Vol.23 No.05

The Frontenac Heritage Festival Returns

One of the casualties of the pandemic is making a full return in 2023. The Frontenac Heritage Festival is back for its 15th year. Some of the features of the early years of the festival, which originally took place the weekend before the annual Family Day Weekend, have gone by the wayside.

Those events included the annual polar plunge, heritage displays and quilt shows, which all were replaced, over the years, with more outdoor activities.

The pandemic put a stop to everything, but the Heritage Festival committee has been rejuvenated, and a full slate of activities between Friday, the 17th, until Family Day on the 20th.

Everything kicks off on Friday night with the opening ceremonies at the Oso Hall (6:30pm) followed by Frontenac’s Got Talent, starting at 7pm. The annual talent show will feature guest judges, the returning champion, as well as local beer and popcorn for sale.

The Anglican Church in Sharbot Lake is hosting a breakfast on Saturday, the

18th, and then Rural Frontenac Community Services in partnership with Kingston Frontenac Public Library is hosting activities at the Child Centre, including: storytime, robotics discovery, snow shoeing, and a chili and bun lunch.

There will be free skating and Crokicurl demonstrations at Oliver Scott Park between 10am and 3pm on Saturday as well, and the canteen will be open.

On Sunday, February 19, the focus shifts to the Arden area. The Kennebec Lake Association Winter Fun Day will take place at 1281 Nordic Road (off Henderson Road) – Ice fishing, skating, snowshoeing, a snow slide and world famous hot chocolate, cider, and soup will all be happening between 11am and 3pm.

Back in Sharbot Lake, the new hockey rink at Oliver Scott Park will be the site for a 3 on 3 tournament from 9am-3pm, and the Crokicurlers will be back as well. The canteen will be open, of course.

Finally, on Family Day Monday, February 20th, the Arden Heritage Day, one of

By Jeff Green

the longest running events of the Festival, hosted at the Matson Farm, will be back between 11am and 3pm. (entry by donation)

Oliver Scott Park in Sharbot Lake will once again host a 3 on 3 tournament at the rink and Crokicurl between 9am and

3pm.

“It is a thrill to bring the Heritage Festival back after the pandemic,” said organiser Rob Moore, “hopefully the weather will cooperate and people will come out and enjoy the events we have planned for the weekend.” ■

Tensions Roil Beneath the Microsurface In Central Frontenac

By Craig Bakay

Third time was not the charm when it comes to special budget meetings for Central Frontenac as the Feb. 6 meeting only sent staff back to the drawing board. Council will reconvene at 2 p.m. Feb. 14 (before the regular Council meeting) to take another stab at finalizing the 2023 budget.

“This is the toughest budget year I’ve ever gone through,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “I don’t think that we’ve really finished anything off and I don’t know where we go from here.”

Council came into this session looking at a 2.6 per cent levy increase but there seemed to be some consensus that that could rise to 3.6 per cent under the right circumstances. However, those circumstances didn’t seem to materialize.

What did materialize was a willingness to trade preserving Road 38 for work on Arden Road, which came about primarily through the complaints of Ward 1 Coun. Cindy Kelsey.

“So, all the money flows from our taxpayers and we’re not getting anything for it,” Kelsey said.

“Look at the sheets, you’re getting the same as everybody else is getting,” said Smith.

Road 38 was a provincial highway until it was downloaded to the Townships during amalgamation in 1999. Since then, predictions of mega-cost have been foretold (in the range of $1 million per kilometre or more) should the road fail and need to be rebuilt.

Central Frontenac managed to secure a multi-million dollar grant to fix the worst spots and ever since has begun a pavement preservation program to ensure the worst doesn’t happen. Much of the road has been preserved but there is still the section from south of Parham to Sharbot Lake yet to do. This year, 9.6 kilometres from Evergreen Road to Parham was scheduled. Road 38 spans 36 kilometres in Central Frontenac.

Public Works Manager Tyson Myers estimates that section can be done in three one-year chunks of about 10 kilometres each and to that effect had about $655,000

in his budget to do one chunk this year.

That’s for microsurfacing, crack sealing will still have to be done regardless.

Kelsey noticed that the estimated cost of resurfacing Arden Road from Hwy 7 to the hamlet would be about $519,000 plus a 10 per cent contingency cost.

Various schemes circulated around the table, including Coun. Bill Everett’s suggestion that the road be pulverized and gravelled much like Zealand Road and Price Road.

“Reducing levels of service is something municipalities are going to have to take a look at,” said Myers.

Several councillors speculated about doing smaller chunks of microsurfacing on more roads but Myers shot that down pretty quickly.

“I would rather take a year off from microsurfacing than doing little chunks which would lead to higher mobilization costs,” Myers said.

Myers explained that paving companies charge mo-

Denbigh Fire Station May Close Says Fire Chief

Although the Jan. 31 special meeting of Addington Highlands Council was billed as a “General Discussion on Strategic Priorities,” nobody expected the bombshell that Fire Chief/Community Emergency Management Coordinator Casey Cuddy dropped when the discussion turned to Emergency Services, Planning and Management.

Following a presentation from three OPP officers, a discussion on Health Services and Doctor Recruitment and Affordable Housing, Cuddy laid out the situation regarding the Denbigh Fire Department.

“You want me to be a doomsday per -

son tonight?” Cuddy said. “With mandatory certification for firefighters, I don’t know that you’re going to have a fire department up there in two years time.

“Unless we find some people that want to take all of the courses.”

Under Ontario Regulation 343/22 made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, all firefighters must be certified by July 1, 2026.

“Unfortunately, you don’t have the population to draw from in the north end of the Township,” Cuddy said. “A lot of the able-bodied people in the area work out of the Township and just don’t have the time it takes to take all of these

courses they’re going to have to take to become certified.”

“We can’t be alone in this,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch. “There’s a lot more to rural Ontario than Ward 1.”

Cuddy said he’s asked the Fire Marshall’s office if there are options here such as having some members of the department available only for medical calls (which have more than doubled in the last two years) but he’s not getting any answers.

“You must have a fire prevention program but not a fire suppression program,” he said. “To have a department that can attack fires, you have to have

Continued on page 6

By Craig Bakay

10 certified firefighters, and that’s if you have hydrants — which we don’t, so you also have to have people trained to operate tankers.”

He said the current situation can’t wait until the last minute because certification can take up to six months.

“If we can’t be a fire department, can we be a first response department?” he said. “I know other chiefs have talked about closing down departments.”

If the Denbigh department were to close, calls would have to be handled from the Northbrook department.

“The worst situation with that is that

Participants enjoyed a game at the 2019 Heritage Festival in Sharbot Lake.

Is Canada Really Broken, Or Is It Just Winter

Most Canadians pay scant attention to the fortunes of federal political parties when there is no obvious federal election on the horizon, but of course that does not stop the parties from jockeying for position.

The Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, has become fond of saying, “it feels like everything is broken in Canada now,” implying that the current Prime Minister is mostly, if not solely, to blame, for this negative feeling.

Not to be outdone, the National Post sponsored a poll.

It asked two questions.

It asked if people agreed or disagreed with the statement that “it feels like everything is broken in this country right now” and 67% said they agreed.

It asked how people were “feeling right now" when thinking how Canada is being managed today, and offered two options, “happy or angry”, not “happy or unhappy”, not “happy or sad”, not even “calm or angry”, but the odd conjunction of “happy or angry.”

41% per cent of respondents were either somewhat happy (37%) or very happy (4%)

50% said they were either somewhat angry (30%) or very angry (20%) and 9% did not know if they were happy or angry.

The polling company, Leger, is a reputable outfit, so far be it from me to question their methodology, but the use

would be people trapped in a car wreck waiting for Kaladar/Northbrook to get to Denbigh (more than 30 minutes depending on location).”

Cuddy said losing the Denbigh Fire Department is a real possibility.

“I saw what happened to the ambulance service up there and I don’t want that to happen to the fire department,” he said. “I know it’s a challenge for some people (the courses) because it’s schoolwork but maybe there are some people in the Denbigh area who haven’t considered joining the fire department who might consider it now.”

d octor r etention

Like just about every other rural municipality, Addington Highlands is facing a doctor short -

age.

The staff report included in the agenda said there are more than 700 residents without a family doctor. The Lakelands Family Health Team has two doctors but both would like to retire soon.

Council asked for a meeting with the health team to discuss measures for doctor recruitment.

Emergency Prepardness

Further with emergency services, Fire Chief/ Emergency Management Coordinator Casey Cuddy said they’ve drafted a brochure outlining emergency procedures and preparation suggestions that should be available soon.

When told that information is on the Township website, Cuddy respond -

of feelings in both of the questions is curious.

Pierre Poilievre set this up, because he has been saying “Canada feels broken” which is not open to any kind of test, based on data or any kind of real measure.

If I bring my car to the shop and say “I feel like it is broken” my mechanic will have a hard time knowing how to fix it.

Leger doubled down on feelings, asking how people feel about how the country is being managed, asking people how they feel when thinking how Canada is managed today.

They could have asked “Do you think Canada is well managed, yes or no” which would be clear, instead they asked whether people feel happy or angry when they think about how Canada is being managed.

But more than all the fuzzy language, making me question whether this survey was really commissioned to see what Canadians think, there are other interesting aspects to it.

First off, it was an online survey of 1554 people, selected from Leger's online panel of 450,000 web users, that have been vetted according to different demographic variables.

Secondly, and most importantly, the survey was conducted between January 20 and 22.

ed: “depending on the emergency, the power most often goes out too, making it very difficult to access the Internet.”

Short term r entals

When the subject turned to short-term rentals (which Reeve Henry Hogg called his “our favourite subject”) Council didn’t seem to think a bylaw regulating such things was necessary just yet.

“We did print up a ‘renters guide’ which has proven quite popular,” Hogg said.

The Township office gave out about 90 renters guide last season. Special Meeting Council planned one more special meet -

ing (Feb. 7 at 5 p.m. in Flinton) with discussions on a Communication and Ratepayer Interface, Roads and Waste Sites,

By Jeff Green

If you ask Canadians how they 'feel' about anything on January 20, and find that most of them think “everything is broken” and that they are more likely to be “angry” than “happy” about their governments, is it really a surprise?

