country roads spring 2014

C O V E R I N G T H E A R T S , O U T D O O R S , H I S T O R Y, P E O P L E A N D P L A C E S

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4

Country Roadscelebrating life in hastings county

Country Roads

celebrating life in hastings county

Country Roads


Country Roads


RC

STEP INTO THE SECRET WORLD OF THE DRAGONFLYTAKE BACK YOUR SHORELINE IN 7 EASY STEPSHASTINGS IS FOR LOVERS – AND WE CAN PROVE IT!

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Country Roadscelebrating life in hastings county

Country Roads


Country Roads


Country Roads


RCCO-PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Nancy Hopkins613 395-0499

CO-PUBLISHER & EDITORJohn Hopkins613 395-0499

SALES DEPARTMENT

SOUTH HASTINGS & AREAJennifer Richardson

[email protected] 613.922.2135

CENTRAL HASTINGS & AREA Nancy Hopkins

[email protected]

NORTH HASTINGS & AREAHope McFall

[email protected] 613.202.1541

ART DIRECTORJozef VanVeenen

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSOrland French Angela Hawn

Sharon HendersonBarry PenhaleLindi Pierce

Sheena RowneyMichelle Annette Tremblay

Sarah VanceShelley Wildgen

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSRobert Ferguson

Sharon HendersonJozef VanVeenen

INTERNMaddie Budding

COUNTRY ROADS, Celebrating Life in Hastings County is published four times a year by PenWord Communications Inc. Copies are distributed to select locations throughout Hastings County including the communities of Bancroft, Belleville, Madoc, Marmora, Stirling and Tweed. Copies are also delivered to select homes within southern Ontario.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 1 year: $14.69 2 years: $27.13 3 years: $35.03

All prices include H.S.T.

The contents of this publication are protected by copyright. Reproduction of this publication in whole or in part without prior written permission of PenWord Communications Inc. is prohibited.

The advertising deadline for the Summer 2014 issue is May 9, 2014.

COVER PHOTO: Photo by Robert Ferguson

Made possible with the support of the Ontario Media Development Corporation

HOW TO CONTACT US Telephone: 613 395-0499Facsimile: 613 395-0903

E-mail: [email protected]: www.countryroadshastings.ca

For written enquiries you can reach us at: PenWord Communications Inc.

P.O. Box 423, Stirling, ON K0K 3E0

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c o n t r i b u t o r s

When putting together each issue of Country Roads we often find ourselves alternating between the role of student and teacher.

For example, when Robert Ferguson, the contributor of this issue’s cover fea-ture, first approached us with his magnificent dragonfly photos we knew as much about these insects as probably most of you – that is to say, not a lot. But as we talked with Robert and went over his photos with him, the learning process took place. We were students, taking notes and cramming as much info into our brains

as we could. Now, in presenting Robert’s work to you, we feel more like the teachers, offering the information so our readers can learn and hopefully enjoy the experience as much, if not more, than we did.

In discussing his interest in photographing dragonflies, Robert describes his fascination with exploring the natural world when he was a youngster. In our 21st century society, how many of us can say we feel the same way, or more importantly, instill that spirit of curiosity in our children?

As Robert’s magnificent photos and words show, there is a remarkable and fascinating world around us that we too often fail to appreciate. Our children exist in a disconnect where they are spellbound by the artificial images they see on television or through video games, yet fail to notice the spectacular views the real world can offer.

Encouraging an appreciation of our natural environment is important not only as an end in itself, but also so we can understand how our actions impact the delicate balance of life on earth. Our existence depends on a fragile interplay among all the living things on our planet, and we are in danger of upsetting the balance to the point of no return.

Indeed, part of Robert’s purpose in photographing dragonflies is to record the different species and, as an extension, try to use this information to get a sense of the health of our waterways, a critical barometer in the overall well being of our planet.

The next generation cannot hope to appreciate our dilemma by living in a world of fantasy observed through a screen. Only by stepping out into the real world and experiencing the rhythm of nature firsthand can they get a true perspective.

While Robert’s photos are magnificent on their own, we hope they also stimulate an interest in exploring and appreciating nature. We hope parents take the opportunity to share this article with their children, and teachers do the same with their students. It would be wonderful to think that a youngster could see this article and be stimulated to go outside and explore nature this summer, much as Robert Ferguson did when he was a boy.•Nancy & John Hopkins

Phot

o: H

aley

Ash

ford

e d i t o r i a l

Venture over the hill for a memorable experience…

May June July August

September November December

3rd 22nd 19th 14th-17th Farmers Market Strawberry Social Hastings County Craft Stirling Agricultural Fair Opening Weekend Farmtown Park Beer Festival Stirling Fairgrounds 98 East Front Street Farmtown Park 3rd-4th Stirling Automotive Stirling Art in the Park & Antique Flea Market Henry Street Park Stirling Fairgrounds

6th 20th 5th Water Buffalo Food Festival Starlite House Tour Stirling Santa Clause Parade Mill Street Stirling Area Homes

21st-23rd 7th Christmas at Farmtown Park Springbrook Santa Clause Parade

For more information visit our website at www.stirling-rawdon.com

Angela Hawn thanks her lucky stars for landing in Hastings Coun-ty after years of an ‘on the road’ lifestyle teaching ESL in Asia, Europe and the Canadian Arctic. Although she loves to travel, some chance meetings here with a few people in the publishing business

finally allowed her to put to use a few things learned long ago at Carleton University’s journalism school.

When not writing or travelling, Angela enjoys the inspiration and humour consistently delivered by the nine- and 10-year-olds seen in her day job as an el-ementary school teacher.

Her dream job? Why, travel writer, of course. In-terested parties take note: for the right assignment, she’d work cheap. Closer to home, Angela seeks edi-torial advice and often, just plain old validation, from fellow travelling companions, husband, Mike, and their two incredible daughters, Maddie and Isobel.

Shelley Wildgen was raised ‘ra-dio.’ Both parents worked at CJBQ in Belleville and by the time Shel-ley was 14, so did she. Her years have included stints writing and broadcasting at stations as close as Belleville, and as far afield as Kingston, Winnipeg and Bermuda.

In recent years, Shelley turned her pen to writing fea-tures for magazines and her voice is heard regularly on all ‘2001 Audio Video’ radio commercials in the Toronto area. Now she teaches Media at Loyalist Col-lege and spends her off time relaxing in her wee home on the Trent River - watching the beavers, herons, frogs and turtles fight for top billing on the shoreline.


VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1 , SPRING 2014

Contents8 16

2220

F E A T U R E S8 UP CLOSE AND

PERSONAL By Robert Ferguson

16 MADE FOR LOVERS By Angela Hawn

20 NO SLOWING DOWN! By Angela Hawn

22 A WELCOME RETREAT By Ewa Bednarczuk

D E P A R T M E N T S6 EDITORIAL6 CONTRIBUTORS14 ARTISANS AT HAND A natural touch

26 ADVERTISER INDEX28 COUNTRY CALENDAR29 MARKETPLACE30 JUST SAYING Dogged Determination

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They are an unmistakable part of an On-tario summer. With their distinctive, long bodies, scooting through the air like miniature helicopters, dragonflies

have always captured the imagination. Their look can be menacing and their large, compound eyes downright spooky, but as voracious preda-tors of other insects, we tend to regard dragon-flies as allies in the battle against mosquitoes and other irritating summer bugs.

If success is measured in terms of longevity, then dragonflies are near the top of the pyramid. The fossil record shows that dragonflies have existed for more than 300 million years – well before the dinosaurs appeared. Today, dragon-flies and damselflies number more than 5,000 species worldwide, inhabiting every continent except Antarctica.

Hastings County has a diverse dragonfly com-munity of over 100 species and Robert Ferguson

has been photographing them for the past three years. A self-described “nature nut”, this retired biologist has played a key role in identifying the various species through his photographs.

“I am often asked how I became interested in photographing dragonflies,” says Ferguson, who lives near Marmora. “For me, the answer is simple. Ever since my childhood days on a family farm in Brock Township, I have been fascinated by nature. As a boy, each time that I ventured out into the hayfields and forests and wetlands, I would learn something new and exciting about the other living creatures that shared my child-hood realm.

“The same holds true today. Each exploration unveils to me remarkable details of the natural beauty of Hastings County’s rural landscapes and its untamed inhabitants. On every jour-ney, my profound connection with nature is re-affirmed. This is why I spend countless hours

photographing darners and damselflies, butter-flies and birds, ferns and fungi. Sharing my pho-tographs is a way for me to encourage others to discover for themselves the fascinating and colourful world of dragonflies.”

Ferguson’s photos and accompanying text pro-vide a dynamic look into the inner world of these unique insects.

Darners The dragonflies known as “darners” are familiar to most people because they are large, conspic-uous, and among the most active flyers. They patrol back and forth, up and down, and even sideways like miniature helicopters as they hunt for insect prey among shoreline plants.

Most darners, such as the Springtime Darner, have blue spots or blotches on a long, cylindri-cal abdomen, as well as a boldly striped thorax. Darners have exceptionally large eyes, contribut-

Up close and personalInside the dynamic world of dragonflies

Story and photos by Robert FergusonSpringtime Darner


ing to their success as efficient hunters of many flying insects, including mosquitoes, butterflies and even other dragonflies.

Life CycleDragonflies and damselflies begin their life cycle in water. You may be surprised to learn that the dragonfly you see darting past your head may be one, two or three years old – even though adults live for only a few weeks. The first months or years of a dragonfly’s life are spent near the bot-tom of a pond or stream as an aquatic larva, or ‘nymph’. Even in their larval stage, dragonflies are voracious predators, eating other inverte-brates and even small fish and tadpoles.

Dragonflies lay their eggs in a variety of aquat-ic habitats. “I was fortunate indeed to photograph

this female Cyrano Darner depositing her eggs in the shallow margins of the Crowe River,” Fer-guson explains. “In over three years of dragonfly ‘hunting’, this is only the second time that I have observed a Cyrano Darner in Hastings County.

“If you are curious how the Cyrano Darner re-ceived its name, take a close look at the darner’s face in profile. The Cyrano Darner was, in fact, named after Cyrano de Bergerac – evidence that even taxonomists have a sense of humour!”

When a dragonfly nymph has completed its development, it crawls out of the water onto an exposed rock, log or plant stem, where a remark-able transformation occurs. A split develops on the top of the thorax and slowly an adult dragonfly emerges. At this point, its wings and abdomen are folded accordion-style. It takes an hour or more in

the warm air before the wings and abdomen are fully expanded. The newly emerged adult is then able to fly. All that remains of the larval stage is an alien-looking brown ‘skin’, with the opening where the adult emerged clearly visible.

Newly emerged adults are readily recognized by the shiny appearance of their wings, as evi-denced by this photo of an immature mead-owhawk. During the first few days, immature dragonflies also lack the bright colours and deep pigmentation of mature adults.

ClubtailsDespite their relatively large size, “clubtail” drag-onflies are often overlooked because they spend most of their time perched motionless on the ground. Their somber yellow and brown colours

Springtime Darner

Dragonfly nymph (shed skin)

Cyrano Darner

Immature Meadowhawk


are perfect camouflage. Most clubtails – like this Lancet Clubtail – are passive hunters, preferring to rest on the ground or on low vegetation, where they wait for unsuspecting insect prey to fly past.

The largest of the clubtails, with a wingspan of four inches, the Dragonhunter’s reputation as a predator of other dragonflies is well earned. It is perhaps the most fearsome-looking dragonfly of all. Recognizable by its bold black and yel-

low stripes, the Dragonhunter spends much of its time perched on the tips of shoreline plants or on exposed boulders in mid-stream.

The Lilypad Clubtail, with its bright tur-quoise eyes, appears in early to mid-June. You may need a kayak or canoe to get close to Lily-pad Clubtails because, as the name suggests, they are only found in habitats where lilypads or other floating plants occur.

Male – Female Differences In some dragonflies, such as the Eastern Pond-hawk and Common Whitetail, the females and males are very different in appearance. Mature male pondhawks are mostly blue with deep blue eyes and a striking green face. Females, in contrast, are mostly pale green with blackish blotches on the abdomen. Pondhawks are fre-quently encountered in central Hastings County

Lilypad Clubtail

Dragonhunter

Lancet Clubtail

Eastern Pondhawk - Male

Common Whitetail - Male

Eastern Pondhawk - Female

Common Whitetail - Female


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Common Whitetails are often observed perched on shoreline rocks, bedrock outcrops, roads and other bare surfaces. The white body of the male shines like a beacon when it takes flight. The female lacks this feature; instead, it has a row of indistinct spots along the sides of its abdomen. The wing pattern is also decidedly different.

DamselflyDamselflies are closely related to dragonflies, but are easily recognized by their much small-er eyes, very slender metallic bodies, and wing positioning when at rest. Unlike their robust, dragonfly cousins, damselflies hold their wings together along both sides of their abdomen, as

portrayed in this photo of an Ebony Jewelwing. One of the most reliable locations to view this beautiful damselfly is the O’Hara Mill Home-stead & Conservation Area, northwest of Madoc – especially along the creek downstream of the millpond dam.

