The SCOOP // October / November 2018

SCOOP The

October / November 2018

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thescoop.ca

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f o . . . t s e rv

Food Photos

T r e e s

Travel Pollinators

Homes

Votes

SCOOP up the Harvest

The

SCOOP O Founded in 2005 by Richard Saxe

PUBLISHER & AD SALES Karen Nordrum

stonemills.scoop@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Ron Betchley, Lillian Bufton, Katherine Burrows, Dianne Dowling, Jane Foster, Glen R. Goodhand, Alyce Gorter, Carolyn McCulloch, Blair McDonald, Michelle Mather, Susan Moore, Cora Reid, Barbara Roch, Mickey Sandell,

ne of the unmitigated pleasures of putting together such a fine publication as that which you are now holding in your hands is the serendipitous reading of articles as they are submitted to our multitalented editorial board (which, it bears reminding, is the same person who also heads the sales department, the copy editing team, and the publishing unit, with occasional help from volunteers, spouse, friends, and offspring). While this issue’s theme is supposed to be “harvest,” with as wide an interpretation as one might anticipate, it is of course difficult to expect the SCOOP’s entire brilliant stable of volunteer writers (to whom much gratitude is owed) to follow instructions. Good writing is an art, and flows from inspiration, rather than from specific guidelines.

Yet, the seasonal theme seems to have found its way into many of the great articles we received these past few weeks. Take for instance the fine historical piece that begins with a wistful look at a time when proper attire was expected for many of our social and spiritual functions. It slides effortlessly from the disappearance of neckwear to the ultimate harvest machine: the tractor. A lyrical piece on trees strikes a fine balance between the mythical beauty of the forest and its abundant, nourishing, life-sustaining gifts. And of course, much of the fall harvest would not even exist without pollinators, another topic (and upcoming workshop) covered in these pages. And this is just a preview. Starting with our cornucopia cover, this issue is overflowing with harvest bounty.

2018-19 TECDC Concert Series

JOEY LANDRETH Sat. October 20

All photos contributed, unless

• 2014 Folk Music Canada Award - Emerging Artist • 2015 JUNO Award - Roots/Traditional Album • 2015 Nominee Americana UK International Artist of the Year

HOW TO CONTACT US

DON’T MISS THESE UPCOMING SHOWS: Nov. 24 – Mike Goudreau & The Boppin Blues Band

Jan. 12 - Séan McCann Feb. 9 – Jenie Thai April 6 – Jenn Grant May 11 – Steven Page

On Saturday, October 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. get a head start on your Halloween fun at the Black Cat Cafe!

Crafts and games!

Pumpkin carving!

Treats and fun for everyone!

And it’s all Free!!

See you there!!!

BOO!!!!

With support from the Government of Canada

Jane Scott, Terry Sprague

otherwise noted.

Hey Kids!

$40

CONCERT TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: The River Bakery

STONE MILLS FAMILY MARKET

BON ECO DESIGN

Mark Oliver (moliver@bell.net)

613.379.5369

stonemills.scoop@gmail.com thescoop.ca

D&D Electrocraft Ltd.

facebook.com/thescoop.ca Please write to us at:

Robert Storring Century 21

Stone Mills Scoop 482 Adair Road Tamworth, ON K0K 3G0

SALVAGE GARDEN Tamworth Medical Centre

All shows at the Tamworth Legion * 8 p.m. start * 7 p.m. doors open * Advance tickets 613 379 2808 Where possible seating is assigned by order of ticket purchase - Season ticket holders excepted!

The SCOOP is published

Colleen’s Cleaning

six times a year. We mail The SCOOP for free to more than 6600 households in Tamworth, Centreville, Enterprise, Erinsville, Camden

613 379 5959 Reliable, Thorough, Caring Using Eco-Friendly Products www.ColleensCleaning.ca cmfclean@gmail.com

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.

All rights reserved.

No reproduction by any means or any form may be made

Mon-Tue 10am-6pm • Wed-Fri 9am-6pm • Sat 9am-noon

without prior written consent by the publisher.

COVER

Fall harvest memories in Verona, Ontario. Photo taken this September by Bill Kendall – for more of Bill’s local nature photos, visit @lakelifenaturals on Facebook.

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The SCOOP • October / November 2018

Election Sign Dilemma Resolved

THE BOOK SHOP Reading

D

Harold Hoefle Geoffrey Cook

eputy Reeve candidate John Wise didn’t want to use plastic signs for his election campaign. He contacted Bon Eco Design for ideas for a sign using natural materials.

Hans Honegger suggested re-purposing some hockey player silhouettes that he had made for previous installations.

John, who is an enthusiastic recreational hockey player, loved the concept.

Carolyn Butts came up with a design based on the idea of a hockey jersey logo, and she and John spent part of an afternoon with paint and stencils creating the signs.

Sunday, October 21 @ 2 p.m.

OCTOBER: Fri - Sat - Sun: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

NOVEMBER: By chance or appointment

Bridge St. E. at the foot of Peel TAMWORTH 613-379-2108 www.tamworthbookshop.com info@tamworthbookshop.com

This creative solution supports the arts locally and has no impact on the environment. After the election, the signs will be returned to Bon Eco Design for future uses.

Save the Date: Fun Fall Fashion Show all proceeds benefit THE STEPHEN LEWIS FOUNDATION Our local chapter, Grandmothers by the Lake are hosting a

Silent Auction & Fashion Show TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30

Trinity United Church, 6689 Road 38, Verona Silent Auction at 7:00 p.m.• Fashion Show at 7:30 p.m.

Refreshments & purchasing of clothing from Designer Fashion Exchange Entrance $10 Contact Deb @ 613-374-3513 Come join us in supporting African Grandmothers raising children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic

We are a community based non-profit corporation aimed at encouraging local entrepreneurship and economic development.

We provide loans, grants and business advice to businesses in Lennox & Addington and Prince Edward Counties.

Napanee Office www.pelacfdc.ca 47 Dundas St East @CountyFutures Napanee, ON, K7R 1H7 Phone: 613-354-0162 • Toll Free: 1-800-354-5830

RIVER FALLS INDEPENDENT CLASS is looking to invite a few new students and families to join their current combined Grade 3/4 class. This class is taught by experienced and certified teachers.

For more information on this class, please see

www.riverfallsclass.com or email

riverfallsclass@gmail.com October / November 2018 • The SCOOP

3

Pollinator Gardens Galore Susan Moore

B

utterflies and insects add a lot to our gardens: beauty, activity, and signs of eco-health. However, native pollinator populations are declining, imperiled by habitat loss and many other factors. The good news is, we can all help protect pollinators, and local solutions are best. On October 10, the Lennox & Addington Stewardship Council (www.lastewardship.ca) is pleased to host a workshop to create a buzz about pollinator gardens.

Pollinators – birds, bees, butterflies and other insects – are part of the intricate web supporting the biological diversity that helps sustain our quality of life. By improving the habitat for pollinators, particularly native ones, we support our own food needs and we support diversity in the natural world.

“Flowering plants across wild, farmed and even urban landscapes actually feed the terrestrial world, and pollinators are the great connectors that enable this giant food system to work for all who eat... including us.” Roger Lang, Chair, Pollinator Partnership (www.pollinator. org).

An effective pollinator garden or yard should have appeal for insects and birds in all seasons. The pollinator workshop will demonstrate how.

Pollinator friEndly yardS Maya Navrot, Education Coordinator for Quinte Conservation, has years of experience helping schools and organizations to design and plant

gardens to host our bird and insect friends.

On October 10 in Odessa, Maya will give a photo presentation, “Pollinator Friendly Yards”, showing how to make a garden using plants that support the life cycles of our pollinators. Our gardens can feature flowering plants for early spring and late fall, as well as summer.

Pollinator friendly yards can take on many forms from no-mow zones to wildflower meadow spaces to tended flower gardens. The introduction of wildflowers and flowering shrubs into a current garden space is one easy option.

Maya will take us through the steps of planning for a garden beginning with assessing the site and considering personal preferences. What are the benefits of planting with native species?

What role do pollinators play in our ecosystem?

With a wide array of photos, Maya will present suggested native species (North American and native to our own area) that are great nectar producers and host plants for insect larvae. The demonstration of flowers will proceed from April-May blooming wildflowers through to October, so that pollinators are supported throughout our flowering seasons.

Many trees, shrubs and grasses are also host plants. Determine what is already growing in your yard, and Maya can suggest how to enhance that growth.

monarchS at School Another pollinator solution is the Monarch Butterfly Program. The

Stewardship Council will present a few highlights of this breeding kits and pollinator gardens program in L&A County schools. It has been a hallmark of the Council’s success over many years.

Pollinator PanEl Following the presentations, a panel of specialists – with Maya as moderator – will field questions from the audience and encourage discussion. The panel includes Peter Fuller (of Fuller Native and Rare Plants in Belleville), Elizabeth Churcher (Quinte Field Naturalists director and life-long gardener), Amanda Tracey (Conservation Biologist, Nature Conservancy of Canada), Kurt Hennige (Stewardship Council biologist and insect specialist) and Kathleen Law (outreach program manager of Pollinator Partnership). This will give everyone plenty of Q & A time!

The Pollinator Workshop is on Wednesday, October 10 Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for socializing and seeing displays/ handouts.

The program begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.

St. Alban’s Church Hall, 67 Main St., Odessa Cost: a donation of $5 is suggested, children are admitted free.

Registration is not required.

For more info: contact Susan at 613-379-5958 or lastewardship@gmail.com

ELECT YVONNE GIBSON FOR COUNCIL

Looking to the future and the betterment of Stone Mills Township.

LEADERSHIP I hope to educate, inspire and give constituents a voice to be heard.

EQUALITY Enhancing communication between government and constituents/residents.

TRANSPARENCY Making sound fiscal decisions for a prosperous community.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY Inclusive community development! Business opportunities & services, job creation/planning & services, daycare planning & services, senior programs planning & services.

INNOVATION TAXES! We must review our budgets and make room for services that are a necessity to the community as a whole. Roads, garbage & waste management and emergency services.

ACCOUNTABILITY

If these are important to you then YVONNE GIBSON is who you need.

Let’s get Stone Mills where we need to be. Decisions will be made on educated facts and I will do my homework and work with integrity to get the job done! Please feel free to contact me if you would like to chat and or meet at your convenience.

“LET’S BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS” (613) 358-9375 ysgibson@kos.net Authorized by Yvonne Gibson

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The SCOOP • October / November 2018

Yellow-banded Bumble Bee Species at Risk. Photo by K. Hennige.