I don't know about anyone else, but late January is not my happiest time of year.

It is cold and grey in late January, in this country, and spring is a long way off.

If the same survey were taken on July 20, would as many people “feel like everything is broken?”

Maybe not.

People can make what they want of this National Post/ Leger marketing survey, but I can't help but have my suspicions about surveys that ask people how they feel instead of what they think, any time of year, but especially in January.

The Conservative Party, and the National Post, have a clear agenda to promote the idea that the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau is a spent force, and the Conservatives are going to take over after the next election. That future will on that front.

As for this recent survey for the National Post, it may not be completely broken, however, like Canada, it is certainly chock full of flaws. ■

Community Facilities, Parks and Playgrounds, Tax Rates, Economic Development, Cell Coverage and Broadband, and

Denise.Brundage@remax.net

COLe

Cole.Brundage@remax.net

www.remaxcountryclassics.com

Organizational Structure and Staffing. ■

1095 Garrett St., rear building; Box 229, Sharbot Lake, ON K0H 2P0

Ph: 613-279-3150; 1-888-779-3150; Fx: 613-279-3172

E-mail: info@frontenacnews.ca

Office hours: Mon/Tues., 8:30

Little-Used Roads Won’t Be Upgraded In North Frontenac

By Craig Bakay

“Asset management is a journey, not a destination,” North Frontenac Treasurer Kelly Watkins told Council at a special meeting Feb. in Plevna to go over the Township’s 10-year Capital Plan.

The meeting began with a report from Public Works Manager Darwyn Sproule on the status of Quackenbush and Struthadam Roads.

Sproule said he’s received several concerns/requests for service on both roads.

The Level of Service Bylaw (89-13) identifies Quackenbush as being seasonally maintained for 2.5 km with no winter maintenance.

“The Township has completed very limited maintenance on Quackenbush for a number of years,” he said. “Recent maintenance has been completed primarily by logging companies with operations in the area.”

He said the status of Struthadam is similar to Quackenbush with about 6 kilometres identified as seasonally maintained.

“The Township has completed very limited maintenance on the seasonally maintained section,” he said. “In response to the concerns of property owners in 2022, the Township did complete very limited work (gravel and ditching) on Struthadam Road,” he said.

Both roads require considerable work,

including brushing, ditching, drainage, granular and grading.

According to the 2022 Road Needs Study, the price tag for Quackenbush comes in at $1,091,000 and $1,475,000 for Struthadam.

Both costs are substantial for a small rural municipality, he said, and as such he was recommending a multi-year staged approach with a committed annual expenditure to initiate capital upgrades.

“I am recommending $20,000/year for Struthadam and $50,000/year for Quackenbush,” he said. “The recommended duration is 10 years with the need to be reassessed at that time.”

“I’d like to move that we reconsider the Level of Service Bylaw,” said Dep. Mayor John Inglis. “Quackenbush is a dead end and Struthadam is a trail.”

He also suggested having a look at the maintenance of Russ Brown Road if they were going to start altering the Level of Service Bylaw.

“In the long run, it might be feasible if we need more development and people will be wanting to access their property,” said Coun. Vern Hermer.

“People bought there knowing the status,” said Coun. Wayne Good. “It’s like buying on an island.

“We have to look at our tax base, it’s not very high.

“If you think it’s for the future, look at your base.”

After some more discussion, mostly centred on what vehicles councillors could get down the roads, Sproule amended the ask to $15,000 for Quackenbush and $25,000 for Struthadam, for just this year.

Council approved that and amended the resolution to ask for a review of the Level of Service Bylaw with respect to the three roads mentioned.

“If you’re considering changing that bylaw, we will need a legal opinion,” said CAO Corey Klatt.

Communication towers

Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief Eric Korhonen fared a little better in his request for funding of communication towers at Big Lake and Ompah. However, he did have $152,928.988 left over from the Municipal Modernization Grant to work with. Still, he said, there is an estimated $109,500 still required for additional expenses not originally considered.

But, not only will the upgrades increase radio coverage to 90 per cent from 60 per cent, the Township would have a savings of about $9,100 annually as they will no longer have to rent a tower and radio frequency from Bell Mobility.

“During the derecho, we lost communications because Bell didn’t have a backup,” he said. “And, these towers don’t re-

quire navigation lights.”

Council approved spending the residual balance of the Municipal Modernization fund and the additional requirements from the Infrastructure Sustainability Reserve Fund.

Budget report

In her report, Treasurer Kelly Watkins projected average annual capital spending at $2,866,729 from 2023 to 2032. In 2002, the figure was $2,419,277 not including and sales of surplus vehicles. The difference between the 2022 figure and the projections is $447,452 or 18.50 per cent.

“We’re not recommending an increase in taxation,” she said. “Funding will go through reserves.

“It all flows through the reserve fund.”

“I’m in support of the numbers you’re using,” said Dep. Mayor John Inglis. “I was in favour of smaller reserves when I started this job 12 years ago.”

Watkins said there is about $2 million currently in discretionary reserves, some of which may have to be used to fund the $250,000 in damages caused by the derecho.

Emergency Vehicles

Fire Chief Eric Korhonen when asked if he was prepared to look at used vehicles as replacements: “If it has four wheels and hamsters, I would be willing to drive it.” ■

Lineup For Budget Asks At North Frontenac Council

By Craig Bakay

You know it’s budget time when outside agencies and such show up at council meetings looking for money.

Such was the case Feb. 3 at the North Frontenac regular Council meeting in Plevna.

First up was Joe Gallivan, director of planning and economic development for the County of Frontenac who was looking for $25,000 as North’s contribution to

Tuesday Lunch

a proposed Community Planning Permit System, which would be applied to all four member townships in Frontenac County.

“Protecting your lakes is its primary goal,” Gallivan said.

In his presentation, Gallivan said that existing zoning bylaws and official plans are outdated in their approach to waterfront development, with a focus on setbacks rather than waterfront protection.

“As a result, every application for waterfront development that requires a minor variance adjustment must go through the committee of adjustment process across the townships, regardless of complexity, structure or potential impact on the surrounding environment,” he said.

The resulting large volumes of applications for review by township and county planning staff, as well as the committee of adjustment, delays the issuance of building permits, and with the opportunity for appeal, applicants and staff can be stuck in the committee of adjustment process for more than three months for one application, he said.

He said staff estimate that they could cut down the amount of time it takes for minor variance approvals using a CPPS by two-thirds, which results in estimated

savings of more than $180,000 in staff time annually once implemented.

Next came Sally McIntyre, general manager for Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, who presented the authority’s 2023 draft budget to Council.

While the North Frontenac levy represents less than 1 per cent of the total budget (Ottawa pays more than 90 per cent) which is increasing to $5,963,486 in 2023 from $5,595,735 in 2022, it still represents a sizeable chunk for a small rural municipal budget.

North Frontenac’s 2023 municipal levy for 2023 is $27,844 for operating and $5,891 for capital or $33,735 in total.

For this sum, MVCA looks after operation and maintenance of Shabomeka, Mazinaw, Mississagagon, Kashwakamak and Farm Lake dams, operation and maintenance of 16 water level and/or flow stations, monitors 53 surface water quality/health sites, an online access and

notification system for water levels, the Kashwakamak Lake Dam Environmental Assessment for reconstruction (estimated at $100,00, provides stewardship support for lake associations and partnership on the Palmerston-Canoto Conservation Area.

And while there was no direct ask for funding, Deborah Krause, executive director of the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team did a presentation on what it’s going to take to recruit physicians to the area.

In a letter to CAO Corey Klatt, Krause said that they need about $5,000 for a booth and accommodations at the national Rural Physicians Conference in Niagara Falls in April and/or help with the $5,000 cost of the KEYS Dual Career program for physician partner employment.

North Frontenac has a Ministry of Health signing bonus of $92,000 plus additional incentives from the Township to apply to securing a physician. North also provides funding support to the Lakelands Family

Continued to page6

COMMUNITY REPORTERS (613)

Arden Wanda Harrison 335-3186

Battersea / Storrington Amanda Pantrey 353-6653

Cloyne / Northbrook Stepanie Regent

Denbigh Gail Fritsch

Godfrey Kelli McRobert

Harrowsmith Gregg Hamelin

Henderson Jean Brown

Inverary Judy Borovskis

Maberly-Bolingbroke Karen Prytula

Mississippi Pearl Killingbeck

Ompah Linda Rush

Parham-Tichborne ........Colleen Steele

Christine Teal

PLEVNA

rhonda Watkins 613-264-5325 rhonda139@gmail.com

613-333-2224

613-376-6665

Music nights begin again at the Snow Road Community Centre! They are presenting an evening of Country Music featuring the White Brothers Classic Country on Thursday, February 23rd from 730-930pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for kids 6-12. For more information, you can visit www.snowroadcommitycentre.com or call Mike at (613) 278-1853.

Did you know that Feb 18-20 is free family ice fishing week- • end in Ontario? This means that you do not need to buy a fishing license. Just be sure to follow conservation license catch limits.

tags.

Style Revival will be open this Saturday, February 11 and

• February 18 from 10am to 1pm. It will also be open as usual Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm. Style Revival, which is located in the Verona Free Methodist Church at 6804 Hwy 38, offers free gently used clothing and footwear for all ages.

ArDEN

Wanda Harrison

613-335-3186

wmharrison070@gmail.com

Hope everyone survived the Polar Vortex. It was hard to

Perth Road Peter Bird 353-7303

Plevna Rhonda Watkins 613-264-5325

Sydenham Karen Brawley 376-9848

Verona Debbie Lingen

PArHAM-TICHbOrNE

Colleen Steele

Christine teal mrsteal2u@hotmail.com

613-375-6219

613-375-6525

ig thank you to the Road Crew who cleared the snow off the • side of the road for better parkin and at the intersections for drivers to see oncoming traffic!

