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June / July 2017
thescoop.ca
Aggie’s New Life
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Turtle Crossings
Frontenac Outfitters
The
sCOOP Founded in 2005 by Richard Saxe
PUBLISHER & AD SALES Karen Nordrum stonemills.scoop@gmail.com
GUEST EDITORIAL
Mike Paterson mikepaterson.author@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Ron Betchley, Lillian Bufton, Katherine Burrows, Catherine Coles, Mary Jo Field, Glen R. Goodhand, Alyce Gorter, Ruth Graham, Buffi Hewitt, Robin Hutcheon, Bernie Kelly, Kim Kerr, Lena Koch, Robert J. McCaldon, Blair McDonald, Marcella Neely, Mark Oliver, Mike Paterson, Susan Rehner, Barbara Roch, Mickey Sandell, Grace Smith, Terry Sprague, Deborah Twiddy, Ruth Wehlau, Steve Williams
Here’s The SCOOP Mike Paterson
And the brickworks had a cat or two.
amworth — especially in summer — is an exceptionally beautiful place. You’ll hear how close it is to this “attraction” or that. But Tamworth is a place with its own qualities, gentle but compelling.
We recently found a dog’s print on a brick in our front wall: the cats, we can only assume, didn’t enjoy completely free reign.
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It has all of the essential amenities. Businesses are local — and we’re blessed to have no heavy-elbowed franchises to push home-grown initiative aside. And our little shops are all within easy walking distance of each other, and off busy highways. Tamworth has room enough to stand “apart” from urban centres like Kingston, Napanee, and Belleville, but not so much as to be “remote.” We can work in a city but live in another world. Moreover, Tamworth has character, and it has stories. The walls of The Book Shop, for example, include a number of bricks that carry the paw prints of cats. After many of the community’s original wooden buildings were lost to a fire in the 1890s, they were replaced using locally produced, red, sun-dried bricks.
The Salmon River puts its pulse into the community. If you stand beside it for a time and just listen, you may hear something like music in its flow over the stones; and the varying flows sing different songs. There are still a few farms around. And then there were the mills that gave Tamworth its early economy. But what sings in my spirit is the more intimate, unobtrusive beauty. Most wildflowers bloom, fade, and vanish in a week or less, so taking the time to walk, to look, and to delight delivers fresh experiences of uplift week to week. I’ve enjoyed photographing them, less for the photograph than to more deeply connect with the moment. All of these elements speak of charm: charm in the “old” sense, suggesting captivation and magic. This may account for the number of
All photos contributed, unless otherwise noted.
HOW TO CONTACT US 613.379.5369 stonemills.scoop@gmail.com thescoop.ca facebook.com/thescoop.ca Please write to us at: Stone Mills Scoop 482 Adair Road Tamworth, ON K0K 3G0
The SCOOP is published six times a year. We mail The SCOOP for free to more than 6600 households in Tamworth, Centreville, Enterprise, Erinsville, Camden East, Newburgh, Colebrook, Yarker, Verona, Hartington, Sydenham, Roblin, Selby, Parham, Kaladar, Stella, Godfrey, & Marlbank. We also arrange with local retailers to display 1000 additional issues of The SCOOP in Napanee, Cloyne, Flinton, Kaladar, & many other locations. All rights reserved. No reproduction by any means or any form may be made without prior written consent by the publisher.
20 Celeb 17 r our 2 ating Seas 4th on! World-class musicians perform in the friendly atmosphere of St. Paul’s Church, Amherst Island - Beverley Harris, Artistic Director
Friday June 30, 2:15 p.m.
Fri. June 30th, 2:15pm Elorap.m. Singers Thursday July -6,The 7:15 Thur. July 6th, 7:15pm Charles Richard-Hamelin Saturday, July - 15, 4:15 p.m. Sat. July 15th, 4:15pm Triple p.m. Forte Friday July 28,- 7:15 Fri. July 28th, 7:15pm - Saguenay Quartet Thursday, August 17, 7:15 p.m. Thur. Aug. 17th, 7:15pm - Serouj Kradjian Saturday, August 26, 4:15 p.m. Sat. Aug. 26th, 4:15pm - Cheng 2 Duo (pictured)
artists who have made Tamworth their home. Some are long established; others are recent arrivals. Their most recent impacts are evident, for example, in the revitalization of an old barn as Salmon River Studios, the renovation of the old Tamworth Hotel, and the work that promises to give new life to the recently closed gristmill by Bridge Street. The quiet centrality of art in the character of Tamworth is a gift we could recognize more confidently. At a time of recession and rural decline, Tamworth has a resource in its artists that could secure its future. Arts attract. Arts attract tourists and passers-by. Arts attract other artists. Arts — in the parlance of profit-seekers — generate traffic, business, and opportunity, and do no harm at all to property values. To thrive, though, they are helped by resourcing and appreciation. This means that our county planners should be proactive in ensuring that the community’s artists are recognized and their voices heard. Might it be time to consider locating a County Gallery in Tamworth?
World-class musicians perform in the friendly atmosphere of St. Paul’s Church, Amherst Island Beverley Harris, Artistic Director The Elora Singers Charles Richard-Hamelin Triple Forte Saguenay Quartet Serouj Kradjian Cheng2 Duo (pictured)
www.watersidemusic.ca www.watersidemusic.ca
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613.308.9077
Your individual path to optimal health.
Bye Bye Deer Fly CUSTOM DEER & HORSE FLY TRAPS
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Aggie with her calf Alasdair, who was born April 2017. As a newborn, Aggie was rescued by Alyce Gorter and her family. Aggie and Alasdair are now beloved members of Terry Berry & Carole Lebrun’s small herd of Highland cattle, near Enterprise, Ontario. Photo by Terry Berry. 2
The SCOOP • June / July 2017
www.byebyedeerfly.vpweb.ca info@byebyedeerfly.ca 613-707-5940
Passing the Paddle Mickey Sandell
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fter 23 years of ownership, Larry & Christine Showler recently moved on to retirement and passed the paddle of Frontenac Outfitters Canoe & Kayak Centre into new ownership. As of April, the grandfather shop is now owned and operated by the young, outdoorsy couple from Bowmanville, Ontario, Zack and Kiley Fiddis. Despite being new to the industry, the Fiddis have backgrounds that complement the business to ensure the continued success and high reputation of Frontenac Outfitters. They promise to inject new energy and fresh ideas while maintaining the high level of service customers have come to expect.
Showlers have become figureheads in the industry over the years, which means Zack & Kiley have some large shoes to fill. Larry confesses: “Frontenac Outfitters has given us the chance to travel around the world, create meaningful relationships, and lead a healthy, active, and environmentally conscious lifestyle. We will miss it, but the time has come for us to move to the next stage of our lives.” Frontenac Outfitters is dedicated to providing a superior purchasing experience for those looking to begin their paddling adventures. The on-water centre lets customers try before they buy with free test paddling, and the knowledgeable staff is committed to educating visitors to help them make a purchase that suits their individual needs. Offering sales, rentals, and Paddle Canada certified courses, makes Frontenac Outfitters a one-stop-shop for paddling enthusiasts.
They are also thrilled with the unique opportunity of rearing their young family in a positive outdoor environment, sharing their passion for paddling and love of nature. As Zach affirms: “Not a summer goes by without us taking some Find out more by visiting their website at crazy, outdoor adventure, so owning frontenac-outfitters.com or by phone at Frontenac Outfitters gives us the 613.376.6220. opportunity to provide a better quality of life for not only our daughter but DAIRY • BEEF • SMALL ANIMALS ourselves as well.” As one of Canada’s most respected paddlesports centres, Frontenac Outfitters has played a pivotal role in introducing kayaking, canoeing, and stand up paddleboarding to customers across North America. The
Monday - Friday Saturday
Frontenac Outfitters’ former & new owners (l-r): Christine & Larry Showler, and Kiley & Zach Fiddis.
cEDAR loG FURNITURE Meticulously crafted and ready for easy assembly (or pay a small fee to have it pre-assembled). 100% northern white cedar, or Thuja occidentalis. As beautiful as it is durable. Stands up to weather, decay, and insects. Pickup in Stone Mills. Made in Canada. Armchair $180
Picnic Table $490
Twin $380 / Queen $500
8 am - 6 pm 8 am - 2:30 pm
Dr. Ewen Ferguson • Dr. R. Walsh Dr. L. Leckie • Dr. C. Bonneau Dr. D. Size
61 County Road 8, Napanee, Ontario K7R 3E6 613-354-6615 • 613-354-4894 • 613-354-6616 (f)
napvet@kos.net • www.napaneevethosp.ca
For more info: stonemills.scoop@gmail.com
PROUDLY CELEBRATING
CANADA’S 150
AND THE HISTORY OF CANADIAN AGRICULTURE
Your Local, Full Service Farm Supply Dealer Since 1994
Featuring Quality Products & Services
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A proud supporter of our local community. Terry & Sandra O’Neill, Larry Hutchinson – Owners
11 Pleasant Drive, Selby
613-354-4424
18262 Telephone Rd., Trenton
613-394-3371
June / July 2017 • The SCOOP
3
Sometimes You Win Alyce Gorter
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he property had not been farmed for decades resulting in overgrowth of prickly ash, cedar, wild apple, burdock and every briar and bramble indigenous to the area. My research, though, had determined that Scottish Highland cattle would not only thrive on the less than perfect pasture but would look totally awesome on its gently rolling hills. My mission was to find an affordable herd of these beautiful beasts, and it wasn’t long before I was on the trail of a possibility. A dairy farmer and his wife, a hundred miles distant, had found themselves far too busy to give their loved Highlands the time and attention the herd deserved. So, if I was interested... As we drove around a curve, a Highland cow in a field by the road tossed up her head – snowflakes bejewelling her curly forelock, long horns glistening in the late afternoon sun — and I was hooked. Turning Point Farm had been aptly named for several reasons. One, its address was at the turning point of two roads, and two, I had bought it at a turning point in my life — opting for early (pensionless) retirement from a muchloved, well-paid career and, at the same time, slowly stabilizing some other rocky points in my life. I loved it at first sight in August and bought it in November before it ever hit the market. The herd of 12 cows and a bull was bought in December. With no fences on the farm, though, I would need to get busy before I could bring them home. “No problem,” said the farmer, “I’ll keep them safe until you are ready.”
The first call came in February. A bull calf had been born three days before during an intense cold period and, not wanting to report a possible death, he had moved the calf to the warmth of his house, bottle-feeding him colostrum from the dairy herd. The calf was doing well, but the cow now refused to accept her offspring, and their busy schedules prevented them from maintaining the feeding schedule. What would I like them to do? So, Zander came home in the back of my daughter’s van to live with us at Fifth Lake. But this is not his story. The second call was to advise me that the bull had turned mean. “Never,” said the farmer, “have I seen a nasty Highland, but he put my son and the hired hand over the fence today. You don’t have to take him if you don’t want him.” I knew nothing about Highlands or cattle in general. Didn’t know how to handle one or what I would do if a long-horned bull weighing upwards of a ton tried to put me over a fence. “I’ll take him anyway,” I said. “If he has a bad attitude he can chill out in my freezer.” The third call came in April. A late ice storm had threatened the life of a newborn heifer calf and, again, not wanting to have to report a dead baby to me, he had snatched the calf from its defensive mother and tried to restore her to health. Unfortunately, things were not going well. Mom had afterwards refused to accept the infant and, despite tender, loving care, colostrum, and vitamin injections, the calf had lost her suck reflex. Death was imminent, but he wanted me to know he had done what he could, and he was so sorry the result was not a happier one.