We’ve Got An Agent For You! L-AMUTUAL.COM 1-800-267-7812 Nikole Walters Harrowsmith 613-372-2980 Lana Marvin Kingston & Area 613-331-6985 Todd Steele Napanee & Area 613-354-4810

Andrea Blasko Kingston 343-363-1064

Jesslynn Millen Harrowsmith 613-372-2980

Sally Blasko Kathy McCaffrey Inverary, Kingston Newburgh & Area 613-353-2739 613-378-6847 Susan L. Wright Bath & Napanee 613-373-9733

Hope King Belleville & Area 613-849-1191

Tracey Moffat K.F.L.&A.

613-531-1389 Rick Bowen Napanee & Area 613-354-4810

TRULY LOCAL

Real Estate Agents Build Community in Stone Mills made the decision to leave the consumer-packaged goods industry and utilize my marketing, sales and negotiation skills to help people achieve their real estate dreams and am so happy I did. I should have done it sooner.”

Katherine Burrows

R

eal estate is central to several current political discussions from increasing our tax base to rural internet access. Meet some of the people who work with buyers and sellers every day.

What about Stone Mills do you find attracts buyers from other areas?

Robert Storring (Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate Brokerage) is a lifelong resident of Stone Mills, who has been a well-respected real estate agent for 45 years. During this time, Robert has been President of the Kingston Real Estate Board twice, President of the Ontario Real Estate Association for Ontario, and a founding director of the Real Estate Council of Ontario. He notes, “I have been here so long I have kinda become the local information center and I don’t mind. I do know my market and my area, including a lot of the history of the area, particularly Tamworth area.”

Robert Storring: The rural atmosphere, vibrant artistic convergence, friendly atmosphere, proximity to health care, and proximity to other places. We’re 25 minutes from Napanee, 40 minutes from Kingston/Belleville, 2 ½ hours from Toronto, 3 ½ hours from Montreal, 1 ¾ hours from Ottawa, and 1 hour to the US border. Yet you can be fishing in 5 minutes! (My sales pitch.)

Diane Giberson: Over the last couple of years, prices have been increasing at a greater than normal rate. More so in communities west of Kingston. Stone Mills has also seen appreciation in the prices but still very achievable for first time home buyers. It is also a great place for buyers coming from areas around Toronto who want to come and retire in our wonderful communities and be able to put a chunk of money in the bank.

Diane Giberson (Sutton Group Masters Realty Inc. Brokerage) became a real estate agent 8.5 years ago and is currently serving her third term as a Director with the Kingston and Area Real Estate Board. “I was in the middle of a career change and wanted something that gave me more flexibility of hours and where I worked for myself but still helped people,” she explains. She loves being able to guide her clients to make an informed real estate decision, whether they are buying or selling.

Shawna Stewart: Without a doubt, our natural resources which provide opportunities for watersports, fishing, hiking, snowmobiling and more. The bonus is the easy commute to Napanee, Kingston, Belleville and even the larger centres of Ottawa and Toronto. People are looking for a slower pace of life but still want easy access to broader amenities, events and to have an easy commute for friends and family.

Shawna Stewart (Re/Max Finest Realty Inc., Brokerage) transferred her skills from her previous career to real estate four years ago. “I was one of those people who checked realtor.ca every day, even though I wasn’t considering a purchase. I

ELECT MARTHA EMBURY dEPuty rEEvE StonE millS 2018 Stone Mills Township Election is an opportunity to bring fresh ideas and new direction to our community.

We need new Leadership to develop and achieve a new approach of governance that will make Stone Mills thrive for years to come.

MARTHA’S EXPERTISE: - Served as councillor at Stone Mills Township from 20062010 and from 2014-2018 - Family farm business owner - Business Administration Diploma (Finance Major) - Candidate for Ontario Justice of the Peace - Past volunteer and board member of local organizations; Lennox and Addington chapter of Heart and Stroke, Lamplighter Preschool, Newburgh Community School Association, Lennox and Addington 4-H Association

When growing our tax base, Robert Storring feels that “What we need is a council that will encourage and foster new family settlement and smaller commercial, light industrial growth. The way to do this is to make sensible development easier and less costly.”

Diane Giberson adds that new residents “come to the country for the slower way of life but at the same time don’t want to feel isolated. To facilitate this, we need a way to communicate to every resident which can’t be 100% internet based until infrastructure is in place for all residents to have reliable internet.” Shawna Stewart emphasizes, “We need to ensure we have the infrastructure to support current market trends. The Re/Max 2018 Recreational Property Report has identified 3 key trends: retirees or semi-retirees buying cottages or rural properties as retirement homes, young couples choosing to live in the country over expensive rural markets and cottages as investment properties. We do need to ensure that the appropriate services are in place to support these changes and that includes political support of small businesses, tourism advertising, broadened health services and ensuring internet quality is improved.”

What do you like best about working in Stone Mills?

Robert Storring: The people, the variety of physical terrain, the variety of properties, the rural feel of the township and of course the ever-present sense of community.

Diane Giberson: I’ve been a resident of Stone Mills for 12 years and have made it my mission to seek out all that Stone Mills has to offer and have discovered how wonderful the residents and business owners in this community are.

Living and working in Stone Mills gives me a perspective advantage that allows me to incorporate it when marketing to buyers.

Shawna Stewart: Most definitely the people and seeing their pride in their homes and how each has differentiated their property to reflect how they want to live.

Current Stone Mills residents enjoy many benefits to our rural lifestyle. The best feature that Stone Mills offers current residents is “a friendly, slower, rural atmosphere, with a wide variety of communities each with their own attributes, and a wide variety of activities, recreation, and natural attractions,” according to Robert

It’s that time of the year to stock up ...

We have: Plumbing Antifreeze, Mitts, Toques, Work Gloves, Mouse & Rat Traps, Safe-T-Salt, Snow Shovels, Wood Pellets & More...

613-379-1064

Home-cooked food • Lottery machine

Facebook @martha.embury

E-mail: hillview@kos.net

Silk flower arrangements • Newspapers Headstone flowers • And much more!

THE CHANGE WE NEED - THE VOICE WE DESERVE Approved by Martha Embury

OPEN 7 Days a Week 613-379-2202

Storring. Diane Giberson’s views are that “Stone Mills is rich in small businesses and wonderful safe communities to raise children.” Shawna Stewart sums it up nicely: “We really do have it all: friendly and welcoming people, the natural beauty and resources of rural life, vibrant community and cultural events, and a wide variety of local businesses and services.”

Any advice for current Stone Mills homeowners?

Robert Storring: Always remember that even though your home is an investment it is also the roof over your head where family memories are made. Treat it well.

If going to sell at any point first impressions are the biggest influence.

Keep curb appeal tidy and well kept.

Same thing inside. If a property is messy, cluttered or littered most buyers will form an opinion within about five minutes.

Diane Giberson: Do regular tests on your sump pumps to ensure they still work.

The number of floods in basements due to sump pump failures is astonishing to me. Basement flooding will have an effect when you go to sell and must be disclosed. Just a small way to ensure you protect your investment.

Shawna Stewart: Keep your maintenance up to date. It is easier to tackle small items than let them get out of control and then be overwhelmed. Talk with your realtor before proceeding with large scale renovations; they can help you understand what value is being added or perhaps lost with renovations. Your house is an investment; however, it’s also your home so you may choose to do things to don’t add dollar value but add to your quality of life and that is just as important.

These three amazing agents make great ambassadors for real estate in Stone Mills Township. They are equally delighted to help current residents move within the township and to bring new buyers in.

Both are integral to continuing the strong, welcoming community we currently enjoy.

Christmas Shopping Tour in the Country Saturday, November 3 Come to the Friends Meeting House in Moscow at 20 Huffman Rd and enjoy a delicious home cooked breakfast, them tour our wonderful countryside from Moscow to Yarker to find tons of local artisans’ one of a kind creations.

It’s bigger this year with more stops and lots more artisans participating with multiple artisans at lots of stops. Maps can be found at each location.

Also the Piggery Gallery is joining this year and they can be found at 53 Wartman Rd in Newburgh.

You won’t want to miss this day!

Look for us on Facebook @ “Christmas Shopping Tour in the Country”

October / November 2018 • The SCOOP

5

Meet the 2018 Stone Mills Election Candidates

T

he SCOOP has been bringing residents of Stone Mills stories to amuse, entertain, and most importantly, to inform them for over thirteen years. We know that our readers care about issues close to home, so we invited all council and school board election candidates to briefly answer the following two questions: 1. What do you see as the biggest challenges facing our Township? What initiatives do you have for addressing them?

2. What are some opportunities in our Township that you would like to see further developed? What are some plans that could be put in place to do so?

Their responses have been edited for clarity and length, and they are presented in the same order as on the Certified List of Candidates on the Township of Stone Mills website.

REEVE Eric Smith

Tamworth, ON Phone: 613-379-2366 Email: Ericsmith2015@hotmail.com Challenges: Aging infrastructure: 700 kilometres of roads, properties and buildings.

Initiative: Allocate portion of solar generated revenue to infrastructure.

Lobby for provincial and federal funding.

Sustaining rural social, cultural and economic quality of life. Initiative: Minimal tax increases to create competitive housing market. Expand relationship with L&A economic department. Work to prevent school closures.

Opportunities: Develop and promote tourism. Plan: Support volunteer groups to promote small communities. Seek grants for marketing programs. Recreation/social programs for all ages. Plan: Work with community groups to market Stone Mills as active healthy lifestyle. Enhance recreational programs at municipal level.

Edward (Ted) Darby Yarker ON Phone: 613-377-1687 Email: edarby@kos.net

Challenges: Our population is aging. More of our residents work in other municipalities.

Roads and other infrastructure need significant investments. Need to seek efficiencies and alternative sources of

revenue to minimize tax increases and improve services. Need to support economic development and rural enterprise. Extraordinary leadership needed to bring our communities together.

Opportunities: Enhanced Health Services. Local access to physicians and health care services.

Service Excellence. Focus on being efficient and courteous. Environmental Stewardship for our children’s future.

Infrastructure Investment and affordable financing and grants. Parks, Recreation and Culture, for a sense of community.

Economic Development. Action the report recommendations. Improved Efficiency and quality of services.

Local Schools Matter. Work with school boards and partners.

Doug Bearance

Camden East, ON Phone: 343-989-0003 Email: dougbearance@gmail.com Challenges: Our Township growth is not keeping up with what it costs to operate it and maintain our current level of services.

Increase our tax base. Make our Township more desirable to build new homes, raise children, attend local schools, and make use of arena.

