Debbie Barkley knows a thing or two about transportation services and it is her decades-long experience in the business that has prepared her for her latest business venture. For 30 years Barkley worked in the taxi business and then she worked for Frontenac Transportation Service (formerly Rural Routes) for another 5 years.

On May 1 Barkley officially opened her new business called SASI Taxi. SASI (Simply Access Service Innovations) Taxi is a transportation service that will provide wheelchair-accessible personal transportation services to individuals in need. Based out of Parham, SASI Taxi will offer trips to customers in the townships of North, Central and South Frontenac as well as Lennox and Addington. Barkley is also offering an additional driver service for those who may be experiencing health issues that prevent them from driving their own vehicles. She will drive those clients in their own car to appointments, social engagements and for any daily errands. Barkley currently has one vehicle to serve her clients, a Chevy Venture van that is equipped with a Braun power lift ramp that can accommodate two wheel chairs and one regular passenger on any one trip. She uses Q-Straint, a retractable restraint system for wheelchairs.

Debbie is hoping in the near future to add a shuttle bus service to the business, which will enable her to pick up several clients in various villages in the area and travel to major centres like Kingston, Napanee and Perth on different week days. Fees for her service are based on mileage and her rates are $1.25 per kilometre for a door to door trip. She does not charge her clients for her personal travel time to their pick up location. For return trips, Barkley offers her customers one hour of free wait time at no charge and after that she charges $15.00 per hour. Barkley said her rates are less than half of what regular taxis charge, which is the only other option, though most taxis cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Barkley said the idea for the new business came about  while working for NFCS. “When I finished up working at NFCS I said to myself, 'Now is the time to do something. There are lots of people who require this service and who better than me to do it. I have the experience and the know how. It's what I have done all my life and it’s also important for me to offer something positive in the community. '”

Barkley’s services are also available to those in need of transportation but who do not require wheelchair accessibility. For more information call or text Debbie at 613-453-7506 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Silver Lake Pow Wow

The Grand Parade of the Silver Lake Pow Wow is not an entirely solemn event, but it carries the weight of ceremony. The dancers enter the ring in a prescribed order, the flag bearers hop from one foot to the other to the beat of the drum, which performs a slow song that befits the occasion.

Although the Silver Lake Pow Wow is 19 years old, the gathering of communities at summer's end goes back a lot longer than that. Old friends greet each other with words and hugs, and after the elder has said a few words and the drum sends the assembled dancers through another turn around the ring, the parade breaks up and the greetings continue. Then the ring is opened up to everyone in attendance and it is completely filled. The Pow Wow is under way.

Photo - Kiley Stanley, 2nd from right, was declared Miss Garlic, the princess of the Maberly Fair parade.

At the Maberly Fair, the parade enters the fairgrounds led by two girls dressed as heads of garlic, followed by a marching pipe band, floats carrying entire extended families pulled by newer and older tractors (including one that is over 90 years old) followed by fire trucks. Politicians and heads of agricultural groups, as well as the fair convenor, bring greetings as the parade participants watch from the infield, but the fair is already underway. The Light Horse show is well into its second hour; the poultry are squawking away in the poultry display shed; Marilyn the Psychic is already making predictions in her booth; the zucchini vehicles are set out on a table even though the race is hours away, and old friends are greeting each other throughout the compact fairgrounds. It’s a one-day fair so no one wants to wait for the ceremony to be completed before starting to have fun.

Light Horse pull at Parham Fair.

The Parham Fair starts on Friday evening. The grandstand is almost full when the fair committee and township politicians proclaim the fair open, but the people aren’t paying much attention. They are waiting for the Light Horse pull to begin. They want to see if Bill Lee will win again (he will – at 7,200 pounds, see photo on page 9). Meanwhile kids and teenagers are gathering at the bandshell for the Cowboy/Cowgirl and Parham Idol contests to start. Ambush is ready to play when the contests end, and the midway is open for business.

These three events and others are all about people gathering in community to mark the end of another summer, before preparations begin for another harsh rural winter’s onset.

Fate of Parham Library still Unknown

In a verbal report to council regarding the fate of the Parham Library, Central Frontenac's chief building officer, Jeremy Neven, reported that moving the library portable to township property as a temporary solution and ensuring that it has adequate washrooms facilities could likely impose a cost of close to $40,000. He said a similar project cost North Frontenac Township $38,000.

This opened up a storm of disagreement among councilors after it was established that moving the portable to the Parham fire hall was not an option since there are not adequate washroom and parking facilities there.