• driveways so greatly appreciated!

Thank heavens for good neighbours who help clear out

When considering ice fishing though, please always use • extreme caution when going out on the ice. Many different factors can affect the thickness of the ice and even though it looks safe, it could be misleading. Often ice near the shore is thicker and safer than ice farther out. It is recommended to regularly check the thickness with a spud bar or auger as you move farther out. It is also always a good idea to let somebody know when you are planning to go ice fishing and when you are planning to return. Wearing appropriate clothing and equipment for safety and comfort is always a good idea too!

Pine Meadow Nursing Home was very happy last week to • announce that new lifts for both their tub rooms were recently installed and work great! A much appreciated addition to their home! They want to send out huge thanks to all of the special needs fund supporters who helped make this possible!

• believe that one day it was above average temps. then a swing to -30. Now that’s global warming!! With those temperatures unknown each day, please check int the Arden Rink Facebook page to see if the rink is open or closed. Please adhere to the attendant’s requests.

With Heritage/Family Day weekend approaching, it’s time

• to plan the weekend.

Kennebec Lake will hold their Annual Winter Fun Day Sat-

• urday, February 18 with a weather day, Monday February 20. There are many events planned for most of the Day. Facebook will keep you up-to-date, so make sure you check it out.

As promised last week, I have the details for the Matson’s • Sunday the 19th’s calendar of events. The fun begins at 11am, at the farm, with sleigh rides, skating, antique displays and input from the trappers. Available for donation, only, will be chili dogs, hot chocolate and beaver tongues. All proceeds will be give to the Weslyen Church. With all outdoor Heritage events, everything is weather permitting.

Thinking of you to Dave Hansen.

• Congratulations to secondary students who are on to their • next semester after their exams have just finished!

Feb 21st there will be a Pancake supper held at the St.

• James Major Church Hall Hosted by St James Major. Proceeds to the food bank this will be from 5 to 630pm $7 per person, $20 per family

March 1st Lenten Lunch held at Parham Free Methodist

• Church hosted by Parham Free Methodist Church, Pastor Ken Walton speaking

We are working on getting the Tichborne Rink cleared off • for use. Just remember that it is dependant on the weather and with it not being open yet this year, there is a pile of snow that has built up on the ice surface which has not allowed it to freeze properly. Last weeks cold temperatures did help but the outside perimeter still has a bit more of freezing to do. Hopefully with this week's warmer weather it will melt some of the snow and then refreeze so that the surface will be in great shape! Thanks for your patience!

P E r TH rOAD

Peter Bird

613-353-7303

p.bird@xplornet.ca

EVENTS: Perth Rd. Sunday School Hall: Tuesday Lunches

• continue. Charge is $8 per person. Great value for homemade soup, sandwiches and desert.

Perth Road VILLAGE Crafters continue to meet every

• Wednesday: 930am – 1130am at Harris Park Hall, 5612 Perth Road Cres. If you’re a first timer, check us out for free, please contact Cheryl Bird 613-353-7303.

Did you know that the Kingston Frontenac Public Library of- • fers mystery packs in your favourite category? Mystery packs make reading easy and fun! Just visit the website www.kfpl.ca and choose your mystery pack today! All you need is your library card! If you have any questions, you can visit the Plevna Library on Tuesday and Thursdays 2-4 and 5-7 and Friday and Saturdays 10-1!

The Clar-Mill hall in Plevna will be the place to be on Satur- • day February 25th. The 2023 Winterfest will have something for everybody in the Community! There will be a Magician, kids activities, a skating party, a delicious lunch hosted by Clarendon School, demonstrations by locals in the area and a Euchre Tournament, plus more activities, demonstrations and giveaways to be announced! If you are interested in participating in the Euchre Tournament, can you please contact me, so I can add you to the list. We want to make sure we have enough tables and playing cards set up that day! Who will be the 2023 North Frontenac Winterfest Euchre Champion?!

VE r ONA

Debbie Lingen debbie@lingens.com

Bring the whole family to enjoy "Family Day" on Monday, • February 20 from 11am to 3pm at the Frontenac Community Arena, 4299 Arena Boundary Road, Godfrey. This is a FREE event that includes skating, snowtubing and other snow activities. Volunteers needed. E-mail recsupport@southfrontenac.

net

Don't forget your doggie dog tags. Bowser must be tagged • by the end of February to get the special rate of $15. After that, the bite on the wallet will be $30. Scamper down to Verona Hardware or Asselstine Hardware to purchase your dog

Regular happenings in the hamlet include Coffee and con- • versation at the Church 10:00 am Thursday Euchre Tuesday evening and Tai Chi Wednesday mornings at the Community Centre and Bingo, (6pm sharp) and Euchre at the Legion Thursday evening.

Do you have a special event, or a meaningful birthday or • anniversary you would like to share with the community. It’s easy!! Just email me and I’ll be glad to put your information in the column.

bATTE r SEA /S TO rr INGTON

amanda Pantrey 613-353-6653

amandapantrey@outlook.com

Sydenham High School 150 Reunion Committee is host-

• ing their second euchre tourney in Sydenham at the Legion Br. # 460 on Feb 11th starting at 6:30 pm. No need to bring a partner! Cost is $20/player. Light snacks and desserts will be served and cash prices and small donations up for grabs! For more info, please contact Jeremy Snider at: jer.snider@gmail. com or the SHS 150 co-chairs on any of their social media sites! Proceeds go to help raise funds and awareness for the upcoming reunion on Aug. 25th-27th, 2023.

Join South Frontenac at the Frontenac Community Arena • on Monday, February 20 from 11am – 3pm for the Family Day in South Frontenac community event. There will snowtubing and other snow activities, free skating and more. Volunteers needed. For more information email recsupport@southfrontenac.net.

Enjoy a delicious pancake dinner at Battersea United • Church as part of Shrove Tuesday beginning at 5pm on Feb. 21. This meal is only $10 pp and includes pancakes, sau-

sages, fruit salad, tea and coffee. Parking is free - everyone welcome!

What do you call a shape drawn on February 9th? An • asquareius.

CLOyNE - N O r TH br OO k

Stephanie regent stephanieregent@gmail.com

Bingo and Free chocolate bar at the LOL Lions Hall on

• Thursday nights throughout February.

The Lions are raising awareness to hunger . Please drop off

• non-perishable goods to the Lions Hall during any event going on at the Hall. These will go back to our Community via the Food Bank. Thanks for supporting this needed cause.

H A rr OWSMITH

Gregg Hamelin 613-376-6665 ghamelin3585@gmail.com

Sunday, February 12, the Ole Tyme Fiddlers with Open

• Mike will be hosted at the Golden Links Hall in Harrowsmith 1pm-5pm, followed by dinner. The cost is $12 and please bring a dessert to share. For info, call 613-372-2410.

Tuesday, February 14, is Valentine's Day. Celebrate with • your sweetie. Bring them chocolates, flowers or make dinner for him / her.

Club. Mark your calendar for the 3rd Annual High Tea! Plan this outing for Mothers’ Day Weekend.

M A b E r Ly- bOLING br O k E

Karen Prytula

613-325-1354

karenprytula33@gmail.com

Lots of activities at the ABC Hall this winter:

Reserve for your special dinner on February 18th at the Li-

• ons. Details on out FB page or call 613-217-8710 LOL Lions Dance February 18th 8:15-1pm

DENbIGH & VENNACHAr

Gail Fritsch 613-333-2224

tonygailfritsch@sympatico.ca

Well, last weekend was frosty for sure. -39C on Saturday • morning was refreshing. Hopefully you all kept warm and snug in your homes!

Please take time to go out and enjoy our community rink at • Heritage Park in Denbigh.

The Denbigh Public Library is having Valentines Craft and • Story on Saturday February 11 at 10 to 11am. Please call the Library to register 613-333-1426.

Sunday, February 19, there will be a take out turkey dinner • at the Golden Links Hall in Harrowsmith. Advance tickets only with a cut-off date of Wednesday, February 15. The cost is $20 and tickets are available at the gas station in Sydenham, Harrowsmith, Hartington and Asselstine Hardware in Verona. For info, call 613-372-2410.

HENDErSON

Jean Brown

613-336-2516

Henderson Harriet groundhog predicted a long winter with many more weeks of winter ahead of us. My word, so far winter’s been long enough- tons of snow and ferocious cold, but we are persevering, keeping warm and anticipating many special winter events.

• Play Mahjongg on Thursday at noon, Line Dance on Friday • morning at 10am or connect with fellow musicians at the Musicians Circle Thursday nights at 7pm. A charge of $5 goes toward the ABC Hall maintenance. Upcoming events include Café Night featuring rock & roll band Average Height on Friday, Feb. 25, 7 to 10pm. $5 at the door. ALSO, LINE DANCING with Rhonda Aisbitt. Fridays, January 13 to March 17, 10am to 11am. Cost is $5 at the door which goes toward Hall maintenance. More info can be found on the ABC Hall website. https://abchall.ca/health-fitness/

The ABC Hall is located at 3166 Bolingbroke Road, County • Road 36, Maberly, ON K0H 2B0. Email communications@abchall.ca if you can’t find what you are looking for at the above links.

FREE Event - Archives Lanark Annual General Meeting –

The Denbigh Griffith Lions Club is having BINGO on Val-

• entine’s Day February 14th at 630pm at the Lions Hall in Griffith. On Wednesday, February 15th at 12 to 3pm, there will be Food and Fellowship at the Lions Hall.

The next meeting of the Denbigh Recreation Committee

• is Monday February 13th at 7pm at the Denbigh Community Hall.

Please let me know if you have any news or events you • would like to share.

GODFrEy

Kelli Mcrobert kattgrrrl@gmail.com

February 12, 4pm doors open at the Sydenham Branch

• 496 Legion for Super Bowl Sunday viewing. Chili will be for sale with a bun for $5.00. Located at 4376 Williams Street, Sydenham. For more information, call 613-376-6808 or email rcl496.sydenham@hotmail.com or find them on Facebook.