Opportunities: The Township could have encouraged new homes to be built around Yarker, which could have taken pressure off the closing of rural schools. Review the regulations and restrictions that are in the way of development. Get existing business involved. Set up a group of business people from all areas of our Township and have them meet, exchange ideas, and encourage more businesses to come.

DEPUTY REEVE John Wise

Centreville, ON Phone: 613-378-2583 Email: jfhwise@gmail.com Challenges: A largely residential tax base with a low population and more kilometres of road per person than any area municipality – we need to attract more people such as retirees by promoting our beautiful environment and low property prices.

We need to keep/attract young families by pressuring the school board and province to keep our schools open.

Opportunities:

Fall Fibre Affair 6

The SCOOP • October / November 2018

Millions of baby boomers are retiring in the next 15 years. Let’s work with the L&A Economic Development department to promote Stone Mills as a place to live.

This will bring customers for our businesses and spread the tax burden over more households.

Martha Embury Newburgh, ON Phone: 613-378-2127 Email: hillview@kos.net

Challenges: Increased pressures on the property tax base will require long term financial planning and strategic direction.

Establish a service delivery level that is attainable and sustainable. A municipal development plan which supports the growth of our hamlets and builds new housing and business development.

Economic Development Plan of 2016 needs to be fully put in place and create a working committee.

Opportunities: Develop Yarker Family School into space for business and leisure. Improved communication between council and residents, by a community night in each village, our webpage and a question period at council. My Starter Company program would provide funding for entrepreneurs.

Councillor Shari Milligan Tamworth, ON Phone: 613-379-5964 Email: millig@kos.net

Challenges: Communication! An easy to use and read Township-wide events calendar, and a social media presence. Some may not agree, but we must catch up with the times. Like it or not, a very large portion of people today use and rely on social media for information.

Opportunities: To compliment the Stone Mills Business Directory I think a job board would be great for farmers, business owners, seniors, and anyone that needs help in some way. A centralized list for people to utilize when looking for jobs close to home or someone looking for help and wanting to hire local.

Eric DePoe

Yarker, ON Phone: 613-572-4500 Email: ericdepoe@yahoo.ca Challenges:

Our township is large in area and spread out. Difficult to provide more services than we currently have, and difficult to create a sense of community. We need community wide consultations about issues that face us all, like high speed internet, and provision of health, child care, and other services.

Opportunities: Many parents and other residents mobilized to stop the closing of our township schools. The moratorium on school closures did not keep the Yarker Family School open. Now we have a great opportunity to shape the future of the Yarker School building. Consult the community to determine what model works for us and what services we need and want.

William Carroll

Newburgh, ON Phone: 613-388-2745 Email: grizzlybilly@yahoo.com Challenges: Townships and communities across the province are suffering from the Ontario and federal government downloading their financial responsibilities to local governments so they can pay on their debt. Local governments have had to raise taxes and cut services. Give local home owners a break on their tax bills by getting more industry because they pay taxes at a much higher rate.

Opportunities: The population of Ontario and Stone Mills Township is getting older. The Township can create ways to provide much needed services to the elderly without using Township funds and even creating a new source of revenue. I will explore ways to do this.

Douglas Davison

Yarker, ON Phone: 613-377-6420 Email: dddavison101@hotmail.com Challenges: We have limited ability to raise revenue from sources other than the ratepayer.

The county Official Plan has placed serious restrictions on the Township’s ability for lot creation and future development. The new council must quickly form a good working relationship. My experience will be very beneficial in this.

Opportunities: We have zoned industrial land. We need to start developing and promoting it.

(Continued on next page)

Weaving, Fibre Art, Wool & Rovings, Wearable Art, Jewellery, Felting and much more!

www.fallfibreaffair.ca Oct 13 & Oct 14, 2018 10-4pm

Fairfield Gutzeit House, 341 Main Street in Bath

(Continued from previous page) Industrial assessment is higher than residential/farm. We need to continue to look for revenue generating opportunities like our garage roof solar panels and the Solar Vibrancy Agreement. We need to challenge and work to remove restrictions in the County Official Plan.

KEvin richmond

Yarker, ON Phone: 613-377-6487 Email: kevinrichmond66@yahoo.ca Challenges: Pushing back against the Aggregate Resource Zones that may prohibit our rural land use for future residential and business development. Closures of rural schools and libraries will affect our residential and business growth, and tax base. We must stand as a community and fight against these rural closures.

Opportunities: Stone Mills Township hosted the World Barefoot Water-Skiing Championships this year. Better websites for tourism and location information to help existing businesses and grow residential and new business development. Keep our development and building fees low.

Improve our tax base for better road and bridge maintenance, and better services such as in home care, and housing for the elderly.

dEb thomPSon

Centreville, ON Phone: 613-876-6225 Email: thompsond@limestone.on.ca Challenges: Community attendance at council meetings with a nurtured, enthusiastic learning curve of common sense, constructive decisions. Level of service vs. taxes, the need to partner services that best fit our rural needs, and growth opportunities to broaden the tax base.

The Stone Mills dream still exists! Let’s walk it, work it, and live it as a team willing to roll up our sleeves!

Opportunities: Rolling up my sleeves to communicate with diversity and pride that we are Open for Business. Sustain a vision for development and infrastructure for a vibrant Stone Mills with positive well nurtured growth. Communicate a voice of leadership, integrity, experience, stability and a solid community foundation for future generations.

yvonnE gibSon

Tamworth, ON Phone: 613-358-9375 Email: ysgibson@kos.net

Challenges: The roadway system and maintenance appears to be challenging. Tax revenue through business development encouraged. Transparency and customer relations for the tax payers to be assessed and a procedural plan implemented to assist the public. Stone Mills residents are the clients and the Township needs to be “Open For Business.”

Opportunities: Business development within the township needs to be addressed for growth. We need to leverage the existing development model that has been implemented through the Lennox and Addington County. Support the local economy and tax revenue by supporting businesses within Stone Mills Township.

We need to be “Open for Business.”

wEnda lalandE

Newburgh, ON Phone: 343-302-0616 Email: wendalalande@gmail.com Challenges: Keep our rural schools open, the heartbeat of our hamlets, drawing families to our Township, giving the children a strong sense of identity Maintain our roads through financial planning, federal and provincial funding, consultation and collaboration.

Opportunities: We are uniquely located, close to urban centres while offering the beauty and quietude of rural life. Ensure residential and commercial growth: Find solutions for residential expansion; Expand internet /cellular service; Provide access to funding and marketing opportunities; Establish a group of commercial peers. In an effort to improve transparency and communication, I would like to see public participation at Council meetings.

KrySta-lEE woodcocK

Camden East, ON Phone: 613-539-2520 Email: inthepinescreative@gmail.com Challenges: Stone Mills faces many challenges: aging populations, youth exodus, a shift in economic development from manufacturing to service/knowledgebased jobs, a tax rate that requires expanding our residential capacity and growing our local businesses and developing an effective communication strategy to engage residents yet inherent in any challenge is an opportunity.

Opportunities: Rebuilding local food systems, celebrating our rural arts and culture and rich history, growing regional tourism, adopting innovative new technologies, and implementing small business support and mentorship opportunities.

OPEN: Mon. - Fri. 8 - 7 Sat. 8 - 6 Sun. 11 - 5 For our weekly flyer visit us at stonemillsfamilymarket.com

SUSHI Fridays & Saturdays

Try our great selection of

CHECK US OUT FOR qualityALL FRESHYOUR CUT MEAT, our Reid’s ICE CREAM everyday prices won’t be beat.

GrOCerY Needs & MORE!

Fresh SUB SANDWICHES Thrashers BIRD SEED

Ask our butchers for

Self-serve COFFEE COUNTER specialCut cut. Meats Fresh Bakery • Deli • Produce • aFresh We carry a large line of gluten-free products

672 Addington St., St., Tamworth Tamworth 672 Addington

613-379-2440 613-379-2440

We can work as a bridge between higher levels of government, community groups and organizations to find funding suited for our needs and acquire a summer student for marketing and economic development initiatives.

dEb StorEy

SCHOOl BOARD TRUSTEES English Public (Limestone District School Board)

wESS garrod

Yarker, ON Phone: 613-377-6806 Email: debstorey13@gmail.com Challenges: Bringing more businesses to Township.

This would be beneficial to us all. The people of the township need to be more supportive of local businesses. Others outside our Township will be more interested in moving to our township or investing in our Township.

Opportunities: We have closed a local school in the township and this building, which already houses a library, could be used for more community involvement. If the daycare is moving into the building, there is still opportunity during evenings and weekends. Why could it not be used for workshops, cards, yoga, other entertainment or whatever else people in the community would like to see it used for.

andrEw michalSKi

Yarker, ON Phone: 613-377-6302 Email: andrew.michalski.humane. organics@gmail.com Challenges: Attracting businesses to provide jobs and opportunities for residents as well as broaden the tax base and lower the tax rate for everyone. We need a feasibility study to assess current businesses of their needs and future businesses of their fit for the township. Coordination with other levels of government may be required. Physician recruitment for an aging population requires some creative problem-solving.

Opportunities: Commuting distance to Kingston and three hours drive from Toronto. Develop family recreational facilities to attract regularly attending tourists. Provide start-up funding to help establish these facilities. We need to support the arts and to use the township hall as a public gallery.

Yarker, ON Phone: 613-377-6608 Email: wessgarrod@gmail.com Challenges: The direction the provincial government is taking, i.e. changes to the Health and Mathematics curriculum without providing resources and training. Special education – provide the necessary resources to meet the needs of so many identified students. Wellness and student mental health is a priority. The impact of declining enrolment affects the budget and makes it more difficult to provide programming and equity in the system for all students.

Opportunities: Implement elementary technical programs, food services and woodworking, robotics, music, and art.

These programs help students develop their natural abilities. Students who may have difficulty with academics may be highly successful in these programs.

Hiring an Experiential Learning Consultant.

robin hutchEon

Tamworth, ON Phone: 613-329-1540 Email: whurldpeas@gmail.com Challenges: I see two major challenges: Loss of trust in the system and the budget. To regain public trust, I would live stream meetings and allow public input at meetings. Using local community resources could enhance classroom teachings and community pride in local schools without stressing the budget.

Opportunities: The Itinerant Experiential Learning teacher (culinary and woodworking skills) and Salmon River Studios art classes, by their mobile nature, provide opportunities for rural schools to use resources that would be too costly to maintain on-site. These “travelling classrooms” could be expanded to include other subjects through community consultation on local educational needs and desires.

