The Verona Lions hall is currently undergoing renovations that will help to make it more wheelchair accessible. On March 24, 2011 the club received a $66,000 grant from the Enabling Accessibility Fund Program offered by the federal government whose aim to help make community buildings more accessible to members of the public who have disabilities. Verona Lions member Wayne Conway said that he expects the project to be completed before Christmas. “Our main goal is to construct a proper handicapped washroom facility, one that meets current codes.” The project will also make the two outside entrances to the building along with another inner entrance to the Lions Den electronically managed.

Storage space that was to be lost in order to provide space for the new washroom facility will be replaced by new storage space at the front of the hall. The end result will be a larger main hall with a capacity of 200, another added benefit according to Wayne. “Before, fitting 180 bodies into the main hall along with a stage and a dance floor used to be a pretty tight squeeze; the new renovations will allow us to accommodate 200 people comfortably, “ he said.

Verona Lions member Ken Harper is overseeing the project and local contractors are currently in the process of doing the work.

There is more good news about the hall: two weeks ago it received its permanent liquor license, meaning that renters looking to hold functions that include bar service need not go through the rigmarole of applying for a liquor license. It should be noted that the hall will remain open while the renovations are taking place. Anyone interested in reserving the hall for a private function can contact Wayne Conway at 613-374-2821.

Photo: Erin Wong and her band entertained at the Sisters by Heart's “A Cup of Christmas” event at the VFMC on December 3.

As a special treat for their regular Christmas gathering, the Sisters by Heart group of Verona offered up women of all ages in the community an evening of holiday cheer and entertainment on December 3 at the Verona Free Methodist Church.

Sisters by Heart is a local community-based women’s group with six committee members, which runs out of the Verona Free Methodist Church. The group was started up nine years ago by Evelyn Snider, who regularly organizes and emcees the events, which cost just $5 to attend. She was inspired by the former VFM Church pastor and his wife, David and Linda Rigby, who had started a similar group at their church in Florida. The group puts on four events each year and the proceeds help to support various services and community groups in the community. Proceeds from Monday night’s event will help support the Verona Community Association's Christmas for Kids, a campaign that collects funds to buy Christmas gifts for children in need in the local community.

The evening opened with a special performance by the Harrowsmith Bell Ringers (photo right), a group of 13 youngsters from the local community under the direction of Karen Snider, who performed two selections of bell ringing carols.

The featured entertainment was singer and speaker Erin Wong and her band The Citadel Worship Team, who come from the Kingston Citadel Salvation Army church in Kingston. Erin and her group have been playing together for close to 10 years and their highly polished sound filled the fellowship hall with inspiring Christian-themed tunes. They received a warm and enthusiastic reception from listeners. The players included Erin singing lead vocals, Josh Wilkins on guitar, Les Carr on keyboards and back up vocals and Sarah McCourt playing cello. The group has recently put out their first CD titled “Adoration” and proceeds from its sales will go towards supporting the Laurie Fund, which helps send Kingston children in need to sports camp. Erin’s talk, which she titled “A Cup of Christmas”, focused on the true meaning of Christmas and the benefits of striving to keep an abundantly overflowing cup of Christmas. She read a definition by an unknown author of the word “peace”, which said that peace “does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work, but rather to be in the midst of these things and still be calm in your heart.” This was Erin's second visit to Sisters by Heart and judging by the quality of her performance and her warm reception, it won’t be her last.

Photo: Lady Astoria (Elizabeth Taylor) performed in Candidate for Death at the Verona Lions hall on March 24

That was the question occupying guests at the Verona Lions hall on the evening of March 24 as over 80 guests joined forces to solve a murder that took place right under their noses while they dined.

The event was the second annual Murder Mystery Dinner fundraiser put on by Kingston's Partners in Crime as a fundraiser for the Verona Lions, and judging by the turnout, it seems that everyone loves a good meal accompanied by a good live murder mystery. Darlene Slack, who heads up the entertainment committee for the Verona Lions, brought the event back to Verona for its second year and it attracted guests from as far away as Peterborough, Napanee and Belleville. “The event was such a success last year that we decided to do it again,” she said.

Also back by popular demand was a sumptuous roast beef dinner put on by local caterer Joyce Casement. Diners began the evening with drinks and hors d'oeuvres in a pre-show cocktail hour and were peppered with clues from the get-go. Prior to tucking into their meal, the six-member cast of Richard Linley's mystery, titled “Candidate for Death” set up the back story about a London, UK, MP Daniel Lowt, played by Bob Lawton (who also directed), who was caught soliciting the services of an undercover police constable. This led members of his local party association to push him aside as a candidate in an upcoming election. At a party benefit dinner that follows, party rebels openly challenge MP Lowt in a contest for the candidacy that quickly gets ugly and ends in murder.

