SCOOP september-october 2011
The
celebrates rural life
Beaver Lake Fishing Derby
Erinsville 175th Volunteers
Beverly Frazer and Dalton Cowper
Home and Garden Tour
Save the Snakes
SCOOP Here’s the Scoop THE
Founded in 2005 by Richard Saxe A newsmagazine that celebrates rural life in the communities north of the 401 and south of Hwy 7. Published six times yearly by Stone Mills Scoop 482 Adair Road Tamworth, ON K0K 3G0 Voice: 613-379-5369 stonemills.scoop@gmail.com Circulated for free to about 6000 households by Canada Post. Subscriptions by first class mail in a plain brown envelope: One year: $30 + HST = $33.90
THE PUBLISHER / DESIGNER Karen Nordrum stonemills.scoop@gmail.com THE EDITOR Angela Jouris Saxe angela.saxe@gmail.com THE ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER Barry Lovegrove barrylovegrove@bell.net AD SALES stonemills.scoop@gmail.com THE CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Angela Saxe, Barry Lovegrove, Debbie Fenton, Blair McDonald, Terry Sprague, Linda Selkirk, Alicia Huntley, Lorie Wright, Cassandra Idola, Susan Moore, Cheryl Anderson, Grace Smith, Cam Mather, Peggy Pynton, Susan Howlett, Cathy Pogue, Richard Saxe, Karen Nordrum We choose not to publish some of our contributors’ email addresses. If you wish to contact them, please drop us a line that we will forward to them. Copyright©2011. Articles may be reprinted only with written permission from the publisher and author. The Scoop is an independent publication and is not affiliated with nor funded by any corporation or interest group. Letters and submissions are most welcome and encouraged. This is your community newsmagazine devoted to celebrating the stories and lives of the folks who live here. Get involved! Let us know what’s happening in your area.
Cover photo: Connor Morey and his catch at the Beaver Lake Fishing Derby this summer. Photo credit: Barry Lovegrove.
By Angela Saxe
L
ately, I’ve been thinking a found ourselves alone without our great deal about families. Not spouses or our children for a period just about what makes happy of time; we realized that the three of families or unhappy ones, but how us had not been alone since we were they shape our lives in ways we do teenagers. Well, we started to talk… not understand for many years. We and talk. We shared many common revisit those relationships and reas- memories, but we had experienced sess them periodically until the very things so differently: the death of end of our lives; sometimes we find our father when we were young afpeace where there was strife and fected each one of us in a unique way compassion where there was intoler- and we could see how we had been ance. We try to forget the old hurts changed by that loss. Even though est to where I now live on Buck Lake. this cemetery is that there is no church and instead focus on the pleasure of we each had our own complaints Inthelastcoupleyearsthecemeteryhas and never was one. It seemed to have expanded into shared the bluebird history box field, and been arbitrarily down on this mother, we shared a comintimacy, trust.plunked about our andnewnameshaveappeared,possibly lonely stretch of back road to serve the Family life is complicated and understanding of who she was people like myself - a new wave of what sparse localrich population,mon whichmust have Newfoundlanders callthe “comefromgrown if the number infants and unless we understand theslowly forcand ofthe forces that had created her aways”who want to stay close to their andchildrenburiedthereinthelasttwo esnewthat family, personality. We seized the opporhomesformed for eternity.that nuclear centuries is any indication. I can only So when Stan Teeple, a sprightly imagine the heartbreak of women and/ we will never truly understand our- tunity to have an honest discussion 82-year canvasser for Heart and Stroke orchildrenwhodiedbychildbirthorby selves. aboutreferred our family and at the end of stopped in one day, I asked him wheththe great variety of infections to the Teeples the time toas“fever”. Thestones,that oftendecorated er he was related Summer is inthe when time, we felt more compassion Opinicon Cemetery. That was the bewithhandsortreessymbolizinglife,are families get conversation together.thatThey gather notthejust for our mother, but also for ginning of a longer particularly touchingwhen ageisrebrought the cemetery to life for me. As corded in scant years and months and atitturned the out, family cottage; they when go the campourselves. Stanwasnowonthecemgravesofseveralchildrenfrom ing, they attend weddings re-family are lying sideDuring the summer we atetery board—a group of people who theand same small by lookaftersellingplotsandmaintaining side.Theearlieststonedatesfrom1872 unions and they go on family trips. tended two different events where thenowprovincially-ownedcemetery. butitisgenerally speculatedthatolder After retiring from his career as a wildmarkers have been lost. Since my own children have grown, former partners of our family were lifebiologistforthegovernment,hereBefore I left Stan he showed me I’ve always watching families present. turned tothehouseloved wherehewas born his family tree dating back to when hisMany years had passed as it warmed to the new sun. Our just down the road what I hadThey grandfather came to and the area around while I’m on from holiday. can be the angerlake and thatChurch once exfirst stop hurt was St. John’s in Bath, always thought of as the Teeple Cem1825. I commented that I had not seen an Anglican church originally built in seen had etery. visiting museums andhisgalleries. greatgrandfather’sisted stoneinthe cem- now diminished. We had 1787 with the cemetery circling the I decided to visit Stan this spring etery so he took me to the back of his They go whale watching; they hike been in our late teens we all building on both when sides. As we walked to find out more about this old cempropertytoseethestonehehaderected through the cemetery we noticed the up mountains and bike along trails. met: young, idealistic, in love with etery where many of his relatives lay where his grandfather is said to be burAcademyGalleryacrossthestreet(see: buried and,at a little more about howand the at ied:highway JohnTeeple,diedOctober 12,1883, They’re the airport our partners, optimistic about our J.Huntress’sarticle)andwalkedoverfor bylawsthatgovernnon-denominational Aged81years.Thesedayslawsprevent fabulousspaceandbeautirest areas. Families spending timefor eternity future, cleanatour ofofthis disappointments. cemeteries havechanged overtheyears. us from staying in our own ful art work. Ars longa vita breuis, Barb At one time, the province proposed to backyards and when asked, Stan contogether but also activelycedes creating There was genuine incar:the quoted as wepleasure got back into the Art abandon these small old cemeteries; that he too will join the other lasts, life is short. How true! memories those children will carry and kisses we all exchanged thishadcausedStan’s parents todecide Teeples up the roadinhugs the oldOpinicon AfterleavingBathwecontinued tobeburiedelsewherefearingthatthe Cemetery among the bluebirds. with them for the rest of their lives. and we all felt the the along thepoignancy Loyalist Parkwayof to AdolOpiniconcemeterywouldnolongerbe We chose an early spring day for phustown - a must-see destination on is ironic thatmy their youngourbackroader downtothewe once had been a family cared for. ItWhen mother passedandheaded moment: our tour - this is where the oldest monestsonisthepersonwholooksafterthe Loyalist Parkway (Highway #33) eager dedicated totheUnited Empire away last springburial mysitesiblings and I grounds sharing mealsument and chores, we went upkeep of this expanding in todiscover oldburial andcemStorrington Township. One of the curious features of
eteries in one of the oldest parts of Ontario, but also to enjoy the view of the
Loyalists is located. We pulled into the United Empire Loyalist Heritage Centre and Park to visit the site of the first
to rock concerts and took holidays together, we had good times and bad…and now it just felt wonderful to reconnect. “A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another” said the Buddha and how they connect and what we do with the connection will determine how healthy our adult lives will be. Families are the source of much anguish and pain, but they can also be the source of strength, courage and support. Often we only recognize this years later when we think about the impact our parents had on our lives, the interaction between the siblings and the unique way each one of us chose to react. Summer is almost over; the school bell rings and I’m back at work. Richard and I will again feel the absence of family living close by but we will continue to get vicarious pleasure by seeing the large extended families who live in our community. landing of the Loyalists in Ontario in Weunder willthesee them at Pethe fall country 1784 leadership of Major ter Van Alstine UE. When a child died fairs, at the baseball diamonds and at during the journey crossing the lake, the hockey arena enjoying the time the group established the first Loyalist burial on the same site. In 1884 theyground have together and hopefully by theOntariogovernmenterectedanobecreating new happy lisk to honour the Loyalist landingmemories. site andeventuallytheoldheadstoneswere embedded into a stone wall that runs thelengthofthecemetery.Desertedat this time of year, we could well imagine how crowded the park must be during thesummermonths,andhowpeaceful it must be to take a quiet walk through the old cemetery. We then back-tracked and turned onto the Quaker Hill Road
Rivendell Golf Club Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Come in Thursdays for Wing Night!
Pay 2011 membership and play this Fall and all of 2012!
613-374-3404
We’re located on Highway 38 just north of Verona and still have the prettiest golf course in the area.
Continued on page 13
www.rivendellgolf.on.ca The Scoop Spring - Summer 2011
Page 11
Somewhere down the road you’re going to have to think about it We all face it, but most of us avoid thinking about it: our final preparations. LAND CLEARING SEPTIC SYSTEMS & BASEMENTS PIPELINE CABLE . LANDSCAPING TRUCKING & EQUIPMENT RENTALS Rick Tuepah RR#3 Roblin 613-388-2460 Cell: 613-561-6585
If you plan now, you can save money, reduce taxes, preserve your estate and ease the emotional burden on your family. Start the conversation today, call Hannah Funeral Homes at (613) 379-2997 Hannah Funeral Home s Ltd The Scoop
6689 Wheeler Street, Tamworth, Ontario K0K 3G0 | www.hannahfuneralhome.com
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 2
Farewell from the Publisher I t was in the fall of 2005 at a meeting of a newly formed community group, The Boosters, where the idea of The Scoop was born. Somebody mentioned that there was no print publication to tie in the activities of the community at large so I put up my hand and said “I’ll do it!” I had publishing experience with two previous titles and the idea of a community mag appealed to me. Barry, Angela and I have had a ball compiling the stories and profiles of the folks we all know. Our mission of reporting just the good news sustained us for more than five years. We left the politicians alone; they have enough critics without us. We poked fun at the folks who hammer advertising signs onto the hydro poles and trees. We chuckled at the competitors who left their products in a plastic bag at the foot of your driveway for you to clean up. We took the heat from advertisers when we put a photo of a prize buck on the cover of the December holiday issue. It was dead and, in retrospect, perhaps our timing was wrong. We were accused of killing Rudolph! When Ted Bond offered to write a column on philosophy, he didn’t mind that we called it Blah Blah Blah. Barry featured all his friends’ pastimes in Erinsville, trucks through the ice, musicians at the Lakeview, hunting and ice fishing. We did an April fool’s page that actually fooled a few people - with a giant crappie and the world’s largest beaver.
But what we did best was celebrate rural life, and I think we did it really well. We wanted to bring attention to the lives of ordinary folks, and we felt honored that so many people in our community were willing to open their homes and their photo albums, and to share with us the things they felt most passionate about. Our covers alternated from child to senior, from man to woman, from farmer to artist; we tried hard to be inclusive. We decided to sell the title to Karen Nordrum who I believe will do a better job than I did. She’ll offer a younger and fresher perspective on rural life and I will be able to do one less thing in my busy life. I wish Karen as much enjoyment as I had in publishing The Scoop. Angela remains as Editor and her voice will continue to offer keen insights of our community. I want to thank everybody for contributing to the Scoop, for reading it, for advertising in it and for loving what we did. It brought me a great deal of pleasure and I hope The Scoop will continue to bring pleasure to many new and old readers. Thanks for all your support, Richard Saxe
Vanness Automotive Tamworth
LARGE SMALL
We’re now devoting a area of our shop to engine repairs
Outboards Lawn mowers Trimmers Chain Saws Etc....
and most vehicles CALL TODAY TO BOOK:
613-379-2909 At the flashing light in Tamworth
Barry Lovegrove Photographer + Artist
Teams & Groups, Passports, Events, Weddings, Portraiture, Families. Colour or Black & White. Internationally renowned watercolour artist. Very reasonable rates! 613-379-3003 www.barrylovegrove.ca Let me capture your family’s memories.
