The SCOOP // August / September 2019

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SCOOP The

August / September 2019

thescoop.ca

Sounds of Summer


Here’s The SCOOP

The

SCOOP D Founded in 2005 by Richard Saxe

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

CONTRIBUTORS

Jacqueline Bartnik, Catherine Coles, Diane Creber, Dianne Dowling, Glen Goodhand, Alyce Gorter, KFL&A Public Health, Bert Korporaal, Braydon Lajeunesse, Susan Moore, Mark Oliver, Susan Rehner, Rob Renaud, Terry Sprague All photos contributed, unless otherwise noted.

o you recognize the creature on the cover of this issue? If not by its appearance, we bet most SCOOP readers would instantly recognize its unmistakable song, often heard in our region in late summer. Its song can be described as a high-pitched whining drone that lasts about 15 seconds, starts soft, gets louder, then tapers off at the end. Reminds many of the penetrating buzz of an electric saw. Sound familiar? It’s the insect Neotibicen canicularis, also known as the Dog-day Cicada. The common name comes from the fact that this species exhibits peak singing during the time of the year when the star Sirius, of the constellation Canis Major (the big dog), is prominent in the night sky. These typically hot and muggy days of July and August are referred to as the “dog days” of summer, and in this issue, Terry Sprague teaches us all about the cicadas, katydids, and other insects that make the “background music” of our summer days and nights. We have a wide-ranging assortment of articles in this issue – something for everyone, we hope. If you’re a local

history buff, check out the fascinating story of the Philoxians of Marlbank, which now houses a gallery and museum of relics and artefacts. Nature lovers will appreciate learning about the history of the Kingston Field Naturalists, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Civic-minded readers will find out about the recent citizen-led “Green New Deal” Townhall events held in Stone Mills and the plans for a new Repair Café. Music fans will marvel at the talented musical acts lined up for the TECDC’s 2019-20 concert series. (Tip: Get advance tickets now, as some events already have waiting lists!) Chuckle at Alyce Gorter’s humorous account of an unexpected “windfall” of firewood. Find out the race results from the thrilling Canada Day Soap Box Derby. Discover

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.

Grand Champion Garlic Grower 2017 & 2018

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COVER

A Dog-day Cicada, one of the many insects of late summer who serenade us by day (cicadas) and by night (crickets and katydids) with their noisy chorus of chirps, buzzes, and drones. Photo by Dan Mullen.

Actinolite Graphics 8431 Hwy. 37, Tweed ON. Email: actgraph@gmail.com Web: actinolitegraphics.com

Phone/Fax: 613-478-3393

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The SCOOP • August / September 2019

Graphic Design Visit Actinolite Graphics on Facebook See Print Samples Discover What I Can Do For You! Like My Page

the all-time favourite summer reads of staff of the County Libraries. Don’t feel like reading? Grab a pencil (or pen, if you’re feeling confident) and try your hand at solving a fun word jumble, sudoku, or crossword on our puzzle page. We hope you enjoy this summer issue of The SCOOP (and what’s left of this year’s insect serenade), and we’ll see you in October!


Letter to the Editor Re: “Tamworth Postal Bank Pilot Project” article (June/July 2019 issue)

on June 28 and another from Tweed on June 26.

I think that would be a great idea after reading about it in The SCOOP. As a landowner in Sheffield, and also having very deep roots here, I feel that we have to stand up and do whatever it takes to keep a postal and banking system in Sheffield. Period. I think your idea is a very, very sound one.

Small communities are working so hard to make a place great despite the nasty weather this year. Keep the flyers, brochures, and notices plastered all over the place wherever you can think of.

I wish you all the very best of luck in accomplishing this mission. When one reads about all the hard work going on behind the scenes in our community, people should be well informed as to the progress that is happening. I for one am totally thrilled to have roots and family there. Small is great these days and the place to be and pass on to the next generation. I am so happy to be attending another grandson’s graduation from Tamworth

Elaine Williams, Belleville

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

Abbey Kerr “walking with the kids” at the Haute Goat Farm in Port Hope, Ontario. Photo by Heather Grieve.

The Tamworth & District Lions Club held their 10th Annual Kids Fishing Derby on Saturday July 6. Children enjoyed fishing, Caities Critters Petting Zoo, a display by the Lennox & Addington OPP, Stone Mills Township Fire Department, and Quinte Conservation reptile exhibit. The Lions Club also hosted a barbeque for all to enjoy. 97 children aged 0 - 12 participated in the fishing derby, and all children received a “doodle bag,” and prize for their participation. The Club held a hat decorating contest, and the children didn’t disappoint with a variety of hats entered. The three winners received a subscription to a fishing magazine for 12 months! The entire event was free through the generous donations of sponsors and the Tamworth & District Lions Club.

Crews take down the sign from the CIBC banking branch that closed July 11 in Tamworth. Photo by Richard Saxe. August / September 2019 • The SCOOP

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Cartoon Chronicles: The Yellow Kid Glen Goodhand

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artoons,” “comics, “funny papers,” (or just “the funnies”) all speak of the same thing. The term “cartoon” can cover a broad range of themes, including adventure, fantasy, and romance. “Comics” suggests a longer series of sketches, as in “comic books.” “The funnies,” most often newspaper inserts, have traditionally been weekend supplements. The term “cartoon” is believed to have come from the French “carton” for heavy gauge paper or pasteboard, on which artists made their preliminary sketches before they submitted the final version of their creations. Because they were considered of less value than the finished

product, the term was extended to comical drawings in the mid-1880s. These sketches in their early stages were most often political, making lighthearted or even sarcastic commentaries on social or public issues. Slavery was one hot topic, as was women’s suffrage. One of the earliest and most famous political cartoons is attributed to Benjamin Franklin. Published in 1754, the illustration was of a snake cut in eight pieces, with the caption reading, “Join or Die!” The number of sections represented the eight colonies of New England; the curve of the reptile, the coastal line. It was a forceful appeal for the colonies to band together to defend in the French and Indian War. Franklin did not achieve that goal, but his cartoon went viral and took on a life of its own.

Another early cartoonist was the Swiss artist Rodolphe Töpffer, who produced a full-fledged 40-page book of illustrations (much like today’s comic books) that was then printed in America in 1842. It was a thin “picture Ben Franklin’s famous “Join, or Die” editorial cartoon, from the story” of a Mr. May 9, 1754 edition of The Pennsylvania Gazette. Obadiah Oldbuck, featuring his attempts to win his lady love—and his attempted suicide when she rejected him (nothing comical about that).

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The SCOOP • August / September 2019

In the 1860s, German author Wilhelm Busch created the “Story of Seven Boyish Pranks,” a compilation of sketches about a mischievous pair called “Max & Moritz.” Some believe the pair became the inspiration for the Americanized “Katzenjammer Kids,” a strip featuring Hans and Fritz, who constantly tormented the heavily Germanaccented Der

Hogan’s Alley cartoon, published May 5, 1895. Children in an alleyway play at being circus performers. In the lower right, above the signature of cartoonist Richard F. Outcault, is a character who has been identified as the first appearance of Outcault’s character “The Yellow Kid” - who, here, is not wearing yellow. Captain. Richard F. Outcault is usually considered the father of the modern American comic strip. In 1894 he occasionally drew single-panelled cartoons for Truth Magazine about a character who became known as the “Yellow Kid.” This bald, big-eared boy later featured in the cartoon “Hogan’s Alley,” the first comic published in a newspaper on a continuing basis. It debuted on February 17, 1895, in New York World. Originally in black and white, “Hogan’s Alley” zeroed in on the life of street urchins from the New York City tenements. It demonstrated how these waifs overcame their environment, but it also served as a thinly disguised political statement. The Yellow Kid character (given name Mickey Dugan), was always pictured with a shaved head—signifying the prevailing pitfall of head lice. Outcault’s approach did not follow the modern format of a sequence of panels with “speech balloons” but was reduced to a single large illustration. So much was included in the single large panel that it told the story in one fell swoop. His May 5, 1895 cartoon, here in colour, was typical. Titled “At the Circus in Hogan’s Alley,” the scene is of a poor inner-city alleyway, where several street children show off their primitive acrobatic skills while a smaller number, seated on a rough bench, look on delightedly. The cartoon marks the first appearance of the Yellow Kid (lower right, above Outcault’s signature) who is not wearing yellow here, but blue. Whenever the Yellow Kid appeared in Outcault’s cartoon, he was normally front and centre, with a caption printed on his nightwear (eventually always

yellow). His most common expression was “Hully Gee!” The feature lasted only three years. The final cartoon was published on January 23, 1898. The “Kid” was experimenting with “Wonderful Hair Tonic.” He splashes it all over his nightshirt, ending up with a very hairy version. The caption, in his typical back alley jargon was: “Yiz Didn’t Recognize My New Whiskers Coat!”

Thank You I would like to publicly thank everyone who recently helped me to celebrate my 80th birthday. It was a celebration I will cherish forever! Thank you to the Lakeview Tavern in Erinsville for hosting. Thank you to my very good friends Doug Dodd and the Fred Brown band. I’ve always admired your talent and you did not disappoint in turning things into a proper party! Thank you to Becky Hinch Photography for doing a superb job of capturing candid moments, and to Marg Kennedy, your beautiful cakes never cease to amaze me. Thank you to my family for coming from far and wide. Particular thanks to my sister Doris and her husband, Lawrence, who flew in from Alberta. Thank you to my sister Kay for hosting a family bbq at her cottage afterwards. How wonderful to continue the celebration all together at the lake. I honestly can’t believe I’m 80. That being said, every morning when my feet hit the floor, I feel blessed for the life I’ve had. Thank you to my wife, Dovie and our children, Chris and Lisa, for all of your planning and hard work. There is no gift that you could’ve bought me that would have meant as much to me as simply having so many from the community gather together. Thank you to everyone for taking time out of your busy schedules to come and wish me well. I’ve loved reading through the dozens of cards I received. If you missed the party or we didn’t have long to chat, don’t hesitate to give me call. As you know, I love a good visit, 705-652-7718.

