Granite Ridge Educational Centre can add a couple more names to its growing list of accomplished athletes.

Grade 12s Devin Cooney and Nick Anderson have returned home from the Youth Invitational Special Olympics in Toronto last week (May 14-17) with a total medal haul of five, including two golds.

Cooney took the gold in shot put and silver in both the 200 metres and 400 metres. He was also fifth in the long jump.

Anderson won gold in the long jump and a bronze in the 100 metres (both personal bests) and added a sixth in the shot put.

“This was a big deal because there were 2,500 athletes from all across North America, including Cayman Islands and Jamaica,” said coach Tammy Steele.

“There were athletes from Chicago, North Carolina, Texas, Michigan, Manitoba, Alberta, Quebec,” said Cooney.

The guys are no strangers to athletic competition. Last year, Cooney was on a gold-medal winning basketball team from the school and Anderson took gold on the soccer team. Albeit, those were much smaller events.

Cooney actually likes basketball best, he said, citing Michael Jordan as the best ever. But the Invitational in Toronto was “a lot of fun, evenly fun with basketball.”

Anderson prefers the field events, such as long jump, despite winning bronze in the 100 metres.

“With the running events, after a while my legs hurt,” he said, explaining that he’s had a bout of shin splints lately. “But my goal is to be a weightlifter like my Uncle Murray.”

(Murray Anderson has had considerable success in strongman competitions, including two 12th-place finishes in Ontario’s Strongest Man in 2005 and 2007.)

Both Cooney and Anderson, like most athletes, remember the food at the competition.

“They had good breakfast, lunch and supper,” said Cooney. “And cappuccinos.”

“And Ice-caps,” said Anderson.

Next year, the Invitational is scheduled to be held in Kingston and both athletes are looking forward to it, albeit for different reasons.

The school is looking at taking most of the student body to the Kingston meet to cheer them on.

“The student body is coming to watch?” asked Cooney. “I want that!

“I guess I’ll really have to train harder.” Anderson said that while he likes the idea of competing, having a lot of people there watching him really isn’t his thing.

“No, not really, anxiety,” he said.

The Toronto Invitational marked 50th year of Special Olympics since its inception by Dr. Frank Hyden and Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968.

On Saturday June 1 and Sunday June 2, 2019 Little Texas Roadhouse Bar and Grill will be hosting the 1st Annual Inverary 3 PITCH 3 CHORDS Spring Fling in support of Inverary Youth Activities. All proceeds from this event will go toward one-time capital costs to replace the holding tank, to complete major renovations to the washroom facilities and to upgrade the electrical in the canteen.

The idea of the Inverary 3 PITCH 3 CHORDS Spring Fling came from combining my love of live music and baseball.

This family friendly two day event will feature live music, baseball, a large kids zone, vendors, food vendors and a beer tent.

The lineup includes: Rudy & Saddle Up, Hicktown, KnucKel Hed, The Ice Gods, Old Habits, Richard Cranium, White Brothers, Lane Duke, Courtney Kane, Picket Fences, Clem Chesterfield & the La-Z Boy Recliners, Jordy Jackson Band, A night with Elvis, Eastbound by Bytown, Chelsea Road and more

Tickets are $35 for a weekend pass, 16 years and under free. The Kids Zone will have several free activities as well several exciting pay per use activities.

A special event designed for young children was a big hit in Sunbury on May 8.

Held at Ormsbee’s Mercantile, children were invited to play with rabbits, plant a seed and sample maple syrup.

“This is our sixth year doing the event,” says Jenn Ormsbee, 39. “The whole idea is to bring our community together. It’s nice to see the kids having a great time.”

Looking around the parking lot where children of all ages looked busy and happy, Ormsbee admits she is pleased with the event that is part of the United Way of KFL&A Success by Six campaign.

Speaking on behalf of the Frontenac 4-H, which represented local, future farmers, volunteer leader Amey Brooks notes, “This is really for the kids. It’s all about community.”

According to Brooks, 4-H members attended from the rabbit & cavy club (guinea pigs) and clover buds to promote community involvement and the benefits of becoming a 4-H member.

“One of the big things in 4-H is community,” says Brooks, who has a 13-year-old daughter in the 15-member rabbit club. “This type of event will also help our members with their public speaking skills and give them an opportunity to proudly show-off their rabbits. This type of event helps more kids get involved.”

After this event, the rabbit club will be showing/jumping its rabbits at the Odessa Fair in July and the Kingston Fall Fair in September.

“Who knew I would be driving around with rabbit jumps in my van all summer,” says Brooks with a smile.