New Publisher of The Scoop
O
riginally from Ottawa, I moved to the Tamworth area more than a year ago after spending several years renovating the 150-year-old homestead my husband and I bought on the Salmon River. Like so many others before us, we wanted to raise our two young children in a small community and to enjoy a rural lifestyle: growing edible native plants in our gardens, re-building our barn, and having easy access to the outdoors. For the last several years, I’ve been staying home raising our children. As a part-time librarian, you may have encountered me behind the circulation desk at one of the many libraries in Lennox & Addington County. As my children grow (my eldest just entered Junior Kindergarten in Tamworth), I find myself with more time and energy for new projects – like The Scoop. When we first came to the area searching for a piece of property, we picked up The Scoop, and loved it. We found it to be a great
loved the profiles on people in the community and it gave us a quick insight into what was happening in this part of Ontario. I have a vision of seeing the paper grow. I’d like to see it have an on-line presence so that it can reach a greater audience offering advertisers a greater market, but at the same time, I want The Scoop to stay true to its initial mission: to celebrate rural people and their rural lifestyle. As the publisher of The Scoop, I’m really looking forward to contributing to the community, making new friends, and forging fruitful business relationships within Stone Mills and beyond. I would love to hear from readers and advertisers; your ideas and comments would be greatly welcome. You can reach me by email at stonemills.scoop@gmail.com. Karen Nordrum resource and used the Scoop paper to locate local contractors. We The Scoop
AN OFF LEASH HOLIDAY CAMP FOR SOCIAL DOGS PRIVATE ROOMS HEATED/AIRCON
Karen and her family at home Photo credit: Roger Nordrum
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 3
This little space could have been yours to promote your business. It really doesn’t cost much to advertise in The Scoop and the benefits are great. Give us a call to get into the next Big Issue.
For Free!!
Lessons Learned
By Debbie Fenton
By Blair McDonald
O
ne of my favorite words since I was a child has always been “free.” As an adult, I have grown more skeptical. “Free...what’s the catch?” Allow me to share one of the best kept, nostrings-attached secrets. It comes in the package offered to anyone who is new to Kingston. Have you heard of A.C.F.O, Mille-Illes? I didn’t think so. A few months ago, neither had I. It stands for Association Canadienne-Francaise de l’Ontario. ACFO’s mandate is to promote the French language’s presence in the area and enhance services in French into the community. The non-profit organization has served the region since 1973 and receives government funding to offer several programs and services to the public. It offers three main services, free of charge to those who need it. The services are Immigration, Employment and information on French language health services available in the region. The service I am most familiar with is the conversational French classes which are offered FOR FREE and which are taught by the most capable Galina Abelyasheva who speaks not just one, but four languages! As we poor beginners work through learning a second language, she never makes us feel anything less than clever learners, even when we are clearly struggling. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to move to a new city, because your spouse has a promotion, or because you are searching to better yourself, and yet the advancement will lead you to a city which is primarily English speaking, while you are not? Happily, Kingston and regions surrounding us are willing to help, via A.C.F.O. One branch of the service, ACFOMI Immigrant Services, provides settlement and employment support such as help with documentation, settlement information and community orientation amongst many more. Also they will help a client write a resume, provide interview coaching, offer assistance translating documents, forms and diploma accreditation. Their location is Woodbine Plaza, 2795 Princess St. Kingston, On. K7P 2X1. 613-5467863. Open 9:00 to 4:30 Monday to Friday ACFOMI Employment Services offer all sorts of employment support during a job search, including assistance with writing a resume and cover letter, information on the local labour market, access to newspapers, reference books, fax and photocopier. Consultation with a professional employment counselor is provided, as well as support to access Government funded programs. This location is Barriefield Centre, R.R.
#2 760 Hwy. 15, Kingston On. K7L 5H6 613-546-7863. The Health project helps Francophones as well as new French speaking immigrants find information about health services. Imagine how necessary that would be when you are confronted with a baby crying in the night with a temperature of 104. You really want a doctor who speaks your language when you are stressed enough about your child, and need to be informed about medical options and correct dosages. These amazingly talented people, all of whom are at least bi-lingual, will offer you help with finding child care facilities and professionals who are bi-lingual as well, so that you can find a dentist, a doctor, a hairdresser, or even a veterinarian who speaks your language. The Association lived up to the challenge of finding a vet who was a fluent speaker of French, because the family pet was having an operation, and it only responded to French. Now how is that for accommodating! Newcomers to Kingston and surrounding areas are gifted with a “Welcome Wagon Basket”. This includes information on A.C.F.O. via pamphlets, and offers information on other community organizations and services as well. ACFO provides its own “Bienvenue à Kingston” package and it may be obtained at the local office. For further information, just Google Francophone services in Kingston, or go to www.acfomi.org on the Internet. In 2009, Kingston was deemed a designated region for providing bi-lingual services in all Provincial offices. This means that anyone struggling to find information is able to be served by someone who is fluent in French. Imagine for a minute that you have been parachuted into a totally different environment. The people around you can’t understand what you are trying to say, nor can you understand them. Imagine now what a welcome relief it would be to find a group of people who were willing to help. Isn’t this the world you want to be a part of? The caring people at this non-profit organization are more than willing to help. And by the way, they are so multi-talented that they are also willing to give a helpful boost to those who speak Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. I have seen them working long after their workday was officially over, trying to help people who needed it. Is Canada a great country, or what?!
I
t is understandable that there is much anxiety among writers about the future of writing and the printed word. These days with television, movies and the internet competing for our every waking second, is it any wonder that the activity of reading and the very life of the book is on its way to becoming a distant memory. Even as a young professor, where the protocol is clear that you are always to be reading and writing towards your next publication, the power of television gets the best of me. But on occasion, so it should. Even though I understand the arguments made against television, I have never been one to suggest that television itself is part of the dumbing down of our shared intelligence. If anything, you could make the opposite argument just the same. In the twentieth century, television gives us greater access to the world and its people like never before. Likewise, it has actually worked to reduce the distance between ourselves and others while simultaneously increasing our visual knowledge of the world at large. I agree with those who say that television is a one-way street. However, I will never go so far as to refuse to own one. Television itself is not shameful. What makes all the difference is what you watch and how you watch it. When it is used as filler or distraction from work and the relationships that make our life count for something, then it becomes a problem. For the most part, I think this is what critics of television are right to fear even if their reactions are sometimes overblown. But the other night was a different story. I got home from a ball game in Napanee and started scrolling through the various late night talk shows when I happened upon the Tavis Smiley show. Tonight’s show was part of Tavis’s week-long visit to China with his long-time friend and collaborator, the popular American professor Cornell West. The half-hour show showcased a discussion between Tavis and Cornell and a group of Chinese high-school students about the similarities and differences between Chinese and American attitudes towards education. What caught my attention was the insight of a particular student. Acknowledging that the discipline of the Chinese education system is driven by the dream of a more pros-
BG
perous future for its youth, he went on to conclude that one of the things that gets lost in any education is the distinction between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge, he argued, leads to better careers, a better future and increased financial security. Yet, for all of our interests in money as the source and guarantor of happiness, he also suggested that a proper education fails when it provides only know-how. And this is the part that stung me. For all the things that money can do, in broken English, he concluded: it can’t give you wisdom - something both education systems, in his view, devalue. Moments like this remind me that occasionally television can open us up to ideas that we would have never entertained. Sometimes insight comes when we are least expecting it. Book or no book, we just have to be open to tuning in – whatever the format.
BUCKET TRUCK SERVICES - FULLY INSURED
EVANS’ TREE REMOVAL
TRIMMING, REMOVING, TOPPING, STUMP REMOVAL FREE ESTIMATES YEAR ROUND
RR#3 YARKER
358-2629
Barry Graham
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
Over 30 years experience Service to business and individuals Personal Income Tax . Business Year Ends Corporate Tax . Estate tax Business Start up advice . succession planning assistance with purchase and sale of business TEL: 613-354-8280 FAX: 613-354-8288 EMAIL: bgraham@barrygraham.ca
The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 4
113 RICHMOND BLVD., UNIT 13 COLLINS COURT NAPANEE, ON K7R 3Z8
Lanthorn Real Estate Ltd. 44 Industrial Blvd. Napanee/Tamworth
613-354-4347
FAMILY HOME
Robert Storring
Broker Direct: 379-2903 email: storring@kos.net
Village home is great for growing family. 2 story with 3 bdrms, bath and laundry up, open kithcen dining rm, living rm and half bath down. Updated flooring & painting. Built in appliances, inside garage entry and unspoiled basement. Other kids in neighbourhood, walk to school & services. A good buy at $179,900
SELLER WANTS AN OFFER!
Brick home features 4 bedrooms, eat-in kitchen, separate dining rm & huge living room with fireplace. Hardwood floors under carpeting & all newer windows. Seller will include all furnishings in final price. $194,900. MLS 10602868 See www.tamworth2storybrick.com
ONLY $499
W&S
72 58 937 361
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
72 FF Snowplowing 8 5 FF Grass Cutting 79 3 FF Large items pickup 31 6 FF Seniors receive 10% discount
FF Garbage pickup & recycleables cell: 613-483-8441
Photo: Carolyn Smith and her family growing a variety of organic garlic - she won 2nd place in this year’s Garlic Festival in Verona.