Warm regards, George McLaughlin


Adventures in Herding Kittens Rob Renaud

H

aving lived in rural villages for almost my entire life, first in Southwestern Ontario, and for the past 33 years in Eastern Ontario, I am familiar with the phenomenon of “barn cats” and abandoned domestic cats. In the past few years, it has dawned on me that there is something different happening in that the rate of feline abandonment into the rural ecosystem appears to have exploded to where the house pets being abandoned are setting up feral colonies. For my first twenty-five years of living in Yarker, I don’t recall ever having a litter of feral kittens suddenly appear at our home. In the past eight years, we have seen four. Something has changed, as our environment is more conducive to the breeding and survival of feral colonies. However, while the environment may be survivable, it is not necessarily healthy or optimal for the cats, and many of them are believed to experience short miserable lives. Disease, predation, and starvation take their toll on domesticated cats forced to survive in the rural environment. We have seen nature take its course and observed the quick decline of the kitten numbers as the mother cats struggled to feed and protect them. A couple of years ago, a mother cat disappeared never to be seen again. Fortunately, we quickly recognized the situation and took to feeding and re-domesticating the three kittens left in her litter, finding homes for all three of them. This year we decided it was time to take action and to deal with the problem firsthand. Kittens were born, and we spent about two weeks watching them play and being fed by the mother. The mother seemed healthy, and we recalled being told that a neighbour had been feeding her. Being a regular Facebook reader, I knew of a local Stone Mills Township cat rescue called “For the Love of Ferals”. I figured this would be the place to start. I connected to the organization via Facebook and was soon contacted by Heather Patterson who manages the rescue. She thought she could help and that she would contact one of her volunteers to see if they could take the kittens. The mother, if we could capture her, would be considered for adopting out if they deemed her domesticated enough. Otherwise, we would go with a TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) approach, she would be released back to our local area where she had made her home. Heather offered to loan me a live trap for kittens: a dog cage that had been converted to a trap by setting up the door so it would drop in place on a couple of rails. It was suggested that I try to trap the mother separate from the kittens as she could be quite upset when trapped and could injure the kittens. I was also instructed to feed the kittens in the cage for a while so they could get used to the feeding in there, becoming less wary. Over a weekend, I fed the mother and kittens morning and night to get them used to the trap. I also did some feeding in my live trap so that I could use it as a backup. I observed that the mother immediately went for the food but then would stop feeding and leave the trap when the kittens crowded her out. I also found that I could use a bowl of milk to lure the mother away, as she had quite the affinity for milk. A couple of times over the weekend I had the perfect setup

with all six kittens ready to be trapped, but I had to wait for Monday morning when the vet clinic opened again. For the Sunday night feeding, I gave them a little less food, as I wanted them hungry in the morning. On the Monday morning, I hoped that I would get the kittens. I used two bowls so that the kittens wouldn’t crowd each other out and lose interest as I had seen happen. The kittens were all over the food even before I could get it into the trap. Within about thirty seconds, the setup was perfect, all six kittens in the trap, I pulled on the release and had them all. The mother was surprisingly unconcerned over their capture, so I thought I would try to get her with my live trap. I set the trap and took the kittens around to the car. While at the car, I heard the trap go off. The mother had really wanted that milk. Unlike the kittens that seemed quite content to be in the trap, the mother was a little upset, but she quieted down when I put her in the trunk of the car. I covered the kittens with a blanket in the back seat

of the car and off we went to the vet. A few days later I heard from Heather that the kittens were all healthy and the mother was thought to be tame enough to be adopted out. Thanks to Heather for her support with this rescue.

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Hopefully, our intervention will result in a few less feral cats running around our neighbourhood and better lives for the mother and kittens. While some kindhearted folks may think they are doing the right thing by simply feeding feral cats, they also need to ensure the cats are spayed or neutered. Otherwise, they are creating breeding colonies which can have a significant negative impact on our environment. These breeding colonies will be stressed and unhealthy as they struggle with limited resources, disease, and harsh weather.

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Most animal welfare organizations and experts now support TNR programs for feral cats to control populations and to provide healthier lives for ferals. To support these cats through our winters, insulated shelters can be made inexpensively. We can do better than letting nature take its course.

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August / September 2019 • The SCOOP

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The Black Cat Café 5 Ottawa Street TAMWORTH

Riverside door of the Tamworth Hotel 613-840-5665 call or text theblackcatcafe@outlook.com

Dinner Meal Specials Start at 4 pm August August 2019 Ice cream Open 8 to 8 daily cones $3

Cool specialty beverages $2 Hand spun milkshakes $3.50 Espresso, cappuccino, & latte Fresh homemade cookies & squares

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Frozen homemade meals to go Sandwiches, salads & snacks

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Fall hours start after Labour Day Sun

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Winning Ways Alyce Gorter

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t was sure to happen sooner or later. Without really thinking about it, I guess I assumed it would be later. Which may explain why I didn’t move the gate. Although anyone who looked at it could plainly see exactly where it would fall and would know that the gate — being directly in its path — could not go unscathed. Perhaps I thought it would come down like a feather with hardly any disturbance to its surroundings. Either theory seems like pretty silly thinking, now that I don’t have a gate. Originally there had been four young basswood trees sprouting from one little patch of ground — a typical trait of this species of tree. Through the years, these stems slurped up sufficient nutrients so they could grow upwards and outwards at the same pace. Together they endured high summer temperatures and low winter freezes, heavy snow loads and light rain falls, big winds and small earthquakes, and through it all, they soldiered on shoulder to shoulder. They provided a food source for the woodpeckers, nesting holes for flickers, an escape route for the squirrels and a common scenic link for the generations who called this property “home”. In the beginning, their chunk of land was big enough to accommodate four slender saplings, but during the following 100+ years, it certainly wasn’t large enough to provide room for four broadly expanding circumferences. As decades drifted by, problems began to arise and instead of joining forces and making a “one for all

and all for one” stand, each one started to slowly look for a way toward individual survival. They continued to stretch out in length, but they also slyly started to lean in different directions. It was impossible to know exactly how old this part of our landscape was, but for four generations they had always been there. A picture taken in the early 1950s shows them already standing proudly at quite a height. Sources say the maximum lifespan of basswood is 200 years. No one knew how close these were to their final day. There is no reason to dwell on the demise of the first two trees. Although many years passed between each event and neither death was really expected, their loss was not much mourned and they caused little havoc in their going. After all, there were still two left. However, for some years now we had been watching these remaining giants as they grew more and more scornful of each other, their faces aimed in opposite directions, their feet immovably planted together but the rest of their bodies sloping farther and farther apart. Having lost two of their number already, and considering the law of gravity which was constantly exerting its influence on them, plus their probable age, their fate was beyond doubt. It was sure to happen eventually. I visually gauged the gap between them regularly, noting how it seemed to increase over time — just gradually, by tiny increments, nothing drastic, no moaning or groaning to indicate any great strain or stress. This week,

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though, as I viewed it from a new perspective, I mentioned to my sister that the leaf-load on the one tree looked like it might be enough to take it down any day. Of course, it could last for years. Turns out though, that “any day” was to be the very next afternoon! All 80 feet of tree now lay sprawled across the pasture, leafy branches reaching out in all directions, and a goodly portion of its weight holding down my crushed gate. With a chainsaw in hand, I assessed the situation like an ant circling a dead elephant, wanting to see where its first bite would be most effective. Then Paul Bunyan appeared with the tractor. Now, there are two lines of thinking when it comes to firewood: #1 is that wood is wood, all wood burns, and therefore any tree can be of use as firewood; the other view, #2, is that softwood, like basswood, isn’t worth the time, trouble, and expense of carving it up — unless you will actually be “carving” it up. (As carving a turkey presents a challenge for me, I had no aspiration toward transforming this fallen behemoth into a wooden parade of prancing ponies or dancing dolphins. I did, though, have every intention of turning it into a lovely heap of firewood). However, since I adhere to the first line of thinking and PB strongly supports the second view, every year sees at least one epic battle on the matter of using softwood in our outdoor furnace. It was obvious from his expression that this year would be no exception. The War of 2019 was about to start.

It is true that basswood cannot compete with its hardwood brethren as a heating source. Oak, for example, has a heating energy of about 37 million BTUs (British Thermal Units) per cord, whereas basswood has only about 14 million. Oak will give a long, strong fire, whereas basswood will burn hot and quick — not good to sustain warmth and not the best choice for fuel in January. Nevertheless, for those shoulder seasons where a fire may help take the chill out of a house in the morning but not needed throughout the day, or for those times when a short fire is wanted, softwood works just fine. We already have our winter supply of hardwood cut and stacked. However, this is a windfall both literally and figuratively that has fallen almost in our lap. Paul Bunyan is still not convinced. BUT, my gleaning instincts will not be thwarted; I’m getting tired of the fray; and I have work to do. I use my best argument. Should have thought of it years ago, as not only is it a clincher for today’s debate, but it may very well have ended the probability of any future arguments. Mr. Bunyan is now looking forward to burning basswood in the outdoor furnace this fall. The choice was either that or cutting our firewood would be his responsibility from now on. Alyce enjoys hearing from SCOOP readers. Please email her at alyce@ gorter.ca.

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August / September 2019 • The SCOOP

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Townhalls: Engage Our Community and Leave No One Behind Susan Moore

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here is lots of talk about the impending climate crisis and increasing inequality with more families struggling to get by. Can we change direction and get on a more positive track? People are looking for answers so, on June 5 and July 23, citizen-led townhalls took place in Tamworth to galvanize us to get down to work. These events were part of about 200 Green New Deal townhalls being held in communities across the country that brought people together to discuss how to create a fair and just society, cut carbon emissions, and shrink our excessive footprint - leaving no one behind in the process.

