith community to assist her. The call has recently gone out. “We‘re hoping to have a community choir and we‘re in the process of recruiting singers right now.”

Along with the choir of Harrowsmith and Verona, which has 25 members, Annabelle is hoping to get another 15 or so singers from the community to join them.

As music director for the Harrowsmith and Verona United Churches pastoral charge she is very excited about the opportunity for local singers to join in song with a very well-established choir. “It’s going to be a fabulous way to start Easter Sunday; it’s going to be really good music and if we can get some people from this community to sing with the choir it’s going to be really great.”

The concert will take place at 7:00 am on Easter morning, Sunday April 12 at Trinity United Church in Verona.

In past years there has been a regular, outdoor, early morning sunrise Easter concert held at the lake in Verona but the numbers have dwindled steadily over the years. The idea for the new concert was suggested as an alternative and the congregations and choirs from Verona and Harrowsmith have enthusiastically jumped on board.

There will be a total of six practices over six weeks, which will be held at Trinity United church in Verona on Thursday evenings from 8:00-9:30 pm, beginning on March 5.

Annabelle explained her motivation. “Easter is the most important celebration of the Christian faith. We make a huge fuss about Christmas and we do Christmas for five or six weeks and we sing Christmas carols and hear them played everywhere. We do Easter for one day and it seems to me that if we do it for one day, it needs to be a very extraordinary day.”

Annabelle already has the music planned and the eight or nine new works will include modern arrangements of “From the Rising to the Setting of the Sun“, Gaither’s “Because He Lives“, “Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem“ and “Morning has Broken“ to name a few. She hopes to finish off the concert with the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah. Guest conductors John McDougall and Jennifer Bennett will lead the choir for a few of the numbers.

Donations will be accepted at the concert for the Canadian Food Grains Bank (CFGB), an interdenominational agency based in Winnipeg and supported by many of the local churches in the area. Headed by the central Mennonite Committee, the CFGB distributes food aid and related products world wide to people in distress. Their aim is to encourage food self-sufficiency and sustainability.

Being a farmer herself, the CFGB is an agency that Annabelle is well aware of and interested is supporting. She explained, “This agency represents us all and it is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency which matches our donations to the tune of 4 to 1, so our $1 donation becomes a $5 donation”.

Interested singers can call Annabelle Twiddy at 613-372-0603 or call the pastoral charge office at 613-372-2525 and leave a message. Singing experience is helpful.

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 5, 2009 A new move for Verona computer storeBy Julie Druker

Colin Bowe, owner of LINCAN'S Verona Computer Store

Long time computer solutions businessman Colin Bowe of Sandhurst, near Bath, has relocated his computer store a few doors down from its original location on Highway 38 in Verona.

Though the move was not far, it is a big and exciting step forward for Bowe, who has been involved in the computer hardware and software business for close to a decade and a half.

Bowe was originally a silent partner in the business, but purchased Verona Computer and Satellite over a year and half ago with the help of his existing company LINCAN Inc. He also purchased the residential property which is the store’s new home. Bowe opened for business in his new location on Monday Feb. the 3rd after two especially busy weeks during which prepared the interior space and moved in all of his inventory. Technically a division of LINCAN Inc., an already existing business which Bowe opened in Kingston in 2001, the new LINCAN’s Verona Computer Store will continue to offer all of the computer products and services it has been previously offering to the local community.

These include new and used computers and laptops, on and off site repairs, upgrades, web hosting, networking and wiring. Long time employee Chad Newell will continue to work alongside Bowe in the store's new location.

Bowe has been offering open source solutions for small businesses, specifically the LINUX operating system and other open source software. He is a firm believer in the benefits of open source software and the LINUX operating system in particular and insists, “It’s more secure, more stable and it’s free.” He explained, “Because there are so many people looking at it (LINUX) and using it, it’s very stable and secure. It’s not like Windows. More eyes looking at it find more problems.”

Bowe is also a believer in keeping the world green and will run his business accordingly. “Most people don’t need half of the computer that they buy. With the economy the way it is now I’m going to be offering a lot of used computers. There’s a lot of used hardware with a lot of life still in it at economical prices.”

Repairs are a big part of the service that Bowe will continue to offer at the new Verona location, saving many frustrated computer owners the long trip into Kingston. He explained, “I find that a lot of people consider their computer broken when it slows down but it’s really just Windows getting cluttered up. They pick up viruses. Often there’s not much wrong with the computer, its just running really slow.”

