Bill Day does not appreciate how the annual grass drag racing event he hosts at his property on the Harrowsmith-Sydenham road has been characterized by South Frontenac Council.

As was reported last week, Councilor John McDougall commented on a Facebook posting that was sent to council by Day’s neighbour, Mel Therrien. McDougall was concerned that Day is planning on hosting more than “a full grass drag series,” which is more than one day event per year that is permitted by the township.

“He took the Facebook posting out of context,” Bill Day said of McDougall’s comments. “When I talked about a full series I was taking about our event, which is an annual memorial to my father, being a part of a series that includes events at other tracks in the region.”

The sentence in question on the grass drags' Facebook page supports Bill Day’s contention. It reads: “We’re currently working on a full grass drag series, just in talks with some other tracks.”

Bill Day did indeed hold more than one event last year, and told the News that after some legal back and forth between his lawyer and the township over the winter, he has now paid fines to the township and said “I am only planning on holding one event this year.”

Council also talked about how Day’s Facebook posting talked about “drawing in more outlaws” as if that was a reference to bikers, when Bill Day he was referring to the Outlaw class of snow machine, the most powerful machines on the market.

McDougall is also concerned, however, that the track at Day’s farm will be available for “regular Wednesday evening and a Saturday or Sunday ride day” which is something that the township does not permit.

Bill Day said that the track is open on those practice days by invitation only, not to the general public. He thinks that the township is actually going out of its way to target him, when there are more important issues they could be dealing with. “They’ve agreed to one race; I’m only holding one race. But it must have been a boring Tuesday night for them, so they decided ‘let’s go ahead and bug Bill Day,” he said.

Council did not take any action last week in response to the communication from Mel Therrien, but Day said the timing of their comments has had a negative impact on his negotiations with sponsors in promoting the Bill Day Memorial Grass Drags and the series that he is working on as well.

Atoms

by Karl Hammer

Atom Bulldogs: Back Row - (coaches) Derek Joynt, Karl Hammer, Alex Westwater, Jim McNeely, Zach Kennedy, Blair Veldman. Middle Row: Ben O`Meara, Jack Hammer, Chad Branscombe, Warren Amey, Seth Bryan, Grady Westwater, Gavin Goodfellow, Hailey McNeely, Barret Joynt. Front Row: Nic Kott, Owen Deyo, Rein Olvet, Rhett Senior, Jacob Snider, Brody Badour, Bryson Gilpin, Mason Mcdonald. Very Front: Brahma the "Bulldog" and Keiren McNeely

The TIMFL (Thousand Islands Minor Football League) held its championships this past weekend at LaSalle High School. There were three divisions.

The Bulldog teams from Sydenham competed against teams from Gananoque, LaSalle, Frontenac.

The Bulldogs 1 team won the Atom division championship vs Falcons 21 - 7. This was the third year in a row that the Bulldogs reached the final game having to face the Falcons in each of these games. Sydenham won 2 of the 3 times.

Coach Karl Hammer says that in all his years coaching football, regardless of the age level, this team this year had the most eager and disciplined kids that he's ever coached. Each week they worked hard to prepare for their next challenge and enjoyed the process of learning the game of football.

Pee Wee

by Brock Palmer

The two Sydenham teams in the Peewee division met for a third Bulldog Bash of the season, this time for all of the marbles in the title game. Following some heavy hitting, the Bulldogs 1 team managed to pull out a victory by the score of 21 - 0, capping off an undefeated season. All three matchups between these clubs were decided by only a few plays, as each team sported dynamic offences, stingy defences, and exceptional special teams.

This team has elite player leadership and discipline for a group of grade 5 and 6 athletes. Their ability to prepare themselves mentally and execute physically is beyond their years.

This game was certainly a matchup that all of the kids wanted. It's tough to go out there and push around your friends, but both sides came out hard and tough, throwing some big blocks and making fantastic tackles. I am most proud of the sportmanship these young athletes display. They spend an hour hitting each other, then shake hands and pat pads with a smile on their face. They truly appreciate each other as rivals and teammates.

