Back to HomeFeature Article - September 10, 2009 3rd annual Verona Garlic FestivalBy Julie Druker

l to r: winners of the Eastern Ontario Garlic Awards: Brett and Carolyn Smith of Croydenview Farm and Miguel Hahn of Forest Farm near Westport

The 3rd annual Verona Garlic Festival was bigger and better than ever this year and offered something for everyone: great garlic and garlic products, fine crafts, goodies from the farmers’ market, great games for the kids and fabulous food provided by the Verona Lions.

Attendance was noticeably up from last year and organizer John McDougall of the Verona Lions was thrilled with how the day went.

Ann Babcock judged the Eastern Ontario Garlic Championships and presented awards for first place and runner up. The Woodman Award for best overall winner was presented to first-time festival goers Brett and Carolyn Smith of Croydenview Farm, an organic garlic farm in Croyden. They were declared the Champion Garlic Growers of 2009. Carolyn has been growing garlic for five years and grows a variety of hard and soft neck varieties. The runner-up award was presented to David and Miguel Hahn of Forest Farm near Westport, who were declared Reserve Champion Garlic Growers of 2009.

Back to HomeFeature Article - August 27, 2009 The mud flies in Verona at the annual mud dragsBy Julie Druker

Donnie Bertrim organizer of the Verona Mud Drags with his unlimited dragster mud rail “The Dominator”

Fans of fast-moving vehicles and flying mud gathered at the farm of Hermie Veley in Verona on Saturday for the 15th annual Verona Mud Drags. Donnie Bertrim of Verona has been putting on the races at Hermie’s farm for the North Augusta Mud Racing Association, a not-for-profit organization. The event caters to everyday drivers and also to dedicated hobbyists but Donnie insists that it “is mainly to give people a chance to come out and have some fun.”

There were ATVs of course and also the more exotic rails or “dragsters”, as they are more commonly known, an elongated race car with huge tires and powerful 3000 horse power motors that run on methanol. Some of them are built with engines that cost upwards of $50,000.

Rob Schrieder from Stirling Ontario entered his rail in the unlimited cuts and unlimited scoops classes at Saturday’s event.

He currently holds the Canadian record for the 200 ft drag and claimed “I can cover 200 feet from a dead stop in 2.343 seconds.” Because the engines run on methanol drivers wear a entire fire suit when they race.

Rob explained how he approaches his races. “I just sit there at the starting line and bring the RPMs up to about 2000 and I watch the other guy stage and at the first hint of a yellow light you stab her and go and just hang on.”

Rob admitted that there were a number of other rail drivers in attendance, such as Steve Reneau from Hornepayne, ON and Kelly Odell from Syracuse, NY, both experienced drivers who would be sure to give him a run for his money.

Organizer Donnie Bertrim also owns and races his own unlimited dragster mud rail, which he has named “The Dominator” and he was doing some last minute tuning up before his events. He described in detail the engine in the Dominator. “It’s a Carol Carter 665 cubic inch alcohol injected nitrous motor out of Virginia.” The body of his rail is made form a 1932 Ford Vicki shell. His fastest time in the 200 ft drag this year is 2.55 seconds. Donnie said that these events for him are really just a hobby, but one that “uses very expensive toys.”

Donnie explained that all of the funds raised from the event go back into the prize money for the racers. Winners received plaques and 1st place winners in their class received $500 cash prizes.

The fans were definitely not let down. 

Back to HomeLetters - August 27, 2009Letters: August 27

Generator Stolen From Verona Festival, Doug Lovegrove

Re: Mark Segworth's Warning, Bill Robinson

Where is the local talent?, Shawn McCullough

To the concerned citizen's from Clement Road, Jeff Green

Generator stolen from Verona Festival

Bad news from the festival. Just after the festival’s close down and clean up, a generator that was on loan from Bell Aliant to assist with power for the festival was stolen from the back parking lot at the Verona Free Methodist Church and was last seen Sunday August 16. The stolen generator is a gas-powered portable generator, model ONAN Pro 6000E, serial number I991986215. The Verona Community Association hopes that anyone who may have information on the theft or the present location of the generator would pass the information along to the local office of the OPP, 613-372-1932. They also may contact the festival manager, Wayne Conway, at 613-374-3807.