Well-known Verona actor, Dick Miller, who has been involved in Partners in Crime since its inception 20 years ago, played Inspector Eustace Guildhall.

By the time dessert was served, a number of short scenes had taken place through the dinner hour and most of the critical action had unfolded. Diners grouped at over a dozen large circular tables joined forces to try to determine the culprit, his or her motive and how the victim was murdered.

Ila Lawton, who produced and stage managed the show, said she and her cast love putting on the shows, which often serve as fundraisers for various community groups. “It's a real hoot for us to do and this Verona crowd is especially enthusiastic, which makes it a lot of fun for us.”

Proceeds from the event will be used by the Lions to support their many programs in the community and beyond including Camp Dorset, an Ontario resort that provides care and support to patients undergoing kidney dialysis treatments.

For more information about Partners in Crime visit www.partnersincrime.ca, or call 613-353-6111

Photo: Verona Lions Don Lawson and Louise Day present a cheque to David Townsend of the SFCSC

In an effort to place much-needed funding into the hands of those who know best where it needs to go, Verona Lions president Louise Day and treasurer Don Lawson presented a $1500 cheque on behalf of the Verona Lions Club to Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation's executive director David Townsend on Nov. 2 at the Verona Lions hall.

The Verona Lions, who focus their fundraising efforts on hearing and vision programs in the community, often receive numerous requests for other types of community support. “We get requests for all kinds of different things; everything from medical supplies, wheelchairs, to disaster relief, as well as funding for accident victims, so in the hopes of avoiding the duplication of services, we decided to make a donation to the SFCSC since they know best where the funding needs to go,” Louise Day said.

David Townsend was thrilled to receive the donation and said that it was not the first time that the Verona Lions have made a donation to support the various important community services the SFCSC offers. “This donation helps to demonstrate the fact that the services we offer are meeting the community needs and that people are starting to know where to turn to get the help that they need. Partnering with the Verona Lions and with other groups in the community means that there is a much greater chance that we can help serve more people and these kinds of donations do add up,” he said.

He gave a concrete example of where these particular funds might be headed now that financial assistance that was once available through the Winter Warmth program to rural dwellers who heat solely with wood, is no longer available. “While there are still financial aid packages in place for those who heat with hydro, natural gas and oil, there is nothing now for those who heat 100% with wood and unfortunately these people might easily fall through the cracks. So the SFCSC will be definitely considering using these funds for that purpose.” Townsend said that at this time of the year, many people are often struggling just to meet their basic needs due to difficult economic circumstances. “People who have should know that there are many opportunities to support those who don't by donating to various local community service groups like the Lions and various local churches in the area, who are partnering with the SFCSC to help members of the local community get the services they need. We have formed some very strong relationships with various community groups and churches, many of whom will offer charitable tax receipts immediately upon receipt of a donation.`

Anyone interested in making a donation to the SFCSC or the Verona Lions can call 613-376-6477 or 613-374-2821 respectively.

Verona’s Community Medical Clinic Becomes Reality

A year ago, Council agreed to purchase the Verona Medical Clinic with finds from the township’s capital reserve: The transaction will close October 31. Intent of the purchase was to facilitate recruitment of a physician for the community. On the recommendation of the Township’s lawyer, Council has agreed to lease the property directly to the physicians and delegate the Verona and District Health Service Committee (VDHSC) to manage the property, as a committee of Council. Rent will recover the operating costs of the property plus $5,000/year for a capital reserve to go toward maintenance of the property. Councillor McDougall said he appreciates Council’s “vision and leap of faith” in undertaking this project. He added that Verona is now beginning to get more queries from young doctors who are interested in becoming GPs in a rural setting, and who are attracted by being able to rent, rather than purchase a clinic.

Busy Season for Building Department

The Building Department’s third quarter report shows that the value of construction projects in the Township (over $27 million) is already close to last year’s record total, with one more quarter yet to go.

Photo: Auxillary Constable Jeremy Saunders in Sydenham

Auxiliary Constable Jeremy Saunders was at Sydenham’s Foodland, taking food and cash donations to add to the donations shelved at the Southern Frontenac Community Services Food Bank located at the SFCS Centre at 4419 George St. in Sydenham. Donations from the Sydenham area drive totaled $1700 in food and $260 in cash donations, which Jennifer Linton, chair of the food bank, said will go a long way in assisting families in need in their catchment area. “The response has been wonderful”, she said. “Jeremy asked us beforehand what we were especially in need of - which these days tends to be mainly children’s lunch food items, tinned fish and meats. Parents these days are having trouble finding protein-rich foods to put in for their children’s lunches, with peanut butter being banned in most schools.”

