The Scoop // August / September 2015

SCOOP The

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

thescoop.ca

celebrates rural life

Lamb RustlersBuggy Strike Again Bob Burgess’ Shop

Geocaching in L&A

Napanee River

Highland Cattle

Dry Stone Festival

Here’s The Scoop SCOOP The

By Alyce Gorter

Celebrates rural life Founded in 2005 by Richard Saxe

PuBLISHER & AD SALES Karen Nordrum stonemills.scoop@gmail.com

GuEST EDITOR Alyce Gorter alyce@gorter.ca

CONTRIBuTORS Jordan Balson, Terry Berry, Joanne Borges, Sally Bowen, Lillian Bufton, Cloyne Pioneer Museum & Archives, Catherine Coles, Mary Jo Field, goldenboughmedia, Glen R. Goodhand, Alyce Gorter, Louise Hoag, Susan Howlett, Lena Koch, Bob Leggett, Blair McDonald, Gray Merriam, Judy Miller, Susan Moore, Mark Oliver, Herb Pilles, Rob Plumley, Terry Sprague, Alison Vendervelde

HOW TO CONTACT uS 613.379.5369 stonemills.scoop@gmail.com thescoop.ca facebook.com/thescoop.ca Please write to us at: Stone Mills Scoop 482 Adair Road Tamworth, ON K0K 3G0 THE SCOOP is published six times a year. We mail The Scoop for free to more than 6600 households in the communities of Tamworth, Centreville, Enterprise, Erinsville, Camden East, Newburgh, Colebrook, Yarker, Verona, Hartington, Sydenham, Roblin, Selby, Parham, Kaladar, Stella, Godfrey, & Marlbank. We also arrange with local retailers to display 1000 additional issues of The Scoop in Napanee, Cloyne, Flinton, Kaladar, & many other locations.

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S

ummer is here. So are poison ivy, poison sumac, hogweed, wild parsnip, heat rash, insect bites, and general laziness. Although I think that last item is gently referred to as “malaise”—it doesn’t carry the same stigma. In fact, “malaise” is clearly defined as “a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or uneasiness whose exact cause is difficult to identify.” A medical (sort of) complaint that enables me to do nothing—preferably under a shade tree—without having any verifiable reason for shirking my work? Yes, I certainly, um, “suffer” from that. But I also have a more serious problem.

In other words, I start out on an innocent activity, and before I know what’s happening, I’m involved in a full-blown, can’t-get-home-from-here adventure. As a matter of fact, this disorder (?) has impacted my life so often that I have taken a strong stand on the definition of “adventure”.

An adventure isn’t something you plan for. Period. A true adventure is what happens to you when you have totally prepared for something quite different. Here’s an example: that trip you took to Antarctica does not qualify as an adventure. Unless, of course, you thought the ship was bound for Hawaii.

You may be able to find it in the medical journals; maybe it has a 3-to6-syllable scientific Latin appellation that includes the name of the mental wizard who identified it; maybe it’s a disorder? A syndrome? A curse? I would try to research it, but I’m not sure where to look. But I have it. It doesn’t hurt, but under the wrong circumstances it could be fatal. For lack of a professional designation I call it the Alice in Wonderland Phenomenon—one minute I’m walking along talking to the cat and the next minute I’m tumbling down rabbit holes (figuratively speaking).

Nor is an adventure to be confused with such activities as BASE/B.A.S.E. jumping, or running with the bulls in Pamplona. If you find yourself unexpectedly involved in such actions and want to research the source of your problem, you can find it as one of the symptoms under “Stupidity.”

Of course, eruption of an episode is always unheralded—no premonition or early warning signs like a fevered chill or slight rash. In fact, I sometimes don’t even know I am

Keep It Simple FIDDLE CONCERT SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 6:30 p.m.

Tamworth Legion Adults $15 • Teens $7

FEATURING Gordon Stobbe Sherryl Fitzpatrick

Stephanie Lepine

Children Under 12 FREE REMEMBERING BERNIE: Proceeds will benefit Bernie’s Fiddle & Guitar Camp

Bernie’s FIDDLE & GuITAR CAMP

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Tamworth Elementary School Fore more info and to register: faun.fiddlecamp@gmail.com or 613-379-2469

OPEN: OPEN: Mon. - Fri. Mon. - Fri. 8 -8-7 7 Sat. 8 -8-6 6 Sat. Sun. 11 11-5 -5 Sun.

COVER Bob Burgess, in front of his “Buggy Shop” in Enterprise.

Photo by Alyce Gorter.

Annual Customer Appreciation BBQ CHECKAugust US OUT22, FOR11ALL Saturday a.m.YOUR - 4 p.m.

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FREE hotdogs, hamburgers, drinks, ice cream, cake, coffee & much more!

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Fresh • Produce • Fresh Cut Meats IT’SBakery OuR• Deli 10TH ANNIVERSARy! Donations given to the Stone Mills Soccer Association

672 Addington St., Tamworth

672 Addington Street, Tamworth

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THE SCOOP • August / September 2015

613-379-2440

613-379-2440

having an adventure until I look at my companion’s face and see a look of terror there. When you are aff licted with the Alice in Wonderland Phenomenon, it’s good to have a friend along at all times just in case an adventure breaks out. But, I find my friends are somewhat reduced in numbers these days and the remaining ones seem to all suffer from nervous anxiety. Is there an epidemic? Family members also seem to be extremely busy and unavailable but then I suppose yours are too.

So yes, summer is here, with enough sunshine, mosquitoes, and adventures for all. As for me, I think my malaise is acting up again.

CORReCTION The June/July 2015 article “Womb Wisdom” included background information to provide some historical context to help Scoop readers unfamiliar with moon lodges or the red tent movement in general. Please note that Maureen Walton isn’t personally affiliated with the book The Red Tent and doesn’t run a traditional aboriginal moon lodge.

Letters to the Editor I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the article Harmony (and Dissonance!) [June/July 2015]. I know this fine young lady personally, but that is not the main reason it hit home. I run Eastern Cowboy in Parham and see first-hand how people think horses are disposable.

Use them up, sell them to somebody for the grandkids (when they are 80 in human years), or worse, just take them to a sale where the meat buyers blend into the crowd so well.

I love Annie McKinnon’s mindset! The fact that Dave and Kathy King agreed (they had a hand in the nurturing of this young lady) does not surprise me.

I just wish other people would realize that horses are animals that feel, form

Quality Second Hand Books Fri – Sat - Sun: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tamworth, Ontario 613-379-2108 www.tamworthbookshop.com info@tamworthbookshop.com

 READINGS  attachments, and like to belong just like other animals. As Alyce wrote, we see these ads so often about horses for sale because of children going off to university. Please don’t write in saying that not everybody can keep their horses forever. I get that...it’s just nice to read when this is able to happen.

Sunday, August 23 @ 2 p.m.

John Donlan, Susan Gillis, & Jason Heroux Sunday, September 20 @ 2 p.m.

Stan Dragland & 2015 Trillium Book Award-winner, Kate Cayley Free events – all are welcome • Light refreshments will be served

Thank you Annie, Dave, and Kathy, for giving Honey and Harmony a forever home... although it sounds like there were some trials, it was lovely to read an article like this and to know that there are some people that care about where their horses end up.

Leslie Cronk Parham, Ontario

See ya Downtown!

SWEET CORN, TOMATOES

CONTACT US TODAY

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August / September 2015 • THE SCOOP

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Crokinole: Not Just for Kids—Anymore

By Bob Leggett

A

round the turn of the century and for several decades afterward, crokinole was one of the most popular games in North America.

The earliest known crokinole board to date was built by Eckhardt Wettlaufer of Sebastopol, Ontario (near Tavistock) as a fifth birthday gift for his son, Adam, who was born on December 31, 1871. It hung on a bedroom wall, “rarely used,” according to Michael Bird and Terry Kobayashi in their book, A Splendid Harvest: Germanic Folk and Decorative Arts in Canada. The board now resides at The Joseph Schneider Haus Museum in Kitchener, as part of their Harvest Collection.

Inside the outer frame, called the side rail, is an area called the ditch; inside the area of the ditch is the actual playing surface. The ditch is broken down into four scoring areas: 5; 10; and 15 points (separated by eight pegs from the 10 point area) and the eversought-after center, worth 20 points.

The object of the game is to score the highest number of points. There are four separate rounds of play. Each round starts with a player shooting a disc using the flick of a finger, towards the center in hopes of scoring a “20.”

If that happens, that disc is removed and set aside for scoring at the end of the round. If that player isn’t successful in scoring a “20” it remains on the board, but only if it remains inside the 15 point area (inside the

pegs). Then the opposing player must attempt to strike that disc. If the opposing player doesn’t strike the opponent’s disc, their disc is removed from the playing area. Through skill or luck if any of the opponent’s discs are struck, the game continues and all discs played are left where they stopped. There are more specific rules, but that is basically the object of play.

At the end of each round, and before any discs are moved, the score is confirmed by the players. The player with the highest score, including all “20’s” scored, records 2 points on their score card; if the score is tied, both players record 1 point, the player with the lower score records a zero score.

All “20’s” scored are also recorded on the score card. These numbers are used to determine, if needed, an ultimate winner at the end of play (four rounds), a tiebreaker, as it were.

CluBS KTown (Kingston) Crokinole Club This fall, we will be meeting at the Kingston Seniors Centre (56 Francis Street), on Tuesday nights starting September 1 at 7 p.m. This session runs for ten consecutive Tuesdays and costs $30. Contact the Seniors Centre at 613.548.7810 for more information. Depending on the level of interest, a second session may begin November 10. If not, the KTown Crokinole Club will relocate— last year we met at the Kingston Naval Veterans Association Hall on Sydenham Road, at Highway 401 and we may return there, in November.

A nightly fee or a seasonal contribution may be required (if we re-locate).

Contact us at ktowncrokinole. wordpress.com or 613.541.1002.

Quinte Region Crokinole Club The Quinte Crokinole Club has re-located to the Yardmen Arena (265 Cannifton Rd., Belleville).

Meet on Tuesday evenings (in Sept.), at 7 p.m. For information, please contact Dave Brown at 613.967.7720 or david. brown3@ sympatico.

What a crokinole board looks like. Contributed photo. ca. You can also visit their website at www.qrcc.ca.

WAYLEN CAR WASH

TOuRNaMeNTS On June 6, the 17th Annual World Crokinole Championship took place in Tavistock, Ontario. “Crokinole encompasses all age groups, all demographics … a game that is equal for all,” Tavistock Mayor Don McKay said. He also noted that 25 percent of registrants this year were new to the tournament and that players ranged in age from 6 to 87. Players came from all over, including several US states, as well as all regions of Ontario, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island. A record number of 100 boards were in play at one time. For more information visit their website at www.worldcrokinole.com.