The committment to team speaks to the dedication of all the Bulldog players and their parents, who together as one group, gave each other a well deserved standing ovation and a bow following the final whistle of the season.

Mr. Hill, Ms. Cuthill and Ms. Buck took their students to the Secondary side to participate in a dance-off on June 11 at NAEC. This was the culmination of a project by Mrs. Walker's Grade 10 Physical Education class, which counts for 15% of the students' final mark. Deanna Allen, Jessica Chatson, Racheal Dorion, Tara Pringle, Taylor Salmond, Haily Whitelock and Cayley Wilson led the Elementary classes in dancing.

The Grade 10 students were completing an assignment which measured their leadership qualities, ability to work with peers, communication skills, and engagement in a different type of fitness activity (other than sports). The students had to learn the steps of the dance themselves, and then teach them to the Elementary students.

The Grade 10 students had to work with their Elementary peers over the course of a couple of weeks, involving two or three sessions to practice the dance. After the Elementary students had learned the dance, the teachers decided it would be fun to have an entire gym full of students dancing.

Each class ran through the dance once, as the other students looked on, and then there was a dance-off, in which all the students danced at the same time. The judges were Mrs. Salmond and Ms. Allan. They had a hard time deciding which class was the most engaged and energetic, as everyone seemed to be having a good time, particularly when doing the do-si-do. They declared all three classes winners.

Both students and teachers really enjoyed the exercise. Principal Angela Salmond said, "It is always good to see our teachers working together, and this was a particularly enjoyable event because the students were working together, too."

On June 14 the Sydenham and District Lions Club hosted their 7th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at the Rivendell Golf Club. Clear skies and pleasant temperatures greeted the 110 golfers who showed up early Friday morning for this event. Golfer registration matched last year's record turn-out and was a source of much satisfaction for tournament co-ordinator, Sydenham Lion Jim Kelly. Given the rather damp spring weather, the golf course was in amazing shape due to the hard work of the Rivendell groundskeeping staff.

Although no one walked away with any of the great Hole-in-One prizes up for grabs on all the Par 3 holes, one big winner was declared. Laurie Newport won a $500 Rail Travel voucher from VIA Rail Canada for coming out on top in the Putting Contest.

The tournament raised over $5000 for the Lions Club to use in their charitable work and once again, the first charitable need to be addressed will be the sponsorship of a local school under the "No Child Without" program. This program is jointly sponsored by the Lions Clubs of Canada and the Medic-Alert Foundation and is designed to ensure that any elementary age child from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 who needs a Medic-Alert bracelet or pendant receives one free of charge.

Previous tournaments have raised funds to cover this program at five local schools (Loughborough Public School, Perth Road Public School, St. Patrick Catholic School, Elginburg Public School and Harrowsmith Public School). This year’s tournament will cover Storrington Public School. Allan McPhail, President of the Sydenham Lions closed the event with a heartfelt thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers and golfers who had made the tournament such a success.

Sydenham Lake Canoe Club, now in its 16th year in its Sydenham location, is introducing new paddling programs this summer. The club now has experienced certified Canoe Kayak Canada coaching staff, and we have decided that it is time to offer CKC’s kayaking skills program to allow South Frontenac area youth the same opportunities to develop athletically as youth from larger urban centres. Olympic medalists Adam van Koeverden, Mark Oldershaw, and Caroline Brunet all started their paddling careers as youth in skills development programs at small community canoe clubs.

The Canoe Kids kayaking program is equivalent to the Red Cross swimming program in that there are attainable skill levels that paddlers can achieve. The week-long program involves paddling, and playing on-the-water games that indirectly lead to skill development. At the end of the week, paddlers will receive a report card and certificate indicating their skill level and a bronze, silver and gold ribbon to recognize their level of achievement. They can complete all three levels of the program in less than a month if they choose, or they can take one or two skill levels per summer. Paddlers will have so much fun that they won’t even be aware that they are learning.

