TAKE ME TO THE RIVER ORGANIC MATTERS IN HASTINGS COUNTY EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN - AN UPCYCLING ADVENTURE
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SUMMER 2017
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Country Roads • Summer 2017
SPRINGBROOK • 10 KM NORTH OF STIRLING 613.395.3883 • 1.800.465.9297 For over 80 years “We keep doin’ what we’re doin’”
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S T I R L I N G
Country Roads
celebrating life in hastings county
Country Roads
celebrating life in hastings county
CR Country
CO-PUBLISHER & EDITOR Nancy Hopkins 613 968-0499 CO-PUBLISHER & EDITOR John Hopkins 613 968-0499
Roads
SALES DEPARTMENT
CENTRAL HASTINGS & AREA
celebrating lifeGibson-Alcock in hastings county Lorraine
lorraine@countryroadshastings.ca 613.902.0462 NORTH HASTINGS & AREA Hope McFall hope@countryroadshastings.ca 613.202.1541 ART DIRECTOR Jozef VanVeenen CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Robert Ferguson Orland French Angela Hawn Barry Penhale Lindi Pierce Michelle Annette Tremblay Sarah Vance Shelley Wildgen
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Sean Buk Robert Ferguson Anna Sherlock Michelle Annette Tremblay Jozef VanVeenen
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COUNTRY ROADS, Celebrating Life in Hastings County is published four times a year by PenWord Communications Inc. Copies are distributed to select locations throughout Hastings County including the c ommunities of Bancroft, Belleville, Madoc, Marmora, Stirling and Tweed. Copies are also delivered to select homes within southern Ontario. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 1 year: $25.00 2 years: $45.00 3 years: $67.50 All prices include H.S.T. The contents of this publication are protected by copyright. Reproduction of this p ublication in whole or in part without prior written permission of PenWord C ommunications Inc. is prohibited. The advertising deadline for the Fall 2017 issue is August 16, 2017 COVER PHOTO: SARAH VANCE Made possible with the support of the Ontario Media Development Corporation
HOW TO CONTACT US Telephone: 613-968-0499 E-mail: info@countryroadshastings.ca Website: www.countryroadshastings.ca For written enquiries you can reach us at: PenWord Communications Inc. P.O. Box 124, Tweed, ON K0K 3J0
Summer 2017 • Country Roads
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EDITORIAL
Building the puzzle Creating an issue of a magazine is a lot like putting a puzzle together. Here at Country Roads the master puzzler is most definitely Jozef (Joe) VanVeenen, our intrepid Graphic Design Director. Joe has designed every page of CR since its inception back in the summer of 2008. It’s not an overstatement when we say we simply couldn’t (and wouldn’t want to) do it without him. We feel very confident that you will agree with us when we say the high calibre of writing and photography that graces our pages is what gives the puzzle its pizzazz. We’re very proud and grateful to have assembled an extremely talented team of writers and photographers who regularly amaze us. Another important part of the picture is the advertisers who have chosen the magazine for their marketing. Their inclusion in the magazine benefits you, the reader, and for that we have Sales Representatives Hope McFall and Lorraine Gibson-Alcock to thank. These ladies are staunch supporters of the magazine and know its value as an advertising tool and are always proud to discuss the many options available to become part of the publication through both print and digital avenues. They know their stuff and there would be a lot of blank spaces without their efforts. Also very much a part of every puzzle is the top notch print firm Renaissance Printing. We’ve relied on their expertise since day one and they always deliver. Speaking of delivering – we can always count on Mittman Carriers to safely transport the final product to us. And we have an enthusiastic crew ready to distribute the magazines in all directions once they reach us here at home base. But there’s one last essential piece that fully completes the puzzle and that’s you the reader. Thanks for reading Country Roads and completing the picture. We will do it all again soon!
•
NOTE TO READERS Our valued regular contributor Angela Hawn and family are off on an adventure. Switzerland’s gain is Country Roads’ loss. Hard as we tried we couldn’t figure out a way to have her byline stay in the magazine while off the continent. But the good news is it’s only a year before we have her back and tackling a wide variety of stories for your enjoyment. Bon voyage and best wishes to Angela and family for a most excellent adventure.
CONTRIBUTORS Angela Hawn thanks her lucky stars for landing in Hastings County after years of an ‘on the road’ lifestyle teaching ESL in Asia, Europe and the Canadian Arctic. Although she loves to travel, some chance meetings here with a few people in the publishing business finally allowed her to put to use a few things learned long ago at Carleton University’s journalism school. When not writing or travelling, Angela enjoys the inspiration and humour consistently delivered by the students seen in her day job as an elementary school teacher. Her dream job? Why, travel writer, of course. Interested parties take note: for the right assignment, she’d work cheap. Closer to home, Angela seeks editorial advice and often, just plain old validation, from fellow travelling companions, husband, Mike, and their two incredible daughters, Maddie and Isobel.
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Sarah Vance freelances articles for publications such as Bancroft This Week, The Haliburton Echo, Municipal Monitor and Country Roads. Sarah’s interest in cultural and social themes led her to pursue a masters’ degree, under the guidance of British philosopher Keith Ansell-Pearson. Sarah is always on the lookout for interesting angles and projects that will take her off the beaten path. Shelley Wildgen has a background in broadcasting that extends from Belleville to Winnipeg to Bermuda and back again. She is an advertising copywriter and commercial voice over talent by trade but has also written features for many magazines across Canada, as well as taken a turn at teaching in the School of Media Arts and Design at Loyalist College. Shelley divides her time between Belleville and Prince Edward Island.
VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2, SUMMER 2017
CONTENTS 8
18
Fun Starts Here! Fresh Gourmet Fudge Cotton Candy Made on Site
Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream 75 Hastings St. N
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22
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Open seven days a week
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FEATURES 8 GATEWAY TO ADVENTURE
22 REMEMBERING
By Sarah Vance
26 LOW BUDGET BEAUTIES
18 EVERYTHING’S GONE GREEN
A Life Well Lived
By Shelley Wildgen
By Angela Hawn
DEPARTMENTS 6 EDITORIAL 6 CONTRIBUTORS 24 JUST SAYING
Retirement: Just a Phrase
32 SOCIAL SCENE 33 THE VILLAGE IDIOT
34 36 37 38
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Summer 2017 • Country Roads
I 7
Gateway to
adventure A fourth bridge is accentuated by a mural painted by Arne Roosman and a boardwalk path in Bancroft’s Theatre District. A multi-unit apartment building near the corner of Bridge St. and Highway 62 was once a Mill powered by a 40-foot wooden flume.
The magnificent York River continues to inspire S T ORY AN D PH OT O S BY S ARAH VAN CE
T
he York River is a watershed that begins at Baptiste and extends through Bancroft, along New Carlow, into the Ottawa River and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean. When connecting people, trades and tourism, the river’s vibrant forces have come to be as respected, as they are, at times, feared. For the cultures who share the shoreline, the river puts food on the table. Morels and fiddleheads are harvested in the Spring; cranberries and wild rice harvested in the Summer; and beavers trapped in the Fall. Today, the mighty York is also a gateway for outdoor adventurers and ghost-town travelers. There are several launching points, which scaffold the river’s vastness and provide manageable routes for even an amateur canoeist. That said, it’s the many raging rapids and miles of magnificent chutes that make the river a kayaker’s dream. Scenic rural roads run adjacent to the water in many places, allowing for discovery day-trips to shoreline parks. There are also 10 rural bridges situated over the York and many of these are
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single-lane structures. Extensive trail systems allow hikers to get out and walk and swimmers to jump in and experience the York in all its splendor. So it’s best to bring a bathing suit. The River surges out of the east end of Baptiste Lake, at the High Falls Dam. This semimaintained park provides a spectacular show as crashing waves create mist in the air and the water scoffs at man’s efforts to contain it. If travelling on the Baptiste waterway, the dam is reached past Blueberry Island, near Lavallee and Dog Bay. Once a marshland, Baptiste was dammed in the 1960’s in order for it to become the system it is today. Ghost-town travelers will find the footings of the original dam, still in place, a quarter of a mile north of the current site. The concrete footings can still be found in the water. High Falls offers magnificent natural whirlpools, formed as waves crash against the precambrian boulders below the dam, where mini-rainbows are reflected as water pools against granite. There are also rocky trails along the shoreline that fill up with people, who take
off their shoes and put their toes into the rushing waves below the dam. To find this dam by car, follow the High Falls Trail at the intersection of South Baptiste and Y-Road. This semimaintained dirt road runs approximately 2km long, and while there are potholes, even a mini car is able to make the trip in. There is a bay at the base of the falls, where swimmers congregate in the summer. On South Baptiste Lake Road visitors will find the first bridge, downriver from the dam. This is also a launching point for boaters, offering over 7km of secluded travel, downriver into Bancroft. Along this route there is an abandoned pressure lumber mill, in Birds Creek, for ghost town hunters, in an area known for its bass fishing. Muskie, pike, and pickerel are also frequent catches. And as you travel along the marshy route, canoeists will find patches of wild rice growing and lily along the shoreline. This uniquely pink coloured York River flower figures prominently in the stories passed down from generation to generation by the Algonquin Madaouskarini community.
The Eagle’s Nest cliffs are the first indicator that you have arrived in Bancroft. Some say that it is only by river that the elegant splendor of this famous landmark can be truly experienced. Eagle’s Nest provides good composition for photographers and the town has positioned lights to illuminate the river and reflect the colourful red granite and marble cliffs at dark. There are two important access points as the river continues alongside Highway 62, towards Bancroft. Sparrow Park offers picnic tables and a boat launch, with some trailer parking, near Foodland. Trips and Trails, just downriver, is an outfitting and rental shop with spaces for docking and guided tours available. Both of these access points allow for a manageable excursion by water that is just 1km from the Town of Bancroft.
The York River surges out of the east end of Baptiste Lake at the High Falls Dam, which provides a spectacular water show. The area is also one of many along the river that should appeal to ghost town hunters.