For those who always wanted to try an obstacle course race, there is one upcoming in Kingston that you may want to try. Grab a few friends and have some fun!

Looking for an opportunity to get involved in food access

• and food security issues in our area? Consider joining the Community Harvest Kingston advisory council. Applications are open until February 17! https://communityharvestkingston.com/

The Frontenac Soccer Association is busy getting pre-

• pared for the upcoming 2023 soccer season. The 2023 schedule should be up on the website by February 10th. https://www.frontenacsoccer.com. Currently, they are looking for a Social media representative (communications to Facebook & website) and a U6 convenor (helps facilitate the U6 division including coordinating coaches and organizing the fields for games). As well, they are always looking for anyone interested in becoming a referee. If you are interested in taking the courses to become a referee, please email admin@frontenacsoccer.com

Family Fun Day is on February 18th from 10-2 at the • Child Center 1004 Art Duffy Road. Snow Shoeing, Sensory Play, and Winter activities -Free to play and Chili and Bun lunch by donation. Sponsored by Rural Frontenac, Frontenac Heritage, and KFL Public Library.

OOPS: The tax bills are out for Central Frontenac. There is an error in the listing of the phone number for Phillip Smith, it should be 613-539-7670. Apologise to whoever owns 613-374-2641 if they receive any calls in error. If you need to reach Phillip Smith call or text 613-539-7670 or email psmith@centralfrontenac.com.

Newburgh Fire Fighters presents the 28th annual Canal • Bash on February 18th. For details on the event www.canalbash.ca Breakfast, lunch, skating, fireworks, and more.... North Frontenac 2023 Winterfest on February 25th from • 12-430 at 6598 Buckshot Lane Road, Plevna. Free entry, all welcome.

Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre invite you to find all of their resources and program information, including details on their new online course for adults on wildlife awareness launching next week: https://sandy-pines-wildlife-centre. mylearnworlds.com.

Our neighbours on Kennebec Lake are hosting a winter fun • day on Sat. Feb. 18. That same weekend permits free fishingWow! Then on Sat. Feb. 25 a free Winterfest event is happening at the Clar Mill Hall in Plevna from 12 to 430 featuring balloon twisting, skating, Randy the Magician, local craft beer, yummy food, cards, and lots of displays and demonstrations.

Our Pine Meadow people, thanks to the efforts of the Spe- • cial needs fund, are enjoying new lifts for both tub rooms and report that they are super duper. Thanks to all who are helping out with these projects.

INVErAry

Judy Borovskis borovskis@kingston.net

Happy Valentines Day – coming soon! Had an early treat. Thank you, Sandy McEwan, for inviting me to your Sorority Brunch! Delicious! Met caterer Chris Couto and I won both the table prize and a door prize!

Euchre Tourney in support of the Sydenham High |School

• 150th Reunion! The Tournament is February 11th at 6:30 pm at the Sydenham Legion hosted by the Reunion Committee. $20 a person. No need to bring a partner. Light snacks and desserts will be served and cash prices and small donations up for grabs! For more info contact Jeremy Snider jer.snider@ gmail.com or the SHS 150 co-chairs on any of their social media sites! Proceeds to raise funds and awareness for the upcoming reunion on Aug. 25th-27th, 2023.

Pancake Tuesday! Come one! Come all! On Tuesday, • February 21st starting at 5pm until 7pm at Battersea United Church. Pancakes, sausages, fruit salad, tea & coffee. $10 per person. We appreciate your support!.

Pull tabs are continually being collected by the Storrington • Lions Club as are eye glasses and hearing aids. Items can be dropped off any time at the Lions’ hall in Sunbury.

Great job by all the workers and donors involved with the • Food Bank Drive last week! Shirley O’Neil reports a huge success. Thank you to everyone who donated. It was one of the best ever!

Thank you from Darlene Clement of the Kingston Rotary Club to all who purchased 2023 calendars. Congratulations to the January & February winners which are now posted. I recognize some names! Two months down and 10 to go.... still have a great chance to be on the winners list! Google Kingston Rotary Club 2023 Cash Calendar for the winners’ list.

Hall Rentals: Inverary Church Hall – contact Judy Borovs- • kis 353-1768 or cell: 613-545-5017. Battersea Church hall – contact Roberta Smith 353-2846.

Save the Date – May 13th! Support the Storrington Lions •

• Attend in person or via Zoom. February 25, 2023, 1pm. Join us to learn more about Archives Lanark, and find out what we as a group of VOLUNTEERS only, have been up to in 2022 and what we have planned for 2023. Our guest speaker will by Kyla Ubbink of Ubbink Book and Paper Restoration. Her presentation is entitled “Dating and Preserving Family Photographs”. You will learn tips and tricks for storing and caring for photographs to ensure their longevity. Kyla will answer your questions after the presentation. This is a FREE event. To register, please email your request to info@archiveslanark.ca and a link will be forwarded to you on the day of the meeting if you are attending via Zoom. If you are attending in person, the meeting will be held at Archives Lanark, 1920 Conc.7, Drummond Centre. Following the presentation, light refreshments will be available and Archives Lanark will be open for those wishing to peruse the archives.

MISSISSIPPI

Pearl Killingbeck

613-278-2127

Due to being hospitalized and institutionalized for several • weeks, I have not been able to submit any news. A lot of people have asked when I would be putting my column back in the paper so, with some help from my friends, we are putting together some news.

First, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and wish all • of you a Happy New Year. It is very late but I wasn’t able to send notes or cards or make phone calls. I want to say my heartfelt thanks to the many, many people – family and friends and new friends - who have helped me over the past few weeks – during my stay in hospital and also my time at the lovely Sharbot Lake Retirement Centre. Everyone was so very kind and helpful and there are so many of you that I can’t name the names and I don’t want to miss anyone, but you all know who you are and what you have done for me. My first week at home is a learning time – learning what • I can do and what I cannot do, and thank you, Rick, for doing my laundry and to Shawna for helping me get organized and everyone else who came in and lent a hand when it was needed (It would have been nice if you had left that hand here for me).

I want to send belated wishes to anyone who celebrated • birthdays (Ruth Jackson, Ellen Raeburn, Jim Riddell, Rick

Continued to page 9

Sharbot Lake Chiropractic & Wellness

Dr. Gian Kaillon Sharbot Lake 613.279.2100 www.sharbotlakechiropractic.ca

Muscle Knots (Myofascial trigger Points)

Muscle knots, also known as myofascial trigger points, are complex and have a variety of possible causes. There is a lot more research to be conducted on the matter, but the best available evidence suggests that muscle knots are the result of overuse such as heavy lifting or repetitive activities. Other causes may include psychological stress, poor ergonomics, bad posture, fatigue, dehydration, unhealthy eating habits, sleep disturbances and joint problems. Research has shown that muscle knots may affect up to 85% of the population. Muscle knots are typically found in your back, shoulders, and neck. They are stiff bands of muscle that have a hard knob in the centre, which is known as a trigger point. The pain can either pop up spontaneously (active) or when the trigger point is pressed (latent). However, in all cases, muscle knots cause pain to radiate beyond the trigger point into the surrounding muscles.

Muscle fibres are made to move – contract and relax – lengthen and shorten. However, when we sit at the computer all day, with very little movement in between, these muscle fibres begin to stick to each other, forming a knot. Bad posture also puts stress on our muscles, and with enough time, this stress can cause the formation of scar tissue.

Pain is the primary symptom of muscle knots. Since everyone experiences pain differently, your symptoms may vary from those of someone else. However, most people agree that muscle knots feel swollen, tense, or bumpy, and cause an aching sensation. Next week we will look at who is most at risk for muscle knots, how are they diagnosed, how they can be treated and how they can be prevented.

Be Inspired By YA Author Sarah Raughley

As a YA fantasy author and academic, Sarah Raughley brings a unique perspective to the writing process. Discover her motivations, creative process, and thoughts on the publishing industry, and learn more about her writing during an online author talk with the Kingston Frontenac Public Library.

Raughley is the author of both The Effigies trilogy and The Bones of Ruin se-

ries and an assistant professor of writing at Lakehead University, Orillia campus.

Her author talk is happening over Zoom on February 16, from 4-5 p.m.

"Sarah Raughley is an inspirational academic and a captivating author,” said Cheyenne Stewart, Librarian, Teen and New Adult Services. “KFPL will be providing the opportunity to meet with Raughley virtually, to hear her

NF Council Cont. from p3

Health Clinic.

donation accepted

Council accepted the donation of a pulpit (lectern) from the Fernleigh Community Hall to the Clar-Mill Community Hall in memory of former Coun./Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin who died late in 2022. Martin was raised in Fernleigh and educated at the Fernleigh School (presently the Community Hall).

“I’d just like to comment that this was initiated by the father of our CAO,” said Dep. Mayor John Inglis. “And where did I hear that we name the park beside ClarMill Hall after Gerry?”

“I think we have to be careful that we’re fair and considerate (in naming things),”

CF Council Cont. from p1 bilization costs when they have to move equipment and set up a new base of operations in another location (trailers, generators, parking, etc). That tends to be more expensive with microsurfacing equipment, which Myers estimated would be in the $20,000 range for each move.

There was some brief discussion of simply adding the Arden Road to this year’s budget but that would require a levy increase of 8.2 per cent).

Smith noted that they had already cut a number of capital projects to free up some money for more operational work such as brushing and ditching.

speak about her works and inspirations, and to be inspired in turn.”

Register for the event at https://calendar.kfpl.ca/ event/7970996 or by calling 613-549-8888. ■

said CAO Corey Klatt. “When Mayor Bud Clayton passed, we named a tree after him.”

Summer Event

Council will consider a request for $5,000 to hold a North Frontenac Summer Event.

“It would be money well spent,” said Dep. Mayor John Inglis. “It’s a first, onetime event, likely to be held at the ClarMill site and it will probably have a musical component.”

Meetings on Youtube

Coun. Roy Huetl gave notice of motion that he intends to propose that Council meetings be recorded and posted to YouTube.

“We do have the ability to record,” said Treasurer Kelly Watkins. ■

Other things such as moveable bleachers for the Parham Fairgrounds and a recreational needs study were moved to 2024.