The T/E GrassRoots Growers present

Plant matters a Gardening Roundtable with local experts Karen ten Cate, Blair Richards Koeslag, Susie Meisner, Dorothy Wagar Oogarah, and John Wise

To answer your questions on: • Caring for Perennials • Edible wild and garden plants

• Seed collection and storage • Garlic • Seasonal crops

SEED EXCHANGE TO FOLLOW Tuesday, october 16 @ 7 p.m.

St. Patrick School 6041 Hwy. 41, Erinsville • All are welcome • Free admittance • Refreshments following

presentations • Donations gratefully accepted to help cover costs

For more information, contact us at tegrassrootsgrowers@gmail.com or visit our website at te-grassrootsgrowers.weebly.com October / November 2018 • The SCOOP

7

Fred Brown’s Historical Photos of l&A Jane Foster

F

red Brown (1877-1968) was an amateur photographer who lived on the 7th concession of Ernestown, not far from Wilton. As a young man, he took up photography and rode his bicycle around the back roads of Ernestown, to Yarker, Odessa, Millhaven and other villages. On many of his travels, he carried a large, bulky glass plate camera and took pictures of the villages, schools, churches, the people and the landscape.

Some of his images were made into postcards for sale, and many were later used in the Smiling Wilderness published by the County of Lennox & Addington to celebrate Ontario’s Bicentennial in 1984.

Over 600 of his plates are held by the Lennox & Addington County Museum and Archives in Napanee. Brown’s carefully preserved glass plates, which have now been scanned by the Archives, provide a unique insight into rural life in early decades of the 20th century.

Poem Dear Deer, Stunned by headlights, you bound away on knobby legs.

Each time I am grateful there is no blood shed.

The time you glanced off of my right headlight, unhurt into the woods.

And the light clicked on though it hadn’t worked in days.

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8

The SCOOP • October / November 2018

For the Record Alyce Gorter

I

am not a biker. I don’t long to join the 500,000 to 800,000 that congregate for the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota each year; I don’t plan my vacation around Daytona Bike Week in Florida; I don’t have a tattoo, a bikini, or a t-shirt suitable for any water-based activities and I don’t hanker for a Harley.

I can’t pull a “wheelie” or do a “catwalk.”

I don’t like riding the main highways with 18-wheelers breathing down my neck and I don’t have the interest – or the stamina — to ride all day to nowhere for no reason. However, I do own a bike; have had motorcycles for over 40 years; and was Kingston, Ontario’s first female motorcycle lesson instructor for the Canada Safety Council. My current ride is a Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad 1500 cc. Like my behind, it is probably a bit too big for me, all things considered, but I have grown accustomed to its size. It has a non-threatening growl, doesn’t embarrass me too often when I try to take off in second gear, and has proven to be dependable. Having said that, I think of it the same way I think of family – I don’t ask too much of it and I expect that sooner or later it will let me down.

But I wasn’t thinking about that possibility when hubby, Ken, shared his dream of riding the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and asked if I was interested in accompanying him. The answer, of course, was “Yes.” For two reasons: One, I knew nothing about the Cabot Trail except that it offered an ocean view with the possibility of whale sightings. But, the word “trail” gives the impression of a path with shaded, winding curves, lovely scenery, and a leisurely, at-your-own-pace experience, providing an undemanding opportunity

to see a different part of the world than that to which I was accustomed. It’s listed as one of the top ten motorcycle trails in Canada, so it must be good for one reason or another. And I checked the Cabot Trail website — their pictures make it look pretty easy. The second reason was that at the time he asked me, the possibility of going to the East Coast seemed pretty remote – kind of like sending in my application to be on the next shuttle to Mars – I wouldn’t need to pack my bags real soon.

However, it wasn’t long before the pieces fell into place, the ducks were all in a row, the dots were all connected, and the bikes were loaded on the trailer! No worries yet – it might rain.

A quick check through some of the promotional literature left us with the understanding that the entire 287 km loop could be completed in 3 to 4 hours, which would still allow time to stop at the “lookoffs.” It also stated that most people drove it in a clockwise direction.

This route, they said, would put us on the inside lane and was better for people who dislike driving next to steep drops.

Oh, come on now, who doesn’t enjoy that?! With my terror of heights foremost in our minds we opted to follow the popular route.

We debated about making a couple of stops before heading up the trail but decided that we could always visit the shops and such after we got back. After all, a four-hour trip would still get us back in plenty of time. We might as well get started while the day was young, and we were fresh and perky. And that, dear friends, although I did not know it at the time, would be the last relaxed breath I would have for days!

The promotional blurb describes the Cabot Trail as “unquestionably one of the most scenic drives on the planet,” “a winding staircase rising from the sea and clinging to mountains,” and “the journey of a lifetime.” I thought they meant this in a positive sense. My mistake. Oh, yes, there are some

delightful thinks to see, I suppose, — a moose, a whale, the ocean — the frequent warning signs to watch for moose and falling rocks, the sheer cliff rising beside you on the right from which the rocks fall, and the bottomless abyss yawing to receive you on the left should your brakes suddenly expire, or you take your eyes off the road for a second. No fear of that for me.

How bad could it be? Well let’s just say that we left the main trail at one point and rode out to Meat Cove. This is the most northerly settlement in Nova Scotia and can only be reached by travelling 8 kms of gravel roads and crossing a wooden bridge. In August 2010 torrential rains washed away part of this road stranding its residents, but the bridge repairs were not completed until October. What?! Did nobody notice it was gone? The bridge suggests that no one is too anxious to leave, and they are not encouraging visitors. Several planks in the wooden floor of the narrow bridge curl up at the ends. An unwary traveller, especially a biker, could truly find himself on an unwanted trip of a lifetime if he was unsuccessful in navigating his bike between these hazards. And, there is nothing to see when you get out there.

But for me, in contrast to the main trail, this part of the trip was a reprieve.

If going up the Trail was nerve-wracking, coming down the other side was absolute terror. As I crawled along I would occasionally check behind me to see how long the line-up was, then ease my bike over against the cliff face to let the stream of traffic go by. And, although the approaching darkness brought some relief by shrouding the endless drop from my view, it brought new reasons for fear and stress. When we finally reached Baddeck, my muscles were as taut as newly tuned piano strings, my stomach twisted in a constrictor knot, and my mood blacker than when I stepped off

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Alyce and her bike on the Cabot Trail – “All the way to Meat Cove!” the Space Mountain ride at Disney World after being convinced by my family that it would be fun.

The slogan for Cape Breton Island is “Your Heart Will Never Leave.” That’s true. Mine is right up there on one of the steepest inclines where Ken pulled up beside me thinking he was offering help and comfort but sending me into a spasm of heightened horror at the thought of inadvertently clipping his bike and sending both of us to our doom. Who would be left to know where to look for my body parts?!

I did set a new record though. Where it takes most people approximately four hours to complete the Cabot Trail, I took 12! It was another three days before I could unclench my fingers.

CaLLiNG aLL PHoToGraPHers aNd arTisTs! Do you have what it takes to be published in The SCOOP? Send us your best photos and artwork documenting rural life in our area: stonemills.scoop@gmail.com

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眀眀眀⸀ 欀爀礀猀琀愀氀攀攀㈀ ㄀㠀 ⸀挀漀洀 October / November 2018 • The SCOOP

9

Farms and Forests: Living on the Edge Susan Moore

O

n Friday, November 23, the Hastings Stewardship Council and partners host “Farms and Forests: Living on the Edge” – the 29th Annual Trenton Woodlot Conference in Batawa (north of Trenton). This conference has become a premier forestry event in Ontario. Come on out and learn from forestry and agricultural professionals, get in on lively discussions, and have a tramp around the woods.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Farms and Woodlots: Keystones to a Healthy Environment for All Dr. Rene Van Acker is Professor and Dean of the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph. He has a good handle on the state of farming in Ontario.

Rene will discuss the relationship of the farming sector to our communities. How do area businesses, organizations, and families support our farmers? This relationship can influence what they farm and how they farm.

Farmers with the opportunity to add to or enhance woodlots will increase their “investment” in the economy and the environment. Providing woodlands and healthy habitat is a boon to everyone; it improves air and water quality and helps preserve our soil.

Agriculture greatly affects our environment; in fact, for many Canadians it is the environment because more than 90% of Canadians live in

farmed watersheds. So, farmers and their woodlots are very important in terms of environmental management. These rural managers can take deep pride in what they do. Rene believes that increased program support and recognition for woodlot managers and farmers with woodlots should be endorsed.

Dr. Rene Van Acker is a co-founder of the Arrell Food Institute at U. of Guelph. He has degrees from the U. of Guelph and a Ph.D. from the University of Reading (UK).

How Wooded Edges Make Farms Better Susan Willis Chan, a Ph.D. Candidate who is well known for her ecological project work with farmers, will explain how wooded edges make farms better.

Sue will demonstrate how rural landowners can improve the ecological health of their property and gain in overall yield at the same time.

Participants will go home loaded with practical ideas.

From years of field experience, Sue will illustrate the many benefits to wooded edges on farms. Woodlands provide habitat to insects, birds, mammals, and other creatures that supply pest control and pollination services. Wooded edges around fields help to prevent wind erosion, creating microclimates for crops and livestock; they also increase complexity, which can hinder pest and disease outbreaks. As well, stands of trees capture carbon, so they play a role in reducing climate change. That is a pile of benefits and Sue (in her clear style) will explain it all.

Susan Willis Chan is a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Guelph, an instructor in Sustainable Agriculture at Trent University, and a consultant in Agriculture and Education.

There is a choice of afternoon sessions.

The afternoon field trips are famous for outdoor learning

“Building long long--term, sustainable rural communities is at the heart of all my work as your Member of Parliament.”

Autumn on the farm in Stirling-Rawdon Township. and stimulating discussion.

Afternoon Field Trip to Goodrich Loomis Conservation Area Just north of Brighton, a 25-minute drive from Batawa, and featuring these tour/ talk options: 1. Plantation Management Tour with a professional forester 2. Oak Savanna and Prairie Regeneration Tour with Ewa Bednarczuk, Ecology and Stewardship Specialist at Lower Trent Conservation 3. Esker Trail Tour with David Beamer, Conservation Lands Manager at Lower Trent Conservation

Gray, Regional Field Advisor with Forests Ontario At the conference, portable saw mill demonstrations and tool demos will be on stage during the lunch hour. Plenty of local exhibitors, including woodworkers, will display their wares and services. See an excellent selection of books covering all aspects of nature. With such a bounty of offerings, this conference is not to be missed!

The Hastings Stewardship Council provides rural landowner education and promotes sustainable management of the agricultural and natural resources in Hastings County.