The Belleville (Quinte) Crokinole Challenge will take place this year on September 19. For more information, contact Peter Tarle at peter_tarle@ hotmail.com.

Be Sure To Clean & Rinse Your Boats Before Entering Other Lakes CTY RD 4, TAMWORTH DAVE & BARB WAY

LIMESTONE DOWSERS Associate Group of The Canadian Society of Dowsers steven@moorepartners.ca susan@moorepartners.ca

www.moorepartners.ca

613 • 379 • 5958

COLLEEN’S GARDENING SERVICE

A sample crokinole score card. Contributed photo.

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THE SCOOP • August / September 2015

Design and Maintain New Beds or Old! Flowers, Shrubs, Planters, and More Free Estimates Call Colleen at 613-379-5959 www.ColleensGardeningService.com

Monthly Meetings Third Friday of the Month Ongwanada Resource Centre For info: Judy 613-353-2147 or Louise 613-374-1282

A Natural View A Teacher in Love with Nature

By Terry Sprague

E

ven at the tender age of 11, I thought offering the new teacher an apple on the first day of school might be a bit dorky. No—I am not talking about an iPod from Apple!

Some kids actually did bring an apple, and left it, ceremoniously, on her desk. The “fruit of the tree of knowledge”; however, I already had enough Sunday School lessons in the church next door to the rural school to realize that the book of Genesis never really identified the apple as the “fruit of the tree of knowledge.”

The apple seemed like the perfect symbol though, since teachers offered knowledge.

I was just thankful as I appeared through the schoolhouse door that morning that the school bully, who had tormented me for five years, had been shipped off to high school. I didn’t really care if older kids would now bully him; our entire school was just happy that he was out of our lives, for good. I was now the oldest, and all 13 of us sat down later that morning at recess, held hands, and made a pact that we would never torment the younger kids in our one room schoolhouse the way we had been bullied.

As I entered the school room that fall morning, and stared at the new teacher sitting at her desk, already I had a good feeling about the school year ahead. No bully, and a brand new teacher who cared.

Looking down at a sheet of paper on her desk as she tried to match names to faces, she asked, “And, you are— Rex???

“No, I’m Terry.” It’s funny how we remember seemingly innocuous conversations like that through the years.

She was a kind and gentle person who continued to move me from the first day I heard her voice and realized that she appeared much older than any of our past teachers. Her eyes sagged a bit, as did her cheeks and jowls that seemed to dance whenever she spoke. I remember her plaid skirt that she liked to wear, and the string of white pearl beads that always hung from her neck.

Her hair was a bit frilly and never seemed to stay in place.

I owe my untiring interest in nature to Marie Foster—”Miss Foster,” as all of us addressed her. We connected right away, as our interest in nature soon became a common bond. I remember the day I walked in the classroom early one morning, and heard canaries singing. The teacher claimed she heard nothing, while I insisted that I could definitely hear birds singing, from somewhere.

I soon found them. Hidden in a tiny cloak room was a small record player and on it spun a long-play album of canary songs. She knew that I would enjoy the ruse, and I did. This led to more albums, featuring the songs of other birds, which she would later share with me in her home just a few miles down the road from where I lived. One was “A Day in Algonquin Park,” and to this day, it remains

Marie Foster feeds a baby robin. Photo by Terry Sprague.

one of my favourites. Somehow, she sensed that I had a simmering interest in nature, just waiting to be nurtured into fruition.

It helped, too, that science one year involved drawing a grasshopper and labelling its parts. The Common Goatsbeard, for reasons unclear to me, was studied as if it was the only wildflower in existence. However, that so-called weed, and Miss Foster’s attention to detail during its study, created an inner stirring in me to look at other plants, and take a greater interest in all things natural around me. We studied earthworms, birds, turtles, and snakes, and while she didn’t seem particularly enamoured by the latter, she managed to stifle her dislike of serpents enough to calm any fears that some of us may have had.

Overall, she seemed to have a special connection with nature, and we would shudder whenever an errant Paper Wasp terrorized us in the classroom, and she trustingly let it crawl up on her index finger, and calmly returned it to the outdoors.

Following my years at high school, I continued to visit her at her home, where she introduced me to her bird feeders, and showed me how easy it was to set up a feeding station. The Purple Finches she had as guests at her feeder that March introduced me to a hobby that I have enjoyed for more than 60 years.

The school near our home where Marie Foster taught.

Photo courtesy Prince Edward County Board of Education.

She passed away not long

after I visited her a final time, on this occasion, in an extended care facility. Reluctantly, she had sold her house where she lived for many years, and where she had enjoyed her many bird feeders, her Purple Martin house, and her Tree Swallow nesting boxes. I wonder whatever became of her scrapbook collection, containing clippings about birds, and even my own column from the Picton Gazette that she inspired me to write in 1965. With a barn located on either side of her, she never gave up her war on the plethora of House Sparrows that always exasperated her almost on a daily basis. Often when the din of House Sparrows outside her door would drown out our own conversation, she would get up from her chair, open the door, and soundly clap her hands together to drive them off, so we could continue.

Our last conversation in the nursing home was about birds and nature in general. Even at that age, she still had the capacity to show her passion for nature, and to inspire me further.

As I sit here in our yard, basking in the musical chatter of our own colony of Purple Martins, I think about Miss Foster and how her love for nature introduced me to a world that I continue to enjoy to this day. More so, since it is the same aluminum martin house that she passed on to me some 35 years ago, when she decided that it was time for her to move.

For more information on birding and nature, check out the NatureStuff website at www.naturestuff.net. Terry Sprague lives in Prince Edward County and is self-employed as a professional interpretive naturalist.

August / September 2015 • THE SCOOP

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Do You Remember: Farm Threshing Bees?

By Glen R. Goodhand

T

he modern combine changed more than just the way the crops on the farm were harvested; it brought about an entirely new culture in country places.

It allowed the individual farmer to be independent of his neighbor in the most crucial of all agricultural operations. Threshing bees had always brought the community together is a special way—namely, interaction and interdependence upon one another. In the day of custom threshing, no man was an island—he simply could not be.

When that large separator (or threshing mill, as it was sometimes called) was towed into a farmer’s yard by a steam engine, there was a third set of wheels trailing along like a caboose. Often referred to as “the tank” (or water wagon) it was a reservoir on wheels.

Usually made of wood, with a hand pump on top, whenever possible it was filled from a creek, pond, or river, on route. This 500-gallon container was essential to keep the boiler on the steam engine supplied with H2O. As for the thresher himself, he had to be “up with the chickens” to get “steam up,” whether at home or at the

location of the current bee. By the time the rural workforce was ready for action, he had to have all systems “go.” When these old “iron horses” were finally put out to pasture, and replaced by oversized tractors, much of that preparation time was eliminated.

The actual “bee” required six or seven men to function properly.

When the operation took place in the barn, three workers were needed in the loft, where sheaves of grain had already been stored, to relay them to the platform, from which two others would toss them into the feeder of the mill.

Another, usually the owner of the farm, looked after the distribution of the threshed grain as it was augured into storage bins. Still another (usually a retired grandpa or teenage son) took charge of the “blower”, which acted like a huge pea shooter, forcing the chopped up straw which had been separated from the kernels of grain, into a stack either into a vacant mow in the barn or out into the barnyard. It needed to be adjusted for both direction and distance to which the chaff was projected. There was actually some pride involved in the

molding of that giant yellow mound.

Occasionally the threshing was done in the field. In that case, workers pitched the sheaves directly from the stooks onto wagons, which transported them to the waiting mill.

The grain was “bagged,” then taken to the bins, while the stack was left on the spot. But regardless of the scenario, as farmer number one’s crop was finished, he simply joined in his peers at the location of farmer number two, assisting that neighbor; and so it continued until all the designated six or seven crops were threshed.

In virtually every case, each husbandman’s wife engaged the help of two or three other community ladies to prepare and serve at least

Who Is That Lady in the Picture?

By the Cloyne Pioneer Museum and Archives

T

his school teacher watches over the historic classroom in the museum every summer. She is wearing a dress that belonged to Mrs. Ida Way. The dress was donated by Gladys Clark and is over 100 years old.

The desks in her classroom are the old wooden desk and seat units with glass inkwells. Anyone having gone to school in the 1940s will remember the inkwells, the straight pens, and the blotters. Displayed in her classroom are historic attendance registers, atlases, letters to teachers, old photos of students from local schools, and many old textbooks. The room is part of the original O’Donnell Road Schoolhouse that was salvaged and reconstructed in the museum. This display alone is well worth a visit.

Exhibits inside the salvaged O’Donnell Road classroom.

Photos courtesy Cloyne Pioneer Museum & Archives.

During your museum visit, be sure to pick up a copy of the Spring/ Summer 2015 issue of The Pioneer Times, in which you can read about many historic schools and their stories, researched and written

by Eileen Flieler. The issue is also on the museum website at www. cloynepioneermuseum.ca.

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THE SCOOP • August / September 2015

two meals each day to that hungry gang.

The appetites of some of those men were almost legend. There were those for whom a second (or even third) helping was the rule—not the exception. The number of pies consumed by half a dozen men boggled the mind. This writer recalls the humorous way one owner of this specialized machinery once put it: “I do believe I have to have another piece of that pie to take the taste of the first piece out of my mouth!”

It has been said: “Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson—you find the present tense and the past perfect.” Well, the past was not perfect—but the aura that threshing bees helped to create meant it came close!

A Garden Investment

By Susan Howlett

P

lants were flying off the tables at the Grandmothers by the Lake annual plant sale. You might think I am exaggerating, but no, powerful gusts of wind heralding an approaching storm front lifted the lighter pots and cell packs and deposited them face down in the grass. The noon temperature was 30 Celsius so it was a scramble to keep the smaller plants and seedlings from drying out and becoming airborne.

However, the rain held off, and satisfied customers headed home with armloads of interesting and healthy plants. This year the sale was held on the lawn at St. Paul’s United Church in Harrowsmith on May 30.

Plant sales such as ours require an act of faith and a degree of patience on the part of buyers. Unlike plants from greenhouses and gardening centers, the plants at plant sales are home grown, without the aid of a heated greenhouse, so they are seldom flowering in time for the sale. Consequently, they don’t give

an instant fix of color in your garden — you have to wait. In the case of perennial seedlings, most are not likely to flower until the following year, and that requires a lot more waiting.

However, what you do get, in addition to a great selection of plants, is the satisfaction of knowing that your gardening investment is more important than the simple economics of buying and selling.

Under the auspices of the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, the money you spend at our plant sale goes a long way. It helps support grassroots projects in sub-Saharan Africa run by and for African grandmothers and the AIDS orphans they are struggling to raise. (There are a staggering 17 million AIDS orphans in Africa today.)