I could not stand by and do nothing! “I’m coming to get her,” I said, “and I’ll take her mother too.” I, (knowing nothing about such matters), would reconnect Mom and baby and they would live happily ever after. Another Shalaine bottle feeding baby Aggie, now mother to a calf of her hundredown. Photo by Jamie Wiatowski. mile drive, pulling the warming the formula, and stroking the 20’ gooseneck trailer which would be the little calf’s throat encouraging her to maternity ward for as long as needed. swallow as she let the milk trickle into Mom, having to waggle her span of horns the tiny mouth. My neighbour – a true sideways to do so, entered the trailer first and capable farmer who is more and, at my direction, her lethargic wisp accustomed to 150-pound newborn of a calf was placed on the hay in front of calves than to wee mites such as this her. She lowered her head, — to lovingly –dropped by regularly to continue the lick the will to live back into her baby, vitamin injections. And so, Aggie – thought I – picked her up on her horns named in honour of our neighbour – and tossed her to the back of the trailer. I survived! was horrified! We separated the two creatures and raced the baby to the veterinarian. Weighing in at 44 pounds, with no reason to live, and no ability to suck, it seemed highly unlikely that our $90 visit would have little impact on the survival of this calf. My daughter, Shalaine, offered to help, making a bed in a dog crate in her living room for the baby,
Not only survived but thrived! And, at the time of this writing in April 2017, has just given birth to another baby of her own. She lives in pampered luxury with my friends Terry and Carole and their small herd of beloved Highland cattle. Sometimes stories do have a happy ending.
Robert Storring
SALES • RENTALS • COURSES
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OFFICES 44 Industrial Blvd. Napanee
CONTACT Direct: Office: Toll Free:
14 Concession St. Tamworth
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Catholic Church Manse is perfect for someone looking to restore to original grandeur or would make a great Bed & Breakfast. Most of the original character is still there, original woodwork, fireplace, hardwood, bannisters & build in lead glass cupboards. Wide center halls, Full stone basement with good head height, wrap around verandah, and nicely treed yard. Double garage at back has upstairs and lots of room for storage. Updated boiler, septic and some electrical. Will be lots of work and money but a real showcase when done.
$159,900
MLS 450460305
NEAR BEAVER LAKE
Paddle Canada’s Best Selection of Canoes, Kayaks, & SUPs! 1/2 HR. NORTH OF KINGSTON BESIDE FRONTENAC PARK
Exposed beams, in-floor heating, super insulation, private master suite and large eat-in kitchen are just some the features that contribute to the wow factor of this home close to Beaver Lake. The master has ensuite bath and walk-in closet and is completely separated from the 3 kids bdrms, The oak kitchen has an island and loads of cupboard/counter space, ceramic tile flooring, and patio doors to deck. Main floor laundry and extra office or den are off the kitchen. Walk over to the lake in 3 minutes for endless hours of boating, canoeing, fishing or swimming.
$249,900
MLS 450460280
ANGUS DR NAPANEE
Beautiful Keirstead log has open concept kitchen/dining rm/living rm with stone fireplace. Pine floors throughout, 3 bedrooms up, master bdrm with fireplace. Lower level all finished, 4th bdrm, 2nd bath, rec room, family room with wood stove. Front porch & back deck, above ground pool and raised veggie gardens. Keirstead log are not log through, insulated wall with log outer side & matching pine inside. On town service.
$329,900
MLS 450840362
COUNTRY HOME
A great opportunity to buy a newer home at a bargain price. 3 bdrms, 2 baths on main floor, 2 more bdrms & 2 pc. bath down. Separate dining room, main floor family room with doors to deck and large back yard. Lower level rec room, galley kitchen opens to family room and dining room. Main floor laundry, inside garage entry & wired for generator. Appliances, generator & pool table included. 2-acre lot close to Beaver Lake. Home needs a little TLC to increase value a lot.
$234,500 4
The SCOOP • June / July 2017
MLS 450520123
613-379-2903 613-354-4347 1 866-233-2062 storring@kos.net robert.storring@century21.ca
Your Digital Library Catherine Coles
O
ver the past few weeks, I have been holding workshops across Lennox & Addington County introducing people to their library’s digital services. By the time this paper goes to print, most of the workshops will have concluded (check CountyLibrary.ca for upcoming workshops), but I wanted to take the opportunity here to provide an overview for those who may have missed their session.
CountyLibrary.ca Our newly revamped website is the hub of all of our digital services. Use it to access the library catalogue, digital collections, databases, library information, upcoming events, and reference services. We have recently added the option for users to register for a temporary library card online. Just fill out the form on our website, and we’ll email you a library card number that you can use to try out our digital collections for up to a month. Afterwards, you’ll need to visit a library branch to complete the registration process.
Online Public Access Catalogue The online catalogue is the public’s gateway to the library’s entire collection. Each book (including e-books and other digital materials) is represented by a record here. You can search the collection, find out more about a particular title, and see what books we have on a specific topic. If you sign in with your library card, you can place and remove holds, check your account status, make renewals, save items to a wishlist, and even “suspend holds” for when you are going on vacation.
Overdrive Overdrive is our main platform for e-books and e-audiobooks. Using the Overdrive app (available free from your app store), you can download titles directly to your tablet or smartphone. You also have the option of reading/ listening in a browser using your computer or using Adobe Digital Editions to transfer books to your e-reader. There are over 70,000 titles available on Overdrive. While there may be a waitlist for some of them, there are lots to choose
from and no limits on how many books you borrow – just no more than ten checked out to you at one time (you can return them early). At the end of the borrowing period, they will disappear from your device and library account – no late fees!
Hoopla Digital Hoopla is our newest digital content platform. It has e-books, of course, but its strength lies in the other content it offers: audiobooks, television, movies, music, and comics. The other great thing about Hoopla is that everything you see is available on-demand with no wait times. The only drawback is that you are restricted to five items per month (subject to change). Hoopla is best experienced using the Hoopla Digital app (available for free through your app store) where you have the option of streaming or downloading content – it even works with Chromecast and AppleTV! You also have the option of streaming in your computer browser. Hoopla offers a lot of great content. For example, users have been surprised to discover they could borrow the new and popular film Manchester by the Sea. Like with Overdrive, items simply disappear from your account and device at the end of the borrowing period.
Apps Several of our virtual platforms are available apps – just search your app store. As mentioned, Overdrive and Hoopla Digital are available as apps. Mango Languages is also available as an app (I prefer to use it this way), and we offer an app version of our online public
Databases Many of our databases are hidden gems. They are online resources that we subscribe to on your behalf. When you search one of these databases, you are not searching the internet, you’re searching material that is the equivalent of what you used to find on a library shelf in print format. In other words, it’s vetted. Ancestry.com (you’ve seen the commercials) is one of the databases we offer for patrons doing family tree research. It is freely available for patrons to use in the library. All of our other databases can be accessed by our patrons remotely. These include Mango Languages (language learning comparable to Rosetta Stone), Canadian Points of View (journal articles for scholarly research), Consumer Health Complete (reliable consumer health information) and NoveList (genre, author and book information for recreational readers of all ages).
access catalogue called BookMyne. All of these apps are free. To access any of these virtual services, start by visiting our website at CountyLibrary.ca. If you run into any trouble, get in touch, and we’ll be happy to help you through the process.
GRANDMOTHERS by the LAKE Chapter of the non profit STEPHEN LEWIS FOUNDATION 9th Annual Plant, Trunk and Bake Sale Saturday, June 3 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Gilmour’s Shopping Mall, Harrowsmith Road #38 All proceeds will be given to the Stephen Lewis Foundation in support of African grandmothers who are raising their own and other people’s grandchildren who have been orphaned due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan countries in Africa. We are well known for our perennial and annual plants, delicious baked goods, eclectic sale items, friendly smiles, and hospitality. We welcome new Grandmothers & Grand-Others to meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 11:30 a.m. The Trinity United Church in Verona has graciously given us a meeting room in which we plan events to help support our friends in need. Future events include a Walk on June 17, meeting at 11:00 a.m. at the Foodland in Sydenham and a musical evening Oct. 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sydenham branch library. Questions and contact: Carol Little 613.376.3844
Annunciation of Mary Parish, Enterprise
VANNESS AUTOMOTIVE TAMWORTH We do all kinds of vehicle & small engine repairs
Annual Chicken Barbecue/Raffle Saturday, July 8
Call today to book: 613-379-2909
Serving runs 4 – 7 p.m.
EVANS’ TREE REMOVAL Tel: 613-379-5874 Email: soscsvcs@gmail.com Web: www.s-o-s-computers.com
Wm. (Bill) Greenley Kim Read
Network and Internet Security Specialists Wired, Wireless, Network Design and Implementation Computer repairs and sales New or reconditioned
YEAR-ROUND SERVICE - STUMP REMOVAL Trimming • Removing Topping • Bucket Truck Service FREE ESTIMATES • FULLY INSURED
RR#3, Yarker
613-358-2629
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Adults $15 Students under 12 $6 children under 6 FREE This event is rain or shine. All are welcome! 659 Church St. Enterprise
June / July 2017 • The SCOOP
5
Building a Permanent Parsley, Sage, North American Gaeltacht Rosemary, & Thyme Ruth Wehlau
E
leven years ago, a small group of people from Kingston came to look at a property in Tamworth. They were looking for a site for a permanent North American Gaeltacht. (A Gaeltacht is a region where Irish is the primary language spoken.) The lot for sale, Tony Szapira’s farm, turned out to be ideal, a series of fields and meadows with wooded hills backing onto the Salmon River. The group quickly decided to put in an offer, which was accepted. By the next summer, they had hacked through the woods to open up trails and scythed the grass in the fields. In June 2007, with the Irish ambassador present, they celebrated the official opening of the first permanent Irish Gaeltacht in Canada, the Gaeltacht Thuaisceart an Oileáin Úir (North American Gaeltacht). This year marks the tenth anniversary of that celebration. The arrival in Tamworth site was a move from a previous location, in Calabogie, where the facilities were rudimentary — the kitchen consisted of a board across two oil drums. There was hope that the relocation to a site closer to Kingston and other urban areas would allow more scope for growth. Like Calabogie, the new location was in a region with IrishCanadian roots, but it had the additional advantage of being near the village of Tamworth and the amenities it offered. Still, developing the new property proved a challenge. The hay growing in fields was three-feet high and mosquito-infested. And Julie Bowes recalls the difficulties in setting up the first marquis tents, which came with no instructions. But on clear nights, the sky was so bright with stars that they could see without flashlights, and after working all day, it was possible to stroll down to the river for a swim. That year the group continued the practice that had begun in Calabogie, of offering an Irish language immersion week in the summer for anyone who wanted to come and camp on-site. The first few immersion weeks saw a handful of attendees, but they were made to feel welcome in the area; Julie Bowes recalls Tony Szapira’s father dropping by with a bushel of Brussels sprouts for the campers. In time, a covered dance platform was built, a kitchen outfitted,
and a grant from the Trillium Foundation helped with the purchase of a tractor and tents. An annual grant from the Mayo County Council has helped make it possible to bring excellent young Irish language teachers to Canada from Ireland for the immersion week. Next on the horizon is a plan to construct a multi-purpose building, cabins, and a sports field. Over time, attendance at the summer week has also grown, despite the sometimes-unpleasant Ontario summers of searing heat, or continuous rain that drenched the tents and threatened to swallow cars in the mud. During immersion weeks, tents cover the hills, and in the evening people sit around a campfire singing and playing music. At these events, it is possible to meet new local Irish language enthusiasts, as well as others who have come from across Ontario, and as far away as Missouri, Vermont, and San Francisco. Participants enjoy a variety of activities offered during the week, including language classes, workshops in Irish music, dance, art, and sport, tours of the region, concerts by world-class Irish musicians, and céilís. In addition to the summer immersion week, the Gaeltacht now also hosts Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada, an annual two-day festival that includes competitions in Irish music and dance, and Irishlanguage story-telling, poetry, and drama, with judges who come from Ireland for the event. This year’s Oireachtas will include a play about Thomas Darcy McGee with simultaneous translation into English. The Oireachtas will take place on June 24-25, with a céilí on the evening of June 24. Everyone is welcome to attend, and no knowledge of Irish is required. For more details, see the website: www.oireachtas.ca The summer immersion week is August 13-20. During the week there will also be a concert, open to the public, in the Legion in Tamworth, and a céilí on August 19. There is more information about the summer immersion week online at www.gaeilge.ca. Céilís feature social dancing, and are open to the community. No experience is necessary.