A similar drive took place in Sharbot Lake and Verona for the Sharbot Lake food bank, which raised $1200 in food and cash donations combined. Jeremy wanted to thank all of the students who assisted by making the signs for the event. Thanks to Laurie Adams’ grade1/2 class at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Harrowsmith, Leslie Smith’s, grade 8 class at Prince Charles Public School in Verona, and Aaron West's grade 5/6 class at Sharbot Lake Public School.

Photo: Three generations of the Revell family; Harry, Betty, Nathan and Larry, at their 75 year anniversary celebration in Verona

Three of the four generations of the Revell family were on hand at in Verona on September 17 celebrating their family's 75-year-long history in the car business.

Harry and Betty Revell, son Larry and his sons Nathan (25) and Josh (23) were all present greeting customers and members of the community who came out to enjoy the live music, a BBQ lunch and an impressive display of classic Fords.

Included in the line up was a classic 1936 Ford, which was the very same year that Harry Revell’s father Wesley opened up the Verona franchise. Wesley, who first was in the grocery business, learned the retail cars sales ropes from his brother-in-law, who owned a Parham franchise before it closed down.

Harry recalled, “It was at that time in 1936 when my uncle gave up the Parham franchise that representatives from Ford came out and asked Dad if he would be interested in opening up one in Verona, and he said of course, yes.”

That was 75 years and many Ford models ago, and the rest, as they say, is history. The Saturday event demonstrated not only how families tend to grow but also how much cars have changed over the years. Lovers of the classics had a chance to peruse a number of impressive models including a 1940 Mercury convertible, a 1961 Thunderbird convertible, and a 2012- 302 Mustang and many more.

Larry Revell said he felt a celebration was in order to recognize the family’s 75 years in business but more so to thank the community for their ongoing support. “We're so fortunate that my granddad started the business here and are also very fortunate to still be here. We have great customers and great employees, both of whom have been with us for a long time. I think what makes it work for us is that we really enjoy dealing with people.”

Many of those customers have been purchasing cars from Revell’s for years and the Revells are grateful for their loyalty. “We are very thankful for them, “ Harry said. ” If we didn't have them, business would nowhere be as good as it is today.” Joining the celebration was Marco Dodara, Ford parts and service dealer sales manager, who made a special trip out for the occasion. Numerous door prizes were given out though out the day and the event followed on the heels of an employee BBQ celebration that took place earlier in the week.

Photo: Deborah & Doug Love Grove, John McDougal, Gary Davison, John & Ginny Trousdale, Ron Vadewal

South Frontenac honoured two of its residents for their volunteerism within the community.

John Trousdale: John Trousdale is a true native son of Sydenham Village, a graduate of Sydenham High School, and a man who has carried on his family business interests, which go back to the early days of the village.

He has worked behind the scenes supporting numerous initiatives financially over the years, and has served on numerous boards and committees, including an 11-year stint on the Limestone Learning Foundation Board. He serves on the Kingston General Hospital Board and on the patient care and finance committees at KGH as well, and on the advisory Board of New Leaf Link.

He sits on the Sydenham Canada Day Committee, and is a member of the cemetery committee, the Lions Club, and the Legion, as well as an active member of St Paul’s Church.

As a local business owner, John has, again quietly, pitched in in times of need and emergency, lending a hand to individuals and the community whenever it was needed, whether after hours, on weekends or holidays.

Doug Lovegrove: Doug Lovegrove has worked in leadership roles and on individual projects to make the community a better place.

Doug has been an active member of the Verona Festival committee and steering committee since the festival’s inception 16 years ago. He managed several duties such as the original festival web site, construction of the entrance kiosks, banners and flags, conducted visitor surveys, assisted with the logistics of setting up and taking down, managed the advertisement and promotion, was active on the steering committee and was chair for the festival for several years.

He has also been a director and vice president of the Verona Business Association, director of the Verona/Bell Rock Policing Committee, coordinator of the Verona and Area Neighbourhood Watch, President of the Prince Charles Public School Home and School Association, and reporter and columnist for the Triangle newspaper.

Doug has endeared himself to the Verona community, and many in Verona deeply appreciate his years of volunteer service and are proud he has received this prestigious award.

While there have been incidences of extreme weather in many parts of Canada this summer, Eastern Ontario has been one region that has enjoyed warm, dry weather, with just enough rain to keep crops coming along nicely without too much watering.

As summer winds down, the bounty on display at farmers’ markets, such as the Frontenac Farmers Market in Verona, gets broader every week.

