Back to HomeFeature Article - June 4, 2009 Sydenham supports young Olympic hopefulsby Julie Druker

Olympic hopefuls Natasha Ostopovich, Scott Takala, Cia Myles-Gonzalez and Erika Gibbons

Local athletes setting their sights on the highest level of competition in their sports got a boost last Saturday when the Sydenham Legion held a fundraiser to help them along in their quests for Olympic gold.

For young athletes, the costs of travel and living expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses required to attend important qualifying events and training camps can make reaching their Olympic goals difficult.

Recognizing these difficulties, Derrick Anderson, past president of the Sydenham Legion, with the help of current president John Pickernell, Maryanne Takala and other members decided last Christmas to set up a Legion fund specifically to benefit these young athletes.

The “Sydenham Supports” event was their first effort and the $20 tickets included food and live musical entertainment by two local bands, Rock Bottom and Still Standin’. Individual community members and businesses also donated items that were auctioned off.

By 7PM close to 100 tickets had been pre-sold and organizers were expecting more tickets to be purchased at the door as the evening progressed.

Anderson explained his motivation “…to get the community of Sydenham on the world stage and thereby raise community spirit and benefit the entire community.”

Local athletes Natasha Ostopovich and Scott Takala were at the event and grateful for the community support.

Natasha, who has just completed her second year at Washington State University on a full rowing scholarship, currently rows on their varsity team. Previously a canoeist and later a kayaker with the Sydenham Lake Canoe Club, she won a bronze and silver medal in the Canadian nationals. When she realized that canoeing was not an Olympic sport, she switched her sport to rowing.

Aiming to improve her skills and to keep in shape over the summer, she is planning to enter the Ontario Summer Games Team so she can return to school in top form. As far as the Olympics go, 20-year-old Natasha realizes that while her schooling to become a teacher is her immediate concern, she knows that she must continue to train and compete in her sport in order to have a shot at the Olympics. She believes that her chances will not likely come until the 2016 games.

As far as funding goes, she admits, “There is very little funding available in Canada for rowing and if you are invited to a national training camp, you don’t have the time and energy both to work and train, so financially, it can be quite difficult.”

For Scott Takala, a tri-athlete who has just graduated from Trent University and who won first place in the short course 20-24 age group World Championships last summer in Vancouver, funding is a definite hurdle.

He explained, “There is absolutely no funding available to tri-athletes through universities or any other organizations, for that matter.”

Takala, coached by Richard Cadman of Sunbury, just returned from a one-month training session and race in Hawaii. He has a number of important upcoming races this summer and fall including the ITU Pan American Cup that takes place June 20, east of Montreal, and the World Olympic Distance Triathlon on September 13 that takes place in Australia - both costly events.

For Takala these are important races that he needs to compete in. He explained, “These races will tell me a lot about where I am at and what I need to do to be a candidate for the 2012 Olympic games in London and/or the 2016 games.”

Regarding the Legion fundraiser he said “This event will go a long way to help all local athletes.”

Natasha and Scott are not the only athletes hoping to benefit from the Sydenham Legion fund. Younger athletes Cia Myles-Gonzalez and Erika Gibbons, both successful paddlers with the Sydenham Lake Canoe Club, are also hoping to be able to compete one day on the world stage.

Saturday night’s dance raised $4811. Thanks to the Sydenham Legion and community supporters, these athletes’ dreams of going for gold stand a greater chance of being realized. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 25, 2009 Public Information Meeting re: Sydenham WaterBy Wilma Kenny

This meeting, held June 23, before the Committee of the Whole, was very sparsely attended by village residents. Cameron Smith of XCG Consultants presented a summary of the work done to date by his firm, in assessing the options for better removal of trihalomethanes (THMs) from the drinking water. He noted that Sydenham Lake has a relatively high amount of dissolved organic matter, probably because the lake is fed from wetland and bogs. The combination of chlorine and organic matter creates the THM by-products.

Testing indicated that the location of the water intake made no difference in the amount of organic matter present: various locations and depths showed no apparent variation in water quality.

After investigating a number of dis-infection methods, Smith said the one that seemed most effective and least costly appeared to be chloramination.