As of Monday there are still some things that need tending to, and like most small business owners Bowe is doing everything that he can possibly do himself. Exhausted but excited, he heads off fueled by a few cups of coffee and the determination it takes to make a small business succeed.

It is great to know there is still a local shop nearby that can meet all of our computor needs..

LINCAN'S Verona Computer Store is located at 6772 Hwy 38 across from Mom's restaurant. They are open Monday -Friday from 10am-6 pm and the number is 613-372-3253.

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 26, 2009 Verona Festival: The Oscars may be back sooner than you think  by Julie Druker

With Sunday night’s Academy Awards still so fresh the hearts and minds of avid movie goers, it gives me great excitement to announce with certainty that the red carpet, now rolled up and shoved into a closet somewhere in the dark and dingy innards of the Kodak Theatre, may soon to be unrolled once again - and long before next February, mind you.

Yes… it is true. The red carpet will be unrolled again before the year is out right here in Frontenac County, … in downtown Verona to be precise.

That’s right. It’s now 100% official. The Verona Festival Committee passed a motion at their annual AGM on February 17 voting to have “Hollywood” as their theme for this year’s upcoming Verona Festival. One clever festival volunteer quickly suggested changing “Hollywood” to something more Canadian. Are you ready for this? “Veronawood: Hollywood North of the 401“. Brilliant.

Though not an official title as of yet, it definitely has a ring to it. And the theme is sure to be a crowd pleaser for all ages. The beauty of the theme lies in the fact that the possibilities are endless. Think of parade floats with all of the existing movie genres. And the costumes. And what about festival activities and competitions? Fashion shows, impersonators, lip synching bands of all ages shapes and genres, and of course look-alike contests. So many excellent possibilities. Why not Cameron the Bog Lemming Awards to be handed out to competition winners?

Good for you Verona Festival Committee. The theme of Pirates last year did wonders to give the festival a cohesive look and feel. This year the theme takes on an even wider scope, encompassing endless spin offs.

What a way to start your planning year - and what a way to engage the community. You’re out of the gates running and I can foresee many enthusiasts jumping on the volunteer bandwagon for this one.

Anyone interested in finding out more and/or volunteering for what is likely to be a very memorable Verona Festival please contact Wayne Conway at 613-374-3807 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Interested persons can also feel free to attend the regular Verona Festival planning meetings that are held on the third Tuesday of every month, 7:00 pm at The Verona Lions Hall. The first meeting will be held on March 17. 

Photo: Lee Casement from his new CD, In the Guestroom. Courtesy of Lee Casement

Music lovers familiar with the local music scene need no introduction to Verona musician Lee Casement. Best known as the bass and keyboard player for the alternative rock band Telefoto, Lee has recently expanded his repertoire to include a number of original tunes that he co-wrote with a diverse lineup of longtime musician friends and family members under a new solo CD effort titled “In the Guestroom”.

The new CD, which will be officially released on May 27, includes nine songs, each of which Lee wrote the music for and then offered to friends and family, who in turn transformed them into their own original songs. “For years I had these song ideas in my head that I wanted to pursue outside of the band (Telefoto), so I recruited a host of mostly local friends and family who are songwriters to write the melodies and lyrics. I gave them a loose musical framework from which to work and they came up with these tunes, each with a really original hook that listeners can sing along to. It was really exciting and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Lee plays bass, keys and sings back up vocals on almost all the tunes, which for the most part showcase the singers who co-wrote the songs. Most of the songs are slower melodic forays into the subjects of joy, love, and dreams. The CD opens with Lee and Rob McDougall’s tune titled “In Dreams”, a soft, lyrical, poetic love song sung by McDougall, with pretty harmonies and an acoustic guitar solo playing on top of an underlying beat that crescendos to a majestic final close.

Harrowsmith’s Doug Van Der Horden co-wrote and sings “Joy”, a soul-searching quest for answers, with a catchy chorus and a down-and-dirty guitar solo. The song appears again at the end of the CD with a final resounding rendition. Lee’s musical cousins Lisa Menard and Ryan Bresee have also contributed their talents, the former with “The Angel Riots”, a slow, airy, melodic tune with Menard singing lead, and Bresee with “Full of Broken Prose”, a sad, slow and  atmospheric confessional where he is joined on vocals by Ana Miura, a talented and well-known Ottawa singer songwriter. Chris Koster is another contributor and his tune “Dead Doves” is one of the most up-beat on the CD. With a catchy chorus about dangerous afflictions the tune is definitely a winner. Other contributions on the CD include Gerald McGrath’s “Worn”, Sarah Baetz’ “Festival Parade”, Paul Butler’s “The Ones Who Need You Most” and Telefoto band member Brad Smith’s “Mountain”.