Afternoon Indoor Sessions

The Trenton

1. Plantation Management and Marketing presented by Tom Richardson, of Lavern, Heideman and Sons (wood products) 2. Rural Land Stewardship Programs by Sarah Midlane-Jones of the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan 3. The Environmental Farm Plan and Canadian Agricultural Partnership by Amy Petherick from the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association 4. Tree Planting Programs and Managed Forest Tax Incentive Programs by Tim

Conference

Woodlot is on Friday, November 23 Doors open at 7:30 a.m. for viewing exhibits and artisan products Program begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m.

Location: Batawa Community Centre at 81 Plant St., Batawa (north of Trenton) Admission is $40, which includes hot lunch

MIKE BOSSIO M.P.

Please preregister

Hastings—Lennox and Addington

(we need lunch numbers)

20-B Richmond Blvd, Napanee Email: mike.bossio@parl.gc.ca Call Toll Free: 1-866-471-3800 www.mikebossiomp.ca

How to Register

Tickets may be purchased online at hastingsstewardship.ca For more info, contact Matt at 613-391-9034 or info@hastingsstewardship.ca

10

The SCOOP • October / November 2018

A Natural View: Autumn Hops of Another Kind Terry Sprague

I

f you drive past our home, you will see a hop house, although it has been at least 100 years since the building was last used for drying this important ingredient used in the brewing of beer.

The flowers of the hop serve as a preservative and provide an essential oil that adds flavour and aroma to balance the sweetness of the malt. Prince Edward County was a major centre for hop growing in the 1800s, but the only ones we see today are those that have escaped captivity and occupy niches along fencerows. The crop though is still grown commercially here and there in our area.

Those unfamiliar with the fruit of hops can see them in great abundance some years. Only they are not hops. They are the elongated clusters or seed sacs of the Hop Hornbeam tree, popularly known in this area as Ironwood, and the crop can be spectacular. Great clusters of these seed sacs will hang from ironwood trees and serve to readily identify this species as one drives the country roads. The word hornbeam comes from the old English and refers to the very dense nature of the wood.

We have to be careful when referring to

these trees as Ironwoods, for that is also the name given to another common tree in this area, known as Blue Beech, colloquially referred to as the muscle tree. But this tree species differs in that it has a very smooth grey trunk that has a “muscular” appearance.

The Hop Hornbeam gets its name from the similarity of its fruit to actual hops.

However, there is no relationship at all between Hop Hornbeams and real hops, other than in the name. But the tree – let’s call it Ironwood – is very common in our area, and the wood is every bit as dense as Shagbark Hickory. It was a component every winter in our wood pile on the farm as it grew abundantly everywhere. It had to, as the tree never seemed to live beyond a few years, its shallow root system succumbing to the forces of nature and causing the tree to topple. There was no need to hurry with the chainsaw as its dense wood would remain in fine shape for several years while lying on the forest floor. It was necessary to carry along a file in the toolbox when using the chainsaw on this wood as sparks easily could be seen in the low light of late afternoon as the saw struggled through the hard wood.

Although the saw had to be sharpened frequently, the extra labour involved was

Ironwood seeds. Photo by Terry Sprague.

more than made up by the incredible heat from burning this wood in the kitchen stove.

Although the tree does not grow large in diameter, Ironwood has been valuable in the past for tool handles, fence posts and canes.

During years when the tree produces a bountiful crop of winged nutlets, one would think this might translate into a “fruitful” year for wintering birds as there will be plenty of food to hold them back from migrating south in their usual numbers, or Ironwood trunk and bark. Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant perhaps even Finder Tool: www.netpsplantfinder.com. attracting those that venture down from the boreal forests. species, although an insectivorous bird, Interestingly, none of my extensive can alter its food habits to include collection of handouts on wildlife shrubs spiders in November, then changing and trees mentions Ironwood at all as a again to berries in the winter of which species even remotely attractive to birds.

Red Cedar seems to be a favourite. Look Ironwood is used occasionally as an for them this winter as they are certain to ornamental, but its slow growth, be around. intolerance to salt and poor ability to do well when transplanted, limits its Ash trees, White Cedars, and especially desirability for use as a wildlife planting.

Silver Maples, often come forth some The tree does have a few takers though. years with a splendid harvest of seeds, Finches, robins, cardinals, grouse, and and it is always interesting to see catbirds are attracted to the seeds. The whether the harvest will provide a leaves, catkins, and nuts are readily smorgasbord for some of our boreal eaten by a number of moths, butterflies, finches in winter. They readily respond and squirrels. to good seed crops, travelling in winter from their home territory where their This fall, however, there will be other favourite foods have crashed. But it can trees to which birds may gravitate due to backfire. A poor crop of birch catkins one their crops of seeds or berries. A few Red year, a favourite of Pine Siskins, forced Cedars in our area are loaded with a fine this specialty feeder south as they harvest of dark blue berries, favourites of valiantly searched for cooperative overwintering robins, waxwings and birches. Arriving in our area by the even Yellow-rumped Warblers. The latter thousands one winter, they had local birders jumping up and down with excitement, but that excitement soon waned as the siskins kept on moving farther south, leaving only a handful of optimistic individuals, content to feast instead on feeding station handouts.

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Some birders make it a habit each fall to predict what birds will be present in the area each winter, based on their knowledge of seed crops in the boreal regions of the province, and what seeds appeal to which species of birds. The predictions do often come true, providing a special treat to birders who keep track of the comings and goings of nomadic species. Some of these shrubs and trees may very well satisfy the needs of wandering finches this winter.

However, it would seem apparent, at least where I live, that Hop Hornbeam won’t be a drawing card for any of our winter visitors this coming season.

Terry Sprague lives in Prince Edward County and is a retired interpretive naturalist and hike leader. See his website at www.naturestuff.net. He can be reached at tsprague@xplornet.com.

October / November 2018 • The SCOOP

11

Who Was Mr. Parkes?

Kingston Chronicle Gazette, July 19, 1834

Parks was listed in a record of Bensons Store in Napanee 1833-34 as being from Sheffield Township.

Cora Reid and Jane Scott

A

s an experienced genealogist, Cora Reid reviewed an 1834 Kingston Chronicle Gazette article (reproduced on this page) recently and was taken by the description of an early Beaver Lake settler named Parkes, colloquially known as the “King of Sheffield [Township].” It piqued her interest, and she wondered who was this Parkes? Cora set out using her skills to determine what Parkes (or Parks) were living in the area at the time. Her sources from the Upper Land Petitions for Sheffield Township lists Samuel Benson selling to David Park(e)s Lot 6, 7 on Concession 3 and Lot 6 on Concession 5 on May 6, 1824 but the deed was not registered until March 17, 1837. The lots surround Beaver Lake. As well, David

Two children of David Jr. (son of David Sr.) and his wife Cynthia Varty Parks gave their birthplaces as Sheffield, Ontario. In the 1840s these lands were sold to different parties and by the 1851 census David Parkes Sr. was living with a son (age 80) in Fredericksburgh Township.

Cora confirms it was David Parks Sr., son of United Empire Loyalist James Parks and nephew of Cyrenius Parkes, who was part of the Fredericksburgh Parks family.

Cora Reid is a descendant of Cyrenius Parkes.

Cora Reid and Jane Scott are Lennox and Addington Historical Society members.

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12

The SCOOP • October / November 2018

613-379-2903 613-354-4347 1 866-233-2062 storring@kos.net robert@robertstorring.net

from the Montreal Gazette “Travels in Upper Canada”

T

he Beaver lake and White lake, both of which are connected with the Salmon river next claimed my attention. There are few people, even of those who have been long settled in Canada, who ever heard of the very existence of these remarkable bodies of water. They are distant from Mr. McGregor’s mills only four or five miles.

The woods which intervene, being filled by a variety of odorous plants, we accordingly move along regaled by the delightful perfumes which they emit.

The dapple grey which I bestrode slackened his pace, and even the faithful Blount ceased to dash into the woods after the numberless partridges which drummed about us in all directions, but would every now and again lay himself down, and as I passed him even he was would fix his large intelligent eyes upon me, as if even he were conscious of the delightful odour preceding from the woods.

The Beaver lake, lonely and sequester as it is, has already several clearance around its bank. Borrowing a canoe, I crossed over to Jones’ Point, and extraordinary ridge of rocky land which runs up this, nearly the whole length of the lake, and almost meets another similar, but shorter ridge. These ridges divide the lake into what are called the two prongs. Jones’s Point was only a few yards wide where I crossed it. But it does not seem to be much wider at any #6e7071 other place. It derives its name from circumstance, of an unfortunate man named Jones being himself upon it for three days. It is covered with underbrush and cedar trees, which so much abound with mosquitoes and #C92E85 curse of all hot countries – that I was feign to leave it much sooner than I would otherwise have done, and as I pushed off my canoe from it, I left it such a volley of maledictions that if the one half take effect, no green things will long adorn its surface.

White lake is connected with Beaver lake by a short narrow channel, through which the waters of the two lakes pass alternately into each other, just as the one happens to be higher than the other. The White lake has not stream running into it, and is supplied only by a number of springs, which boil up like a pot-ash kettle. It derives its name from the white stones with which its bottom is paved, and gives its waters a whitish appearance. Here, too, we find several fine clearances.

I met at this place an old man name Parkes, who is usually styled King of Sheffield. He was the first man, I believe, who settled in this interesting but much neglected township. He had a most primitive appearance; his long, fiery red locks flowed around his neck in wild profusion, and, leaning on his carabine, he would, I have no doubt, have considerably alarmed a person not accustomed to strange sights and characters. Maugre his looks, he is kind-hearted, intelligent old fellow. He invited me to his house, and offered the best he could present to myself and horse. He is now owner of nine hundred and fifty-eight acres of land, a good part of which he and his family have under the plough. When he first came here, about ten years ago, he lived chiefly upon venison and fish; and other provisions he made use of, such as pork and flour, being brought a distance of a great many miles through the wood, at immense labour. He now enjoys a green old age; he sees his family rise up around him in the happy consciousness that they are all well provided for; he beholds the forest lands every year rendering up the treasures it covers to the hardy blow of his axe; he is the best sportsman in the country; he has always plenty to eat, and, in the lake below, plenty to drink. If any man could desire more, he must be with a Beau Brummel or a Henry Pelham.

17-year-old Samantha Fenwick of Enterprise recently had her photo chosen as the “staff choice” by the Seattle-based Jones Soda company to appear on Jones Soda bottles sold across Canada. Samantha’s chosen photo is of the Ferris wheel at the 2017 Kingston Fall Fair. You can see this photo (in its original colour) and many more taken locally on her website at: www.sefphotography.com.