Riverside Park now includes a dock which helps swimmers take the plunge into the York.
Summer 2017 • Country Roads
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Millennium Park is a good place to get out and explore the shoreline from two different vantage points, along both shorelines. If you follow the Heritage trail into town you will find Heart of The Park, a boat rental and cafe, at Riverside Park. The Waddle and Daub Cafe offers canoe and kayak rentals, along with a casual menu, on this shoreline, where there is also a beach for swimming and a play structure, adjacent to the Post Office and the Heritage Museum. Here the Constable Thomas Kehoe Memorial Bridge, at Station St., attracts hundreds of pigeons that roost under the bridge and can make for spectacularly eerie photos.
Above: Canoes and kayaks are available for rental at Riverside Park, where the Waddle & Daub Cafe also serves seasonal snacks. Below Left: The many raging rapids and miles of magnificent chutes make the York River a paddler’s dream.
By canoe you will see otters, mallard ducks and also herons known to nest near the Tim Horton’s drive-through, where boats are tiedoff and hot coffee is served. A painted turtle is a common sight, and is estimated by locals to be at least a century old. But who’s counting? The river’s sand dunes are fiery red, as a result of the granite in the soil. And there are also many clay deposits that local kids sculpt into natural water slides, and then use, to slip into the river. The scenic Millennium foot bridge is made from a railroad bridge and connects the river to a gateways of trails used for sledding and all-terrain sports. On Wednesday nights, from July to August, Mineral Capital Concerts brings musical talent to the stage and spectators tie their boats and watch performers from the river.
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Country Roads • Summer 2017
Above Right: A view of the York River from the Heritage Trail in Bancroft at Riverside Park. Above: Conroy’s Marsh features lush vegetation that has led the area to be described by some as a “Northern Bayou.”
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Alive with entertainment, first class shopping, and dining. Summer 2017 • Country Roads
I 11
The York River has a tradition of providing for the people living along its shores, with morels and fiddleheads harvested in the Spring, cranberries and wild rice harvested in the Summer, and beavers trapped in the Fall.
The Egan Chutes run for about a mile and the area is a rockhound’s paradise.
Farmers would once water their livestock and miners would wash coal bins, while basins of water for the train were refilled, along this area of the river. Today, Bancroft’s shoreline appeals to the Pokemon Go crowd. A mineral pile, on the Heritage trail, allows recreational rockhounders to prospect for Feldspar, Mica tailings and, of course, to find Pikachu. A fourth bridge is accentuated by a mural painted by Arne Roosman and a boardwalk path in Bancroft’s Theatre District. Established Canadian artist David Milne also made this section of the river his muse and lived his last days on the river shoreline in Bancroft. If you are travelling by water, Bancroft is the final post for getting supplies or to have an ice
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Country Roads • Summer 2017
cream or a locally crafted beer before striking out into the wilderness. For ghost town travelers, this part of the river offers a snapshot into local history. A multi-unit apartment building, near the corner of Bridge St. and Highway 62, was once a Mill powered by a 40-foot wooden flume. The business produced more than 30,000 pounds of sheep’s wool a year, processed from local farms. The York’s rushing water was vital to this operation, as it was used to remove lanolin from the wool. Here a dam and rapids begin a 2km portage for water travelers. This dam was once a locally owned hydro-electric power source that actually kept the town off the grid until the 1970’s by generating hydro-electric power for approximately 2700 residents.
In the 1950’s many medicinal plants were marketed, with a great deal of success, along the river. Entrepreneur Jack Brown operated Dominion Essential oils, where Jan Woodlands is situated today. Brown would run balsam and cedar brush into his mill and these local medicines would then be sold and processed into cosmetic products, such as Noxema. Travelers by car might choose to follow the river to a fifth bridge at the Bronson Road. This is a single-lane bridge and a launching point for people travelling by water. This bridge also signals the Lavallee Bay portage, approximately 2km further down river. This portage is about a quarter of a mile in length, along semi-maintained crown trails. Ghost town travelers will find the dilapidated crumblings of Egan’s farm, once owned by lumber baron J.R. Booth himself. Booth invested in the property, which provided oats, carrots and potatoes, to feed the work-horses and labourers who manned the area’s sawmills and maintained the train tracks. Today, a Fish Hatchery can be found near this location, on Hysert Rd. The sixth bridge crosses under Highway 28, at Egan Chutes Provincial Park. It is worth bringing your bathing suit to Egan Chutes, where Kings Marsh offers a spectacular sand bar and hundreds of sunfish sparkle like jewels in the swirling river. The chutes are a mile long and the path runs along several kilometres of cliffs. Deep sand dunes run contrast to rocky ledges and natural whirlpools swirl in the river against granite cliffs. The trails are secluded and it is not unusual to find couples in the natural whirlpools or bathers at King’s Marsh. For mineral enthusiasts, Egan’s Chutes is a rockhound’s paradise where blue sodalite, a
The single-lane bridge at Bronson Road is one of 10 such structures traversing the waterway.
Conroy’s Marsh provided a setting for A.J. Casson’s paintings.
locally grown tectosilicate mineral, is readily found along the shoreline. The Princess of Wales is known to have ordered 130 tons of sodalite from the mine on Highway 28 in the early 1900’s. Following Egan Chutes, the river circles and snakes another 3km, tangling deeper into the valleys of the New Carlow basin. It is a winding and sinewy route comprised of narrow
accidents near this boat launch. And there are rocks along the shoreline where the names of deceased log drivers have been etched in rough. The Trails End portage extends 0.5km into Slabtown, ending at the iron bridge on Boulter Road. Slabtown once boasted an iron bridge, with high symmetrical railings, that fortified the structure. This new seventh bridge is a single-
gullies and vegetation, such as wild rice and cranberries. In Slabtown there is a public docking area at Trails End, off Boulter Rd. This access route is landlocked by the Slabtown rapids, but you can still access Egan Chutes by travelling up-river from this point. For ghost town enthusiasts, stories passed down from generation to generation tell of men who drowned in logging
Summer 2017 • Country Roads
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Left: The Heritage Trail in Bancroft follows the York River and provides spectacular views. Below: The Millennium Park foot bridge connects the Heritage Trail to the Bandshell, where local musicians entertain in the Summer months.
lane bridge, like those at New Carlow and the Little Mississippi, both surrounding tributaries that intersect with the York and Madawaska Rivers. Conroy’s Marsh is approximately 10km down river from Slabtown and it is the little known jewel of the York, described by some as a “Northern Bayou” because of its marshy bogs and lush vegetation. Historically Conroy’s Marsh was a booming shanty town and an Alligator Boat brought tourists and prospectors to a hotel that once thrived there. The dilapidated remains of
this Octogonal hotel provides a ghost town destination and an old roof can still be found on this property. These and other aging structures offer insights into the activities of a community that is long gone, but not forgotten. As it turns out, bullfrogs also thrived in the Marsh and many years ago locals would trap and harvest them, putting their legs on ice before exporting them to posh urban eateries as far away as New York City. Conroy’s Marsh is now a registered walleye spawning site and thick, pulsing schools of this fish literally overtake the water in April and
May annually. In the fall the wild cranberries are so plentiful that you need only to strike the branches up against the boat to find your canoe 4 inches deep in the berries. Arts connoisseurs will recognize Conroy’s Marsh in A.J. Casson’s paintings titled by this same name. The river continues adjacent to Highway 515 through Combermere, where it hits the Ottawa River at Arnprior, but this is where our story stops. But the river doesn’t stop, and if you are so inclined, it’s just a matter of time before your canoe will reach the Atlantic.
•
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258 Hastings St N Bancroft (613) 332-1969 • WWW.TRIPSANDTRAILS.CA 14 I
Country Roads • Summer 2017
A great place for weddings, conferences and vacation getaways. For hours of operation, contact: 613-332-3711 or bancroft.ca
www.birchclifflodge.ca 613-332-3316
Colour your world All of the images in The Canadian Backwoods Colouring Book are influenced by Ketha Newman’s own experience of living in rural Ontario. Photo courtesy Penguin Random House Canada
H
olding the honour of being the first Doubleday Canada original colouring book produced in-house by a single author and illustrator, The Canadian Backwoods Colouring Book by North Hastings area artist Ketha Newman is overflowing with rustic, breathtaking Canadian landscapes. Newman takes artistic inspiration from her own lifestyle to celebrate Canada’s natural beauty. All of the images in The Canadian Backwoods Colouring Book are influenced by her own experience of living in rural Ontario. The December cabin pictured is her home, the birds are viewed at her feeders and the split-rail fence and sap buckets are scenes observed while she makes maple syrup with her family. “The Canadian Backwoods Colouring Book builds on the popularity of adult colouring books
while taking the concept a step further,” Newman explains. “It is my hope that it will be treated not as a disposable activity book, but rather as an interactive coffee table and art book that will be kept and enjoyed for many years.” Organized by month and commemorating all four seasons, Newman has designed a timeless work of creative vision. Each of the 39 principal drawings is partnered with a quote from one of 16 Canadian poets and authors, whose writings have exalted Canadian life for 150 years. Newman’s firsthand experience living in the backwoods, combined with her illustrations and the words of great Canadian artists, effortlessly present life in the vast Canadian wilderness that is so fundamental to Canadian identity. As a bonus to readers, Newman will be sharing colouring tips and commentary on the photos on her website www.kethanewman.com. Additionally, an art show entitled ‘Backwoods’ will run from June 16 to July 23 at the Railway Station Gallery in Barry’s Bay. The show will feature the original drawings from the book paired with paintings exploring our pioneer heritage and modern day rural experience. Newman lives off-grid with her husband and two children in a log cabin overlooking the forested hills south of Algonquin Park. Since graduating with a Fine Art degree from the University of Toronto in 1996, she has devoted herself to painting primarily with watercolours. This is her first book.