This involves reducing free chlorine contact time by adding a small amt of ammonia for secondary disinfection, which is long-lasting, and does not allow the formation of either THMs or HAAs (haloacetic acids) to build. UV would be used to inactivate Giardia & cryptosporidium. A further advantage of this process is the reduction of chlorine taste. However, the treated

water would be toxic to fish, and cannot be used in dialysis machines.

Chloramination is being used in a number of Ontario communities, including Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa and Kitchener.

One resident questioned the effect on septic tanks: Smith responded that chlorine is quickly bound and neutralized by the organics in a septic tank, and should not present a problem. Another asked about reverse osmosis. The reply was that reverse osmosis is very expensive, requires lot of energy to operate, and is high maintenance.

Upgrades & modifications required to adapt the present plant to chloramination are expected to incur a Capital cost of $700,000 to $900,000 (two thirds of this cost should be covered by the Federal/provincial Build Canada grants) plus $5.000/year for the ammonia chemicals. There would be no change to the present plant's footprint.

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 11, 2009 Surprise Funding for New Sydenham Library Proposalby Wilma Kenny

Almost a week after most other project grants had been announced, South Frontenac learned at noon Tuesday that their application for funding for a new library and fully centralized municipal offices had been approved. Under the Communities component of the Building Canada and Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the Provincial and the Federal governments will each contribute $726, 667, for a total of almost $1.5 million.

If the Township Council agrees to go ahead with the project as recommended by their library committee, they will contribute a matching third, which could come from the $1.3 million set aside in reserve for upgrades to the municipal buildings.

Sydenham library is by far the most heavily used branch outside Kingston: and at 0.18 sq. ft. per capita of local library space, South Frontenac is far below the recommended guideline of 0.5 sq. ft. per capita, and the KFPL system-wide average of 0.56. Building a new library would have the additional advantage of freeing up space in the present building for more township office space, so the treasury offices could be relocated from Keeley Road to join the other municipal offices.

A Sydenham Library Redevelopment Committee has been working with architects Shoalts and Zabeck to determine feasibility of the site, and develop a budget for the proposed project: it will now have to go to Council for approval to continue. Councilors Fillion and Robinson both expressed their disapproval of the project.

The grant application for the Sydenham Library was done under the auspices of Frontenac County, as was the South Frontenac ambulance application. Including these two projects, South Frontenac alone received in excess of $4 million in federal and provincial grants over the past week.

(Editor’s note – In this era of full disclosure, we might as well reveal that our intrepid South Frontenac Council reporter, Wilma Kenny, is also a member of the Kingston Frontenac Library Board. Not only that, but when Wilma was assigned to take a photo of Scott Reid presenting a check for $2.36 million on Saturday afternoon, she took the opportunity to ask him whether there was any funding program for the new library, which was the only project applied for in Frontenac County that had not received funding. We might never know if it made any difference, but 72 hours later the money arrived - JG

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 11, 2009 South Frontenac Council June 16/09By Wilma Kenny

South Frontenac "Volunteers of the Year"

South Frontenac Township took the time before their regular council meeting this week to honour their volunteers of the year.

Last year only three people were given the honour, but the township made up for it this year by honouring six.

SHEILA ANTHONY – As a Girl Guide leader for 15 years, Sheila Anthony has taken on many roles. She has been a group leader for Sparks, Brownies, Girl Guides and Pathfinders, and has been heavily involved in camps.

Her day job as a teacher is quite hectic, but she has found time to serve on the Harrowsmith Public School Parent Council for 8 years.

Three years ago she joined the S&A club executive and has thrown herself into club activities, and last year she joined the St. Paul’s United Church choir.

She is a very dedicated community volunteer.

RONALD MATTEY – Ron Mattey was a founder of the Buck Lake Community Watch in 1997, and he is currently serving as chair.

He also gives seminars on home protection and is the chair of the Perth Road Alliance Community Watch.

He also has been a lead volunteer for the OPP biennial telephone survey and volunteers every month with the Kingston Regional Seniors Association.