The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 5
Volunteers Make it All Happen: Celebrating the 175th Anniversary of Erinsville By Angela Saxe
O
ver a year ago the Tamworth-Erinsville Community Development (TECD) committee voiced their desire to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the founding of Erinsville. Marg Allore and Mildred McNamara rose to the occasion and immediately contacted TECD member Mark Oliver and the three of them volunteered their time and energy to help make that celebration a reality. To everyone who attended the celebrations on June 26th and again on August 6th, the overall success of these two events was clearly evident by the size of the crowds, the joyous atmosphere generated by old friends and neighbours and the enthusiastic participation in all the organized activities. What was also evident is that major events such as these happen because so many people volunteer their time, their talents and their resources. It certainly takes a village to celebrate the heritage and culture of a community! Mildred and Marg are sisters (née Hopkins) and both are retired teachers who have lived close to their families and communities all their lives. They know everyone in the area. They know who can do what and who to turn to for resources and information: all vital ingredients when trying to mobilize friends and neighbours to come together to help create a successful event. At the January meeting of the TECD both felt inspired and quickly offered to oversee the first of the two celebrations on June 26th. The events for the August 6th date were to be organized by the TECD committee. After much discussion and input from their community, Marg and Mildred made the decision to include the following events: A self-guided walking tour, a guided church tour, historical talks, storytelling, traditional parish picnic games, musical entertainment, a beef supper and the most ambitious, a museum to be housed in the rectory building of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In no short time volunteers stepped forward willing to oversee each event. Paul Burns and Mick Hopkins each held their own lectures on the history of the community and the local area to overflowing audiences. Anita (Mclean) Badore and her son Ron Badore entertained everyone with local stories; Joe McMullen and Ken Cronin organized the tug-of-war games, while Paul and Terry Sagriff ran the horseshoe competition. Cheryl Gaffney Jacob and Bob Allore organized the beef supper, which fed 400 people. Meanwhile Mildred and Mary Donahue planned the route of the walking tour and wrote descriptions of the sixteen designated stops, and
Marg and Frances McKenny took on the responsibility of guiding visitors through the church. The museum was an ambitious project that turned out to be a huge success: over 450 people visited on the 26th and countless others toured the museum on the four Sundays in July as well as on August 6th. Marg and Mildred reached out to the community, requesting memorabilia, artifacts, records, photographs, furniture, farming implements, books, household objects and other items that would recreate the lives of the early settlers and the following generations who lived in the Erinsville area. The response was tremendous: individual families came forward with family heirlooms and prized possessions - enough to fill the rectory top to bottom. Marg and Mildred organized the items and designated each according to its theme – there were rooms dedicated to weddings, the founders of the community, the school house, children, business, the homestead, the kitchen and movies . Catherine McGrath and Mary Donahue took on the responsibility of the wedding room and it certainly was one of the most popular rooms. They collected wedding dresses some from the early 1900s, wedding photographs dating back to the 1860s and up to the present and included objects that would have been found in a woman’s closet at the time, such as hats and gloves. One of the more popular and unique displays were the three wedding cakes, baked and decorated by Marilyn McGrath, reflecting the fashion of three different eras. People had fun identifying their neighbours according to their wedding photos. In one of the rooms on the second floor were two Powerpoint slide shows of the people and places from the past, one presented by Rick Lunny and the other by Ron Badore. Each room represented hours of work on the part of the volunteers and considering the heritage items were family treasures, an inventory had to be taken. Yvonne and John Way catalogued each room using digital photographs to ensure that nothing went missing. But one of the most demanding tasks was to create a timeline of significant dates and names for the founders room. Volunteering for this huge job were Marie Kennedy, Frances McKenny and Hilda Gaffney. As one may imagine, it takes hours to read over all the research material and then to decide which items were to be included. Everyone who toured the museum was amazed by the visual and written timeline that circled the room, which was often crowded with visitors Key volunteers are critical to the success of any event but there are The Scoop
many small jobs that individuals do that help to support the overall project. Carolyn Butts gave constructive ideas on how to design and lay out the individual rooms. Maureen Garrett designed the posters and the signage and Father Charles McDermott promoted the event through the parish newsletter and by providing the unrestricted use of the rectory, the grounds and the church for the celebrations. Students helped in the kitchen providing coffee and knowledgeable guides and assistants circulated throughout the museum answering questions and helping people find the information they were looking for. The incalculable hours it must have taken to put this celebration together was clearly evident on June 26th. A whole community of volunteers gave their time, their effort, their skills and their support to celebrate an event that would have made their hard-working ancestors proud. Congratulations everyone on a job well done! Group photo row 1: Catherine McGrath, Marie Kennedy, Frances McKenny Row 2: Mary Donahue, Yvonne Way, Anne Murphy, Marg Allore Row 3: Terry Sagriff, Paul Sagriff, Tony Slack Row 4: John Way, Michael Hopkins, Debbie Hartin, Mildred MacNamara, Cheryl Gaffney Jacob Absent: Bob Allore, Joe and Sheila McMullen, Geraldine Slack, Todd Hartin, Ken Cronin, Maureen Garrett, Brian and Marilyn McGrath Small photos: Erinsville Museum artifacts Small photo credits: Richard Saxe (top three), Barry Lovegrove (bottom).
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 6
Comfort Food for Human and Canine Alike Beverly Frazer and Dalton Cowper By Linda Selkirk
W
hat does a Bakery and a Dog Boarding Kennel have in common? Food, certainly but that’s not all. Two of our neighbours are managing to combine the two seemingly disparate businesses quite well. The food industry is highly competitive. New restaurants and bakeries continue to open up providing a variety of food while many long established eateries continue to serve patrons in our local townships, but The River Bakery on Concession St. in Tamworth not only lives up to its hard-earned reputation of serving slow cooked, fresh food without preservatives as well as tasty baked goods but it continues to grow and expand especially now under their new owners: Dalton Cowper and Beverly Frazer. As a team they work long hours but it is quickly evident that they are doing what they love. Many of us still recall the original owners Poppy Harrison and David Greenland who opened their doors boasting that “they made the best bagels in Eastern Ontario.” Over the years the Bakery changed owners but the quality of the food and the baked items only got better. Now Bev and Dalton, with the aid of David, who still does the bulk of the baking, have expanded the menu and offer a greater variety of take-out items. Bev always has a warm smile to greet everyone who enters The Bakery and many of her recipes are now in demand. Annette Wilson, along with Anita Wilson, welcome the patrons and provide first class service. Customers pop by to pick up a bagels, bread, muffins, pies and a wide variety of other baked goods or they can sit down and have a delicious lunch from the expanding menu. The old favourites, such as the much-loved lemon tarts are still available but look for what’s new. A big hit has been the slow-cooked ribs that are offered Friday nights as part of a prix fixe menu with five delicious courses. Dalton, well known for his year-round boarding kennel for dogs called the Regal Beagle on Hwy. 41, had already brought the same level of attention to detail and a love for quality organic pet foods with little or no preservatives to their kennel. I share Dalton’s love of dogs and can appreciate the attention he pays to keeping both his and his clients’ dogs on a nutritionally sound diet which gives the lucky pooches wonderful immune systems and superior health. So it’s not a surprise that Dalton and Bev wanted the very best for the customers that visit The Bakery. The Regal Beagle was envi-
companionship as well. Each dog then finds his niche in the pack for the duration of the stay. Helping out at the kennel is Cody Kew, a Tamworth native who has already contributed to the success of the kennel for four years and is a valued and trusted asset. Student Sean Bodzasy, like other students in the past, was able to complete his volunteer hours there and is now another assistant Dalton can rely on. One way I can enjoy both their businesses is when I go to purchase fresh bread, smoked almonds or specialty cheese, I bring one of my dogs, sit on the patio and talk “dogs” with Dalton. Sounds like a new show: Dogs with Dalton… never a dog’s breakfast! The website for the Regal Beagle www.regalbeagleunleashed.com offers a wealth of information for dog lovers. The website for the Bakery is in progress: www.riverbakery.com Top photo: Dalton and Bev. Bottom: Dalton, Anita, and Bev. Photo credits: Barry Lovegrove.
sioned as the culmination of a five year plan when they first moved to Kingston. While working at a fulltime position, Dalton managed to fit in several years of part-time work learning more about dog training with boarding experts in Kingston. Dalton believes that when dogs are boarded, they are embarking on their own holiday from home. They join the Cowper dogs who live there (all seven of them) for the duration of their stay; they become a part of the dog pack. Dalton’s love of dogs was evident when he rhymed off his own dogs names: Dabney, Saxon (the newbie), Porter, Kilty, Cooper, Lacy and Louis Target (yes, he is so special he has his own last name). There are two Labs, three Beagles, a Bloodhound and a Coonhound; all of them serving as excellent hosts welcoming the other dogs into the kennel. Some dogs may never have experienced this before, but dogs love to socialize with other dogs. Since they are free to mingle and roam in a safe environment, they learn to enjoy the comfort of a routine that includes a nap and, yes, a weekly campfire night on Saturdays when humans and all the dogs are quite literally “happy campers”. Dalton was pleased to learn that the burn ban has been lifted for now so the dogs won’t have to miss this special campfire night. Returning “clientele” recognize their holiday spot and jump out of the cars looking forward to another visit. For ownThe Scoop
ers, this is a huge relief knowing that their pets are in good hands. Even as a youngster, Dalton was drawn to dogs, caring for his own family’s dogs and for those he walked as a part-time job while growing up. Bev also loves dogs and Labrador Retrievers have a special place in her heart as she always had a loving Lab growing up. The kennel has many home comforts including air conditioning, homemade and branded organic treats and CBC radio for their listening pleasure. Some visitors of the canine kind stay for a month or 6 weeks at a time. There is a feeling of comfort and safety communicated by the resident dogs to newcomers and plenty of time to enjoy human
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 7
BUCKET TRUCK SERVICES - FULLY INSURED
EVANS’ TREE REMOVAL TRIMMING, REMOVING, TOPPING, STUMP REMOVAL FREE ESTIMATES YEAR ROUND
RR#3 YARKER
358-2629
A Natural View
HANDLING THE FOUL AND THE LOATHSOME By Terry Sprague
T
he bizarre object we were staring at in the water was a cluster of Bryozoan, and it floated, half submerged, and held in place by a sunken branch to which it appeared to be tethered. It was something my fellow hikers had never seen before, and the “thing” fascinated them. I had encountered these strange objects before in slow moving bodies of water, interestingly, here at Depot Lakes Conservation Area more than anywhere else. “Is it a plant, or is it an animal?” they wanted to know. Bryozoa are actually animals. It takes millions of these microscopic aquatic organisms to form the baseball sized gelatinous mass that nodded in the water before us as if acknowledging our presence. It was only one of numerous features we found that day during our nine kilometre walk in this conservation area, just northwest of the village of Verona. At 3,000 acres, Depot Lakes Conservation Area is the largest of the some 30 conservation areas owned by Quinte Conservation. Its three lakes - Second, Third and Fourth Depot Lakes, make up the headwaters of the Napanee River. The Depot Lakes are part of a chain of five Depot Lakes in the area, but those within the conservation area itself are of particular importance as they serve as reservoirs, their two dams holding back volumes of water, and releasing it as needed to supply water downstream during periods of low flow. The mass was the size of a basketball, round and translucent, somewhat textured, but so slimy as to defy touching. Finally, I volunteered; I closed my eyes and gently lifted the object from the water for a closer look. As a dairy farmer from way back, my hands had already experienced many questionable textures, and had probed numerous dark recesses where most hands seldom venture. The gelatinous object I now held in my hand was attached to a decaying piece of vegetation and trembled noticeably as I rotated it for some clue as to what it might be. The sensation was not unlike holding a quivering ball of Jell-O, the only difference being, that it was decidedly sticky and certainly, not in the least bit appetizing. The Bryozoa that turn up at this time of the year are mostly the soft and gelatinous variety, but they do occur as tufted leaf-like fronds or even hard calcified skeletons, not unlike coral. Almost all Bryozoa are colonial, composed of anywhere from a few to millions of individuals. The one I held in my hand likely contained millions of individuals, all amassed to form the globulous gel I pulled out of the water. Although an animal, they don’t really move around, although some species do
a few squeamish expressions from onlookers. You will also need a few paper towels and lots of cleaner to rid your hands of the accumulated slippery mucus. Enjoy! “The Blob” can be found in Fourth Depot Lake. However, any body of slow moving water will usually yield a few Bryozoa at this time of the year. For more information on birding and nature and guided hikes, check out the NatureStuff website at www.naturestuff.net Terry Sprague lives in Prince Edward County and is selfemployed as a professional interpretive naturalist.