MIKE BOSSIO Member of Parliament for Hastings—Lennox and Addington Main Office: 20-B Richmond Blvd, Napanee Mon-Fri, 9am to 4pm Satellite office hours throughout the riding—call for details!
mike.bossio@parl.gc.ca Toll Free: 1-866-471-3800 www.mikebossiomp.ca
•
Newman hopes that her book will be treated more as an “Interactive coffee table book” than simply a disposable activity book. Photo courtesy Penguin Random House Canada
Summer 2017 • Country Roads
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Everything’s gone green Astoria Organic Matters, a compost manufacturing facility located in Hastings County is one of only a few in Canada using leading edge Gore technology.
Organic waste facility enjoys sweet smell of success By Angela Hawn • Photos courtesy Astoria Organic Matters Canada
W
aste not, want not. If Astoria Organic Matters Canada were looking for a slogan, this one would fit nicely. Just ask Al Hamilton what his company does and you’ll find his answer rings with similar simplicity. “We’re basically a compost manufacturing facility,” explains the 52-year-old with obvious enthusiasm for his subject. “We take in all kinds of organic waste and raw materials with no additives, blend them and make compost out of it.” Now quiz Hamilton on what comes first: his business sense or a passion for running an enterprise with a firm set of environmental goals. The details get a little more complicated. With a background in civil engineering and a Masters degree in business, it’s clear this savvy entrepreneur knows his way around the economic practicalities involved in keeping a retail operation afloat. But make no mistake, Hamilton cares deeply about preventing green waste from ending up in landfills and he’s
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thrilled his line of work revolves around that very same mission. “Very little residual waste ever leaves the site,” claims Hamilton, though even he admits conventional landfills still fill a need in contemporary society. “For example, waste might come to us in plastic bags and we use someone else to get rid of the plastic bags.” Hamilton goes on to explain customers might very well be under the impression organic waste dropped off in biodegradable bags composts easily. But the bags still take over 20 years in the ground to break down, while the green waste inside turns to compost in about 20 days. Still, pesky plastic bags aside, diverting green matter from dump sites forms a key part of Astoria’s mandate. To that end, the operation promises to accept all of a customer’s organic waste and turn it into high grade organic fertilizer, all within just eight weeks. Hamilton first started thinking about how to accomplish this lofty set of goals when he worked in a paper mill geared towards 100
percent recycled paper production. Having just returned from a civil engineering job in Florida, Hamilton dreamed of setting up some kind of green business model right here in Canada. Certain even more could be done to help reduce waste, he looked to Europe for inspiration. “We all really need to take a plane ride to Europe and see that landfills are few and far between,” the businessman declares emphatically, noting most European countries banned green waste from landfills long ago. “They are 20 years ahead of North America.” Knowing European culture maintains a strong environmental consciousness, Hamilton crossed the Atlantic to do a little research and seek out investors. He soon found several interested parties in Germany with the financial chops necessary to get a European style composting plant up and running back home. Meanwhile, he checked out a few overseas operations whose composting methods involved the use of a special type of compost cover. Produced by Gore, this unique technology had
The lowdown on the “Ooey-Gooey” Story and photo by Angela Hawn
Al Hamilton’s sister Liz is one of a half dozen or so Astoria crew who run a front end loader to move the material around and ‘fluff it up’ when needed. She’s not only a staff member, but a customer as well.
These mounds of rich and fertile compost quickly find their way into farmers’ fields, golf courses, municipal parks and recreation areas, and individual gardens.
already gained a solid reputation world-wide for making the whole process quick and efficient. “A colleague and I were travelling in Spain and we wanted to see the Gore covers handling something at its nastiest,” chuckles Hamilton, as he reminisces about one of his composting tours. “This place was dealing with stuff like chicken and fish waste and we couldn’t believe there was no odour.” Hamilton explains the Gore covers which shield Astoria’s organic waste piles during the initial stages of the composting process perform a vital role in keeping the entire operation running smoothly. Translation: we’re talking about odour or the lack of it. Made from material similar to that found in “breathable” Gore-tex rain jackets, these heavy duty enormous covers resemble the type of oversized tarp the Friendly Giant might take camping. These high-tech covers allow the compost to “cook” at tremendously high temperatures, which in turn speeds along the entire process. Hamilton notes the Gore technology not only
Al Hamilton’s recipe for perfect compost sounds disgusting but it’s quick, effective and turns out a rich organic fertilizer popular with customers all around Hastings County. Hamilton notes his product regularly shows up in farmers’ fields, golf courses, municipal parks and recreation areas, and individual gardens everywhere. “You need three things when you’re making compost,” Hamilton says, ticking off a specialized list with relish. “You need a carbon/nitrogen ratio of about three to one, moisture and oxygen.” Hamilton notes both carbon and nitrogen components arrive at his plant by the truck-load regularly. It’s really the perfect business model: Astoria charges fees to accept waste and then charges again to sell the product the facility eventually creates from it. The bonus? The entire operation’s design revolves around reducing our carbon footprint. “It sounds really scientific, but it’s not,” chuckles Hamilton, noting carbon sources include local leaf and yard waste while the essential moisture-laden nitrogen ingredient might show up in the form of post production liquids from nearby cheese factories. “Basically you take the carbon materials and mix it with the smelly, bio-solid stuff.” So what’s the difference between dumping our food scraps in an ordinary landfill vs. bringing them to an operation such as Hamilton’s plant? The compost entrepreneur explains nitrogen-rich food waste placed in landfills goes anaerobic, producing harmful ammonia and methane gases. This highly undesirable phenomenon has forced several large, aging dumpsites such as the landfill in Barrie, Ontario into expensive, but necessary reclamation processes. “They are basically digging these old landfills up to extract the organics of all types out to reduce the methane gases,” declares Hamilton. “Not only by using compost facilities are you diverting materials from landfill and reusing them, but disposal costs are generally lower.” Hamilton goes on to assure both incoming waste and outgoing compost must pass regular inspections to guarantee they are “clean” or free of undesirable elements such as e-coli or heavy metals. Recipe blending happens in the receiving building and everything gets well-mixed and ground to a pulpy, gooey consistency by machine. “You add just enough moisture so that you can pick it up and give it a good squeeze,” Hamilton declares enthusiastically. “If a drop or two of water comes out, then you know you’ve got it just about right.” Next, Astoria staff place everything in windrows or long heaps and shield them with Gore covers. Drains in the floor collect excess waste water and anything that doesn’t break down in the first round of composting simply gets tossed back in to go through the entire process again from the beginning. It’s the perfect, ever turning, green recycling circle. Hamilton explains various computer-run probes keep an eye on things to make sure moisture and oxygen remain at optimum levels while biofilters thoroughly clean air before releasing it to the atmosphere. At various stages during the eight-week process, the material needs “fluffing up” to reduce density and ensure microorganisms receive sufficient air to break everything down. Simply moving things around via heavy machinery does the trick. Just ask Hamilton’s sister Liz, one of a half dozen or so Astoria crew who can run a front end loader with the smooth efficiency of a performer in a well-rehearsed ballet. She’s not only a staff member, but also a customer. “This stuff is rich,” she says of Astoria’s finished product. “I put some around some tomato plants and, no word of a lie, the plants grew twice as tall and had little tomatoes on them in no-time.”
Summer 2017 • Country Roads
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Astoria’s Yay and Nay List By Angela Hawn
Ever found yourself scanning the labels of so-called “environmentally friendly” products, only to find many of them require specialized recycling facilities. Don’t get frustrated. Before you put that package of paper plates made from biodegradable sugar cane back on the supermarket shelf because you worry you’ll just end up trashing it anyway, take a gander at this abbreviated list of Astoria drop-off do’s and don’ts. You just might be living in exactly the right place to make going green easy!
Do Drop Off • • • •
ood Scraps (including meat, poultry, fish, F bones and shellfish; egg and dairy products; fruits and veggies; bread, dough, pasta and grains; coffee grounds, filters, tea bags, etc.) S oiled Paper (including kitchen paper towels, uncoated paper take out containers, soiled pizza boxes, paper napkins, etc.) P lant and Wood Waste (including plants, flowers, grass clippings, brush and stumps, wood chips and mulch, etc.) C onstruction Waste (including clean lumber, unpainted drywall, wood pallets and crates)
The Gore technology used by Astoria not only meets, but exceeds both Ministry of Environment regulations and Climate Change requirements. The extreme heat even kills weed seed.
Don’t Drop Off • p lastic bags, plastic containers and bottles,
glass bottles and jars, metal, produce baskets and netting, burlap, plastic wrap, cork, styrofoam, foil, wire and rubber bands, pet waste, etc.
meets, but exceeds both Ministry of Environment regulations and Climate Change requirements. The extreme heat even kills weed seed. Considering only a handful of Canadian companies currently use the Gore product, Hamilton’s plant appears quite unique. The absence of any kind of similar operation in eastern Ontario certainly played a key role in the decision to set up shop in Hastings County. “The Gore cover acts as protection, letting nothing in and letting nothing out,” says Hamilton, crediting the gigantic shields as one of the major reason his compost business functions without offensive fumes. “The only thing you might see are the CO2 emissions coming out as steam.” Pay a visit to Hamilton’s sprawling $19 million operation set in a gully on Belleville’s eastern rural edge, take a deep breath and decide for yourself. What this environmentally conscientious businessman professes about odour (or the lack of it) certainly appears to be true. In fact, the scent comes across as earthy, spring-like and not at all unpleasant. But if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then scent (or the perception of same) probably rests with the sniffer. Hamilton admits a small group initially protested the opening of the plant. Most worried about potential odour problems, a few
mentioned concerns about wear and tear on the roads due to both waste drop-off and compost pick-up and several were under the mistaken impression Hamilton was looking to start up a conventional landfill. Nothing, of course, could have been further from his mind. Hoping to better inform the public and form a stronger connection with the surrounding community, he held information sessions to let everyone in on Astoria’s green philosophy. In an effort to show goodwill, the business even offered to kick in some money towards road maintenance. And, in the end, the composting operation went ahead, though it took about two years to get the necessary permits. And while holding public meetings and creating a Public Liaison Committee are two of the necessary steps involved in meeting Ministry of Environment regulations for plant approval, Hamilton knows they mean more than just that. This Napanee area native has no desire to upset the neighbours. “Some of the people who once had concerns are now customers,” declares Hamilton in the confident tones of one who just knows the passion he feels for Astoria’s mission must surely be contagious. “All the staff buy into the environmental aspect and we all care about what we do.”