He does work for the visually impaired and he also has an artistic bent. He is involved in a writers’ group and is a wood carving instructor.

He also donated his time and skills working on repair and renovations to the Perth Road Community Hall.

Each year he works hard on the Buck Lake Boatilla, and has been instrumental in raising funds ($26,000 to date) to send handicapped children to the Easter Seals Camp Merrywood.

BEV MCNEILL – The former post-mistress of the Sydenham Post Office, Bev McNeill has been a stalwart on the Board of Rural VISIONS (Southern Frontenac Community Services) where she is a keen fundraiser. She has also been involved with the Loughborough Christmas and Emergency Relief Committee for more than 20 years. Years ago she helped bring playground equipment to Loughborough Public School, was a Brownie leader, and helped with yard sales at St. Paul’s United Church.

At Rural VISIONS, Bev volunteers answering phones, and is skilled at assessing needs and providing a compassionate voice to callers.

TRACY HOLLAND – Sports are important to Tracy Holland, kids’ sports, particularly soccer and hockey.

She is active with the Frontenac Soccer Association, where she has coached for more than 10 years, and attained a competitive Level 3 certificate. She has worked hard mentoring new soccer coaches, and eight years ago she joined the FSA executive. Her leadership has helped bring soccer membership to over 900.

She has also spent eight years as a member of the executive of the North Frontenac Minor Soccer Association, and has organized ball hockey tournaments at Loughbrough to raise funds for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

BILL AND KATHY LAKE: A special award was given this year to a power couple, Bill & Kathy Lake.

Bill was involved in school board politics in the 1960s, serving as a trustee and helping bring a new school to Storrington. With five boys, Bill and Kathy got involved in hockey and softball. Bill coached while Kathy handled the scoreboard. Kathy has belonged to the Parent Teacher Association, Women’s Institute, United Church, TOPs, and the ladies’ bowling club.

The Lake home has been opened up to help a family who lost their home to a fire and others.

In 1995 Kathy worked on the Tulip tribute that was commissioned by the federal government, and helped design the Storrington and South Frontenac logos.

Bill and Kathy work on the community flower bed at Sand Hill and helped with the new kitchen at the church hall in Battersea.

Word has gotten out that if you ask one of them to help, the other one would join in – like getting a two for one special.

A Legal Point

At the June 2nd meeting, Council held a second public meeting on the Gordon application for rezoning at the corner of Sydenham and Rutledge Roads, because one of the neighbouring property owners had been left off the notification list for the first meeting. At the time of the first public meeting, Council had not passed a third reading, because several studies on the property were incomplete. Someone raised the question of whether or not the first and second readings of the by-law, which had been passed at the first meeting, would have to be rescinded as new information became available. CAO Burns reported that the township solicitor hadconfirmed that this would be unnecessary, as changes to the original by-law could still be made prior to approval of the third reading.

Greater Kingston SYDENHAM Triatholn/Duathlon

The Sydenham boat ramp, several streets and a lane of Rutledge Road will be closed on the day of the event on Sunday July 5.

Mark Segsworth said the event organizers are very pleased with the Point as a setting for the event.

Township's Small Trucks: What Colour?

Paint colour is an issue in regard to cost and delivery time of township trucks. Works Manager Segsworth recommended ordering black trucks, as black is a standard colour, so will be cheaper, and delivered more quickly. Ron Vandewal likes orange trucks for both safety and high visibility. Del Stowe agreed that the visibility of orange may serve as a deterrent for misuse of township vehicles. Councilors Fillion and York agreed. A motion to have small trucks black was unanimously defeated. They will remain Omaha Orange.

Staff Commended

Gord Burns noted that Ann Marie Young of Frontenac County staff worked until10 pm to complete the grant application for library funding in time for the very tight deadline. Mark Segsworth said David Holliday had likewise done excellent work on the roads and bridges applications. Mikw Howe, of the Loughborough Recreation Committee thanked Angela Maddocks for her hard work in making the volunteer appreciation ceremony a success.

Who Can Use the Dump?

Councillor Vandewal asked that there be clarification of the issue of appropriate ID for use of township landfill sites by residents. This will be discussed at the next meeting.