Paddle Cross Fitness Training is another program being offered for Sydenham athletes ages 8 to adult who wish to cross train for their seasonal sports during the summer months. Paddling works the upper body, abdominal core, and back muscles, allowing athletes to have more success and fewer injuries in their chosen sport that use these muscles. The program will be suitable for hockey or soccer players, dancers or anyone who just wants to get or stay in shape. The club also offers a Master’s program in the evening for adults who would like to socialize, get exercise or just get out on the lake to relax.

SLCC is an offshoot of The Cataraqui Canoe Club, a sprint racing canoe club established in 1886 in Kingston. The club will continue to offer its tradition of offering its Competitive Sprint Paddling program, an intensive competitive paddling program for paddlers age 8 and over who enjoy the fun of serious competition. Sprint paddlers train daily to compete on weekends in divisional and provincial canoe and kayak CKC-sanctioned regatta events held throughout Ontario. These regattas are also open to any youth or adult paddler registered in our week-long programs. SLCC prides itself in being an inclusive True Sport environment. This year, the club will provide Competitive Sprint program full bursaries to athletes recommended by other physical education teachers or sports club coaches in the Frontenac region or, and as-needed, bursaries to Canoe Kid and Cross Training paddlers.

Sprint Paddling athletes from all over the world will be descending on Ontario as Ontario hosts the World Cup Canoe Niagara 2013 in paddling in Welland on August 1. Last year, two of the club’s paddlers qualified for the Ontario Summer Games 2012 in Toronto and two recent alumni qualified for the National Championships in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The club is often asked by other coaches at regattas how such a small club produces such strong paddlers. We attribute it to three things: the high standards of our excellent coaches, Jack Fenlong and Natasha Ostopovich; the focus that a small-town environment provides; and finally, the support and encouragement given by the community of Sydenham. For more information on our programs go to www.sydenhamlakecanoeclub.com or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Judy Kirton, owner of Kirton's Stables and Kennel in Harrowsmith, is now offering horse riders a place to improve their skills in a brand new facility that she recently completed at her home business, which is located near Harrowsmith on Colebrook Road.

In addition to her deluxe dog kennel, which was completed in 2011, Judy recently erected a 150 x 60 foot riding arena, which boasts long windows that span its length and bring in the sun, making it comfortably warm in the winter months. The deluxe facility was carefully built, with special attention paid to giving the horses the best possible footing conditions for indoor riding. Kirton specially designed the floor area, which was taken down to bare limestone, then covered with multiple layers of different-sized rocks held together with black webbing and then covered with stone dust and two inches of sand, which Kirton waters and harrows twice a week.

Kirton, who has been working with horses for over 50 years, is a Canadian certified coach. She previously headed up a junior team in Quebec prior to relocating to the Harrowsmith area just a few years back. She also showed horses in Dressage and Combined Eventing, both of which are her special areas of expertise. When she sold her horse farm in Quebec prior to building the new facility in Harrowsmith she thought she would be retiring from horses and coaching, but as she said when I interviewed her at her farm, “I soon realized that I just couldn't stay away from it. I really love teaching and horses.”

On the day that I visited Judy had just finished a lesson in dressage with Margaret Bignell of Kingston and Margaret's 18-year-old, quarter horse/Arabian mare named Sky. Asked about what makes a good teacher and coach, Kirton said, “Patience is one of the most important aspects when it comes to coaching and teaching. The student, the horse and myself are all working together as a team.” Kirton says she begins by teaching her students the natural rhythm of the horse they are riding. “It's kind of like building blocks. You start with the rhythm of the horse and then move to the upward and downward transitions. I teach the student how to use their body to transmit their body language to the horse.”

Kirton hopes to offer her know-how to horse riders, whom she is inviting to her facility where the animals can be easily trucked in. She also has available one last roomy stall for boarding in her new barn, which boasts windows for each animal with views of the extensive grassy fields where they are turned out daily to graze and relax.

Kirton takes both dog and horse care very seriously. “Care of the animals is my number one concern,” she said. “The fact that I live here at the facility is a great benefit to the animals since I can tend them and their needs daily.”