SkimmersThe group of dragonflies known as “skimmers” includes some of the most colourful and distinct-ly patterned species. One of the most striking and photogenic is the butterfly-like Hallowe’en Pennant, with its boldly marked orange wings and reddish eyes. Hallowe’en Pennants are quite easy to find in Hastings County from mid to late summer. They are often found quite far from water, in dry meadows, hayfields and other open grassy areas.

One of the first dragonflies to emerge in the spring, the golden-tinged Four-spotted Skim-mer has its thorax and abdomen covered with fine hairs. During chilly May mornings, this dragonfly seeks a sunny perch and its fur-like covering acts like a solar blanket, maintaining an envelope of warm air around its body. The covering is most visible from below, when a resting adult is backlit against a dark background.

The Blue Dasher is very distinctive, with its bluish abdomen, reddish eyes and tiger-striped thorax. This small and rather shy species acquired its name from its habit of dashing into cover when it is approached. All dragonflies have excellent vi-sion and most are easily spooked by approaching objects, including hopeful photographers!

“This is why I prefer to use a telephoto lens, rather than a macro lens, because subjects can

Ebony Jewelwing Hallowe’en Pennant


be photographed without approaching too closely,” states Ferguson. “Even then, to outwit these wary and vigilant predators, I have discovered that patience, persistence and a great deal of stealth are of-ten necessary.”

The diversity of colour and pattern in the skimmers seems almost endless. With practice, you may be able to spot other skimmers that are relatively common in Hastings County, including the Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Widow Skimmer, White-faced Meadowhawk and Slaty Skimmer.•

Four-spotted Skimmer

Slaty Skimmer Blue Dasher

Widow Skimmer White-faced Meadowhawk

Robert FergusonCurrently a resident of Marmora, Robert Ferguson has spent his profes-sional life studying the natural world. He graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science degree and completed his Masters, specializing in Wildlife Ecology, at the University of Manitoba.

Ferguson began his professional ca-reer as Assistant Curator of Ornithol-ogy at the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Ottawa and most recently was the proprietor of MATRIX Re-source Services in Golden, B.C., where he consulted on wildlife inventory and monitoring projects


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ARTISANS AT HAND

Laurane Schofield runs a small business from Marmora called Mahonia’s. She has a youthful exuberance and

appearance. She sings and smiles while she works so that it always seems as if she is playing. Schofield is also a

reiki master/teacher and a certified reflexologist.

A natural touchMarmora artist creates range of healthful products

Would you describe what you do for those unacquainted with your work?

I create soaps, body products and organic gourmet goodies that are gentle, soothing, healing, delicious and as natural as I can make them. Did you always know that you would be an artist?

Not entirely. I have always had an appreciation for natural beauty and am in awe when others create wonderful objects of art. Making art a part of one’s everyday life is important, whether it’s as simple as creating a bouquet out of whatever you have or found, making your food look and taste special, or just thinking creatively. Did you pick flowers as a child?

My mother always grew lovely gardens with lots of colour. I loved to pick posies and bouquets, even with dandelions. I think most kids start with dande-lions! Who can resist that electric yellow growing just about anywhere?

What sets your floral arrangements apart from those ordered from a typical florist’s shop? Definitely seasonal selections, as it all comes down to what has survived the winter and what time of year it is. I also pick each bouquet one at a time rather than picking large amounts then arranging. I take my little clippers out to the garden, start with

the centre flowers or greens and work around and out from there.

How did you learn to make soap and salves?

Quite by accident. Someone had given me a box of gardening books and one of the books was on soap making. I used this as my “foundation” and have improvised over the years to create the soaps I make today.

How has your work evolved over the years?

I began making salve for myself when I still lived in B.C. I loved it and anyone I gave it to loved it. When I found the soap book and made my first batch of soap I was hooked! From there I decided that anything I put on my skin, from soap, salve, oils, sunscreen, or bug repellent, would be made of natural ingredients that cause no harm to me or the environment. People forget that whatever they slather or spray on their bodies can and is absorbed into your blood stream. I knew forest workers that would use so much mosquito repellent with DEET and gosh knows what other chemicals, that their lips would go numb! How scary is that?

What gives you inspiration?

Living. That may sound a bit plucky and vague but I kind of like being around on the planet. With so much craziness going on in the world I want to live a life that appreciates nature, right living, right

thinking, right doing and sharing that with others. I also feel pretty nice when people take the time to tell me how much they like my products and how it may have improved their life in some small way.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I can create something that is healing and helpful in a sensual and meaningful way.

Can you explain your relationship with plants, flowers, herbs and other natural ingredients? I have been a gardener and crafter all my life. The more I learn about what is going on in the world, the more I like to be with plants. Just kidding! It really is a no-brainer. If it has to be created chemi-cally or in an unnatural manner, it has no business being used. I feel a strong connection with the natu-ral world and have a deep respect for maintaining a healthy balance. There is an alchemy which is created between all natural things as we focus on respecting and appreciating the beauty, the useful-ness, and the essential balance created between each element. I love growing my own food. The idea of being able to grow something then harvest and eat it just seems right. Natural essential oils smell so much better than artificial ones. Artificial scent feels like it could give me a nose bleed. I get headaches when I’m around it.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHARON HENDERSON


What is the most memorable compliment you have received regarding your work?

Other than “I just LOVE your stuff”? I think it was an email I received from a person recovering from radiation and chemo treatments. She was not feeling well and her skin was so sensitive that us-ing any soaps, especially artificially scented, even shampoo caused this person pain. She was able to use my soaps, including her favourite lavender, and had no reaction other than bliss and happy tears. I really felt I had done something good to make another person feel well.

What wisdom do you possess that might be useful for those interested in pursuing a vocation in quality craftsmanship? Don’t be afraid to try something new. If it works out, great! If it doesn’t, oh well. Move on until you discover what works for you and enjoy the process. Even the failures.

How do you market your products? How can people access the fruits of your labour? I love doing our Marmora Farmer’s Market from the May long weekend to Thanksgiving. I have my products at Rancho Tranquillo. I sell at a few Christmas Craft shows. Word of mouth. All year round I have people come to my house to pick up the things they have grown to love. I have a blurb with Harvest Hastings. I don’t have a web-site - yet.•


What happens when you google the words “romance” and “Hastings County?” Yup, try plugging those three words simultaneously into

any search engine and see what happens. First comes the predictable: loads of ads for holi-

days in exotic locales like faraway Scotland or along the shores of New York’s Hudson River. Leave out that all important word “Ontario” and you’re sunk. There are a lot of places called Hastings out there.

But refine the search a bit, or better yet, just ask around and you’ll soon find romance flourishes right in your own neighbourhood, often with a distinctly local flair. You just have to know where to look, though keeping an open mind helps, too. Let the imagination meander a bit and possibilities grow larger by the minute. You’re bound to find some-thing appealing, no matter what kind of romantic you consider yourself. Read on and see what Hast-ings County offerings best suit your fancy.