A Must Stop Rest Stop Ron Betchley

H

aving not visited the Maritime provinces in over 25 years, we felt that it was high time to do so and booked train travel from Kingston to Moncton with a transfer at Montreal this summer. Once we arrived, we rented a car and after a few days of local sightseeing headed for the magnificent Confederation Bridge, which opened our way across the Northumberland Straight to Prince Edward Island. We had planned to first tour the upper northeastern corner of central P.E.I. as we had never visited this location. But after arriving at North Rustico, we were so mesmerized by the beautiful landscape that, rather than drive on, we settled there for the duration of our intended visit. Its rolling hills were laden with precision tilled and planted fields of golden grain waving in the perpetual sea breeze, mimicking the brush strokes of a Van Gogh painting.

The setting was heightened by a background of a rich blue Atlantic giving way to the white tops of the waves tilting the fishing boats as they idly awaited the next fishing cycle.

It is difficult in North Rustico to escape the presence of Anne of Green Gables. I refer not to Lucy Maud Montgomery’s authored masterpiece but to the gaudy unrelated commercialization of the title.

The locals refer to the industry devoted to it as “Dizzyland.” Consequently, it can be difficult to find, let alone enjoy, the epicurean delights of the bounty of the region. Our search had not been successful until we passed what appeared to be a small public park. We could see scattered picnic tables and a structure that was closed. A glance out the rear window revealed a darkened sign stating “Route 6 Fish ‘n Chips” but we were off into the night.

above serving as a canopy. Inside was a man with his back to us, handling a group of fryer handles with the synchronization of a bell-ringer jaunting back and forth to verify the note of doneness of each basket in or raised above the bubbling hot oil. When satisfied with his control, he turned to us, and with the most welcoming of smiles asked for our order and revealed himself as a bespectacled Anthony Hopkins or his twin brother. Noting and well understanding our astonishment at his likeness, he smiled even more broadly and again asked our order.

After placing and paying for our very reasonably priced order of fish and chips, “Anthony” simply said he would let us know when our meal was ready.

Fish, in abundance from the seas, paired with potatoes in abundance from the land – what a perfect pairing. And what perfection the evening’s serving was indeed. Delivered in an eco-friendly container, the chips were in the rough, unpeeled and cooked to crisp. There could be nothing amiss in the wonderful taste of eating fresh P.E.I. potatoes. But it was the fish that inspired awe.

Battered in a gossamer-like coating of tempura, the handling of any one of the many pieces by either fork or finger

Ronnie Blacquiere, owner of Route 6 Fish ‘n Chips in North Rustico, Prince Edward Island. Photo by Jenna Lynn Moore. would crumble the coating exposing the white, steaming moist fillet. At the slightest touch, it flaked into slices like the spreading of a deck of cards. The word delicious is an understatement for such a mouthwatering meal.

Re-elect DEB THOMPSON for Councillor Stone Mills

We visited “Anthony” the next

evening to dine again on the wonderful bounties of his region, with equal delight and enjoyment. He warned us that he would be closed the following day. We told him we would be leaving and thanked him for his dedication to his culinary art. No matter how simple the menu, the accomplishment is in the creation itself, and we would be sure to speak of it and pay tribute in some form or another on our return.

GET YOUR VOICE HEARD 613-876-6225 (h) 613-900-7460 (c) thompsond@limestone.on.ca

It was days before we returned to examine the spot that had been haunting Authorized by Deb Thompson our curiosity. We arrived in the early evening to find a simple fishing shack covered in wellweathered silver-grey cedar shingles. The beautiful park-like setting was planted with sturdy birch trees and the occasional small spruce. I admired the health and purity of the birch bark, a powdery silver white that would be the envy of the local gulls’ plumage. The Sponsored by the Christmas Events Commi ee (TECDC) fine gravel walkways were soft to walk on and were obviously well cared for. Some of the park benches had SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 10 A.M. - 3 P.M. been placed end to Tamworth Library end creating a banquet effect. A group of Please bring non-perishable food items for the about a dozen visitors Tamworth & District Lions Club Christmas Hamper. had created the most natural and comfortable location to meet and dine together, in this small park under the SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1 P.M. branches of the birches.

Crafts and refreshments at the Legion after parade,

Coming Christmas Events in Tamworth Village Christmas Craft Fair

Royal Canadian Legion #458 Santa Claus Parade

The salivating odours emanating from the exhaust fans of what now we understood to be the fryer house were compulsive. We approached the large side opening of the previously shuttered structure, now held

and bring your le ers for Santa!

Please bring non-perishable food items for the Tamworth & District Lions Club Christmas Hamper.

NEW HOURS (STARTING OCTOBER 8)

OPEN WED & THU 10-3, FRI & SAT 8-7, SUN 8-3 CLOSED MONDAY & TUESDAY October / November 2018 • The SCOOP

13

Do You Remember: Sunday-Go-To-Meeting Clothes?

Glen R. Goodhand

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lexander McQueen, awardwinning British fashion designer once declared: “It’s a new era in fashion. There are no rules!” That is an understatement. For a number of years it has been “fashionable” for men to wear a dress suit jacket with blue jeans—or a winter-weight coat, sporting summerweight shorts—occasionally topped off with a pair of colourful flip-flops. Need we mention teenaged girls wearing jeans with several rows of horizontal rips creating ventilation even on a chilly day—and enough to send Grandma for her box of patches in short order.

Without a doubt casual clothing is in. It has penetrated the workplace, higher educational institutions, and even the church. From 1995 through 2015, readers of several Christian magazines were treated to the clean humour of Dennis Hengeveld—single panel cartoons titled “Reverend Fun.” He touched on everything from putting spins on Biblical situations, to tongue-in-cheek commentaries on church-goers in everyday life. The May 7, 2011 joke featured a pastor, unshaven, with uncombed hair, standing by his pulpit, wearing a wrinkled t-shirt, shorts, sporting a dark sock tucked into one shoe, while its counterpart had only a white sock on. The caption read: “Of all the crucial things I had on my agenda today, I concluded that appearance was the least important!”

Of course, that cartoon was an exaggeration, but make no mistake about it—casual is in when it comes to houses of worship. I recall being asked to speak at a service about five years ago and was

approached by a good friend who happened to be in attendance. “You must be preaching!,” he smiled. “You’re the only one with a tie on!”

John Deeres, all decked out as if they would step right off those gas buggies and into the local Presbyterian, Baptist, or Methodist chapel.

Neckwear seems to be the main focus when it comes to formal vs. casual. A recent survey indicates that only one in ten men wear ties to work anymore. “To tie or not to tie” is the question when it comes to the pros and cons concerning that age-old neckwear.

In some families there were three levels of dress. There was everyday wear— which may have included school duds.

Then there was “second best”—a sport shirt and slacks for the guys, and skirt and blouse for the gals. It was usually worn to town Saturday night. Then there was “Sunday best:”

That is a far cry from the theme of this missive— “Sunday go-to-meetin’ clothes” (“Sunday best” or “best bid and tucker” or simply, “dressed up”). In the “good old days,” people dressed up for a great many occasions: funerals, weddings, birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, graduations, and banquets. But these occasions happened infrequently, while church happened every Sunday. A couple of generations ago the majority attended services—hence “Sunday” clothes. This writer still recalls the annual “Easter vacation” visit of my cousin from Bowmanville. On the only Sunday that he was there, we rode our bikes one concession north to visit his uncle. When we arrived, we were given a lecture for not wearing suits on the Lord’s Day. And he was not even a church-going man himself.

As an antique and classic tractor buff I have seen countless black and white photos taken in the teens and twenties— some even as late as the 1940s—where demonstrations of various makes and models of these machines were made by men wearing suits and ties, complete with fedoras. Likewise, competitors at early ploughing matches sat on the seat of their Internationals, Hart Parrs, and

Yarker Farmers’ Market Wraps up Successful 5th Year Mickey Sandell

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he Yarker Farmers’ Market (YFM) recently celebrated a successful fifth season with a chili lunch at the market in September. The produce and craft market northwest of Kingston has become a draw for vendors and patrons throughout Stone Mills Township and beyond.

Beginning as an initiative of the Riverside United Church in Yarker, organizers credit the support of the larger community for the market’s ongoing success. “We wanted to create a place for people to offer their own produce and arts and crafts to their neighbours in a friendly, comfortable environment.

That’s why everything is local, with a capital ‘L’. The goal is for vendors and patrons alike to feel that connection with others in their community,” said Lynn Renaud, YFM organizing committee chair.

The organizing committee is already planning for 2019. “This season has been our biggest yet. We have terrific vendors and patrons and we’ve used social media to get the word out. Our goal is to grow while keeping that friendly community feeling. We’re looking forward to next year.”

The last market of the season will take place on Saturday, September 29, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Riverside United Church, 2 Mill St. in Yarker.

More information about the Yarker Farmers’ Market and its vendors can be found at www.facebook.com/ yarkerfarmersmarket.

To that end, the committee invites community members to act as “Market Managers” to greet patrons and field questions. Local student volunteers assist vendors with set up and take down, and help out with the church’s BBQ and bake sale, which are popular fixtures at every market.

This season, the Market also provided an outreach opportunity for candidates in the upcoming municipal election. “We were pleased that all the candidates accepted our invitation to come and meet with people in this area in a relaxed, one-on-one way. The feedback was very positive,” Renaud said.

14

The SCOOP • October / November 2018

At the Tamworth Library

STORYTIME Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Join us for a fun, interactive storytime that will encourage reading in

Mama worked from sun to sun and loved us in between.

And out there on the farm we all wore flannel shirts and jeans.

We learned to value simple things and did our daily chores.

But every Sunday morning we’d get dressed up for the Lord.

In our Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes we tried to look our best; In that little country church in a valley way out west.

We kids were always scrubbed and clean from head to toe— In our Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes.

This missive is not intended to moralize about which is better—casual or formal— on occasions when it always used to be the latter. But it cannot be denied—back then, “dressed up” clearly betrayed how important any given occasion was to the wearer.

HAPPY HOCKEY Pickup Hockey All Welcome

pre- and early-literacy

Tamworth Arena

age groups.

Every Tuesday 9 - 10 a.m.

Suitable for babies, tots, and young children.

Parents/caregivers must remain on site.

Call Barb Pogue for more information

613-379-2808

lessons learned Blair McDonald

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his summer I had the wonderful opportunity to visit some places that one is never quite sure they are going to see in their lifetime. I had the pleasure of visiting Spain, Italy, as well as parts of Serbia and Montenegro. While it wasn’t my first time to Europe, it was my first time to Barcelona (Spain) and Rome and Florence (Italy), and while they are very different cultures, one couldn’t help but come away with a different perspective on, quite simply, other people live.