•
Realizing that most European countries banned green waste from landfills long ago Astoria Organic Matters company founder Al Hamilton toured various overseas composting facilities for inspiration.
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Country Roads • Summer 2017
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I 21
R E M E M B E R I N G
Russell Scott, wearing chain of office as mayor of Belleville, is shown presenting the key to the city to an unidentified recipient. Dr. Scott was distinguished by an approachable and down-to-earth demeanour. Photo courtesy Belleville and Hastings County Community Archives
Mayor Russell Scott presides at the podium during the official opening ceremony of the Quinte Mall. Among his numerous positions and roles in the community, Dr. Scott was Mayor of Belleville from 1968 to 1972. Photo courtesy Belleville and Hastings County Community Archives
A life well-lived
Dr. Russell Scott a brilliant man with multiple interests By Barry Penhale
I
t was a fortuitous meeting some time ago when, in my role as publisher of The Outdoorsman magazine, I first became acquainted with the quite exceptional James Russell Scott. When leaving Highway 620 after a stop in Coe Hill, I ventured onto the Lower Faraday Road. Anyone familiar with this rugged part of Hastings County will appreciate the delight I took in my scenic surroundings. The countryside was, I suspect, little changed from those times when Anna Leveridge wrote of pioneering in the bush in numerous letters sent home to family in the United Kingdom. These letters, long after their date of origin, became a popular book entitled Your Loving Anna. The Lower Faraday Road led me to the entranceway of Lavallée tent park, a 5,000-acre site containing no less than three lakes. It was here upon checking in that I met Dr. Scott and his first wife, Marion, a Belleville native and at the time the park proprietor. Stating my business, I produced a copy of The Outdoorsman for their inspection and suggested they might wish to advertise Lavallée. Needless to
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say I was elated when Dr. Scott remarked, “I like what he’s doing and we obviously should encourage him.” To which he immediately added, “He offers a frequency discount so we should go into all issues.” Heart-warming words for this fledgling publisher at the time. But it didn’t end there. An invitation to be their overnight guest including dinner proved a generous offer I was overjoyed to accept. Little could I imagine then the times ahead when I would return to further savour their warm hospitality and the beginnings of what became a very special friendship. Lavallée tent park was a magnet in the wilderness for the many campers who came in droves. Unlike any other private establishment of its kind, its popularity soon piqued the curiosity of the Ontario government of the day, so much so that word was out that provincial park personnel in “civies” had snooped around hoping to determine what all the Lavallée buzz was about! They would have found, among other amenities, washrooms outfitted with toilet fixtures and sinks that Russell had acquired when they came up for replacement in Hastings County schools. There was also an official post office complete with a Lavallée postmark.
The park brochure listed an impressive array of facilities and services ranging from trailer hydro, a diving tower, nature trails, archery, golf, beach house, museum and square dancing. National Film Board movies were screened in a rebuilt outbuilding that also was home to music provided by local musicians known as “The Rose Island Players,” so named by Dr. Scott. The Scotts’ seasonal home was situated a distance away from the main park operation. Here, Russell, Marion and their young family could escape the hub-bub in secluded comfort. An eye-opening feature in one separate room was a wall lined with several adjoining urinals, the convenience of which must have been greatly appreciated by Russell and his four young sons. Nearby was a cozy sleeping cabin that soon became familiar to me and a sizeable construction company trailer that could accommodate a goodly number. Not one to miss an opportunity, Dr. Scott had acquired the trailer when it was no longer needed on a major road widening site. As I was to discover, Dr. Scott was an exceptional individual — a true visionary who was the principal reason why Lavallée was ahead of its time. Little wonder that the attractions and facilities found on the extensive Scott property that straddled Faraday and Wollaston Townships surpassed the competition. Over the years Scott was to dabble successfully in assorted business ventures, including an invention that produced an innovative way of applying rubber to the wheels of toy pedal carts — just one of the many profitable experiences that added to his prosperity. He often would remark that he was blessed! On more than one occasion I marvelled at yet another dimension to Dr. Scott. On hikes within densely wooded areas the man so identified with
R E M E M B E R I N G Located near the community of Coe Hill, the Lavallee Tent Park was considered ahead of its time and was a magnet for vacationers. Image courtesy The Barry Penhale Collection
the City of Belleville proved to be a highly informed naturalist completely comfortable in an environment that was anything but city-like! With a practised eye he recognized the signs of wildlife and their whereabouts that a neophyte would almost certainly miss. He had a particular regard for trees and as a major land owner he planted thousands, largely pine. Some 60 years later when these were logged, he immediately planted 8,000 trees and then 6,000 more the following year. We have all known individuals with more than an average appetite for living. In Dr. Scott’s case the most accurate description would be voracious! His resume is far too lengthy to present in its entirety, but his accomplishments included preserving the Belleville Armouries, for which he was named “honorary major” of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment. A family physician for well over 60 years he was greatly involved with Belleville’s hospital, including six years as chief of staff. He also served as Hastings County coroner and inspector of anatomy for upwards of 40 years. During almost 20 years in elected office he functioned as school board and library board chair and from 1968 to 1972 was the mayor of Belleville. The first president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Dr. Scott was also
founding director of Extendicare nursing homes. In 1961 he headed the International Ploughing Match when it was held in Hastings County. During his lifetime Dr. Scott was to receive many honours, perhaps none more prestigious than when he was appointed a director of the Royal Winter Fair. Immensely proud to be of United Empire Loyalist stock, Scott never forgot his Eastern Ontario family ties. As he aged, a “heart project” found him immersed in genealogical research that turned up family connections across Hastings County in such places as Corbyville, Deloro, Flinton, Stirling, Tweed, and, of course, Belleville. Our friendship was to continue as a result of meetings in Toronto that brought Russell together with other Ontario community leaders. It was then I discovered that he thrived on big-city nightlife and as a “Beau Brummel” stood out in any gathering with his imposing homburg hat and stylish cane — well-known Scott trademarks! He was indeed quite a man who lived life fully and on his own terms. An old friend of mine, Paul Skelding of Trenton, recently recalled the familiar sight of Dr. Scott in attendance at Belleville Bulls hockey games. Paul remembers the man’s enthusiasm for the local team and how impressed he was by his down-to-earth approachable demeanor. A man of seemingly endless accomplishments, his name lives on at the Russell Scott Park on Cannifton Road in Belleville, across from the Quinte Sports Centre. Russell and his second wife Lorraine were known to share a passion for the flowers of springtime. He would be delighted to know that thousands of Canada 150 tulips have been planted across Hastings County and beyond.
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Summer 2017 • Country Roads
I 23
JUST SAYING
BY SHELLEY WILDGEN
Retirement: Just a Phase?
C
her did it. Oprah did it. George Foreman and Muhammad Ali both did it. They all retired then came back with a vengeance. Lance Armstrong did it too, but we don’t care. Cher’s still “shoop-shooping” it up in Vegas, Oprah went from talk show maven to network mogul and the famous boxers kept returning to the ring until one of them got grilling. One of the most remarkable celebrity retirements was Shirley Temple, the corkscrew curled little cherub of movies from the 1930s. Shirley didn’t spiral into the cliche narcotic fuelled adulthoods of many child stars. After making 44 movies before she was 12, she came back as an adult and became a U.S. Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana, first female Chief of Protocol and rounded out her stellar political career as Ambassador to Czechoslovakia. How do you like them apples Mr. Bojangles? So that’s them. The finest and fanciest. How about the rest of us? If a senior leaves their career after 30 years and no one notices, is it still called retirement? Maybe yes, but likely no. In our world of ‘rehirement’ many seniors still have several decades left in a whole other career. With our extended life spans, often times work income is needed long after our peak working years expire so buckle up baby, this ride could be very bouncy. The actual word ‘retirement’ is a noun, not a lot of action in it, and it’s defined as: 1. The action or fact of leaving one’s job and ceasing to work. 2. The withdrawal of a jury from the courtroom to decide their verdict. …aaaaaand sometimes it can feel like the jury decided it was time for us to leave work. However
the process unfolds, unless you’ve socked away cash since you were 12, it can be a less than comfortable prospect so creative reinvention becomes a clever option. Racehorses retire at a definite time. Stop running well and finished. No second chances. Well they may take up buggy hauling but their race days are non-negotiable. Finished. A little more planning is required for us. As humans we can take what we learned from the first career and apply it to the second or third career. For example, I spent a long chunk in broadcasting and then I taught media and
Sure, you can put on your greeter cap if that floats your boat, but you can also entertain a myriad of other ideas. It’s looking like it might be a long 30 years, so we b etter make sure we’re enjoying ourselves!
now as I cuddle up to some form of retirement, I write. Kind of all in the same family and fairly easy transitions. What’s really cool is when someone does a complete 180. I have a friend who was first a graphic designer, then a college professor of
Graphic Design and now at age 60, she runs an inn three provinces away from where she called home, for her entire life. Racehorses could never do that! Sure, you can put on your greeter cap if that floats your boat, but you can also entertain a myriad of other ideas. It’s looking like it might be a long 30 years so we’d better make sure we’re enjoying ourselves! More and more it’s becoming clear that a sense of adventure is a valuable tool for a happy retirement. Harness all of the acquired skillsets and fearlessness we can possibly pull from within and dare to touch a few of our dreams with a practical hand. Most of it starts with the ever-growing art of downsizing. Strip our housing down to what we can live in most easily, with the least amount of extra stuff. If we’re very honest with ourselves that really only requires one to three well-appointed rooms. Keeping our overhead down and our walls fewer creates less to be afraid of losing and adds to whatever cash stash we’re working with. The money end of things can take a few twists and turns over the years. Some people have everything set and ready to go with a financial planner but many of us fumble our way along sprinkling any available spare dollars around into various crises and comfy little bank accounts that grow at about the same rate as our eyebrow hairs. Inevitably we look to the internet for guidance and support and it is there. Oh yes. The Canadian Retirement Income Calculator spells it all out. Isn’t that handy? Or it would be if we could predict our annual salaries in this funny world of multi-part time and often under-employed pre-retirees. So, we work with what we have and contemplate our next move, making sure to talk openly and often to this century’s booming bundle of likeminded retirees. Surprisingly, most of our friends are eager to talk about this life phase. No one schooled us in it and we only had our parents’ example to observe, so coming up with fresh ideas on how to navigate this new reality of getting old can make for some inspiring dinner parties. Like contentment and excitement, the word ‘retirement’ holds the promise of a happy transition into an altered state. Whether that state is spent troubleshooting in a call centre, running an inn in the Maritimes, becoming a professional dogwalker, Golden Girling it with a couple of good friends, or selling off all wordly possessions and following the weather in a Winnebago, it’s all possibly possible. Only one thing is certain: our cover girl days are probably behind us but what’s ahead is quite likely to re-work the old idea of retirement.