To learn more about 4H, please go to https://www.4-hontario.ca/4h-in-my-area/frontenac.aspx

To learn more about Success by Six, go to www.unitedwaykfla.ca/programs/success-by-6/

It was hard to tell who was having more fun last Wednesday at GREC — the organizers of the music workshops going on, or the students participating in them.

“Teaching is an art form,” said vice-principal Kristin Stevens, the main coordinator of the artistic events. “Art finds its way into everything (and) fun is always our focus.”

This particular event, made possible by Al Rankin, Blue Skies and Live Wire Music, the Parents Council and an Arts grant from the Limestone District School Board, featured about 150 Grade 4-8 students from GREC, Land O’Lakes Public School, Prince Charles Public School and Clarendon Central Public School. The students spent the day rotating through music and instrument-making workshops including flute making, indigenous drumming and song, drum making and acoustic instruments.

“The students are making art,” Stevens said. “They’re learning indigenous drumming and the value of arts endeavours.”

Judy Montgomery and Pam Giroux led the indigenous drumming/singing workshop.

“We’re having loads of fun working with the students,” Montgomery said. “We’re teaching them why we have music — why people sing.

“We give thanks to Mother Earth and our connection to the Earth.

“It encompasses the language and gives a sense of peace and well-being.”

And to get a sense of what’s involved in making music, students got a chance to make their own instruments.

Lily Legacy, who’s been known to create symphonies with nothing more than plastic buckets and enthusiasm, led a drum-making workshop where students made their own “indigenous inspired” hand drums out of tubes used for pouring concrete footings and packing tape.

“They’re super cheap,” Legacy said. “And they’re making drumsticks from dowels and hockey tape.

“It’s a good day.”

Over in the wood shop, students were drilling holes in dowels and creating unique flutes.

“When I’m not teaching, I’m making music or doing carpentry,” said teacher Julia Schall. “These kids are super engaged.”

Finally, students got to spend some time with Teilhard Frost, a fiddler by trade but also a music historian and on this day, he was passing along his knowledge of the not-so-common aspects of acoustic instruments, showing how just about anything can be used to make music.

“I picked some grass in the front yard of the school to show kids how to make notes blowing through it,” he said. “You don’t need anything other than what’s always been around to make music.

“You can be a drumset — without a drumset.”

Frost said he showed the students the relationship between a conch shell and a trumpet.

“You want people to know you’re there,” he said. “And a jug is the basis for hip-hop and beatbox.

He said this is the basis for his acoustic music project — “No Batteries required.”

Where could you find a scale model of the CN Tower, complete with elevator, a 3D modelling of your school and a working trebuchet?

That would be the Loughborough Public School Maker Faire, which was on display to the public last Thursday afternoon in Sydenham.

Teacher Alan MacDonald, who was one of the organizers of the event, said this was the third time they’ve done this and this time, it involved the entire student body — from kindergarten to Grade 8.

“This isn’t a science fair, where getting help from parents and neighbours is illegal,” he said. “Here, it’s encouraged.

“The idea is to make something you’re interested in. The spelling of ‘Faire’ is french for ‘to do’ or ‘to make.’”

MacDonald said another way this differs from a science fair is that it’s non-competitive.

“If it were competitive, kids might be more apt to make something they already know how to do,” he said. “In this, kids are much more apt to take risks.”

He said another inspiring attraction for students is that there is lots of choice in what they make.

“There’s really only one rule,” he said. “You can’t do something you already know how to do.

“Oh, and other than the odd mediaeval weapon of mass destruction, it must be school appropriate.”

The mediaeval weapon MacDonald referred to came from Grade 8er Lucas Steele, who along with fellow student Jack MacInnis, built a working scale model trebuchet, which is capable of launching a basketball 50 feet.

“A couple of weeks ago, we were studying levers and mechanical advantage in physics and math class,” Steele said. “Jack looked up plans online and drew up a schematic.

“We built it at my grandparents’ house.”

Edie Hillman and Caitlyn Ball turned their love of all things Harry Potter into their project — butter beer.

“We had butter beer at the Universal theme park,” said Hillman. “We found a recipe online and changed it around a little bit.”

The projects on display ran quite the gamut.

There were plenty of dioramas, but also a Nimbus 2000 (Harry Potter again, it’s a broom favoured by quidditch players), horse treats, homemade cleaning products, a refracting telescope, bath bombs, jams, cookies, homemade essential oils, maracas, a catapult, a guitar and stomp rockets.