Tree Sale

Councillor York commended Del Stowe and the Environmental Committee for a very successful sale this year: the trees were considerably larger, andwell received.

Thanks to Fire Department

The Ryckman family sent a letter to Fire Chief Cheseborough, thanking his firefighters for having saved their granddaughter's life with their training, expertise and quick response.

Sydenham Water Open House

There will be an open house next Tuesday 6:30pm at the township hall, to provide updated information about the Sydenham Water project. A Committee of the Whole meeting will follow, to discuss sustainability issues and criteria for reducing speed limits.

Sydenham resident Leslie Myles recently returned from her second trip to Nepal, and one of her primary goals was to keep the global connection she began there one year ago between Kingston and Nepalese students alive and well.

Myles, who works as the managing director of the Limestone Learning Foundation in Kingston, made her first trip to Nepal at this same time last year for a fundraiser called The Everest Climb for Kids. On that trip she raised funds for the Limestone Learning Foundation, an organization that funds enhanced learning opportunities for children in the Limestone District School Board, and for the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation, which helps to fund a number of local Nepalese schools located in Nepal's mountainous regions. On that first trip Myles also visited the Khunde Hospital located in the Solukhomba region of Nepal, where her fundraising efforts helped to purchase an X-Ray machine there.

On that first trip Myles and some of her 15-member climbing team also personally secured funding to help four children of their Sherpa guides attend local schools. Myles brought with her on that first trip countless letters written by grade 4 and 5 students at Central Public School in Kingston and delivered them to the Nepalese students at the Shree Himalaya School and in doing so, opened up what has become a thriving connection between the students. While Myles' second trip was a solo and a more personal one, she said that one of her aims in going back was to “keep that global student connection alive as well as to check up on the four students that we (members of the initial climbing team) helped attend school. I wanted to go and see how the four students were doing, to secure their continued funding support and also to keep up the connection between the Kingston and Nepalese students that started last year.”

With that second goal mind in mind Myles brought with her on this trip more letters from the Kingston Central PS students and on her return to Sydenham came with an armful of letters from the Nepalese students, some of which I have included here. Myles also visited the Khunde Hospital and spoke with Dr. Kami, one of the first Sherpas to become a doctor there. She also spent time living in the homes of the students that she is personally supporting.

Myles, whose connection with Nepal has become as personal as it is professional, reiterated her feeling that education, no matter at here home or abroad is “the beginning of everything.” She explained, “ In this mountainous region of Nepal the primary source of income comes from trekking and most children will become guides. But when these children become educated, they have a lot more options open to them. Their parents’ main goal is get an education for their children.”

Myles said that her job with the LLF is to have a passion for kids and education and to enhance learning opportunities for children. “What I am trying to do is help create a tangible learning experience for students here and there and I am doing that through letter writing and by giving slide show presentations, and also through video feeds that we have been sending back and forth between the schools.”

She also brought back with her home-made trinkets and prayer shawls made by the Nepalese students to be given out to the Kingston students. Myles thrives on world-wide adventure and loves the thrill of experiencing some of the most remote places on the globe, and students across the globe are continuing to benefit from her personal passions. “The students both here and there are so engaged and excited to have this ongoing global connection. It's a real live experience for all of the students and both sides are learning from one another in a very tangible way.”

Myles has future plans to open up other avenues of communication between the students, including trying to utilize a new radio station set up in the Solukhombu region of Nepal. “I'd love to set up something with the new radio station there so that the students could be feeding information to each other on an ongoing basis.” Regarding the benefits to students, Myles said the experience goes a long way in broadening students’ horizons and giving them first-hand experience of the lives of others in far off countries, whom they otherwise might know very little about.

Good things happen when community groups and organizations link up. That has been the case over the last year with participants in New Leaf Link (NeLL), a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to the community inclusion of adults with developmental disabilities. NeLL offers their students a special education program that includes functional skills and literacy, arts and crafts, and health and recreation programming in the local community.

Dr. Karin Steiner, who is the organization's founder and executive director, connected with Marilyn Picard, owner of the AMHO U Fitness gym in Sydenham over a year ago, and since then Marilyn has been running Power Fit and Qigong classes at the gym every Thursday for NeLL students.