This Saturday the market will be in full swing, and it will also be the location of the 5th Annual Verona Garlic Festival, the home of the Eastern Ontario Garlic Awards.

This year 12 garlic growers will have booths at the festival, the largest number ever, presenting 17 different varieties of garlic, in addition to braids, and sauces and spreads. The festival will also be a good opportunity for home growers to purchase seed and to get helpful growing tips from some of the top growers in the region.

The Verona Lions will also be presenting a fine breakfast and lunch menu featuring sausages made by market vendors to make for a full day of food and entertainment. In addition to the announcement of the garlic awards at 1 pm, the winner of the Verona Community Association’s Adopt-a-Barrel contest will also be announced. For children there will be an arts and craft table, as well as a miniature train and mini-golf. Admission to the festival is free and there is ample free parking on site as well.

So turn down the Sand Road on Saturday between 9 am and 2 pm, pick up the last of the summer’s sweet corn and mouth-watering tomatoes, and breathe the aroma of potent, fresh garlic. Remember – garlic is an essential ingredient in most fine dishes, from stews to sauces, to roasts and savoury pies, and fresh, local garlic is the best.

As a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is about to start up in Verona, Frontenac County Council heard last week that Sharbot Lake is next in line for a bit of a boost to its economic viability.

Community Improvement Plans allow for shared investments between residential and commercial property owners and municipal councils. They have been used to give facelifts to main streets in Kingston and Brockville, and a pilot project for Frontenac County in Verona is at the point of being implemented by South Frontenac Township.

At a meeting of Frontenac County Council last week (August 17) a staff report by community planner Peter Young recommended supporting a plan for Sharbot Lake, subject to the support of Central Frontenac Council.

South Frontenac Council has allocated $10,000 this year for the Verona CIP, and Frontenac County Council has also allocated $70,000, creating a pool of money to be tapped into.

Among the incentives that have been approved for Verona are a facade improvement plan for commercial and residential properties along Main Street within the hamlet area, grants for accessibility improvements, and a separate fund for general commercial improvements. All grants are based on a 50% commitment from the applicant and are capped at $2,500.

Interest-free loans of up to $7,500 are also available for eligible projects, and in some cases municipal fees to a value of $2,000 can be waived.

The Verona plan also includes some initiative by the township in the way of road work and sidewalk initiatives and a number of potential community initiatives may also arise out of the public meetings that took place as the plan was being developed.

But before any decisions are made about what kinds of incentives will be put in place for Sharbot Lake, a number of steps need to be taken.

“Before we do anything further, we will be talking to Central Frontenac Council to see if they are interested,” said County Manager for Economic Development, Anne Marie Young, “We learned our lesson the last time around.”

Earlier this year, the county was chastised by South Frontenac Council for scheduling public meetings in Verona before the township were approached.

In addition to a financial commitment, Central Frontenac will need to amend their Official Plan to permit Community Improvement Plans in the township.

Once the Official Plan amendment is initiated, assuming Central Frontenac Council agrees, public meetings will be held to determine not only the scope of the plan, but geographic boundaries where it will be implemented.

The fact that Sharbot Lake has at least two separate pockets of commercial activity that are separated by residential areas, a function of the hamlet being located in a narrow band between the two basins of Sharbot Lake, was identified as a challenge by Fo-Tenn Consulting, a consulting company that evaluated all of the hamlets in Frontenac County in terms of their potential as CIP host communities.

However, noting that Sharbot Lake offers the best ratio of commercial properties to residential anywhere in the county, and is the third most populated hamlet in the county (behind Verona and Sydenham) Fo-Tenn identified Sharbot Lake as a community that would derive benefits from the program.

Marysville, on Wolfe Island, was also identified by Fo-Tenn as a likely site, and Frontenac Islands Mayor Dennis Doyle asked why Marysville had not been considered for the second project by the County.

“I thought we were going to consider Marysville and Sharbot Lake,” he said.

County Chief Administrative Officer Liz Savill replied that Marysville is slated to be the next in line after Sharbot Lake.

“On behalf of Central Frontenac I would say, yes, you definitely need to be speaking to our council about this as soon as possible,” said county councilor and mayor of Central Frontenac, Janet Gutowski. “The timing for Sharbot Lake may be very good with the redevelopment of the school coming up, the potential that comes with the existing public school site being vacated, the interest in the railway multi-use centre, and the engineering around the redevelopment of Elizabeth Street. There are things within the community that are about to change so the timing for a CIP may be right.”

Once Central Frontenac Council signs on to the project county staff will be setting up community meetings, probably later this fall. The cost of developing the Sharbot Lake plan will be lower than it was for Verona, because instead if using outside consultants to run meetings and write up the plan, those jobs will done by county staff.