Doug Lovegrove

Re: Mark Segsworth’s Warning

Yes there was an accident at the corners of Hwy 38 in the village of Harrowsmith and nobody was hurt, and nobody was charged. It was an accident and accidents happen on straight sections of highways all over the world.

The problem has been studied here at these corners for years.

Recently a traffic count was done for a different reason, the count was approx. 4500 vehicles a day

Why spend money on something we know already…. It is a bad situation.

My observations are my own, not the words of John Sherbino, who thinks differently, Also I would like to let him know the count of council was 7 to 2 against the spending $30 K.

Besides we have our own qualified engineer: About the $30K, we could spend that for a passing lane within the settlement area of the village. There is a young couple trying to start a business in the area, who are facing a $28,000 bill from the township for a passing lane. Perhaps the money could be used to help them out.

Councilor Bill Robinson, Harrowsmith

Where is the local talent?

While reading through your paper I came across an article highlighting the entertainment for the up-coming Parham Fair, and couldn't help but wonder, "Where is the local talent?" 

There are a number of great local bands to choose from and yet the fair board seems to repeatedly hire from out of the area, ignoring the local bands. I am a musician born and raised in Parham and have been asked three times to bid on the headlining gig with our band, "Printers Alley".  All of our bids have been markedly lower than Ambush's and yet have been rejected every time. We were not contacted at all this year to bid. 

I have no problem with the boys in Ambush as I know all of them, but it feels like a slap in the face to our band and some of the other great local bands such as "Red Rose Express", "Tailgate, and "The Cellar Hounds", to name a few.  Whoever wrote the article is either just very opinionated or very assuming to write that "Ambush" is "our favorite group". "Our" meaning members of the board who vote against us local bands? Trust me, hire any one of these local bands I mentioned and you'll have as good a show or maybe even better. 

Remember, all of these men and woman are actively involved in our local charities and fund raisers such as "Relay For Life", etc.  I think our area residents would be very happy to see some of this great local talent. Perhaps we need a few more local people on the fair board entertainment committee. That might make a difference!!  Maybe the local musicians should consider putting on our own festival on …let’s say.....the last weekend in August next year in Parham!

As a community, we are encouraged to support local small business and agriculture, etc. But where is the support for musicians?  A local fair is a showcase for what that particular community has to offer, is it not?

Now that I've aired my opinion on behalf of all the local (very talented) musicians,  I'm curious to hear what the rest of the community has to say.

Shawn McCullough

To the concerned citizen's from Clement Road

As a member of the Board of Director's of the North Frontenac Not For Profit Housing Corporation (NFPHC) I take exception to some of the language employed in the “Open Letter to Residents of Clement and Wagner Roads” that has been circulated.

Included among the letter's assertions are the comment that locating rural housing 3.5 kilometres from Sharbot Lake is tantamount to “an ill-advised experiment in social engineering which will put fragile senior's into a forest ...”

I find that a bit rich.

Whoever wrote the letter, which is unsigned, may not like the proposal, and is fully within their rights to appeal the whole thing to the Ontario Municipal Board to be sorted out, even if it that means the housing corporation could lose out on some funding, face increasd costs, or lose the project entirely.

The letter is trying to convince the community that the objections are legitimate by including accusation that the whole thing was “railroaded” through Council, that there is “no local support for this project,” and that it is “something no one else could even hope to get through council” without presenting any evidence.

I must point out that the housing corporation has followed all of the rules that have been laid out before it, and has been open about our intentions and plans from the very beginning.

I recognise the neighbours to this proposed development have concerns, which were expressed at a meeting in which the Housing Corporation invited the neighhbours to discuss the project before it went to the township planning process.

The major concern that I came away with from that meeting is the fact there are problems with the entranceway to Clement Road, and the upkeep of the road itself, both of which are not highlighted in the letter.

I sit on the housing board. Although I am not speaking for the board in this letter, I would like to assure the public that our board is merely trying to fulfill our mandate in bringing senior's housing to our area, insteading of seeing it move to Kingston. We have no hidden agenda, and we have not skipped out on any of the procedural hoops that have been thrown our way.

Whilethe letter writer is happy to make use of his/her right of appeal, which is part of the process, but feels it is ok to say in the same breath that the rest of the process is unfair, that the whole thing is being “railroaded” through.