Let’s start with Spain. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who says anything bad about Barcelona (and usually that is a sign that there is something about the city that connects with travelers from all walks of life).

Whether it’s the beach or the architectural marvels of Antonio Gaudi’s numerous unfinished works, the small plate menus known as tapas, Barcelona has a pace of living that cannot be imitated.

Elsewhere in Spain, we visited the resting place and museum of 20th century art provocateur Salvador Dali as well as take in some world-famous ice cream in Girona (created by the legendary Roca brothers). This little fortress town is also home to many famous scenes from the latest season of Game of Thrones, which had many in our tour group ensuring that no bridge would go unphotographed.

From there, we headed east to Florence, most famous for its extensive Italian Renaissance art collection, gelato, the tombs of Machiavelli and Galileo, the arch bridge known as the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo Tower. Now, if you are not big on Italian history or art history for that matter, Florence may not be the city for you. As I discovered, it turns out that museum fatigue is a real thing, especially when every day the weather is in the mid-30s.

From Florence, we headed to Rome – which is the equivalent of going from Ottawa to New York City. Beforehand, I wasn’t sure what to expect, given the concerns with traffic, street people, and the sheer volume of tourists that flow through that city daily. Nonetheless, Rome is a remarkable city full of remarkable contradictions – a living monument to the past that still feels exciting and alive like no other. I had the pleasure of having one of the best tour guides ever on our afternoon in the Vatican and even sent some postcards to family in the Tamworth area (note: you can only send Vatican mail from within the Vatican city limits). Trying to get a photo at some of the other famous stops in Rome, including the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish steps, required selfie stick weaving-and-bobbing – but hey, that is half the fun of the adventure.

Looking back, I can’t say if there was one thing that was the true highlight. For me, there is nothing when it comes to food, fashion, and architecture that the Italians don’t do well. Nonetheless, as I was reminded the other day, I still like my pizza spot in Kamloops (shout out to Bold Pizzeria) over those street slices in Rome any day.

Celebrating 25 Years of lennox Community Theatre Lillian Bufton

2018-2019 Playbill

ennox Community Theatre is celebrating its 25th Anniversary at their current location in Selby. It was September of 1993 when this not-for-profit hit the stage of the Village Theatre and warmed the hearts of many in L&A County.

Love Letters

by A.R. Gurney, directed by Lorraine Ross (Drama-Comedy) Playdates are September 14, 15, 16, 20 ,21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29

L

With the help of countless volunteers over 130 productions have been performed in this quaint and intimate, 80 seat theatre. This community gem gives people an opportunity to experience and support the arts in their own community, either on stage, backstage, or in the audience.

Miracle on South Division Street

by Tom Dubzick, directed by Nicole Butler (Drama-Comedy) Playdates are November 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 and December 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 only ought to be in Pictures

by Neil Simon (Comedy) Playdates are February 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16

The board of directors of the theatre believes in the “support local” initiative, so artists from the surrounding areas are on display in the Theatre’s art gallery for the patrons to view during intermissions.

Babe Ruth comes to Pickle Lake

by Nelles Van Loon, directed by Richard Linley (Comedy) Playdates are March 29, 30, 31 and April 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13

Come out and support your community theatre and be a part of this wonderful experience.

Belongings

by Daniel Fenton, directed by Tami Montpetit (Comedy) Playdates are May 31, and June 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15

If you are interested in acting, stage managing, lighting, directing, producing, set design, or membership, please contact the theatre via email at info@ lennoxtheatre.ca.

Tickets can be purchased online at www. lennoxtheatre.ca/tickets.php or at the door. Doors open one hour before the show starts.

The Lennox Community Theatre is approximately 4 km north of Hwy 401, on County Rd 41, north of Napanee. The address is 2219 County Rd 11, just east of Pleasant Drive. There is ample parking and the theatre entrance is at the rear of the building. Travel time from Kingston is approximately 30 minutes and from Belleville is approximately 40 minutes.

Solution to the crossword puzzle on page 16:

Any questions about my travels, send me an email at: bmcdonald@tru.ca or find me on Twitter @bmcdnld. Until next time.

The Black Cat Café 5 Ottawa Street The Tamworth Hotel - Riverside

WINTER HOURS October 12 to December 16 Coffee & Beverages • Frozen Meals to Go • Treats & Snacks

Friday 10 to 8 - Takeout Pizza after 4 pm Call or Text your Orders to Kevin 613-379-5805

saturday & sunday 10 to 5 The Knitting Elves

Solution to the word game on page 16:

will begin pickups for knitted items for the Christmas baskets.

They are looking for knitters and wool donations.

Contact: Brenda Mayhew 613-379-9906 or visit www.TheKnittingElves.org October / November 2018 • The SCOOP

15

Puzzle Page The New York Times Crossword

By Joel Fagliano / Edited by Will Shortz

Jumble

Word Game

Sudoku

16

The SCOOP • October / November 2018

Food Matters:

Public Event Planned for l&A County Dianne Dowling

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ood matters. People want to eat.

People need to eat. Many jobs are related to the production, processing, transportation and retailing of food. What people eat has health consequences — both positive and negative, and how we grow food has implications for the ecology. Many people enjoy growing, preparing, and eating food, and doing these things with others is particularly satisfying.

But there are challenges in the food system.For instance, a substantial number of people do not have enough good food to eat. We are nowhere close to self-sufficient in food production in our region. Our food economy creates enormous amounts of waste — wasted food, excess packaging, and pollutants in all stages of the food chain. Extreme weather conditions are more common and creating production difficulties for farmers and gardeners.

The Food Policy Council for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox-Addington (FPC for KFL&A) wants to hear from you — what is good and what could be better about the food system in KFL&A? Over the next few months, the FPC will be organizing “Food Matters,” a public event to be held next spring in Lennox & Addington County, and individuals and organizations involved in food activities are invited to attend and contribute to the conversations.

People will have an opportunity to talk about their roles in the food system, and group discussions will identify strengths and gaps related to food in KFL&A. Watch for more information in the late winter or early spring about “Food Matters.”

The FPC was formed in 2012 to contribute to the development of food policy in this region. Council members include representatives from municipalities, social agencies, and community organizations, as well as individuals.

Go to foodpolicykfla.ca for more information about the KFL&A Food Policy Council.

Joyceville, with young animals and dry cows housed at Collins Bay. At Collins Bay, inmates have been working on repairing tile drainage, planting, and harvesting field crops, caring for gardens for their use and for donation, and bee-keeping. A few acres at Collins Bay are being reserved for organic production. The fields at Joyceville are leased to local farmers for 2018 but will be part of the prison farm operations beginning in 2019. Inmates will be involved in demolition and construction work at both sites, as well as the farming operations as they become established.

uPcoming food and farm confErEncES • •

•

•

Food Secure Canada’s biennial assembly, “Resetting the Table”, November 1-4 in Montreal. Go to foodsecurecanada.org for more details.

National Farmers Union 49th Annual Convention, “Unleashing the Potential of Food Sovereignty”, November 22-24, in Saskatoon. Go to nfu.ca for more details.

Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario annual conference, “Regeneration: Seeds, Soil and Community Connection”, December 4-6, in London, Ontario. Go to efao.ca for more details.

Sadly, the Eastern Ontario Local Food Conference, scheduled to be held in Tyendinaga in late October, has been cancelled.

Dianne Dowling is a member of the Food Policy Council KFLA and a member of the Correctional Service of Canada’s prison farm citizens advisory panel. Her family operates a certified organic farm on Howe Island.

• General excavation - land clearing, basements, retaining walls, trenching, etc.

• Septic systems - design and licensed installer • Landscaping • Trucking - sand, gravel and topsoil • Demolition - buildings, barns, etc.

PriSon farmS uPdatE On June 21, the federal government announced the prison farms at Collins Bay and Joyceville Institutions will include dairy cattle operations, along with the dairy goats, field crops, horticulture, and land management operations announced in the spring.

Plans call for the milking operations for both cattle and goats to be at

For all your excavating needs call RICK at Cell: 613-561-6585 Email: rick.tuepah@gmail.com “Get the vote out for me, so I can get to work for you!”

Elect ELECT Shari Milligan SHARI MILLIGAN Councillor, Stone Mills Township Councillor, Stone Mills Township Approved by Shari Milligan

Of Trees and Deer Barbara Roch

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he email appeared in my inbox on Monday. Forests Ontario advised me to celebrate National Forest week from September 23 to 29. I had spent the weekend in a retreat north of Kingston and was happy to pass most of it outdoors, even swimming in pristine Elbow Lake by almost full moonlight. It danced across the water, and the clouds appeared still with a galloping, luminous moon scattering rainbow colors around their fringes. We were glad the tornados missed us, though driving there had been challenging. At the firepit a steady blaze was tended round the clock and we erected a temporary steam sauna near the beach. Sessions on offer overlapped at the bi-annual Wild Women Retreat and it was difficult to choose. I targeted a bull’s eye and a blue balloon during archery, later led a foraging tour, though with two summer droughts no mushrooms were in sight. Unless you count slime mold.

Returning to a broken fridge with offensive smelling contents, I was determined to rescue what I could, cook the survivors, and regrettably chuck the rest. Don’t you just hate when that happens? The interim fridge supplied by the local retailer was woefully small but would have to do for a few weeks until the one on order arrived. Too bad we have lots of family visiting on the weekend.

Inspired by the email, I am nonetheless determined to commune with the nearest forest all week long, to spend some precious quality time inhaling cedar, and gazing at the canopy. It seems fitting to give thanks on my daily woodland immersions.

Back to the task at hand. Google supplied a few ideas on how to best prepare and serve up a pig heart. I thought back to the day in late spring when I was dismayed by the meat still available from our local organic farmer and decided I would embark on a new taste adventure.

Now, however, I thought back on the days when giblets were automatically included in your store-bought chicken or turkey and it was important to remember to remove rather than bake them in their plastic gullet wraps. The comparatively small hearts were sliced thin, added to the carcass soup and were a tough muscular chew next to the tender liver.

I am very concerned about the state of things was the preeminent message of a talk I gave on trees to the L&A Horticultural Society this spring, befittingly the International Day of Forests. On this particular spring equinox, the Whistler Cork Oak Tree in Portugal was declared winner of the European Tree of the Year 2018 (treeoftheyear.org), which showcases trees with fascinating stories, unlike Big Tree competitions the world over where size is everything. Many old growth trees undergo preservation work, support structures, or are cordoned off. In Kingston I recently stumbled upon an old growth grove of maples with enormous girths and plenty of large, fallen limbs in an out of the way place.