Tamworth Variety & Gas Bar Regular & Premium Gas Diesel • Propane Exchange Groceries • Snacks & Drinks OPEN EVERYDAY 06:30 - 21:00 We’re on Facebook 6682 Wheeler Street, Tamworth 6
The SCOOP • June / July 2017
613-379-2526
Mary Jo Field
P
aul Simon might have known something about some herbs (well, maybe enough to use four of them as a song title), but Nancy Cole knows a lot about a lot of herbs. On March 29, she shared her knowledge with about seventy gardening enthusiasts who came to the Tamworth-Erinsville GrassRoots Growers (GRG) spring event at St. Patrick School in Erinsville. The title of her presentation was “Fifty Herbs and How to Use Them.” Sounds like a lot, right? I really didn’t believe she had managed to cover so many, but after checking my notes, I can confirm Nancy had something interesting to say about at least fifty-four specific plants. Being a master gardener, a teacher at St. Lawrence College for 15 years, and the former owner of “Nancy’s Herbs” in the early 1990s, she was well qualified to educate us. Broadly, Nancy covered herbs that fall into one or more of the following categories – culinary, medicinal, edible, fragrant, or insecticidal. It would take too much space to cover it all, so I will repeat for you here only a few of her tidbits.
• Basil, possibly one of our favourite herbs, especially during tomato season, does not dry well. Blitz the leaves in a food processor and freeze it in a small amount of water or olive oil instead, either in ice cube trays or pressed very thinly (1/8th inch thick) in a freezer bag. • The best way to harvest dill seed is to cut the seed head and place it in a paper bag. The seeds will all fall off at once. • Tarragon does not produce seed; it must be propagated from cuttings. And you want the French kind, not the Russian. • Every oregano plant has a slightly different taste. • Parsley is a good breath freshener. • Summer savoury is a great companion plant for beans. Both summer and winter savoury can be used as a salt substitute. • Cilantro and coriander are the same plant. Coriander refers to the seeds; cilantro to the leaves. For some people, cilantro is a wonderful addition to any Mexican, Thai or Indian-inspired recipe. For other people, it tastes like soap. • Rosemary can be grown in a pot and brought indoors for the winter. It is a tender perennial but generally lasts only about three years coming indoors and out seasonally.
• Lemon balm likes poor soil. • Artemisia (wormwood) is an insect repellent. The medicinal herbs were an interesting category, with many used extensively in the past but falling out of favour as our modern drugs and cures were developed. One of the issues with herbal or “natural” medicines is the difficulty in controlling the concentration of active ingredients and determining the dosage. Perhaps for this reason, Nancy only briefly mentioned some of the more common ones – Echinacea for the alleviation of the symptoms of colds and flu; Aloe Vera gel as a salve for burns; foxglove used to produce the heart medication, digitalis; St. John’s Wort as an antidepressant; feverfew for migraines. And did you know the leaves of lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina) were once applied to wounds as a bandage to stop bleeding? Nancy also pointed out that although not many herbs are used medicinally today, they are still good medicine for the garden. In addition to extensive information, Nancy brought six lovely potted herb plants as door prizes – all most appreciated. Our thanks also to St. Patrick School for use of the premises and to custodian Miles Finn for his set up and clean up; to Lois Smith for the rosemary plants she started and which found new homes that evening; to Colleen Martin-Fabius for organizing and looking after the free seed exchange; to Marilyn McGrath for baking the cookie treats; to everyone who made a donation at the door. The donations and the proceeds of the sale of the rosemary plants and our annual plant sale in May, fund both the ongoing costs of our admission-free events and the bursary GRG has awarded to a student in the Sustainable Agriculture programme at Fleming College. (See article in this issue of The SCOOP) Tamworth/Erinsville GrassRoots Growers is a community-based group. Our mission is to encourage interest in local and organic gardening for both the home garden and the market garden; to raise awareness of issues surrounding food production; to improve our practical knowledge of all aspects of plant life; and to provide networking opportunities for gardeners. We welcome new members. Visit our website at te-grassrootsgrowers. weebly.com
Quilts: From Necessity to Art Marcella Neely
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wo young cousins, on a Saturday morning after a sleepover, are chatting. They are relaxing, sprawled across the bed lying on grandmother’s quilt. “Oh look, this is part of that dress Nana wore to my birthday party when I was five, and here Grand Dad’s shirt that tore to shreds when it got caught in the washing machine’s wringer. Nana was so mad at Mom for not being more careful.” This excited recognition of the makeup of the quilt continues until Mom comes to check on the girls. She too identifies a few of the remnants before shooing them off to breakfast. This is history, genealogy, entertainment, and interaction that could be common in many modern day families. In the past, quilts played a crucial role in survival. Women collected every salvageable scrap of fabric that wasn’t otherwise claimed and added it to their quilt “stash”. Many young girls proudly collected scraps in a pouch or sack. The edges of a worn out bed sheet could be repurposed into an apron, a pillowslip, a
diaper, a couple of handkerchiefs, or cleanup cloths. Less worn sections of a dress needed to be made over into a child’s shirt or blouse. Men’s shirts usually had some salvageable areas on sleeves. Nothing was wasted. Fabric scraps were saved, cut into equal sized squares and hand stitched together to form a large square or rectangle. This formed the top while a full length of fabric or stitched together pieces formed the under layer. Sometimes stuffed with sheep wool or yarn scraps and over stitched through all layers. More creative hands arranged the squares into patterns. Every family used quilts for warmth and for packing valuables in travels. They were respected necessities as they represented hours of work and often, years of collecting enough materials. Quilts were passed down through generations and were treasured for the stories they carried. This custom survived and evolved into an art that is enjoyed by patient hands to this day. Artisans and hobbyists diligently plan designs and patterns. Specific colours and shapes are a must for each masterpiece. Creators
Getaway to Desert Lake Grace Smith
A
mainstay of the Hartington area, Desert Lake Family Resort, just keeps on going. The resort has been around since the 1970s and has always been a place to relax, have fun, enjoy the sun, and get to know a variety of people. As some of you may know, it’s also been my home away from home, for most of my life. My family and I have camped at the park since I was a little tyke. I grew up on that lake. And I’ve spent the last six years working there, hoping to carry on this experience. But I wasn’t the only one. For the last several years, Desert Lake Family Resort has been owned and operated by a family that has worked hard to ensure the joy of everyone that visits them. Sheena and Leo Pillay and their children have put in endless hours to make the park the best that it can be. The Pillays came to Hartington from all the way on the west coast: Vancouver, British Columbia. But having grown up in Picton, Sheena Pillay too had fond memories of the area: “The location of Desert Lake was a good fit for our family as it was close to Kingston but also far away enough that it felt like a true lakeside getaway.” And that’s what Desert Lake Family Resort is: a getaway. It’s a nice break from the routines and struggles of life. It’s a place where you can just sit back and relax, or get up and get moving, depending on what you’re looking for. The resort hosts a variety of activities aimed at adults and children throughout the summer, including Halloween in August, live bands, horseshoe tournaments, duct tape boat races, sandcastle building contests, and so much more. But there’s more than that. There are canoe and kayak rentals if you want to intimately explore the lake and pontoon rentals if you’d like to cruise a little
faster. There’s tons of space for fun; there always seems to be a campgroundwide soccer or volleyball game going on. There’s a beautiful, sandy beach perfect for all ages. And there’s a variety of accommodations available. Lots of camping sites to fit whatever need you may have. But there’s also a small hotel with suites for those that like a roof over their heads. A rustic lakeside cabin is the jewel of the campground with prime real-estate overlooking the water. But Desert Lake Family Resort is more than just what it offers. As Sheena Pillay puts it, the resort is “a fun clean environment for people to enjoy the lake and experience the entire area.” Desert Lake is a part of the community. The owners promote and contribute to local fundraisers and events. They employ local staff. They support local sports teams. They contribute to tourism in the area. They love being a part of the community. And for the Pillays, the best part of all is the people they get to meet. The resort has its standbys, the seasonal campers, who come from all over but choose to spend their summers at the lake. And it has its many visitors, whether they stay for one night or come year after year. For Sheena Pillay, it’s the “good mix of people who come from all over” that makes operating the park unique. So if you have the time, or even if you don’t, come on down to Desert Lake Family Resort this summer and enjoy what it has to offer.
Closeup of Wendy Hodgkin’s “Irish Chain Quilt”, on display at the Cloyne Pioneer Museum. participate in exhibitions and contests. On display in the Cloyne Pioneer Museum, you will see several handmade quilts, each with its story. Wendy
Hodgkin has generously donated an “Irish Chain Quilt” that she handcrafted to be raffled off in recognition of Canada’s 150th birthday. The proceeds will benefit the museum.
MITTEN CAMPAIGN UPDATE We’re 70% there, but are still looking for more knitters to reach our goal of 100 pairs of mittens for the Tamworth Lions Club’s 2017 Christmas baskets. Thanks for your help! Please call if you would like to help knit or have extra wool: Brenda Mayhew 613.379.9906
Lessons Learned Blair McDonald
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ecently, I came across an excellent documentary series called “State of Play” by HBO Sports on Crave TV. Hosted by Peter Berg, (the notable behind-the-scenes virtuoso of the remarkable TV series Friday Night Lights about small-town high-school football) the show follows former legends of sport on their quests to find meaning and happiness once their celebrated careers have ended. The episode I watched was predominantly about former Green Bay Packers legend, Brett Favre, and NY Giants great, Tiki Barber, and centred on the topic of happiness. For the most part, (and I guess you could say, as expected) the show is quite sombre in tone with once-great warriors of the football field, now looking pensive and melancholic about their life postcareer and off the field. It is a very different kind of conversation (almost therapy-like) about the sport that most often is left to the side of today’s popular sports commentary. At times, the music combined with the various shots of trophies, banners, jerseys, team photos and memorable clips of remarkable plays of yesterday all make us feel like we are watching the living funeral of these former greats.
But alas, the power of this show is precisely its metaphorical charm. It isn’t just a story about Brett Favre, and the lessons of this show would be missed if it was approached in that way. It is a story about “the Brett Favre moment” that is awaiting all of us, as we transition into new chapters throughout our life. Regardless of how accomplished we might be, when circumstances in our life change, whether it’s in our career, relationships or health, we are all faced with the challenge of redefining who we are and what we are capable of. Most often the power of sport is never discussed for the ways in which it confers meaning onto our life. If the passion of sports fans across the world hasn’t already taught us this lesson, then watching this docuseries surely will. For many, sports offer us feelings of connectedness, belonging, and friendship that can radically change the directions of our lives and the people we come to know and value. Regardless of your attitude about sports, the life lessons remain the same: we are all seeking and empowered by connectedness and shared pursuits. At any stage in life, it is about finding the right “team” and balance between our personal and professional pursuits.
June / July 2017 • The SCOOP
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Shake Hands With the Garlic Mustard, Dance With the Parsnip Dance with the wild parsnip by all means, but do not shake hands with it. I repeat. Do. Not. Shake. Hands. The rash, should you be predisposed to it, is anguishing and lingers long. If you must shake hands wear thick gloves girdled by long sleeves. Eye protection, long pants tucked into (as per tick prevention) long socks. Sturdy closed shoes, not open toed –unless, of course you’re just dancing. For foraging purposes approach the parsnip on a cool, cloudy morning, without high temperatures, humidity or sunshine in the forecast. Do not eat the leaves. An esophogeal rash may prove deadly. As stated, it is prudent to avoid shaking hands with them, though many are shaped like mittens, an identifying feature. Don’t let them fool you. Wear the above recommended protective gear and do not perspire. Rash producing oils may linger and trigger a reaction up to three days later, photosensitively. Shower after exposure. Thrice should suffice.
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
Avoid harvesting on roadsides if its foliage is brown and disfigured. Municipalities may spray herbicides as surrounding fields and pastures could become infested. You can notify them to bypass you. Ecologically, toxic chemicals also kill surrounding wildflowers, decimating butterfly, bee and insect populations, lots of other critters – us? Poisoned wild parsnips do not make attractive dance partners. For healthful roots, it’s best to dig in late fall. The flanged, celery-like ribbed stems with bamboo-ish nodes, topped with umbrels of seeds (bag and trash them), will have dried out. They are now tall, brittle, and brown, devoid of harmful sap. At their base will be lush green rosettes. Their second year roots are juicier and fatter, what you’re looking for, poor things. Sort of. This is the best time to dance. Bring some friends. Or engage the plant on a spiritual, Pan-like level. You may be inspired to dance a solo interpretive flow. Do not sweat. Say a prayer of thanks to the plant before or after digging up the root, though it may seem inappropriate to kill your dancing partner. You are not a praying mantis. Roots can be prepared any way you’d eat a domestic parsnip. Be a sport and pop another native plant in its place. This will reduce dancing partners unless you consider other species. Do not substitute with garlic mustard. It’s perfectly acceptable to dance with garlic mustard. Before it seeds. Gazillions of tiny black seeds can easily be spread by the soles of your shoes. So dance before or with the pretty white flower faces. You may prefer to shake hands. It is very friendly and will crowd out everything around it. It might inject the soil with plant venom so you will dance with it only.