June 5 Townhall The evening of June 5 was an important two hours in Tamworth, as 65 concerned citizens met to begin discussions on the future we want for ourselves and our children. Organizers Steven and Susan Moore welcomed participants from Stone Mills, Greater Napanee, Arden, and Hastings County. First up was a presentation on the science of climate change and the challenges we are facing. Then, working tables of participants created lists of ideas for confronting those challenges, with a representative from each table reporting. This information was forwarded to the Green New Deal Organizing Committee at action@greennewdealcanada.ca for consideration of next steps. From the local June 5 results, the top five wanted actions were:

• Public transportation plus bike lanes • Local food • Require new buildings to be environmentally sound

• Reduce, reuse, repair • Environmental awareness in youth curriculum

July 23 Townhall At Townhall Step Two, 25 citizens met to develop action plans to address some of the top five actions. Attendees chose the subject of most concern to them, and the four “table discussions” produced the following reports:

Tree Planting: The biggest and cheapest way to tackle the climate crisis is to plant billions of trees across the world and this can be achieved without encroaching on crop

land or urban areas. Estimates are that a worldwide planting programme could remove two-thirds of all the emissions that have been pumped into the atmosphere by human activities (The Guardian Weekly, July 12, 2019. See also Science Journal, July 5, 2019). “This new quantitative evaluation shows [forest] restoration isn’t just one of our climate change solutions, it is overwhelmingly the top one,” said Prof. Tom Crowther at the Swiss university ETH Zürich, who led the research.

• Less Lawns - Offer financial incentives

to homeowners who focus on naturalization of their property. • Advocate for tree planting on public and private lands. Incentives in the form of tax rebates. • Farmers: Maintain fence line trees and hedges as corridors for wildlife and food for pollinators. • Public education on the benefits of planting trees. Tailor a planting programme for our geographically diverse township. Not - one size fits all.

Transportation:

• Alternative transportation:

Reintroduce rural public transit, subsidize fuel-efficient vehicles. Provide a rural network of cycle paths or lanes. • Reduce the need for transportation: Provide more locally based services (keep local branches open!). Encourage more working, shopping, studying from home. Increase home delivery of goods & services. • Organize communal “pools” for necessary transportation: Local websites to advertise carpooling opportunities for medical trips, banking, shopping. Volunteer drivers would be remunerated for expenses. Adults could volunteer driving time for a compensating tax break as well.

Local Food:

• Farmers’ Market: A committed

volunteer group is needed to organize a farmers’ market in Tamworth area. • Growing our own food with resources such as Tamworth-Erinsville GrassRoots Growers’ speaker series • Market gardeners: Help mitigate the difficulties faced by market gardeners, such as the effects of extreme weather and the general undervaluing of the labour needed for this job. • Community gardens: Determine the purpose of a community garden? Who will it serve? • Database: Assemble a database of existing resources with help from

Townhall participants June 5. many regional partners.

Reduce Reuse Repair: Plans are underway for a Repair Café to be held in Tamworth in late September. People can bring their broken items to be fixed by local specialists at no charge. For more about this concept, visit the links in the text box. The Goals are to change the mindset of our throwaway culture and teach people how to repair by taking part in the repair process. programme in Stone Mills Township. • Hold in conjunction with other community events, possibly a farmers’ market. • Hold special workshops on kids’ toys (teaching kids about repurposing and repair), diagnosing a repair job, or composting – held on a Repair Café day. • Fixers for the Café: We currently have Fixers for computers, sewing, general repairs, and wood repairs. • We are looking for Fixers for electronics, small appliances, bicycles, and tool and utensil sharpening - who might also want to promote their local small businesses.

The world’s scientists and Indigenous peoples are telling us we have to change course – and we need to do it quickly. Let’s get down to work.

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The SCOOP • August / September 2019

international organization with nearly 2,000 Cafés globally.

• Run as a regular

Please watch for more information about the Repair Café and support our initiatives. If we wish to keep our communities strong, we also need to support our local businesses and organizations. Our communities won’t be sustainable without them.

Repair Café scene.

Repair Café is part of an

For more information, contact Susan Moore at 613-379-5958 or susan@moorepartners.ca.

Do you have a broken household item? Don’t toss it! Bring your small appliances, computers, clothes, bicycles, toys and more, and we will fix it for free and share the repair skills with you. Video: https://repaircafe.org/ en/about/ There are currently Repair Cafés running in Kingston repaircafekingston.weebly. com and in Frontenac County www.facebook.com/ RepairCafeFrontenac


A Natural View: Strange Noises Coming from the Fields Terry Sprague

I

love the unmistakable buzzing sound of the cicada in late summer. It’s right up there with crickets and katydids. On the farm, the cicadas always called during hot August days when we were drawing in the last of the hay from those back fields next to the woods where cooling breezes never blew. My parents called them locusts, and claimed that they were calling for hot, dry weather. Looking back, I think their calling had little to do with a prediction of any kind, except I always heard them when the weather was hot and dry. The noise was deafening, but I never grew tired of listening to them, and still look forward to their loud shrill noise. It always reminds me of electricity buzzing on a power line. Only the males can make this shrill sound, vibrating two ribbed membranes on their thorax called tymbals.

The periodical cicada has a very bizarre life history, spending 17 years underground as a nymph, emerging to mate, then dying within the month, if they don’t get eaten by something first. It seems hardly worth it to come out of the ground. In the adult stage, periodical cicadas look like oversized house flies, and we see and hear them for just that brief period when the males are busy making all that noise to attract a mate. The female deposits her eggs in the branches of shrubs and trees. Upon hatching, the little nymphs fall to the ground and they immediately burrow underground where they will spend the next 17 years of their exciting life seeking out tree roots from which they will obtain their nourishment. Internal clocks that have been pre-programmed to alarm after 17 years, signal the nymphs to head for daylight once the soil temperature reaches about 18 degrees Celsius. The newly emerged nymphs climb a tree where they shed their nymphal skin and metamorphosize as adults to start their loud “singing” and begin the cycle again. Then, unceremoniously, they die.

Just how loud are these musical insects? From a distance of only 60 feet, we are looking at approximately 80 decibels - about the same as listening to a jackhammer. The cicada is one of the loudest insects to be found According to one anywhere in the world. A chorus of them can reach 115 source, the cicada decibels! qualifies as one of the loudest insects to be found anywhere in the world. A chorus of them can reach 115 Annual cicadas are the North American decibels. That’s louder than a rock cicada species that we hear every concert and comparable to the noise summer in our region. The lifecycle of from a chainsaw (humans start to the so-called annual cicada typically experience pain from sound at the 110- to spans 2 to 5 years; they are “annual” only 120-decibel level). in the sense that members of the species reappear annually. The name is used to distinguish them from periodical cicada species, which occur only in Eastern North America, are developmentally synchronized, and appear in great swarms every 13 or 17 years. According to the Smithsonian Natural Museum of History, there are about 3,000 known species of cicada worldwide.

The loud, shrill song of the cicada reminds some of electricity buzzing on a power line. Photo by Dave Bell.

familiar grinding “katy-did” sound. Katydids are related to the Long-horned Grasshoppers of the West which caused such extensive damage during the infamous cricket plague of 1948 when swarms of them descended upon fields of the religious refugees in Utah. At the critical moment, droves of gulls arrived, devoured the pest, and saved the new settlement. After the plague, the grasshoppers became known locally as Mormon Crickets and their enormous bands are still considered a concern in the West. Here, however, the katydid relative is quite harmless as there are so few of them. Our more familiar Short-horned Grasshopper is the one I remember so well from my farming days some 40 years ago. Combining grain was always an experience as hundreds of these grasshoppers would leap away from the machinery, landing on my face and arms, or lining up like so many soldiers on the framework of the machinery. Those that failed to heed the advancing combine

There is another insect which makes a peculiar and somewhat mysterious sound too, but it is more subtle. It is the katydid, and I found one last week on our sundeck. Musical instruments, similar to those of the cicada, called “organs of stridulation” have evolved on the wing covers of this insect. There is a file on one wing and a scraper on the other and when rasped together, produces the

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In cases of inclement weather,

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were processed with the crop and ended up in the grain bin. This large notorious family includes the non-migratory grasshoppers, most of which live and die in the field where they were born, and the migratory species, commonly known as locusts. The Rocky Mountain Locusts used to be a major plague of the Old West, destroying anything green in their path. To this day, many of our large cooperative insect control programs are aimed at grasshoppers, especially in the west. As our days become cooler, the highpitched buzzing of the cicada will drop to a low ebb, but will return next summer with renewed vigour. You will need to be quick though, as cicadas are on a tight schedule. Terry Sprague lives in Prince Edward County and is a retired interpretive naturalist and hike leader. See his website at www.naturestuff.net. He can be reached at tsprague@xplornet.com.

Katydids have a file on one wing and a scraper on the other. When rasped together, they produce the familiar grinding “katy-did” sound.

• • • • •

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9


The TECDC 2019-20 Concert Series Mark Oliver

T

he Tamworth Erinsville Community Development Committee (TECDC) believes that a unique way to enhance life and commerce in our area is by improving the cultural aspect of living in the community through the promotion of the performing arts.

penned virtually every April Wine song and over 30 of them hit the Billboard charts. Myles has 12 JUNO Nominations including one in 2019, nine gold or platinum albums, and is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. To say we are excited to have Myles (along with former April Wine bandmate Jim Henman and accompanist Bruce Dixon) perform in Tamworth as a trio is an understatement. You won’t want to miss an evening featuring Myles’ favourite songs presented in our intimate setting. 2018 was the break-out year so long deserved by

Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar. In

November 2018, it was announced that her new album “Run to Me” was nominated for four Maple Blues Awards (Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, and Female Vocalist of the Year). The harmonies and the arrangements call up the best of soul and blues sounds. As good as 2018 was, 2019 started off even better. Samantha was nominated for a JUNO Award for the best blues album and that places her in some very good company given the other nominees were Jack de Keyzer (who played Tamworth in 2016), Sue Foley (played Tamworth 2014) Myles Goodwyn (this season), and Colin James (we have to work on this guy). This is a “smokin” seven-piece band and guarantees to be an exceptional experience. Join us November 23.