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Summer 2017 • Country Roads
I 25
Left: Inspiration can be found anywhere. This picket fence and the worn old red barn windows now live inside the house in a lovely freshly painted kitchen.
Wooden screens can serve many purposes, such as in this case, a wall jewellery holder.
I
Low budget
beauties
The many highs of upcycling STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHELLEY WILDGEN 26 I
Country Roads • Summer 2017
t’s a thing. A great thing. The opportunity to refresh and redecorate is available to everyone because if there is one thing we all have in common, it’s trash. Lots of it. The trick is to stare at it for a really long time and then begin to see it as something different. Something useful; beautiful even. Waydreaming, I call it. That’s the luxurious part right before the actual upcycling work takes place. Imagination is definitely an asset when setting one’s mind to upcycling, but it’s not entirely necessary. Sometimes upcycling simply involves ridding yourself of the ‘extras’ and shining up the good, old stuff that’s left. Or you can reinvent an item that’s overstayed its welcome. All good! There are countless upcycling sources that will give you the ideas and the methods to put it all together and the end result is equally noble. You will have created something that isn’t exactly what it was but still has purpose. Sort of like an ‘alternative fact’, except that it’s real and better for the environment. Like just about everything that’s good for the environment, upcycling can be as simple, creative or complicated as you want it to be. Whichever route you elect to take – creatively original or copied from someone else - it’s all positive. Good for your mind and good for the land we live in. Now, you can go full-on upcycle with Instructables.com, a tutorial website which
up·cy·cle verb reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of a higher quality or value than the original.
Some items can be reinvented multiple times. This liquor cabinet, previously a china cabinet, started out life as an old radio.
Repurposing something you own, like this family member’s childhood window, can retain some strong memories.
is sort of a DIY/upcycling hybrid type deal, where you can learn everything from what to do with all those pallets we see everywhere to how to make a ‘nap tub’. Oh yes! Upcyclethat.com is a favourite website, home to the motorcycle lamp and plenty of tree branch décor. You’ll find a healthy dose of fun and relatively simple projects with the emphasis on whimsy. Then there’s Recyclart.org, a super elaborate website. It has a database and everything. A lot of people spring to attention at the mere mention of ‘database’. Recyclart has upcycling organized and sectioned off into methodology etc. Whatever floats your duct tape boat. I prefer to stare at things for a long time and let them take shape, but that just goes with my sloth-like personality. You have to find what sort of upcycling modus operandi works for you and then get to it. If a lot of pre-project online inspiration is necessary, a great upcycling place for upstarts is Pinterest.com. You’ll get to see myriad creative efforts from everywhere. And really, what’s not to love about a tea lightinfested piece of driftwood! There’s a fine line between upcycling and crafting because, really, crafting has been a form of upcycling since the advent of the macaroni art we all made in grade school. The difference is that a dedicated upcycler just might build an
entire house of macaroni. Upcycling can be as big or small a project you wish to take on. Each unquestionably ends with a hands-on-hips moment and a big, self-satisfied “There!” The unwavering desire to turn trash into treasure is something I come by honestly, I think. Sometime in the 1950s, my grandfather transformed an old radio into a china cabinet (I have since reinvented it as a liquor cabinet). In recent years, I’ve created a jewellery holder from an old wooden window screen, my husband’s childhood bedroom window has been made into a mirror and various family heirloom pressed back chairs have been reborn in silver and some in red – with the shake of a spray paint can. It’s just not that difficult to reimagine, reinvent and redo. Last year’s upcycling challenge was found in our 150-year-old PEI farmhouse. When a house is that old, filling it with new ‘pictures of wood’ furniture and accessories just seems wrong. I found inspiration everywhere! Junque shops, roadside cast-offs, Kijiji and our own backyard. Treasures were scattered all over the property: plaster planters, side tables, even the chassis of an old truck – all found in the tiny woods behind the house. Now this may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I adore ancient relics enhanced by fresh paint. It’s like giving them a victory lap after a lifetime of service, and I just plain like
Sometimes an empty space is the greatest inspiration. A previously small unfinished attic is now a lovely bathroom retreat.
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A kitchen renovation is an expensive undertaking. If your budget doesn’t allow for the big reno and the footprint is good tackle the surfaces and reuse, repaint, relight…use your imagination.
the look. I brought a picket fence inside, treated it with various paints and potions then propped it up in the freshly painted kitchen next to some rotted old red barn windows and an oversized fork of unknown origins. If you’re squeamish about the germ factor, just scrub and seal. The stairs to the bedrooms were an eclectic combination of brown paint and wallpapered risers. A friend suggested I remove the wallpaper and sand off the brown paint to see what was underneath. Voila, a pretty aqua blue showed through so now we have a nice, sanded blend of the old brown and even older blue paint resurfacing with a whole new look – and not a cent spent. A kind of stylish, newish set of notso-fresh island farm stairs, and I love them! The largest project at our PEI farmhouse was the upstairs bathroom, which was previously an unused attic. Now, I certainly had a lot of help
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with this project as the ability to plumb and drywall is nowhere to be found in my tool belt. But once our friend, Morley, did the rough stuff, laid the floor (some leftover shiplap from the local hardware store) and installed the fixtures, I was able to bring my trashy design sensibility to the room. I found a huge bag of old metal letters from a factory teardown at a yard sale down the street. It took precisely five seconds to spell the word ‘LOO’ for the bathroom wall. A bunkbed ladder was found in the attic, and after a little sanding, painting and sanding again it became our towel shelf. The pride of realizing this bathroomy rustic retreat dream was so enormous that I had to crown it with a chandelier. Now, back in Ontario, my discerning eye for upcycled décor has been taking a gander at the riverside home of my daughter, Laura and her fiancé, Sam. If your kids think they may need
ARE YOU NEW TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD? Visits are free. No obligation. Compliments of local businesses. Sharon: (613) 475-5994
some help fixing up their house, cash is low and they wonder if you can get them started – DO IT! It’s a privilege and a compliment to be asked – truly, it is. Here’s what I know. They trust me. They know I won’t throw out much. Sentimentally saved baby boots may become salt and pepper shakers by day’s end, but I won’t throw them out. I KID!!! The purging is up to them. They leave a stash for me to work with. What I didn’t know was how much fun and how rewarding upcycle renovating other people’s stuff would be! The starting point was Laura and Sam’s humble bungalow on the Moira River. Dark cupboards, dark paneling, many tiny rooms. Cozy, right? Well, OK. But mostly, it was dark, with a view of the river! See where I’m going? That pretty sight was a great motivator. Sam chose the house for where it was and that’s smart. Now, my challenge was to make the inside as pretty as the outside.
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Left: If the budget doesn’t allow for large renovations entire rooms can be transformed and given new life with the right paint colours and less expensive changes such as new doors, hardware, lighting and décor.
Above: A coat of paint is all it takes to transform an old chair.
Colour me basic but starting fresh always includes lots of white. Objective: white, light and happy. Translation: Maritime White (by Benjamin Moore) paint on all walls and Pure White paint from Canadian Tire on all trim and doors. For accompanying colours, we chose an inspiring vase – blue, two greens and a splash of red. Then it was go time. This isn’t HGTV and I don’t have a real budget, but I do have time. Afternoons mostly. The money part worked out because we shopped mainly from their garage, my house and the
ReStore in Belleville (365 Bell Boulevard). All very budget friendly choices. The trick to effective upcycling is not about making something out of nothing with everything. It’s more about choosing the right things. Some things for this project were made into other things, like the workbench my brother built years ago – now, with a coat of paint and a butcher block topping it is a magnificent kitchen island! Other things were already pretty good. Solid wood cabinets may have clunky handles and some banged up dark stain on them but they’re
solid wood cabinets and they definitely get a second life. Week One was devoted to the dark kitchen with the river view. Kitchen cupboards were patched, primed and reinvented with a can of white paint and some leftover cupboard handles from our house (which were actually some leftover handles from my friend, Deb’s house). The real reward for a clutterbug is to paint the insides of the cupboards and fill only with necessary items. The cool thing about taking on a house-sized upcycling project is that friends often want to
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Low budget beauties help. They come by with paintbrushes and cups of tea. And Laura and Sam pick up where I leave off every weekend, sometimes clearing a room or adding another coat of paint. The finer, expert touches are left to the pro. Our handy friend and contractor, Joe Z. looks after a lot of the heavy lifting and often sees things that could use some value-added help, like topping the workbench with a bamboo worktop and quietly picking up two $5 task lights at the ReStore and installing them directly above the sink (in place of the previous Christmas light adorned fluorescent tube). Now, some of the larger details. Doors. The two small bedrooms off the living room had a bi-fold door and a curtain on them. The whole look needed a little love. Maybeeee some….used French doors! Ooo la la! Keeping in mind that our budget is only as big as what’s left in my wallet after grocery day, I headed to the ReStore in Belleville. OK, so aside from the tidiness of the ReStore, the first thing I noticed was how helpful their volunteers are. I can be a little flaky when describing a project so while explaining my rather abstract need for French doors on
bedrooms which are off the living room, I was delighted to be guided directly to a pair of $45 white French doors with bubbly privacy glass in them. Really! And the old bi-fold doors? They’ll be painted and repurposed as a coat closet at the front door. I have to admit I’m more than a little excited about the next living room switch up when an extra (and unsightly) exterior door gets camouflaged by one of our family’s century old log cabin quilts. The door will be behind the quilt and the frame of the door will serve as a frame for the quilt which will hang off a piece of dowling. I already measured. You bet I did! So, that’s about where I am now. Kitchen: painted and fluffed, living room/dining room paint almost complete, French doors hung on the bedrooms. The laundry room is now being transformed into a dressing room (with wee chandelier). There’s no denying this is a big project and it will probably continue for a few months, easily, but knowing I can breathe newish life into an old house for hundreds, not thousands, of dollars and a bit of pondering – is exhilarating!