The Cape Bretoner’s Farm Gate HOME OF
Shake hands and then make a pact to stick to its corner of the ballroom. Or else. Population control is a must; the woods are overrun all around. Taste it. It’s tasty. Tastes like garlic and like mustard. Very good for you. Baby garlic mustard is best. Leaves are pretty, low like violets, heart-shaped, bluish-green, may be tinged red, with a nubbly, domed surface. Shake hands but make no promises. The stems will shoot up quickly; leaves become sparser and triangular but are still tasty. Behead them. Have no qualms about this. Low to the ground, or else side branches with pretty little flower faces will appear. Don’t let them flatter or bedazzle you. If inclined, pray for permission and in gratitude, then dig up the roots and as many rootlets as possible. Be a good sport and don’t throw in wild parsnip. Roots taste like horseradish. Ideas I haven’t tried include vinegar, dry-powdered. Bet you can find more. Or tie in plastic – leave in sun a few weeks – bye bye. The leaves make good pesto, smoothie, steamed greens adding flavors as desired. Stew, sauce, soup, stir-fry. Dry. Freeze. I like them best raw. Throw them in a salad. Then dance for joy. Start singing with the dandelions. — Barbara Roch
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Horticultural society is hosting the following events:
thursday, June 22 members’ Pot luck Supper
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The SCOOP • June / July 2017
Wednesday, July 19 I would like to thank each and every one of you for a great 11 years of owning and 9 years of managing Tamworth Village Video. 20 awesome years of memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. I will miss you all. Thank You once again from the bottom of my heart,
Tim Kidd
Garden Tour of the Quinte Botanical Gardens in Frankford. Details about the start time and carpooling will be available closer to the day.
SpindleTree Puts Tamworth on Canada’s Garden Route Katherine Burrows
S
pindleTree Gardens has been selected to receive the prestigious Canada 150 Garden Experience Award, created in celebration of Canada’s sesquicentennial, which honours 150 garden experiences across the country. Located just outside the village of Tamworth, SpindleTree is the only winner chosen from Eastern Ontario. The award is signed by the Prime Minister himself. But, in contrast to all the hype, SpindleTree Gardens is charming and peaceful. Cultivated on 20 acres by Susan Meisner and Tom Brown, it is the perfect place for a contemplative walk, with new discoveries waiting around each bend in the path; an ideal source of inspiration for artists and artisans, boasting endless perspectives on light, form, and colour. It is also a friendly and intimate gathering place, where warmth and hospitality thrive; a journey in whimsy and inspiration, to uplift the soul. Both formerly of Toronto, Susan and Tom had honeymooned in the area and really liked it. In search of a country property, they looked to Stone Mills for real estate. On Valentine’s Day of 1988, literally knee-deep in the middle of a snowstorm, they met their real estate agent at 6248 County Road 4. They loved the land, especially the varied topography. From 1988 to 1992, Susan and Tom continued to live and work in Toronto, spending their weekends performing an extensive renovation and expansion of the house. They also began work on the gardens.
The couple moved to Stone Mills full time in 2002, when Tom retired, allowing them more time to work on the gardens. As Tom tells it, that first weekend in June that they were at the property full time, with the renovations complete, they didn’t have anything to do. The same thing happened the second weekend. By the third weekend, they decided to expand the garden. Propagated from their quest for purpose and beauty in life, the garden kept growing from there and continues to flourish today. Tom does the conceptual design, and Susan does the planting. As Alexander Pope advised, they “consult the genius of the place,” to ensure they work in harmony with nature. Many of the styles that provide the variegated landscape of Canadian gardening are evident at SpindleTree Gardens, particularly the European influences from England, France, and Italy. Some of the more impressive features include a serpentine path with low walls comprised of 400 tonnes of granite (from the property, which Tom laid himself), a maze made with black cedars, an orangery with a 200 foot allée under black locust trees, which brides love to use as their aisle, and a restored, 160 year old Victorian well cover, which is a favourite spot for bridal photos. SpindleTree won the South Eastern Ontario Best Wedding Venue Award in 2016 and was a Finalist for the award in 2017. Located in the beautiful Land o’ Lakes tourist region of Eastern Ontario, SpindleTree is more than just a wedding venue. Susan and Tom often host horticultural groups and clubs, painters, photographers, business events, birthday parties and anniversaries. But you don’t need a special occasion to visit.
One of many beautiful landscapes at SpindleTree Gardens in Tamworth. “SpindleTree Gardens is truly a must-see destination. The scale, variety and design of plant material and architectural pieces create a beautiful setting that is both striking and elegant,” says Mark Oliver, Chair of the Tamworth-Erinsville Community Development Committee. He adds, “SpindleTree Gardens provides a unique facility in our community through unrivalled and captivating natural and constructed features that have been massaged to as close to perfection as Mother Nature will allow through the expertise and vision of the owners, Tom and Susie.” Far from idle during this long, cold spring, Tom and Susan have been starting plants, not only for their own gardens, but also for the Tamworth/ Erinsville Grassroots Growers annual plant sale held in May. [At the time of writing], Susan anticipated that 2017 would be the best year ever for the plant sale, held at Lion’s Beaver Lake Park in Erinsville.
Opening Mothers’ Day Weekend, SpindleTree Gardens currently boasts “a host of golden daffodils,” reminiscent of Wordsworth’s poem. A detailed map of the gardens is provided for self-guided tours. Visitors are encouraged to linger and explore, then visit the gift shop for locally-made souvenirs. Homemade refreshments (including lunch) are available in the tea room, which overlooks the “Pump and Circumplants” Garden. Perennially finding ways to make the gardens more interesting and beautiful, Tom notes that they’ve enjoyed lots of fun over the years. With so many acres of land, “we’ve had lots of room for discussions,” he laughs, his voice rich with irony and affection. A testament to the thriving partnership, which, like the gardens they tend together, has grown stronger and blossomed more fully with each passing season.
June / July 2017 • The SCOOP
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Do You Remember: Shivarees? Glen R. Goodhand
M
y wife and I were Bible College students when we tied the knot, back in October 1958. The wedding was held at her home church in Chatham, Ontario and we left for our abbreviated honeymoon from there. Driving her brother’s car, we spent four relaxing days (when we weren’t doing assignments) at my uncle’s cottage near Peterborough. We returned the borrowed automobile the following weekend, staying at her parent’s farm. On the Saturday night, we had just settled into bed when an explosion sounded outside the window (we later learned it was her brother’s shotgun). Copious noisemakers went into action, and the cacophony lasted 10 minutes or so before the crowd was invited to the house for refreshments. We had just been treated to a SHIVAREE! It can be spelled different ways: “shivaree,” “chivaree,” or “charivari.” Regardless, it refers to a “mock serenade, accompanied by much noise, played as a joke of newly-married couples.” The antics carried out by friends and neighbours vary according to local communities—but, in any case, it amounted to a kind of initiation trick played on honeymooners. It is believed to have been a custom carried from France by French traders as they peddled their wares up and down the Mississippi. As the tradition spread from there, it took on copious changes, which evolved as time passed. It has been suggested that the word came from the Latin for “head,” and, as the French embraced it, ithe word grew to mean something like a “headache”—precisely what it caused the unsuspecting bride and groom, as a result of the hullaballoo created by the din.
ritual was forgotten over time, even though the efforts to duplicate the sounds would not. Next to the above, the most unusual approach to the practice involved protesting the perceived violation of social propriety—particularly in the case of a widow remarrying before the “socially-acceptable time of mourning had passed.” Occasionally when an older man wed a young lady, it also aroused the community’s ire. In these situations, the shivaree amounted to a kind of public censure! There is a case, documented in the Archives of the Province of Manitoba, which led to tragedy. A 35-year-old man, whose wife had been dead less than eight months, eloped with a local 19-year-old girl. The community’s “thumbs down” developed into a rather extreme demonstration, which finally annoyed the new groom to the extent that he fired a rifle in the general direction of the crowd. However, the random shot hit and killed an 18-year-old protester. Shivarees slipped on the ladder of public opinion in that town after that. As was dramatized in the January 1975 episode of The Waltons, occasionally the husband or wife was essentially kidnapped and carried off to be hidden from the other honeymooner. In real life, there once was an occasion the bride was carted out into a remote area of the country, and as the authors of this tomfoolery passed by a creek, they dunked the terrorized gal into the frigid waters. Just another Halloween-type prank that went too far. Only the clearer head of an older participant prevented serious health issues. In the early years of this tradition, a wire was sometimes attached to the foundation of the honeymooner’s abode, and then pulled tight, causing the place to shudder like it would in a minor
Initially, the noise made by the crowd was intended to frighten away evils spirits, which may have been at the ready to afflict them as they began their lives together. The fact that not only drums and rattling pots and pans were utilized, but blaring horns as well, set up a Steak FRIDAYS substantial Prime Rib SATURDAYS challenge to these Pickerel SUNDAYS ghouls. Doubtless, THEME WEEKENDS July & August this aspect of the
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A boisterous charivari, painted by Dan Junot. earthquake. Perhaps their mischievous peers felt they needed to be prepared for the instability of everyday routine. Early stories chronicling this horseplay record instances where the clamouring gang would open the front door of the couple’s dwelling, order the groom to sit astride a rail, and proceed to give him a merry ride about the property. Conversely, the poor bride was deposited in a washtub and traipsed about in much the same manner. But apart from these primitive extremes, the overall practice followed a fairly typical pattern—even until the 1950s. Word was spread throughout the neighbourhood that a shivaree was scheduled, and the crowd gathered at a set time. Leaving transportation a discerning distance away, the group
proceeded on foot to surround the house. Usually, the bedlam was triggered by a shotgun blast or two—occasionally a stick of dynamite—followed by the din created by cowbells, horns, the banging of boiler lids, and shouting! To say the unsuspecting couple would be alarmed is an understatement. In some places, trickery would get out of hand, with propriety being violated— with the hanging of the bride’s unmentionables on tree limbs and the like, or paraded by the local knucklehead in front of visitors inside. But for the most part, courtesy granted the couple time to get dressed. They, then, in turn, would invite the intruders in for coffee, tea, and whatever snacks could be scrounged up! Fellowship followed, and eventually, neighbours left the honeymooners at peace!
The 6160 Project: Part III Steve Williams
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ith cold weather and freezing temperatures one day but pleasantly warm the next, the push was on to get a couple of other things done [at our property at 6160 County Road #4 in Stone Mills Township]. A call to Danny Maxwell (Maxcrete) and in a couple more weeks we had a new smooth, level, concrete surface on the ground floor. It was cooler than we all would have liked and the concrete set very slowly (this was two days before the electrical hook-up), but Dan’s guys stayed late into the night using the generator to see the new concrete and to fan it with blowers, Concurrently, we began the process of getting an electrical connection. The buried wire and meter base were still in place; we just needed approval for the breaker panel. Nothing ever progresses quite as quickly as you’d like, but in a few weeks the permit was approved, repairs made, site inspected and line crew reconnected the wires at the pole. Sure is nice to just “plug in.” Until then, all electrical necessities had been supplied by our 5kW generator. It works great, but it’s a real pain to go and start it every time you want to saw a board or drill a hole. If I ever buy a new one, it will be with remote control electric start. We had removed all of the floor coverings, like vinyl, laminates, down to the structural wood. Mostly we were left with old softwood T&G, but it was ugly, damaged, and uneven. So we had to do some creative shimming in spots and installed a new layer of underlay over the entire surface. Marie positioned and nailed all of it down. Looks like a million, when you get things all the same colour and level. Another thing we wanted to avoid was to go through winter using the plywood ramp at the front door, which would have been slippery to bring in materials. Marie and I already had a basic plan in mind for the front entrance. Since there were already the beginnings of limestone being applied on the front outside wall, we wanted to continue the stone look into the front steps. I had spoken to Scott Weese (Weese Landscaping) about possible landscape work using rocks, limestone slabs to be exact. Together we arrived at a plan for a curved path toward the circular driveway. His mini-ex with the thumb/ claw feature is amazing for this kind of work.