Asked if it would be possible to rent the current facility from the school board in the interim, Cathy MacMunn replied that she was continuing to look into that as a possible option. Mayor Gutowski strongly opposed putting money into moving the portable to township property at this time. “We do not have anything allocated in the budget for this move. I am very sorry to say this but I think we have to face the music. I don't think this is viable and don't see it as the best use of our taxpayers' dollars.” Councilor Norm Guntensperger put forth a motion to use the Piccadilly hall as a temporary location until other arrangements can be made. “That is what I see as the most cost effective option at this time. The Piccadilly hall is under used and is equipped with the required facilities so it would be a win/win situation. If we opt to lose the library now, we will likely never get it back,” he said.

Councilor Tom Dewey agreed. “A move to Piccadilly would be the cheapest and easiest way to deal with the situation right now.” Further discussion about how much use the library would get in Piccadilly and the resulting non-use of that hall for other functions were other issues raised.

Councilor Frances Smith said that a move to Piccadilly might result in less use of the library but said that council should continue to look into other possible options, like renting space elsewhere. “I think we need to keep investigating this,” she said. A final motion put forth to move the library temporarily to the Piccadilly hall was defeated, leaving the fate of the library still undecided.

New Ad Hoc committee to review township hall usage and rentals fees

Much discussion followed a report by Jeremy Neven outlining the structure of costs and rental fees for the six community halls in the township. The halls' rental fees, which range from $40 to $110/day and $5 per hour in some cases, are often free for non-profit community groups. The cost of operating the halls after fees are paid is close to $30,000. Neven suggested four options in his report: 1) keep the existing rates and accept the revenue shortfall 2) close one or more of the halls 3) increase rental fees or 4) introduce cancellation fees.

It was finally decided that more information was needed before overhauling the halls' fee structure. “These places are the hearts of our communities and we need to discuss this with the public before making a final decision on this”, said Mayor Gutowski. She then suggested creating an ad hoc committee made up of councilors and representatives from the various rec committees and other community group users to discuss the issues and to bring a report back to staff. Jeff Matson, Norm Guntensperger, Wayne Millar and the mayor all volunteered to be part of the committee.

Council tables budget until County passes theirs

Following a presentation to council by Vicki Leakey of KMPG of Kingston, in which she reviewed the township's financial statements and gave a brief auditor's report, CF Treasurer Michael McGovern outlined the adjustments made to the operating budget. There were $150,000 in cuts matched by additional items added to allow for the council's goal of a 2.5% tax rate increase.

Following a few minor adjustments to those cuts, Councilor Tom Dewey asked McGovern how the budget might be affected by the fact that the County has yet to set their budget. “When we know the County rates, we will make our own adjustments accordingly,” McGovern replied.

Councilor Frances Smith did not like the idea of rushing to pass the budget. “If the County rate goes down, we could opt for a 1.5% rate increase instead of 2.5% . I see no reason to rush this through. I think we should wait another month”, she said. McGovern did not agree. “I'd like to move forward with this now because the asset management plan will take 4-6 months to get together.”

When the final motion was read, Councilor Smith suggested tabling the budget approval until the next meeting, adding, “I strongly believe that if there are savings at the County level, they should be passed along to the taxpayers instead of trying to add more projects. A 2.5% increase is a lot of money when you are only bringing in $1,000 a month.” When the final motion was read council decided to table the budget until County passed theirs.

Council approves a 50% increase in By law and Animal Enforcement fees

A motion was passed to re-hire the company Frontenac Municipal Law Enforcement to take care of animal control and by-law enforcement in the township. Company representative Ken Gilpin appeared before council and responded to queries about why his fees have increased by close to 50%. He responded that his fees have remained the same since 1997 and the increase reflected the higher costs of doing business. Council agreed to rehire the company for another year.

As many are aware, Hinchinbrooke Public School will be closing its doors as an elementary school at the end of June. We would like to mark this occasion by remembering and celebrating the history of this wonderful school that has educated so many in our community. Please join us on Saturday June 1 from 10 am to 4 pm to honour this facility.

Committees are being established in Food, Entertainment, Games, and Memoriabilia. If you have any thoughts or ideas, we are interested in hearing from you. If you are willing to assist in making this event something we will all be proud of, please express your interest to Janice at Hinch 613-375-6230 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you have items that could be put on display, Lisa Hamilton or I would be interested in talking to you about that as well as any pictures you may have. They can be scanned to my email address as well (or copies will be accepted - we don't want to be responsible for originals if at all possible!!), call me at 613-375-6525 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Penny Cota is looking after food so if this is of interest to you, let her know. Games are being handled by Tammy Dupuis, so she is your contact in that area. Entertainment is still open. Thank you for any help that you can provide in honouring the Hinchinbrooke Huskies!