The “Shop Til You Drop” DuoFor those who love to consume, but prefer to do it in the company of the ones they love, the area presents a myriad of shopping options. Whether your taste runs to antiques or the simply unique, it’s easy to find something you like.

As one of the oldest settled parts of Canada, the region booms with antique stores and markets. Even the smallest towns and villages frequently

boast a place to seek the old, the somewhat old, the reproduced (but looks old) or the not-so-old, but gently used.

“An item must be over a hundred to be consid-ered an antique,” claims Onya, the proprietor of Stirling’s Lullidaza.

Mere steps from the village’s scenic covered bridge, the shop is Onya’s hobby, something she does on the side when not busy with her “day job” as a locations manager for the film industry. Self-employed (one of her most recent jobs involved BBC America’s Copper, set in 1860’s New York), Onya insists on giving her first name only, as well as the phonetic spelling (“because no one knows how to pronounce the real thing.”) In fact, many of the goods she sells come to Lullidaza by way of post-production auctions. Screen buffs might stum-ble across something from a favourite TV show or movie. The store offers a little something sure to please every shopper: giftware, furniture, a few antiques, vintage cookbooks, jewellery.

But is browsing and buying romantic? Onya notes many couples exchanging vows or taking wedding photos at the covered bridge frequently take time to stroll around town for a look at the shops. Some even ask to use her lovely storefront as a wedding portrait backdrop. Just recently a pair of newlyweds ventured inside to make their first purchase as a married duo: a gorgeous sweater for the bride.

Has all that shop talk left you feeling peckish? Walk a little further up the street and around the corner to Stirling Mercantile, local candy store and purveyor of all things fun. This is the place to carry out a search for the novel, the nostalgic or the simply delicious. When romantic inclinations lead straight down memory lane, you’ll find this quirky little shop right up your alley.

Owner Tina Koonings rattles off a quick list of just some of the goodies candy-lovers can find at her store: licorice babies and licorice pipes, bottle caps, pixy stix, BB Bats, cinnamon toothpicks and a wide selection of chocolate bars with vintage names like Milky Way and Baby Ruth. A little advice: seek out the favourite sweet of long-married grandparents and buy a bagful. Perhaps sugar forms some of the romantic glue holding those golden and diamond anniversary celebrants together.

Koonings gestures toward a display of bright red “wax lips” (circa 1960), as well as packages of flat taffy, a gooey confection dating back to early last century. Still not retro enough for you? Consider some sponge toffee, a sweet Tina acknowledges as one of the “original candies.”

“I get lots of couples,” Koonings admits, though she points out the store caters to no one in par-ticular and everyone in general. “It’s really a pret-ty all-inclusive place, for young kids right up to people in their nineties, because everything in here is fun.”

Made for loversHastings County shows its romantic side

B Y A N G E L A H A W N

Killarney Lodge prides itself in offering couples the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors with a

minimum of 21st century distractions.Photo by Christopher Dew Photography


The Outdoorsy TypeShopping not your bag? Try lacing up the hik-ing boots and hitting the Hastings Heritage Trail. Google same and click on the appropriate links for more information. Stretching from the Trent Canal System in the south to Algonquin Park’s border in the north, the trail welcomes walkers, cyclists, horseback riders and operators of various recre-ational vehicles. Explorers and exercise enthusi-asts can get their hearts pumping as they enjoy the beauty of local waterfalls, wetlands and relics of old railway ghost towns.

Should an urban stroll or cycle better meet your heart’s desire, check out Belleville’s Waterfront Trail, overlooking the beautiful Bay of Quinte. Park at either Zwick’s or Bayshore Park before letting your feet take over as vehicle for an active roman-tic journey.

Waterbabies might want to log onto www.quinte-conservation.ca for a free download of the Moira and Skootamatta Canoe Guide. Though not intended as a comprehensive list of all hazards and river condi-tions, the brochure outlines a series of conservation areas encountered en route, as well as basic tips for paddlers. Interested canoeists and kayakers will find maps for the entire length of the Skootamatta River and the Moira downstream from Moira Lake, as well as descriptions of portages, distances and ac-cess points. What could be more romantic than a leisurely paddle for two?

Animal-loving adventure seekers can head a lit-tle further north for some horsing around. Based in Maynooth, Matt and Penny Nicol of Highland Wil-derness Tours (www.ridethewilderness.com) offer a variety of horseback riding vacations along both private and official OFSC (Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs) trails. Not sure of your equestri-an skills? Don’t worry, they give lessons, too. More of a dog person? Consider mushing your own team of huskies as your loved one enjoys supreme peace and quiet aboard the sled. Need a little gasoline to get your motor running? Matt and Penny also cater to snowmobile and ATV enthusiasts.

The Got to Get Away From It All GangFound the right partner but still seeking the per-fect atmosphere? Look no further than Tweed’s Black River Retreat (www.brrtweed.com), gor-geous backdrop for an intimate, “just for two” romantic sojourn. Owner Trevor Telford offers a tempting menu of options, ranging from spa packages with gourmet meals to full weddings. If cuddling in front of your suite’s fireplace or soaking in a private cedar hot tub beneath the stars sounds like a romantic dream come true, you’ve found the right place.

Hoping to exchange vows along the river front, or perhaps, deep within the woods themselves? Tel-ford provides a number of lovely outdoor venues, though couples preferring a roof over their nup-

tials can take advantage of the wedding tent set in a permanently landscaped location. Post-reception dinner, guests might choose to dance up a storm or linger by the bar before extending the party out-doors to enjoy shoreline, pergola and bonfire pits. Discerning newlyweds might even want to consider booking honeymoon reservations.

“We are as ‘hands-on or off’ as the bride wants us to be,” Telford declares, explaining the retreat coordinates with a number of off-site catering ser-vices to offer the perfect, custom-ordered wedding meal. “But probably the most romantic thing about the place is that it caters to just one couple at a time; you don’t have to share it with anyone.”

Head a little further north and just over the HC border into Algonquin Park to explore yet another set of romantic accommodations. Built in 1935, family-run Killarney Lodge established its reputation for setting just the right mood years ago.

Guests stay in comfortable, waterside cabins. Bet-ter yet, each cabin comes equipped with its own personal canoe. Listen for loons, go for a paddle or just enjoy the kind of peaceful bliss inherent to a peninsula in the middle of what many call some of Canada’s premium wilderness.

“We offer an alternative to what is often consid-ered a traditional honeymoon location,” declares Eric Miglin, who runs the resort with his partner Poppy. “No jacuzzies, no TV’s; you’re truly spending time with each other without electronic distractions.”