Westport Road was left in the budget and is slated for reconstruction and double surface treatment (which is not repaving).

However, Smith was still concerned about Road 38 saying “If 38 goes, it could break this municipality.”

That’s when Kelsey first brought up Arden Road.

“There’s mega, mega roads we could spend money on but we don’t have that money,” said Smith.

The motion to revisit the microsurfacing of Road 38 passed by a 5-4 vote. ■

Kingston & Area Health Coalition Planning Public Campaign To Oppose Privatised Healthcare

By Jeff Green

There is nothing new in Ontario’s plan to approve more private clinics, to provide a prescribed set of services for Ontarians. There are already 900 privately owned surgical and diagnostic clinics in the province. On January 16, Doug Ford announced his government’s plan to start offloading more MRI and CT scans, cataract operations and knee and hip surgeries, in private clinics, within the next 18 months.

“These procedures will be non-urgent, low-risk, minimally invasive and, in addition to shortening wait times, will allow hospitals to focus their efforts and resources on more complex and high-risk surgeries,” the provincial government said in a news release.

Ross Sutherland, co-chair of the Kingston and Area Health Coalition, told the News in a phone interview that what the government suggests is a freeing up of hospitals to focus on complex cases, is merely a way to create profit for the private sector without addressing any of the real burdens on the healthcare system.

“Of the main, if not the main, issue in healthcare right now is the staffing crisis. The private clinics will draw from the same pool of nurses and other professionals as the public system, while taking on only the easiest, and most profitable, cases.

“A private clinic will do knee surgery for the healthiest, youngest patients. As soon as they are faced with someone who has a heart issue, or other signs of aging, they will send them to the public systems. And the hospitals will have less resources to deal with these, more needy and more expensive patients, because the private clinics are competing for the same labour pool,” he said. “This is what has happened elsewhere in the country, and the same thing will happen in Ontario.”

Sutherland said that in order to address the very real shortfalls in the health system in Ontario, the solution is not to create a separate system, and then try to make them both work together, but to try and make the public system more efficient.

In Kingston, he said that the way Hotel Dieu hospital and Kingston General hospital have been integrated into one Kingston hospital, with Hotel Dieu offering specific services, is a good example of how to make the public system more efficient and better suited to treat a variety of conditions. New publicly funded specialised clinics in other cities, such as London, have come on stream to improve service.

“Everything they do is integrated into the same healthcare system, however. Under the private system, patients will be treated as long as there is profit in treating them, and then offloaded to the public system. This will not help,” Sutherland said.

He also referred to “up-selling” using cataract clinics as an example. In some cases, private clinicians offer patients an alternative lens to the one funded by OHIP, at a price.

“It could be $400 more, or it could be $4,000 more, but whatever it is, the Ophthalmologist makes a profit on the sale, in addition to their pay from OHIP.”

The Kingston and Area Health Coalition (KHC) held an emergency town hall on December 1st to discuss the shortages that have impacted hospital care locally, and across the province.

At that meeting, some of the specific local issues were identified. The shortage of nurses was a major theme, with one presenter saying there is a shortage of 25,000 in Ontario currently.

The KHC is affiliated with the Ontario Healthcare

Coalition, a coalition of similar organisations across Ontario.

On January 31, the Ontario Health Coalition held an emergency virtual meeting, hosted by OHC Executive Director Natalie Mehra, to talk about strategies to address the latest move of the Ontario government towards privatisation.

“2,400 people registered for the Zoom meeting,” Sutherland said, “which could have been a problem because the limit on Zoom is 1,000. But we knew from experience that less than half of the people who register for a Zoom meeting end up attending, and we were close but still under 1,000 people in the end. But these are numbers that we have never seen before. Most people are not happy with the way the healthcare system is working, but they don’t see any particular benefit in privatising.”

The privatisation plan, according to Mehra, will be “devastating to all medium sized hospitals, small hospitals, rural hospitals, and even some of the community hospitals in our province. It would gut some of the services remaining in those hospitals. Those hospitals are already facing emergency room closures, ICU closures, maternal services closures, closures to the most urgent and vital services that they provide due to staffing shortages. The Ford government has done, essentially, nothing to address the problem.”

The meeting on the 31st is being followed up with a Kingston Health Coalition meeting on February 15 to “organise the fight back against the Ford government’s drive to privatise healthcare.”

One of the province-wide strategies that came out of the OHC meeting on the 31st was to organise a referendum, in May, to demonstrate public opposition to the government plan, which Mehra said is already be -

ing put in place, in advance of legislation to be tabled later this month.

The meeting on the 15th will be held over Zoom, and will be devoted to assigning roles and planning the local publicity campaign, and the referendum.

For further information, contact the KHC at Kingstonhealtcoalition@gmail.com.

To view the OHC meeting from January 31, go to the Ontario Health Coalition Youtube channel. A recording of the meeting is the first item that is listed. ■

613-777-8484 info@solacepest.ca www.solacepest.ca

Ross Sutherland, co-chair of the Kingston and Area Health Coalition and Natlaie Mehra, Executive Director of the Ontario Helath Coalition.

Frontenac County Budget Increase A Nudge Under 9%

By Jeff Green

In advance of the presentation of business plans by each of the Frontenac County departments, the preliminary budget numbers will result in an 8.95% increase in the county levy, if the budget is accepted by Frontenac County Council later this month.

The budget document that will be debated by Council this month, includes a “status quo” increase of 7.37%, which is about .4% over the target that Treasurer Alex Lemieux has identified, based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI) of August 2022, which came in at 6.9%.

The target increase for Frontenac County budgeting was set several years ago, based on the August CPI index each year, because in a normal year the county budget is prepared in September and October, for approval in November, prior to the commencement of the new budget year.

Every four years, when a new council is elected, the budget process is delayed several months in order to allow the new council to debate and approve the budget in their first year in office. The CPI did not change between August and October of 2022, so delaying the calculation would not have changed the target.

Staying with the CPI target proved to be a challenge for the treasurer, however.

As reported in the budget document, salaries and benefits for union and nonunion staff, increased by 9.57% in 2022. This includes a doubling in WSIB expenses, healthcare benefit increases of 17.7% and CPP increases of over 7%.

The three bargaining units representing paramedic and long term-care staff have all been without contracts for at least two years, with two sets of negotiations now in mediation, so the impact of

those negotiations on budgets in future years is not known.

Lemieux pointed out that cost of living increases for non-union staff remain budgeted at 2%.

The 7.37% increase includes a $32,000 phase-in of funding for rural transportation, which is split between transportation programs offered by Rural Frontenac Community Services and South Frontenac Community Services. It also includes a $41,500 annual payment to service a 20 year debenture, to fund the purchase of land for the K&P trail.

A number of previously approved capital projects will have an impact on the 2023 budget or will be funded through allocations from reserve funds.

With all of these previous spending commitments included, the budget increase amounts to 8%.

That leaves a narrow set of project proposals for Council to debate, at a total cost to Frontenac County ratepayers of $107,000, a 0.94% impact on the budget increase.

Among these projects is a $74,000 (0.65%) dedicated levy to fund future growth in the cost of paramedic services.

The Frontenac County share of the cost for two other major project proposals for paramedic services, 2 new 12-hour crews and a new ambulance, close to $200,000, is being funded for 2023 out of the Paramedic Operations Reserve fund.

The only other increase that impacts the 2023 budget is a new 5 hour per day shift at Fairmount Home for a dietician, at a cost to county ratepayers of $24,117 (0.21%).

The budget document includes a breakdown of the various county reserve funds, some of which have been tapped in 2023, in order to mitigate against further budget increases.

The Operating Reserve fund will sit at $6.4 million if the budget is approved as is, which meets the target value for the

fund. The Capital Asset Reserve Fund is set to drop $1.7million to $8.23 million, and it is classed as “underfunded” given the value of county fixed assets. The rest of the reserve funds are at the current targets, with the exception of one of the stabilisation reserves, which has dropped to about 2/3 of its target level.

The Business Plan presentations are

available on the Frontenac County Youtube Channel, under February 8th.

Frontenac County meets on February 15 for their regular monthly meeting.

The Frontenac County levy is combined with the local township levy, and the levy for education, to create the property tax bill that Frontenac County ratepayers receive. ■

The Secret Marathon 3K Run/ Walk Kingston Frontenac

We want to let you in on a secret.

On Wednesday, March 8, International Women’s Day, thousands of people across Canada and around the world will lace up their running shoes to show their support for everyone’s right to run free. Inspired by the award-winning documentary film, The Secret Marathon, which tells the story of the first women in Afghanistan to run a marathon, participants will take part in The Secret 3K for the 6th annual run/ walk event to celebrate gender equality and safe and inclusive spaces.

Film Co-Director and Producer Kate McKenzie shares “While filming a documentary in Afghanistan, I was inspired by such brave women and girls who fought for equality and at times, risked their lives for the freedom to run outdoors. When I returned to Canada, I was struck by the stories of so many women who told me they didn’t feel safe to walk or run at night right here in Canada. The Secret 3K was launched to reclaim safe public spaces and champion gender equality here at home.”

Why the secret? The route, date and starting locations of the original run, the 2015 Marathon of Afghanistan, had to be

kept a secret to guarantee the safety of all the participants, including the runners, organizers, and supporters. Our Race Directors keep the route for the 3K a secret to help remind us that there are people everyday who face great risks doing something as simple as running or walking.

This year, the Secret 3K will be live in several cities across Canada, including Kingston. However, runners can also participate virtually!

The Secret 3K is partnered with the Running Room and raises money for various charities; Afghan Sports Trust, 261 Fearless and Women for Women in Afghanistan. “The Secret 3K has always had both a local and global focus,” said Tarra Williamson, the National Co-Director, “So having provinces across Canada participate for one global message of removing barriers for women through sport has been incredibly inspiring.”

This year Chris Wyman, the Kingston Town Crier, will be kicking off the event that starts at the Running Room on Princess Street. People can register online for only $15 to join the event!