Myles Goodwyn - October 26

Over the past few years, we have presented over 50 Canadian musical acts and drawn hundreds of people to our community. This is a not-for-profit venture. In our 2018-19 concert series, 85.2 percent of our funds went directly towards artist fees with 14.1 percent being spent locally on things like food, advertising, and venue rental, leaving 0.7 percent being allocated to items such as paper, ink and postage. Based on the overwhelming success of this effort, we are offering another, very exciting series of concerts this coming year and we are pleased to share the line-up for the upcoming performances. In keeping with past practice, we are offering a diverse series with a variety of musical styles featuring some performers at the early stages of a very promising career, others who are well established and are making their presence known in the Canadian music scene, and some who have already left their imprint on Canadian music fans.

On Saturday, October 26, we are thrilled to present Myles Goodwyn. Singer, Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar - November 23 guitarist, writer, producer and leader of the band April Wine, Myles Mandolin maestro Andrew Collins Goodwyn’s passion and drive shaped and co-founded seriously noteworthy directed the group from its earliest Canadian bands like the Creaking Tree beginnings. He is the only remaining String Quartet, the Foggy Hogtown Boys, original member of the group since the and, more recently, his namesake inception of April Wine in 1969. He has Andrew Collins Trio. That’s not to mention the fact that this prolific, robust performer – comfortable on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, mandola, and mandocello – composes, produces, arranges, writes, and teaches across multiple genres, including a popular collision of folk, jazz, bluegrass, Celtic, and classical. Collins has five JUNO nominations and seven Canadian Folk Music Awards. He comes to Tamworth with Andrew Collins Trio - January 11

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The SCOOP • August / September 2019

trio-mates string guru Mike Mezzatesta, whose versatility shines through on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and mandola, and in-the-pocket James McEleney holding it down on the bass, mandocello, and vocals. Musicianship featuring wonderful harmonies and unrivalled skill with numerous instruments will be on display on January 11.

William Prince is a JUNO Awardwinning singer-songwriter whose music is full of emotionally charged experiences that linger in memories. Raised on the Peguis First Nation of Manitoba, in 2015, William created his full-length debut album, Earthly Days. He garnered honours such as “Aboriginal Artist of the Year” at the 2016 Western Canadian Music Awards and “Contemporary Roots Album of the Year” at the 2017 JUNO Awards. In a full-circle moment, he inducted Bruce Cockburn into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and earned praise from not just Cockburn, but fellow inductee Neil Young. This promises to be an amazing experience on February 8. Rosie & the Riveters is a

Saskatchewan-based close harmony singing group with a boogie-woogie aesthetic, a country spirit, a folk soul, and a poet’s heart. This group is one of Saskatchewan’s best-kept secrets. Based on their sellout shows across Canada, performing for British royalty, and numerous accolades, including a 2016 Saskatchewan Arts Award, Rosie and the Riveters, armed with guitars and ukuleles, are bringing their captivating sound and live show to the Tamworth stage on April 4.

Lisa Brokop was only seventeen years

old when her debut single, “Daddy, Sing to Me reached the top ten of the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts in 1990. By the time she was twenty, she was starring in a Nashville based movie entitled Harmony Cats. An album release in 1994 generated a handful of charting hits and within a year she earned a nomination for Top New Female Vocalist at the US Academy of Country Music Awards supported by her gold record. 1998 saw another hit producing album that generated a nomination for SOCAN Song of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Lisa followed up in 2000 with two Canadian Country Music Association awards for Independent Song of the Year for “Something Undeniable” and Independent Female Artist of the Year. That album’s third single, “I’d Like to See You Try”, won Independent Song of the Year in 2002. She also was awarded Independent Female Artist of the Year in both 2002 and 2003. Between 1990 and 2014, Lisa had 21 charting singles in

William Prince - February 8 Canada and nine in the US. Join us on Saturday, May 9 to experience her presentation of many of these hits along with a selection of songs from the Legendary Ladies of Country Music including Tammy Wynette, Emmy Lou Harris, Tanya Tucker, and Loretta Lynn. We are extremely proud to present a concert series featuring this level of talent. We hope you will share our enthusiasm by attending some shows.

Rosie & the Riveters - April 4 . All shows take place in the acoustically amazing Tamworth Legion Hall, officially named Abbott Hall. Since it is all about the music, it is worth mentioning that performers consistently mention the great sound they experience in that facility and more than one has stated that the sound in the Legion hall is superior to that in many of the larger “soft seat” theatres where they often perform. The superior listening environment with clean sight lines ensures a great experience in our intimate community hall. Shows start at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m. Seating is assigned and reserved based on the timing of ticket purchase. Tickets for shows generally appear at several local merchants: the River Bakery & Café, Bon Eco Design, and Stone Mills Family Market a few weeks before each concert. However, tickets to this series of shows are selling quickly and some events already have waiting lists, so to avoid disappointment, it is suggested that you acquire advance tickets promptly and directly from Mark Oliver by telephone 613-379-2808 or by email at moliver@bell.net.

Lisa Brokop - May 9


From Atlantis to Marlbank: Philoxian Mythos Braydon Lajeunesse

M

arlbank, a small eastern Ontario village of barely two hundred folks, now most known for its history as a concrete producer and its annual lumberjack competition, once was the haven of a band of gypsies who lived on the waterfront of Lime Lake: The Philoxians. Nested and invested in the woods that skirt Moneymore Rd, they started a large beeswax candle making factory inside a century-old barn on over 200 acres of mixed woods, several pastures, manmade ponds, moraine valleys, and marl deposits. This was the central hub for the Philoxian operations during their heyday from the 80s to the early 2010s. A large mansion, treehouse, golf course, bakery and organic restaurant, craft workshop, and wellness centre were also incorporated into the landscape. The Philoxian kingdom was the brainchild of one man, Ilah Chikalo, but evolved into a whole community inhabited by men, women, children, exotic animals, tourists, workers, musicians, and artists. What started as a back-to-the-land movement grew into an entire mythology of being. Hearkening back to ancestral traditions and bridging new wave humanitarian ethics, the Philoxians fused together a blend of old cultural values and aesthetics into their own reality, guided by love and creativity. The original Philoxians were artistic creators, dreamers, farmers, talented musicians, crafters, workers, travellers, visionaries, and bridgers of worlds. Their language and speech remind one of Nelson Mandela or Gandhi in tone and ethic; a do-no-harm, Ahimsa/Buddhist approach to living with the earth and its creatures. Many of them catered to the fantastical world of legends, pre-history, storytelling, and the youthful innocence found embodied in children. They wrote books of farfetched, real grit adventures in the South Americas and Arabic worlds, that would please any Castaneda or Coelho reader without disenfranchising the dogmas of the Qu’ran, the Bible, and ancient Egyptian scrolls, all bound up together. Though their ideas were quite universalist, they were still rather refined and carried a philosophy of living close to the natural world as their main tenet. Members of the community grew

productive vegetable, herb, and fruit gardens, looked after the heartbeats of many animals in their sanctuary zoo, and built natural infrastructure from indigenous resources like clay, wood, and bio-cement. They wore natural clothing fibres, and played the music of nature, with old and new instruments, syncing up several ethnic styles into their house band. I only discovered of the existence of “The Philoxians” and their offshoots last year and many important details have since emerged; the truths of what broke them apart and the sobering significant realities of living among others in a community. What they did accomplish, was more than what they didn’t. Rather than follow idle paths of individualism chasing fame, status, profession, riches, or corporate interest, they chose a more modest path of sacred economy, trade, and adopted heritage. They changed their names, and promoted sustainability, spiritual arts, and good old-fashioned bronze age harmony and spiritual doctrine. Their ideas did not rest simply in the realm of potential, but were manifested and actualized in the material world, condensed down from the spiritual to the realm of everyday life on earth. Like that great Siberian shaman, Santa Klaus and his winter elves who were tinkerers and crafters, the Philoxians also had dexterity and skill. They carved, painted, built, and tooled what their mind’s eye set them out to do. During the colder months of this Canadian climate, they spent time in their workshops making children’s toys, painting fantasyesque and storied art pieces, told stories, and phonetically rendered them down into books. They tended the beeswax warehouse, overwintered the many beasts that shared the land with them, and often travelled to the ancient spaces of the earth; pyramid temple cities, Mayan cenotes, Egyptian deserts, and the cool utopian shores of Meso-America. One outstanding feature of the Philoxian kingdom was its animal haven. Many old-timers in Marlbank remember the exotic zoo, with its camels, wallabies, llama, pigs, goats, wolves, bears, rhea birds, reticulated pythons, alpaca, tigers, tropical avifauna, goats, and other furry, clawed, or scaled beings. Some of these animals also made the news, like when the Australian wallaby escaped into the countryside of Marlbank, as well as the Siberian tiger, and the alpaca. Sadly for

Inspired by Iilah’s lifework, Braydon surveys the artistic landscapes of his imagination. Photo by Richard Saxe.