Clockwise:Photographer Jenn Munro can provide a tangible take-away from your romantic retreat, or step in when your romance reaches the next level!Photo by Jenn Munro Photography

Nothing says love like candy, and Tina Koonings has almost everything to satisfy a sweet tooth at Stirling Mercantile.Photo by Angela Hawn

Killareny Lodge offers a wide variety of menu options, which can be enjoyed in the dining room or as part of a picnic while exploring the surrounding area.Photo by Christopher Dew Photography

A walk along Belleville’s Waterfront Trail is special no matter what the season.Photo by Angela Hawn


Accommodations include three meals daily, with a delicious range of menu options. Hankering for some Apple Stuffed French Toast with Killar-ney Cheesecake Syrup? How about Wild Mush-room Canneloni in a roasted red pepper cream sauce? Can’t be bothered to ditch the canoe for a dining room lunch? Killarney staff will pack a pic-nic for you to take along. Though not licensed to serve alcohol, lodge staff happily provide a cork-screw and glasses for that special bottle of wine brought from home, all without a corkage fee.

And if you’re the “Love Me, Love My Dog” type, Killarney Lodge has good news for you. Pet lovers rest assured a warm welcome awaits both Fido and his human masters. Check out their website (www.killarneylodge.com) to get full de-tails on their pet policy.

Can’t spend the night but hoping for a little af-ternoon delight? Consider indulging in High Tea at Deseronto’s O’Connor House (www.theocon-norhouse.com). Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 to 4, the English Tea Room garners rave re-views for its Coconut Cream Pie, but romantics in love with the Victorian Era might want to order something from the extensive tea menu. Who can resist triple-tiered plates filled with finger sand-

wiches, scones, devonshire cream and strawberry preserves?

“You walk in the door and you’re immediately greeted by ‘old world charm,’” declares chef Mike Hatheway. “Whether it’s drinking from fancy china tea cups or sitting at a table with fine linens and tea trays, everybody leaves happy. And there’s never any food left on the plates.”

The History LoverAs long as you’re travelling back in time, carry on down the road and do a little sight-seeing. Roman-tics passionate for history shouldn’t leave Dese-ronto without viewing beautiful Christ Church, Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal of the Mohawk (and one of only six Royal chapels outside the U.K.) Stroll around the cemetery and take a few minutes to read the historical plaque about renowned Mo-hawk chief Oronhyatekha (1841-1907), the first accredited Aboriginal medical doctor to practice in Canada.

Author and pioneer Susanna Moodie, fifth Ca-nadian Prime Minister Sir MacKenzie Bowell, playwright Merrill Denison - all of these notable citizens connected at one time or another with Hastings County. Did you know the formation of

the Methodist Church in Canada, Newfoundland and Bermuda got its start through a series of meet-ings held in Belleville? Perhaps you’re interested in Marmora’s Ironworks or the founding of Albert College? What about the O’Hara Sawmill or Ontar-io’s first gold mine? History lovers will find enough plaque listings (with their locations) to fill up sev-eral Sunday afternoon drives, simply by googling “Historical Plaques of Hastings County.”

Those with an interest in period furniture and de-cor might want to tour Belleville’s beautiful Glan-more House (circa 1882). Designated a National Historic site in recognition of its grand 2nd Empire architecture, the interior features gorgeous hand-painted ceilings, ornate woodwork and a large col-lection of antiques, some original to the house. Be sure to check out the round chaperone’s chair in the South Drawing Room. Designed to hinder the slightest hint of Victorian hanky panky, the chair provides seating for three: the young lady, her beau and the grim supervisor overseeing all. Log onto Glanmore’s website (www.glanmore.ca) for more information regarding hours and admission.

“Glanmore is an idyllic perspective on a romantic past,” reports Melissa Wakeling, Glanmore’s educa-tion and marketing coordinator, declaring the house

Clockwise:Black River Retreat offers couples the chance to ex-plore the waterways by kayak or canoe.Photo courtesy Black River Retreat

The O’Connor House tea room in Deseronto can serve up a romantic meal in a distinctive period setting.Photo courtesy The O’Connor House Tea Room

Lullidaza’s eclectic range of gifts can spice up any ro-mantic getaway.Photo by Angela Hawn

For those seeking winter adventure, a dogsled ride courtesy of Highland Wilderness Tours should get the blood racing.Photo courtesy Highland Wilderness Tours


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still appeals to contemporary lovers. “We actually had someone propose to someone here once and we’ve had people come here on dates.”

But I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For...

If you’ve yet to lock into your romantic niche, here’s one last suggestion: consider booking a

“couples photo shoot.” Self-described busy mom-my to four (ages spanning teen to toddler), pho-tographer Jenn Munro first discovered her passion for taking pictures when her children were born. New SLR in hand and a little advice from friend and fellow photographer Jenna Faye in her ear, Munro quickly developed a specialty in photo-graphing newborns and families. Those seeking something of a more romantic ilk will be happy

to know she’s quite willing to schedule a cou-ples photo session if asked. For contact details and samples of her beautiful work, check out her website www.jennmunrophotography.com. And should your Hastings County romance take a seri-ous turn, please note: Jenn has experience taking wedding pictures. •

Clockwise:There was a time when a romantic night out involved three people – the blushing couple and their chaperone – as this Victorian era piece of furniture at the Glanmore National Historic Site shows.Photo courtesy Glanmore National Historic Site

Downton Abbey meets Hastings County? The spectacular Glanmore House in Belleville provides an elegant setting for a date with its hand-painted ceilings and ornate décor.Photo courtesy Glanmore National Historic Site

Two chairs waiting for you by a warm fire – what could be more romantic on a winter’s evening?Photo courtesy Black River Retreat


Bill McKeown (third generation) has been pumping gas since childhood. His father, Reg (left) ran the business before him.

NO SLOWING DOWN!

After 80 years McKeown Motors still humming alongBY ANGELA HAWN • PHOTOS COURTESY MCKEOWN MOTORS

As birthdays go, it was a pretty big one. Longtime Springbrook business McKeown Motors turned 80 last year. Perhaps

even more impressive, every one of those years has seen a McKeown behind the wheel. With two members of the fourth generation currently filling key roles at the garage (Allan as president and Lianne as chartered accountant) it looks like there’s

no end in sight to their proud website claim: “Family run since 1933.”

(from left to right) Alan, Grace, Bill and Lianne McKe-own enjoy 80th birthday bash celebrations. Last Sep-tember’s party saw 1700 people in attendance and in-cluded over 900 hot dogs, plates of roast beef and pork, and of course cake.

Dig a little deeper though and you’ll find this is more than just a successful business story. Three things spring to mind when it comes to McKeown Motors: a humble, quiet sort of dignity, strong community ties and, of course, the unusual dual-ity (in this day and age) of a business dealing in both road vehicles and farm equipment.