Of the close to 60 guests who attended the official Kick Off for the North and Central Frontenac 2013 Relay For Life on March 2, none seemed more excited than Lesley Merrigan.

Merrigan, who is chairing the event for her second consecutive year, was thrilled with the turn out. “This year is really exciting. We've hit bench marks that we've never hit before and are definitely coming out the gates this year flying “ she said at the event, which was held at the Parham I.O.O.F. hall.

Visitors had a chance to purchase a number of official Relay For Life items, which included sweatshirts, jackets, mugs, and luminaries (the paper bag lanterns honoring those who have succumbed to or survived the disease, which will light the track at the Parham fairgrounds on the evening of the event).

Local musicians Jim MacPherson, Pete MacPherson and Jordan Lowery entertained visitors, who danced and sang along to their tunes. By noon over 13 teams had already signed up to participate this year and by the end of the kickoff, 20 teams had signed up.

“That is great because the earlier teams sign up the more money they can raise,” Merrigan said. “We have a team that has already raised over $1,500.” Merrigan and her team of organizers are way ahead of the game this year and all of the entertainment is already booked.

The Relay for Life will take place on June 21 starting at 7pm at the Parham fairgrounds, and Merrigan offered up a few hints as to who might performing. “You might be seeing Shawn McCullough and Jim MacPherson and his band but I have left the decisions solely up to the entertainment committee, which is brand new this year. They all are experienced musicians whose decisions I totally support.”

Merrigan’s goal for this year is to have 30 teams participating and she is confident that if things keep going they way they are, they will reach and likely exceed that goal. Last year the North and Central Frontenac Relay raised over $60,000 and Merrigan said that they are hoping to up that total to $70,000. Asked what keeps her so enthusiastic about the event year after year, Merrigan said, “This community always amazes me. Every year I ask myself, 'How can I expect this community to pull this off again?' But every year everyone comes back to the plate ready to give, which is very motivating and very humbling and is what drives me. I have also seen what cancer does to families and individuals in the local community and I feel that this is the least that I can do.” She is hoping to see more survivors sign up as well. “Survivors drive this event and they are the reason that we do it. We do this to celebrate their battle and to show them that there is a community behind them, supporting them.”

Of the close to 60 guests who attended the official Kick Off for the North and Central Frontenac 2013 Relay For Life on March 2, none seemed more excited than Lesley Merrigan.

Merrigan, who is chairing the event for her second consecutive year, was thrilled with the turn out. “This year is really exciting. We've hit bench marks that we've never hit before and are definitely coming out the gates this year flying “ she said at the event, which was held at the Parham I.O.O.F. hall.

Visitors had a chance to purchase a number of official Relay For Life items, which included sweatshirts, jackets, mugs, and luminaries (the paper bag lanterns honoring those who have succumbed to or survived the disease, which will light the track at the Parham fairgrounds on the evening of the event).

Local musicians Jim MacPherson, Pete MacPherson and Jordan Lowery entertained visitors, who danced and sang along to their tunes. By noon over 13 teams had already signed up to participate this year and by the end of the kickoff, 20 teams had signed up.

“That is great because the earlier teams sign up the more money they can raise,” Merrigan said. “We have a team that has already raised over $1,500.” Merrigan and her team of organizers are way ahead of the game this year and all of the entertainment is already booked.

The Relay for Life will take place on June 21 starting at 7pm at the Parham fairgrounds, and Merrigan offered up a few hints as to who might performing. “You might be seeing Shawn McCullough and Jim MacPherson and his band but I have left the decisions solely up to the entertainment committee, which is brand new this year. They all are experienced musicians whose decisions I totally support.”

Merrigan’s goal for this year is to have 30 teams participating and she is confident that if things keep going they way they are, they will reach and likely exceed that goal. Last year the North and Central Frontenac Relay raised over $60,000 and Merrigan said that they are hoping to up that total to $70,000. Asked what keeps her so enthusiastic about the event year after year, Merrigan said, “This community always amazes me. Every year I ask myself, 'How can I expect this community to pull this off again?' But every year everyone comes back to the plate ready to give, which is very motivating and very humbling and is what drives me. I have also seen what cancer does to families and individuals in the local community and I feel that this is the least that I can do.” She is hoping to see more survivors sign up as well. “Survivors drive this event and they are the reason that we do it. We do this to celebrate their battle and to show them that there is a community behind them, supporting them.”

For more information about the relay, to join a team, to sign up a new team or to make an on-line donation, go to www.convio.cancer.ca and visit the North and Central Relay team there. Merrigan thanked this year’s sponsors - the Oddfellows and Rebekahs, W.A. Robinson and the North Frontenac Telephone Company.