Registration for the race and more information at https://www.secret3k.com/

patricia

ReadeR Supported News

We are committed to delivering community news free of charge, each week through Canada Post. In this way, we ensure 12,500 households receive a copy of the Frontenac News each week.

We do not have a paywall on either of our two websites, Frontenacnews.ca (which we load with the stories from the paper and update throughout the week as well) and Frontenac-live.ca (where comprehensive event listings and a complete business directory are located). We remain committed to providing information for free thanks to the revenue generated by our advertisers.

However, mailing and websites incur costs. Therefore we are asking for support from those of our readers who can afford it. Delivery of The Frontenac News each week costs $30.00 per year to each home, if a small portion of our readers are able to pay $30, $50 or $100, it would be a big help to us.

We have enlisted online help for this by registering with Patreon.com, which is a service that was set up for makers of cultural products based on small, monthly payments (USD), or we can accept payment at our office by credit card, Interac, email payments, cheque or cash.

For your support, we are offering a thank you in the form of a free 20 word classified ad for any contribution over $12

To become a patron contact

The Frontenac News, PO Box 229, 1095 Garrett St. Sharbot Lake ON K0H 2P0 613-279-3150

info@frontenacnews.ca

www.frontenacnews.ca

Tay Valley Seeking To Promote Co-Housing, But Septic Issues Needs To Be Addressed

Last week, Noelle Reeve, the planner with Tay Valley Township, travelled to Toronto to appear on TVO’s Agenda, with Steve Paikin.

She was appearing as part of a twoperson panel with the General Manager of Health and Emergency Services from Simcoe County (population 500,000) to talk about “How to Age Well in Rural Ontario”.

As Reeve explained to Paikin, there are different kinds of rural in Ontario.

“Tay Valley is roughly the same size as the City of Toronto, but with a population of about 5,500.”

The population in Tay Valley is simi-

lar to that of many rural Eastern Ontario Municipalities, and is also older than the Ontario average. The focus of Reeve’s appearance on the Agenda was to highlight efforts in Tay Valley to provide the kind of housing that will support seniors wanting to remain at home, in Tay Valley, as they age.

The township developed its “Age Friendly Community Plan” in 2017, which was based in part on a survey of residents that the township undertook, with a supporting grant from the Seniors Secretariat. The survey showed that housing, transportation, and social inclusion were top priorities.

T HE C LASSIFIEDS

N EW A ND uSED A PPLIANCES

uSeD ReFRigeRaTORS

Stoves, washers, dryers, freezers, dishwashers. 3 months old and up. Sold with written guarantees. Fridges $100 and up.

At

neW ApplIAnCeS

APPLIANCES

aPPliaNCE rEPair, 15 years experience. Call Mark, Verona Hardware, 6723 Main St., Verona. Ph. 613-374-2851

AuTOMOTIVE

Kaladar auto rECYCliNG. Car & truck parts. Used cars, $600 & up. We take tradeins. We buy farm equipment, tractors, loaders for parts. 11520 Hwy 41; 613-336-9899; 613885-8644

KiNNEY auto WrECKiNG Station Road, Kaladar. 4x4 trucks & parts for sale. Scrap cars, stoves, fridges wanted. 613-336-9272.

FOr rENT

1 BEdrooM aPt with living room, ground floor, in 4-plex. Kaladar, available. $750 plus hydro, 1st, last and references required. 416554-9746

TOWNSHIP OF C ENT r AL Fr ONTENAC

Notice of Special Council Meeting

take Notice that the Council of The Corporation of the Township of Central Frontenac will be conducting a Special Meeting of Council on February 22, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. for the purpose of reviewing the proposed Fire Master Plan, and to receive presentations regarding the Risk Assessment and Firefighter Certification.

The agenda for the meeting will be posted by February 17, 2023, on the Township website at centralfrontenac.com. This meeting will be held in person at the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall 1107 Garrett St. Sharbot Lake ON. The meeting will also be livestreamed via our YouTube channel.

dated at the township of Central Frontenac this 3rd day of February 2023.

Cindy Deachman, Deputy Clerk

Township of Central Frontenac

1084 Elizabeth Street, P.O. Box 89

Sharbot Lake, ON K0H 2P0

613-279-2935 x 237

cdeachman@centralfrontenac.com

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CENtral BoilEr outdoor FurNaCES offer the Classic, the Maxim and the New Edge. Your local Dealer, Wood Heat Solutions, Frankford, ON, 613-398-1611; Bancroft, ON 613-332-1613. www.chesher.ca

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HELP WANTED

HouSEKEEPiNG - cottage Sharbot Lake. Spring cleaning, plus routine summer cleaning if available. 613-692-2054 email dkdods@ gmail.com

HuNTING

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By Jeff Green

The pattern of development that is facilitated by zoning bylaws throughout rural Ontario, in line with the Provincial Policy statement, is to develop a single house on each rural lot, with its own well and septic system.

In order to address the housing and social inclusion needs of seniors, Tay Valley is looking to make changes to its zoning bylaw to permit co-housing developments.

As Noelle Reeve explained to Steve Paikin on the Agenda, there are a few models of co-housing developments that could address the needs of rural seniors.

One that was illustrated was a series of small buildings set up around a communal garden, patio and green space, with one larger building in the middle.

Each building is a small housing unit, with a bedroom, bathroom and living room, and the larger building houses a kitchen and living space to be shared by 8 or 10 co-housed seniors.

“We are looking at changes we need to make to our zoning bylaw to permit this kind of development, or other ways of sharing a single lot for a co-housing arrangement, but we also need to address the rules around water and septic,” Reeve said to Paikin.

She said that, if a developer wanted to build a co-housing project like the one she talked about, the municipality requires a surety from the developer to deal with the possibility that the system may eventually fail. And, that the responsibility to replace it may very well fall to the local township, if the developer who initially installed it has gone out of business.

“For a developer to invest in a water system, and then be told they need to, essentially, pay for it again, can be a dealbreaker for them,” she said.

“Our neighbours in Frontenac County have been working for 5 years on a communal servicing plan to cover off that risk to the township and make it easier to develop co-housing projects, perhaps even setting up a public utility to run the systems.”

Tay Valley Township received a grant from the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility to identify the changes they need to make to their Zoning By-Law to allow for co-housing development. The grant will also help the township to examine ways to better communicate with seniors and to make its facilities, trails and events more inclusive of seniors.

In a media release following the airing of the TVO program, Tay Valley Head of Council, Rob Rainer, also referenced the Frontenac County initiative.

“We are working with Frontenac County and the province to make servicing cohousing with communal septic systems more easily achieved,” he said.

And last week, South Frontenac Township Chief Administrative Officer Louise Fragnito represented Frontenac County at a pre-budget session with provincial ministry officials in Napanee. She pressed for provincial support to further Frontenac County’s Communal Servicing initiative.

Frontenac County is seeking provincial funding to help set up an arms length municipal corporation to handle surety and maintenance needs for communal water and sewer systems.

Frontenac County Council has already approved a plan to set up the corporation, which at is slated to be funded by the local Frontenac Municipalities on a voluntary basis.

To date, three of the four Frontenac municipalities are committed to providing the seed money, up to $500,000. North Frontenac is the only outlier, but their decision to decline was made in a close vote under the former council, and is subject to change as there are now 3 new members on the 7-member council.

The townships who opt in are committed to paying on the basis of weighted assessment, which would result in South Frontenac paying about 65%, Central Frontenac 25%, and Frontenac Islands 10%, assuming North Frontenac does not change its stance.

“The ask from the province is as much for them to signal their support for what we are doing as it is about the money,” said South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal. “We made a presentation to the minister of housing and other provincial officials at the annual AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) last August and all the people in the room said how great this project is and how it fit their plans, etc., and I guess we would like to see if they really mean it.”

The provincial budget will be tabled sometime this spring ■

Photocopy, Lamination & Fax Booklets, Brochures, Business Cards, Flyers, Forms the frontenac News, 1095 Garrett st. (rear Bldg) sharbot Lake oN T 613-279-3150 F 613-279-3172 info@frontenacnews.ca

HaNdYMaN SErViCE 40 years experience. Repairs, home construction/ renovation including window installation, tile, siding, plumbing etc. No job too small. Call Lloyd Hartwick 613 -539-2544.

and Alex Killingbeck, etc. etc.) or anniversaries in December and January (Bob and Elaine DeLisle, Ruth and Morley Wark). Also belated sympathy to the many people who lost loved ones.

rENoVatioNS, Framing, Drywall, painting, laminate & vinyl flooring, brush and tree removal, and more. Contact Todd Gursby for estimates, 613-278-1300

TOWING

B’S radiCal ridES Towing & Recovery. James Mills owner/operator. 613-335-5050; website: bsradicalrides.ca

WANTED TO buy

.410 GauGE SHotGuN SHEllS, Older 12 gauge shotgun shells. Please call Mike at 613483-4887

We seem to be getting all the cold weather • at once this week. The only ones happy are the snowmobilers, but it sounds like warm weather is coming back again so enjoy the trails while you can. The Snow Road Snowmobile Club is holding their great breakfasts again and they served 107 on Saturday February 4th. A good number of sledders braved the cold and stopped in to eat. The next breakfast will be on February 18th so mark

Online Auction

Wed., February 8, 6:00pm Soft Close tues, Feb 14, 5pm Pick Up Thurs., February 16th, 10am-7pm 2245B Tennyson RD, Perth, ON K7H 3C8 Tack Store Liquidation, Livestock Supplies, Gates, Stall Mats, Camping Items, Quality Tools and Much More!!

See www.theauctionhunt.com for updates.

Jim Beere, auctioneer 613-326-1722

Call to Book Your auction today!

your calendars.

Things are happening at the Community • Centre. You can get more information on their Facebook page or the new website at www. snowroadcommunitycentre.com. Check it out for a list of events happening each month. Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 23rd at 730pm when Bill White will be returning to Snow Road with White Brothers Country Band. Tickets are $15. Call Mike at 613-278-1853. Another new event is the Musician's Circle held the last Tuesday of each month. If you play music and would like to jam with fellow musicians call Mike at 613278-1853 for more information.