Just try getting Bill McKeown, third generation at the garage, to go on the record about pretty much anything. That humble trait really gets in the way.

His wife Grace says he’s shy.“Bill isn’t the type of guy who likes to shine; he

doesn’t want to be out front,” explains Ron Reid, long-time salesman who’s worked at McKeown since 1977. “How would you put it? I don’t know. Bill would rather be in the back sweeping.”

It requires some persuasion and more than a little juggling of busy McKeown schedules, but eventually, between Ron, Grace and Bill, the

history of McKeown Motors begins to fall into place.

Things started modestly enough beside an old blacksmith shop at the corner of Highway 14 and Springbrook Road. Soon Tom McKeown had set up a gas pump and car repair business in a building once used for making carriages and sleighs. Using the back end of the building as living quarters, Tom worked hard through the depression years, son Reg at his side.

And the business grew. By 1937, the McKe-own garage had morphed into a dealership, sell-ing cars and trucks for Dodge Chrysler. Shortly after the end of World War 2, they added farm machinery to the list.

“Some of those first tractors probably came from England,” muses Bill, noting his dad and grandfa-ther were dealing in farm equipment prior to British Massey’s merger with Ferguson.

“Back then a farmer could make a living off a hundred or so acres,” explains Ron, noting present-day farms are much larger, most relying on cash crops or mass dairy production to stay in business.

Ah, the good old days: back when a deluxe four door sedan outfitted with both heater and windshield wipers sold for just over $1100 and the price tag on a brand new tractor read much the same. Chuckling, Ron explains a similarly valued car today might car-ry a $30,000 price tag. And farm machinery?

“A new tractor can go anywhere from $20,000 to $150,000, depending on horsepower,” claims Ron.

In many respects, the McKeown garage has evolved right along with the farms and the machin-ery. In 1979 came the grand opening of what Ron calls a “state of the art building for its time.”

In decades past, McKeowns’ served as commu-nity meeting place, the busy hub where tired farmers congregated on warm, late-summer evenings, pulling cokes from the icy waters of the cooler and chewing over how the day’s labour had gone.

Back then the business opened up six and a half days a week. When few owned freezers, McKeowns’ even greeted customers Christmas morning so that folks could drop in and get their ice cream for the family dinner table.

Zoom ahead half a century and you’ll find that kind of ready access remains largely unchanged. McKeowns’ still puts in long hours on the job. Cus-tomers find doors open six days a week, four of them from 7 in the morning until well past the average early-rising farmer’s bedtime. And most of those late evening calls still come from farmers, especially around harvest time. Ron explains McKeowns’ tries to make themselves available as much as possible, helping customers find what they need when they need it most.

“That’s what grows the business,” he says simply.The family has been a big part of the community

just as long as they’ve been selling to them.“There haven’t been too many baseball teams

come through Springbrook who haven’t been spon-sored by McKeowns’,” says Grace, who admits she’s not exactly the most avid baseball fan, but still con-siders herself a community sports advocate. Like-wise, McKeowns’ also helps support the local chap-ter of Caravan Kids, a Chrysler organization aimed at facilitating hockey playing for the youngest of stick-handlers.


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The four McKeown generations (Front: Tom; Back L to R: Al, Reg, and Bill) gather around a tractor in 1979.

Celebrating the 1979 opening of the garage in its current location. From left to right: Grace, Leda, Bill and Reg McKeown with long time staff member Ron Reid. In front are siblings Allan and Lianne McKeown. Today they are the company’s President and Chartered Accountant.

Connections with young people interested in farm life also run deep. McKeowns’ have sup-ported local 4H clubs, plough matches, and just about every agricultural fair in the surrounding area for years. When the World’s Greatest Tractor Pa-rade rumbled through the roads around Stirling a few years back, the 4H kids returned the favour by nominating Bill McKeown for Parade Marshall.

And if there’s a community party, the McKeowns’ will be there with bells on. Long-time sponsors of the local Christmas parade (which, in turn, supports both the Stirling and Marmora food banks), they and employee Doug Turpin (of BBQ on Wheels) pro-vided 300 plus hotdogs and drinks to enthusiastic parade spectators this past December.

Need further proof of that famous McKeown hospitality? Just ask anyone who turned up at their 80th birthday bash last September. Lunch guests consumed more than 900 hotdogs while 1700 par-tiers who stayed for supper feasted on plates of roast pork and beef. Throughout the day local sen-

sations Freddy Vette, Kelly Trottier and Lindsay Couch and the Wrought Iron Roots provided mu-sical entertainment. Loyal customers and employ-ees showed up in droves, all singing the praises of the McKeown family. Ron recalls chatting to one couple who came to the party despite the fact it fell on their 59th wedding anniversary. Long-time cus-tomers, they joked they’d driven to the occasion in their first ever, long-ago purchased McKeown car.

McKeowns’ boasts a lengthy list of faithful cus-tomers who return year after year. What builds these kinds of long-lasting relationships? Any busi-ness 101 student knows the simple rule of supply and demand. Eighty years ago the McKeown fam-ily realized catering to farmers made perfect sense in the rural area they call home.

“That farmer who needs a truck or a car also comes in to buy a cultivator or a plough or a trac-tor,” says Ron. “That’s probably the best part about McKeowns’. It might be the only dealership around that sells both tractors and cars.”

“I guess we’ve been around a long time and many of the customers have been around a long time,” adds Grace. “We always say, if you’re not satisfied, come back until you are.”

That kind of attitude certainly results in lots of friends, though it still doesn’t lead to big egos. When that famous Tractor Parade hit the road, Bill rolled out every tractor available from the lot for the occasion. Quietly pleased to play a part in the event, he even went along for the ride, keep-ing company with fifth generation representative, grandson Jacob.

So where would a guy who likes to avoid the spotlight and watch things from the background hang out? Well, no surprises there. Humbly bring-ing up the rear, piloting tractor number 601 out of 601 tractors in total, sat Bill McKeown, modest representative of a business proudly serving the community since 1933. •

For the full story – see our Online Bonus Mid-Winter issue at www.countryroadshastings.ca


Shorelines – the vibrant bound-aries where lakes, ponds, rivers and streams meet land – are popular leisure destinations. But people are not the only ones who are drawn to shorelines; wildlife is also attracted to these ribbons of life.

While humans seek views of the water and a distant horizon, animals are enticed by food and shelter that natural shorelines provide. For in-stance, butterflies and bees fly in for the bounty of wildflowers. Birds stop by to catch a meal or to fill up on berries and seeds. Frogs may swim over to seek a safe place to call from at night, while turtles may crawl up on shore to find a sunny place to dig a nest and lay their eggs.