On December 8 she and her group of senior Iron Maidens, a group of 28 women who range in age from 47 to 83 and work out regularly with Marilyn at the gym, banded together to hold a special fundraiser there for NeLL. The event included a special Qigong presentation, following which guests and participants purchased copious amounts of baked goods, all baked and donated by the senior Iron Maidens. Marilyn said that Qigong, which is an ancient martial art, is an especially great exercise for all ages. “The word Qigong literally means 'breath work' and the whole idea is to accumulate and circulate energy in the body so that people can heal,” Marilyn explained. She said that she has seen incredible changes in NeLL participants especially as a result of the Qigong classes. One NeLL participant, Amy, who entered the gym on the first day of classes with a walker, has reportedly greatly improved her balance and her confidence. Jo Lyon, a volunteer with NeLL, said that Amy now runs unassisted and shows an improved sense of balance, well being, and overall confidence. “There is definitely something about being here that makes Amy's balance so much better.”

Karin Steiner, whose son Nicholas has autism, is also a NeLL student who takes part in the gym classes. Steiner said Nicolas now is imitating people much more readily. “He watches Marilyn and the Iron Maidens and does the exercises on his own and he really enjoys it. I can feel just how happy it makes him to be part of this. “ Regarding the program at the gym Steiner said, “This is just one prong of our program, the physical exercise portion and it really helps with the whole program because physical wellness leads to wellness in other areas”. Marilyn said the practice of Qigong really calms the NeLL participants and releases stress. "You can see the change as soon as I put the Qigong music on,” she said.

Steiner said that she and her volunteers will often do the Qigong breathing exercises regularly with the students at their regular location at St. Paul's Anglican church in Sydenham. “We use the Qigong exercises as a transition tool and also when students become anxious.”

NeLL is now in its fifth year of operation and currently has eight students enrolled in the program. Steiner said that NeLL has been able to continue to evolve as a result of finding community partners like Marilyn and the Iron Maidens. Marilyn said that she is very pleased to offer her support to NeLL as a way to give back to the organization and the community. For more information visit www.newleaflink.ca

At just 25 years of age Rev. Giuseppe Gagliano is already making his friendly bearded face known around Sydenham. Rev. Gagliano is the minister at St. Paul’s Anglican Church and he was one of many volunteers who served Sydenham High School students their first free Lunch4Teens meal in the church's basement last week.

Rev. Gagliano took the helm at St. Paul's on July 1. Regarding his age he said, “I'm roughly the same age as John the Baptist was when he started and he did a pretty decent job...but he had a bad ending.... [laughing]. Hopefully it won't come to that for me.” Rev. Gagliano is serving at his Sydenham post as assistant curate (with the Rev. Blair Peever as incumbent) in a shared ministry between the Parish of Christ Church, Cataraqui and the Parish of Lougborough. He said so far he is enjoying the Sydenham community.

He recently graduated from Yale University's Divinity School in May, where he completed a three-year Master of Divinity program along with Anglican studies. His Bachelor's degree was from Queen's University in Kingston where he studied religion and politics.

Gagliano is originally from Alma, Ontario near Guelph and also lived in Fergus. Raised in the Mennonite church, he was baptized as a Roman Catholic. “I guess I began with a kind of broad sense of what religion is, which fueled my own desire to pursue faith and it was when I was at school at Queen's that I came to the Anglican church.” Asked if his congregation seems surprised by his age, he said, “I know that my age has no bearing on the way that I can lead my congregation. I feel that the church has placed this responsibility in my hands and I know that I am capable to carry it out.”

Asked about the challenges of having his first parish he said that falling into the rhythm of parish life poses the greatest challenge. “Especially in the Anglican tradition, parish life has a certain rhythm to it. And because it is my first time through that rhythm, that alone is something to get used to. That and the fact that this is my first time in a new parish makes it doubly challenging.”

Gagliano strikes one as an up beat person with great energy, an easy smile and a sense of humour. Asked how he brings those qualities to his congregation he replied, “I think in this job you just have to be yourself. I have been given the responsibility and the opportunity by my church, my fellow believers, to lead others in their pursuit of God.”