I have talked to many of the neighbours about this project, and have thought carefully about the concerns that have been expressed, particularly about the entranceway to the project.

But this letter only makes me feel angry that after approach everyone as neighbours, our board is being accused of manipulating a public process.

We are promoting a project we are convinced will be good for the community as a whole, in this location.

People have every right to oppose it, but this letter does more than that. It uses insult and accusation in place of information and well founded concern.

Jeff Green, Board Member(North Frontenac Not-for-Profit Housing Corporation)

Back to HomeFeature Article - August 27, 2009 Inroads Tour – roots and innovationBy Jeff Green When the Inroads Studio Tour was founded 17 years ago, linking artisans from the Arden, Sharbot Lake, and Parham areas, the studios were connected not only by the Highway 7 and 38 corridors, but by historic back roads such as the Frontenac Road, and the picturesque Long Lake Road.

Artisans living in rural hideaways would meet at large shows in Kingston and Toronto throughout the year, and in 1992 they decided to open their studios for public viewing once a year.

Later the tour grew in size as artisans from neighbouring regions joined in.

This year the Inroads Tour will be more compact than in the past and it is taking place on new dates for the first time: Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Labour Day Weekend – September 4-6.

It will also have a focus in Sharbot Lake Village itself with a hub at the Soldiers Memorial (Oso) Hall in Sharbot Lake. Painters Ursula Ossenberg - a premiere landscape painter of the Mazinaw region, Jen White – who combines an enthusiasm for horses with her passion for colour in her paintings, and Paul Shuster – an award-winning photographer, will bring the hall to life. The hall, which is located within short walking distance of two restaurants and other village amenities, will also be hosting members of the Land O’ Lakes Artisan Guild, a 30-member collective of professional artists.

Other studios continue to be tucked in on picturesque back roads off main roads from Verona to the north. The Verona studio of the Joyful Beader Ann Brandly, featuring one-of-a-kind glass beads and jewelry that incorporates sterling silver and Austrian crystal, is the tour’s southernmost stop.

There are three studios in the Parham-Tichborne hub: LaurelLeaf Studio – jewelry and hollowware by Laurel Minutillo; Bridesmill Studio at the picturesque mill on Bobs Lake Road, with stained glass work and jewelry by Ron and Susan Wulf; and the Hallys’ studio at Maple Grove Estates on Bobs Lake itself, where woodworker Nick and jeweler Annette are always gracious hosts.

Near Sharbot Lake there are three studios. Multi-media artist and painter Carol Pepper is just off Road 38 on Ducharme Road at the Trillium Centre; innovative printmaker Martina Field is on the Tryon Road; and fine wood turner Ken Waller is on the Shibley Road. Ken will host a recent arrival in the region, potter Johanna Jansen (thrown & hand-built pottery, smoke-fired & raku work) as well as painter and woodcarver Jochen Mueller.

Towards Maberly on the Armstrong Line is the studio of painter and documentary film-maker Liisa Rissanen, a visual story teller.

Over by Mountain Grove, accessible from Sharbot Lake or Parham, is Stone Flower Studio where potter Lisa Moses has been incorporating her surroundings in stoneware and porcelain for 30 years.

In the Village of Arden are the Arden Artisans - painter Judith Versavel, batik artist Sarah Hale (Arden Batik) and potter Joanne Pickett (Arden Pottery), who are always happy to demonstrate how their work and lifestyles mesh together.

This year’s Inroads Tour features a change in dates, with a Friday opening, and a more compact route, but the joy of meeting artists where they work is the lynch pin upon which the tour has been built.

The ability to see the surroundings that inspire artists and artisans and get a first hand view of the tools and techniques that put structure to the artwork is still what makes the Inroads Tour special.

Tour guides are available throughout the area. For further information, call Sarah Hale (613) 335-2073, or visit www.inroadstour.ca

Back to HomeEditorial - August 27, 2009 A summer of festivalsEditorial by Jeff Green

A couple of weeks ago the organizers of a music festival in Gananoque said they considered their first festival a success even though their headline act, Snoop Dogg, drew a disappointing 2,000 fans and the festival lost money.