Nana is enjoying the comforts of life on the farm, as did the Philoxian animals at the zoo. Photo by Richard Saxe. the last, it was shot by a group of hunters, thinking it was a white-tailed deer. The story goes that one of the iguanas accidentally started the fire that burned down the old farmhouse by knocking over a heat lamp. Fact or fiction? Whether or not they are all true, the stories live on in remnants, memories, developed photographs, legacy, and artefacts of which Ilahzandroff had many from his travels abroad. Egyptian metals, Mayan carvings, statues, crystals, and rare treasures, were all kept in their museum. These personal collections formed a Ripley’s believe-it-or-not assembly of objects, while the Philoxian stories are so steeped in mythos, that one has to engage a lofty imagination to comprehend such experiences. As I read through many of Ilah’s stories in his book “Alpha, Mu, Omega,” I could directly relate to the peasant lifestyles he merged with surrounding Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, the Arabic secrecy and hospitality he experienced in Africa, and the mysterious Mayan landmarks and sanguine, often paradisiacal feelings of the tropical havens. I could easily empathize with his struggles and breakthroughs, the tragedies of sickness in a foreign country, the exposure to novel culture, the bliss of untamed spaces, and the nomadic, voyager’s instinct that still rests deep within every human to explore, go further, and learn something new every day. Many of the sacred sites that Ilah, Tawlia, and their crew visited on their travels, I have also visited. Even as a younger man I chose to see some of the world, usually alone, probing to the heart of the matter to discover what was to be seen, felt, and experienced. Perhaps this is why I am so drawn and moved by the Philoxian myth, because the way we each live our lives may also one day be interpreted, studied, influence others, provoke feeling, and be retold. It is up to people like the Philoxians with whom I can identify, to create the world we want to inhabit, in direct experience with karma, family, and the present moment. At the tail end of this winter, I became friends with Ilah’s ex-wife Tawlia, and learned of his passing, and the recent sale of his house. With no place to go and in honour of many years of friendship, the Golden Bough Tree Farm offered Tawlia space to home the many Philoxian relics. Because of my recent friendship with

Tawlia and my interest in the many stories she shared of the Philoxian narrative, I suddenly became the curator of the Philoxian gallery and museum now installed in the loft of an old carriage house at the tree farm where I also presently reside. The museum houses the original Philoxian rocking unicorn (a feature of many trade shows), and several examples of Philoxian signs, old art pieces, affixed plaques from archived newspapers, beeswax candles and holders, a light theatre box and one of Ilah’s last works, a 100 foot scroll telling his final visions for the continuation of the Philoxian greater work. I am now working to promote interest in these relics by re-telling some of the stories, and organizing gallery and museum walks, which I feel would be highly attractive to like-minded souls. Interested parties get in touch! Here is an old three-minute video of Ilah talking about Philoxia for a feature called The Land Between: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=0rvRCBMjxh8 Braydon Lajeunesse is a writer by passion but a farmer by vocation and has contributed to several online journals including; Wotan Klan, CvltNation, and the Myadzo travel blog. He has selfpublished five books on subjects ranging from spirituality, plants, health, and philosophy, and has kept a blog for eight years telling stories from his travels, with hundreds of articles about Viking lifestyle, Re:wilding, Indigenous traditions and permaculture. He currently lives in Marlbank, and can be contacted by email at seektherunes24@gmx.com.

Do you love to write? We’re looking for contributors. Interested? Email us at: stonemills.scoop@gmail.com

August / September 2019 • The SCOOP

11


Summer Reads Catherine Coles

N

ow that the dog days of summer are upon us, why not take up a summer read or two? This can be anything compelling, feel-good, and even a little bit beachy – the kind of light reading you would take on vacation. I recently polled the staff of the County Libraries to find out their all-time favourite summer reads and here’s what they had to say. “The Forever Summer” by Jamie Brenner Selected by Karen Scott, Bath Branch In this engaging, high-drama novel, a

Special Library Events End of Summer Reading Party August 19 6 p.m. YARKER BRANCH 435 County Road 1, Yarker We’re wrapping up TD Summer Reading Club 2019 with a big bash! Join us as

single careless mistake costs straitlaced Marin her prestigious job. She decides to leave Manhattan and join a stranger claiming to be her half-sister in Cape Cod. There, she meets family members she never knew she had and has a fateful summer of revelations and selfdiscovery. “Summer of ’69” by Elin Hilderbrand Selected by Patricia Richard, Napanee Branch Hilderbrand has long been a beach read favourite, but Summer of ’69 is her first foray into historical fiction. It follows the Levin children, who have always summered at their grandmother’s house on Nantucket. In 1969, however, Tiger has been deployed to Vietnam, pregnant Blair remains in Boston, and 13-year-old Jessie is stuck alone with Grandma, as civil rights-crusading Kirby travels to Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a beach read packed with nostalgia. “Saving CeeCee Honeycutt” by Beth Hoffman Selected by Marg Wood, Napanee Branch This warm and moving novel of Southern fiction follows the journey of 12-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt. After her unstable mother dies, CeeCee’s previously unknown great-aunt from Savannah, Tootie Caldwell, comes to the rescue. She whirls CeeCee into her world of strong, good old-fashioned women. Booklist has described this novel as “light as air but thoroughly pleasant reading.” “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk

we celebrate the young readers who accomplished

Kidd Selected by Jennifer Robinson, Amherstview Branch Described as “honey-sweet but never cloying,” this 1960s-set Southern Fiction novel follows fourteen-year-old Lily Owens, who is haunted by the accidental death of her mother. After her motherly servant Rosaleen is involved in a racial brawl, Lily decides to run away with her, finding shelter in a distant town with three charming bee-keeping sisters. “The Perfect Couple” by Elin Hilderbrand Selected by Erin Markuschewsky, Napanee Branch In this intricately-plotted yet beachy drama, the summer wedding of the year on Nantucket Island is shattered when the maid of honour’s body washes up on the beach right before the ceremony. Hilderbrand throws enough curveballs to keep readers guessing whodunit, but still maintains the breezy pace her novels are known for. “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows Selected by Andree Duval, Amherstview Branch In 1946, writer Juliet Ashton finds inspiration for her next book in her correspondence with a native of Guernsey, who tells her about the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a book club born as an alibi during the German occupation. This novel has been described as a “literary soufflé” and has been a book club favourite for over a decade.

6777 County Road 41, Stone Mills

their TD Summer Reading Club goals. Hitched Games will be on hand to offer a variety of fun activities for particpants.

Pick Your Plot! August 20 1 p.m. TAMWORTH BRANCH 1 Ottawa St., Tamworth Join us for this outdoor, interactive story game where you are the main

“Letters from Skye” by Jessica Brockmole Selected by Chantell McMahon, Napanee Branch This sweeping love story told in letters spans two world wars and follows the correspondence

between a water-phobic poet on the Scottish Isle of Skye and an American volunteer ambulance driver for the French Army, an affair that is discovered years later when the poet disappears. It’s perfect for readers looking for a Nicholas Sparks-style novel with a much happier ending. “Wildflower Hill” by Kimberley Freeman Selected by Amy Kay, Amherstview Branch Forced to take her life in a new direction when an injury ends her ballet career, Emma returns to her home in Australia. There she learns that she has inherited an isolated sheep station from a late grandmother, helping her learn key lessons about love and motherhood. This is another charming, sunny read about bouncing back from life’s challenges. All of these titles can be reserved from your branch of the County of Lennox & Addington Libraries or from placing a hold in our online catalogue. For more Staff Picks, visit www.CountyLibrary or follow us on social media @landalibrary.

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The SCOOP • August / September 2019


GrassRoots Growers: Awards and Milestones Susan Rehner

T

his is the third year that Grassroots Growers has given awards to promising students enrolled in the Sustainable Agriculture program at Fleming College. And we’re pleased to announce that this year’s awards were given to Courtney Gates and Carmen Weatherall. Both students are doing summer placements as part of their program at Fleming, and they have permitted us to share details of their experience and goals with you.

orchard, which covers 2.5 acres, will eventually contain a mix of 400 apple trees of different ages and varieties. Staff in the orchard will run educational programs focusing on orchard practices and urban agriculture. Once back at Fleming in September for her final semester, Courtney will work part-time at the College helping implement projects and assisting with the United Way community garden.

sustainably. He is also interested in educational opportunities in his field and has plans to set up a sustainable agriculture program at an elementary school. Another goal is to run a successful business related to some aspect of sustainable agriculture.