Yet few of these wild visitors frequent shore-lines lacking diverse vegetation; hardened lake-shores with concrete retaining walls or stream banks with extensive lawns and sparse plant life are just not that inviting. Such altered shorelines can benefit from ecological “renovations” to cre-ate more natural conditions. It’s as simple as gar-dening with native wildflowers along your water-way to improve the aesthetics and value of your property, while making it a favourite wildlife stop.

If you are interested in “renovating” your own shoreline using native plants here are some do-it-yourself steps to consider. For inspiration and ideas you may wish to visit four demonstration gardens planted by Lower Trent Conservation: the Trenton Greenbelt Conservation Area in Trenton, Warkworth Conservation Area in Warkworth, Har-

bour Street Parkette in Brighton and the Hastings Village Marina in Hastings.

Step 1: What’s your shoreline vision?First off, decide how you’ll want to use your naturalized shoreline.

Do you want to have access to the water to swim or launch your boat? If so, you’ll need to leave paths and gaps between planting beds and designate an area where you want to main-tain a lawn.

Do you want to have a view of the water? If so, then choose wildflowers and shrubs that won’t grow too tall and obscure sightlines.

Do you want to attract wildlife and create a natural refuge? Then opt for a variety of native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses to provide food and cover for different species.

Do you want to beautify your property with colour, impressing neighbours and wildlife alike? Go for flowers with bold pinks, reds, oranges, blues and yellows, or shrubs and trees with bril-liant foliage, colourful bark and big flowers and berries.

It is possible to create a multi-purpose natural shoreline irresistible to both people and critters.

Step 2: Pick your project siteOnce you know what you want for your shore-line, it’s time to plan how to make it happen. You may decide to tackle just a portion of your shore-

line to start – something to get your feet wet – and then if you like the results you can expand it the following year. Measure the area to know just how much room you have to work with.

Step 3: Choosing plantsTo pick the appropriate native plant species you’ll need to determine the site light and mois-ture conditions. If the project area receives lots of sunlight, choose plants that thrive in full sun. If your shoreline is mostly shaded because of overhead trees then consider species which can tolerate less light.

Get a feel for the soils. Are they wet, as is the case with many gently sloping stream banks, or are they dry and well drained, which may be the case for steep shorelines? Figuring out the sun and soil moisture conditions will help you pick the right plant species, of which there is an overwhelming plethora!

Feel free to ask a native plant nursery, or con-tact Lower Trent Conservation for plant sugges-tions. Consider cardinal flower, blue flag iris and blue vervain for wet sunny areas, or swamp milk-weed, brown-eyed susan and bergamont for sun-ny but well draining spots.

Think about the height your plants will be at ma-turity, placing trees and shrubs at the edges of your field of view to maintain sightlines of the water.

Finally, try to serve up a buffet of native plant species for wildlife and pollinators. Native plants

Story and photos by Ewa Bednarczuk

Great blue heron foraging for food along a healthy shoreline. Photo by Paul Dean

A welcome retreat

Do-It-Yourself shoreline renovation


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are the preferred staple foods of local wildlife, because they taste better and may be more nutri-tious than exotic plants.

Step 4: Sketch itIt’s best to make a simple sketch of your shore-line and where you want to plant. Mark any ex-isting trees, shrubs, docks or structures and draw in your new planting beds. Knowing how much space you have will help you determine the size and number of native plants to buy.

Plan to fit about three wildflowers or a single shrub per square meter of shoreline. For exam-ple, a planting area of 3x10 meters or 30 m2 would fit 90 wildflowers or 30 shrubs.

Step 5: Prepare the siteSometimes the easiest way to overhaul your shoreline is simply to stop mowing the lawn

right to the water’s edge and see what comes up. However, if you want to have more control over your shoreline garden, you will need to get more involved.

For starters, it is necessary to take out any exist-ing competition to give your hand-picked native plants a leg up. If you have a year to plan your project you could solarize the site by covering it with black or clear plastic during the summer to kill any weed seeds in the soil.

If you’re more pressed for time you may try the lasagna garden approach: cover the area with card-board or 10 sheets of newsprint, add 12 inches of soil or compost, and top it off with 6 inches of mulch or wood chips. The cardboard/newsprint will suppress any weeds or grass from growing and the new plants will have a great advantage. Adding mulch is impor-tant to help maintain soil moisture in the summer, provide protection in the winter, and limit weeds.

Spectacular polyphemus moth resting among an equally stunning patch of planted purple coneflowers.

Trenton Greenbelt Conservation Area in Trenton before shoreline restoration plantings.

Trenton Greenbelt Conservation Area in Trenton a year following shoreline restoration plantings with native grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees.


You could also remove sod from the planting area either with a sod cutter or with a shovel. Tilling is another popular site prep option – you may wish to till twice to allow the weed seeds to germinate and then be tilled under again.

Regardless of the type of preparation, all plant-ings will benefit from a good layer of mulch or wood chips.

Step 6: Planting time!Now for the fun part – it’s time to get digging in the dirt! Spring and fall are the best times to plant your shoreline oasis. Dig a depression a little bigger than the potted plant, gently take the plant out of the pot, place it in the hole, back fill it with soil and gently press into place. Make sure that the roots aren’t showing and the stems don’t get buried too deeply.

Try to plant wildflowers in groupings of three, five or seven to create a fuller and more striking look. A good watering after planting will also be much appreciated.

It may take a full year for your plants to fill out and get established so be patient and just let them do their work!

Step 7: After careAt this stage all the hard work is done – congrat-ulations! Some maintenance of your shoreline garden is required at least during the first year following the “renovation.” After planting, it’s good to water your plants deeply once a week throughout the summer with about an inch of water. Be on the lookout for any sneaky weeds and pull them out to give your plants a head start. You won’t need to add any fertilizer since native plants are well adapted to thrive in the local environment.

In a couple of years the plants will reach their full size and your shoreline will be bustling with life.

Oh, and one last thing: don’t forget to take some before and after photos of your shoreline “renovation” to fully enjoy the transformation. Enjoy!

If you live in the Lower Trent watershed re-gion, help is available from Lower Trent Con-servation through its Healthy Shoreline – Clean Water stewardship program. You can call (613) 394-3915 ext. 252, to schedule a free site visit with a stewardship specialist who can advise you on the best approach to naturalizing your shoreline. Grants to finance native plants are available for approved projects. •

Planting native flowers and shrubs is easy once the site is prepared. The thick layer of woodchips at a shoreline plant-ing bed at Harbour Street Parkette in Brighton will help retain moisture and control weedy species.

Mallard duckling is a common shoreline visitor.