Have you ever had a bad day and wondered why this had to happen to you?? Many of us experience a lot of these. When you are having a bad day, just stop and look around you. There is always someone who has more going on then you realize. Think of that unsuspecting person who is going in for what they thought is a routine check up - only to hear that a lump has been found.

Think of that parent who knows their child just isn't right and finds out that they have a rare form of Cancer. Just think....it could be worse.

For anyone who has been given the diagnosis of Cancer, their whole life flashes before them. What did I do wrong? What could I have done to prevent this? That's why I do what I do....Relay.

You see, I'm one of the lucky ones. I haven't yet (touch wood) had this diagnosis, but have watched, prayed and cried while loved ones have.

My dad - my hero - prostate cancer survivor. I'll be honest; that Christmas was extremely hard. It didn't look good for dad because his readings were so high. Now my dad proudly walks as a Survivor. My aunt, who is more like a big sister... thyroid cancer survivor. We went through some scary times, and as a nurse - she really knew more then most. She is truly an inspiration to all, she spoke at last year's Relay and is truly one in a million; she walks proudly in the Survivor Victory Lap. My sister - my best friend, my confidante - why her? She knew her body, and wouldn't take no for an answer and rightly so....thyroid cancer! Wham; hits you from nowhere but she fought and she's one of the lucky ones, walking proudly as a Thyroid Cancer Survivor. My cousin, my BFF, my WOW gal - Breast Cancer - she fought hard and now with the love and support of her family and friends, she too walks proudly as a Breast Cancer Survivor.

I could go on and on, but you get the point.

Cancer has touched the lives of many and still does, every day. I want to be part of the event that raises that last dollar that finds a cure for Cancer. I will not stop until this happens. So please join me and my loved ones as we fight, we remember and we celebrate on June 21 at North and Central Frontenac's Relay for Life. You will be glad you did.

In an effort to bring Aboriginal education to students at Hinchinbrooke Public School in Parham, grade 5/6 teacher Kathryn Sawdon enlisted the talents of professional mural artist Maureen Walton of Belleville.

Walton, who has been working as a fine artist for decades and as a professional mural artist for 13 years, is no stranger to area schools. She has worked at a number of different schools creating permanent murals, which she said “bring warmth, colour and a sense of student pride into their daily environments”. She has worked with students to create permanent murals at St. Thomas Catholic School in Kingston and at the Quinte Mohawk School located in the Tyendinaga Territory.

Kathryn Sawdon became aware of Walton's work thanks to Kevin Reed of the Limestone District School Board, who suggested that she contact Maureen Walton to see if she might be available to work with students at Hinchinbrooke. Once it was confirmed, students in Sawdon's class looked at Walton’s portfolio online and together with her came up with an idea for the mural.

The project, which took one week to complete, also included much discussion about current Aboriginal issues, as Sawdon explained earlier this week. “Aboriginal education is a major component of the grade 6 social studies curriculum and there is so much going on right now in the news about it that it seemed a perfect opportunity to offer the students the viewpoints both of the government and the various Aboriginal groups with the idea, so that they [the students] can come up with their own ideas and opinions regarding those issues.”

Students not only learned about the current issues of the day but also studied animal symbols as they relate to various Aboriginal groups. Each student was invited to choose an animal to be represented in the mural.

Working alongside Walton and using acrylic paints on two 4x8 foot sheets of plywood, the students helped her to create a colourful mural that depicts various animals including a coyote, owl, bear, rabbit, snake and turtle, all in a natural outdoor setting. Through the week of January 21, Walton worked with the students in small groups as they blocked in the shapes and painted in the individual animals. Walton explained that the project also gave the students an in-depth understanding of the various steps involved in the design and completion of a large-scale mural project. “The students learned about scaling; how to simplify shapes so that they can be read at a distance; how to apply contrasting colours; and other basic technical skills like how to hold a brush and how to apply the paint.”

Part of the beauty of a project like this is the pride and ownership that the students take in the work, which they helped to create and which will become a permanent part of their school environment.

While Walton and the students usually paint the mural directly on the walls of the school where the project takes place, the HPS mural was painted on plywood with the hopes that it will be moved to the new school in Sharbot Lake after Hinchinbrooke closes at the end of this year. “The students really hope to see it moved to the new school, and staff here said that they will do their best to see that that happens,” Kathryn Sawdon said.

She was extremely pleased with the finished product. “The mural totally exceeded all of my expectations. I feel very lucky to have been able to tap into the skills of an expert and to know that the students have come away with an understanding of art that I could not have given them.”