Asked if he could describe his preaching style he laughed, took a moment and then said he had never been asked to articulate that before. “Reverent joy. Always be reverent and always be serious but always remember that life can also be a really funny place.” He thought again, paused and then said, “Be joyful but you've also got to know that life also has some really horrible sides to it. I think that that's where the reverence comes into it.”

Earlier he mused about the idea that the church needn't be a dour place. “The one thing that the church brings to the world is certain facts of life. In the Christian tradition for example the crucifixion is not at all a pleasant thing; it's in fact a horrific thing. So church does have a place for seriousness, for tragedy, for death in a very honest way but that doesn't mean that we have to be dour in a superficially pious sense. There are times when we ought to be very serious and a smile on our face might not be the thing that we bring to the door and that's okay. On the other hand it is the resurrection of Christ that we get excited about and why not share that feeling as well?“

Gagliano says he has been enjoying the people in the community and their willingness to help each other. “It's not a struggle for me to encourage people to want to do that; it seems to come naturally to people in this area.“ He omitted to say that he is leading the way by doing so himself.

There are numerous services happening at St. Paul’s. Traditional services that include a church choir and a children's service are held every Sunday morning at 10am. A weekly contemporary service called The Crossing is held every Saturday evening at 6pm and includes a live modern worship band. A youth group/Bible study takes place on Tuesdays at 5pm, led by the reverend and adult volunteers. Every Thursday at 12:45pm is a simple, contemplative service of morning prayer in the old Anglican tradition. The church also holds a group gathering especially for seniors at the Maple Ridge Apartments in Sydenham every Tuesday at 11am.

St. Paul's Anglican church is located at 4336 Mill Street in Sydenham. Anyone wanting more information can contact Rev. Giuseppe Gagliano at 613-376-3003.

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 21, 2009 Feds Spend on Bridges & Water

Addington Highlands Reeve Henry Hogg (3rd from right), along with (l to r) Public Works Manager Royce Rosenblath, Councillors Eythel Grant, Louise Scott, and Janice Kerr, joined local MP Scott Reid on Tuesday outside the at the Township office in Flinton to present a ceremonial checque for $300,000 to replace Wagers Bridge, close to Flinton.

“This bridge replacement represents a much-needed improvement to the area,” said Reid. “The improvement will ensure continued safety and usability far into the future.”

the $300,000 grant represents 1/3 of the cost of the project. The Province is paying 1/3 and the local ratepayers 1/3.

Later the same day – Scott Reid (2nd from left) traveled to Sydenham to present a $400,000 checque to South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison (centre) and (L to R) Councilors Ron Vandewal, Larry York and John Filion.

This money is for a $1.2 million upgrade to the two year old water treatment plant that has been plagued with a tri-halomethane problem. The Province of Ontario is also paying $400,000 and the township $400,000.

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 21, 2009 Public Meeting about "The Point"by Wilma Kenny

Over 40 Sydenham residents came to the township hall last week for a meeting to discuss concerns and planning for the Point. All agreed that the Point was a valuable community resource, but one with a number of issues that needed to be addressed.

The meeting was called by the Greater Sydenham Community Association (GSCA), and chaired by Lorie Reid and township works manager Mark Segsworth.

In introducing the evening, Segsworth noted that since the popularity of the “Bubba Bowl”, there had been a growing interest on the part of area parents to have permanent lights installed at the football field. Concurrently, the GSCA has pinpointed a need for various improvements at the Point, and in order to develop a vision for the park, obtained a grant from the Frontenac Community Development Centre to hire architect Bruce Downey to develop a “concept drawing”. As part of this process, there had been consultation with various interested groups, including the Loughborough Recreation Committee, the Women's Institure, the Legion, and immediate neighbours.

This was the first public meeting.

History of the Park - Officially called "Loughborough Memorial Recreation Centre" but popularly known as "the Point", the park has been a community picnic and swimming area ever since the area was settled.