The grandmothers we support are often frail and in poor health. After burying their adult children, they have taken up the burden of raising

Children orphaned by AIDS require long-term counseling that reflects their changing needs as they grow from toddlers to teens.

Photo by Alexis MacDonald/SLF at Chiedza (Zimbabwe).

HELP WANTED Looking for people to train for SCHOOL BuS DRIVERS AND MONITORS to begin work this September 2015!!!

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Email your resume to bcunningham@martinsbus.ca or call 613-354-7545

Grandmother solidarity action. Photo by Phedisang – South Africa.

their orphaned grandchildren.

To cope with their grief and the overwhelming task of providing shelter, food, school expenses, and day-to-day care for their dependent grandchildren, the grandmothers have come together and formed community groups to help each other. Once they have identified critical needs, they have launched projects, such as counselling, health care, earning cooperatives, skills development workshops, and after-school programs. The groups not only offer help and hope to the grandmothers, but also to the vulnerable children and communities hard hit by the AIDS virus. Childheaded households are also given support and children are sent to school, no small feat in the face of school expenses – uniforms, fees, and books.

Stephen Lewis calls the African grandmothers the unsung heroes of Africa: through their courage and dedication, they are keeping

their communities together. In the process, many of the grandmothers have gained the strength and skills to become community leaders, speaking out against injustice. It is our privilege to raise money to help them and show them that the grandmothers (and grand others) in Canada care.

If you want to learn more about the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Grandmothers Campaign, visit www. stephenlewisfoundation.org and www.grandmotherscampaign.org.

Our plant sale requires the combined efforts of many volunteers and the generosity of the community. So I’d like to thank those who helped out, those who donated plants, and the public who flocked to the sale to buy plants. Also, we appreciate the kindness of St. Paul’s United Church in letting us use their church hall and lawn.

I hope you’re enjoying your garden this summer and that we’ll see you next year.

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August / September 2015 • THE SCOOP

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One Book, One L&A 2015

By Catherine Coles

C

ommunity reading programs in which locals are encouraged to collectively read the same book are an excellent means of community engagement. Usually organized by libraries, they bring members of a community together to read and discuss the same literary work, often involving the author.

The “One Book” movement began in 1998 when librarian Nancy Pearl, executive director of the Washington Center for the Book in the Seattle Public Library, initiated “If All Seattle Read the Same Book.” Since then the idea has been adopted by regions all around the world. In Ontario, Toronto has their own program, as does Waterloo Region, Durham Region and, beginning last year, so does L&A! On June 1st, the County of Lennox & Addington Libraries announced that The Evening Chorus by Helen Humphreys will be the official selection for One Book, One L&A 2015, our community reading program’s second year iteration.

Helen Humphreys is an awardwinning author of four books of poetry, six acclaimed novels, and two works of creative non-fiction.

Her novel, Coventry, was a finalist for the Trillium Book Award, a New York Times Editors’ Choice and a Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year. The Lost Garden was a Canada Reads selection.

Afterimage won the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize; Leaving Earth received the Toronto Book Award; and The Frozen Thames was a #1 bestseller.

In 2009, Humphreys was awarded the Harbourfront Festival Prize for literary excellence.

James’ sister Enid whose affair with a married man ends abruptly when he is killed in the London bombings.

Enid escapes to Rose’s small cottage near Ashdown forest and while the two women hold jealously guarded secrets, they form a surprising friendship. James, meanwhile, bides his time studying a nest of redstarts at the edge of his camp. The Evening Chorus is a beautiful, astonishing examination of love, loss, escape, and the ways in which the intrusions of the natural world can save us.

Individuals, book clubs, organizations, employers—everyone—is invited to take up the challenge of the One Book, One Community initiative and organize their own way of “getting on the same page.” This program will culminate with the library’s 2nd Annual Author Gala with Helen Humphreys, which will be held in October during Canadian Library Month. Stay tuned for details on this event.

Last year’s inaugural One Book, One L&A program and author gala featured bestselling Canadian satire author Terry Fallis and his book No Relation. Hundreds of people across L&A read No Relation and we’re hoping to see similar numbers of local readers enjoying The Evening Chorus.

You can place a hold on this title in print or e-book formats at your branch of the County of L&A Libraries or online at www.countylibrary.ca.

The Evening Chorus, her latest book, was released this past February to rave reviews. The Globe and Mail said it was, “absorbing, richly characterized, and marked by smart, delightful twists and turns” and a reviewer from The Boston Globe stated, “I am very glad to have spent some of my moments on earth reading The Evening Chorus. I reached the end with a sense of wonder that so much life and pain and beauty could be contained in so few pages.”

DAILy VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL August 10-14, 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon Come and join other boys and girls ages 9-12 at the Yarker Free Methodist Church. Jerry & Bonnie Wallace will be entertaining and telling stories through air-brush

YARKER FARMERS’ MARKET Riverside United Church 2 Mill St., Yarker, ON Local produce, local artisans’ wares, and lunch will be available.

Support your community!

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

For more info: 613 – 377 – 6385 August 1, 15 & 29 September 5 & 19 October 3

be hosting an evening B.B.Q. for the For more information call Dorothy: 613.388.9205.

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THE SCOOP • August / September 2015

Linda Pierce Administrator

35

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Discovering Dowsing

By Louise Hoag and Judy Miller

D

owsing is an ancient skill with many different applications.

It’s a method of finding answers or objects as indicated by the movement of a device, such as a dowsing rod, pendulum bobber, “Y” rod, or even your own fingers. At its most basic, dowsing is a way to receive a “Yes” or a “No” response to a question. It’s a natural ability that can be trained into a useful tool.

Anyone can learn to dowse well, given instruction and practice. It’s no harder to learn than to learn to play the piano or skate.

The earliest recorded dowser was Emperor Yu of the Hsia Dynasty in China about 4,000 years ago. Dowsing in China at that time was known as Geomancy or today’s Feng Shui.

Throughout the centuries in many cultures, people have used dowsing to find answers to their questions.

Recently, dowsing was used in the TV series The Mystery of Oak Island and was depicted in the latest Russell

Crowe movie The Water Diviner (released in April 2015).

The process of dowsing can be explained and considered from two points of view: scientific and spiritual.

Scientifically, dowsing is the process by which electrical impulses are sent to the dowsers’ brain. In response, a compatible wavelength is created, and another electrical impulse is sent back. These impulses create a micro constriction of muscles pushing energy down along the arm to reach the hand and create movement of the dowser’s tool. Since the positive and negative states of our energetic system is represented by different levels of energies, we can observe two different movements.

Spiritually, dowsing takes place when your mind connects with your soul in harmony. Information is given from higher dimensions, penetrates their physical existence, and manifests

Whatzit?

By goldenboughmedia

C

an Scoop readers please explain why heavy black plastic has been wrapped around a random assortment of our local hydro poles? The plasticized poles appear in low land in some places, and on high land in others, sometimes alone, and sometimes in a series. There seems to be no logic to their placement (perhaps we have a chance here to disprove Kant’s theory of arithmetical propositions?). Are these enrobed objects exclusive to our area or do they spring up like mushrooms here and there all across the province?

The poles themselves are new and have already been treated with preservative, so what’s to protect?

Is it a defense against woodpeckers as several people have lamely suggested? Or is it a test of the plastic itself or the staples that hold it on? And what did this bizarre experiment cost in public money?

Thousands of dollars, millions perhaps? Whose bright idea was this? Scoop readers, let’s get to the bottom of this! Meanwhile, your money peels off the poles.

An assortment of dowsing devices. Photo by Judy Miller. itself as a movement of the dower’s tool. To find common ground between the two points of view is that while dowsing, we are tuning in to subtle frequencies both inside and around us.

Dowsing can be used to find water veins, graves, and missing objects.

It can help you to choose the healthiest products for you, be they supplements, food, or remedies. You can even dowse over maps. The practical applications of dowsing are far too great to list them all here.

If we’ve kindled your interest in dowsing, we’d like to invite you

to attend our regular meetings at Ongwanada Resource Centre, 191 Portsmouth Ave., Kingston the third Friday of each month (September to June), from 7 – 9 p.m. The Limestone Dowsers is a chapter in good standing with the Canadian Society of Dowsers: www.canadiandowsers.org. At our meetings, we offer training, practice, videos, articles, handouts, and guest speakers on a wide variety of topics.

For further information please contact Judy Miller, Chair: 613.353.2147 or Louise Hoag, Communications: 613.374.1282. We look forward to you joining us.

Dowsing in action. Contributed photo.

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9

Meet the Musicians of TECDC’s 2015-16 Concerts

By Mark Oliver

T

he Tamworth Erinsville Community Development Committee (TECDC) is very pleased to announce our 2015-16 Concert Series line-up. In keeping with past practice, we are offering a diverse series featuring some performers who are at the early stages of a very promising career, others well established in the Canadian music scene, and some who have already left their imprint on Canadian music fans.

In Canada, there are six main music award sources for popular music.

These are the West Coast Music Awards, the East Coast Music Awards, the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA), the Canadian Folk Music Awards, the Maple Blues Awards, and the JUNO Awards (which is our equivalent to the American Grammy Award). Each and every one of the entertainers performing in the upcoming TECDC Concert Series has been recognized by multiple awards organizations.

Winnipeg based folk/pop band Sweet Alibi starts the season on Saturday

October 24. CBC Radio has described them as “if Mumford and Sons and the Supremes had a love child, you would name it Sweet Alibi.” In keeping with that quote, Sweet Alibi infuses its signature harmonies with influences of everything from folk to country to soul. Sweet Alibi puts a solid focus on three-part harmony, with Jessica on guitar, Amber on guitar and ukulele, and Michelle on guitar and banjo. The band’s recent album was the winner for Roots Group Recording of the Year at the 2014 Western Canadian Music Awards, garnered a nomination for Vocal Group of the Year at the 2014 Canadian Folk Music Awards, and earned them a performing appearance at the 2014 JUNO Awards.

Lynn Myles, one of Canada’s most accomplished singer/songwriters, follows up on Saturday, November 21.

With twelve albums to her credit, she is the winner of multiple Canadian Folk Music awards including English Songwriter of the Year in 2011, a 2003 JUNO Award for Roots and Traditional Solo Album of the Year, and another JUNO nomination for Best Folk and Traditional album in 2011. Lynn will be accompanied on guitar by Keith Glass of Prairie Oyster.

Things heat up on Saturday January 9 when we present a night of blues with Jack de Keyzer. Jack has twice received JUNO Awards for Blues Album of the Year, and was nominated for JUNO Awards three other times. He has received three Maple Blues Awards for Guitarist of the Year, and was awarded the Entertainer of the Year and the Electric Act of the Year in 2004. All of this came after he received a Maple Blues Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. In 2009, he was named the Great Canadian Blues Artist of the year by CBC Radio listeners.