So we are finally ready for winter. With a furnace for heat, sitting on the new concrete floor, plug-in electrical power, real front entrance steps, and some new driveway gravel so we’re not walking in mud.
goodness. I don’t like it much, well not the high stuff, like ceilings.
Being able to work inside, in warmth, is wonderful and getting better. As we were removing and replacing windows, I was also removing the old exterior vinyl siding. Messy! Dead bugs and soot!
The second “blank canvas” now lay before us. The first canvas was a few months ago when we got to the “totally gutted” stage. Wide open, no obstructions. Like a dance floor. Now the second canvas being all fresh, primed walls just waiting for your flair in the application of finishes.
REALITY CHECK: No one ever thinks of this unless they’ve done it... when you are renovating, in any fashion, it takes easily twice as long to do everything. First, you have to disassemble/dispose of what’s already there. Then you usually have to alter your plans because you found unforeseen things. And get some more money because of those unforeseen things. Then you can start to put things together, which always involves altering sizes/shapes. The worst-case scenario could result in you ending up having to change your whole plan. END REALITY CHECK. And if you’re not scared off by what you’ve read so far, great, let’s go! Real creative work begins now. Remember we had to discard all of those old wall studs, etc.? Now to put in the new ones and to create a new floor plan that will make sense in 2017. We are re-building this house to modern codes/ standards. The framing of new interior partitions brings the project to another level. New rooms suddenly take shape. With the framing all done we could install the Roxul Safe’n’Sound fire resistant insulation between all of the bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. It really quiets things down between rooms and prevents fire spread – a must for modern homes. One of the benefits of this type of project is the ability to increase insulation value quite easily. We repaired whatever glass-bat insulation that existed, then completely covered it all with a layer of foil/foam/foil insulation. Then the usual layer of drywall. When complete, the house is draft-proof, quiet, and is as straight and square as any new house construction. Our 8-year-old grandson Liam really caught on to screwing the drywall in place. Too bad that he’s a bit height challenged. Grandpa had to do the top half of each sheet.
Liam, the author’s 8-year-old grandson, recruited for drywall duty.
At this time, only a couple of things have been carved into stone, like the bathroom and kitchen layouts. The actual finish could still change, but the form and function should be decided on since things like plumbing and wiring needs to be installed with walls in a more skeletal state. So here we are after about seven months. Bear in mind, almost everyone works faster than we do. This is a part time gig. I reduced my part time hours at Tamworth Hardware Store so I could
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spend another day per week at the Project. Much of the electrical, plumbing items, and more came from our store. Thanks, Kulwant. Sometimes a whole week of work would be missed because of other life commitments. Can’t wait for the smell of fresh paint. An airless sprayer works fantastic for all of the new paint, especially in this case where everything needs priming, then finishing, with no floors to worry about. Quickly everything turns white. Then more interesting colours!
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In Her Words Mary Jo Field
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t a recent Tamworth-Erinsville GrassRoots Growers (GRG) event, it was announced that the GRG had provided a $1000 bursary to a student in the Sustainable Agriculture Co-op Programme at Fleming College in Lindsay – Marie-Anne Miron. We wanted to get her views on sustainable agriculture, the programme at Fleming College, and her plans for the future. Marie-Anne is now working on an organic farm in Quebec, so we put these questions to her via e-mail. Here, in her words, are her responses. •••
Why did you choose to study sustainable agriculture? It came to me as a way to reconcile many of the things I was interested in: environmental issues, food sovereignty, food justice, and sustainable development. Most importantly, I wanted to be outside and not work behind a desk anymore. I didn’t choose this program because I wanted to start my own farm, I joined because I wanted to work in urban agriculture. I wanted to give workshops and grow food with people and participate in feeding communities, but I didn’t know anything about it, and I wanted to learn quickly (I already had a university degree, so I didn’t feel like starting that all over again). That’s why a one-year program with more than a third of that time spent in an internship seemed like the way to go! Do you have farming experience? I did not have any farming experience before entering the program, and I am now starting my second farming season on an organic farm in Quebec (my first experience was during the co-op part of the program last summer). Should students wanting to study sustainable agriculture have prior farming experience? I think it could help, but it’s not necessary! I didn’t have any, and I was not the only one in my class in that situation. Some students had studied agriculture before, some had worked on organic farms, while others like me came from a social science background. I got to learn the basics in class and then during co-op is when everything (and more!) got put into practice. Did you have a mentor or person who influenced you in your choice of program?
Not really. When I applied for the program, I was working in Bolivia, sitting behind a desk all day. I knew I was going back to Canada soon and needed to figure out what my next step was going to be. I was ready for a change, and I also wanted to find a specialty for my career. I was looking into different programs in the “sustainability field,” and sustainable agriculture appealed to me. Classes at Fleming started in January, and I came back in December, so the timing was right. I felt like it was something I was going to enjoy. And I was right :) What valuable skills and values did you learn in this program? I learned that farming is all about community, even when you have a for-profit enterprise. Also that it’s possible and not mutually exclusive to have profit with your farming business but still be mindful of the environment. I also realized that it’s a perfect choice of program for someone like me who always wants to be learning new things and that this constant new knowledge will come from experience and observation but also from all the people I will meet along the way. The sustainable farmers that I have met have all been very open to sharing knowledge and helping each other and future farmers, so that gives me confidence in the support network that exists across the country (I have seen it in Ontario through the program and in Quebec through my co-op placement). The program at Fleming is oriented to help students start their own project in sustainable agriculture. It’s not something I really considered before, but through the months it forced me to reflect on what type of farming project I could envision for myself. It made me realize that there is no one-size-fits all farm model for a sustainable farm and that the personality of the farmer is at the center of such a venture. I’m still not sure what form that would take for me, but I now have the tools to elaborate a solid plan and make it happen. I also have learned what resources exist to help me put it into place. Is there a particular area of sustainable agriculture you hope to work in? Vegetable production is what I really want to be doing right now. I’m also hoping to work in urban agriculture. Will I have my own project? Will I work for a non-profit? For now, I’m happy working on someone else’s farm, but next year I might try to come back to the city.
Marie-Anne gets her hands in the dirt. Do you know what the job prospects are for graduates of sustainable agriculture? I didn’t find it difficult to find a paid job for the 2017 season as a production assistant. Sometimes co-op placements might hire students for the following season. The program prepares you to start your own project if that’s what you want, but I also think that all the skills we learn, as well as the practice of making our own business plan and thinking through crop production, are very valuable to have, even if you work for somebody else. •••
We wish Marie-Anne great success in her future endeavours. With funds from our annual plant sale and donations given at the door at our events, GRG will award a bursary to another Fleming College student later this year. Tamworth/Erinsville GrassRoots Growers is a community-based group. Our mission is to encourage interest in local and organic gardening for both the home garden and the market garden; to raise awareness of issues surrounding food production; to improve our practical knowledge of all aspects of plant life; and to provide networking opportunities for gardeners. We welcome new members. Visit our website at te-grassrootsgrowers. weebly.com.
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The SCOOP • June / July 2017
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A Natural View: The Fall and Rise of the Bald Eagle Terry Sprague
M
y 80-year-old brother had his stage debut earlier this spring. His star performance involved holding one end of a tape measure and walking across the stage for a distance of eight feet. His purpose in doing so as I held the other end of the tape measure was to illustrate the wingspan of a bald eagle. When the good-natured applause died down, he descended the steps carefully from the stage and returned to his seat in the front row to enjoy the rest of my presentation. 155 attended this presentation that I had put together for the Hastings Stewardship Council’s spring speakers series in Belleville on the return of the bald eagle to the Bay of Quinte area. A show of hands indicated that over 90 percent of the audience had seen an eagle at least once this past year; if I had asked the same question 35 years earlier, likely only a mere five percent would have raised their hands in response. Eagles may not be as common today as robins or wrens but are closing in fast. Out of some 20 to 30 emails I receive each day on bird sightings in the Bay of Quinte area, at least a half dozen per day involve bald eagle sightings. Of course, some of the same individuals may be involved in these sightings. But in reviewing the locations of these birds, one would have to conclude that at least 25 to 30 bald eagles cruise the Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario shorelines in any given winter as individuals wander south into our area from breeding sites located elsewhere in the province. Nineteen were counted in one cluster alone one day last winter as they loafed on the ice. The attraction is an abundant food supply whether it is fish and waterfowl along the shorelines of open Lake Ontario, or a plethora these days of roadkills. There is food to be had, and we have their attention. Historically, bald eagles nested in Prince Edward County along the southeastern shoreline and on both Timber and Main Duck Islands just offshore until the early 1950s. In February of 1934, the late historian Willis Metcalfe, who took a keen interest in the Timber Island nestings, crossed the lake from the mainland to the nearby island to look at a huge eagle nest. In
his book, Memories of Yesteryear, the author commented on the trip: “The huge nest, big enough to support a man, was located in a lofty elm on the westerly side of the island.” The article in Metcalfe’s book was accompanied by a photograph of his twin brother Willard standing in the centre of the huge nest. Some of the nests found in the Timber Island colony, he commented, contained sticks four feet in length and more than an inch in diameter. The decline of this majestic species since the 1900s in Ontario is a sad story. The written accounts of early observers tell of zealous collectors shooting birds and robbing their nests of eggs. The introduction of DDT in the 1940s proved to be a further setback as it caused many eagles to produce eggs with shells so thin they collapsed under the weight of the bird. DDT was banned in 1972, and with more rigid law enforcement, the bald eagle started making a slow comeback. It was in the early 1980s when I saw my first bald eagle in the wild. It was a magnificent sight, an adult bird glistening in the bright sun as it circled above Lake on the Mountain. Today, I consider myself a failure as a birder if I don’t see one daily. As a nesting species though along the north shore of Lake Ontario, it has been slow to return, continuing to appear each winter only as a seasonal visitor. A pair of bald eagles that nested in the Hamilton area five years ago was believed to be the first attempt anywhere along the immediate north shore of Lake Ontario in 50 years. It appeared that the eagles’ stronghold stubbornly continued to remain only in northeastern Ontario and along the Lake Erie shoreline, and a few scattered locations in between. That record was broken last summer when a pair nested in the only white pine growing on a tiny, narrow island in the Bay of Quinte not far from Belleville. Now, we wonder if others have been
Bald Eagle above Remi Lake, Moonbeam, Ontario. Photo by Gilles Bisson. potential nest sites encroached upon by development – how could any bird at the top of the food chain possibly survive such odds? They did and have become a positive indication of environmental remediation. It brings their sad story full circle from their near extirpation to the point where they are not only thriving but nesting again in our area. Last year, one nest. This year, maybe more.
nesting in remote areas of Prince Edward County and around the Bay of Quinte in recent years. Perhaps the immature birds we have seen every summer were hatched right here. We just failed to see the nests. Immature birds do not attain the adult plumage until the fourth year and are dark brown, somewhat lighter on the leading edge of the underside of the wing. To an untrained eye, they could easily pass as large hawks and go unnoticed.
For more information on birding and nature, check out the NatureStuff website at www.naturestuff.net.
The bald eagle’s comeback to the Ontario scene has been just short of remarkable. Persecuted as were all birds of prey because of misguided sentiment, shot as trophy specimens, poisoned by DDT, and
Terry Sprague lives in Prince Edward County and is self-employed as a professional interpretive naturalist.