Until 1947 the Point was part of a privately-owned farm. At that time, the Sydenham Women's Institute (WI) and the Sydenham Board of Trade took an option to buy the property.

In 1971, the WI transferred the property to Loughborough Township, with the understanding that it would be kept in perpetuity “for the benefit and enjoyment of all its citizens”.

Present Use - Every summer, the Loughborough Recreation Committee hires staff to teach swimming lessons and run a children's recreation program at The Point. There is a (lighted) ball diamond, a tennis court that is now used by skateboarders, a boat launch site, bandstand, football field - also used for soccer, and a running track.

The park is used for general swimming and picnicking, Canada Day celebrations, Sydenham Canoe Club regattas, and will be the headquarters for a triathlon event this summer. It's also the site of the Sydenham water treatment plant, and the property abuts the township hall and library on the northwest, and the Loughborough schoolyard to the south. Several years ago, the township agreed to lease the football field to Sydenham High School for a nominal annual fee. In return, the school agreed to maintain the football field and track (installing underground watering system, sowing and sodding as needed, and mowing.) However, the football field remains part of the township's property.

Maintenance - Through its volunteer recreation committee, the township hires a private contractor to mow the grass and do basic maintenance. This summer, the committee will be hiring students to do extra upkeep on this and three other township parks. The organizers of special events are responsible for providing extra toilet facilities when deemed necessary, and for all clean-up related to their events.

In spite of all this, vandalism, littering and lack of adequate toilet facilities and change rooms are ongoing concerns. Vandalism in the area has extended to destruction of the picnic tables at the LPS outdoor classroom.

At the public meeting, several residents asserted that the vandalism and littering were worse during the daylight hours when school was in session, but were less during the summer, when there was more general use of the park. (It was noted that students have also held clean-up drives.)

The skateboard area in particular seemed to be a focus for noise, graffiti, destruction and littering. Mark Segsworth, in pointing out that the township had no parks committee per se, said that the recreation committee was made up of volunteers, who should be commended for the enormous amount of time and work they devoted to organizing recreational events in the township.

Football Field Lights - Neighbouring residents dreaded having their properties subjected to such brilliant lights during summer, spring and fall evenings. They were concerned that Sydenham would become a centre for sports tournaments, and also expressed concern about the increased noise and traffic generated by night games.

Parents with children on football and soccer teams said night games would give more opportunities for working parents to watch their children play, and expressed willingness to help raise money to pay for the lights.

A soccer league representative said there were over 700 children in the area playing soccer, and although most teams don't use the Sydenham field at present, that would change, if it were lighted.

Others suggested the field was already in poor condition, and unable to accommodate heavier use.

Traffic - Neighbours expressed concern about traffic, particularly speeding and noise in the park and along Wheatley Street. Noon hours during the school year seem to generate particularly heavy motor traffic in the park.

The Beach - Not a natural beach, and heavily used during summer, the swim area often has too little sand and too many weeds.

Other Issues - The list of issues was long: is there interest in re-opening the tennis courts? Where and how can the skateboarders be accommodated? Are there better locations in South Frontenac for playing fields? How can we provide available, clean washroom and change room facilities and protect them from vandalism? What about building a meeting-room/conference space above the washrooms? Where might a permanent storage space for football equipment be located? Can the 'passive-use' spaces be improved by developing walkways?Could the school parking facilities be used more for large events at the Point? Can the water and power supplies be centralized?

Now What? - In summary, Lorie Reed said the community association would review the concerns and issues, and put together a proposal to go to the recreation committee, who in turn could make recommendations to council.

She reminded the group that while no proposal could please everybody, but clearly nobody seemed happy about the status quo, either. She said the present design concept was available to anyone who wished to read it. For more information, or to contact the GSCA, go to their website: tgsca.ca

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 28, 2009Limestone School Board Honours Student Acheivement

Sharbot Lake HS Acheiver: Jeremy Lemke

Sydenham HS Acheivers:Drew Cumpson & Shannon Walsh

Jeremy Lemke wins Limestone Achiever AwardBy Chava Field-Green

Former SLHS Teach Collen Allison with Jeremy Lemke in Toronta after receiving  his Herbert H Carnegie Scholarship

For Sharbot Lake High School student Jeremy Lemke, working with kids has always been a part of his extra curricular life. He has been a part of the Plevna Pioneer Club Youth Group for many years. After two years with the club he became one of its leaders. He has also worked at summer camps and is a Lifeguard with the Sand Lake swim program.