Margaret Bignell, who has been taking lessons from Kirton for three years, said she is very pleased with the results she is getting. “She (Judy) is really enthusiastic and really knows her stuff. Today we were concentrating on bending, and getting Sky to turn without falling in or drifting. A good teacher helps a rider to develop confidence while at the same time not letting them develop any bad habits,” she said.

Margaret's daughter, who has been riding since she was six years old and is more experienced, is also working with Judy.

Sky also boards at the facility and Margaret attested to the fact that she is very well cared for. “It's great for Sky because she is in the company of other horses, gets regular treats and has gorgeous grassy fields outside where she can roam.“

Kirton also wants to remind dog owners that she is open for dog boarding. For more information contact Judy Kirton at 613-372-5540.

Dave Linton and Bill (Junior) Hartwick were among the 114 golfers who teed off on Saturday afternoon at the Rivendell Golf Course in Verona for the Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation’s annual golf tourney fundraiser. The annual event, which is now is in its fifth year, was the brain child of Linton, a long time volunteer driver with the Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation. For the last two years Linton has been assisted by Bill Hartwick, who is also a volunteer driver with the organization.

I spoke with the two on the greens at Rivendell where Linton explained the ultimate aim of the tournament. “The goal is to assist with the funding of the numerous programs that allow seniors to live independently, safely and with dignity for as long as they wish in the community. Since nursing homes are heavily subsidized, seniors’ programs and services represent a savings of taxpayer dollars. So what better way to raise funds for such a cause than to host and participate in a golf tournament,” Linton said.

SFCS is based in Sydenham and will soon be making their new Grace Centre facility their sole and permanent home. It is there that they are currently offering seniors in their catchment area a wide variety of high quality programming. Linton credited Bill Hartwick for amassing the 41 sponsors for this year’s event at Rivendell and each sponsor had a chance to advertise their products and services both at on-site tee off signs as well as on brochures given out to all of the participants. The golfers could also opt to play in a 50/50 putting contest and after a day of golf they enjoyed a sumptuous meal where everyone who played received a prize.

This year’ tournament raised over $10,000 for SFCS - $3,000 more than last year and proving that even with the wet weather the event continues to grow in visibility and popularity. Both Linton and Hartwick wanted to extend their thanks to all of the participants, the sponsors, the staff at Rivendell, and SFCS's board members and staff who all donated their time and energy to the event.

Dave Linton offered one final word and said, “I embrace the concept of helping people who deserve to be helped, and helping people to help themselves. Through evaluation, assessment, and counseling by their qualified and caring staff, SFCSC meets my criteria to become a charity of choice.” For more information about SFCS, the services they offer and how to donate, visit www.sfcsc.ca or call 1-800-763-9610 or 613-376-6477

Melanie Robinson, who heads up the Phys Ed program at Sharbot Lake High School, emceed their annual Athletics Banquet on June 4, where a plethora of awards were given out to honor the school's junior and senior athletes. Though the school's winter season was cut short due to the climate at the school this year, Robinson decided to increase the number of awards given out to each team that played a full season, with two members from each team (and in one case three) receiving coach's awards and one member, the most valuable player award.

Called to the stage numerous times during the presentation were two athletes, one junior and one senior Panther, whose names are currently on the sign board in front of school. Both athletes received gold medals at the Eastern Regionals in Belleville and both will be heading to the OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) finals this Saturday, June 8 in Oshawa.

The first is a grade 10 student, David Cox, who won a gold medal for junior boys high jump with a jump of 1.75 metres. Cox, who made it to OFSAA last year and placed 13th, said he is hoping to make it into the top ten this year. He said the sport is all about form. Cox also received two MVP awards; one for the junior boys volleyball team and the second for track and field, and he was named the Junior Male Athlete of the Year.

SLHS teacher and coach, Ben Moser, who presented Cox with the Junior Male Athlete of the Year Award, said that Cox is “a true, natural, stand out athlete. In every sport that he plays and the way he moves tells you that he is natural. He's improved his personal best year over year to the point where he is now jumping 180 centimetres, which puts him in the top ten junior male jumpers in the province. Not only that but he's also a great student, a great teammate and a great person.”