Courtney is excited by innovative, state-of-the-art farming that minimizes negative impacts on the environment. In particular, she is interested in vertical Courtney’s summer placement is at farming, an indoor solution to growing Downsview Park (Toronto) in the urban nutritious food year-round in urban areas orchard sector. Downsview Park is a large We wish both and in regions where food cannot be urban park (572 acres) on the site of the award winners, grown easily, such as the far north. former Canadian Forces Base. Previously, Courtney and Vertical farming uses far less land and 70 it was the home of de Havilland Canada, Carmen, success to 80 percent less water, and it doesn’t an important aircraft manufacturer. The in their future require the ventures. It is application of gratifying to see pesticides, young people who herbicides and are concerned fertilizers. the health group located in Stone Mills Township. Our mission is to Eventually, she is about a community-based Courtney Gates is excited by innovative, state-of-the-art of the would like to encourage interest in local and organic gardening; our practical knowledge farming improve that minimizes negative impacts on the environment and help design environment. of all aspects of plant life; support related educational initiatives both locally and are taking positive and extend this action by provincially, and provide networking opportunities for gardeners. method to pursuing careers function in CoMInG uP... For more information visit our website at www.te-grassrootsgrowers.weebly.com in sustainable agriculture. homes so that or email us at tegrassrootsgrowers@gmail.com people can Plans are underway for a fall event on become more Ten PlanT SaleS – October 1 at which Blair Richards-Koeslag self-sufficient a MIleSTone will share her knowledge of wild edibles. and not rely on Blair is a long-time forager of wild food shipped GrassRoots Growers recently reached a edibles, a PINA-certified (Permaculture from far away. milestone. We held our tenth annual Institute of North America) permaculture plant sale on May 25, and it was a teacher, a chartered herbalist, and an Carmen resounding success. Many customers tell organic grower of trees and vegetables. Weatherall has us they wouldn’t miss our sale and have So, come with questions and leave with been immersed been coming to it year after year. Not information that Blair has gathered from in farming surprising, since we have a wonderful her long experience and study. a community-based group located in Stone since...is he was a variety and number of plants — heirloom child,Mills takingTownship. Our mission is to encourage tomatoes, annuals, perennials, herbs, Details of the fall event, when finalized, part in 4-H, vegetables, shade plants, sun improve plants, interest in local and organic gardening; will be sent to those on our e-list, posted showing beef pollinator plants, trees, and shrubs. All on our website. and on Facebook. Please our practical knowledge all aspects of plant life; support related and dairy of cattle are carefully sorted and modestly priced. mark October 1 on your calendar. It as a teenager, educational initiatives both locally and provincially, and provide Holding such a large sale requires a lot of should be a very informative and and taking a networking opportunities for gardeners. work and we couldn’t manage without interesting evening. Our events are free High Skills the additional help of volunteers and the and we invite everyone to join us. But Major program For informationgenerous visit our support websiteof atthose who since we are a volunteer organization in more landscaping contribute plants. The sale’s success with no outside financial support, The Sustainable Agriculture program at Fleming College has www.te-grassrootsgrowers.weebly.com and ultimately depends on those who come donations are welcome to cover some of encouraged Carmen Weatherall to think outside the box and or email horticulture. us at tegrassrootsgrowers@gmail.com and buy. Thanks to all who helped, and our expenses. to appreciate the importance of investing in new technology. He values all who came to buy plants. May your Fleming gardens flourish despite the challenges of College’s mix intense heat and drought. of in-class learning about agriculture and The money raised from the plant sale, business and the our only fund-raising event, provides the hands-on fieldwork Fleming College awards mentioned with experienced farm above, allows us to book expert speakers industry employers. The for our fall and spring events, and Sustainable Agriculture enables us to contribute to community program has projects such as local agricultural fairs. encouraged him to Next year, GrassRoots Growers, in think outside the box partnership with David Field’s family, and to appreciate the will fund an award to be given to a importance of investing graduating student at Guelph University in new technology. who has completed the Certificate for

GrassRoots Growers

GrassRoots Growers

After graduation, Carmen would like to travel to learn more about the practices and techniques of farming

Organic Agriculture within the Bachelor of Science degree program. This award will be given in memory of one of our founding members, Mary Jo Field.

GrassRoots Growers

is a community-based group located in Stone Mills Township. Our mission is to encourage interest in local and organic gardening; improve our practical knowledge of all aspects of plant life; support related educational initiatives both locally and provincially, and provide networking opportunities for gardeners.

For more information visit our website at www.te-grassrootsgrowers.weebly.com or email us at tegrassrootsgrowers@gmail.com

August / September 2019 • The SCOOP

13


Tossers Diane Creber

“Y

er a bloody tosser.” “Who do ya think yer calling a tosser, Mate?” A group of us were sitting around watching a British comedy on TV that involved several young men in a pub, well into their drinks, calling each other tossers. “What’s a tosser?” I asked my friends. The word was used repeatedly and I liked the sound of it. All kinds of images came up. “I think it must be a deadbeat or a loser,” my friend Karen said. “Nah. A tosser is someone you want to eliminate,” said Tim. The word stayed in my subconscious as I thought how aptly it applied to a situation I was noticing—people tossing garbage out their car windows. I now had a use for the word tosser. My husband and I go for early morning walks. When we moved to our new home in South Frontenac, just over two years ago, we continued with the practice. When we set out, we have two choices; left or right. Usually, it was the same route: left or south. The road we live beside is very picturesque surrounded by tall pines, rock outcroppings, wetlands with many hills. It twists and turns through this rugged landscape passing several small lakes. It is used by hikers and campers on their way to Frontenac Park, and also cottagers and permanent residents who live off the laneways along the route. When we started walking this road, we couldn’t get over the amount of garbage alongside so we decided to pick it up. We each carried a garbage bag but were soon dismayed to realize that after a short distance, both bags were full. Then we carried two bags each and they too quickly filled before we got to our turnaround point at four kilometres. It took us over a week to pick up all the garbage within those four kilometres. By then, though, new, recently tossed garbage had also being added to the landscape. During that first week of collecting, we

filled sixteen grocery bags with garbage. We couldn’t get over how thoughtless people could be. Actually, it was worse than thoughtless. It was disgusting. The garbage tossing continued and we picked it up. Although there was now much less since we started our mission, we could still count on a beer can or a Tim Horton’s coffee cup. One day, we met a man on a bicycle who was also picking up garbage with two bags strung over his handlebars, and he too mentioned how astonished he was at how thoughtless people could be. After several months, we began to notice a pattern. The road going south to the city would usually be strewn with coffee cups, although one person would toss out the remains of his or her breakfast still on a paper plate. Leftover eggs, ketchup and toast clung to the cardboard. This tosser we called the “I Don’t Eat Breakfast Tosser”. In the opposite direction coming from the city, would be those who were returning from work. Here we would find beer cans, liquor bottles, and the toss-offs from Tim Horton’s and MacDonald’s. This direction was also the route of “Pepsi Boy”—that was the name we dubbed the Pepsi can tosser whom we encountered Monday to Friday; his cans usually landed close to the same spot. We wished this tosser a good dose of tooth decay and acne. The beer cans and liquor bottle tossers we hoped we would never meet on the road. These got called the “DUI Tossers”. The cottagers and campers were most active at the end of a summer weekend and gave us the most refuge to pick up. On Monday mornings, we would find disgusting garbage and compost bags. Perhaps they were planning to take it home with them but didn’t like its smell in the car, so they tossed it. We learned that on Mondays, we had to bring extra bags as some of this stuff had to be double bagged before we could carry it. On recycling day, we would come across the contents of recycling bins that had blown out.

disgusting to mention. The worst we ever came across, though, was a large plastic bag of fish guts tossed at the edge of the road beside a swamp. Racoons had broken it open and had the contents spread across the road. Despite our reluctance to touch the nasty stuff, we held our noses and cleaned it up anticipating racoon roadkill if we didn’t. Most often though, it was the usual stuff: Tim Horton’s donut bags and coffee cups, plastic water bottles, beer cans and bottles, liquor bottles, cigarette packages and chocolate bar wrappers. We have also found some unusual items: a black lace thong, a sword, a bicycle seat, a canoe paddle, an oil lantern, a letter from the tooth fairy telling the little boy he needed to floss, a life jacket and a toilet (we didn’t pick that up).

Some items were too heavy: A sofa chair that sat at the side of the road for several months. We have also seen car parts, old tires, construction waste such as drywall, tubs of concrete, shingles, and boxes of nails. It’s a sad state that such a beautiful landscape has to be so desecrated by thoughtless people. Tossing garbage out of car windows is like a plague and is happening not just on my road but all across the country. I see it everywhere I drive. Please, keep your garbage in your car until you can put it where it belongs; either a garbage can or recycle bin. And when you put your recycling out, put the light stuff on the bottom or put a rock on top so it doesn’t blow out. And to you tossers out there, STOP!

TAMWORTH & DISTRICT LIONS PRESENT

STONE MILLS FAMILY FESTIVAL Celebrating community and family!

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019 10:00 AM TO 11:00 PM 2019 LOCATION: TAMWORTH Fire fit games (all ages) Food

Bouncy castles

Face painting Talent showcase*

Drop in family Bingo! Silent auction Euchre tournament* Local vendors Kids' crafts and more ... plus Evening dance featuring South of 7 * Registration required by Sept 4 Contact: TamworthLionsClub@hotmail.com Phone / text: 519-572-5963

Some of the stuff tossed was pretty stinky and we would decide to leave it: kitty litter, diapers, and some stuff too

2019 September Exhibition Come to Kingston & meet the artist, James Keirstead

Saturday, Sept. 21 & Sunday, Sept. 22 Saturday, Sept. 28 & Sunday, Sept. 29 A show you shouldn’t miss. New prints & oils.

The popular 2020 Keirstead calendar is here!

Hours: 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. 4 Aragon Rd. Kingston 14

The SCOOP • August / September 2019

613.549.4044 www.keirstead.net


THC in Cannabis Has More Than Tripled over 30 Years KFL&A Public Health

A

ccording to researchers in the United States, THC (delta-9Tetrahyrdrocannabinol, a chemical found in cannabis that causes impairment) has more than tripled in concentration in the last 30 years – from 3 percent in 1980 to 12 percent in 2012. KFL&A Public Health warns that high THC levels can have negative consequences on the health and safety of consumers. While there are risks to using products with high THC levels for youth (e.g. because of their developing brain there are also risks for older adults because of the changes taking place in their body. Dr. Kieran Moore, KFL&A Public Health’s Medical Officer of Health, highlights that as people get older, their bodies may develop a lower tolerance to substances, such as drugs and alcohol. This means that older adults might experience the effects of substances more quickly and severely than when they were younger. Dr. Moore added, “It is important that new consumers and those who haven’t used cannabis in a while are aware of the way cannabis has changed and how their changing body can be affected by it.” High THC levels can lead to health risks, such as cognitive impairment, depression, substance withdrawal, falls,

Elsa Knight’s Summer Quilt Show & Sale Sunday, August 11 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Tamworth Library Admission $5 Vendors • Door Prizes Raffle for Quilt! Spomsored by the Catholic Women’s League of The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Erinsville

Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Tamworth & District Lions’ Club

or other accidents. Moore suggests that if people are curious about cannabis or are thinking about using it to treat a medical condition, they should speak with their health care provider. The largest increase in cannabis use is expected among older adults. According to Statistics Canada, between 2015 and 2017 there was a five percent increase in reported lifetime use among Canadians aged 65 years and older. This was the largest increase of use seen across all age groups. At the end of 2018, 15.6 percent of Canadians aged 55 and older reported using cannabis in the past three months. To help increase awareness of the potential risks associated with older adults using cannabis for the first time or the first time in a long time, a campaign is being launched that lets older adults know how to reduce their risks if they use cannabis. To reduce the risk associated with cannabis edibles, extracts, and topicals:

• buy from a licensed supplier, • check the label and choose products low in THC (delta-9Tetrahyrdrocannabinol) and high in

CBD (cannabidiol), and

• start with a small amount and use it slowly.