to a certain degree. How do they reproduce? Bryozoa are able to propagate both sexually and asexually, the latter occurring by budding off new zooids (individual functioning units) as the colony grows. If a piece of the colony breaks off, this piece can continue to grow and form a new colony. Most are hermaphroditic - that is, individuals possessing both ovaries and testes. Some shed both eggs and sperm into the water where they fuse, but the majority brood their eggs in tiny chambers, capturing free-swimming sperm with their tentacles to fertilize the eggs. The eggs divide, develop into free-swimming larvae, escape from the brood chamber, and swim away to settle on an object somewhere to metamorphose into a new zooid, thus starting a new colony. Of course, we can’t see this unless we were to somehow view the whole process under a microscope. All we get to see is the mass of millions that have united to form something we can observe floating in the water - or hold in our hand, for those who dare to experience the sensation. At first glance, Bryozoa superficially appear to have more in common with coral, but Bryozoa and corals belong to quite different phyla and are unrelated. A glob that we may find is actually a colony of zooids, not polyps as in corals. And each of these zooids has whorls of delicate feeding tentacles gently swaying in the water catching food. Bryozoa feed on minute organisms, including diatoms and other unicellular algae. In turn, they are fed upon by grazing organisms such as small fish and are subject to competition from algae. Who knows what daily routine in their lives we interrupt by lifting specimens out of the water? And these little critters have been around for awhile. They have a fossil record extending back some 500,000,000 years, to the upper Cambrian period. The Scoop
Identifying a mass as a Bryozoa ( plural for Bryozoan since there are millions of them in one cluster) is enough for us. To identify the exact species would be a painstaking job as there are about 5,000 living species in the world. And in some cases, they can be downright nuisances as they often clog water intakes. Yet, they produce an incredible variety of chemical compounds, some of which may possibly find uses in modern medicine. As an example, one compound produced by a marine species of Bryozoa, the drug bryostatin 1, is currently under serious testing as an anti-cancer drug. If you want to be “one up”, these little - and sometimes, not so little - critters of shallow water, are scientifically known as Pectinatella magnifica. The next time you see one of these globs attached to an underwater plant or fallen tree branch, impress everyone with your new found knowledge of the foul and the loathsome. Then bravely reach in the water and hold one up in your cupped hands for all to see. You will undoubtedly experience
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 8
Top photo: This cluster of Bryozoan was attached to the underwater framework of a dock. Photo credit: Beverly Lynn. Bottom: Only fearless kids and the very brave dare hold a gelatinous glob of Bryozoan. Photo from the Woodward Family Adventures at http://woodwardadventures.blogspot. com/2009/07/bryozoans-large-freshwater-gelatinous.html
The Changes That Come By Alicia Huntley, former NDSS student
C
hange. It is accepted and rejected. It comes without warning. It can bring happiness or distress. It comes with each birthday, season, month, week and day; every birth and death. It is constant. Even with change being ever present, some can still have a hard time dealing with it. It is the strain of having new routine and new choices to make and realizing that you may have lost or gained something for good. I know change is hard. I have been through a lot but what I find change can do is make you a stronger person if you let it. Each time something new comes along or something old disappears then we must create a new mind set, a new attitude, to help get over whatever hardship you are having. If you can do this then the process may not seem quite as difficult and the outcome may be seen as more positive, even if the affects of the change never completely recede. Some changes are bigger than others. There are small chang-
es such as getting something new. Then there are the large ones like a new born baby brought into the world or a family member leaving it. As humans we like routines and perfect lives, without mishaps but this is not reality and by thinking this you set yourself up for a bigger break down when change does occur. The changes in my life have come in many forms. The big ones always brought on pain and sadness but eventually all of these events have changed me, and I think for the better. My independence and ability to cope are beyond what I could ever dream. I am not saying that I do not struggle anymore but it is just that I have been able to move on with my life so that I can focus on future plans yet I never forget the changes in my past. The first big change in my life was when I was in a car accident when I was eight years old. It literally changed my life and my family’s because my mom became handicapped and could not work
anymore. Still she tried to provide everything for us even when we did not have much. From then on I had to grow up. Along with change always comes fear. The fear that the new situation will not be good and that you cannot survive what did or could happen because things are just too different. My biggest fear, my nightmare, happened two years ago and it had the possibility to crush me. My mother died suddenly from a pulmonary blood clot after surgery to eliminate the pain in her ankle that had been going on for eight years. My life had never been so upside down. My mom, even though I was a teenager, had been my whole life, my best friend as my sister and I were hers. That was now gone. This displaced us. We moved out into the country from our home in Kingston to live with our amazing and supportive family. They helped us through every minute and I cannot thank them enough. We weren’t the only ones going through a hard time. Without them, who knows
where I would be now. As I said before hard times can make you stronger; I have never been as outgoing, as thoughtful, or as hardworking. My heart goes out to those who have gone or currently going through a huge life change, or to those who are going to face new challenges in the future. All you can do is know you will succeed in some way because you survived. The only thing to do is live, not forgetting the old things you had. In the fall I go to university and my whole life changes again just as it starts to have a pattern – that always seems to be the way. It is something that needs to be done so that I can grow even more and build the career and life for myself that I want. I know I will succeed with failures and changes along the way. I hope all of you will see my name in the future, preferably attached to a piece of writing. Also I hope that through my writing and experiences I can help the people I love. Keep strong everyone!
Six Great Reads By Lorie Wright Patti Smith. Just Kids. (2010).
The Poet’s Notebook. Excerpts from the Notebooks of Twenty American Poets. (1995).
(b. 1946-), American poet/singer/songwriter. Winner of the National Book Award for 2010.
Edited by Stephen Kunista, Deborah Tall, Dacid Weiss
Memoir of Robert Mapplethorpe and Patti’s Smith early days in New York City.
“Do you think the wren ever dreams of a better house?” (p. 223, Mary Oliver)
“When we were young Robert liked me to tell him stories. It was so clear and vivid in my mind, like a movie I watched over and over.” Patti Smith, twitter
Barbara Kingsolver. The Bean Trees. (1988). (b. 1955-). Grew up in rural Kentucky. A road novel with a plucky heroine who “inherits” a three year old native American girl named Turtle during her journey. The first of many worthwhile books from Kingsolver.
Harold Hoefle. The Mountain Clinic. (2008). A novel chronicling the travels of a young Toronto boy, Walter Schwende, and his three-decade quest for his immigrant father who “disappears” under mysterious circumstances. Unique plot, enhanced by strong narrative, memorable characters, and language that is free of cliché. The author’s first book, published by Oberon. Charlotte Gray. Nellie McClung. (2008).
Sullivan Rosemary. Shadow Maker: The Life of Gwendolyn MacEwen. (1995).
A volume in Penguin’s Extraordinary Canadians series.
Definitive biography of one of Canada’s best know poets. This book is one of Sullivan’s trilogy about the lives of Canadian women artists: Gwendolyn MacEwen, Margaret Atwood and Elizabeth Smart.
Engaging account of McClung’s life and accomplishments. Touches upon McClung’s campaigns for Womens’ right to vote and the right to be acknowledged as “persons”. McClung was also an important advocate for ethnic minority groups at a time when their interests had little other representation. These include the rights of Japanese Canadians before and during WWII. McClung also implored the government to allow Jewish refugees into Canada.
The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 9
Home Energy Savings By Cam Mather
P
eople don’t seem very happy about their electricity bills these days. Or their propane bills. Or what it costs to fill up their vehicle at the gas station. It seems that energy costs just keep going up. And why? It’s always been so cheap. Well 50 years ago when I was born there were 3 billion people on the planet. Five decades later we’re getting close to 7 billion, so there’s a lot more people competing for that energy. And many in the developing world are starting to earn incomes that allow them to buy cars. China added 13 million new cars to its roads last year. Tata Motors in India is selling the “Nano,” a $2,500 car. There are 1.2 billion people in India, and 1.3 billion people in China. And most of them want to live like we do. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is the organization that provides energy data to developed nations. According to the IEA we hit peak oil in 2006. And they say we should have started preparing for it a decade ago. The Hersch Report by the U.S. Government said that we should have started downshifting our lives and economies two decades before peak oil hit. So the days of cheap gasoline and diesel and home heating oil are over. And what about all those pesky electricity bills? Some news reports would lead you to believe that all those solar panels you see being installed are making it more expensive. Well, not quite. Gord Miller, The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, was recently
on TVO and he suggested that less than one percent of your current energy bill is related to the Province’s Green Energy Act which pays a premium for solar and wind power. The reality is that we haven’t been paying the true cost of electricity for a long time. When we started building nuclear plants in the 70s they cost billions of dollars so Ontario Hydro issued bonds to pay for them. Then when Mike Harris broke up Ontario Hydro, we suddenly realized that $38 billion worth of debt we all jointly held now had to be dealt with. It got sliced and diced and moved around to various government accounts, but the reality is that for a long time our electricity bills haven’t really represented what it cost to actually produce the electricity. If we had been paying the true cost, the money to pay for those plants would have been on your electricity bill starting in the 1970s and electricity wouldn’t have “seemed” so cheap. Because it’s not. It takes a lot of money to make it, and deliver it to your house. And we still haven’t put any money aside to decommission those nuclear plants, which will costs billions of dollars, or permanently dispose of the nuclear waste they create, which will cost tens of billions of dollars. Unfortunately no government since the 70s has really had the intestinal fortitude to charge the true cost of electricity, knowing that it would an unpopular move. Well, of course it would, but it would have been the right thing to do. So now as we finally start to come to grips with
the true cost of electricity, our bills are going up. And it doesn’t matter if you try and switch to another form of energy; it’s going to go up eventually too. Natural gas is relatively inexpensive right now because the economic collapse destroyed demand from large industrial users, and they discovered they could blast more gas out of rocks by “fracking” them. But many governments have started to clamp down on this process, which will increase the cost of extraction. The reality is that we all have to come to grips with higher energy costs. Much of the energy you consume goes to heat your home, and cool your home, and keep the lights on. And the cheapest energy is always the energy you save. Using energy more efficiently is always better than trying to make your own, so that changing light bulbs and caulking around leaky windows is the best place to start. Today when we think of “generating” energy, we think about putting solar panels on our roof to make electricity. But one of the first things you should consider instead is using the sun’s heat or thermal energy is to heat your home through a geothermal or heat pump heating system. The advantage of this system, which extracts heat from the ground, is that it works in reverse in the summer, allowing you to cool your house without the aid of a central air conditioner. For every unit of electricity the system uses to power pumps, it extracts 3 units of
THE 4th Annual Who’s Your Doggie Photo Contest
energy out of the ground to heat or cool your home. You can also use the sun’s energy to heat your domestic hot water. If you’ve ever touched a garden hose that has been lying on the ground in the summer and felt how hot the water is that comes out, you know how much potential thermal energy is there. This is the same principle as a solar domestic hot water heater and it will save you 50 to 60% on your hot water heating bills. So the technologies exist for you to make your home much more energy efficient and to cushion you from rising energy costs. Some of these are covered by various government grants to make the transition easier. And not only are you making your home more resilient to energy shocks, you’re reducing your production of greenhouse gases and your footprint on the planet. The Tamworth and Erinsville Community Development Committee’s Green Committee is sponsoring the “Tamworth Home Energy Workshop” on Saturday October 1st. The workshop will look at all the options available to homeowners and the government programs that will help you to save money and use energy more efficiently. Admission to the workshop will cost $10 per person and includes a free copy of the book “$mart Power”. Tickets will be available at various locations in Tamworth or can be ordered by calling 613-539-2831.
Notes from the Grassroots Growers Group By Susan Howlett he GRG display and draw at Erinsville’s 175th Anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 6 went smoothly and attracted a few new people for our email list. It was a very pleasant event with music throughout the afternoon. Many thanks to those who contributed vegetables for the basket: Dorothy Burley, Hilda Cowan, Mary Jo Field, Susan Howlett, Michelle and Cam Mather, Susan Meisner, Cathy Pogue, Milly Ristvedt, Carolyn Smith, and Maureen Swann. The basket, which Hilda Cowan organized, was heaped with organic produce and looked wonderful, and the winner, Michael Bottom, was beaming as he walked away with it. Elizabeth Allport was also happy to win Cam Mather’s book The All You Can Eat Gardening Handbook. Tracy Snow’s children, Benjamin and Erin drew the lucky tickets and Mark Oliver announced the winners. Hopefully more people were made aware of the benefits of growing food organically.