• • • • •

10

Amelia Curran was born and resides in St. John’s Newfoundland. Her Lynn Myles. Contributed photo. music has been described as Leonard Cohen being channeled through Patsy Cline.

In 2009, she was nominated for two General excavation - land clearing, basements, retaining East Coast Music walls, trenching, etc.

Awards. Her next Septic systems - design and licensed installer album earned her Landscaping four nominations Trucking - sand, gravel and topsoil at the 2010 East Demolition - buildings, barns, etc.

Coast Music Awards. That same For all your excavating needs year, Curran won a call RICK at Phone: 613-388-2460 JUNO Award in the category of Roots Cell: 613-561-6585 and Traditional Email: rick.tuepah@gmail.com Album of the Year –

THE SCOOP • August / September 2015

Female Solo. She also won first prize (Folk category) in the prestigious 15th Annual USA Songwriting Competition. In 2012, she received a JUNO nomination for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year and her newest album was nominated for the same award in 2015. Amelia Curran is clearly one of Canada’s master contemporary songstresses. She performs in Tamworth on Saturday, February 13.

The Lovelocks, (Ali Raney and Zoe Neuman) are an undoubtedly multitalented act, mixing soaring vocals, sweet harmonies, sultry strings (fiddle, mandolin, and acoustic guitar), and an infectiously highenergy stage presence. Their career really took off in 2014 with a Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Award win, a 2014 Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO) nomination, a 2014 nomination for CCMA Roots Artist of the Year and Raney’s third nomination for CCMA’s All Star Band – Fiddle. Their May 2015 release Born to Love is generating lots of radio and video play. The Lovelocks were nominated for two 2015 CMAO Awards including Roots Artist / Group of the Year and Album of the Year. The Lovelocks and their band perform Saturday, April 9.

The season finale on May 14 will feature David Francey. David is a Scottish-born Canadian carpenterturned-songwriter, and has become known as one of Canada’s most revered folk poets and singers. In concert, David is a singer and a storyteller. His wry humor and astute observations, combined with his openhearted singing style have earned him a loyal following. David’s musical accomplishments are indeed noteworthy—he has won and been nominated for multiple JUNO Awards, Canadian Folk Music Awards, International Acoustic Music Awards, and Canadian Folk Music Awards!

Over the past few years, many amazing Canadian musicians have performed in our series held at the Tamworth Legion. Without fail, they praise the great acoustics and friendly sight lines of the hall, as well as our attentive, appreciative audience, which has continued to grow. Last season, four of the concerts sold out months in advance of the show date. We hope you will have the opportunity to be part of this wonderful experience. Contact Mark Oliver, Chair of the TECDC at 613.379.2808 for information about advance tickets, or becoming a season ticket holder or series sponsor.

David Francey. Contributed photo.

Sweet Alibi. Contributed photo.

Jack de Keyzer. Contributed photo.

Amelia Curran. Contributed photo.

The Lovelocks. Contributed photo.

Pastime—Passed Time

By Alyce Gorter

I

f you live in the country and work full-time, you might consider farming as a hobby. If you live in the country, work full-time, and operate a farm, you might consider some type of music involvement as a hobby. If you live in the country, work full-time, operate a farm, and play with a band regularly, having a hobby might be something deemed possible only after retirement. But, not so for Bob Burgess of Enterprise.

While working full-time as a Survey Technician, running a 50-head beef farm, and playing drums regularly with a country-and-western band, he has found a hobby that can take as little or as much time as he has to give it. And, while bringing him enjoyment during his leisure hours, at the same time his hobby preserves a bit of Canadian history.

–accumulate memorabilia from “the horse and buggy days.” A buggy wrench snagged at a garage sale in a basket of ‘junk’, a cast iron seat scavenged from a piece of Massey Harris horse-drawn equipment abandoned in a fence line, a set of harness bells at an auction and so it grew. But when he cleaned out his father’s big barn, the collection expanded to such an extent that he determined to give it better housing.

A tractor shed was dedicated for the purpose and so became the “Buggy Shop.”

As he has carried on the family traditions of farming and horse ownership that reach back generations, perhaps it is only natural that Bob would –over the years

What this building contains is only part of the appeal. Yes, it is interesting to look at the items, even try to guess the original purpose of some of the more unique pieces. But it is the history behind these antiques and the stories that can come to life when you see them, hold them, and ponder on them that make the “Buggy Shop” not as much a private museum as it is a storehouse for yesteryear.

Closeup of the McLaughlin Carriage in Bob Burgess’ “Buggy Shop”.

Photo by Alyce Gorter.

Take, for example, the McLaughlin Carriage. It was produced by a company that began in Oshawa in 1869 as one man who built one sleigh.

By 1901, he had developed a worldfamous company that was producing 25,000 carriages a year – one every 10 minutes! This company later became General Motors.

Another example is the pair of wooden platforms used by farmers on their horses’ feet so that they could cut hay in the bogs and marshes. Or the array of cotton sacks that held grass seeds (alfalfa, timothy, clover), grain and sugar. Those sacks were often used as material for curtains or children’ clothing. And, did I mention the buggy wrenches?!

Although compiled merely as a personal hobby, Bob is happy to show the “Buggy Shop” to interested visitors. So, stop by for a tour and a story or two. It is unlikely that you can see everything without asking at least once, “What’s that?”

Your vacation wardrobe starts here!

Wooden bog shoes for horses. Photo by Alyce Gorter.

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August / September 2015 • THE SCOOP

11

There’s Still Lots of Summer Left— Get Out and Explore L&A County

By Rob Plumley

I

f you’re looking for something fun to do in Lennox & Addington County these days, you certainly don’t have to look very far. Whether it be events, activities, or attractions, we’re pretty fortunate to have such a big list of entertaining options to choose from here in L&A.

The high-quality events that take place in the county on a regular basis are remarkable. The tireless work of community volunteers plays a key role in their success. For example, the TECDC Concert Series at the Tamworth Legion is a must-attend for those that enjoy great live music from talented Canadian artists. Also, wellestablished events like the Grand Old Enterprise Country Jamboree in Centreville (August 7– 9) and the Emerald Music Festival on Amherst Island (also August 7 – 9) are annual affairs that have a strong following.

Our quality recreation facilities continue to attract high-profile sporting events to the County, one of which is the U21 Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship. It takes place from August 10 – 16 at the Fairgrounds in Napanee. Also, from August 24 – 30, the Loyalist Golf & Country Club in Bath will host 156 tour professionals when they tee up in an attempt win a share of the $175,000 purse at PGA Tour Canada’s Great Waterway Classic.

In addition to the solid local support that events and attractions receive from residents, Lennox & Addington County is becoming well known for a number of interesting niche markets as well.

Our lakes and rivers have always been popular destinations for anglers. After all, we are in the Land O’ Lakes Tourist Region. Our premiere waterbodies are beginning to be showcased by a number of television shows that help to further build upon our strong market for fishing and boating.

Our popularity doesn’t end out on the water, either. Our county roadways are being travelled by more and more bikes – both of the pedalled and motorized variety – thanks to our County Trails bicycle and L&A Rides motorcycle networks. You may have noticed more vintage vehicles touring the county lately as well. The Napanee Valley Cruisers have done a great job helping to promote L&A’s “Classic Drives” route itineraries to fellow enthusiasts from across the region.

From the Pioneer Museum & Archives in Cloyne, to the Neilson Store & Cultural Centre on Amherst Island, and everywhere in between, Lennox & Addington’s historic sites and attractions draw thousands of visitors every year who have a passion for history and who have traced their family’s roots back to this area. Many of these sites, including the Allan Macpherson House and the L&A Museum & Archives, offer regular events and activities that provide insight into the early days of the County.

If you haven’t yet been to Hell Holes Nature Trails & Caves near Centreville, you’re missing out on an interesting visit to a unique geological area of

‘Prancing Horse Nebula’ was taken from the L&A Dark Sky Viewing Area on a clear night in June. Photo by Terence Dickinson.

12

THE SCOOP • August / September 2015

About 1,500 geocaching containers are hidden in plain sight in L&A County. The containers range in size from this large ammo can to tiny film canisters. Photo by Lindsey Furlong.

Eastern Ontario. In addition to the 7.5 metre deep “Hell Hole,” you’ll notice many other amazing features along your hike, including a natural stone bridge, grottos, and mushroom shaped rocks.

Just south of Tamworth is SpindleTree Gardens, a 20-acre property that boasts horticultural architecture and natural features that rival the finest gardens you’ll find anywhere. Your tour takes you along meandering paths that showcase a wide variety of flora and fauna, as well as fountains, ponds, waterfalls, and a very impressive 4,000 squarefoot curved orangery.

You may have heard a bit of buzz about the game of geocaching recently. That’s because Lennox & Addington County has quickly become one of the go-to locations for geocachers in Canada. For those who don’t know what it is, geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices or smartphones. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers called geocaches and share their experience online. Chances are you unknowingly walk by these geocaches regularly, as we have about 1,500 geocaches hidden within our borders.

Geocaching takes place 12 months a year in L&A County and is highlighted by an annual event. This year it will take place on August 21 & 22. The headquarters for the event is at Southview Public School in Napanee, but people head to all corners of the county to locate caches during their visit. It will draw well over 500 people and is one of only three events in the country that currently hold

the title of “mega” status. Along with hundreds of participants attending from Ontario and Quebec, we have already received word that several groups from British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Nunavut have planned their vacations to coincide with the event. Several U.S. states will also be represented, and we were excited to find out that geocachers from France will also attend.

At night, you can find another fun experience in Lennox & Addington simply by looking up. Our superb view of the stars is unique, as light pollution is very limited in our area.

The L&A County Dark Sky Viewing Area, located 12 km north of Erinsville has become a very popular spot for astronomers and astrophotographers.

It’s the most southerly dark sky site in Ontario, drawing interest from local audiences, as well as from stargazers in urban areas such as Ottawa, GTA, Windsor, and New York State.

The Dark Sky Viewing Area is currently holding a “Shoot the Stars” Night Sky Photography Contest, so you’re encouraged to grab your camera and try your hand at photographing our dark skies overhead. The Perseid meteor shower, an amazing celestial event, peaks on the mornings of August 11, 12 and 13 and the L&A Dark Sky site is the perfect place to view it from. If the clouds stay away, experts are predicting a wonderful show this year.

The Perseid’s often produce 50 to 100 meteors per hour at its peak.

These are just a few of the great things to do here in Lennox & Addington County. You can find more details about each of these experiences mentioned at www.BestDayEver.ca.