They were probably calling it a success to save face, but if the Gananoque Festival does end up surviving to a 10th or maybe even 20th annual festival, this first year will indeed have been a success. You have to start somewhere, even if it means losing time and money at the first.

This year’s 14th Annual Verona Festival drew 1,700 on the Friday night alone, which is a lot more than anyone would have imagined back in the first year of the festival when a few dozen people showed up to hear the music.

In our region, there have been festivals of different kinds on just about every weekend this summer. There were three artisan fairs on a single weekend in July, and there have been historical festivals, agricultural festivals, a triathlon and a regatta, Canada Day festivals, agricultural fairs and a bunch of music festivals. There were mud drag races and fish frys, and the Verona Garlic Festival is coming next week, along with a studio tour and another art fair. The Parham and Maberly Fairs are both coming up this weekend, along with the first of two Pow Wows.

We’ve been previewing and covering festivals each and every weekend all summer at the News. This is not a scientific survey, but it seems like there are more festivals now in this region than ever before.

And for the most part they have been pretty successful this year, thank you very much.

So, why is that? The economy is bad, the weather has been pretty wet, except for the last couple of weeks, and we don’t live in a high profile region by any means.

But come summer time we like to amuse ourselves a little bit, and that amusement takes diverse forms.

This is the lesson that the Land O’ Lakes might be able to teach the organizers of the festival in Gananoque.

Before you worry about dollars and about drawing crowds, before you worry about tourists, you need to amuse yourselves. By and large the festival organizers that we have talked to this summer have been enthusiasts. From the artisans in Plevna to the bluegrass fans in Flinton, from the guitar music lovers at Loughborough Lake and the farming Orsers of Sydenham, to the remarkably resilient Parham Fair Board, the “perennial organizers” of Blue Skies Music Festival and the Knapp family behind the Silver Lake Pow Wow, these people built their year around their pet events because they love them.

A lot of the local festivals are purely recreational and run by volunteers, and some have a commercial bent, but the important thing is that people take the trouble to put them on, and the rest of us do the easy part, we come out and have a good time.

It’s a great pleasure here at the News to join in the celebration, by previewing and attending all these summer events.

So, to the Gananoque music people, we can say yes indeed, you had a success if you think you did. And in 10 years when 10,000 people come out to your festival to see the Abrams Brothers, you can thank Snoop Dog, and yourselves.

Back to HomeFeature Article - August 13, 2009 The Mud House opens its doors in Veronaby Julie Druker

Connie Streatch (aka the Mud Lady) demonstrates the benefits of a mud facial to Kyla Costa of Kingston and Meghan Grimard of Verona

It was perfect timing for Connie Streatch, aka the Mud Lady. She and her staff took part in the Verona Festival Parade on Friday night as a way to invite the community to the grand opening of her new Verona business, The Mud House, which opened its doors to the public on August 8 with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Connie deals in mud, specifically Golden Moor Mud therapy products, which she sells and uses in a number of natural and organic health and beauty spa treatments.

The Golden Moor mud products are made from peat bog mud that comes from near Moose Creek near Cornwall, Ontario. Excavation of the mud began in 1994. Currently about 2000 tons a year are excavated, producing 89 products that are being sold in 13 countries. Golden Moor’s flagship product is a mud bath product that can be used in the privacy of your own home.

Present at the ceremony along with Connie were various corporate representatives and distributors of Golden Moor products and members of her staff, whom she calls “The Power of Mud Team”. Members of her team were on hand demonstrating mud facials on a number of interested clients.

Interested buyers had a chance to sample the pleasant-smelling products. Connie will not only be selling Golden Moor products but will be specializing in ION foot detox treatments, mud facials, wraps and mud baths and complete body detoxification at the Verona location.

She is a firm believer in the benefits of the Golden Moor products. “I have been using the products for six years and decided that, with the incredible results that I and others have been experiencing, I could base my business on services using these products."

Connie is from the Maritimes and came across the products through her brother and knew she could make a business based on the products and treatments. She visited her father here in Verona awhile back and fell in love with the house where her new business is located.

She is actively seeking an aesthetician to work along side her and one of her goals is to provide spa weekends to couples looking for a relaxing, rejuvenating get-away.

The Mud House is located at 6698 Hwy 38 in Verona. More information: www.gvmlm.com/themudlady, or call 613-374-1505, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to make an appointment. Drop-ins are also welcome.