One of the more fascinating projects came from Keagan Leonard, who got dad Wade to fly the family drone around the school and then took the data collected to map the entire school yard, complete with elevation and vegetation components.

He then printed out a 3D version of the school.

“The idea just came to me,” he said. “I asked the principal if it was OK to use 3D printers and he said sure.”

On Friday, April 26, 2019, students and staff at North Addington Education Centre gathered around for the unveiling of the new playground, donated and installed by The Township of North Frontenac. Principal Bonham-Carter as he gave a speech expressing NAEC's gratitude towards everyone that helped make it happen, especially the Parent Council and Mrs Salmond (the former principal), joined by Mayor Ron Higgins and Deputy Mayor Fred Perry. Once the ribbon to the playground was cut, students of all ages surrounded the structure with excitement. Caitlyn, a grade five student at NAEC exclaimed, "I love it! This is so awesome and I am really excited to play on it!"

Corey Klatt, Manager of Community Development at North Frontenac explained in an interview how the project all started. The Township was originally planning to install a new playground in Cloyne at the Ball Diamond and Tennis Court facility, but when the council heard that NAEC did not have one at the school for younger students, they arranged to install one there instead. "It was discussed that a playground would be well used at the school and well maintained," he said. As a closing remark when asked how he felt about the success of the project, Mr. Klatt said, "It felt excellent to see the students so excited about the playground today and we are pleased that everyone will be able to enjoy it for years to come."

The playground is a big hit among the students and staff of NAEC, and the generosity of The Township of North Frontenac is greatly appreciated by all.

The GREC gym somewhat resembled a mediaeval competition last Thursday as the Gryphons hosted teams from Holy Cross Secondary in Kingston, the North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne and Percy Centennial Public School in Warkworth for a National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) championship.

“The program was designed in Kentucky and now we have 18 million kids participating worldwide,” said Tim Watts, who helps run the program in Ontario. “And not one insurance claim.”

Safety is paramount for obvious reasons. The participants are regulated and told when to approach the shooting line, when to shoot and when to retrieve their arrows.

Watts said all shooters use the same Mathews compound bows.

“That’s so a Grade 4 can hand the bow to a grade 12 and not have to adjust anything,” he said.

There are 125 schools in Ontario active in the program and more than 500 teachers trained, he said.

“The schools purchase the equipment (at 65 per cent of retail) and we train their teachers,” he said.

Shawn Lavender and Jamie McCullough run the program at GREC.

“This is our 4th year participating in the tournament,” said McCullough. “This is our second live and we’ve been in two virtual tournaments.

“When we found out they were looking for a host site, we offered ours.”

“Archery addresses students that don’t normally participate in group sports,” said Lavender. “It’s a bit of a niche in that you’re competing for a personal best all the time.

“And there’s a lot of camaraderie.”

He said they had six archers when they began and have 15 now, including students in the community program members.

“We’re trying to offer a variety of sports,” said McCullough. “Including ultimate frisbee and we even have a fishing team.”

They even lured retired teacher, Tom Corneil, out of retirement to help out with the younger members.

“I enjoy archery,” he said. “You can do it anywhere.

“And giving people an opportunity to participate is what teaching is all about.

“I like watching the kids participate, smile and improve.”

Senior student Tyee Davis is one of those participants.

“I’ve been shooting since I was three years old with a little plastic bow,” he said. “Archery is just really fun in general but it also connects me to my Native ancestors.

“And it’s good practice for hunting.”

The Association has been putting a lot of focus into Developmental Programs and this has shown at all levels of our hockey program. This success, however can be seen most prominently in our Rep Program.
It had been years since one of our Frontenac Flyers teams made it to the OMHA Finals and two years ago our Novice Rep team (Coached by Jason Quesnel) broke that drought. But it didn’t stop there, last year the Novices (Coached by Jamie Craig) set the ground and made headlines by Winning and becoming the OMHA Champions.

This year we are proud to have 4 out of 5 of our Rep Teams advance to the OMHA Semi Finals and one step closer to again winning.

Our Novices, coached by Don Rowat & Cory Thompson, had been dominating their season and series but The Campbellford Colts are showing true competition and have us on the ropes winning the last two games. But our young Flyers are resilient and will prove that when they bring the game home Tuesday March 6th at 7:00pm.

Our Atoms, coached by Jamie Craig, put on a good show last weekend when they took to the road on an overnight trip to Haliburton to kick off their OMHA Semi Finals against The Highland Storm. They took the win Friday night with a quick back and forth game which ended in our favour at 7-4. Saturdays game was just as good but ended in overtime with Highland Storm taking the win. The series now continues with the Atom Flyers having the home ice advantage this Friday March 9th at 7:00pm and again on Saturday March 10th at 2:00pm.