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June / July 2017 • The SCOOP
13
Tamworth Author Explores Meaning and Community Lillian Bufton
Y
ou Can’t Be Serious: Essays in Wonder is the title of a new book by Tamworth author Mike Paterson. Published by Oakville’s Rock’s Mills Press, You Can’t Be Serious draws on a lifetime of exploring meaning and community in cultures across Europe, North America and in Mike’s home country, New Zealand. Mike, who plans to return New Zealand this summer, says the hope behind his
book is that it might encourage readers to respond to the “often mysterious but always rich diversities of life.” “One of my favourite pastimes has been to photograph wildflowers,” he says. “All summer, but changing day by day, the ditches, woods and fields are radiant with this wonderful beauty, framed in sometimes tiny flowers that are very easy — too easy — to pass by without seeing. “The attention it takes to get the “best” photograph I can is rewarded less by the photograph than by the wonder and delight of really looking.” You Can’t Be Serious, his fifth book, was prompted by a deepening concern that people too often seem to find themselves “caught up in loosening arrays of demands and roles that frustrate depth and fragment community: it’s as though flowers pass them by. But it’s experiences of wonder that help us to be more at ease with ourselves and others.” The book is brief — around 140 pages — but draws on a variety of insights, including those of science, nature, economics, and religion. Mike says his hope is “to open timely conversations with readers by incorporating photography, poetry, fictional and nonfictional narratives, and a bit of humour,” along with his observations and research. Mike’s wife of 40 years, Rev. Sue Paterson, is a United Church of Canada presbyter, and their adult daughter, Alannah, is a psychiatric charge nurse in Peterborough. “So,”
he says, “we have some interesting family conversations.” Mike has worked as a reporter and editor for various publications in New Zealand, Scotland and here in Canada, including stints at the Belleville Intelligencer and CKWS TV in Kingston. He has taught journalism and various writing courses, and has been the resident mentor for writers on retreats at Bon Eco Suites in Tamworth. As founder and producer of Piping Today, the international magazine of the National Piping Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, Mike researched and documented many of Europe’s lesserknown bagpipe and folk music traditions. “It gave me opportunities to experience and enjoy cultural diversities from Ireland to the Black Sea, from Latvia on the Baltic to the Greek Isles in the Aegean Sea,” he said. For some years, he was vice-president of the Italian Bagpipers Association and especially enjoyed the Molise Region’s Zampogna (bagpipe) tradition. He also loved the time he was able to spend in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Galician Spain. “Curiosity and respect, I’ve found, open doors and hearts across all kinds of gaps, gulfs, and differences. We don’t need to fear each other. Hospitality is so much more enjoyable than conflict, suspicion and war… and far less costly.” Mike’s previous books include a novel (Goodstuff ), a “how-to” book called With Love: Gifting Your Stories to Grandchildren, and a history of postwar energy politics in New Zealand (The Point at Issue).
Mike Paterson, author of You Can’t Be Serious: Essays in Wonder. With his PhD supervisor, Scottish historian Professor Ted Cowan of Glasgow University, he co-authored Folk in Print: Scotland’s Chapbook Heritage, 1750-1850, an account of Scottish popular street literature. You Can’t Be Serious can be found online at Amazon, and from his publisher, Rock’s Mills Press: rocksmillspress.com.
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The SCOOP • June / July 2017
Aleta’s Journal Kim Kerr
F
lora Eleta Donovan, who in her lifetime went by the name Aleta, was born 24 Sept 1894 in Tamworth to Jeremiah Donovan and Mary Annie Huffman. In 1914, Aleta left Tamworth and headed to the Women’s Residence at
Macdonald College, the agricultural arm of McGill University. While at Macdonald House, Aleta kept a journal that was recently donated to the archives. It begins: I’m on my way to Macdonald College, Quebec. I remember the morning of Sept. [ ] 1914 well…Miss McGill gave me a nice room on the first floor. On the front steps I met Annie and her father so we decided to room together. Aleta and Annie would begin a friendship that lasts the duration of the year detailed in the journal. Her student life was like any other; friends, studying, and of course the excitement of meeting campus boys: 27 November 1914: This was the first College Dance and for weeks there was wild excitement on both sides of the campus and when the wonderful night arrived everyone seemed happy…The floor and music were perfect and we danced until after two a.m. Aleta’s journal continues with Saturdays spent at the movies and concerts, shopping with her friends, and having “sing songs.” Sundays out by the river with her friends was common as were good “feeds” in rooms of her fellow residents.
Aleta’s dance card from the first college Mention of the war raging in Europe dance. Courtesy L&A Museum and Archives. is absent from Aleta’s journal except
the Corporation Of the township Of stone Mills
Tucked amongst the pages of Aleta’s journal were postcards, letters from friends, programs from dances and concerts, poems, and a train ticket from the Canadian Pacific Railway, 1914. Courtesy L&A Museum and Archives. for a single note, a friend, Douglas, seen for the last time before going to the front. Her stories and recollections reflect an exciting time in her life as a young, carefree student seemingly unaffected by the world’s afflictions.
66th Annual Verona Lions Jamboree thursday, July 6 & Friday July 7
4504 county Road 4, centreville, oN K0K 1N0 Tel. (613) 378-2475 / Fax. (613) 378-0033 website: www.stonemills.com
open @ 5 p.m.
To address these issues, the Township is proposing the adoption of a new bylaw which will enhance the existing system of civic addressing. In certain situations, this could involve the re-naming of roads and/or the re-numbering of parcels along these roads. In addition to road access properties, this new bylaw will establish civic addressing for developed parcels of land whose only access is by water. The Township will be hosting an Open House with the intent to inform the public of these civic addressing issues. The open house will be held at the date, time and location as follows at which information will be available and persons attending will be able to ask questions relating to this issue and express any concerns respecting the proposed bylaw. Date: Times: Location:
Saturday, July 8 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Centreville Hall, Stone Mills Municipal Offices 4504 County Road 4, Centreville, Ontario
Additional information together with the proposed bylaw can be found on the Announcements page of the Township website at: www.stonemills.com/ announcements Alternatively, persons are invited to call the Township office and request to speak to a Staff person to express any concerns you might have respecting this issue. Keith Miller, Public Works Manager Township of Stone Mills Email: kmiller@stonemills.com / Tel: 613 378 1435
FREE PARKING
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CiViC ADDrEssinG OPEn HOUsE Issues respecting the standard application of civic addressing have been identified within the Township of Stone Mills resulting in delays in the supply of emergency services including fire, ambulance and police.
Between 1950 and 1951, Aleta married William J. Smith, and the couple continued to reside in Sheffield Township. William and Aleta are buried in the Tamworth United Church Cemetery.
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June / July 2017 • The SCOOP
15
Yoga for Campers Deborah Twiddy
H
aving just returned from a three-week camping trip, I expected that I would notice that I was missing my weekly yoga classes. As it turned out, I needn’t have worried. There are many adaptations to yoga moves that proved useful while I was out canoe – camping with my tiny tent. I’ve decided to share what I’ve learned. Be careful that you don’t try these early morning exercises too vigorously with a full bladder. Being tempted to hurry through these stretches could undo any benefits derived. 1. RECLINING TWIST: This move is intended to disentangle the sleeper from the sleeping bag, sweaters, pillows, flashlights, and other paraphernalia that have entwined the occupant overnight. Lying on your back, bend both knees up and roll them to each side as needed until you are free of most of the objects. Rest and take a few deep breaths—but not too deeply, if you’ve been camping for a few days and haven’t had a chance to swim or wash.
2. THE SEATED STRETCH: Try to keep the sleeping bag wrapped around your torso while you strain to collect everything you will need to wear or use in the first fifteen minutes outside the tent. Is it raining? Listen for telltale signs as you breathe in for a count of six, and then out for a count of twelve. Don’t worry about getting every single item. You’ll almost certainly be back shortly after your exit for the move that I have named the Return-to-Tent-for-Forgotten Items stretch. If there’s a flagon of rum in the tent pocket, grab it. 3. THE DRESSING STRETCHES: Some campers skip these moves and simply pitch all their clothes outside the tent to be donned later. If you are in a busy campground or the weather is inclement, this is inadvisable. Dressing the upper body simply involves a few Half-Moon stretches with the arms above your head and some twists of the torso that will warm you up for the more challenging moves involved in putting your pants on. There are two methods described below. Make sure before you start either method that you are lying comfortably on your back and have all appropriate clothing within easy reach. THE BRIDGE: With knees bent, place your feet flat on the ground close to your buttocks, and tilt your pelvis. Raise your buttocks into the bridge position, then carefully lift and flex one leg towards you while you thread it through your pant leg. Once complete,
repeat with the other leg. Raise buttocks again and completely pull up your pants. LEG CRADLES: Because many people find the previous method a bit challenging you can opt for this simpler method. Bend your knees up to your chest and give them a hug. Carefully feed your legs, one at a time, through your pants. Stop and rest. Take three deep breaths. Give your knees another hug. Do a couple of leg cradles to loosen up your hips. It still will be necessary to do one full bridge lift to pull your pants up, but you’ll feel much better for having done this. 4. THE DIAGONAL STRETCH: Now— reach for the tent zip and unzip it. I won’t tell you what position to start from for this. Just be sure you don’t have a knee or elbow planted on top of any person who happens to be sharing the tent with you at the time. Don’t forget to coordinate your breathing with the stretches. 5. GOOSE-NECK STRETCH: Look up. Look down. Look ahead, left and right. Is it raining? Are the bugs active? Are there any bears or racoons out there? Do you need another layer of clothing? Where’s your sunscreen/insect repellent/raincoat/ bear spray? You may need to retreat into the tent and repeat step two. 6. THE TENT EXIT: This is a very challenging series of moves, especially if there is more than one occupant in the tent at the time. Some practitioners prefer to do this on hands and knees facing the tent door. I prefer to back out of the tent for several reasons: I can perform another diagonal stretch to nab a few extra items as I leave; second, I can
pull the covers off my lazy tent partner from the door as I leave; third, I am in a perfect position to go directly into the best stretch of all, the Downward Dog. In preparation for the rear-facing exit, it is necessary to pivot from your forward facing position before you start. To accomplish this, roll over onto your belly, draw your knees under you, and fold forward into Child’s Position. Rest here for a few breaths. It’s ok if you cry a little. Care must be taken in this pose if your bladder is full or you ate some of that yummy freeze-dried lentil and onion stew last night for dinner. You are now in a perfect position to back carefully out of the tent and go to the next step of the tent exit. 7. DOWNWARD DOG: After backing out of the tent—don’t forget to re-zip the insect netting closed—straighten your legs behind you, extend your arms, and relax into the Downward Dog. If you sleep in minimal clothing, you might want to check for other campers in the vicinity before you do this. Doesn’t this feel good? Relax and enjoy the stretch. Ignore the mosquitoes. Breathe. 8. SUN SALUTATION: Come up to full upright position and windmill your arms to deflect the hungry insects. If the sun is visible, turn towards it. If it is cloudy, estimate where the sun should be and face it. Do a few sets of sun salutations. Who knows? Perhaps the sun will pay attention to you, and the clouds will go away. Smile and greet the morning. Embrace the day. You are out of doors, camping in a beautiful place. The day’s adventures await you.
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WEDNESDAY 9 - 4 p.m. THURSDAY 9 - 4 p.m. FRIDAY 9 - 5 p.m. SATURDAY 9 - 5 p.m. SUNDAY 10 - 4 p.m.
TV or Not TV, That Is the Question Ron Betchley
L
eaving behind a world of underground TV cables and arriving at our new homestead sanctuary, we took possession of a house with a twenty-some foot metal TV tower. It was affixed to the building and was crowned with a rotating head that was activated and controlled by a bewildering looking contraption located in the house. Turing the knob commenced the rotation of the antenna allowing it to seek out whatever non-alien signals were available throughout the 360-degree rotation. All this while one kept an eye on the TV screen to verify adequate or at least the best of reception in fine-tuning. Looking back, I remember the joys of watching TV programs with all the clarity of today’s prenatal ultrasounds. The metal tower was also responsible for substantial
increases to the cost of our home insurance due to its welcoming poise. It lured the frequent and severe lightning strikes experienced each year in our area with all their aftermath of damaged electronics. The trucks, ladders, and workmen busily making their way along our street gave no hint as to their purpose. No vehicle IDs that we could identify. The black wire being strung along from Hydro pole to pole was a mystery. So down we go to make our enquiry. Erika, we are told that cable is being brought to our street. “Sign us up” I exclaimed to he who’s time and efforts were in the least demand. When we showed him our location, he replied, “Sorry, you are too far from the road.” To this day, we never did understand that statement considering that the cable signal comes from miles and miles away.