Irish-Canadian Dry Stone Festival

By Sally Bowen

A

mherst Island has one of the largest concentrations of historic Irish dry stone walls in Canada, many over 150 years old. Skilled Irish craftsmen no longer working at the Rideau Canal wandered Eastern Ontario, seeking work.

She invited the Dry Stone Canada Association to come to the Island, and they were hooked. They ran a very successful weekend workshop in September 2014, rebuilding a stretch of very old wall at the home of descendants of original Irish settlers.

Our Island ancestry is strongly Irish, with many original settlers coming from the Ards peninsula, so it was natural that some of the stone workers found their way here. Our mainly limestone, shallow-earthed Island must have felt like home.

And now we are proud to announce that Dry Stone Canada and the Dry Stone Walling Association of Ireland are holding the first ever IrishCanadian International Dry Stone Festival, on Amherst Island from September 25 – 27.

We understand that in some cases, glorious walls, and one set of stone pillars were built just in exchange for room and board.

Free Events will include:

1. Children’s Workshop – learning to build with items lighter than stone

2. Displays of stone structures in the Community Hall

Our Women’s Institute honored that history and skill, hiring Kingston dry stone waller and mason Bill Hedges to train a group of volunteers on the Island a few years ago. They spent three summers rebuilding the walls of the Pentland cemetery, our oldest one, and those of a private home.

In 2014, visionary Andrea Cross initiated the work to truly honor and preserve, restore, and build many other stone walls on the Island.

Several were certified “heritage.” She spearheaded Island fund-raising to send Jacob Murray as our emissary to the first Irish Dry Stone Wallers weekend workshop in Co. Donegal.

3. Watching the building of two new dry stone structures 4. Two women stone carvers will demonstrate their art and craft 5. Harvest Fest – traditional Island farm event 6. Irish music and dancing throughout the weekend 7. A storyteller will relate the history of Irish settlers coming to the Island 8. A self-guided dry stone tour brochure 9. A guided walking tour of Stella (our “downtown”) 10. Displays at the Neilson Store Museum

Dry stone wall segment, rebuilt by W. A. Island volunteers.

Contributed photo.

Coping stones being added during the 2014 Amherst Island dry stone workshop. Contributed photo.

Two-Day Stone Wall Workshop under the direction of worldrenowned dry stone wallers from Ireland: Patrick McAfee, Sunny Weiler, and Ken Curran.

VIP list includes His Excellency Dr. Ray Bassett, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, author Jane Urquhart who wrote “Stone Carvers,” Norman Haddow, The Queen’s Own Dry Stone Waller for Balmoral Estate, and many other expert dry stone builders and carvers. Our Island will also welcome two musicians from Ireland, Blackie O’Connell and Cyril O’Donoghue, as well as Irish-Canadian groups.

Two stone structures will be built: 1. An Irish Sampler Wall showcasing a variety of dry stone construction techniques, with stones donated

by Island residents. Special events will take place Saturday evening with the participation of Jane Urquhart, the Irish-Canadian ambassador, and musician Cyril O’Donoghue.

2. A structure using 200 tons of stone, donated

by Upper Canada North, will be designed after the creations of the Celts and Mayans. The intent will be to frame the setting sun Sunday evening to highlight a special item of significance to the Irish and to Canadians.

For further information or to register, please visit www.drystonecanada. com and www.facebook.com/ drystonewallingassociationofCanada, or contact Andrea Cross at andrea@ meriton.ca.

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August / September 2015 • THE SCOOP

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GrassRoots Growers Sixth Annual Plant Sale

By Mary Jo Field

T

he Plant Sale this year was a big success. Again. I have more to say about that, but first I want to write about how Mother Nature fooled us. Again.

Don’t we all look forward to getting outside to spend some time in the garden on the Victoria Day holiday weekend? And wasn’t the lure of the garden particularly strong this year after the long, cold winter of 2014 – 2015? The month of May, 2015 was the warmest on record. So we can probably be forgiven for thinking it was OK to get those vegetables and annual flowers into the ground on the long weekend. In fact, many of us plant peas, spinach, and other coldtolerant vegetables well before May. The warm days of the previous weeks had brought on our perennials, which were well out of the ground, and most trees and shrubs were leafed out more than normal for that time of year. But Mother Nature had a surprise in store for us. More than a surprise – a shock.

In the week leading up to the Victoria Day weekend, the long-range forecast showed a dip in temperatures for Friday, May 22. The predicted temperatures got lower and lower as the week progressed. Still, I think many were caught completely off guard by the frost warnings issued late in the week after the holiday weekend. And as it actually happened, records were broken. Despite record high average temperatures for the month, record low temperatures

were reported for Friday night / early Saturday morning. I have it on good authority that it reached minus 6 Celsius in Tamworth. That, my friends, is not a frost. That is a freeze. And since it lasted more than a few minutes, a lot of damage was done. There is no point dwelling on the damage because, amazingly, most perennials and trees have fully recovered, sending out a second set of leaves and flowers. But I lost peas, broccoli and radishes, all of which are frost tolerant. As I said, this was not a frost; it was a freeze.

Of course, Victoria Day fell on May 18 this year, which is as early as it can be. Next year it falls on May 23.

So I guess the lesson here is to think about the actual date instead of whether it is the holiday weekend.

Still, every cloud has a silver lining.

Several nurseries I consulted said they were up all night on Friday, May 22, covering plants with blankets and getting things back into greenhouses.

But then they did gangbuster business the following week as gardeners replaced all the plants they had purchased earlier with great optimism, only to wake up Saturday morning to devastation.

What, you may ask, does this have to do with the Tamworth-Erinsville GrassRoots Growers sixth annual plant sale? Well, since the sale took place on Saturday, May 23, people were able to purchase all manner of plants, whether they were looking for

The tables were full of plants. Photo by Michelle Mather. vegetables or ornamentals, perennials or annuals, and safely put them in the ground. You can see from the accompanying picture that people were bundled up in jackets and sweaters, but at least that shockingly low temperature of Friday night was behind them. Thanks to the Lions, we were able to use, for the first time, the old train station building at Beaver Lake Lions’ Park to hold the plants overnight Friday, which meant all the donated plants survived the freeze to be carried off by happy purchasers to their new homes. Great thanks go to everyone who contributed plants to the sale, to all our customers for coming out once again to purchase something for their gardens, and to

the volunteers, who sorted, priced, set up, sold and cleaned up. And once again, thanks to the Lions for the use of the building, which allowed the volunteers to sort and price most things the afternoon before the sale.

Proceeds from the GRG plant sale fund the various free events sponsored by the GRG during the year.

Everyone is invited to these events.

Tamworth/Erinsville GrassRoots Growers is a community-based group.

Our mission is to encourage interest in local and organic gardening for both the home garden and the market garden; to raise awareness of issues surrounding food production; to improve our practical knowledge of all aspects of plant life; and to provide networking opportunities for gardeners. We welcome new members.

Visit our website at: te-grassrootsgrowers.weebly.com Upcoming events – follow our website for news and updates. We are hoping to have an evening devoted to selection and care of trees for our area sometime in the fall. Date, location, and speaker to be announced.

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Highland Cattle Adventures: New Arrivals

By Terry Berry

W

e were blessed with two new arrivals this spring...

Isla, our herd matriarch gave birth to our first bull calf—Fergus, in the early morning of April 22nd. It was a nice surprise to see a fury brown bundle tucked up under the fencerow when we returned home that evening. Isla is very protective to the point of hiding him from prying eyes in the field. The 2nd day after Fergus’ birth, Carole and I were concerned when Fergus was not with the other herd members. We did a search of the fencerows in the field they were in with no luck.

As Isla was watching us while she grazed with the others, I noticed her every so often peruse another part of the field. I thought this would be her tell and I could get her to give up his hideaway by following her fleeting looks. When I got to one corner of the fence, she lifted her head and came right over. I stood still as she came closer, waiting for her to give a glance in the direction of Fergus’ hiding place. As expected, Isla turned her head and gazed back at the opposite corner of the field. I knew I had him now. I quickly walked to the other corner with Isla following in anticipation of seeing Fergus curling up having a nap. I looked everywhere but no Fergus. A little disappointed, I watched Isla again for a clue to his location. She stood there for a minute or two and then made a series of

glances to the other end of the field.

Knowing I had hoodwinked her now, I quickly made my way to the corner in question again with Isla in tow. A search at this location and still no Fergus was found. This little game of Isla’s played out several more times with her glancing at different parts of the field. Her and I hurrying to those new locations and me finding nothing.

After an hour or so, I admitted defeat and headed back to the house. No sooner did I reach the back porch, but Isla trumpeted a call. Within seconds fury little Fergus emerged scrambling under the paten rail fence from an adjacent field to join his mother for an evening feeding.

In this game of “Who Can Outsmart Who”… Cows are up one.

Morag—our four-year-old heifer gave birth to her first bull calf in the afternoon of May 15th. As luck would have it, Jason—our neighbor and local beef farmer, happened by to check on the girls and noticed Morag reclined in the field spent from the strain of labour. From his vantage point, all that could be seen were the unborn calf’s hooves. Without hesitation, Jason jumped into action grabbing a piece of baler twine from his pocket tying it above the fetlock. With a little coaxing and few firm tugs, the newest baby boy bounced into being.

Upon arriving home later that

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Harvey’s birthday, with the herd under the apple tree. Photo by Terry Berry.

afternoon, Morag, her new boy, and the rest of the herd were curled up in the shade of a flowering apple tree at the lower end of the field. Morag seemed eager to show off her little bundle to us when we arrived. She jumped up and began licking the little one to get him to stand. Still unsure on his feet, he lifted his hind end first, and then struggled to get up from his elbows. With a little maneuvering, he made it to all fours, did a little jump, and staggered back into his mother.

As we sat there, he made his way to the lunch counter and had a good long drink. Once full with his face covered in milk, he spied us. After a few sniffs in the air he made a motion toward us trying to figure out what these strange two legged creatures were that were watching him. Isla jumped to her feet and nudged him back to the herd. Isla has apparently taken over the yard monitor position as well.

For stepping in as midwife, we gave Jason the honour of naming our newest herd member. Jason thought for a minute or two and decided the name should be Harvey. When pressed for why that choice for a name, Jason quipped they make a good burger. Not much of a Scottish name, but I couldn’t argue his point.

Morag too, began the habit of hiding Harvey from us. Now knowing this to be natural behavior, I made no effort to find him (and I was still stinging from being outsmarted the last time).