The campaign was developed by KFL&A Public Health, in partnership with the City of Kingston, Kingston Police, County of Frontenac,

WAYLEN CAR WASH

Frontenac Paramedics, and Loyalist Township. To learn more about cannabis, including potential health risks and how to reduce harms associated with cannabis use, visit kflaph.ca/Cannabis.

Tamworth Variety & Gas Bar Regular & Premium Gas Diesel • Propane Exchange Groceries • Snacks & Drinks

Open everyday 6:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

New hours starting Nov. 1: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. We’re on Facebook

6682 Wheeler Street, Tamworth

613-379-2526

WASH IT ALL HERE! Boats, Trailers, ATVs, SXS, Screens, Area Rugs and more… Dave & Barb Way

CTY RD. 4, TAMWORTH Solution to the crossword puzzle on page 16:

Rain or Shine Fresh Local

Come and get your local garlic products Garlic - Vendors Over 60 vendors with a Wide Variety of 20 minutes north of the 401 Kingston Products Fantastic Food • Admission by donation Free parking

DEPT. OF HEALTH REGULATION

Fun for the PLEASE LEAVE FIDO AT HOME Whole Family

SATURDAY AUGUST 31 2019

VERONA LIONS CENTRE 4504 Verona Sand Road Eastern Ontario www.veronalions.ca Garlic Awards Saturday, august 31 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Info call 613-372-5431

Rain or Shine Come and get your local garlic products Over 60 Vendors

VERONA LIONS CENTRE

4504 Verona Sand Road Verona, ON www.veronalions.ca

August / September 2019 • The SCOOP

15


Puzzle Page Crossword: “Billions and Billions” by Matt Gaffney

Sudoku

16

The SCOOP • August / September 2019


Kingston Field Naturalists: A History Jacqueline Bartnik

I

n 1948, Dr. George M. Stirrett arrived in Kingston, as Dominion Wildlife Biologist for Ontario. On March 31 of the following year, 22 people interested in natural history met in the Agricultural Board Room of the Ontario government building on Barrie Street, at Stirrett’s invitation, to discuss forming a local nature club. They met again in the fall; in the meantime, they organized two field trips: one on April 23 to Collin’s Bay, and a second trip on June 1, to Collin’s Lake. On November 24, 1949, a group of nine people established the Kingston Nature Club, which eventually became the Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN). With Stirrett as its first president, the Club’s aim was to acquire, record, and disseminate knowledge of natural history, and to stimulate public interest in nature and the protection and preservation of wildlife. Early in its existence, it joined the Federation of Ontario Naturalists (FON), which is now called Ontario Nature (ON), to speak as one voice to preserve nature. The Kingston Field Naturalists first annual meeting was held April 26, 1950. Three founding members were vital to the organization in its early years: Stirrett, Helen Quilliam, and Robert (Bob) B. Steward. Under Stirrett’s guidance, membership grew to 50 people in five years. He educated the public through the weekly column “Local Notes on Natural History” in the Kingston-Whig Standard for 11 years, which Helen Quilliam continued for a further ten years. The subject was often birds, and in 1965 Quilliam combined the articles with club members’ records to produce her book “History of the Birds of Kingston.”

It included research of the history of ornithology in the Kingston area dating back to the 1850s. There were even references to birds seen in the Kingston area by members of Champlain’s entourage in 1615. The many hours that Robert B. Steward gave to this young club, along with his knowledge, were critical to the growth of the organization. He served as president for two terms (1954-1955 and 1969-1971) and volunteered with the Federation of Ontario Naturalists (FON/ON). In the early days of the club, Roland Beschel willingly shared his botany knowledge, and today members’ interests cover birds, butterflies, dragonflies/ damselflies, bats, reptiles, amphibians, insects, plants, lichens, and fungi. Birding has always been the club’s major interest, so the organization started looking at preserving habitat. In 1963, the club became incorporated when it acquired its initial 200 acres (80 hectares) north of Sydenham to preserve the Canadian Shield habitat for birding and plants. The original purchase has grown to approximately 126.6 hectares and was renamed the Helen Quilliam Sanctuary. In 1986, the KFN purchased 100 hectares of land on Amherst Island to preserve another type of habitat along the Eastern Lake Ontario shoreline. With the help of Ducks Unlimited, we protected the wetland for birds such as Wilson’s phalaropes, purple martins, and have an osprey platform. The site is named the Martin Edwards Nature Reserve. Edwards was KFN president in 19561958, served as president of the FON, and helped to form the Canadian Nature Federation and served as its president. Edwards proposed that pesticides were

KFN members enjoying a nice summer day and lunch break on a “ramble” this summer.

OPEN Daily Specials 7 DAYS Prime Rib Saturdays

affecting gulls on Pigeon Island causing eggs to have thin shells and the loss of the next generation. The club now owns two properties on the northeast end of Amherst Island: in May 2018, the Kingston Field Naturalists acquired the neighbouring property, Sylvester-Galbigher Nature Reserve. As the club grew through the years, so did our projects and reputation. KFN has participated in many scientific studies and our club has acquired a reputation as a place of knowledge. For example, we have participated in the Breeding Bird Survey, performed Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring, and has carried out Christmas Bird Counts since its formation. Dr. Ron Weir (KFN president 1973-1975) was the regional coordinator for the Ontario Birding Bird Atlas. In 1971-72, Dr. Weir organized a daily survey during spring and fall migration at Prince Edward Point. Over 75,000 birds were banded, and the Point was shown to be a major migratory stop-over. The KFN data was shared with the Canadian Wildlife Service, resulting in the point’s designation as an Important Bird Area (IBA), and the declaration of the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area. In 1989, Weir published his book “Birds of Kingston Region” on the club’s 40th anniversary, and described 343 species. The KFN maintains a checklist of birds within a 50 km radius of Kingston. The number of bird species has grown through the years and now we are up to 360 birds and climbing. Members start birding early in the year, opening our birding adventures to the public on Family Day (Ontario Holiday - Feb) with an outing to Wolfe Island in search of owls and arctic birds. Throughout the winter months, we are off in search of our little visitors from the north and residents who bravely stay in Canada during the winter months. In May, we do a Spring Round Up and we lead bird walks for the public at Lemoine Point, where we see and hear returning spring and summer birds. Birding continues all summer, and then in the fall we say goodbye to our summer birds and look for returning owls and other arctic species. We end the year with our Christmas Bird Count which now takes place in ten different circles in the Kingston region. Outings are still one of our most popular activities. As the club has grown, our knowledge has diversified, and we have added other items of interest such as butterflies, dragonflies/damselflies, bats reptiles, and fungi. Every second and fourth Tuesday, we take part in a “ramble.” These are slow walks for several hours to observe nature. Once a month we are off on field trips where we

learn from local experts. Once a year, we arrange a weekend trip outside of Kingston to study nature. Every June, KFN has a BioBlitz at a different site each year, within the Kingston area, where we try to identify as many species as we can within 24 hours. The KFN has done 21 of these very enjoyable BioBlitzes to date. For the last 40 years, the KFN has offered programs for youth, now comprising two groups: the Kingston Junior and the Kingston Teen Naturalists. Anne Robertson and Diane Lawrence have been provincially recognized for inspiring young people through nature, helped by students plus KFN volunteers. This year the KFN celebrates an amazing achievement, its 70th anniversary. All are welcome if you are interested in joining this club. Please check our website for additional information. Happy birthday, Kingston Field Naturalists! Email: info@kingstonfieldnaturalists.org Website: kingstonfieldnaturalists.org Facebook: facebook.com/ kingstonfieldnaturalists

Tamworth & District Lions Club

Annual Fish Fry & Corn Roast Sunday August 18 Tamworth Arena 4- 7 p.m. Doors open at 3 p.m. Music by the Land O’Lakes Cruisers Great fish. Great corn. Great music. At this event we will be collecting prescription glasses, sunglasses, and hearing aids. These items will be refurbished and distributed where there is the greatest need.

August / September 2019 • The SCOOP

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Watch Me Grow! Dianne Dowling

T

o profile the enthusiasm and skill of local producers, the Kingston District Agricultural Society is launching a new competition for this fall’s edition of the Kingston Fair. Farmers and gardeners of all ages: you are invited to enter “Watch Me Grow!” by submitting a photograph and a description of something you are proud of growing or doing on your farm or in your garden.

• Are your beans or tomatoes spectacular this year?

• Are you building a splendid herd of

cattle or a fabulous flock of chickens?

• Did you dedicate part (or all!) of your

garden to pollinator-friendly flowers? • Or did you do something else to support pollinators? • Did you invent or create a piece of equipment that makes your farming or gardening work easier? • Are you adopting practices on your farm or in your garden that lower your carbon footprint? • Are you a new (or relatively new) farmer or gardener, and you are proud of your progress? • Are you a veteran with something to share with the community about how you have managed to keep at gardening or farming?

Or did you do something else worth sharing with the community? Surprise us! Whatever makes you proud of your farming or gardening, let the community know about it. The photograph can be in black and white, or colour, but must be 4x6 in size, on photographic paper and taken by the entrant. The description needs to be between 100 to 200 words. Judges will look at factors such as creativity, technical quality, and enthusiasm in both the photograph and the writing.