OMPAH

linda rush lindarush@yahoo.com

613-479-2570

Marily Seitz seitz@xplornet.ca

613-479-2855

The next Birthday Bash Community Pot • Luck will be held on Wed., Feb. 15 at 6pm. As it's close to Valentine's Day, why not wear red?! Bring a pot luck dish to share and a toonie for hall rental. The Bash is always a wonderful opportunity to chat with friends, meet new neighbours and get caught up on the news in the village. Everyone is welcome.

Rural Frontenac Community Services will • present the Community Cafe at 11 on Wed, Feb. 22. The North Frontenac Fire Chief, Eric Korhonen, will speak on winter safety followed by a light lunch. All are welcome.

Columns Cont from p5

we listened! gift Cards are now available at inverary Pharmasave!

lnveraryPharmasave, 1B-3810 Perth Rd, lnverary • 613-653-6337

NORTHERN HAPPENINGS

NORTHERN HAPPENINGS listings are free for community groups, and will be published for two weeks. Donations to offset the costs of publication would be appreciated. Other listings are paid or are taken from paid ads elsewhere in the paper. The News makes every effort to be accurate but events should be independently verified by readers.

Friday February 10

SHarBot laKE - SHarBot laKE lEGioN

SuPPEr 3pm. Sharbot Lake Legion. Meatloaf.

Supper at 5:30pm

Saturday February 11

dENBiGH - ValENtiNE’S CraFt & StorY 10-11am. Denbigh Library. Please call to register 613-333-1426

VEroNa - StYlE rEViVal 10am-1pm. Verona Free Methodist Church. Free gently used clothing and footwear for all ages.

SYdENHaM - EuCHrE NiGHt 6pm. Sydenham Legion. In support of SHS Alumni.

$20/player. Light snacks served, cash prizes & small donations up for grabs! Info contact Jeremy Snider jer.snider@gmail.com

SHarBot laKE - turPiN’S trail & JESS

WEddEN LIVE 8pm. Sharbot Lake Country Inn. Book tickets on line. Info thecrossingpub@ gmail.com or call 613-279-2198.

Sunday February 12

HarroWSMitH - old tYME FiddlErS & oPEN MiKE 1-5pm. Harrowsmith Social & Athletic Club. $12, followed by dinner, bring dessert to share. Info 613-372-2410

BattErSEa - doG aNd CraNBErrY laKE WiNtErFESt 2-5pm. Gilmour Point Beach. Games, a bonfire, snacks and more. If weather permits, there will also be snowshoeing and cross country skiing. (bring your own equipment). Afterwards we’ll gather for dinner at The Creekside. Info-dogandcranberrylake@ gmail.com

SYDENHAM - SUPER BOWL SUNDAY 4pm. Sydenham Legion. Free event. Chili and a Bun $5. Licensed. Info 613-376-6806 or FB

Monday February 13

dENBiGH - dENBiGH rECrEatioN

CoMMittEE MEEtiNG 7pm. Denbigh Community Hall.

Tuesday February 14

dENBiGH - ValENtiNE’S daY BiNGo 6:30pm. Denbigh/Griffith Lions Club.

Wednesday February 15

dENBiGH - Food aNd FElloWSHiP 123pm. Denbigh/Griffith Lions Club.

oMPaH - BirtHdaY BaSH Pot luCK

DINNER 6pm. Ompah Hall. Wear red since its close to Valentine’s Day! Bring a pot luck dish to share and $2 for hall retal. All welcome.

Friday February 17

SHarBot laKE - SHarBot laKE lEGioN

SUPPER 3pm. Sharbot Lake Legion. Pork Chops. Supper at 5:30 pm.

SoutH FroNtENaC - FroNtENaC

HEritaGE FEStiVal Fri Feb 17 6:30-

Monday Feb 20 3pm. Various Locations. Multiple activities including storytime, crokicurl demonstrations, winter fun activities, 3 on 3 hockey tournament & more. See FB for details.

Saturday February 18

ardEN - 11tH aNNual WiNtEr FuN daY

Kennebec Recreation Park. See posters or the Lakes’ Facebook page, for all of the details.

“bad weather day” Monday February 20

SHarBot laKE - CoMMuNitY BrEaKFaSt

7-10:30am. St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. $10

SNoW road - SNoW road SNoWMoBilE

CluB BrEaKFaSt 8-11am. Snow Road Snowmobile Clubhouse. Everybody welcome. MISSISSIPPI STATION - WINTERLAND

10am-4pm. Back Forty Artisan Cheese. A

day of outdoor fun at the farm with great food, drink and winter activities. Details www. artisancheese.ca

SHarBot laKE - FaMilY FuN daY 10am2pm. The Child Centre. Snow Shoeing, Sensory Play, and Winter activities. Free to play and chili and bun lunch with donation.

VEroNa - StYlE rEViVal 10am. Verona

Free Methodist Church. Free gently used clothing and footwear for all ages.

HarloWE - HarloWE old tiME

FiddlErS 1-5pm. Harlowe Hall. Admission $5, entertainers $2. Snacks & food for purchase. All welcome,

Sunday February 19

HarroWSMitH - taKE-out turKEY

diNNEr Harrowsmith Golden Links Hall. $20. Info 613-372-2410

Monday February 20

GodFrEY - FaMilY daY iN SoutH

FroNtENaC 11am-3pm. Frontenac Community Arena. Snowtubing, snow activities, free skating & more! Volunteers needed. Info recsupport@southfrontenac.net.

Tuesday February 21

FliNtoN - FliNtoN diNErS 11am-1:30pm. Flinton Hall. Ham Casserole, Salad, Roll, Dessert. $10 RSVP Katie 613-336-8934 x 229

FliNtoN - PaNCaKE diNNEr 4-8pm. Flinton Recreation Centre. Advance tickets- $6, at the door $8. Contact Maude 905-449-2160 for tickets or visit Finnegan’s General Store. BattErSEa - SHroVE tuESdaY PaNCaKE

diNNEr 5pm. Battersea United Church. Meal $10 includes pancakes, sausages, fruit salad, tea & coffee. Free parking, everyone welcome!

SHarBot laKE - PaNCaKE SuPPEr

5-6:30pm. St. James Major Church. Proceeds to the food bank. $7 per person, $20 per family.

Wednesday February 22

oMPaH - CoMMuNitY CaFÉ 11am. Ompah Hall. Fire Chief Eric Korhonen regarding fire

Master Gardeners: Architectural Plants

by Helen Halpenny

(Member of Lanark County Master Gardeners)

Now is a great time to think about your property, which changes can you do this coming season, to enhance it?

Just as an architect use geometric forms to build a house, such as triangles for roofs and dormers, rectangles for windows, columns for porches, etc. to make a box-like building look interesting, we as gardeners use various shapes to add interest to our yards. How boring to have a house sitting on a lot with no walkways, fences, and no plants.

Permanent structures like decks, pergolas, fences, walkways, etc. are called hardscaping, and they organize our yards to make them functional and attractive.

Plants including trees shrubs, perennials annuals and bulbs enhance the basic structure of a house Plants come in many shapes, sizes and colours. When we think of trees, we see conical shaped trees like cedars and spruce, oval forms like maples, round forms such as crabapple, weeping willows, and columnal forms as in skyrocket ju-

Law Office in Sharbot Lake

niper. The shapes of trees and shrubs provide the bones of a garden and provide architectural elements. Look to shrubs for vase-shaped, mounding and round forms. All these shapes add variety and interest to the landscape. Repetition of forms add unity to the overall design.

Perennials and annuals also have an important role to play in enhancing our yards. As well as form, they provide colour and texture. The tall stocks of hollyhocks, delphinium, and ornamental grasses add height. The spiky leaves of yucca grow to make a round shape. Bushy weigelas or ninebarks can hide unsightly objects like compost piles. Climbing plants like morning glories, and Dutchman’s pipe will twine around poles and soften vertical elements as well as providing shade. Plants such as these and many others can be called architectural plants.

Even some of our edible vegetables can add great colour and interest. Flower beds need not be just for flowers. Artichoke and cardoon with their thistle like leaves and globular heads are show stoppers, and when they bloom their purple flowers are amazing. The pendulous seeds and leaves of love-lies-bleeding are edible. So too, are the colourful stocks of ‘bright lights’ Swiss chard. Kale cultivars like ‘Redbor’ or ‘Tuscany’ add great texture and taste. Of course they have many nutrients too. Indeterminate tomatoes can be attractively trellised and fit right in amongst annuals, adding colour and snacks.

No garden is too small to include interesting plants that have a variety of shapes, sizes and texture. Don’t be afraid to mix it up and try something new this year. ■

safety. Soup and social to follow. Info Juana 613-279-3151 ext 106 or e-mail juanag@rfcs. ca

Thursday February 23

SHARBOT LAKE - ADVANCE CARE

PLANNING WORKSHOP 1:30-3:30pm. Sharbot Lake Family Health Team. Learn who is your legal Substitute Decision make and how to have difficult conversations. Register Katie. buckley@sfcsc.ca or 613-376-6477 x 205.

Regular Happenings

ardEN - BiBlE StudY Wednesdays. Arden United Church.

ardEN - CoFFEE Hour 10am Thursdays. Arden United Church.

BiNGo — ARDEN 6pm Thursdays. Arden

Legion. ◾ NORTHBROOK 7pm Thursdays. Northbrook Lions Hall. Cards available at 6pm. Bingo starts at 7pm ◾ SHARBOT LAKE 5:30pm Fridays. Soldiers Memorial Hall (OSO Hall). Presented by Parham IOOF. First game at 6:45

BoliNGBroKE - MaHJoNG 12-3pm

Thursdays. ABC Hall. All welcome, $5 per person. No partner or experience needed ! CoFFEE & CoNVErSatioN — ardEN 10am Thursdays. Arden United Church. All are welcome. ◾ SNOW ROAD 10am Fridays. Snow Road Community Centre. All welcome, get to know your neighbours. PErtH road - Four HaNdEd EuCHrE 1pm Thursdays. Harris Park. $5, includes light refreshments

PErtH road - PErtH road VillaGE CraFtErS 9:30-11:30am Wednesdays. Harris Park. You don’t have to be crafty to join! Drop-in or call Peggy for info 613-353-2635. PlEVNa - SoCial aNd CraFt tiME 10am Thursdays. Clar-Mill Hall. Bring your lunch, coffee and tea available. Info Carlie Rainville at 613-479-8023 or drop in. Hope to see you there!