Johnny “Boom Boom" Vinkle also made numerous forays to the stage to receive awards; as the senior boys MVP in volleyball and in track and field, as well as the Senior Male Athlete of the Year. Vinkle will also be heading to OFSAA in the shot putting event, having won gold in the Eastern Regionals where he beat out the silver medal winner by just under one metre. Vinkle also made it OFSSA last year in the same event. He will be competing against 23 others at OFSSA this year. Vinkle has been shot putting since grade eight and said he played it for years more as a “filler event” for him. Vinkle said he is seated 12th going into the event and he hopes to finish off in the top ten. He also said that he plans to continue playing volleyball at the post-secondary level. One of Vinkle's coaches, SLHS teacher Randy McVety said of Vinkle that he is "a great athlete who got the name “Boom Boom” because of hard hitting on the court... The thing is... Johnny is not at all an aggressive guy but rather, a very reliable player who can keep his cool and he is a player who plays hard but understands that sports are important but not the end of the world. He is also a player who always represents his school very well.”

Other notable athletes who made numerous forays to the stage to receive awards were Skyler Howes, Taylor Welch, Cadence Cumpson and Aadan Kempe. Congratulations to all of the Panthers who received awards this year.

The Snow Road Snowmobile Club is well-known for its fundraising breakfasts and other events. The funds raised are used to maintain the clubhouse, pay utilities and taxes, etc. as the club does not receive any money from the sale of snowmobile permits. However, as the snowmobile season winds down the volunteers turn their efforts to help others, recognizing that the community that supports them all winter needs support. Breakfasts held in April allowed the club to pass along $612 to Relay for Life for Cancer and $314.75 each to the Alzheimer Society of Lanark County and the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Alzheimer Society.

The last breakfast, held fittingly on May 4 as May is Melanoma Awareness Month, raised a very satisfying $1,043.50 for this worthy cause. “It’s all about giving back to the community” said Ruth Wark, club president. “It would not be possible without the help of our regular volunteers and those who lend a hand when and where they can. They deserve the credit for making it happen. There are so many people in our families and our community that are affected by these diseases.” Special thanks go this week to the extra hands from the family of the late Denise Cooper. Denise spearheaded the breakfast for Malignant Melanoma last year to spread awareness as melanoma is one of the fastest growing cancers in Canada today. Skin cancer is highly curable if detected early, so please remember to practice sun-safety all year round, and especially as we head into the summer months.

Ruth expressed appreciation for the representatives from the Cancer and Alzheimer’s Societies who attended the breakfasts bringing displays and information and were available to answer questions.

The club will hold a breakfast and bake sale on Saturday, June 29, as part of Canada Day celebrations in North Frontenac and Lanark Highlands townships.

The temperature outside is finally warming and that means that it is time to think about summer. Swimming lessons will be happening again this summer at Bon Echo. For over 40 years youth have learned how to swim and how to be safe around water through lessons offered by MLSP.

This program would not be possible without the support of local individuals and organizations. In 2012, MLSP was in dire need of financial support. The following corporate sponsors came forward and donated at least $500 to be swim-a-thon sponsors: Land O’ Lakes Lions Club, Harlowe Community Club, Flinton Recreation Club, Township of Addington Highlands, Township of North Frontenac, Tobia Guardian Pharmacy, Hook’s Rona, Northbrook Gas and Variety Petro Canada, and Community Fiddlers. Thank you to all sponsors for supporting this program in the past. MLSP is looking for sponsors for the 2013 season. Any financial contribution is appreciated and corporate donations of $500 or more will be recognized by including their logo on the swim-a-thon shirts.

Swimming lesson registration is now available. Forms can be picked up at NAEC or at Community Services and can be dropped off at those locations as well. Swimming lessons run from July 1 - 26. Bussing is provided in the $100 cost. People who are interested in swimming lessons but who are having financial challenges can contact Community Services at 613-336-8934. If you have any questions about registration or about being a sponsor for swimming lessons, please contact Beth Hasler at 613-336-2666.