In turn, Maureen Walton credited Sawdon for the work she did with the students to prepare them for the project. “I was really impressed with the maturity and enthusiasm of the students in the class; not only were they extremely curious and eager to learn but they were also totally engaged throughout the entire process.” Walton was able to bring her talents and know how to the students at HPS thanks to a grant from the Ontario Arts Council.

At the end of the 2013 school year, Hinchinbrooke Public School in Parham will end its close to 50 years of serving students from all over the township. Back in the early 1960s the idea for one single school came about when the Hinchinbrooke Township Area Board felt that a single central school would better serve students, and they decided to replace the one-room school houses in Piccadilly, Oak Flats, Cole Lake, Wagarville, Tichborne and Parham with one central school. Though some in the community (estimated at roughly 10 %) were opposed to the idea, most were in favour. The board focused on the benefits that a larger school would offer students: namely a gym/auditorium, indoor washrooms, a library and a large playground and it was not long before the idea of a new school became a reality.

After long discussions, Parham was the chosen location for the new central school and a lot was purchased from the York family in Parham at the corner of Long Lake Road and Wagarville Road. The building contract was awarded to M. Sullivan and construction of the building began in 1965, with hopes of the school being ready for use following the Christmas break in 1966. William (Bill) Sproule of Tichborne, who was a member of the construction team, would become the school’s first principal. The school opened two weeks after the Christmas break and the builders rushed to put on the finishing touches after classes began that year. The official ceremony marking the opening of the school took place on August 19, 1966 and it was attended by the then MPP, J. R. Simonett, and the area superintendent, R.W. Froates. The latter gave the address at the ceremony.

Doreen Howes, who was the former principal of the old Parham school, was a member of the teaching staff in the school’s first year of operation. She recalled in a written history of the school how thrilled the students were with the new facility. “Children who had probably never been in a building as big were awed and a little frightened of all the new facilities.” In those first days students were given tours of the new school and its facilities to familiarize themselves with the new building. Years later portables would be added to the school to accommodate the growing numbers of students, and within the first few years of its opening, the school also became home to numerous students from western Bedford township and southern Oso township.

In its first year, 27 students graduated from the new school. It was during the school’s first full year of operation in 1967 (the centennial year), that students in grades five through eight attended Expo 1967 in Montreal for three days.

In 1991, Hinchinbrooke celebrated its 25th anniversary. Then principal, Brenda Martin, approached Kathleen Goodfellow to set up a committee to plan the special events. Kathleen chaired the executive committee, which included Doreen Howes as secretary and Eric Wagar as treasurer.

Fundraisers were held and a special 25-year anniversary book was produced and sold at the celebration. In that book were highlighted some of the events that took place over the years, which helped to shape the school. These included the designing of the school crest, which was spearheaded by members of the school’s first graduating class of 1966, Karyn Cronk, Bonnie McCullough and Glen Brown. It was the class of 1969 who constructed and planted the flower beds at the front of the school. In 1972 French was introduced as a new subject to students and in 1973 the first ever grade one class at HPS was formed. By far the largest graduating class, numbering close to 40 students, was the class of 1974 under the supervision of Maurice Lowery whose singing classes were long remembered as a highlight.

Eric Wagar of Parham was principal at the school from 1973 - 1984, and will be saddened by its closure. “I have very fond memories of my time there,” he said. He recalled the hard work of the staff at the school who brought so many important and memorable extra-curricular activities to the students. “Floyd Deyo and Maurice Lowery spearheaded the winter fall and spring house leagues at the school, which were very popular with the students.”

He recalled the top-notch music programming offered by John McDougall and recounted running into one former student, who decades later joined a choir in Ottawa having been inspired by her participation in the HPS choir.

As far as the future of the building is concerned, Wagar said he hopes to see it continue to serve the community. He and others want to see it transformed into a community centre that can serve “all ages in the community from young children right up to seniors.” He is part of the committee looking into the possibility of the township acquiring the school and turning it into such a centre.

Wagar also weighed in on the new larger school now currently under construction in Sharbot Lake. “I have never been a big fan of larger schools. The nice thing about smaller schools and the one thing that I always liked about them is the fact that every teacher knew the name of every single student in the building.” Will that be the case at new school? Time will tell.

Wagar ended on a positive note, however. “Though the closure of the school is sad, we will hope for the best, that the new school will be better able to serve students.”

* Much of the information in this article was taken from a “History of Hinchinbrooke Public School” written by Doreen Howes and included in the Silver Anniversary Memories book that was sold as part of the school’s 25th Anniversary celebrations in 1991.