Back Forty Artisan Cheese’s Winterland

Saturday February 18

Looking to break the February Blues?

Visit the cheese shop and explore the Back Forty on Saturday February 18th and celebrate the Family Day weekend from 10am-4pm. Enjoy the outdoors with some great food, drink, and fun filled winter activities.

With multiple toboggan runs and over 5 kms of groomed trails meandering through the farm’s forests and fields, Winterland provides a great opportunity to get some exercise, enjoy nature, and reward yourself with delicious food and beverages fireside, hot from the outdoor wood oven / grill.

“Although the farm is beautiful year round, the winter is our favorite time to explore the trails. The Mississippi River is typically open with resident trumpeter swans and black creek flows through the

bush with multiple waterfalls to listen to and enjoy” says owner and cheese maker Jeff Fenwick.

In addition to the self-guided snowshoe trails, Back Forty has teamed up with Kick and Push Brewery to host the inaugural “River to Sky 5k” snowshoe race. If you’re looking to challenge yourself or explore a new sport, this exciting snowshoe race will provide a great opportunity to have some fun and test your fitness. After the race participants can enjoy a Kick and Push craft beer and some delicious food fireside.

This event is easily accessible by snowmobile, located 1km from the K&P trail in Mississippi Station. To pre-register for the race and for more Winterland details visit www.artisancheese.ca. ■

TOWNSHIP OF SO u TH F r ONTENAC

New S & Publ I c N OTI ce S

Rural Transit Survey

The City of Kingston, in partnership with the Township of South Frontenac, Town of Gananoque, and Loyalist Township is undertaking a Rural Commuter Transit Study to examine possible public transit solutions for area residents, workers, students, and visitors. To help with the study, we are asking all South Frontenac residents to take a short survey by February 15, 2023, whether you would use any kind of transit service or not. Look for the survey link on the news post on our website or scan the QR code below to take the survey.

Apply for a 2023 Community Grant

Applications for the Community Project Grant Program are now being accepted. Not for profit community organizations including charitable organizations and unincorporated groups who meet the project guidelines can apply until March 31, 2023. For more information see www.southfrontenac.net/grants/.

Budget Survey Results

Thanks to everyone who took our budget survey. 589 people took the survey. 77.9% preferred a reasonable increase to property taxes to maintain or enhance services. You can find a summary of the results on our public engagement site, engagefrontenac.ca/2023-south-frontenac-budget.

Roads Study

In 2022, the Township hired WSP/Golder, an engineering firm to do a comprehensive roads needs study. The study assessed the state of the municipal-owned roads in the Township. Overall, the Township’s network average ratings for hard surfaced roads were “Good” due to our ongoing pavement preservation and maintenance programs, and “Fair” for gravel roads. You can find a summary of the key findings, an A-Z list of roads and their conditions and the full report at engagefrontenac.ca/roads-study. The study provides accurate data to help Council make informed decisions when deciding which roads to prioritize for road work in the short-term and long-term.

TOwN HAll

Family Day in South Frontenac

THINGS TO DO

Join us at the Frontenac Community Arena on Monday, February 20 from 11 am – 3 pm for our Family Day in South Frontenac community event. There will be snowtubing and other snow activities, free skating and more. Volunteers needed. For more information email recsupport@southfrontenac.net.

Storrington Centre Reopening Celebration

Members of the public are invited to join us for the reopening of the newly renovated Storrington Centre, 3910 Battersea Road on Thursday, February 23 at 12 noon. Light refreshments will be served.

Community Recreation & Leisure Services Fair

South Frontenac service clubs, sport leagues, teams, and community associations are invited to participate in the upcoming Community Recreation & Leisure Services Fair on March 25 at the Storrington Centre in Sunbury. The fair is free and will be from 10 am – 2 pm. Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP by March 1. For more information and to save your spot, email recsupport@southfrontenac.net or call 613-453-6846.

2023 Swim & Day Camp Registration

Our Swim & Camp program is a place where children and youth belong, grow, thrive, and lead. Children ages 4 - 12 are welcome to join our enthusiastic, energetic, caring staff members in a safe environment that encourages children to realize their potential and follow their dreams. Our camps are hosted at The Point in Sydenham and Gilmour’s Point in Battersea in July and August. Registration will be open online on March 20, 2023. See our website for more information.

lIVING HeRe

Job Opportunities

• Summer Students: Are you a student looking for a summer job that is rewarding and local in your community? We’re hiring for a number of positions. Closing date is February 17

• Operations Technologist: Competition #23-06-PS. Closing date is February 20

• Facilities Technologist: Competition #23-06-PS. Closing date is February 20

For details on all current open positions including salary and job descriptions, see www.southfrontenac.net/careers/.

Planning Applications & Public Meetings

Council and the Committee of Adjustment hold regular public meetings to review planning applications and to invite public input. Please see our website under Open for Business/Current Planning Applications for a list of applications that are scheduled for a public meeting or in the public review period.

Upcoming Meetings

Here is a list of upcoming Council and Committee of the Whole meetings:

• February 14, 2023 – Committee of the Whole – 7 pm

• February 16, 2023 – Committee of the Whole

• February 21, 2023

How to Participate

9 am

Council

7 pm

Public meetings take place on Zoom (computer and telephone) and are streamed live on our Facebook page @SouthFrontenacTwp. Go to the Events Calendar on our website for the link to register. If you want to attend the meeting in person, please email jthompson@southfrontenac.net before noon on the day of the meeting to confirm if space is available.

Rural Transit Survey

2023 Dog Tags

2023 Dog Tags are now available for purchase. Buy yours before February 28, 2023 and pay just $15 per tag. After that date, the fee increases to $30. You can find the form and a list of local retailers selling dog tags until the end of February on our website under Living Here/Animal Control. Kennel Licenses cost $125 until February 28 increasing to $150 for the rest of the year and must be purchased at our office at 4432 George Street.

Garbage Bag Tags

If you are running low on garbage bag tags, you can buy extra tags for $2 each at several local retailers or our municipal office. See the list of retailers on the Solid Waste section of our website. We’ll include a new supply for 2023 in the March tax mailing. Please remember to tag your bags and have them to the curb by 7 am.

Household Hazardous Waste Depot

The Household Hazardous Waste Depot located at 2491 Keeley Rd in Sydenham is open the second and fourth Thursdays during the winter months between 3-7 pm (next dates are Feb 9 and 23).

Winter Road Restrictions in Effect December 1

Just a reminder, there is no parking on Township roads and village streets from 12 midnight to 7 am until March 31, 2023. Sand and salt mix available

Residents can pick up sand/salt mix any time of the day, 24/7 from our public works yards. We ask residents to be mindful and just take two 5-gallon buckets at a time.

Getting to Know Tichborne

R

ecently, I received a lovely text message with a few photos of an abandoned bus on the K&P Trail. Many of us that travel the trail, rarely take the time to investigate why or how these relics come to be. The bus has seen better days and sits tucked away neatly amongst the birch and pine. Snow covers the roof and has blown through the gaping doors. Windows are gone and rust has begun to eat its way through the metal, bleeding down the white trim as corrosion gnaws away at the teal blue folding doors.it was set on 40 acres that abuts the trail. Cheryl McEwen, the granddaughter still has some tales to tell about the bus and her childhood memories of avoiding ‘bees’ as they played amongst the battered metal shelter. The bus itself, had been purchased in the 70s (as his granddaughter recounts), and it was moved up from Kingston and used as storage for various bits and pieces Stewart had acquired. Since the 70s, the bus has remained a silent reminder of the family store that ran from 1951-1973 and was a favourite place to stop in for an ice cream cone, burger, and fries. The lunch counter was lined with stools that stood like steel soldiers waiting for their next customer. Some memories are coloured by the stool tops in a brilliant red, beacons that drew customers in for a cool drink and a bit of social interaction. Also, there were gas pumps outside, and indoors offered residents a quick stop for any necessary groceries or sundries that were regularly needed. In the 50’s it was one of 4 stores located in Tichborne, a far cry from today, where there are none.

Stewart & Myrtle McEwen

When we dig a bit deeper, we discover that Stewart R. McEwen and his wife Myrtle were the owners of the store SR and

Mary, a local historian, and former resident, giggles, as she recounts the tale of bringing her lunch into the counter to spend time with the McEwen’s, as she nibbled on her sandwich, legs dangling over the cool countertop. Her mother used to send her up for a scoop of ice cream, and she would lug a large bowl to get her two scoops for .05 cents, a real bargain! The

McEwen’s lived over the store and were a large part of the Tichborne community. The store showed some expansion in the early 70s as a Marina was opened (beside the store) to accommodate local boaters and Stewart, and his son David, were running it for a period a period of time. After Stewart (1984) and Myrtle (1983) passed away, David sold the remaining property. There are still stories that come and go about other people owning the store, a name change to the Lakeland Community Store and it’s final closure was in 2002 when it was demolished. Other stories are about a leak of gasoline in the area, that then caused several homes to be torn down as the water quality was not potable. I love when we delve into some of the historic buildings, stories, and tales as it builds a foundation of knowledge for those within the community. If you have a story to tell, please reach out with details, and send us a photo, so we can share it with the rest of the county.

History will continue through past stories shared. ■

HERITAGE AC

Sharbot Lake Rink CROKICURL - demonstrations 11:00am-3:00pm ARDEN HERITAGE DAY w/ THE MATSONS

FE

Now derelict, this bus once used for storage has long been laid open to the elements

Above: The early days of McEwens store. Below: the store in mid 1980s.