The Peewees, coached by Al Pixley, hope to bring a close to their Semi-Final series against The Shelburne Wolves and clinch a spot in the OMHA Finals. They currently lead the series with two wins and one more win npaves the way for a chance at the OMHA Championship. Although for the next two games we cant pack the stands again to cheer the Peewees on as they are in Shelburne, don't think that we aren't all rooting for them and wish them all good luck.The Bantams, coached by Jon Senior, are making history as it has been a long time in Flyers history since a Bantam Team has made it this close to winning the infamous Red Hats that come along with winning the OMHA Championship. The Bantams swept their Semi Final Series against the Highland Storm and are now waiting to see who they will face off against in the Finals.

We are so proud of all of our team’s accomplishments and the true FLYERS SPIRIT that has been exhibited. We encourage everyone to come to the games and see how our Rep Program has flourished and continue to leave our reputation from Novice all the way to Midget.

All in all the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association and its programs have continued to grow and show success. With our Inter Community House League (ICHL) winding down this last weekend our success not only showed on the score boards but also on the progression and advancement in skills for all of our players. Our association supports over 350 players and many awesome volunteers, coaches and bench staff which lead our programs to be as positive as they are. Our ICHL offers recreational hockey for two if not three teams per division starting from as young as 5 years (Tyke/IP) to 18 (Midget). We also offer Learn to Skate which is available for youth ages 3 and up and the First Shift Program (6-10yrs old).

We know it is tough to see our ICHL season so quickly come to an end and our Rep teams closing the gap to the end of their season so what better time to think about what to do next. Frontenac Ball Hockey Association is pleased to announce that registration is now open. Frontenac Ball hockey is open to everyone and offers full inner squad ball hockey for youths age 3-18 and is excited to again offer a co-ed Adult Ball Hockey (18 and over). Be sure to check out our website www.frontenachockey.ca or find us on facebook for registration and information on all of our programs.

The Association has been putting a lot of focus into Developmental Programs and this has shown at all levels of our hockey program. This success, however can be seen most prominently in our Rep Program.

It had been years since one of our Frontenac Flyers teams made it to the OMHA Finals and two years ago our Novice Rep team (Coached by Jason Quesnel) broke that drought. But it didn’t stop there, last year the Novices (Coached by Jamie Craig) set the ground and made headlines by Winning and becoming the OMHA Champions.

This year we are proud to have 4 out of 5 of our Rep Teams advance to the OMHA Semi Finals and one step closer to again winning.

Our Novices, coached by Don Rowat & Cory Thompson, had been dominating their season and series but The Campbellford Colts are showing true competition and have us on the ropes winning the last two games. But our young Flyers are resilient and will prove that when they bring the game home Tuesday March 6th at 7:00pm.

Our Atoms, coached by Jamie Craig, put on a good show last weekend when they took to the road on an overnight trip to Haliburton to kick off their OMHA Semi Finals against The Highland Storm. They took the win Friday night with a quick back and forth game which ended in our favour at 7-4. Saturdays game was just as good but ended in overtime with Highland Storm taking the win. The series now continues with the Atom Flyers having the home ice advantage this Friday March 9th at 7:00pm and again on Saturday March 10th at 2:00pm.

The Peewees, coached by Al Pixley, hope to bring a close to their Semi-Final series against The Shelburne Wolves and clinch a spot in the OMHA Finals. They currently lead the series with two wins and one more win npaves the way for a chance at the OMHA Championship. Although for the next two games we cant pack the stands again to cheer the Peewees on as they are in Shelburne, don't think that we aren't all rooting for them and wish them all good luck.The Bantams, coached by Jon Senior, are making history as it has been a long time in Flyers history since a Bantam Team has made it this close to winning the infamous Red Hats that come along with winning the OMHA Championship. The Bantams swept their Semi Final Series against the Highland Storm and are now waiting to see who they will face off against in the Finals.

We are so proud of all of our team’s accomplishments and the true FLYERS SPIRIT that has been exhibited. We encourage everyone to come to the games and see how our Rep Program has flourished and continue to leave our reputation from Novice all the way to Midget.

All in all the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association and its programs have continued to grow and show success. With our Inter Community House League (ICHL) winding down this last weekend our success not only showed on the score boards but also on the progression and advancement in skills for all of our players. Our association supports over 350 players and many awesome volunteers, coaches and bench staff which lead our programs to be as positive as they are. Our ICHL offers recreational hockey for two if not three teams per division starting from as young as 5 years (Tyke/IP) to 18 (Midget). We also offer Learn to Skate which is available for youth ages 3 and up and the First Shift Program (6-10yrs old).