T
Congratulations to Bracken, the winner of this year’s contest! An 11-1/2 year old Golden Retriever, Bracken is seen here paddling on the Upper Madawaska River. Photo credit: Stan Morris.
BRIDGE WEST ANIMAL HOSPITAL DR. JULIE AMEY 311 Bridge Street West, Napanee, Ontario. 613-409-PETS (7387) bridgewest@kingston.net Your Pets...... Our Privilege The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 10
Doors and Gardens Opened for House Tour By Cathy Pogue
G
ardens were at their peak and the railings were polished and gleaming for the second annual Home and Garden Tour that took place in Tamworth and Erinsville on Saturday, August 13. The event is a fundraiser for the Tamworth-Erinsville Community Development Committee, a group of citizens who have come together with the goal of enhancing the community’s economic backbone by addressing some of the aesthetic and practical needs of the area. Five families in the area opened their homes to the public and the tour also showcased Christ Church, a historical landmark in Tamworth and a local artist and photographer Barry Lovegrove’s gallery. In recognition of the history of the area and as a different feature to the tour, the first Gaeltacht outside Ireland participated. “Gaeltacht” celebrates the Irish culture and language and their site is a 62-acre parcel of land, adjacent to the Salmon River and just outside of Tamworth. Considering that these owners were willing to allow members of the public into their private homes says a great deal about people’s willingness to assist the committee and the community. Organizers endeavour to
select a mix of older and newer homes and properties with unique components in beautiful settings. “Unique” could include, but not necessarily be limited to, energy-efficiency, restoration or preservation of a traditional dwelling, or perhaps an uncommon structural aspect. The event is considered to be more than a house and garden tour as it promotes the area and permits participants and visitors to gain an appreciation for both the history and the new development in the villages and environs. A number of bronze, silver and gold sponsors also played a significant role in making the fundraiser possible and these sponsorships further underscore the commitment to the community. Among the sponsors, property owners and ticket sales, approximately $1,500 was raised. House Tour committee members are Peg Campbelton, Barb Pogue, Cathy Pogue, Linda Smith and Elizabeth Weir. Photos (from top right, clockwise): 1. Christ Church, Tamworth. 2. Dube residence, Erinsville. 3. O’Neill residence, Erinsville. 4. Stinson residence, Tamworth. 5. Reid residence. Erinsville. 6. Moore residence. Tamworth. Photo credits: Barry Lovegrove.
The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 11
Kid’s Fishing Derby By Barry Lovegrove
E
rinsville is similar to many small villages in Eastern Ontario. It has a church, a school, a variety store, a tavern and a beautiful lake but it also has a well-maintained park that sits between the Old Erinsville Train Station and Beaver Lake. Thanks to the hard work of the local members of the Lion’s Club, there is now a forty foot dock and a beautiful cedar viewing deck. There is a wonderful safe playground where children can play or they can go to the beach to swim, fish or just skim stones off the
water. But what usually makes a place really special are the people who live there. The folks in this community are very proud of their heritage and they care about their little piece of heaven and they want everyone who comes to their community to enjoy themselves. As an example this is the second year in a row that Erinsville has hosted a Kid’s Fishing Derby. On July 23rd sixty-nine children from ages one to twelve came from near and far: Kingston,
Train Station Gets a Facelift! V
olunteers Cathy and Barb Pogue are busy painting the exterior walls of the Erinsville Train Station during one of the hottest days in July. But they were not alone. A small group of hard working volunteers: Earl Brown, Brian Ducharme, Meredith Ware, Mark Oliver, Bobby Jacob, Cheryl Gaffney, Doris Dube, Lyn Haugo, Hans Honegger, Carolyn Butts and Rick Tuepah spent countless hours, scrapping, repairing, painting, and landscaping - all the jobs required to put a new, fresh face on the old Train Station. Funds for the restoration were provided by a grant from Canadian Heritage: Building Communities Through Arts and Culture. In the spring of 2010 on behalf of the TECDC, Mark Oliver applied for funding for the purpose of holding the 175th Erinsville Anniversary Celebration and to improve the appearance of the Train Station. The application was successful and $ 14,600.00 was awarded to the community group. Of that amount, $10,350.00 went towards the facelift of the Train Station and $4250.00 went towards the celebration events.
Bloomfield, Newburgh, Napanee, Tamworth, Enterprise, Belleville, Frankford, Erinsville, Roblin, Bath, Perth, Hinchinbrooke, Sault St. Marie, Amherstview, London, Courtice and Deseronto. If you didn’t have your own fishing gear there were plenty around that could be borrowed. When I took the photo of young Connor (on the cover of this issue) he was so proud and excited of the fish that he had just caught. The size didn’t matter the expression on his face says it all. The Lions had hot dogs on the go for the hungry boys
and girls when it was all over. Then prizes were given out for the biggest, smallest, prettiest, there were even a couple of twin fish I believe. You name it there was a prize for it. Kids both young and old had a great day. Way to go Erinsville and all the volunteers that helped in making The 2011 Kid’s Fishing Derby a success. Photo credits: Barry Lovegrove.
OPEN: Mon. - Fri. 8 - 7 Sat. 8 - 6 Sun. 11 - 5
Additional funding came from The Boosters who donated $1000.00 and from the fundraising concert held at St. Patrick’s School which raised an additional $500.00.
CheCk Us OUt fOr All YOUr GrOCerY Needs & MOre!
A big Thank You to all the volunteers!
Fresh Bakery • Deli • Produce • Meats 672 Addington St., Tamworth
613-379-2440
Book S h o p Photo credit: Richard Saxe.
Quality Second Hand Books: Bridge Street East at Peel, Tamworth
Hundreds of new arrivals. Fri Sat Sun, 11 am - 4 pm 379-2108
The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 12
175th Erinsville Celebration “They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I will let these photos describe the events that took place on August 6th when Erinsville 175th Celebrations continued. It was also a day when the new look of The Old Erinsville Train Station was unveiled for all to see. There were vendor displays, Irish dancing and music, Kelli Trottier in Concert, Cow Patty BINGO and an evening of dancing outside The Lakeview to the Pranksters. It was a truly fun day, a real day of celebration.� Photo credits: Barry Lovegrove
The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 13
Golden Crab Spider By Barry Lovegrove
I
t happened during one of those hot days this summer. I was just relaxing after cutting the grass and noticed the beautiful white blooms on the shrub next to our house. Thinking to myself those blooms would make a nice macro photo, I went to get my camera, put on my macro lens and set up to take a close up of one of the flowers. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw something moving. To my astonishment I saw a small white spider with pink stripes on its body. I swiftly changed my location so that I could capture an image of it. I immediately went to transfer the im-
ages onto my computer so I could get a good look at it. I wanted to know what type of spider it was. I went to Google and typed in: small white spider with pink stripes. It took me to www.talkaboutwildlife. ca (check it out). There it was in full glory a photo of the little feller that I had just taken a photo of. It was a Golden Crab Spider (misumena vatia). Isn’t Mother Nature great! Have you seen anything interesting lurking about in your garden this summer? Take a photo and send it into the Scoop! Photo credits: Barry Lovegrove.
The New Ribbon Of Life: Natural Shoreline
- Fully licensed with LLBO - Eat in and take out - Vegan & gluten-free meal options - Our Saturday-night theme menus are posted on our website
Serving produce from our own gardens Always seasonal and local fare
By Susan Moore
Friends of the Salmon River
O
n Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 pm, join our annual general meeting for a talk on Shorelines, a report of our initiatives in the last year, and elections to the new Board. Barbara King will walk us down the river and around the lake in well-worn rubber boots, explaining her Shoreline Survey work. As an ecologist with Centre for Sustainable Watersheds for 12 years, she has developed and delivered shoreline surveys and restorations. She can give us a new vision of natural shorelines on rivers and lakes, and how they protect and nourish our waterways. For those who do not live on shorelines, naturalizing yards and upland properties will be discussed as well. Our Ribbon of Life pilot program is in phase one, providing Shoreline Surveys for landowners on one section of the Salmon River. Down the road, we plan to reach out
further and improve shorelines in other communities. The AGM will take place at St. Patrick School on Hwy 41 in Erinsville. For more detail, visit our website friendsofsalmonriver.ca. Or phone Susan Moore, 613-379-5958.
Elections We are looking for new blood on the Board of Directors and it could be yours! We are a friendly group and Board meetings are every other month. Members serve twoyear terms. Participation involves a couple of days per month for meetings and project work. (Or, if you don’t wish to be on the Board, but want to participate in project work, please let us know.) If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else to the Board, please contact Dave Johnson at david.johnson@ontario.ca or 613-549-4238.
The Scoop
WOOD PELLETS now available. We Deliver
TCO 1 Dairy Avenue, Napanee
613-354-4424
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 14
18262 Telephone Road, Trenton
613-394-3371
3 Mill Pond Dr., Tamworth
613-379-2307
A Guitar, A Singer and A Song Story and photos by Barry Lovegrove
J
uno award winner Ian Tamblyn is a renowned singer, song writer, and playwright who travels the world, guitar in hand entertaining audiences in large music halls and in small intimate venues. Just recently the owners of The Waterfall Tea Room in Yarker, Barb Linds and Eric DePoe arranged for him to play at the United Church in Yarker. I got there a bit early and had the opportunity to talk with Ian outside the United Church in Yarker before he started. I told him that many people in our area are very supportive of musical talent and that there’s a great deal of talent right here in our communities. As people were filing into the church, he said: “I’ve traveled a lot around this country and you would be amazed, how many villages like Yarker there are that come out and support singers like me. It’s a privilege and a blessing for me to play in these communities.” The Waterfall Tea Room had offered a special meal that evening and then guests went across the bridge to the United Church; the Tea Room was just too small to handle the amount of interested people. When I went into the church, Ian was sitting on a stool in front of the altar tuning his Taylor guitar while his 1958 Gibson was perched on a stand waiting to be played later in his performance. The acoustics in the church were perfect: you could hear every note crystal clear. Every seat in the church was filled. Eric DePoe gave a short introduction then Ian started singing. I felt that his lyrics came from deep inside his heart and soul and recount many of his life’s journeys. When Ian is not on the road he is a guide on ships that navigate the northern parts of Canada. This gives him plenty of material for his song writing. He shared some of the stories that inspired him to write the lyrics and compose the music.
A guitar, a singer and a song. No big backup band or singers just one man alone on stage with a guitar. That’s Ian Tamblyn in a nutshell! Find out more about Ian Tamblyn from his website: http://www. tamblyn.com. And keep watch for more upcoming events at The Waterfall Tea Room. Ian Tamblyn performing at The Waterfall Tea Room in Yarker.
WAYLEN CAR WASH
A visitor to the Phil Hall - John Steffler poetry reading at the Book Store in Tamworth in August sent along this original poem about the event.