But he was adamant that his service and our location were not compatible. The new ten-foot wide satellite dish, while giving our front lawn the genre of a NASA launch pad, did afford us more programs and better reception although very weather dependent, especially in winter. A hideous looking thing anchored in concrete requiring in conjunction with other TV apparatus multiple controls affixed with hundreds of buttons. If only we could have enabled our dish to turn to the appropriate location as readily and as quickly as As The World Turns moved to one and yet another commercial… With the advent of multiple TV signals being directed to each residence, we were able to convert the large dish, humorously referred to as Mother Nature’s contact lens, to the direct system. It served us well but with time it prevented us from
keeping up with the ever-changing (and ever more expensive) technology that was being presented, and we eventually abandoned the thing. Unable to give it away nor find a purpose for it, it sits out front slowly rusting looking skyward seeking something now long gone as if embarrassed in its obsolescence. So now, and hopefully finally, we enjoy the latest technology in the concave elliptical unit bolted to our roof, communicating with but one satellite. It is connected to units that allow the storing of programs previously broadcast but as yet unseen to be viewed at our leisure. I think we have finally found our true and ultimate TV viewing system. “What’s that you say, Netflix? What’s that?”
Something’s Lost but Something’s Gained (Joni Mitchell) Gone is the vigour. Gone is the energy. No more eager muscles, working in synergy. There are names that I know, but I can’t put my tongue to. Gone are races and trophies and wrongs I might undo. Schoolmates, colleagues, a spouse—all gone. Still as the ice on a deep winter’s pond. Gone is my fervor. Champagne has no fizz. I sit here and wonder—Is this all there is? Then Spring arrives and the ice goes away. The garden is blooming with each sunlit day. The dog and I roam through the forest a-greening. She’s smarter than I – each scent has a meaning. There are fish in the lake and wild leeks in the woods It’s a blessing how Nature can give up her goods. With Autumn, we have the wild colours of fall There is mist on the beaver pond. A far-away call Of a loon. The dog quivers, then licks my hand. A duck sets his wings. My shotgun goes Blam! She swims through the decoys and makes the retrieve. Our dinner’s secure. That’s a fact we believe. I cannot be lonely, for she is my friend. She’ll be true through her life, right to the end. Old age ain’t so bad. The days can be gold. With love in your heart, you forget that you’re old. Astoundingly love can be vital—sustaining. It has come to me now, so I’ll quit my complaining.
SATURDAY, JUNE 3 BLUE SKIES FIDDLE ORCHESTRA – Performance in the Bandshell
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5 MAPLE DAY – all things maple at the Market
SATURDAY, JUNE 10 Puppet Show – 11 a.m. – on the stage and sponsored by the Kingston Frontenac Public Library. Library Booth: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19 FRONTENAC BLADES – tomahawk/ knife throwing demonstration
SATURDAY, JUNE 24 FRONTENAC BLADES – tomahawk/ knife throwing demonstration SATURDAY, JULY 1 CANADA DAY PARADE SATURDAY, JULY 15 BURGER DAY
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Cloyne & District Historical society Cloyne Pioneer Museum season Opening and Canada 150 celebration saturday, June 24 at 11 a.m. Dedication of Benny’s park, dignitaries, music, singing and more. come and stroll the new footpath through the park, enjoy the BBQ at one of the picnic tables, view the provincial flower art and visit the museum. Ticket Sales for the Irish chain Quilt will be launched. Draw to take place october 16. June / July 2017 • The SCOOP
17
Kingston’s Port Dover Connection Lena Koch
I
n 1862, a man called Walker Powell from Port Dover, Ontario was called to Ottawa to fill the position of deputy adjutant general for the militia in Canada West. Why am I writing about him? I discovered that I have a personal connection to this Canadian politician. For forty years, my family lived in southern Ontario close to Lake Erie, a place full of history. While researching my friends’ family trees, I discovered that many of their ancestors arrived in the Haldimand-Norfolk area in the early 1800s. They were Pennsylvania Dutch, Mennonite and Amish. They all came from the USA and followed the call of the British Crown to work the land around Lake Erie. The Haldimand area was terrible to cultivate, but the Norfolk area around the town of Simcoe was and still is a great area for farming. Not only is the climate great, but the ground is fertile and grows everything from cash crops to fruits and vegetables. An American by the name of Abraham Powell became a United Empire Loyalist, who, after the American Revolutionary War, settled in New Brunswick with his family. He later claimed his part of land granted to him as a Loyalist by the British Crown in southern Ontario. He established a home in the Township of Windham in Norfolk County, a little north of the Town of Simcoe.
The Powells had several children, one of whom was Israel Wood Powell, who became a businessman and land surveyor. In 1835, he laid out the Town of Port Dover, a few miles south of Simcoe on Lake Erie. He acquired around 80 acres in the town and reserved a small park area, which today is called Powell’s Park. For years, I never thought about researching the town’s history, until we purchased our wonderful house to run a bed and breakfast not far from the beach right in the town’s core. I learned that the house we bought had once been called Duneden (or Duniden), and it intrigued me to find out more about the house and its previous owners. Having learned already how to do some historical work, I went to archives and registry offices to get more information. And here is the connection between Walker Powell and our lives in Port Dover. After Israel Wood Powell died, his oldest son Walker took over his large estate. In 1853, Walker married Catherine Emma Culver, and the young couple started the construction of their house in the old English style by a British architect. Just before the house was finished, Emma died, probably from complications from childbirth. Walker married Mary Ursula
Bowlby two years later and gave her the house as a wedding gift. I was able to trace the history of all of Dunedin’s past owners up until we became part of the house’s history too. I found out that Walker Powell moved to Ottawa to be a full-time politician. From the Dictionary of Canadian Biography: “As an Ottawa administrator, Powell had little direct influence on militia policy, but politicians on both sides of the House of Commons trusted him. In 1874 he persuaded Alexander
Mackenzie’s Liberal government to adopt Kingston, Ont., as the site for a new military college, though it was in Sir John A. Macdonald’s riding, and he supported making the institution more like a Canadian university and less like its American exemplar, the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.” As a genealogist, it’s satisfying to know that we used to live in the same house as the person who was largely responsible for the establishment of the Royal Military College in Kingston!
WW1 ROYAL FLYING CORPS (RFC) Canada’s 100th Anniversary SATURDAY, JUNE 10
Free admission • Two locations • Free shuttle service GOLD-WING RANCH HERITAGE FARMSTEAD, 126 DESERONTO ROAD (Former site of WW1 RFC/RAF Camp Rathbun “X” Squadron CTS90 TOWN OF DESERONTO COMMUNITY CENTRE, 51 MECHANIC STREET Home Town of WW1 Canadian Aviation Heritage 9-4 p.m. Heritage Displays and Vendors at Both Locations 1-2 p.m. Join the RCAF, Air Force Association and the Canadian Legion “Raising of the Flags”, then “Lowering of Flags”, and Cake Cutting 126 Deseronto Road Walker Powell, b. 1828 d. 1915.
Event details: www.kimmettherefords.com Info: Nancy Bruinsma 613.484.9596 • bruinsmanancy@gmail.com
WAYLEN CAR WASH
REMEMBER TO RINSE YOUR BOATS/MOTORS BEFORE ENTERING OTHER LAKES Dave & Barb Way 18
CTY RD. 4, TAMWORTH
The SCOOP • June / July 2017
SUMMER GARDENING TOOLS Shovels • Rakes • Hoses • Sprinklers Nozzles • Pruners • Clippers • Potting Soil Fertilizer • Gloves & more Grass seed $3.59 per pound in bulk
613-379-1064
Home-cooked food • Lottery machine Silk flower arrangements • Headstone flowers Newspapers • And much more!
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Puzzle Page Crossword: “Tunnel Vision” by Matt Gaffney
Word Search: O Canada!
Sudoku
June / July 2017 • The SCOOP
19
Tamworth Legion Branch 458 Celebrating 70 Years Mark Oliver
T
amworth Legion, Branch 458 is celebrating its 70th Anniversary this year!
The Royal Canadian Legion, formed in 1926 following the unity of various World War I Veterans’ organizations, is Canada’s largest Veteran support and community service organization. It is a democratic, non-partisan, member-based organization with over 300,000 participants in more than 1400 Branches. In January 1947, some 30 WWI and WWII veterans met in Bud Water’s Barber Shop to pursue the formation of a Tamworth Branch of the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League. In February 1947, the first meeting to form a branch took place in the Town Hall. A provisional Executive was appointed consisting of: R.K. Stinson, President; E.G. Richmond, Sec/ Treas.; and Executive Members; C.L. Wager, N.L.B. Coburn and Harold Davison. Thus Branch 458 of The Royal Canadian Legion was formed and named The Ken Stinson Memorial Legion. Since that time, 70 years ago, the Tamworth Legion has not wavered in its role of being a service provider to veterans, community and youth. While we directly support veterans through our commitment to the Legion Villa, a regional veteran’s residence
located in Kingston, we also offer an “outreach” program that assists veterans in need. Branch 458 is very active in honouring the recognition of veterans through our Remembrance Day service and is one of only a handful of Branches in Canada that formally recognize D-Day. The Legion hosts the Santa Claus Parade and Santa’s visit with children, operates the Remembrance Day poster and poetry competitions for nearby schools, assists with self – esteem programs for students, works cooperatively with Parent Council groups, and contributes to minor sports programs. Additionally, the Legion has donated to the Beaver Lake Swim Program, the Community Safety Net – Fire Safety program, to Almost Home and supported community initiatives including Rural Schools Matter and Meet the Candidates events. The Legion supports the Tamworth Erinsville Community Development Committee, the Tamworth Canada Day Committee, the Tamworth Lions Food Drive, and Lennox & Addington County Hospital for a local focus and several large registered charities such as the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, Canadian Diabetes Association, Kingston Hospitals Foundation, March of Dimes, and the Spina Bifida Association for a wider outreach. As a community service organization the Legion is always open to new members.
“Beyond the Doors” Tour Buffi Hewitt
“B
eyond the Doors” annual Home and Garden Tour will be held on Saturday, June 3 and will support the programs and activities of the L&A Seniors Outreach Services (SOS). The daylong tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature eight properties in Napanee, Yarker, and Lonsdale. The houses range from Victorian homes, 1867; Gothic Revival, 1861; two historic churches and a schoolhouse renovated to become gorgeous private residences; a log home built in the old style; a condemned farmhouse restored to a stunning Bed & Breakfast; and a modern home built to provide the perfect cozy home for empty nesters. Gardens vary from an English style perennial style to domesticated wilderness. At the end of the day, passport holders will find their heads abuzz with new ideas. “These are absolutely stunning homes and gardens, and this tour is one of the highlights of the year for us; one of our best fundraisers,” says Ruth Graham, who is coordinating the project for the L&A SOS fundraising committee. “Passports are selling very quickly, so you are encouraged to purchase one soon. They are available in Napanee at the SOS office, 12 Richmond Park Drive,
In recognition of the time constraints everyone is facing in their daily lives, the Legion has developed a new way to make it easy for people to assist with the positive impacts the Legion makes in the community called the Patron plan. If you think you might be interested in being part of this group of occasional volunteers, please call the Legion President at 613.379.9001 to obtain answers to any of your questions. The Legion facilities are also available for public use. With a capacity of 120 people, the hall is available for wedding receptions, reunions, dances, awards ceremonies and other functions. The evening rental fee is $200.00 plus HST and includes the bar services and the use of the kitchen. Patrons and members can rent the space at the rate of $100.00 plus HST. Different fee arrangements may be available for regularly scheduled activities. The Legion offers a generous list of weekly scheduled activities available to the public for their participation. (Summer programming is reduced.) Wed 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Bridge
Wed 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Line Dancing Thu 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Dance Fitness Thu 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. Darts First Fri of Month 7:30 p.m. BINGO Branch 458 holds its general membership meetings on the second Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m., September to June inclusive. The Tamworth Legion – an integral part of the community for 70 years!