The best part? Whatever you choose to repurpose, you simply won’t make a mistake. It can’t be any worse than how it started so you can take a run at it again and again and again. If you do take on the upcycling of a house, I think an important thing to remember is not to get too carried away – construction wise. Hiccups will happen so be flexible with your vision, leave the big stuff to a trusted expert, and see the incredible difference you can make with a paintbrush, a mittful of sandpaper and a drill…then get as carried away as your triceps will allow.
Looking for inspiration or a place to start? Numerous Country Roads advertisers carry the perfect products for your upcycling vision, or offer workshops and ideas on how to get your low budget project on the go. Flip through the pages of this issue and pay these businesses a visit. •
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Country Roads Social Scene
We’re very social and we’d love to hear from YOU.
Letters to the Editor can be sent via www.countryroadshastings.ca, email or snail mail.
Dear Country Roads Just read your article on [David] Milne in Country Roads (“Community Portraits”, Spring 2017). Loved it because you focused so beautifully on locals and local references. The inclusion of those paintings and photographs brought the text to life. You have managed to personalize and humanize a relationship between artist and community that has previously been obscure to those of us who did not have the privilege of knowing Milne. Nice work. Abraços, Olwen Therrien, Lansdowne, Ont.
Dear Country Roads Just read through the Spring issue of Country Roads. The cover photo put me in the spring mood, even if Mother Nature is so begrudging. Wanted to say how much I enjoyed the issue. The dog rescue story (“Come On and Rescue Me”) made us both go all mushy. Loved the senior beagle and his human. Sarah Vance always does such interesting stories – had no idea that David Milne (and he is a favourite) had Hastings Co. roots! Loved the Village Idiot piece about the beavers. We used to have wealthy relatives who owned an island. We all chuckled when we learned that beavers had clear-cut the entire place, early one spring! Denis Curtis, Belleville, ON
Dear Country Roads This magazine is a treasure trove of information on the Hastings County area. I love this area I recently moved to even more after reading about it. Thank you. Elizabeth Barr, Cannifton, Ont.
ON THE COVER The perfect paddle Cover Photo: Sarah Vance Kristena Schutt and Stephen Hunter paddle a traditional birch bark canoe on the York River at Millennium Park in Bancroft. The canoe was built by Hunter and Chuck Commanda as a special summer project in 2016 involving Kijicho Manito, The Town of Bancroft and The Art Gallery of Bancroft. This photo was taken at the launch of the canoe, in August 2016. Sarah Vance’s insight into the history and attractions along the York River starts on page 8. Country Roads reminds all its readers to be water wise this summer. Boats are required to carry a personal flotation device for each person on board. For more info visit tc.gc.ca.
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THE VILLAGE IDIOT
A fine balance
BY JOHN HOPKINS
T
he circular log seemed oddly out of place. Measuring about a foot in diameter and maybe two feet in length, the cleanly cut piece of wood had obviously originated in a woodpile somewhere. It did not belong nestled on the ground among the trees near our riverbank, where Nancy and I discovered it a few days after the rising waters of the Moira River had begun their recession. Our own woodpile was about 30 feet away and had never been in danger of assault by the rising river. No, this log must have started a journey somewhere else upriver and travelled along the stormy channel before being deposited haphazardly in our vicinity. We did see some curious things floating down the river during that dark and stormy weekend, and we were lucky we did not contribute anything to the floating garage sale. A family of garden gnomes was relocated numerous times, and the chairs around the firepit had to be moved to higher ground. At its highest the water had completely submerged the firepit, and it was hard to believe that last July Nancy and her sister had enjoyed a bonfire at that exact spot without the remotest thought that the river could ever swell to that point, or indeed, beyond, in a matter of a few rainy days. Others, however, were not as lucky as we were. It took only a walk around our neighbourhood during a brief respite in the rain to see the magnitude of the flooding. It was ironic to think of where we were a little less than a year ago, when the months were so dry that by the middle of August we were praying for even a semblance of rainfall to provide relief. Now we were begging
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Canada Day in Trent Hills Celebrate Canada Day on July 1 in Campbellford, Warkworth and Hastings. A full lineup of events and entertainment for all ages with the grand finale fireworks display in Hastings at dusk.
for some sun and warmth to dry the ground and redress the environmental balance. Ah yes – the environmental balance. I always rationalize the vagaries of the weather in terms of the logical balance of nature. Drought is followed by a rain, a bitterly cold winter is preceded by more moderate temperatures, and spring and autumn provide some sort of middle ground. In the end, over the long term, we are left with stable, predictable, comfortable environmental conditions that allow life to thrive on this planet.
“You are a fluke of the Universe. You have no right to be here and whether you can hear it or not the Universe is laughing behind your back.” ~Deteriorata, National Lampoon, 1972 But what if I’m wrong? What if, rather than finely tuning the earth through a system of checks and balances, Mother Nature is starting to lose her cool? What if She really isn’t happy about the way we are treating her planet down here? Massive floods once every 20 or 30 years are one thing, but what if we go through the same experience again next spring, and then the spring after that? What if it gets even worse? I have heard that the conditions that allow us to live on earth are quite unique, that a nudge out
Opening Weekend – Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28, 2017
of our orbit one way or the other, a change in our atmosphere, or some other hiccup in our solar system could snuff us out in a second, so you’ll forgive me if I’m feeling a little touchy about getting on the wrong side of Mother Nature. I don’t like how it could end up. One of the great lessons of our indigenous people, that it took European settlers centuries to comprehend, is that humans are not above nature. We cannot control it, we must learn to live in partnership with it. But we didn’t listen, and we overfished, razed forests, and eventually started messing up the ozone layer. I thought we were starting to figure it all out, and then I heard that U.S. President Donald Trump was pulling the United States out of the Paris Accord on climate change, ostensibly due to economic concerns. Now, I don’t know if the Paris Accord is the great salve to Mother Nature we all hope it is, but these days I figure we need to give these things an honest shot. But in President Trump I see a guy taking our thinking back a few centuries, thinking that the environment is something to be bargained with and bartered. Sadly, I’m afraid the world doesn’t work like that. Economic concerns will mean nothing when we wind up as just another one of those dead fireballs hurtling through space. The National Lampoon lyric quoted in the callout of this column was comedy, but like a lot of comedy, it has a ring of truth. We are flukes of the universe, not masters of it, and we’d better clue into that soon.
•
June 1 to July 28, 2017
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Warkworth Lilac Festival
Rural Canadian Stagecoach Adventures 1867-2017
A festival highlighting 300 lilac plantings showcasing 83 unique varieties along the Millennium Lilac Trail. This year’s festival is celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday with events and activities, including a new bed of Miss Canada Lilacs.
The Ah! Centre will chronicle 150 years of Canadian history as told through the voices of Warkworth. The Gallery will be transformed into the old Stagecoach Inn with stories told by generations of local residents prominently exhibited alongside historical documents.
Trent Hills Canada 150 Boat Flotilla on the Trent-Severn Waterway
For complete event details and to learn more about Canada 150 Celebrations in Trent Hills contact: Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre 1-888-653-1556 or 705-653-1551 • www.VisitTrentHills.ca/canada150 Photo Credits: Canada Day - Elaine Tweedie; Lilac Festival - Johanna E. Allen; Stagecoach - Warkworth Percy Historical Society; Flotilla - Paul MacDonald
Join in the celebration of Canada’s National Historic Site, the Trent-Severn Waterway at the Trent Hills Canada 150 Flotilla. View a spectacular parade of antique and classic boats, learn about the disappearing propeller boats “Dippies”, take part in the interactive displays. Food, fun and festivities for all ages! Parka the Parks Canada Mascot has a lineup of activities just for kids! Activities take place during the morning in Campbellford and in the afternoon in Hastings. For a complete listing go to: www.VisitTrentHills.ca/flotilla
This initiative is made possible by the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th, a collaboration between Campbellford/ Seymour Community Foundation, the Government of Canada, and extraordinary leaders from coast to coast to coast.