The Tamworth Reading
Great place to wash your boats, trailers, etc. before retiring them for the season... CTY RD 4, TAMWORTH
SYDENHAM VETERINARY SERVICES 3050 RUTLEDGE ROAD SYDENHAM, ON K0H 2T0 613-376-3618 www.sydvets.com Companion Animal Care including: Laser Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Endoscopy, Ultrasound Diagnostics & Dentistry A.A.H.A. Accredited Hospital
The Scoop
by Peggy Pynton Scale down everything: the weathered gate, smoke compressed to cedar. A few green steps past the pale & into the stable-hollow to the fairy feast just there on the low field-stone wall– butter-cups of porcelain laid out in ragged lines. Saucers stacked & singled. Brass pitchers to hold a scant teaspoon of flower juice. A wing. A bee. Small bundles of clover & grass tied with stems. Plates the size of thumbprints & vessels of all sorts. Arrayed. Traces of the otherworld we’re crazy not to believe in– & inside the old stable’s cat-pawed brick whirligig–rhythms of finding & being curing & purifying curl around pages, end-papers & spines to settle in layers close to the plank floor where one sits on a low pine stool brushing hair away from her face in the moist air, purposeful belonging another tucks behind the shelves with her tufted husband vigilant one plants his feet by the door book in hand leaf-by-leaf tuned & another stands at the oft-crossed threshold half within, half without cool back-breeze, half turns to listen, half smiles, undone– Bread Peace Union Gun Pen Scar
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 15
Gordon McDiarmid
Lawyer 3 Rideau St. Kingston 613-546-3274 gmcdiarmid@on.aibn.com
Congratulations Karen and best of luck with The Scoop!
BIZCARD The Scoop’s
Call us today to reserve your space: 613-379-5369
F I L E
JUST 39 BUCKS FOR A BIZCARD AD. $110 FOR 3 ISSUES. YOU CAN’T BEAT THAT!
John McClellan
Colleen’s Gardening Service
Chartered Accountant 6661 Wheeler Street, Tamworth, ON K0K 3G0 613-379-1069
for your gardening needs-
Planting, Maintenance, Design and More!
Call Colleen Martin-Fabius at 613-379-5959
Wm. (Bill) Greenley Kim Read Network and Internet Security Specialists
Wired, wireless, Network Design and Implementation Computer repairs and sales. New or reconditioned soscs@bell.net www.soscomputers.ca 613-379-5874
Buttermilk Goat Farm Lamancha & Nubian goats Fresh brown eggs for sale Goats for sale Goat raising & breeding info
English & Western Riding Equipment Giftware Boots & Hats! Tel: (613) 372-5085
Location of local 4-H Goat Club Mikaela Hird 613-379-3039 784 Miller Road Tamworth, ON
www.harrowsmithhorsecountry.com heather@harrowsmithhorsecountry.com
4930 Highway #38 Harrowsmith, ON Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9am-5:30pm Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-3pm Closed Mondays
Visit www.tamworth.ca
for an up-to-date list of community events Solid Gold Organic Pet Food. 100% organic! No Chemical Preservatives! Beef, Lamb and Fish/ Vegetarian Formulas. Pick-up or delivery available. Please call for more information and catalogue. Call the Regal Beagle: 613-379-1101
do it now!
Answers to the crossword on The Scoop Puzzle Page (page 22):
Hospice Lennox & Addington is presenting an education session for those interested in becoming a Hospice Volunteer or learning more about end of life issues. The course runs for 10 weeks starting on Monday Sept. 26th and ending on Monday Nov. 28th. Classes run from 6:30-9:30 p.m. There is a nominal fee of $40.00 to cover the cost of all course materials. A commitment of the 10 weeks is required. For more information contact Peggy or Kim at 354-0833 or email kim@landahospice.ca. The class size is limited and will fill up quickly, so please call to register.
The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 16
NOTICE ABOUT SCOOP DISTRIBUTION We are pleased to announce that starting with this issue, we have increased our distribution and now mail The Scoop free to the communities of Tamworth, Centreville, Enterprise, Erinsville, Camden East, Newburgh, Colebrook, Yarker, Harrowsmith, Verona, Hartington, Sydenham, Roblin, Selby, Parham, and Kaladar! As before, we have arranged with local retailers (convenience stores, gas stations, etc.) to carry free issues of The Scoop in these and many other locations. Subscriptions to The Scoop cost $30 + HST annually by first class mail ($33.90). We encourage you to subscribe; your subscriptions go towards our print and mailing costs.
PLEASE TELL OUR ADVERTISERS THAT “I SAW IT IN THE SCOOP” AND THAT THEIR ADVERTISING WORKS. “Advertising is the grease that keeps The Scoop’s wheels turning smoothly and brings you a quality publication.” ...the publisher
The Scoop
THE HORO-SCOOP
By The Oracle Cassandra Idola
Whispers in Raindrops ARIES March 21 – April 20 In the night Someone strums a guitar Night birds take flight Across a falling star You are capable of flying up to grasp a star streaking across the night sky. Don’t let the unknown cause fear that will hinder your progress. Take hold of your dream and fly with it. Go beyond the trivial day to day grind and do all you can to get what is best for you, don’t plod along, soar and good things will start to happen. TAURUS April 21 – May 21 Dawn’s curtain unfurls Displaying dew drop pearls Glistening on lawn and leaf They become stars, ‘tis the belief You can become a star if you listen to the pearls of wisdom that are being dropped here and there, at meetings or in elevators or anywhere you happen to be. It is up to you to make things happen. You will soon change some aspect of your life and take some definite steps in the right direction. GEMINI May 22 – June 22 Picking up sea shells Watching sea gulls While grains of sand Fall from my hand Stop procrastinating on a decision, the sands of time are running out faster than you imagine. There is no point in sitting and wishing for things to happen you must try harder to move things along. Let someone you care for know how much they mean to you. Join that Amateur Theatre Group, become a volunteer. There is so much that you can accomplish if you put your thoughts into action. CANCER June 22 – July 23 Buttercups guild the meadow A goldfinch darts by A resting deer in shadow Flicks an ear at a fly Has something or someone been annoying you for awhile? If something in your life is not okay, it can, if you work at it, be made okay. Tidy up and sort out whatever mess has been a thorn in your side. You are in control and can make things right. Don’t aim for the brass ring, reach out and grab the 18 carat gold one, it is there for you. LEO July 24 – August 23 The sky at night Is a mesmerizing sight When the moon is blue It’s an awe-inspiring view An unexpected event is in your stars. You will decide to live your life by a different set of rules; you have come to the conclusion that the old ways are not the best ways anymore. Use your ingenuity to open a portal that has been closed for too long. Treasure the changes that are coming. VIRGO August 24 – September 23 Sand and sea You and me Hand in hand Life is grand Try to see the good in other people. Be gentle and persuasive and you will accomplish a great deal in the next few weeks with the help of a partner, friend or co-worker. Difficult issues will eventually solve themselves as the month progresses. A new development will bring a sincere lasting benefit.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 17
LIBRA September 24 – October 23 Ride close to the wind It’s your adventurous twin Calling you to join him Always on a whim It might be time to stop roaming around at will and sit and wait for something to come to you. You begin to understand that you will benefit from something that you have refused to consider in the past and simply dismissed on a whim. If you are unhappy with a situation, you need not feel trapped; like the free spirit that you are just take some distinct steps in another direction. SCORPIO October 24 – November 22 A falcon Named Malcolm Patrols the sky Screeching his raucous cry Someone is trying to tell you something and you are refusing to listen. You seem to be in an atmosphere of confusion and complications. Listen to that inner voice that is trying to keep you on the right path. Trust it to lead you to a surprise solution. SAGITTARIUS November 23 – December 21 Do crystal balls Really tell all Perhaps the scene they make Is just too opaque The vision that you have for your future is the right one. Do not be sidetracked by naysayers. Whatever your fears may be, they will fall by the wayside as you take definite steps into the next stage of your life. Believe in yourself and things will become quite clear. CAPRICORN December 22 – January 20 A lightning bolt Split the sky Like a skittish colt A small cloud scudded by All sorts of opportunities are available so make sure you are where the action is. Do not shy away from a sudden explosive situation; do not add to the problem by getting emotional or being judgmental. Deal with serious matter in a light hearted manner and you will find a solution. AQUARIUS January 21 – February 19 Stormy weather came today With black clouds and rain Sang a happy little refrain And put the lawn mower away Your carefree attitude will help to scatter any storm clouds that drift your way. Keep a song in your heart and put aside any trivial matter that can be shelved for another day. Your long term goal is within reach so apply your energy to that objective. PISCES February 20 – March 20 Two happy pups In a field of buttercups Soon fall fast asleep In a contented furry heap You have put a lot of energy into several new projects. All the extra work and long hours are having an adverse effect on you. It is time to focus on the one that will prove to be beneficial and worth your effort. If you pay attention to what is important to you, your situation will improve and contentment and peace of mind will follow.
Moving Back Home By Cheryl Anderson
T
he hot, lazy days of summer are upon us after a super wet spring! As we are baking in a heat wave, areas in the West are cooler than normal. After a late start to gardening this spring, we started to prepare the soil to plant some vegetables. A few passes with the tiller and it up and died. Right after it gave up the ghost, we found out that we were leaving Ontario this summer and moving back to Nova Scotia. I guess the vegetable garden this year was not meant to be. We are still not sure of an exact departure date, but it will most likely be the latter part of August, or early September. We left Nova Scotia in late 1996, and now nearly 15 years later are returning to where it all began! This will be our 4th move since leaving the east coast. Having aging parents, it will be nice to be closer to family and it will be the first time in over 25 years that I will be living in the same province as one of my siblings. Each move we have made has been embraced as a new adventure of things to do, see and to learn about a different part of our country or world and expand our horizons. Living on the outskirts of Kingston, was a good decision when we relocated to the Kingston area! You get the peacefulness of country life, yet are close enough to the city or to the town of Napanee to obtain the things that you need. If you desire a larger metropolitan experience, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal are not that far away. There are many things I am going to miss when we leave this summer. One is the abundance of fresh vegetables and fruit available every summer and fall. From high bush blueberries and local wines in Picton, to asparagus, strawberries, raspberries etc from the local farmers. Then there is the access to local meat, organic/free range eggs, cheese and the list goes on. I hope that people living here appreciate
SENIORS’ RETIREMENT RESIDENCE
ADAIR613-379-5700 PLACE
how much is available to them and support the local farmers producing high quality food rather than supporting the food imported from the US, Mexico and other foreign countries. I am not looking forward to the shorter summers and the long winters on the East Coast. There can be huge amounts of snow from storms that slide across the Great Lakes and meet up with lows coming up the east seaboard. Sometimes there is a frost by the end of August and a killer frost early September. I think I am going to need a greenhouse! Last year I was still eating Swiss chard and Brussels sprouts from my garden into the early part of November. As we close this chapter and move on to the next, we take with us lots of great memories. Camden East has been a great place to live, work and play. Hopefully we can get out and enjoy a few more canoe paddles on Third and Second Depot Lakes. This area of Ontario has so much to offer and we will miss living here. Farewell and thank you for letting us share your community for the past six years! The Scoop is an informative, well written local paper and I encourage you to support it as well as all the local businesses so that your community continues to thrive.
Humor Me
I Am Not a Cook! By Debbie Fenton
T
o echo (well, sort of) the words of Richard Nixon, “I am not a cook!” But thank God I married one, because if left to my own devices, I would probably have scurvy by now, and certainly I would be impoverished by purchasing take-out on a daily basis. One of my best, but rare, cooking tips is: Remember to turn on the oven. I will never forget, nor will anyone let me forget, the first Thanksgiving dinner with my new in-laws. We were playing bridge, waiting for the bird to cook when my father-in-law happened to observe that there wasn’t any fragrant aroma of roasting turkey in the air. We chose to ignore this insight for another few hands. Finally even the rest of us had to agree with him: It may be Thanksgiving, but turkeys don’t cook themselves. We ate popcorn, mixed nuts and potato chips in order to fill the void. Needless to say, when it came time for the meal, no one had any appetite. I vividly remember being on a strict diet regimen about 10 years ago. I thought that by not eating anything I might be able to disguise my inability to cook. I knew I had gone too far when one day I visited a restaurant washroom and the potpourri dish started to look incredibly appetizing. When a poor cook tries to be creative, the results aren’t always tasty. I really thought that adding cranberries to the turkey soup that
Warm country comfort on the Salmon River in Tamworth. Retirement Residence for comfortable independent living. Delicious homecooked meals, full time staffing. Very reasonable rates. Vacancy now available.