Healthy Soils & Learning Opportunities Dianne Dowling

P

eople are making the connection between developing healthy soils and mitigating climate change, and there are several events in this area in August where you can learn more about those connections.

Entries will be received in two categories: junior (entrants under 18 years of age); and adults (18 and over). Cash prizes of $35, $25, and $15 will be awarded in each category.

1. Thursday, August 8, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Patchwork Gardens, Battersea, Field Day on Building and Maintaining Soil Carbon -- for vegetable, livestock, and field crop farmers. Organized by the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario. For more information and to register, go to efao. ca/upcoming-events

Drop off your entry at the Fair Board office in the Memorial Centre, 303 York Street, Kingston, September 3, 4, or 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Entrants are required to pay entry fees ($7 for adults, $1 for youths aged 18 and under). There is no charge for 4-H members, but you must show your 2019 membership card when you submit your entry.

2. Monday, August 12, 6 to 9 p.m., at the Central Branch of Kingston Frontenac Public Library, 130 Johnson Street, Kingston -- for the general public. Organized by the Rideau 1000 Islands Master Gardeners and Regeneration Canada. For more details and to register, go to rideau1000islandsmastergardeners. com/upcoming-events

Go to kingstonfair.com/watch-me-grow for full details. To qualify, entrants must adhere to the guidelines listed on the website. Qualified entries will be displayed at the Kingston Fall Fair, September 12 to 15.

3. Tuesday, August 13, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on Wolfe Island, Applying Regenerative Agriculture for Soil Health -- for farmers. Organized by the Rideau 1000 Islands Master Gardeners and Regeneration Canada. For more details and to register, go to www.eventbrite. com/o/regenerationcanada-24272873008 4. Wednesday, August 21, 7 p.m., at Fat Chance Farmstead, 3711 County Road 38, just north of Murvale. First meeting of

the National Farmers Union Local 316 subcommittee on climate action and soil carbon. What can we do as a community, not only on our farms, but through collective action across the region, to mitigate climate change and increase soil carbon? All are welcome. For more information, contact Tim Dowling at t.d.dowling@gmail.com

Senior’s Fitness Program Stone Mills Rec. Centre Mondays & Wednesdays 9-10 a.m. No floor or mat work. Can be performed seated or standing, with or without mobility aids! Stay active, have fun in a safe & effective program designed for the older adult. Provided by the VON and funded by the Ministry of Health and LTC. For info call 613-634-0130 ext. 3414

Friday, August 9 & Friday, August 23 at 4:30 p.m. Stone Mills Rec. Centre (Tamworth rink) FREE summer drop-ins for kids (& adults too!)

THE STONE MILLS FAMILY FESTIVAL

have begun working on

will be on

knitted items for the

Saturday, September 7

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smooth surface of the Tamworth indoor rink,

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FREE BLACK CAT CAFÉ PIZZA & ICED TEA!

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The Knitting Elves

The SCOOP • August / September 2019

Roll on over with your scooter, skateboard, in-line skates, or hoverboard and enjoy one hour on the

Scooter boards and skateboards available. Helmets are mandatory (must bring your own).


Canada Day Soap Box Derby Bert Korporaal

I

t was another great day in Tamworth during this year’s Canada Day festivities. The annual Soap Box Derby was a huge success again! There were twenty-one entries in the three age categories. We also had a special guest who ran the hill twice, MP Mike Bossio.

Everyone had a whale of a time. The two younger age categories (6 to 10 years and 11 to 15 years) were run as a round-robin elimination. All the younger participants raced multiple times to determine the winners. For the older category of 16+ years, the racers were timed with two runs each, as time was limited before the parade. Many, many thanks go out to the Stone Mills Township Public Works Department for their support, the Tamworth Canada Day Committee, Tamworth Variety and Gas, Stone Mills Fire and Rescue, Signs Plus for their donation of signs, the Tamworth and District Lions Club for their support and volunteers, and especially all the volunteers who helped in many ways. Last but not least, thank you to all the residents along Bridge Street West, for their patience and support in running this annual event. We also like to thank those who provided free bottles of cold water on a hot day! It takes an involved and caring community to put on all the events for the Canada Day celebrations, which relies on public help, donations and volunteerism. A soap box derby is no different, with the planning, organizing and preparation, driver and cart registration, cart inspections, starters, setup and takedown of the

The best painted and decorated cart award went to Morgan Wingate for her unicorn cart.

Robert Storring

Broker

OFFICES 44 Industrial Blvd. Napanee

CONTACT Direct: Office: Toll Free:

14 Concession St. Tamworth

TAKE OUT OR EAT IN FOOD ESTABLISHMENT

Excellent opportunity to get into business for yourself. Restaurant and pizza take out in Tamworth has been successfully run for years until the owner’s illness. All set up, all equipment included. Small eat in area with washrooms, kitchen/cooking area, prep area, and storage. Plus a very comfortable 3-bedroom residence attached. Good size room, updated flooring, propane fireplace, nice back yard, and double garage.

$219,500

MLS K18003893

SHEFFIELD LAKE

Waterfront wilderness property is in natural state, hills and gullies, open meadows and ponds, variety of mixed hardwood and softwood trees, even your own sand pit for road building. The shoreline is untouched and runs the gamut from gentle slope to rock face, densely treed and partial open. Good building sites with elevations for lake views but also more level for easy access. Unspoiled parcels like this do not come on the market very often, call now before it’s gone.

$359,900

Race results this year were: Age 6 to 10 years: 1st place: Ashton Lavoie, 2nd place: Olivia Kroeker, 3rd place: Morgan Wingate. Age 11 to 15 years: 1st place: Chance Campbell, 2nd place: Jacob

Soudant, 3rd place: Jacob Wood. Age 16+ years: 1st place: Michael Soudant, 2nd place: Dave Soudant. And the best painted and decorated cart award went to Morgan Wingate for her unicorn cart. Thank you to all who took part! Most noteworthy, we thank the derby participants and all the friends, families, and spectators who came out to cheer on the racers. They all added to the excitement and enthusiasm of this event, despite the summer heat and humidity. We trust that you will get together and start planning to build yourselves a cart over the winter and spring for July 1st next year! Keep your eye on the www.Tamworth.ca website for updates, events and for information on next year’s Soap Box Derby. See you all next year!

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Privacy, wilderness, clean shoreline, access to 3 other lakes, good fishing, swimming, boating, exploring can all be yours with the waterfront lots on beautiful Horseshoe Lake. Over 300FT of unspoiled shoreline, ranges from rock face to slope, nicely treed with numerous locations to build your cottage or bunkie. Water access with dedicated boat launch.

MLS K19004993

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Jonathan.McDonald@migroup.ca

WATERFRONT HOME

Boat into five lakes from this wonderful home between Horseshoe & Crotch lakes. Fish & swim from the dock or travel farther into other lakes. Large bright kitchen with doors to deck, huge living/dining room with knotty pine walls & deck access, 3 bedrooms & bath on main level. Walkout from the family room to the sloping lawn to the river, a good size extra bedroom, bath and laundry room. Huge deck on upper level and deck on lower level, garage under one end of home for boat or workshop.

$329,900

hill racecourse. There’s also the setup of tables, canopies, traffic cones, centre line, finish line, traffic cones, hay bales and tires, the flag person and timers, the three volunteers who helped get the carts back to the top of the hill; and the cleanup crew, etc. The soap box derby this year had twice as many entrants compared to last year. It is becoming more well-known far and wide. Most racers were from the Tamworth area, but we had entries from Belleville, Newburgh, Tweed, Marlbank, Wellington, and Yarker. We just hope that it will continue to grow in numbers and enthusiasm!

MLS K19004271

HORSESHOE LAKE LOTS

All 3 for $139,900

613-379-2903 613-354-4347 1 866-233-2062 storring@kos.net robert.storring@century21.ca

And they’re off!

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August / September 2019 • The SCOOP

19


2019-20 TECDC Concert Series presents Myles Goodwyn

Sat. Oct. 26 $50

William Prince

Sat. Feb. 8 $45

• Singer, guitarist, writer & leader of April Wine

• 2017 JUNO Award winner Roots Album of the Year

• 12 JUNO nominations, 9 Gold/Platinum albums

• 2016 Aboriginal Artist of the Year – Western Canada Music

• 30+ hits like “Just Between You and Me”, “Roller”

• Emotionally charged songwriting with silky vocals work

Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar

Rosie & the Riveters

Sat. Nov. 23 $40

Sat. April 4 $40

• 7 Maple Blues Nominations, 4 in 2018 including Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year • JUNO Nominee for 2019 Best Blues Album

• 2016 Saskatchewan Arts Award • Selected to perform for British Royal visit • Beautiful harmonies with a do-wop feel • Canadian Folk Music nominee Best Vocal Group

Andrew Collins Trio

Lisa Brokop

Sat. Jan. 11 $40

Sat. May 9 $45

• 5 JUNO nominations, 7 Canadian Folk Music Awards

presents Legendary Ladies of Country Music

• Unrivalled virtuosity on mandolin, fiddle, guitar and mandocello

• Top Female Singer Award at US Country Music

along with amazing harmonies

• 3 Song of The Year Awards from Canadian Country Music

• All shows at the Tamworth Legion • 8 p.m. start / 7 p.m. doors open • Advance tickets 613.379.2808 • Assigned seating by order of ticket purchase. Season ticket holders excepted!

Inspire her next adventure Imagine a place where you can spark extraordinary moments for girls in your community – and for yourself, too. As a Girl Guide volunteer, you’ll inspire girls and be their mentor as they explore new challenges, develop ready-for-anything skills and empower each other along the way. Picture all of the fun, adventure and confidence building-moments – that’s what you’ll help create for girls and for yourself too.

Start something amazing Volunteer Now! girlguides.ca/volunteer 1.800.565.8111

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The SCOOP • August / September 2019


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