Solution to the crossword puzzle on page 19:
and at Gray’s IDA Drug Store, Dundas Street. Passports cost $25 for adults, $12.50 for children 6-12 years, and are free for children under five years. Passports include descriptions of each property and detailed maps for the self-guided tour. Participants are welcome to start and stop wherever they wish. Signs and balloons will mark each property and participants must present their Passport, which will be checked by the homes’ volunteer hosts. Homeowners and hosts will be available to answer questions and show visitors around each home and garden. The Yarker Riverside United Church will provide a light lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for $8 per person. “To be respectful to the owners, guests must remove footwear and refrain from touching household items, no pets are allowed in the homes or gardens, children must be well supervised at all times, and no smoking is allowed. Photography may be allowed outside, but no photographs may be taken inside any of the homes without permission from the owners,” says Graham. For more information about the annual Home & Garden Tour on Saturday, June 3, please contact Ruth Graham at SOS, 613.354.6668, ext. 104, or ruth@lasos.ca.
G.F. FRIZZELL
• • Fun Fair • •
LICENSED CARPENTER
5:30-7:30 p.m.
CARPENTRY
HOME (613) 379-5171 20
You do not require a connection to any aspect of military life to participate in Legion activities. The reality is that very few active members have a military background.
CELL (613) 483-4607
The SCOOP • June / July 2017
Friday, June 16
Tamworth Elementary School
Turtles on the Move Susan Rehner
Y
es, it’s that time of year when we see female turtles slowly making their way across roads and highways, seeking a suitable spot to lay their eggs. Unfortunately, turtles often choose roadsides for their nests because of the gravel (which is easy to dig), the balance of moisture (not too dry or too wet), and the exposure to the sun (perfect) for the incubation of eggs. Most turtles killed on roads are females laying eggs. Males also cross roads seeking a mate or a new territory. With so many wetlands having been drained or filled, suitable habitat is much harder to find. And with so many roads bisecting otherwise intact wetlands, it can be a dangerous mission. It is not surprising that Ontario turtles are species “of concern.” If you see a turtle crossing a road and you can safely pull over onto the shoulder, put your hazard lights on, other drivers should slow down. If there is no traffic, you can watch to make sure the turtle safely crosses. If it is doubtful that the turtle can cross before another car appears, it is best to help it. The smaller turtles you are likely to see – Blanding’s Turtle and Painted Turtle – can be picked up easily and moved off the road and out of harm’s way. Always take the turtle in the direction it was heading. To carry a small turtle, place your hands on either side at the midpoint of its shell, thumbs on top and fingers underneath. It may hiss and may retract its head and legs into its shell. I have learned to carry turtles to one side of my body so that if they pee (probably out of fear), I won’t get wet. Snapping Turtles, if they are large, can be a challenge. They can be surprisingly heavy and ill-tempered. Because humans represent a distinct threat, the turtle’s aggressive behaviour is intended to scare you off. Unlike other turtle species, the Snapping Turtle cannot retract its head and legs – the shell is too small — and it is slow moving and vulnerable out of the water. Some people keep a shovel in their cars for this operation. There are other techniques. The Toronto Zoo published a short video online on how to move a Snapping Turtle off
the road (see below for website). The turtle they use in the film is undoubtedly more docile and cooperative than any I have encountered, but the techniques work. The correct way to lift a Snapping Turtle is to put your hands under the carapace (the top shell) on either side of the tail. (Recently I used a thin, flexible rubber mat to pick up and carry a medium-sized Snapping Turtle in this way. It kept my hands clean and helped me hold on when the turtle squirmed.) Carry the turtle low to the ground so that if it struggles and you lose your grip, it won’t have far to fall. Never pick up a turtle by its tail. The tail is attached to the turtle’s spinal column and doing so could cause irreparable damage. One of the techniques suggested by the Toronto Zoo for moving a Snapping Turtle makes use of a car mat. Lifting the Snapping Turtle as described above, place it on the mat. Turn the mat around (180 degrees) and drag the mat off the road. When you get to the other side, turn the mat around so that the turtle will be facing in the direction you found it. The one less-than-happy scenario I can envision is that you drag the mat too close to the edge of the ditch, lose your balance, and topple into the ditch with the mat and Snapping Turtle on top of you. So check behind you as you drag the mat. Before I knew about the video, I once tried carrying a hefty snapper to the side of the road. Because of its weight, I had to run crouched down, and when I got to the edge and thrust the turtle onto the shoulder of the road, I overbalanced and did a face plant. Result? A black eye, scraped nose, and bloody knee. The turtle was fine. I use the more refined techniques from the video now.
Snapping Turtle crossing the road. Photo by Scott Plantier. If you find an injured turtle, please take it to your closest wildlife rehabilitator – in this area, Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre. The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre is near Peterborough. See addresses and phone numbers below. Place the turtle in a lidded container with ventilation holes and a towel to prevent sliding and to minimize stress. Don’t put it in water or give it anything to eat. Take note of where you found the turtle so that when it has been rehabilitated, it can be returned to the same location.
Recommended equipment to keep in your car for helping turtles includes containers and lids with ventilation holes, duct tape for the lid, a towel for the bottom of the container, a shovel, and gloves (thin for small turtles, thicker for snappers). The turtles can’t thank you, but I can on their behalf.
Rehabilitators can often recover eggs from injured or even recently deceased female turtles and incubate them successfully. The hatchlings will be released in the fall or overwintered and released the following spring.
Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre 8749 County Road 2, Napanee 613.354.0264
Toronto Zoo YouTube video “How to help a Snapping Turtle cross the road”: www.youtube.com.watch?v=Lgd_ B6iKPxU
Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre 4-1434 Chemong Road, Selwyn (near Peterborough) 705.741.5000
Many drivers feel they can safely drive over a Snapping Turtle by straddling it. However, many snappers, perceiving a threat, will raise their heads to snap at the “predator” and will be seriously injured or killed.
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(613) 358-2833 or 1-888-832-1904 June / July 2017 • The SCOOP
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Rural Schools Matter Robin Hutcheon
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he Ministry of Education for Ontario, headed up by MPP Mitzie Hunter, is currently conducting public consultation sessions across the province to produce a strategy for administering education in rural areas. I attended the session in Merrickville, where we were graced with Mitzie Hunter’s presence, as well as the session in Picton. The sessions were administered in virtually the same way. People sat at tables to have small group discussions, and then one person from each table communicated their group’s main points to the rest of the room. It’s a common method used in this type of setting, and it’s quite effective at diluting the issues and keeping the number of people expressing themselves to a minimum. The themes explored were: supporting the sustainable use of school space in rural communities; supporting decisionmaking around school closures; supporting quality education in rural communities. During both sessions, I felt we were not there to talk about rural education. We were there to find a way for the province to close schools without making people angry. If this was truly a consultation surrounding a rural education strategy, we would not be discussing closure. For this to work, closure needs to be removed from the conversation. Nothing meaningful will be achieved from this exercise if the province continues to include school closure as an option. Not because it’s not, but because it’s not what people want to discuss.
from the other eight sessions will be virtually identical. The review process is so deeply flawed that it must stop. School boards across the province are using outdated and/or flawed data to justify closing perfectly good schools. School boards across the province are not openly communicating with the public. The consultation process is not sufficient, and the timeline is too short. The decisions to close schools are already made before the reviews even start. Alternatives to closure are ignored. The public, in a nutshell, is feeling screwed. One of the biggest frustrations, if I may draw my own conclusions based on my involvement over the past several months, is that the province keeps asking how they can make this better. It’s frustrating because the public has been saying for a year, at least, what they want. Two rallies have been held at Queen’s Park in the past six months asking for a moratorium on school closures. Countless letters have been sent to the Premier and the Minister of Education asking for a moratorium. Articles and letters to editors have been sent to newspapers and posted online. The CBC has covered stories from more than one community affected by school closure. The Ontario Alliance Against School Closures formed in response to
The anger in both rooms was palpable, and the participants in Merrickville and in Picton had the same stories to tell. I would be willing to bet that the input
the number of closures. Members of the public have been calling their MPPs asking for support for a moratorium. The Ontario PC party tried to pass a motion in the legislature for a moratorium. What more does the provincial government need to hear? What will it take to move beyond the current status quo to something meaningful for rural communities that only want to keep their youngest children closest to home? Without a moratorium, the province will continue to close schools in single school communities, stripping rural Ontario of its culture. If our children cannot be educated close to home, we will lose them and our way of life. If, after this round of consultation, the province does not declare a moratorium on school closures, it is proof that they are not listening and do not care. In the Limestone Board, we’ve been fighting to keep Yarker Family School. We started out fighting for all the schools in Stone Mills, and Selby (originally scheduled for review in 2017/18). Thanks to the hard work of many community members, we have managed to stave off review of these schools
MIKE BOSSIO, M.P. 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!
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mike.bossio@parl.gc.ca | Toll Free: 1-866-471-3800
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Alan Warren
for at least a year. There’s still no guarantee; the fight isn’t over. The board staff claims that reviewing all of these schools next year would be too much work, but I think the communities of Stone Mills, and Selby, can take a little credit. The board thought closing Yarker would be easy; then they could move on to the rest without a fight. They were wrong. The support from this community has been overwhelming, and I believe our children will thank us one day, for not only saving them from long bus rides but also for teaching them to stand up and fight for what’s right. While we have some breathing room locally, the fight continues provincially. Public education is our children’s right, and it must remain where they are, not where out-of-touch politicians deem is best for them. These are our schools, and they will not be taken away. As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”. Come on Stone Mills, let’s change the world.
Tamworth Lions: Serving the Community Since 1983 Bernie Kelly
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his year marks the 100-year anniversary of Lions Clubs International. On June 7, 1917, Melvin Jones, a businessman from Chicago, proposed that a group of like-minded businessmen form an organization that could improve their community. They called themselves Lions Clubs International and has now become the world’s largest service club with more than 1.4 million members in 46,000 clubs in 210 countries and
geographic areas around the globe. Melvin Jones’ motto was “you can’t get very far until you start doing something for someone else,” which has now evolved into the current motto of simply “We Serve.” The Tamworth & District Lions are very proud of serving the local community through humanitarian projects and hands-on service since 1983. Our pride and joy is taking care of Beaver Lake Park for the benefit of residents and visitors since 1988. Back then, we maintained the park with just two push mowers – we now have three ride-on mowers, one push mower, and one trimmer. In 1991, we constructed the pavilion. Over the years, the boat launch was improved, and the memorial garden, boat dock, handicapped walkways, and viewing stand were added. As well, our club contributed to the cost of the new toilets.
• 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.
For all your excavating needs call RICK at Phone: 613-388-2460 Cell: 613-561-6585 Email: rick.tuepah@gmail.com
The Tamworth Lions Club opened the soccer field in June 2002 with $12,500 donated by the club and over
Tamworth Lions marking the 100-year anniversary of Lions Club International. $15,000 in kind from the community. We purchased the Olympia ice resurfacer for $37,000 in 1992. In 1994, we moved to the community meeting room, then bought the folding tables and chairs for the room and arena, as well as the refrigerator, and stove. We also donated nearly $13,000 towards the new ice machine. At the national level, we support such Lions Club projects as camps for children with cancer and medical disabilities. We also support the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, promote organ transplants, the Peace Poster Contest and youth exchange programs. Locally, we support L&A General Hospital, L&A Hospice, Almost Home (a place of comfort and respite for families whose children are receiving medical treatment in Kingston area hospitals), two grad students from N.D.S.S., Salvation Army food drives, boys and
girls sports programs, community dances, and many more community needs. We yearly test the vision and hearing of kindergarten children at three local schools, and one of our new ventures is cooking and serving pancakes in the schools in February. For the Tamworth community, we grill and serve hamburgers and hot dogs on Canada Day with all profits going to the Canada Day Committee. We enter the parade at Christmas and hold the Kids Fishing Derby in July. Our fundraising consists of a Yard Sale and E-Waste Drop Off held in May, Golf Tournament in June, and Fish Fry and Corn Roast in August. These events are very popular and are enjoyed by the community. Lions are friends, family, and neighbours who share a core belief: community is what we make it. We welcome new members. Be the difference in your community. Be a Lion!
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• • • S ECOND T IME T REASURES • • • RESALE
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The SCOOP • June / July 2017