The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 18
inevitably follows Christmas and Thanksgiving would be a great idea. After all who doesn’t love turkey and cranberries? I am here to tell you that no one does, if they are in soup. My husband and I found a recipe for gum drop cake, which we liked when someone else had baked it. Unfortunately, as it turns out, more is not necessarily better. We substituted regular gum drops for the miniature ones called for in the recipe. The result was a bunch of congealed sugar lodged like rocks at the bottom of a cliff, with heaps of sunken cake lodged like molten lava on top. Another creative failure! I have recently decided that the only way I can claim any semblance of integrity is to become “a specialist”. My metier is now ground beef. I cook hamburgers, meat pie, tacos, spaghetti, lasagna, sloppy joes, and shepherd’s pie. I come by this ability honestly. When my mother, a secretary to the Director of Education, received a call from her father at work one day, he had a cooking request. He asked her for her recipe for sweet and sour sauce. She told him that she usually just bought it in a jar, but why did he want it? His response was that he had just shot a groundhog, and he thought that a shot of sweet and sour sauce might just perk it up. Now I ask you, is cooking in the genes?
Herding the Flock By Sally Bowen Amherst Island
S
heep need to pasture and shepherds need to make it available for them. Fortunately for us, it has been a great growing season. We own land but we also have to lease a great deal more pasture land, much of which we’ve fenced and all of which we’ve improved. A field needs to be thoroughly grazed, but after all their favorite grasses and legumes are gone we have to move our flock to another pasture. Unfortunately not all the leased fields are close by so sheep drives along accessible roads are a necessity. We used to use an army of kids and adults on bicycles and on foot, asking our neighbours to keep dogs in and to stand at their laneway or by their flowerbeds to help us protect their space. We also erected temporary fencing that we later tore down. Often we’re the best entertainment in town, and folks will come out holding cups of coffee and taking videos of the action. Now we are able to afford ATVs, (which handle ditches and fields rather better than bicycles) but still we need the people. We avoid the heat of the day to lessen the stress on the sheep and
we try to time our planned departure according to the ferry schedule, not wanting to delay a neighbour’s drive to the ferry boat. We send the ATVs around the back of the field, gently moving the flock towards the exit gate, hopefully keeping ewes and lambs together. The lamb’s instinct is to circle back to where they last saw mama, and they are difficult to herd alone. During one of our recent drives, we got half of the flock (1300) out on the road using the two ATVs leading the way, but the other two shepherds couldn’t get the rest of the flock out of the trees. After several futile attempts, we closed the gate, took the first group a km up the road, and then went back for the second half. The neighbours and visiting artists from the Lodge loved it and the sheep and farmers were glad that it was over. After weaning we have to move the entire flock of lambs across five fields to the safety of the Predator Resistant Fenced area. One thing you have to know: Sheep don’t herd, they whirlpool. It took an hour and a half and much patience, but the job was finally done. Everyone is now eating, safe and content.
Photos (from top): 1. About 1300 ewes and lambs, starting out on the road 2. Some mavericks found an escape route, but are returning to the road 3. All safely in the new field, watched by our crew of volunteer helpers
The Tamworth Canada Day Committee and the Stone Mills Firefighters Association – Tamworth Station would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for their support with our SeptemberFest Fundraiser, NoiseFest Fundraiser and Canada Day Celebrations in Tamworth this year. Adair Place Retirement Residence Ambassador Conference Resort At Home Bed & Breakfast A & W – Napanee Barry Lovegrove Beaver Lake Variety Bence Motors Canadian Heritage – Celebrate Canada Program Cindy Haggerty Cintas – Napanee Colleen’s Gardening Service Country Traditions Donna Moss Eric & Linda Smith Four Points by Sheraton Frito Lay Gerry Haggerty Giant Tiger - Napanee Gillan Trucking Hannah Funeral Services Ltd. James Clarey John Burns Kate MacDonald Ken Silver Kevin Huffman Leon Sagriff – Kirkwood Group Lonestar Texas Grill Maggie Bawn Maple Leaf Entertainment Marshall Automotive McDonald’s - Napanee McKeown & Wood
Moss’ Garage Napanee Opticians O’Neill’s Farm Supply Robert Gaffney Roger Babbs – Molson Coors Royal Canadian Legion-BR 458 Shoeless Joe’s – Napanee Smart Florist Stinson Studios Stone Mills Construction Stone Mills Family Market Stone Mills Fire Department – Tamworth Station Storring Septic Service Stuart MacLaughlin Tammy Holden Tamworth & District Lion Club Tamworth Drug Store Tamworth Medical Centre Tamworth Quilters Tamworth Variety & Gas Bar Tamworth Village Video Tamworth/Erinsville Community Development Committee The Grindstone Restaurant The Lakeview Tavern The Napanee Beaver The Napanee Guide The Penalty Box Tony & Debbie Wilson Township of Stone Mills Walmart – Napanee Tyner Construction Waylen Car Wash
We would also like to thank all of those who helped out in some way and those who volunteered their time on July 1st, Sept 1st and Sept 2nd . Thank you to all of our committee members who do so much. The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 19
An Eastern Back Roader By Angela Saxe
S
haring twenty years of back road experiences certainly builds and strengthens a friendship. During all those years, Barb and I have taken to the open road with enthusiasm and the desire to experience something new and exciting. Whether we drive the back roads of South Frontenac or Lennox and Addington, or we head east along the 401 to Quebec or the Maritimes, we are always searching for the unpredictable turn in the road, the hidden gem and the right superlative adjective to capture the sight in front of us. This year we headed off to the highlands of Cape Breton where the brochures proclaim that “The mountains meet the sea!” It’s true they do. The tree clad mountains, often enveloped in fog or misty rain, plunge their rocky feet straight into the cold Atlantic or into the Gulf of St. Laurent. While everyone back home wilted in temperatures reaching upwards of 38 degrees, we wore every layer we brought to keep warm in the 12 degree temperatures. The north wind was blowing fiercely while we soldiered on, walking the beaches near Dingwall while huge breakers roared into shore. It was exhilarating to feel the power of the sea and the wind. No matter that my shoes were soaking wet and my
glasses were covered in salt spray; we loved it for its rough beauty and old communities that trace their roots to the Acadians who were forcibly relocated there and to the early Scottish and Irish settlers. Unless we were going to stay indoors all day, we decided to stop avoiding the nasty rain, which came at us at a sharp angle from the north and got into the car to see what was further down the coast. We followed the road along a spit of land called White Point. The road ends in the small fishing hamlet of White Point where a small cove provides shelter for the brightly coloured fishing boats bobbing in the waves. Leaving our car, we ventured along the kilometer-long point, careful not to slip on the greasy rocks or to sink into the mossy barrens. Scattered throughout were defiant little bluebells, bending and twisting in the wind. As the point narrowed and the sound of the surf crashing into the rust coloured rocks below us amplified, I saw a tall, narrow cross up ahead, stark white, unadorned and lonely against that big sky. Below it lay a cordoned off area that was identified by a hand carved sign: Unknown Sailors. Our road trips always include stops at the local cemeteries (see the May/June 2011 edition of
The Scoop) to read the names and to gain some historical perspective on the landscape, but this time our wanderings had led us to one of the loneliest and saddest places I’ve ever been to. There were no headstones or well tended flowers, no names, no dates – just uncut rocks of granite protruding from the shallow soil marking the grave of a sailor who had been washed ashore with no identification, no means of ever contacting his family. Over 175 shipwrecks have been recorded in the waters along Cape Breton; you can go scuba diving through the old wrecks or visit museums to see the artifacts. A young woman who worked in one of the local museums told us that you have to go out into the deep water to find anything; it’s rare for a piece of crockery or a piece of shipping gear to wash ashore. Some of those ships were filled with men who had spent their lives catching fish for the markets, bringing provisions for settlers or who returning from trading expeditions, but some were bringing newcomers who must have hoped that this land would bring them prosperity, opportunities, a hope
for a new life. The sea that we found exhilarating as we walked along the pebble beach, was hazardous and terrifying to those who made their living from it or who saw it as an obstacle to overcome in order to reach a new land. We returned to Ontario and stripped off the layers of clothing as we met the intense, humid heat of central Canada. Green farmland with ripening crops stretched out in front of us as we made our way back to our homes. I jumped into the cool waters of a nearby lake ringed by granite cliffs and as I floated leisurely, I thought how very fortunate I am to live in a land rich in diversity and beauty. Canada has been a place worth coming to for generations of people from all parts of the world and as we watch the images of people starving in Somalia or being killed in Syria, our road trip reminded us that this country has always been a haven to the poor and the dispossessed and many still risk everything to make the journey to this very special part of the world.
TOWNSHIP OF STONE MILLS NEWS PROPERTY TAX UPDATE – AUGUST 2011 2011 Final Property Taxes
The 2011 final Property tax notice was mailed out the last week of June, 2011. The final installment of property taxes on this notice is due FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011.
Fire Safety Message from the Stone Mills Fire Fighters
Payments can be made through online and telephone banking, at most financial institutions (please present both pages of tax notice ), pre authorized payment plan, post dated cheques, cash, interac or by our drop box at the side of the municipal office. Please be advised that we do not accept credit cards. Please contact the tax office if you have not received your 2011 property tax notice. Failure to receive this bill does not exempt you from payment or penalty charges. Please be advised that all Minutes of Settlement, Section 357 Applications, Farm tax rebate adjustments for the current year are being processed this month. If you are expecting an adjustment to your property taxes and have not received them by the end of September, please call the tax office. Supplementary and omitted assessment will be processed in September. To ensure prompt delivery of your property tax notices, please provide the tax office with your current mailing address including any post office box number, civic address, etc. For inquiries or concerns regarding your property or taxes, please call the tax office at 613-378-2475. If you have any questions, please contact The Municipal Office at 613-378-2475 Darlene Plumley, C.A.O. Clerk Township of Stone Mills www.stonemills.com
The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 20
Save the Snakes: One Man’s Mission By Grace Smith
S
nakes have been around for over 100 million years, but today, they are threatened by none other than human beings. We have come to fear our slithering friends, lashing out at what is unknown, and our actions may completely stamp out their entire existence. But not if Matt Ellerbeck has anything to say about it. Ellerbeck, or the Snake Man as he is known, is a snake advocate and conservationist. His mission is “to help contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered snake species and declining snake populations. And to help bring an end to immense cruelty and abuse that snakes often face.” Ellerbeck, who is a native of the area, grew up around snakes. He was never taught to fear or hate them like many people have and that has made all the difference. As a child, he spent all of his summers at his grandparents’ cottage, prowling around marshes, ponds, swamps and forests. This is where he first became acquainted with his favourite reptile: snakes, and his interest grew. Over the years, he has encountered and observed thousands of snakes but he soon discovered that people did not share his interest: “I learned quickly that many people harbour a fear and hatred of these animals and this concerned me. When I heard people say negative things about snakes, I would defend them.” Ellerbeck’s interest in snakes only grew as the years passed. “As I got older, my passion and concern for snakes never waned and in 2004, I approached the local conservation authority about developing a snake conservation outreach program.” The objective of this program was to educate people about the true nature of snakes as an effort to help alleviate the hatred and persecution that snakes often receive: “So many myths and misconceptions surround snakes and this misinformation certainly contributes to people’s ill feelings towards them.” Plainly, people need to be taught. Ellerbeck does this by providing people with much needed information about snakes. To get his point across, he uses the media, social networking sites, fact sheets and educational presentations. I was given the opportunity to attend one of Ellerbeck’s presentations at Desert Lake Family Resort—where he has been giving presentations regularly since September 2005—and I wasn’t disappointed. Ellerbeck’s presentation was quite informative, entertaining and enlightening. He spoke passionately, acting as a voice for his silent friends. He touched on many topics during his presentation: myths and
misconceptions concerning snakes, how the media has misconstrued the way we view snakes, how humans are endangering the lives of snakes everywhere and what we can do to save them. And not only did Ellerbeck use facts to support his words, he showed us. He used live snakes in his presentation as a way of proving that snakes are gentle, docile creatures that have been given an undeserved, bad reputation. He even encouraged us to pet the snakes. Ellerbeck does not promote keeping snakes as pets; however the snakes in his presentations have all been rescued from homes where they were neglected or even abused. Though he is breaking his own rule, Ellerbeck uses these snakes for the greater good of all snakes, and it worked. I came into the presentation slightly fearful and very weary, but walked away, after even petting some of the snakes—something I thought I’d never do—very informed and not afraid.