Back to HomeFeature Article - August 13, 2009 Verona Festival brought outall the starsby Julie Druker

The Deline family won a parade award as the cast of the Wizard of Oz

The 14th Annual Verona Festival was another resounding success. This year’s Hollywood theme brought out the stars of the community for the inaugural Friday night parade which included the entire cast of the Wizard of Oz, The Beverly Hillbillies, Marilyn Monroe, and Flatt and Scruggs, to name a few.

Opening ceremonies were performed by town crier Paddy O’Connor and Charlie Chaplin, aka Dick Miller. Debbie Lingen hosted the event and announced the award-winning parade participants.

Local band Telephoto warmed up the music fans prior to an appearance by Mike Menor (as Elvis) and the Amazing Hillbilly Cats who had the capacity crowd at McMullen Park grooving long after the stars were shining in the sky.

And that was just Friday.

Photo Right: The builders and crew of Mork and Gork finish first in the festival’s duct tape boat races at McMullen beach

Saturday the festival continued at breakneck speed with ever-popular duct tape boat races. Gork and Mork, after five years of racing and perfecting their technique, took the lead and were awarded the duct tape cup.

Floyd Deyo, a member of the Verona Area Heritage Society, gave informative and entertaining historical tours of Verona.

Local celebrities Rick Hughes, Del Stowe and Joel Barrett were auctioned off for a dunk tank soaking to the delight of the crowd.

The talent continued on stage all day Saturday with the relaxing piano interludes of Liza Carew, the heart-felt tunes of the Steve Kennedy Trio and the toe-tapping jazzy funk covers performed by the Torres guitar trio of Kingston. Big Mo and the Blues Mission played Chicago-style blues well into the afternoon.

Off stage and behind the scenes, other stars less fond of the limelight also had a chance to shine. Festival manager Wayne Conway took the helm of the brand new Verona Express train, a favorite for the kids. The train was designed and built by Verona native Charlie Stewart, a 3-month undertaking of which he “enjoyed every single minute.” Sabra Lovegrove’s flair for graphic design made possible the colorful cartoon cutouts that adorned each car.

Along with train rides, the young kids spent most of their day petting at the zoo, putting on the greens and getting lost in the maze in between mouthfuls of cotton candy.

Older members of the crowd shopped at the festival market and dined at Cameron’s Canteen while enjoying the musical entertainment.

Hats off once again to the members of the Verona Community Association and the Festival Committee and to the huge number of sponsors and committed volunteers who once again went that extra mile to bring together the entire community for a real gem of a festival.

Verona Festival 2009 Results:

Early Bird Draw: Gwen Grant; Admission Prize Winners: Karen Bince; Adam Mason; Paul Gonu; Claudia Percy; Steve Rampling; Frances Caird.

Parade Prize Winners: Best Horse Entry: Vaughan's Tire & Auto; Best Walking Entry: (children) Samantha Johns; Best Family Entry: The Deline Family; Best Business Entry: Bravo Restaurant; Best Decorated Vehicle: Tom & Dora Zimmer; Bicycle Winners: Ashley Wash; Kyle Sharpe

Back to HomeFeature Article - August 20, 2009 Free concert series wraps up at McMullen beachBy Julie Druker

Still Standin’ performed at the last concert in the “Music in the Park”, l to r: Dennis Pacheco, Ryan Bowes, Bill Landsdell and Curtis Campbell

The local band Still Standin’ performed on the afternoon of Sunday August 16 at McMullen beach in Verona, wrapping up “Music in the Park”, a series of three free concerts put on by the Verona Community Association (VCA).

For the final concert close to 200 music lovers lined the beach-front park on Rock Lake, tapping their toes to the ’70s and ’80s rock and rockabilly classics that lead singer Dennis Pacheco and the band cranked out with skill and energy.

According to 30-year musical veteran Bill Lansdell who plays bass and vocals in the band, “This concert gives a new meaning to the name ‘Rock Lake‘”.

Two earlier concerts, one by the Confederation Jazz Band in June, and one by Red Rose Express in July, were equally well attended.

VCA member Joyce Casement, who organized and founded the concert series, was thrilled to see a long-time dream finally become a reality. “I’d been hoping to do something like this for years but we just never had the right type of venue.”