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Arlington Hotel Black Spruce Art Works Bob’s Gas Station Brush with the North: Linda Lang Gallo-Teck Electrical Contractor Hastings Highlands, Municipality of Highlands Hot Tubs Madawaska Art Gallery Madawaska Art Shop Gifts & Gallery Maynooth Farmers Market Maynooth Gas Maynooth General Store No. 5 Bee Botanical Emporium Sun Run Pantry Trails Edge Bed & Breakfast Wildewoode Gallery 15 Ormsby Old Hastings Mercantile & Gallery Old Ormsby Schoolhouse Educated Dining & Tea Room
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Shoreline Furniture Co. Bancroft A Place for the Arts Art Gallery of Bancroft Ashlie’s Books Bancroft & Area Autumn Studio Tour Bancroft Art & Craft Guild, Summer Show Bancroft Bed & Breakfast Bancroft Century Shoppe Bancroft General Mercantile Bancroft Mineral Museum Birchcliff Lodge Dawn Ebelt, Registered Massage Therapist Designer Kitchens Fudge Factory & Emporium Kathy Tripp, Realtor North Hastings Family Pharmacy ALGONQUIN PARK Old Tin Shed, The Partista, The 1 Posies Flowers & Fashions Shoppers Drug Mart Trips & Trails Adventure Outfitting Zihua Clothing Boutique Barry’s Bay HASTINGS OWL Rafting.com HIGHLANDS Belleville Loyalist College Embellishments Handmade Home 14 Décor Show & Sale Glanmore National Historic Site Ruttle Bros. Furniture Campbellford Empire Cheese Co-op Trent Hills Celebrates, Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Centre Coe Hill Barn Chefs, The 3 Bear Ridge Campground & Cottages Coe Hill Hideaway Primitive Grill
2 Apsley
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Ellenberger Organic Farm Mystery Market Art Lab & Gift Zone Power Out? Call Cosby’s Red Eagle Trailer Park Inc. Tinhouse Woodworking, Furniture, Cottage Décor, Gifts & more Wollaston Township Combermere Madonna House Hastings County Cottage Docks Hastings Prince Edward Public Health-Travel Clinic Kawartha Docks Mike Bossio MP, Hastings-Lennox and Addington Todd Smith, MPP, Prince EdwardHastings Weeds B Gone L’Amable Red Steer Butcher Shop, The Madawaska Madawaska Valley Studio Tour Madoc Johnston’s Pharmacy & Gift Shoppe Madoc Home Hardware Renshaw Power Products Marmora Bailey’s Café BF Fabrics & Notions Boutique Inspiration Broadbent’s Home Hardware Building Centre Crowe Lake Cruises Fairtradeworks Firewood plus Jillian’s Antiques & Things Marmora & Lake, Municpality of Marmora Merchant Market Shop Sandra’s Closet
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Box 124, Tweed, ON K0K 3J0 P: 613 968-0499 E: info@countryroadshastings.ca www.countryroadshastings.ca
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C A L E N D A R
Things to see and do in and around Hastings County.
To submit your event listing email info@countryroadshastings.ca or call us at 613 968-0499. ART GALLERIES/EXHIBITIONS Art Gallery of Bancroft, 10 Flint Avenue, Bancroft, 613-332-1542 agb@nexicom.net www.artgallerybancroft.ca May 31 – July 1– Ted Duncan Exhibition of Works Opening reception Fri, June 2 at 7:30 pm. July 5 – 29 – Jane Burgess – Exhibition of Works Opening reception Fri, July 7 at 7:30 pm. August 2– 26 – Patrick Stewart Exhibition of Works Opening reception Fri, August 4 at 7:30 pm. Aug 30 – Sept 30 –Mark Gagnon Exhibition of Works Opening reception Fri, Sept 1 at 7:30 pm. Wildewood Gallery, 33012 Hwy.62, Maynooth 613-338-3134 wildewood.madawaska@gmail.com June 25th – Sept 4 - SECRET LIVES, artist Henry Gordon returns for her second solo show.
THEATRE/LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Stirling Festival Theatre, West Front St., Stirling 613-395-2100 1-877-312-1162 www.stirlingfestivaltheatre.com Aug 3 - 19 – Seussical The Musical: A SFT Academy Show. Musical by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty Based on the works of Dr. Seuss. Tickets: Youth $15, Adults $24-$28, Family 4 Pack $75 Mineral Capital Concerts, Millenium Park, 166 Hastings St. N., Bancroft July 5 – Aug 31 – Mineral Capital Concerts every Wednesday 7 pm
Tweed & Company Theatre, Tweed Pavilion in Memorial Park, Tweed. www.tweedandcompany.com June 28 – July 7 – HASTINGS The Musical. Tickets $20 Adult, $10 Students.
EVENTS June 1 – July 28 – Rural Canadian Stagecoach Adventures 1867-2017. The centre is transformed into the old Stagecoach Inn with stories told by generations of local residents. The Ah!Arts & Heritage Centre, 35 Church St., Warkworth, Ontario 705-925-4450 info@ahcentre.ca Relay For Life is a community fundraising event where Canadians across the country join together in the fight against cancer. lolamcmurter@ontario.cancer.ca June 9 -10 Millenium Park, 166 Hastings St N, Bancroft 7pm – 7am June 23 – 24 Loyalist College Belleville 7pm – 7am June 10 & June 24 - Our Loved Dominion Bless, a musical journey through 150 years of Confederation. Presented by the North Lakeshore Chorus. Call Claire 613-389-7465 for June 10th tickets (Sydenham St. United Church, Kingston at 2:30pm.). Call Peter 905-8856661 for June 24th tickets (Trinity United Church, Cobourg at 2:30 p.m.) June 23 –June 24 Embellishments Handmade Home Décor Show & Sale Quinte Christian High School, 138 Wallbridge Loyalist Rd, Belleville June 23: 5pm – 9pm, June 24: 10am – 3pm Colleen Walker 613-968-1290 June 25 - Farmtown Park Strawberry Social. Enjoy locally grown strawberries and ice cream, beef on a bun, music in the courtyard while you tour the eight amazing buildings. Hastings County Museum of Agricultural Heritage, 437 West Front Street, Stirling 613- 395-0015 info@agmuseum.ca www.farmtownpark.ca
July 1 - Canada Day 150 Celebrations Belleville – Canada Day brings back all your favourite family activities events, displays and music everyone has come to enjoy... along with some new surprises! West Zwick Island Park, 10 Bay Bridge Road, Belleville www.bellevillecanadaday.com Campbellford, Hastings, Warkworth – Events and entertainment for all ages. Fireworks at dusk in Hastings. www.visittrenthills.ca/canada150 Marmora & Lake - Parade starts at the arena and ends at Memorial Park at 10 a.m. After the parade there are children’s games and fun activities in the park. At night there are always fireworks to enjoy. Stirling-Rawdon Don’t miss the celebrations in Stirling Saturday starting at 6:30pm at the Stirling Fairgrounds. BBQ from 7pm-9pm, Fireworks at 10pm! Tweed - Come out and celebrate Canada’s 150th Birthday! There will be activities for all ages, including a parade, games, food, fireworks and lots more. twp.tweed.on.ca/index.php Wollaston Township – Coe Hil - Parade and Great Family Fun!! At dark, Red Eagle Campground presents “Fireworks on Wollaston Lake” 6 13-337-5731 July 1 – Crowe Lake Waterway Assoc. World Famous Lighted Boat Parade (approx. 8:30pm) and Fireworks (9:45pm) on Crowe Lake. Join us as cottagers with decorated and lighted boats parade around the lake showing off their decorating skills. Rain date July 2. www.clwa.ca info@clwa.ca” info@clwa.ca July 5 – 28 - Children’s Summer Drop-In Programme - Tues & Thurs, at Queensborough Community Centre from 1-3 pm 812 Bosley Rd., Queensborough. Joanie Sims 613-473-1087
July 6 - CO Blitz Family Fun in Combermere! Cardboard & duct tape boat race – 2pm Bring your boat to Mayflower Beach by 1:30pm or come at 12:45pm to build your boat (materials provided). After dark live music at the Bent Anchor 1095 Farmer Road, Combermere. 613-756-9729 July 6 – 9 - Belleville Waterfront & Ethnic Festival The midway, vendor marketplace, main stage entertainment, ethnic food village, canine watersports and so much more. Free Admission. Parking donation $5. Susan Walsh 613-962-4597, Ext 3 www.bellevillewaterfrontfestival.com July 7 - 9 - Bancroft Wheels, Water & Wings. Vintage Car show, soap box derby, airplane rides, York River Paddle Challenge, York River Amazing Race, and much more. www.beautifulbancroft.ca July 8 - Crowe Lake Pike Only Catch ’N Keep Fishing Derby - Enjoy a day of fishing for Pike with loads of prizes. All fees returned as prizes. Fun for the whole family. Registration at Chris’ Live Bait on Hwy 7 east of Marmora. 613-472-2832 chrislivebait@hotmail.com July 8 - Wallbridge Public School Student Reunion 1pm - 5pm. at Westminster United Church, 1199 Walbridge-Loyalist Road, Wallbridge. Admission is by donation. All former students and residents, and their descendants, and the general public are welcome. Alex 613-968-2348 July 8 - 18th - Annual Town and Country Garden Tour. Rain or shine tour 8 beautiful gardens of Bay of Quinte selfguided tour. Box lunch & drink included. Tickets $25 St. Thomas Anglican Church, Belleville 10am – 4pm. 613-394-5953 cfuwbelleville.com/special-events/garden-tour July 8 – 4th- Annual Incredible Edibles Festival Saskatoon and River Sts., Campbellford . Savour delicious samples of locally produced specialties - goat cheese
Making Your Dream Kitchen A Reality!
truffles, bison burgers, specialty sunflower oils, gluten free baked goods, and organic hot dogs to name a few. In celebration of Canada 150, take in 150 years of farming in the area. Free admission. 10am-4pm. July 8 & 9 - York River Paddle Challenge - A variety of racing challenges await you on the beautiful York River in Bancroft! www.bancroftcommunitytransit.com. janem@bancroftcommunitytransit.com 613-334-2385 July 14 – Canada’s Largest Fireworks Show As part of Festival on the Bay, Mystical Distributing Co. – Canada’s largest fireworks distributing company will be showcasing the LARGEST firework show ever! Compass Court, Quinte West 9pm July 15 –Crowe Lake Waterway Association Annual General Meeting. Join us while we update you on local issues, what the lake association is working on, along with informative speakers. 9am. Curling Club, 2 Crawford Drive, Marmora. www.clwa.ca July 15 Trent Hills Canada 150 Boat Flotilla on the Trent Severn Waterway. Antique and classic boat parade, displays, food, and fun for all ages. www.visittrenthills.ca/flotilla July 22 – Farm to Table Community Dinner, 4pm Metcalf St., Tweed. Tickets $5. Children under 5 free. Tickets available at Municipality of Tweed office and The Moira River Food Company. July 22 & 23 – Madawaska Valley Studio Tour - 10am – 5pm www.madawaskatour.com August 2 - “Celebrating the Music of Canadian Legends for Canada’s 150th” performed by Nicole Coward. Millenium Park, 166 Hastings St N, Bancroft 7pm
CLOSEDS y MONDA
613-332-6735 ALL ONTARIO BEEF, PORK, CHICKEN & LAMB FRESH FISH & SEAFOOD OTTAWA RIVER
159 Y Road, Bancroft
613.332.4766
www.designerkitchensontario.ca
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Country Roads • Summer 2017
HIGH ADVENTURE & FAMILY RAFT TRIPS FORESTERS FALLS 1-800-461-7238
MADAWASKA RIVER
FAMILY RAFT TRIPS / CANOE & KAYAK BARRY’S BAY 1-888-652-5268
26361 Hwy 62 South of L’Amable Post Office
Olde Tyme Service & Quality STEAKS CuT TO ORDER
C O U N T R Y
C A L E N D A R
Things to see and do in and around Hastings County.