Saskatchewan, Montreal and Manitoba. This includes television, radio, newspapers and magazines. He has also been featured in American media in many different states and internationally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, Australia and New Zealand. Ellerbeck runs numerous online campaigns about snakes to raise awareness. He has also taken in many snakes from neglectful homes and cared for them. These include: anacondas, a Burmese python, a reticulated python, boa constrictors, Amazon tree boas, rear fanged colubrids, several cobras and many more. And all of this is done in the name of snakes. But you might ask: why should we save the snakes? The answer is simply - snakes are beneficial animals to have around. Many snakes’ diets consist of insects and rodents. When snake populations decline, the populations of these prey increase, often causing problems for humans, such
But I shouldn’t have been surprised. He has given hundreds of educational presentations on snakes to thousands of people over the years at many different locations, including: St. Lawrence Islands National Park, the Green Up Environmental Festivals, King’s Town Private School, Ernestown Secondary School, St. Lawrence College, Queen’s University, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Desert Lake Family Resort. After all, Ellerbeck’s work has earned him several honours: he was presented with a special honorarium from the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority to recognize his dedication to snake conservation, he was nominated for a Green Globe Award from the Commerce and Engineering Environment Conference, he was named a Visionary by Within Kingston Magazine and he has been described as “so full of enthusiasm, he looks like he will burst at any moment” by the South Frontenac Natural Environment Committee. Ellerbeck has appeared in media in Ontario, British Columbia,
as: rodent and insect infestations, destroyed crops and spread of unwanted diseases. Snakes keep the number of insects and rodents in check and they do it naturally— without the use of harsh chemicals or pesticides. Also, snakes help save millions of lives every year. Snake venoms are used to treat many serious health problems like cancers, heart and stroke disease, Parkinson’s and many more. Snakes are our friends, but they are disappearing fast and it is our fault. All of Ontario’s 16 snake species are in decline and over half are federally listed as a Species At Risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Snakes are dying off as a direct result of human beings. Threats such as habitat destruction and road mortality contribute to the loss of snakes, but the largest threat is the deliberate and malicious killings done by fearful people. Unfortunately this fear is undeserved. Many people believe that snakes are aggressive and poisonous. However, this is not true. Snakes are shy and
The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 21
timid and will try to avoid conflict at all costs. They will not make unprovoked attacks on people. If humans come into contact with a snake, the snake’s first instinct is to flee to shelter. If it can’t do this, it may stay perfectly still to try to blend into its surroundings. And even if it is captured, it still may not resort to biting. It may hiss, make mock strikes with a closed mouth or flail around to try and escape. Snake bites on humans usually only happen when someone is deliberately provoking or harming a snake and they bite in self-defence, and even then they don’t usually inject venom. This is no different than any other animal, including cats and dogs. So how can you save the snakes? If you see a snake on the road, help it across. Walking towards it will likely cause it to slither away. Do not buy snake products of any kind. Do not use rat poison. Do not use erosion netting or any similar netting and traps. Do not catch snakes from the wild for pets. Do not release captive or exotic snakes into the wild. Do not support snake charmers or “side show” snake handlers When out in natural areas that snakes frequent, be respectful. Properly dispose of garbage and recycle. Do not pick up, handle or capture snakes in the wild, observe only. Send out positive messages about snakes to people. Keep others informed. Do what you can to save the snakes. People everywhere are ignorant to the truth about them, but you can help Matt Ellerbeck on his quest to change all of that; “My mission is to educate and inspire people to want to protect snakes and become their stewards.” If we all follow in his example, the world will be a better place in which snakes everywhere will not have to fear for their lives and we will know better than to fear them. If you would like to contact Matt Ellerbeck, you may email him at mattellerbeck@live.com or visit his website, www.the-snake-man. com. Top photo: Matt Ellerbeck and assistant Bottom: Cassandra Coleman
by Mike Torch / Will Shortz ŠThe New York Times Across 1. Beginning 6. What icicles do 10. Church recess 14. Baby grand, e.g. 15. Musical set in ancient Egypt 16. Lecherous look 17. Prevent legally 18. Bucks' mates 19. Riot spray 20. What a cadet won't do (or tolerate those who do), per the West Point honor code 23. Bale contents 24. Four years for a U.S. president 25. "My gal" of song 28. Kind of torch on "Survivor" 31. Noshes 35. Old 37. Siestas 39. Spread around 40. TV title role for Pierce Brosnan 43. Occupied, as a restroom 44. Blue-pencil 45. Coarse file 46. They're stuck in milk shakes 48. Eject in all directions 50. Bon ___ (witticism) 51. Studio stages 53. Lived 55. Supertough 61. Destiny 63. Become tiresome 64. Throw, as a shot put 65. Dr. Frankenstein's assistant 66. Swedish furniture giant 67. 50's-60's singing sensation
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
26
27
35
29
30
37
36
31 38
41
34
59
60
45 48
47
49
52
55
53 56
50 54
57
58
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
62
33
39
44
51
61
32
The Scoop Puzzle Page
42
43 46
13
24 28
40
12
22
23 25
11
8
4
3
9
2
7
4
8
1
3 7 68. Violinists' needs 69. Golf pegs 70. Fishing rod attachments Down 1. European car 2. Not yet final, at law 3. Completely fill, as a hungry person 4. Tennyson's ___ Arden 5. Attire accompanying a cane 6. Early baby word 7. Prison unrest 8. That is, in Latin 9. Affixes in a scrapbook, say 10. School for which one feels nostalgic 11. Ring
12. "Just a ___!" ("Hold on!") 13. Before, in verse 21. Watching intently 22. Artist Max 25. Calcutta dresses 26. Ten-percenter 27. Tree-dwelling primate 29. Shakespearean shrew 30. Devices getting music downloads 32. It's skimmed off the top 33. Kutcher character on "That 70's Show" 34. Took the World Series in four games 36. Hurricanes, fires, etc. 38. Scissors cut 41. More modern
42. Frets 47. "Quit that!" 49. Laundromat fixture 52. What a charmer may charm 54. Inscribed pillar 55. Put away for later 56. Merriment 57. "'Tis a shame" 58. Icicle's place 59. Blackhearted 60. Not so much 61. Little lie 62. "Long ___ ‌"
9
1
2
6 8
3
2
5
9
6
5
7
2 100-207-54636
4 9 8
6
5
7
5
6 1 9
8 3
4 7
6 7 3 6
5
2
1
8
3
7 7
3
4
5 3
9 9
2 8
7
1
4
4 1
3
6 3
6
110-88-4506
http://qualitysudokus.com Pag. 1/1
http://qualitysudokus.com Pag. 1/1
The Scoop
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 22
1st ANNIVERSARY
We invite you to celebrate the 1st Anniversary on
September 23, 2011 11am - 2pm
Get up to 40% off store brand products!
Charmin Bathroom Tissue 8 Double Rolls
$3.99
While quantities last, limit one coupon per person. Valid Sept. 23, 2011
Tylenol EX Tabs/Caps 150’s
Come and celebrate with your family pharmacist, Hany Girgis B. Sc., Phm. & his friendly staff, Maggie and Katrina
$9.99
While quantities last, limit one coupon per person. Valid Sept. 23, 2011
Get a
Certificate All Major Drug Plans Accepted $10.00 Gift for every Transferring your prescriptions... it’s easy.
$50 purchase
(Excluding prescriptions)
Fresh local apples arriving weekly!
CAFÉ & PATIO
TAMWORTH
11 CONCESSION STREET S.
613-379-2972
Serving You Breakfast Lunch & DINNER
SQUARE BOY PIZZA BAKED FRESH IN STORE!
HOME OF THE BIGFOOT
DELIVERY AVAILABLE TO SURROUNDING AREA Call our hot pizza hotline to order:
378-2000
From 8am - 7:30pm
Wednesday thru Saturday
Sundays from 9am - 4pm The BEST Fresh Breads, Buns, Cinnamon Rolls, Muffins & Bagels
BAKED DAILY
Sl oow Ribs!
& Gourmet
FRESH SUBS!
WINGS . WEDGE FRIES . GARLIC BREAD PANZEROTTIS . BREADSTIX
Open All Day! and
Pizza!
EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT T AKE O UT / E AT I N
OR T AKE H OME A R EADY T O E AT & H EAT M EAL
The Scoop
- Country Style - Coffee & fresh baked goods daily - Nestle Ice Cream (scoop) & Slush Puppies - Gas, diesel, propane, ice & worms - Grocery needs
FIREWORKS!
Come pay us a visit in Camden East
- Movie rentals - Shoes, boots & clothing - Local Quinn’s meats - Wilton cheese - Reinink’s eggs - Pumpkins - Lots of squash, & produce arriving daily!
613-378-2683
Weekdays: 5:30 am-9:30 pm Fri-Sat: 6 am-10:30 pm Sundays: 7 am-9:30 pm
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Page 23
McCormick’s Country Store
Mildred McNamara compiled and published the Celebrating the 175th Anniversary of Erinsville Cookbook which can be purchased for $15. The cookbook shares old family recipes as well as Irish traditional dishes and remedies. Memories of Erinsville by Michael Hopkins for $10 is still available. Contact Mildred McNamara at 613-379-2694.
T H E A L R E A D Y FA M O U S
Photos above: Participants in the Roblin Wesleyan Church VBS Hometown Nazareth week in August.
LAND CLEARING SEPTIC SYSTEMS & BASEMENTS PIPELINE CABLE . LANDSCAPING TRUCKING & EQUIPMENT RENTALS Rick Tuepah RR#3 Roblin 613-388-2460 Cell: 613-561-6585
SALMON RIVER SEAFOOD
We’re bringing you the world’s best wild BC salmon, Albacore tuna, Sablefish and other exotic seafood. Frozen portions, fillets and shellfish available, all conveniently vacuum packed. Buy Wholesale and save! salmonrivercompany@gmail.com www.wildbcfish.ca BLOG: https://wildfishmonger.wordpress.com/ Afishionado archive: http://community.icontact.com/p/wildbcfish 613-379-1128 Fall-Winter retail hours: By arrangement 5 Ottawa Street, Tamworth. In the old hotel.
WE OFFER DELIVERY TO ALL OF EASTERN ONTARIO INCLUDING TORONTO AND OTTAWA Our wholesale distribution is now handled by Findlay Foods in Kingston.