The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jeff Babcock at his own JSB Studios in Hartington. Jeff also plays drums on a number of the tracks. Just 100 copies of the CD were pressed, mainly as mementos for participating musicians, friends and family. There will be a limited number of CDs for sale for $10 at the CD release party, which takes place on Friday, May 27, at The Next Church, 89 Colborne Street in Kingston. Doors open at 7:30 PM and there is a $2 cover.

Anyone interested in securing a CD can email Lee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Those interested in sneaking a pre-show listen to a few of the tunes off the new CD, can visit cbc.ca/bands/in-the-guestroom. Also to note - Telefoto will be releasing their third music video called “Eight Hour Shift” on Thursday, June 9, at the Music Market in Napanee. For more information visit www.telefoto.ca.

 

 

 

Long-time Verona resident Kit Chubb is well known in the community as the founder of the Avian Ark, more formally known as the Avian Care and Research Foundation. The Ark was a charitable foundation and hospital for wild birds that she and her late husband Robin founded at their Verona residence in 1978, and ran as volunteers for 28 years until it closed in 2006.

Kit is a long-time animal and nature enthusiast, and the Avian Ark came about when she began banding birds as a volunteer with local author and bird authority Helen Quilliam. As Kit recalls in her 1991 book The Avian Ark: Tales from a Wild-bird Hospital, “With my untrained fingers, I unfortunately wrenched some wing muscles of a tiny ovenbird when I was untangling it, and full of remorse I asked permission to take it home and care for it…the Ark was launched soon after.” The book is just one of many that Kit authored and illustrated about her life spent caring for countless species of wild birds.

Kit's husband Robin, who was an architect, helped build the sanctuary at the couple’s Verona home. It included a number of aviaries, and the couple was joined by over 160 volunteers whom Kit refers to as “Flying Angels”, who delivered injured birds to her doorstep.

Over close to three decades Robin and Kit treated many species of birds, including herons, which are by far the most difficult to treat due to their incredibly shy dispositions and fragile physiology; loons, ducks, grebes, hawks, eagles, one raven, woodpeckers, owls and even one pelican, who proved to be a very playful patient.

Some of the most seriously injured birds had to be euthanised, but many others were treated, rehabilitated, banded and returned to the wild. Kit took meticulously detailed x-rays of those who did not survive. Many of the x-rays are now housed in a collection at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa and are available to anyone interested in studying them.

The Ark closed in 2006, the year after Robin passed away from cancer and now Kit has moved into a new phase of her life, which keeps her pretty much bed-ridden. As a result of her long-time work with birds, she has developed pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable lung disease that makes breathing difficult and for the last year she has been relying on oxygen.

She first noticed a problem with her lungs in 1988 and says that it probably started from breathing avian particles in the air and slowly worsened as years went by. Doctors at that time informed her that there was no cure for the disease and did suggest that she consider stopping her work with birds. She recalled being given that advice but says, “I just couldn't stop what I was doing. I loved it too much. I was writing and lecturing at the time and the fact is that back then, doctors did not know just exactly what it was that was causing the problem. I decided to continue on with my work.”

In visiting Kit at her bedside, I found that what is most inspiring about her is her grace, truthfulness and surprising acceptance of this phase in her life. “I have no regrets at all. In life you have to be able to shut the door behind you and accept changes. This is a new phase for me and though it might sound strange to most, I am enjoying it. It is a chance to get close to each of my five children like I never have before.”

Kit now spends a lot of her time with her family, as well as reading, and when we talk she tends to speak about life’s bigger questions and principles, the ones she has tried to live and work by. “I really believe that we should honour all of the life around us and the fact that every creature has its life to live just like we do; they have to mate, eat, make homes for themselves and we really need to recognize that,” she says.

In sickness, as in health, Kit Chubb continues to demonstrate a passion for ideas she believes in and to live a life that aims to recognize, honour, and celebrate all forms of life on this earth.

A dozen of Kit’s last published drawings have been included in a book published by the Royal Ontario Museum called Biological Notes on an Old Farm: Exploring Common Things in the Kingdom of Life by retired Curator Emeritus Dr. Glenn B. Wiggins.