To submit your event listing email info@countryroadshastings.ca or call us at 613 968-0499. August 3 - 6 - 54th Annual Rockhound Gemboree. Bancroft, ON. Canada’s largest gem & mineral show. Mineral specimen dealers, gemstone jewellery and lapidary supplies, mineral identification, and field trips. 1-888-443-9999, www.bancroftdistrict.com www.rockhoundgemboree.ca August 5 - Tweed Art in The Park presented by Tweed & Area Arts Council. Paintings, photos, craft products, pottery, printed products, calendars, etc. Memorial Park, Tweed. Bonnie 613-478-1777. www.tweedartscouncil.ca August 5 & 6 - 36th Annual Bancroft Art and Craft Guild’s Summer Art & Craft Show, Millennium Park, 66 Hastings Street North, Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun10am - 4pm. August 5 – 22 - Annual History & Mystery Crowe Lake Poker Run – You’ll receive a map and clues to all 5 stops
around the lake and river from noon to 3pm. Cathy Jones 613-472-2202 or Ton O’Neill 613-472-2343 August 12 – Brighton Horticultural Society Annual Flower & Vegetable Show 2pm - 81 Elizabeth St, King Edward Community Centre, Brighton Admission Cost: $3.00 which includes Afternoon Tea. August 18 – 20 - 159th Stirling Agricultural Fair - Stirling Fairgrounds. www.stirlingfair.com August 23 - 24 – Hastings County Plowing Match and Farm Show - 300 exhibitors of agricultural technology and services, woodlot info, and demos, crafts, family programs, antiques, Queen of the Furrow and entertainment, hosted by Jim & Janet Sandercock, 612 Johnstown Rd., Trenton 9am – 4pm Harry Dunford 613-395-5177
August 25 - 27 - Tweed Tribute to Elvis Festival is pleased to offer its 7th annual Elvis Tribute Artist Competition. Competitions, classic car parade & show, rising star youth competitions, and much more. www.tweedelvisfestival.ca September 7 – 10 - Arts en Plein Air 2017 - Competition and festival celebrating outdoor paintings by numerous Belleville/ Quinte arts organizations. Quinte Arts Council 613-962-1232 www.quinteartscouncil.org September 9 – Wellness on The WaterExploring our backyard. Tweed Memorial Park 10am – 4pm Ellen 613-478-1524 September 10 - Historic Queensborough Day- A wonderful afternoon of tours, displays, presentations and a BBQ in our beautiful little hamlet. Also, Sir John A Macdonald and Lady Agnes will be dropping in to check out the lots he used
to own. 1pm – 4pm Elaine Kapusta 613-473-1458 or Katherine Sedgwick 613-473-2110 September 10 - Grandparents Day at Farmtown Park. (Hastings County Museum of Agricultural Heritage), 437 West Front Street, Stirling, ON .613-3950015 info@agmuseum.ca www.farmtownpark.ca September 15 – 17 - Madoc Fall Fair - Established in 1905, Madoc has a great country fair. Experience animal shows, live entertainment, horse pulls, tractor pulls, home craft & school displays, midway, great food, one of the best demolition derby’s and more! 47 Cooper Road, Madoc www.facebook.com/MadocFair
AUTOMOTIVE
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES • Gas Bar • Convenience Store • Laundromat • Movie Rentals • Propane
September 16, 17, 23 & 24 – 25thAnnual Bancroft & Area Autumn Studio Tour. Self guided tour, brochures available at local businesses, Bancroft Chamber of Commerce and Art Gallery of Bancroft. www.bancroftstudiotour.org September 23 & 24 - 20th - Annual Tweed & Area Studio Tour, 10 am – 5pm. Free Admission, Studio map and artist information www.tweedstudiotour.org tweedstudiotour@gmail.com 613 477-2869, 613 477-2039
September 16 - Gilmour Days for Doors Open – Trenton Town Hall – 1861 Heritage & Cultural Centre - Featuring a
marketplace
Celebrating Life in Hastings County
wood carver outside and a “Lumberjack” lunch with all displays Gilmour. $7.50 pp 55 King St., Trenton, ON Laura 613-394-1333, trentport@hotmail.ca www.facebook.com/trentontownhall
Dawn Ebelt, R.M.T. Registered Massage Therapist
TO BOOK YOUR MARKETPLACE ADVERTISEMENT PLEASE CALL 613-968-0499
SEASONAL
Bye Bye Deer Fly
CUSTOM DEER & HORSE FLY TRAPS
Providing effective treatments since 2003
@PhysioNorth
237 Hastings St. N Bancroft
Min & Julie Yoo Tel: 613-395-5360 Fax: 613-395-1491 208 North Street, Stirling ON K0K 3E0
call 613-332-1010 cell 613-318-8227 debelt@sympatico.ca
HEALTH
SPECIALTY SHOPPING
Celebrating Family, Friendship & Love
Madonna House Madonna House v Antiques v Paintings & & Prints Giftv Collectibles Shops,v Crafts Gallery OPEN: May long weekend to July - Thurs, Fri, Sat - 10-5 Pioneer Museum July long weekend to Labour Day - Tuesday to Saturday 10-5
www.stirlingmanor.com
2887 DafoeCelebrating Rd., Hwy.50517,Years Combermere, 613-756-3713
www.byebyedeerfly.vpweb.ca info@byebyedeerfly.ca • 613.707.5940
Gift Shops, Gallery & Pioneer Museum Celebrating 50 Years
613-395-2596
218 Edward Street, Stirling
LAWN & GARDEN SALES & SERVICE
GRAVELY-ARIENS TROY-BILT-BOLENS
• Lawn & Garden Tractors • Roto-Tillers With 35+ years experience, Small but knowledgeable. (613) 473-5160 • R.R. #5, Madoc, ON K0K 2K0 (1 mile N. of Ivanhoe on Hwy. 62 - #11700)
All Shops are closed on Sunday and Monday
v Antiques v Collectibles v Crafts v Paintings & Prints v MUSEUM
TOURS
Extensive Pioneer Collection Madonna House GiftAll items Shops, Gallery & in our Madonna House shops are donated and all the proceeds go to the poor. Pioneer Museum OPEN: May long weekend to July Thurs, Fri, Sat - 10-5 July long weekend to Labour Day Tuesday to Saturday 10-5 v Antiques v Collectibles v Crafts v Paintings &Fri, Prints BOOK SHOP: Thurs, Sat. 2-5pm
Celebrating 50 Years
All shops are closed on Sunday and Monday
v MUSEUM
TOURS
Extensive 2887 DafoePioneer Rd., Collection Hwy. 517 Combermere, Ontario
the
COMPASS VISIT WWW.COUNTRYROADSHASTINGS.CA AND SIGN UP FOR THE COUNTRY ROADS’ NEWSLETTER TODAY!
613-756-3713
All items in our Madonna House shops are donated and all the proceeds go to the poor. OPEN: May long weekend to July Thurs, Fri, Sat - 10-5
Summer 2017 • Country Roads
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Back Roads
In the summer of 1917, two pilot training camps opened in Hastings County. This photograph shows how the camps became popular summer attractions for local people. This is the Boundary Road in Deseronto, packed with cars and buggies and people in their best clothes watching the young cadets learning to fly. Photo courtesy of Community Archives of Belleville & Hastings County CABHC DA 2016.01 (1)
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Country Roads • Summer 2017
Tweed TribuTe To elvis FesTival
2 0 17 B A N C R O F T & A R E A Autumn
august 25, 26 & 27, 2017
September 16–17 + 23–24 10 am to 5 pm
“elvis ‘still’ rocks Canada”
Enjoy the rugged landscape and spectacular autumn colours while driving to visit the artists in their studios.
Funded in part by
New for our 25th anniversary year… young artist mentorships and artist collaborations.
To reserve a campsite and/or buy tickets, call 613-478-1691
Bancroft & Area Autumn Studio Tour bancroft_studio_tour
Tickets Available On-Line, Bush Furniture - Tweed News
bancroftstudiotour.org
www.tweedelvisfestival.ca
MADAWASKA VALLEY
Studio Tour T G w wo
re a T
eeken ds
July 22-23 & Sept 30 - Oct 1 10 am to 5 pm
Visit many of the Valley’s finest Artists and Craftspeople
madawaskastudiotour.com
HASTINGS T H E M U S I C A L June 28- July 7
August 5 & 6
Laura Culic
Exhibitions change monthly Beautiful gifts in the Gallery Shop 10 Flint Ave., Bancroft (613) 332-1542 www.artgallerybancroft.ca
WWW.TWEEDANDCOMPANY.COM
Summer 2017 • Country Roads
CELEBRATING LIFE IN HASTINGS COUNTY
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