Joyce credited the Portland District Recreation Committee and specifically last year’s completion of the McMullen Park beach house as instrumental in allowing this kind of event to take place. Joyce explained, “The older cottage did not have enough of an overhang to protect a band nor was there enough power. And there were no washrooms either.”

The venue is perfect for holding concerts and judging by the turnout Casement hopes to see the series continue on into the future. “People in the community are really enjoying it and we are also seeing people coming out from all over. Boaters on the lake even drop their anchors to listen. “

Marcel Quenneville, president of the VCA, was also pleased with the turnout. “It’s really wonderful. These concerts are creating memories and history in Verona and it’s really all about community spirit.” Quenneville also hopes to see the series continue. He explained, “We (the VCA) will be reviewing the concert series at our next meeting and basically if we have the volunteers willing to do it I see no reason why the series would not continue.”

Meanwhile Joyce has already been planning for next summer and mentioned that local band Crooked Wood was interested in making an appearance.

For participating bands the venue is proving to be an enjoyable one. What could be better than playing music outdoors on a beautiful summer day with a shimmering lake as a backdrop to an enthusiastic crowd?

Back to HomeFeature Article - August 6, 2009 South Frontenac Councilby Jeff Green

Coming and going - South Frontenac Clerk Administrator Bord Burns(l) will retire at the end of this week after 8 years with the township. Wayne orr (r) will take over his duties next monday. They were both on hand to provide guidance to this week's meeting.

It wasn’t intentional, but South Frontenac Council greeted its new CAO Wayne Orr and said goodbye to its retiring CAO Gord Burns with a three-hour display of internal bickering (most of which was relatively good natured) at their only scheduled August meeting in Sydenham on Tuesday night, August 4.

The meeting started quietly enough. Vicky Leakey from the accounting firm KPMG presented the financial statements for 2008. She concluded, “There are no issues or recommendations that we need to make. We came up with no adjustments, and did not identify any fraudulent or potentially fraudulent or illegal acts. Nothing came to our attention and we did not notice any unusual actions.”

PORTLAND REC COMMITTEE: A request from the Portland District Recreation Committee for an extra $75,000 to complete planned upgrades to facilities in Verona and Harrowsmith was considered.

The 2009 budget included money for work on the Centennial Park Ball diamond, band shell and tennis courts in Harrowsmith and the Verona tennis courts and McMullen Park Waterfront.

The budget that was set for the five projects was $61,000, but when the price estimates came in from contractors the costs were more than twice as high as the amounts budgeted.

The Verona and Centennial Park tennis courts were both budgeted at $12,500 but the estimated cost is now $25,000 each. The Centennial Park Ball Diamond was budgeted at $24,000 and the estimated cost is now listed as “unknown”. The McMullen Park waterfront project, which includes an accessible boardwalk, has swelled to $35,000 although budgeted at $10,000, and the Centennial Park band shell now stands at $6,000 although budgeted at $2,000.

The request was for $75,000 from the Portland Recreation Reserve to complete all the projects in 2009.

“If the roads department came back to us and said their budgets had doubled, we would chastise them and tell them to cut some of their projects. Why should this be any different?” asked Councilor Ron Vandewal.

“Are these new estimated costs based on tenders or are they just a new guess?” asked Councilor David Hahn.

“The tennis courts are based on tenders,” said Portland District Councilor Jim Hicks.

“The waterfront estimate was way out,” said the other Portland Councilor Bill Robinson.

The matter will come back to council in September.

SYDENHAM LIBRARY – Frontenac County submitted a successful grant application for 2/3 funding of the cost of building a new library in Sydenham, which will in turn allow the township to reclaim the existing library space to expand the township office and bring all the departments under one roof.

The county is now seeking a commitment from South Frontenac to cover any overruns in the library construction project.

“They made it very clear to us when we met with them that this was going to be their project; that they could be in charge of it and we would have no say in what happens. My point is - why should we give them a blank cheque? If we have no control over how much money they spend on it, why should we cover any cost overruns?” asked Ron Vandewal.

“There won’t be any cost overruns. Were there cost overruns for Sydenham Water or the tower? No,” said Mayor Gary Davison.

“I’d be willing to do it if we have some approval,” said Councilor David Hahn.