Every evening, Harvey would show up when it was time for a feeding or just time to be with the herd. There was one time, however, when assistance was needed. Harvey had spent the day under the page wire fence at the back of the house. He had curled up in the tall grass in the back corner of the yard while the other herd members spent the day grazing. When called by his mom, Harvey couldn’t find his way under the fence. He did a lot of bawling while his mother did the same on the other side. We came to his aid and attempted to shove Harvey back under the barrier, but he would have nothing to do with it. This unnecessary struggle seemed to go on forever, with neither side wanting to admit defeat. Finally, the fence was lifted just enough for Jason and I to stuff the four legged fur ball under the metal barrier. Harvey quickly got to his feet and danced, kicking his back legs up in the air as he made his way back to his mother. Morag quietly turned and walked him back to the safety of the herd.

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August / September 2015 • THE SCOOP

15

Making New Friends

2015 Is Our Year

By Susan Moore, Gray Merriam, & Herb Pilles

By Grace Smith

W

hat better way to share our riches than with new friends? The Friends of the Salmon River (FSR) has provided stewardship to the Salmon watershed for a decade and we wish to share those riches with you. Voila – the Living Watersheds Workshop.

On September 12 in Roblin, those with a commitment to our watersheds – specifically, the Moira, Black, Skootamatta, and Napanee watersheds – can join this active learning experience.

As a participant, you will:

• •

• •

Learn about the latest practical research on these watersheds Celebrate the unique characteristics and needs of your watershed Get started on building a “Friends of River” group for your watershed Engage with others who have similar interests.

Keynote speaker Cindy Chu will present: The Valley Rules the Stream, all about the holistic watershed, complete with the headwaters, wetlands, creeks, and land – along with her findings on the effects of climate change on our rivers and watersheds. Cindy is a scientist currently with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and she has done extensive fieldwork on the Salmon River.

Friends of the Salmon River will present their Salmon River Habitat Strategy and provide a package on

the start-up, history, and organization of their group as a template for new organizations.

Participants will be divided into breakout groups according to watershed, so they can work on their projects in targeted activities. The goal is to explore and define the needs of each watershed.

Emphasis will be on small group activities, building networks, and providing the resources needed to support new stewardship groups.

Resource people from FSR and Quinte Conservation will be there to help with up-to-date mapping, connections, and learning aids.

The Workshop Saturday, September 12, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the Salmon River in Roblin, Ontario. Roblin is on County Road 41, between Napanee and Tamworth.

Registration & Information People from the Moira, Black, Skootamatta, and Napanee watersheds may register for the workshop. If you are unsure of your watershed, try http:// quinteconservation.ca/site/images/ stories/about/docs/qc_watershed. pdf or call us and ask. There is no charge for the event and lunch will be provided if you are registered in advance. ASAP, please contact Susan Moore at 613.379.5958 and susan@ moorepartners.ca OR Gray Merriam at 613.335.3589 and gmerriam60@ gmail.com. For more on FSR, visit friendsofsalmonriver.ca.

N

ow, as you may or may not know, I’m a pop culture fanatic. And this obsession especially applies to movies. It is essentially my goal in life to watch as many movies as possible. I don’t discriminate; I love all types of movies. I will literally watch anything.

But I don’t just watch movies. I love following all the gossip and hype that comes with them. In the winter, during awards season, this means following the more serious and sophisticated films. But now, in the midst of summer, this means blockbusters. You know the movies I’m talking about. The ones that everyone is excited about and the ones that are sure to make a splash at the box office.

And this year is already poised to be bigger than them all. 2015 seems to be box office gold. Already this year we’ve seen Furious 7, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Jurassic World break records. And there are plenty more to come, including Terminator Genisys, the new Mission Impossible flick, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, and Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens.

It’s interesting to note that every single movie listed above is a sequel.

Some of these movie franchises even span decades. Thus it makes sense why these particular movies might be drawing box office buzz. Even so, some of these successes were a bit of a surprise.

I don’t think anyone realized how enormous Furious 7 would be. Sure, The Fast and the Furious movies

always make money (otherwise there wouldn’t be seven of them), but $1.5 billion worldwide is crazy. Although not when you view the film as a tribute to the late Paul Walker.

And let’s not forget about Jurassic World, perhaps this summer’s biggest success so far. It broke plenty of records, including the biggest opening weekend in North America and the first film to gross $500 million in a single weekend. Now that’s some serious box office success.

And 2015 will only get bigger. With Mockingjay Part 2 and the long awaited Star Wars sequel on the way, people will continue to pour into theatres everywhere.

With Star Wars: The Force Awakens still months away, some may wonder if it will be successful. Well, let’s look at the hype so far. Fans, both young and old, have been waiting for a sequel since they saw the credits roll in Return of the Jedi. This is obvious when examining the success of the trailers released so far. The second teaser trailer released this year broke records everywhere; it was reportedly viewed over 88 million times in the first 24 hours of its release. I know I squealed like a fan girl when Harrison Ford made his appearance late in the trailer. And since then, I’ve watched the trailer probably dozens of times. If others feel as strongly as I do, then it’s sure to be a success.

Star Wars will be big, and will fit in nicely with the rest of 2015.

Moviegoers and movie-lovers everywhere should rejoice because our year has finally come.

The Sharbot Lake Farmers Market runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday, May 16 – October 10 at the Sharbot Lake (Oso) Beach. Fresh farm produce, fair trade organic coffee, breakfast and lunch items, homemade baked goods, preserves, frozen meats, local crafts, shiatsu massage, a full park with playground, swimming, and friendly conversation all at our picturesque beach setting. The perfect way to start your Saturday! facebook.com/sharbotlakefarmersmarket www.sharbotlakefarmersmarket.ca

Skooting the Skootamatta River. Photo by mackfest.ca

16

THE SCOOP • August / September 2015

Saturday, August 1: MAPLE DAY – “All Things Maple” at the market Saturday, August 15: MARKET HERITAGE EVENT – tomahawk and knife throwing, vendors and throwers in heritage costume Saturday, September 5: BUTTER TART CHALLENGE – vendors and community members will be baking their best to meet the challenge

Defeat Summer Boredom!

By Jordan Balson

L

ong summer days are some of the best of the year—but something that always seems to happen, despite your best intentions, is boredom. With all this free time, sometimes you run out of ideas! So, here are five ways to defeat summer boredom.

Number one is something that a lot of us have to do, begrudgingly; and that’s to get a summer job. It might not be everyone’s favourite boredom buster, but there’s a lot to be said for working over the summer! There’s less pressure, since you don’t have to focus on school work at the same time, and who knows, you may even end up loving your job and finding your calling. Even if you don’t, you’re guaranteed to meet some friends through your new work, and save up some money for the school year; and you can hardly go wrong with that!

A second thing is to commit to exercising, which can be a lot more fun than it sounds. I never used to like running, but last summer I decided that I would run every day.

It was gradual, at first it was maybe half a mile, but I worked my way up to a mile or so every day. Even on busy days, I would run for fifteen minutes; and I ended up learning to love running! Additionally, it helped me out in many other aspects of life.

So on these gorgeous summer days, being active can be a great boredom buster!

Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn that instrument that’s been lying dormant in your basement; or maybe you want to master the perfect drop kick. Maybe it’s even something tamer, like starting a collection; now’s your chance to do it! Invest hours, and you’ll end up with a skill you’re proud of, and maybe even a hobby that lasts you the rest of your life.

A fourth way is to learn something. I know, that can sound kind of boring— it’s summer, who wants to learn when there’s no school? But it doesn’t have to be as extreme as taking an e-learning course, or summer school.

It could be as simple as going to the museum, learning to read sheet music, or even just reading a book!

If you try to learn something that interests you, you’ll walk away from it with more knowledge, and a better understanding of the world around you. More than that, you may even find what you’re truly passionate about; and when you’re learning about that, it’s hardly work at all.

Finally, a great way to defeat summer boredom is to hang out with friends!

Go to the beach, the fair, the park, or just get a group of people to hang out at someone’s house. When you get a group of friends together, you’re bound to have fun; and as a general rule, the more the merrier! But no matter what you end up doing this summer, if you stick to it, make a plan, and have fun, you’re sure to have a great summer.

Number three is to master a hobby.

Get Involved in Frontenac County’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations!

T

he County of Frontenac marks its 150th Anniversary this year, a milestone that will culminate in a three-day celebration at Centennial Park in Harrowsmith, August 28 – 30. Admission and all activities are free.

Volunteers and vendors are needed in order to ensure this weekend is a success. Interested volunteers and vendors should email Pam Morey at moreyp@kos.net for more information and to register. You can download the Vendor Application Form at www.FrontenacCounty. ca/150.

“I encourage all residents of the County, and our neighboring municipalities, to bring their family and friends out for this once-in-alifetime event,” says Warden Denis Doyle. “This will be a wonderful time to celebrate our past, present, and bright future, and for visitors to discover our region. I hope you will join us, starting the week on Wolfe Island at the Canadian Plowing Championships, and capping off your summer at Frontenac County’s 150th Anniversary Celebration!

vendors. The heritage and antique displays will offer insights to the County’s colorful history. The evening will end with the Heritage Costume Ball at the Golden Links Hall (tickets cost $20 per person); come dressed in period costume, get your photo taken with Sir. John A Macdonald and dance the night away with a live band.

Tickets are available for purchase through Pam Morey and at Nicole’s Gifts in Verona.

Sunday morning brunch will be followed by more family activities, heritage and community displays, a huge historical re-enactment, live entertainment, and closing ceremony.

A full schedule of activities is available at www.FrontenacCounty. ca/150.

For more information, please contact Alison Vandervelde, Communications Officer at 613.548.9400 ext. 305 or avandervelde@frontenaccounty.ca.

Friday night festivities include the opening ceremony, midway rides, family activities, live entertainment, beer tent, IceStock Curling, family movie, and a huge fireworks show.

Acedia, engraving by Hieronymus Wierix, 16th century. Acedia can describe a state of apathetic listlessness, ennui, and boredom.

Saturday starts off with a parade, and the Frontenac County Plowing Match, Strongman Competition, bingo, and family activities – midway rides, bouncy castles, petting zoo, train rides, magic show, and mini putt – will go all day. Food and drink will be available for purchase from the beer tent, canteen, a BBQ, a collection of local food trucks, and other

August / September 2015 • THE SCOOP

17

The River of Time

Lessons Learned

By Lena Koch

By Blair McDonald

W

alking through the cemetery in Yarker on a recent summer day made me think about how time changes in small villages and towns.

As always on my walks, I had my camera with me. I had planned to take photos of gravestones for my genealogy work, but the heat of the day and the little nasty mosquitoes made it impossible, so I strolled back to the road and watched the Napanee River quietly running like a silver band beside the road. The river probably hasn’t changed much over the years.

s

D

Walking toward the village of Colebrook, I looked at the dam that controls the overflow of the river.