For more information visit www.kitchubb.ca. Her tales are sure to inspire readers to reconsider the many winged creatures that we are so lucky to share our world with. 

 

Photo: Hugh Fisher owner and operator of the new Jitterbugs in VeronaFor some the thought of relocating a business to an 100 plus-year-old building in need of renovation might seem a nightmare. For Jitterbugs owner Hugh Fisher of Verona, a cabinet maker and former network specialist at Queens University, the project was a dream come true. “I saw this old building for sale with huge potential and I knew I'd be getting back to what I really love doing most, which is designing and building.” The two storey, 1500 square foot building, which was built in 1875 and which Fisher is quite sure originally was a stable, presented Fisher with an opportunity not only to own and renovate his own building, but more importantly to pursue his own artistic endeavors as a furniture designer and maker.

Formerly run for two and a half years out of the rental unit beside Toppers in Verona, Jitterbugs will continue on in its new location at 6750 Road 38 in Verona as a home decor consignment store offering items for sale that include furniture, linens, artworks ceramics, glass. The store will officially open at its new location on Saturday May 21. Fisher also has future plans to convert the store in the slower winter months into his own workshop and studio, where he plans to design and build his own line of furniture: tables, bookshelves, chairs and cabinets, all made from the original old growth pine and oak that he has salvaged from the building during the renovation. “In some places there were seven layers of very old wood flooring sitting on top of the original post and beams, which I have salvaged and intend to use. This wood is beautiful stuff with a lot of colour and character that you just don‘t see anymore these days.” Already Fisher has begun working with the salvaged wood and has built window shelves and shelving units for the new store. His artistic flair is apparent in the renovation, which included gutting the entire building, replacing all of the wiring and plumbing, windows and replacing the old wooden floor with poured concrete that he has splattered with paint to match the warm orange hues that now cover the walls.

Fisher has managed to turn the store into a modern-looking retail space while also preserving its original character. The main floor interior is warm and inviting and a large, wide staircase leads up to the second storey. Remembered mostly by long time Verona residents as a 1950s shoe store owned and operated by Don Le Bay for 20 plus years, the store has been home to a number of businesses since. For Fisher the undertaking accomplishes a number of personal goals. ”For me the project is really a labour of love... It is also a way to further imbed myself into the local community which is important for me. I figure you only live once; why not take a chance and pursue your dreams.”

Fisher is still on the lookout for consignors with clean upscale items for sale. Anyone interested can contact him at 613-374-5287.

 

This summer Main Street, in Verona, will once again showcase the gardening skills of dozens of volunteer gardeners in the Second Annual “Adopt-a-Barrel” flower growing competition.

The Verona Community Association (VCA) has provided over 36 flower barrels lining Main Street, located in front of businesses, private homes and public spaces. Each of these barrels will be “adopted” by individuals or groups who will apply their gardening skills while competing for five prizes. Fourth and fifth place will win $50. Third place prize $100, Second place prize $200 and the grand prize will be $300.

The participants will provide the plants, the tender loving care and the creative skill which they hope will impress the independent judging panel sometime in August. In the meantime, residents and visitors to Verona will have the opportunity to enjoy the floral displays all summer. Winners will be announced at the Annual Garlic Festival, the first weekend in September.

The competition is open to any aspiring gardeners who are residents in the Verona and the nearby area. Entry forms are available at Local Family Farms, Nicole’s Gifts, and Verona Hardware. Entries must be received by May 14.

“This will be another exciting year,” says Joyce Casement, a director of the VCA. “The VCA was delighted with last year’s competition. The barrels looked spectacular all summer. Everyone who competed got caught up in the excitement of the competition. There were many friendly rivalries as to who would have the best barrel. Many of the businesses and private residents who participated had so much fun that they are adopting their barrels again this year. This area has so much real gardening talent. It’s going to be fun watching our favourite displays take shape over the summer, and cheering on our friends and neighbours as they turn Verona into a Garden of Blooms.”The VCA is a volunteer organization that sponsors projects and events that enhance the Verona community through celebration, beautification and community support. New volunteer members are always welcome. Anyone interested in helping to make Verona an even better place to live can contact Debbie Lingen at 613-374-2091.

For more information on the Adopt-a-Barrel competition, please contact Debbie Lingen at 613-374-2091 or visit the Verona website at www.yourverona.com.