“I agree. We need to sign off on the project as it moves forward,” said Councilor Larry York.

Council agreed to accept responsibility for the overruns provided they have a chance to review every tender related to the project before they are awarded.

TRICKY INTERSECTION TO STAY AS IS: Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth presented a report recommending that $30,600 be spent on a study by AECOM consulting to determine how best to change the intersection of the Colebrook, Wilton, and Ottawa roads and Road 38. “The reality is that 38 is our most heavily traveled road, and this is the most dangerous spot on the road. There haven’t been any accidents there, but there have been a lot of near misses, and with the road getting busier all the time I think we should do something,” Segsworth said.

“Are you talking about a traffic light?” asked Ron Vandewal.

“My mind is open. Other options include a roundabout, or rerouting some roads or doing nothing. I think there is a need to look at this and it is something I can’t do for myself,” Segsworth responded.

“It’s a lot of money for nothing,” said Councilor Bill Robinson. “I’ve lived in that rat race for 40 years and nothing’s ever happened. We don’t need a traffic light. It’s like putting a traffic light in Piccadilly Square in England. I don’t agree with it.”

Council sided with Robinson, and turned down the proposal in a 7-2 vote.

Perth Road assessment approved – Council did approve a proposed $18,000 operational assessment of Perth Road by McIntosh Perry.

The McIntosh Perry proposal was the most expensive response to a request for proposal (RFP) that the township had set out, but Segsworth said their proposal was the only one that was comprehensive, and he knows they have the staff to do the proper traffic counts and analysis. The RFP was awarded to McIntosh Perry.

Road construction update – Mark Segsworth presented an update on road construction.

“There have been cost overruns from what was budgeted, but we have adjusted our program and most likely we will - let me rephrase that - we will remain within the budget …I hope you appreciate what we are doing here. This is no Sleepy Hollow. We are doing $5.9 million in road construction this year.”

Of that total, $4.35 million is coming from the township budget and a further $1.8 million from grant money.

Road that are receiving attention include: Buck Bay, Burridge, Canoe Lake and Wolfe Lake roads in Bedford; Burnett, Graham, Redmond, Verona Sand, Snider, Cross, Long Swamp, Piccadilly, Colebrook and Quinn Roads in Portland; Canoe Lake, Charley Green, Daley, Keeley, Walker, and Orser Roads in Loughborough; 11 roads in Storrington, and 12 Concession, Bear Creek, High Falls Bridge, Loughborough Lake Bridge, Sydenham and Bedford roads among township maintained roads.

South Frontenac Rec. Committee established – Council spent a lot of time figuring out what to do with a proposal to hire Wes Garrod to produce a five-year Recreational Master Plan for the township.

David Hahn wanted to defer the motion to receive more information about Garrod’s work plan and fees, but the motion to defer was defeated. Nonetheless Hahn cast the deciding vote, in favour of hiring Garrod now.

Truck woes - The tender for two ¾ ton and one ½ ton pickup for use in winter maintenance had been awarded to Condie Pontiac, but Condie has informed Segsworth that the vehicles will not be ready until January. Segsworth asked for leave to consider other options, perhaps looking at the number 2 bidder, Revell Ford, if Condie cannot deliver the trucks on time.

“An agreement is an agreement; we should stick with Condie,” said Bill Robinson.

“I won’t do anything until I come back to Council in September,” Segsworth said.

Council agreed to let him work on getting at least two trucks in place before the snow falls. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 16, 2009 Verona Lions JamboreeBy Julie Druker

Amber and Joshua Pigion of Roblin enjoyed a ride at the Verona Lions Jamboree

The Verona Lions hosted another successful Jamboree this year. Children and their families enjoyed the rides, games and canteen fare at the Lions' biggest fundraising event of the year.

New to the Jamboree this year was the LilliPutt Links, a mini golf game that made its first debut. Built by the Verona Lions and the Verona Community Association, the design came from an old issue of Popular Mechanics magazine. The game will make its second appearance at the Verona Festival, so anyone who missed the Jamboree will have another chance to try it out.

The Verona Festival takes place August 7-9. The theme is Veronawood-Hollywood north and everyone is invited to dress up as their favorite movie or TV star. For more festival information please visit the VCA’s website at www.veronacommunity.on.ca