The dam is a very important part of the river, and is in desperate need of repair. Long ago, people had to worry every spring if the river’s water

would come too fast and flood their houses and farms. How did locals prepare for a flood? And how did they manage to come out of it every year before the dam was built? It’s good to know that the dam will be repaired, and that people downstream have nothing to worry about these days.

The Colebrook dam and surrounding area is such a pretty sight. The village is just as picturesque as Yarker, and both villages have so much history and many beautiful landscapes. This area has so much to offer.

Darkness was coming. The insects were getting worse, and the fireflies began blinking. The silver band changed from gold to red, and then the river got dark. But the water never stops to push down the waterfall like it did a long time ago. It keeps on running as if nothing has changed.

The Napanee River’s time capsule has preserved much of the past.

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I

t’s not often that country music becomes the subject of debate or controversy. Regular listeners of country music might have heard about recent stirrings over gender parity on country music charts (Search Vince Gill’s interview with The Houston Press) and the takeover of country radio with popfriendly songs of fun-filled, quarrydrinking, frat-boy anthems (now lovingly referred to as ‘bro-country’).

Even TIME magazine got in on this issue, running an article last year, paradoxically titled, “’Bro-Country is Still Thriving, Even if Everyone Hates It” describing the backlash against this chart-topping phenomenon. One wonders however, if today’s current debate on country music is the latest in the long-standing battle over political correctness and the battle of the sexes.

Evidence of what is now being called ‘bro-country’ is not hard to find. I’m sure regular Froggy 97 listeners could name several more to add to this list.

A couple of years back there was the inescapable “Cruise” by newcomers Florida Georgia Line. There’s been Blake Shelton’s “Boys Round Here”, Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem”, Jarrod Niemann’s “I Could Drink To That All Night” and some have even thrown Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” into the ring of pop-country anthems that are dragging country music’s soul down into a Fireball-fuelled, dirt-road Babylon. Surveying this summer’s newest crop of hits, the party still rages on with songs like Luke Bryan’s “Kick the Dust Up,” Sam Hunt’s “House Party,” and Lee Brice’s “Drinking Class” filling summer stations and stadiums.

The finger-waggers have their pick of the litter.

prudish condemnation.

But it’s not just critics who have something to say. Country fans may recall riffs between some of today’s major country stars like Zac Brown’s dismissal of Luke Bryan’s “That’s My Kind Of Night” to Maddie and Tae’s wonderfully sharp critique of brocountry in “A Girl in a Country Song.”

Not all the boys (and girls) get along and not everyone’s a fan. But isn’t that OK? After all, that is the freedom we have as listeners. From an artist’s perspective, I can understand Jason Aldean’s reaction to the term brocountry as narrow-minded, given the depth of some of his beautiful songs like “Fly Over States” or “Amarillo Sky” which revel in the mysterious and awe-inspiring experience of rural life.

If it can be said that music is born of emotion and experience, then surely brotherly revelry, fast trucks, Saturday nights, and the pursuit of pretty women mirror the reality of many young men raised in the country, doesn’t it? And if so, why are they being chastised for it? Boys being boys is nothing new, and perhaps from a developmental standpoint these songs mirror a stage of shortlived adult freedom before marriage, mortgages and children set in.

As a counter-argument to this backlash, could it not be argued that these songs remind us of those exciting, life-affirming impulses that find their home in moments of revelry, celebration and law-breaking?

Perhaps in that sense, these songs are more freeing (regardless of how juvenile their story) than we give them credit for and it’s to that which we owe the seeds of their popularity.

To those listening carefully, let’s not forget the gloriously sobering “Troubadour” by George Strait, (an honourary, bro-country elder) whose song reminds us that even if the party ends, regardless of age, the dream of youth, virility, and conquest burns on.

Critics suggest that these songs promote all the wrong values about country living such as law breaking, excessive drinking, and chasing women. These songs revel in the experience of men behaving badly.

Critics give us a sobering reminder that these young men should know better.

Addington, But judging by sales, it would seem that concerns appear to have fallen on deaf ears. Field parties, big trucks, and moonshine are all the rage and it’s not clear that the popularity of these songs will be challenged by

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THE SCOOP • August / September 2015

(613) 453-TAXI

KIDS & PaReNTS L&A County Library Programs & Events Foster Creativity & Imagination Online auguST PROgRaMS Amherstview TD Summer Reading Club Special Visitors – Tue @ 10:30 a.m.

TD Summer Reading Club Theme Program – Thu @ 3 p.m.

Puppy Tales – Wed @ 10:30 a.m.

Maker Club – Sat @ 10:30 a.m.

Tech Talks – Mon – Thu by appt.

613.389.6006) Bath Maker Club – Wed @ 6:30 p.m.

Camden East Storytime – Mon @ 10:00 a.m.

Napanee TD Summer Reading Club Special Visitors – Tue @ 3 p.m.

TD Summer Reading Club Theme Program – Thu @ 10:30 a.m.

Puppy Tales – Wed @ 10:30 a.m.

Maker Club – Sat @ 10:30 a.m.

Tech Talks – Mon – Thu by appt.

613.354.4883) South Fredericksburgh Maker Club – Thu @ 6:30 p.m.

Yarker Maker Club – Tue @ 6:30 p.m.

TD SuMMeR ReaDINg CluB SPeCIal eVeNTS Bath Branch Library – Storytime in the park beside the branch Wed Aug. 5 @ 3 p.m.

Tamworth Branch Library – Storytime in the park beside the branch Wed Aug. 12 @ 3 p.m.

Yarker Branch Library – Storytime in the park behind the branch Wed Aug. 19 @ 3 p.m.

SePTeMBeR PROgRaMS Amherstview Puppy Tales – Wed @ 10:30 a.m.

Maker Club – Sat @ 10:30 a.m.

Tech Talks – Monday – Thu by appt.

613.389.6006) Bath Maker Club – Wed @ 6:30 p.m.

LARC Playgroup Is Taking A Trip to the NAPANEE FIRE HALL August 27 @ 10 a.m.

Napanee Fire Hall, 66 Advance Ave. The trip to the fire hall will include a tour of the station and a chance to sit in the fire trucks. The children will also be learning about fire safety.

For more information on this trip or to sign up please contact Jennie Hill @ 613.354.6318 ext.27

By Joanne Borges Camden East Storytime – Mon @ 10:00 a.m.

Napanee Puppy Tales – Wed @ 10:30 a.m.

Maker Club – Saturdays @ 10:30 a.m.

Tech Talks – Mon – Thu by appt.

613.354.4883) South Fredericksburgh Maker Club – Thu @ 6:30 p.m.

Yarker Maker Club – Tue @ 6:30 p.m.

LARC Early Years Centre Summer 2015 Program Schedule BUSY FEET: Mondays 10:00—11:30 a.m.

Strathcona Paper Centre, Napanee Closed August 24 & 31 BATH PLAYGROUP: Thursdays 9:30—11:30 a.m.

Bath United Church Closed all July, beginning Aug. 6 back at the church NAPANEE PLAYGROUP: Wednesdays 9:30—11:30 a.m.

Trinity United Church NEWBURGH PLAYGROUP: Tuesdays 9:30 –11:30 a.m.

Newburgh Community Hall Closed August 18 & 25, reopens Sept. 1 YARKER PLAYGROUP: Wednesdays 9:30—11:30 a.m.

Yarker Free Methodist Church Open Wednesdays in July & Aug. 5.

Reopens Sept. 2 ROLLING WITH BABY: Thursdays 10:00—11:30 a.m.

Springside Park. A stroller/walking exercise program for Moms/Dads with babies in a stroller.

EARLY YEARS CENTRE: All Summer Programs at 1178 County Road 8, will be closed June-August.

Watch for the opening of our NEW PLAYROOM at 495 Advance Ave., Napanee. Date to be announced.

DADDY & ME: Closed for June-August, returns in September.

Amherstview, Flinton, Tamworth, & Northbrook, will be taking a summer break July & August. Please call us or visit our website to see when they resume.

For more information please contact LARC Ontario Early Years Centre:

613.354.6318 www.larc4kids.com

S

ummer vacation is here and we want our kids to be spending time outside, however, on those rainy days how can students use devices to foster creativity and imagination? Here are some app ideas and websites for summer fun and learning. Remember, when going online, it is always best to support and guide your child, when possible.

Introducing safe web searching engines such as SafeSearchKids.com or KidRex (kidrex.org) will help to guide children to make good choices on the internet.

A Wonder a Day: Wonderopolis (wonderopolis.org) is an informational site that asks and answers interesting questions about the world. Every day, a new “Wonders of the Day” question is posted, and each is designed to get kids and families to think, talk, and find learning moments together in everyday life. Wonderopolis also features a virtual summer camp called Camp Wonderopolis (camp. wonderopolis.org) – check it out!

Being Creative by Learning to Code: Learning to code is a skill that is being tied into math and literacy in the classroom around the province.

Many schools are participating in the Hour of Code (hourofcode.com/ca) with no experience needed! Students learn to code and create their own interactive stories and games while solving problems, designing projects and creatively expressing themselves with technology. Some free sites for kids to teach beginning coding that also have accompanying free Android and iOS apps are ScratchJr. (scratchjr. org) for ages 5-9, Kodable (kodable. com) for early learners, and Lightbot (lightbot.com), while Hopscotch (gethopscotch.com) is an iOS app only.

Connecting Creative Writing and Art: Storybird (storybird.com) is an authoring tool for all ages that easily allows you to build and write your own books based on the beautiful artwork catalogue within the site.

Stories can be published and in the safe, positive community and read in the Storybird library. Authors can read others’ work and receive comments and feedback from authentic readers on their own creations.

Getting Creative with MoMA: Destination Modern Art (moma.org/ interactives/destination/destination. html) is an interactive site for kids to explore famous artistic paintings and sculptures as they walk through the museum. Students click on art pieces to learn about them and to complete an online art activity that mimics

the artistic style. This is a great idea generator for kids to then go and create their own piece of art off line.

Math in the Summer? Kids love the interactive game based style of Prodigy Math (prodigygame.com)!

This math site has students work at self-paced learning on over 600 math skills in an engaging format appealing to kids. You can track your child’s progress and support them with extra practice or challenge them with advanced content.

Take Your Device Outside and Document the World: Using openended free apps such as Shadow Puppet,iMovie, PicCollage (piccollage.com), or 30 Hands, allows students to create documentaries or poster boards that can capture their photos and their voice, while adding in sound effects, background music or text. By taking the iPad outside, students can take photos of their excursions and then use these images to create a keepsake movie of their day. Kids love being creative in iMovie Trailers, and capturing live video outside to then upload to the provided template can be a great way to spend time with friends and be outside!