The logical next step was to continue his post-secondary education in well, education - which is exactly what he plans to do at Trent University next year. Jeremy will be studying towards an Honours Bachelor of Science, Emphasis in Teacher Education.

Jeremy’s hard work in and out of the classroom has paid off, and he has been awarded a Trent University entrance scholarship. He also won a national scholarship from the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation.

The Foundation honours students who have shown strong citizenship and positive daily life skills. Herbert H. Carnegie combated racism and prejudice playing hockey and became the first black Canadian to be offered a contract with the NHL in the late 1940s.

Lemke traveled to Toronto to accept the award with Head of Student Services Liz Steele-Drew and former Math teacher Colleen Allison.

“If I have to choose one teacher who has been an inspiration to me, Mrs. Allison would be that teacher”, Jeremy said late last week, “I hope to be as commanding and understanding as her. She was a really good teacher.”

The staff at Sharbot Lake High School also nominated him for the Limestone District School Board’s Limestone Student Achiever Award, which he was received on Wednesday May 27 at the board office in Kingston.

The awards are presented to 10 students in the board who exhibit exemplary achievement in the arts, athletics, leadership and academic standing. Jeremy was nominated for his ability to include everyone in the school and to provide support for staff and students alike.

“We were surprised about this award,” Jeremy’s mother Laurie said, “We did not know that the school had nominated him; it was much easier than essay writing and repeating his life story for the other applications.”

Jeremy is taking all the attention rather modestly, “I’m just psyched for university, I chose Trent because it’s a smaller school and has the same family feeling as Sharbot Lake High school, where I’m thinking of returning as a teacher”. As for all of the awards, he said, “Every little bit helps.”

Sydenham High School Student Achievers: Drew Cumpson and Shannon Walsh.

Drew Cumpson has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to his school community and has balanced academic success with strong participation in all aspects of school life at Sydenham High School.

As the clothing minister with the Students’ Council this year, Drew was responsible for designing the logos and worked closely with suppliers to distribute the clothing orders. He also assisted other ministers with dances and spirit days.  

He was instrumental in the creation of the Swim Team at Sydenham High School this year and won Gold in the 200 m Free-style and the Relay at EOSSA. Recently, Drew helped to organize and was the spokesperson for the “Inside Ride”, a cycling fundraising event offered through the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation to raise money for young people living with cancer.

In his four years at Sydenham, Drew has successfully balanced his academic achievement with his strong participation in the arts, athletics and leadership activities.  

Shannon Walsh’s academic accomplishments are impressive.  She earned the Gold Award in grades 9 and 11 for achieving the highest academic average in each year, and a Silver Award in Grade 10 for achieving the second highest academic average of her year. In addition, Shannon earned the award for highest academic achievement in each of the most of her high school courses.  

What makes Shannon’s academic success even more outstanding is that she has balanced her passion for athletics along with her course work.  Throughout her four years at Sydenham High School, Shannon has participated on the volleyball, basketball, soccer, badminton and track and field teams.  In Grade 9, Shannon earned the distinction of “Grade 9 Top Female Athlete” and in Grade 11, she achieved the highest distinction a female athlete could receive: The “O.H. Berry Award for Top Female Athlete”.  Now in Grade 12, Shannon is the Co-President of the Student Athletics Association, which focuses on events that unify the school community and recognize individual student achievement.

Shannon consistently demonstrates the qualities of a strong student leader. She acts with a quiet, calm determination and serves as a positive role model to her peers. Last year, Shannon participated as a peer tutor in the “School to Community” classroom, assisting students who have academic and physical challenges. This year, she served as the assistant coach of the Junior Boys’ Volleyball team. Shannon also helped to coordinate Sydenham’s Fall Student Leadership Conference, and she has been an active member of the school’s concert band for the past four years.