We know it is tough to see our ICHL season so quickly come to an end and our Rep teams closing the gap to the end of their season so what better time to think about what to do next. Frontenac Ball Hockey Association is pleased to announce that registration is now open. Frontenac Ball hockey is open to everyone and offers full inner squad ball hockey for youths age 3-18 and is excited to again offer a co-ed Adult Ball Hockey (18 and over). Be sure to check out our website www.frontenachockey.ca or find us on facebook for registration and information on all of our programs.

One thing about the Sydenham High School senior girls volleyball team is that they think of themselves as a team. Just ask them, they’ll tell you.

“We all work so well together,” said left-side striker Robin Melnick. “We have a positive atmosphere here and all our parts work together.

“If somebody gets down, we’re all supportive.”

“We have a lot of individual strengths but we work together as a team,” said setter Jocelyn Farmer. “At the beginning we weren’t as much but at the end, our biggest strength is when we’re combined.”

“We always have each other’s backs,” said middle striker Tess Fraser. “Under (coach Bryan) English’s leadership. “He knows every decision to be made.”

In fact, they’re all only too happy to give the coach credit for the team’s success.

“He’s never super high or super low,” said Fraser.

“Like a rock,” said Melnick. “English always stresses ‘play like you can.’”

“Great guy,” said Farmer.

But they also see the strengths in each other.

Melnick on Fraser: “Tess is super calm. She’s really a team player and a big blocker.”

Fraser on Farmer: “She involves everyone and . . . she knows when we really have to get a point.”

Farmer on Melnick: “I don’t know where to start. She’s an amazing player, a leader, and what athleticism.

“She has an amazing vertical.”

And, they have fun with each other, such as Melnick’s little idiosyncrasies and superstitions.

“I am superstitious,” Melnick admitted. “Little things like changing my hair, tying my shoelaces.”

And her service routine, the others remind her.

“Well, I have to walk across the line left foot first,” she said, demonstrating. “Then it’s spin, bounce, deep breath and serve.

“We all have them (but) our biggest success is that everybody puts in the effort so we don’t have to rely on one person.”

Fraser, Farmer and Melnick are three of seven seniors on this squad so they know this is the time if they’re going to be successful in Streetsville.

“This is the last big hurrah for the seniors,” said Melnick.

“We’re a unit,” said Fraser.

“Just better the ball in front of you,” said Farmer.

It has all worked very well for the Golden Eagles all year. They were 10-0 in league play at the Kingston Area Secondary School Association (KASSAA) play and won the playoffs to take the League Championship 3-2 over Regiopolis. They moved on the Eastern Ontario Secondary Schools Association AA tournament, which they also won.

But they have been in tough this week at the Ontario Federation of Secondary Schools Association AA finals in Streetsville.

Sydenham is the 16th seed of 20 schools in the tournament. They lost their first two games in straight sets on March 5 to Lockerby SS and Nelson , before winning their first game on March 6 over Westgate and then losing to the tournament host, Streetsville in their final pool game. This relegated them to the consolation tier, but they rallied after losing the first set bya score of 25-20 in a best of five contest with 9th seeded Mclaughlin, taking the next three sets, 25-21, 25-21, and 25-9. The Golden Eagles went on to play the consolation semi-final against 10th seeded St. David on Wednesday morning, which they lost in straight sets. St, David then went on to win the Consolation final. St.Mary, the 2nd seed, won the gold medal final.

The Sydenham Golden Eagles senior girls volleyball is off to Streetsville (Mississauga) March 5-7 for the AA provincial championship following their EOSSAA championship last week in Brockville.

The KASSAA champs went into the EOSSAA championship as the No. 1 seed following an undefeated season in the KASSAA loop.

“Sometimes being the top seed isn’t the best thing,” said head coach Bryan English. “But it worked out for us as we went 2-0 in pool play beating Gananoque and Carleton Place in 2-straight each.

“We followed that by beating Fellowes High School of Pembroke in the semis 2-straight.”

Sydenham then met Carleton Place in the final and it was touch and go in the early play.

“They were up 16-14 at one point,” English said. “But then we came back.

“The second game was our best of the year. We won that one 25-11 and got everybody into the game.”

The Golden Eagles are led by striker Robin Melnick, Grace Finucan and setter Jocelyn Miles.