A great photo app for younger students is Plum’s Photo Hunt by PBSKids (pbskids.org), another great website for little ones, that accompanies the Plum Landing Platform. This app takes kids outside on nature photo hunts and has them document them in their field journal.

It also has animated characters for photobombing! This app works without Wi-Fi on the iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone. Before sending your child off with a camera device, it’s a great idea to remind kids about what an appropriate photo includes, and what it does not include. Teach your child to always ask permission before taking someone else’s photo and sharing it online.

Common Sense Media: Best Website Recommendations for Families: Depending on what type of technological application you are looking for, Common Sense Media (commonsensemedia. org) has created a site of the Best Recommendations for Families. Sites have been broken down into website, app and movie categories for easy searching.

Joanne Borges is a Connected Technology Teacher with the Limestone District School Board.

You can follow her on Twitter @ technologyLDSB as she tweets ideas and activities related to technology and learning.

August / September 2015 • THE SCOOP

19

Old Newburgh Academy Solves a Dilemma

By Laurie Ness Gordon

I

own a copy of Old Newburgh Academy 1839-1965 by R.E. Fluke.

I bought it mostly because my friend Jo’s class picture is on the front end paper and her name, Josephine Alkenbrack (now Glen), is listed in the class of 1929 at the back. Jo’s family lived in Camden East where her father was a butcher. After a full life, Jo died in 2012 in her 95th year.

When I bought the Newburgh Academy book, I had no idea how

useful it would be years later.

I am a writer. So is my closest friend, Ruth Allen. Mostly as an excuse to spend more time together, we decided to co-author a novel. Titled Finding Home, it takes place in the 1870s.

Sarah Phillips, a fifteen-year-old domestic, loses her family to cholera in the slums of East London, England.

In Forest Mills, Ontario, Richard Breeze returns home in disgrace when he loses his job after a fight

with his boss’s son at Gibbard’s. The novel chronicles their intersecting journeys as Sarah searches for her relatives in Canada, and Richard tries to find his place in the world and earn his father’s respect. The story also features twists inspired by stories from the Lennox and Addington County archives, and shines a light on the plight of the early Home Children: waifs and orphans taken from the workhouses of London to provide child labour on Canadian farms.

Our writing was progressing well, but there was one part we hadn’t worked out. Where would Richard go to prove himself? Since his oldest brother had inherited the family homestead and his second brother would take over the sawmill, Richard’s mother had convinced her husband to pay for Richard’s education at the Newburgh Academy. James had always resented the outlay. When Richard disgraces himself and the Breeze name by losing his job at Gibbard’s, his father gives him an ultimatum: work at the mill to pay back the money spent on his education and then get out.

But get out to where? Ruth and I tossed around a few options: the Riel rebellion was taking place at the time, but Richard had no connection to those events. The American Civil War had already ended, so Richard could not distinguish himself there. Perhaps he could get a job with the expanding railway or work in the mines near Madoc. None of these ideas grabbed us.

Students on the steps of Newburgh Academy, 1880.

Photo courtesy Lennox & Addington Museum & Archives (N-00716).

At a loss, I began to read Old Newburgh Academy 1839-1965. There, on pages 39-40 the solution appeared:

Answers to the crossword on the Puzzle Page (page 21): “John Campbell, M.A., from Victoria University, followed Mr. Lewin [as Principal], teaching till 1871. It was in his day that, in all, between a dozen and a score of youths from the Bahama Islands came to be educated at Newburgh Academy.

The Rev. Mr. Cheesbrough wrote from Nassau, New Providence, Bahama Isles, to the Rev. E. Ryerson, Chief Superintendent of Education, asking him to recommend a good school, in a suitable locality, etc. whereto boys might be sent for education. Mr. Cheesbrough stated that as suitable schools in the West Indies were not to be had, and as sending their sons

to England was more costly than satisfactory, and sending them to the United States would be exposing them to learn too much, several white gentlemen of Nassau had in view the education of their sons in Upper Canada. Chief Superintendent Ryerson recommended Newburgh Academy and John Campbell, M.A. The southern youths came, and they revolutionized young Newburgh.”

Ruth and I had no idea that sons of wealthy families in the Bahamas were educated at Newburgh Academy, but it certainly solved a problem for our story. We created a character, Arthur Johnson from the Bahamas who became Richard’s close friend. After graduation, the two kept in touch.

Arthur appreciated the hospitality he was shown at the Breezes and suggested that if Richard wanted to come to the Bahamas, there would always be a job for him in the Johnson’s pineapple plantation and export business on Eleuthera Island.

Richard takes up his friend’s offer and is given a position managing the nowindentured black and Creole workers, newly emancipated from slavery.

Weighing the clash of cultures and moral values against a life of relative ease on Eleuthera Island and the possibility of marrying into a wealthy family, Richard must ultimately decide where home is and with whom he wants to spend his life.

Thank you, Newburgh Academy, for solving our dilemma and helping us create a much richer story.

The first draft of Finding Home is finished. Ruth and Laurie are now working on the lengthy process of editing the manuscript.

Laurie Ness Gordon lives on Desert Lake in South Frontenac. A former teacher, consultant and principal, she turned her hand to writing after retirement. Her debut novel, The Medal, was published by Borealis Press in 2014. For more information visit: www.laurienessgordon.com Ruth Allen’s portfolio career includes writer, teacher, travel agent, painter and many others. A woman always on the go, she divides her time between her home in Forest Mills, Ontario and her cottage on Prince Edward Island.

Free Classifieds Free to private individuals or not-for-profit community groups.

To place an ad, phone 613.379.5369 or email stonemills.scoop@gmail.com.

WANTED: Poets to share their poems.

Call me at 613.375.8256 or email me at jerry.ackerman31@gmail.com

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THE SCOOP • August / September 2015

Puzzle Page

Word Ladder Can you turn TIME into WAIT, by changing only one letter per line?

August / September 2015 • THE SCOOP

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Irish-Canadian International Dry Stone Festival Amherst Island September 25 – 27 ENJOY FREE - children’s dry stone workshops, displays, guided tours, Harvest Fest, and storytelling WATCH FREE - stone carving demonstrations, new Irish wall building and a world’s first dry stone structure attempt to replicate the genius of the ancient Celts COME TO MEET - Dr. Ray Bassett, the Irish Ambassador to Canada; author Jane Urquhart (The Stone Carvers); world-renowned Irish wallers, the Queen’s waller for Balmoral Estates plus 25 other renowned wallers and stone carvers FREE MUSIC - includes Blackie O’Connell and Cyril O’Donoghue from Ireland, and the award-winning O’Shraves, Mark McGreevy, Irish dancers and more!

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THE SCOOP • August / September 2015

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Meet...

Shae-Lynn Way

By Lillian Bufton

S

hae-Lynn is 17 years old and currently attends Napanee District Secondary School. She has lived in Tamworth her whole life, and helped to bring the torch through Greater Napanee on July 3rd as a 2015 Pan Am Games torchbearer.

Congratulations Shae-Lynn!

How were you chosen to be a torchbearer?

In early November 2014, I saw an advertisement for torchbearers for the Pan Am Games. After seeing the 2010 Vancouver Olympics torch run go through Napanee, I was very inspired and motivated to be part of the run this year. I sent in an application, answering different questions on why I love to run and describing my background in athletics. I also talked about my community involvement and accomplishments through the years. This year, there were 3,000 torch runners: 1,000 were sponsor chosen, and the other 2,000 were selected from applicants online. Well, more than 11,000 people applied online to be a torch runner this year, and I was lucky enough to be part of that 2,000!

How did it feel to be chosen?

It felt absolutely amazing! Just thinking how I was going to be the only one holding that flame for a short period made me feel honored and super excited. I was constantly updating my social media pages to let my friends and family know at what time I would be running and where, just to make sure not a single person would miss out. It was a great 200m of glory and fame that I’ll remember my entire life.

Did you do any training to prepare?

Knowing that the torch run was either a run, slow jog, or walk, I didn’t feel very pressured to train for it. I run regularly as a long distance runner, I’ve been part of the cross country team and track team at NDSS, and I also ran in elementary school, so it has always been an interest of mine.

Take us through the day you carried the torch.

Well I had to arrive really early to sign in and get my uniform and instructions. I was a little nervous that my uniform might be too small, since we had sent in our measurements ahead of time, but instead, it was actually way too big.

After I was dressed and received my torch, it felt like forever until all of the torchbearers were loaded on the bus and got going. Our parents and family members took lots of photos, and I almost felt like a celebrity. We then got on the bus that dropped off the runners only a couple minutes before what they called the “party bus” came, and the runner would start. My part of the run was near the end of the relay, and I was getting quite anxious watching everyone else getting off the bus. When it was my turn, I got off the bus at my start point where my entire family stood with big signs and cheering. They were so happy and pumped up for me! I then did my run and walked back to my family.

Afterwards, we went back to my house for a barbecue and celebrated.

Any parting thoughts you’d like to share with SCOOP readers?

Never be afraid to put yourself out there. I could have been rejected but

Shae-Lynn, proudly holding her torch for the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Contributed photo. that didn’t scare me. Sure, I would have been upset if I hadn’t been picked to be a torchbearer, but I could only think of how I would feel if I didn’t at least try. I’ve put myself out there a lot in my community and at my school, and definitely know what rejection feels like because I’ve

been there many times. I’ve come to the realization that you win some, and you lose some, and that’s life.

It’s how you pick yourself up in the end and bounce back that creates character and prepares you for more opportunities.

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Very comfortable cottage features 3 bedrooms, full bath, eat-in kitchen and living room with woodstove and access to front deck. The lot is 2 acres with sand beach waterfront and level behind with grass area for outside activities. New septic system, shore well and storage buildings. Little Marble Lake is not large enough for huge boats and is an excellent lake for those that wish a quieter atmosphere but has good fishing for pickerel, bass, pike & rainbow trout. $229,900 MLS 15606688

Running the 200m relay through Napanee. Contributed photo.

FAMILY HOME is in town, walking distance to downtown, shopping, parks and restaurants. 3 ample bedrooms and large bath on 2nd floor, good working kitchen, separate dining room and large living room with fireplace on main level. Full basement with finished family room and mechanical laundry rooms.

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August / September 2015 • THE SCOOP

23

Tree PlanTing?

FUNDING SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE If you are planting trees on your property you may be eligible for funding assistance. Planting trees on your property helps fight climate change, increases wild life habitat and water conservation.

Forests Ontario is working with its tree planting partners across the province to deliver the Ontario government’s 50 Million Tree Program.

Paid for, in part, by the Government of Ontario

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THE SCOOP • August / September 2015

If you have at least 2.5 acres of productive land, you could qualify.

Call or visit us at:

Forests Ontario 416.646.1193 www.forestsontario.ca /50mtp