I want to tell you about sustainable pruning, old methods still used in many parts of the world such as coppicing and pollarding. About Prince Edward County’s advocacy group “Tree the County.” In Toronto, the non-profit LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) is another positive action organization. When townships put the man-made infrastructure in competition with the green infrastructure, it’s

invariably the green infrastructure that suffers – the de facto policy is to chop down trees rather than trim them or to analyze other options that maintain the trees’ integrity. The cost and inconvenience of temporarily shutting hydro power factors in, while replacement trees are very young and often unsustainable or alien species.

The yellow bowl marinating meat takes up too much room in the lilliputian fridge. Joining the pig heart are some rescued venison steaks and roast.

Rosemary, parsley, thyme, and coarse sea salt infuse. I am reminded of the deer crossing the roads on my way to the retreat. A porcupine too, and many little jumping frogs while the wind whipped the trees and rain pelted in the dusk.

I want to tell you about tree culture among First Nation people in Canada. How sometimes trees were modified, bent, twisted, to mark trails, food caches, caves, and burial sites. Adorned trees wrapped with colorful cloths, or fallen ones ingrained with coins, traditions the world over, from Celtic pagan British Isles to parts of Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia. Trees are revered in many ancient cultures around the world, and offerings left in or below specials trees (called Holy Trees, Prayer Trees, Wishing Trees, Peace Trees, etc.) represent different beliefs and religions. In several Native American traditions, “prayer ties” are created in a ritual manner and left in particular sacred spots, or else in places made sacred by a personal or community ceremony. These are made of strips of coloured cloth, either red (representing the Red Road of indigenous spirituality) or the four colors of the four directions (the exact colors varying from tribe to tribe), with a pinch of tobacco or sacred herbs knotted in the cloth.

Shivering aspens surrounding the Lennox & Addington Museum rustle enticingly, sounding a lot like waterfalls.

In the center of the parking lot is a large mature maple I was told would have been planted at the turn of the last century. Nearby grow a half circle of white pines likely planted in the 1960s, I tell the touring group from Kingston, and also how the needles make a wonderful tea, historically recommended by First Nation Peoples to Europeans experiencing scurvy after long ship voyages and harsh winters. Underfoot, the Wood Wide Web mycelia reciprocate nourishment with the tree roots they envelop. All is connected.

Tomorrow I will braise the heart, and the deer, remembering their loping across the darkened roads. I will notice more leaves turning color throughout the week, more on the forest floor. I will give thanks for sustenance, body, and soul.

Family will visit. We will feast and walk the autumn trails.

Fall photo by Kassidy Young.

Centreville, ON.

October / November 2018 • The SCOOP

17

Why i Garden Michelle Mather

T

he world can be divided into two types of people: those who garden and those who do not. I know lots of both types. Some of my non-gardening friends live in apartments, so they have nowhere to garden. Some of my nongardening friends have young children who take up all their time and energy.

But I also know people who live in houses with big yards and have few other demands on their time, and still, they do not garden. I don’t understand those people.

Why do I garden? I sometimes wonder that myself. Especially during a period of drought, when it takes every bit of my limited energy to drag watering cans out to my gardens, hoping to keep my plants alive long enough for when the rains (hopefully) return. Or when some pest devours some plant that I have lovingly nurtured, or when a sudden windstorm knocks over a row of tall, beautiful sunflowers.

So why do I garden? I garden for those times when I go out to discover the first hint of colour in the drab landscape of early spring. I garden to enjoy the buzz and business of pollinators visiting my gardens on a sunny afternoon. I also garden to enjoy the burst of flavour that only just-picked veggies from my own garden can provide. But mostly I garden because it forces me to get out and appreciate and connect with nature, a connection that many of my nongardening friends just don’t seem to have.

I can always tell non-gardeners. They are the ones who are thrilled during summers with no rain. They say, “Hasn’t it been a great summer?” They love the fact that the summer has been day-afterday of sunny skies without rain to disturb their golf games, or that their grass has stopped growing so they haven’t had to cut it in weeks.

My gardening friends can always tell me how much rain we’ve had recently. They know when frost is in the forecast and tender plants will need to be lovingly covered up for the night. Gardeners have a deep appreciation and respect for Mother Nature.

My gardening friends are also always happy to share success stories or discuss failures. And that is the idea behind the GrassRoots Grower’s next event called “Plant Matters.”

We’ve invited five local gardening experts to come and share their expertise with us. Karen ten Cate from Bumblerock Farm will be talking about seed saving and Blair Richards Koeslag will share her experiences with foraging for edible plants. Dorothy Wagar Oogarah will provide information on growing garlic and John Wise from Wiseacres Farm has many years of experience growing seasonal crops to share with us. Susie Meisner from Spindletree Gardens will act as moderator while also discussing perennial flowers.

Come with questions and leave with answers. This promises to be a lively, informative event!

As always, our event will be followed by a Seed Exchange and a chance to enjoy some refreshments and the

Photo by Michelle Mather. camaraderie of fellow gardening enthusiasts!

“Plant Matters” will take place on Tuesday, October 16 at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick School in Erinsville. Admission is free and all are welcome. Be sure to visit our website www.tte-grassrootsgrowers. weebly.com or email us at tegrassrootsgrowers@gmail.com. If you’d like to receive occasional emails from us about local gardening-related events, ask to be placed on our e-mailing list!

Are you on Facebook? It provides another place for gardeners to gather. Be sure to “like” our page “Tamworth/Erinsville GrassRoots Growers” as well as some of the many other gardening pages. You’ll find other gardeners eager to share stories and photos and ask and answer questions.

Michelle Mather is a Tamworth-Erinsville GrassRoots Growers Steering Committee Member.

Writers wanted... do you love to write?

Hilltop Variety and Gas Bar 2068 County Rd 1 E, Box 89 Newburgh, ON K0K 2S0 Phone: 613-378-0185

We’re looking for contributors.

Interested?

Store Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Saturday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Email us at: stonemills.scoop@gmail.com

LCBO Agency Store Photo by Michelle Mather.

John Wise

Deputy Reeve Stone Mills Township For experienced, intelligent and caring leadership On October 22

Make the Wise Choice!

• • • • • • •

18

The SCOOP • October / November 2018

Key negotiator, along with Reeve and CAO, in purchase of Tamworth Medical Clinic Strong voice in transmission line negotiations Worked with County Council to have an ambulance base built in Centreville Passionate advocate for environmental conservation and current vice-chair of Quinte Conservation Authority Thoughtful and objective decision maker and articulate communicator Co-operative, open minded consensus builder 16 years on Stone Mills council, last two as Deputy Reeve

Approved by John Wise

Doug “Poppa” Bible:

Fresh home baked SCONES, TARTS, BARS, & SQUARES

Early Skootamatta lake Pioneer Carolyn McCulloch

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he Cloyne & District Historical Society is delighted to share some cherished memories of Doug Bible, whose father was the original “Poppa” Bible who came to Loon Lake (now Skootamatta Lake) in 1924.

A few years after their original cottage was built, it was destroyed by fire while Doug’s mother and brother were away at the store. It took several summers to rebuild, leaving the family making do in an isolated cabin across the lake.

Young Doug and his family spent many happy summers on Big Island (now renamed Bible Island in honour of the family). Four young lads would often go speeding across the lake in a boat powered only by oars, trolling for fish.

One of Doug’s buddies was Clayton Moore, the American actor who later in life played the fictional western character the Lone Ranger.

Sadie Wise ran a village store that stocked everything that hungry little boys could ever want. They soon found out that she was a generous soul and would give them damaged marshmallowfilled chocolate covered cookies as they were not saleable. While she was busy the children would make sure there were some broken ones. When Doug was older he learned that Poppa Bible and Mrs. Wise were a team and Poppa always settled the account for the broken cookies.

In those early years Tiny Oborne organised all activity on the lake and there certainly was a lot of spirit. Archie Meeks, who had been blinded in WWI and who lived on Loon Lake Road, rented out boats to cottagers. At that time, a well-known resident, Harold Ballard, owned old time racing boats. They were called Sea Fleas and the Bible Sea Flea was the Galloping Ghost.

The early development on the lake was at Trails End where Fennell’s store (later owned by Harold Maybee) was a popular gathering place for exchanging news, meeting neighbours, or buying milk.

In early years, villagers came out to the lake during winter months to cut and supply ice for cottagers. Typically, cottages all had an ice house which eventually was replaced by propane refrigeration.

There was a sawmill in front of Doreen Howard’s house and Doug remembered an intriguing map on the wall entitled

Breads from THE BREADMAN & Kingston’s NORTH ROAST COFFEE

“The Plan and Field Notes of the Subdivision of Big Island in Loon Lake: 1922.”

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Doug enlisted in the army with the Royal Canadian Artillery during WWII and was involved in the liberation of Holland in the Nijmegan area. Loon Lake played a part in the war with its RCAF training base in the Upper Lake where a plane was forced down and the fuselage broke off. The large propeller was retrieved and still rests on private property on Hughes Landing Road.

WILD BC SALMON & SMOKED SALMON now available from our freezer SLOW COOKED RIBS every Friday for take out Try our homemade JERK PATTIES & SAUSAGE ROLLS or one of our many vegetarian savouries

When Doug was married and had children, the Skootamatta became the center of their family life. In the middle of Hurricane Hazel, Doug and his wife Bev, two children Mike and Lynn, and Poppa Bible were forced to travel to the back of the island as the lake was churned up by high winds and was covered in white froth for days after the storm.

QUINN’S JERKY & a selection of frozen steaks & chicken BIKINI BEEKEEPER HONEY

When Poppa Bible passed away Doug proudly became the new Poppa Bible to his grandchildren. He was widely known to shelter and feed stranded travellers who sometimes stopped at his dock in stormy weather.

Doug Bible was well respected and clearly a man who lived well, loved generously, and found much joy in friends and family. He was a great contribution to Lake Skootamatta history.

TAMWORTH BRANCH LIBRARY MAKER CLUB: Saturdays @ 10:30 a.m.

Kids are invited to make crafts, play with LEGO and take part in a variety of other activities including circuitry and robotics.

Suitable for children ages 12 and under.

Parents/caregivers must remain on site.

613.379.3082 tambrch@lennox-addington.on.ca

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We look forward to serving you!

11 Concession St. S., Tamworth, ON

MONDAY:

11 am - 3 pm

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WEDNESDAY:

9 am - 4 pm

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9 am - 6 pm

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The SCOOP • October / November 2018