Newly planted blue vervain at Harbour Street Parkette in Brighton is an attractive shoreline flower choice fa-voured by many pollinators.

Shoreline naturalization project at Hastings Marina in Hastings demonstrates grouping of species in a planting bed for a vibrant show of colour.

Honeybee collecting nectar and pollen.


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About Lower Trent ConservationWorking with local communities to protect our natural environment.

Lower Trent Conservation is a community-based environmental protection agency es-tablished in 1968 under the Conservation Authorities Act by local municipalities. The organization works closely with municipal, provincial and federal government part-ners, landowners and community groups to conserve, restore and manage local natural resources.

Its programs and services are focused within the natural boundaries of the Lower Trent watershed region which includes the Trent River watershed downstream of Rice Lake as well as a number of smaller water-sheds draining into Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte – a total of 2,121 square kilometers. This watershed region extends from Grafton to Quinte West and from Lake Ontario to Rice Lake.

Residents are encouraged to contact LTC regarding a variety of environmental pro-grams and services including:• Obtaining a permit for construction activi-

ties adjacent to any waterway or wetland• Advice and financial assistance for tree

planting, shoreline naturalization and oth-er land stewardship activities

• Flood forecasting and protection• Environmental land use planning• Water quality monitoring• Outdoor recreation opportunities• Management of conservation and natural

areas• Environmental education• Volunteer opportunities

To contact LTC or keep informed about its ongoing conservation programs and ser-vices:

714 Murray Street, R.R. #1, Trenton, Ontario K8V 5P4613-394-4829 www.ltc.on.cainformation @ltc.on.cawww.facebook.com/lowertrentconservation@LowerTrent


Advertiser Index

Albert College ......................................... 1

Audrey’s Odds & Finds ............................ 2

Bancroft BIA Bridge Initiative .................. 3

Barley Pub & Eatery ................................. 4

Birch Cliff Lodge ...................................... 5

Blue Roof Bistro ....................................... 6

Boutique Inspiration ................................ 7

Bunker’s Bistro & Bar ............................... 8

Cannery Café ........................................... 9

CleanRite ................................................. 10

Cottage Docks ......................................... 11

Cottagerentals247.com ........................... 12

Dancing Moon Gallery ............................ 13

David in Bancroft ..................................... 14

Don Koppin General Contractor ............. 15

Dr. Brett Family Dentistry ........................ 16

Dr. Doug Smith & Assoc. ......................... 17

Farmgate Gardens ................................... 18

Farnsworth Construction ......................... 19

Flowers by Sue ........................................ 20

Fresh Landscape & Garden Solutions ..... 21

Frock Shop .............................................. 22

Gilmours Meat Shop and Deli ................. 23

Glanmore National Historic Site .............. 24

Golden Bough Tree Farm ........................ 25

Karen Brown Antiques & Collectibles ...... 26

Leon James Home Renonovations .......... 27

Loyalist College Bancroft ......................... 28

Lullidaza ................................................... 29

Mackie’s Greenhouse .............................. 30

Makin’ Waves Marine .............................. 31

Marmora Tourism Centre ......................... 32

McKeown Motor Sales ............................ 33

North Hastings Naturally ......................... 34

O’Connor House Tea Room .................... 35

Old Hastings Mercantile & Gallery .......... 36

Old Tin Shed ........................................... 37

Posies Flowers & Gifts ............................. 38

Possibilities .............................................. 39

Quinte West Home & Leisure Show ........ 40

Ruttle Bros. Furniture ............................... 41

Steinberg Dental Centres ........................ 42

Stirling-Rawdon BIA ................................. 43

Table-Craft ............................................... 44

Teddy Bear B&B ...................................... 45

Tikit Visuals .............................................. 46

Town of Deseronto .................................. 47

Viceroy ..................................................... 48

Village Green ........................................... 49

Warren & Co. .......................................... 50

Weeds B’ Gone ...................................... 51

Welcome Wagon ..................................... 52

Wells Ford ............................................... 53

Wilson’s of Madoc ................................... 54

Wilton Cheese ......................................... 55

Zihua Clothing Boutique ......................... 56

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HASTINGS COUNTY

BRIGHTON

ODESSA

Joe VanVeenen Map

Alive with entertainment, first class shopping, and dining.

FLOWERS & FASHIONS

PosiesFloral designs for all occasions

3 BRIDGE ST. W. BANCROFT, ON613.332.5645

This spring - May & JuneDiscover the sights and

sounds of the...

Bancroft Theatre District

Shopping, theatre, dining, NEW SPECIAL EVENTS...and more

Bridge & Hastings Streets in Downtown Bancroft

For DetailsVisit Bancroft Theatre District

on Facebook


NO SANDING, NO STRIPPING, NO PRIMING


ODESSA

Alive with entertainment, first class shopping, and dining.

FLOWERS & FASHIONS

PosiesFloral designs for all occasions

3 BRIDGE ST. W. BANCROFT, ON613.332.5645

This spring - May & JuneDiscover the sights and

sounds of the...


Shopping, theatre, dining, NEW SPECIAL EVENTS...and more

Bridge & Hastings Streets in Downtown Bancroft

For DetailsVisit Bancroft Theatre District

on Facebook


NO SANDING, NO STRIPPING, NO PRIMING

2014LoyaList CoLLege

Summer Arts

LOYA L I S T CO L L E G E • A M H E R S T I S L A N D B ATAWA • P R I N C E E D WA R D CO U N T Y

Classes scheduled May through August Register at loyalistfocus.com or 613-969-7900Questions? 613-969-1913 or 1-888-569-2547, ext. 2467

WAllbridge-loyAlist roAd, belleville, oN

Watch for the NEW Bancroft Campus 2014 Summer Arts program

Call 613-332-1743 or 1-877-309-0317 for details

Full Waterfront Sales & Service

• Pontoon Lifts• Personal Watercraft Lifts

• Cantilever Lifts• Hydraulic Lifts• Vertical Lifts

• Canopies

1.877.565.0551


Things to see and do in and around Hastings County.To submit your event listing email [email protected] or call us at 613 395-0499.

C o u n t r y C a l e n d a r

ART GALLERIES/EXHIBITIONS

Art Gallery of Bancroft, 10 Flint Avenue, Bancroft, 613-332-1542 www.agb.weebly.com April 2 – 27 - Classical Abstracts; Alan

O’Marra, Painter April 30 - May 25 – Invitation 2014, 33rd

Annual Juried Exhibition May 28 - June 29 - Inspirations form the

Wild; Works by Kevin Hockley

Stirling Festival Theatre, West Front St., Stirling 613-395-2100 1-877-312-1162 www.stirlingfestivaltheatre.com April 4 & 5 - Murder Mystery Dinner The-atre, Par for the Course. Mystery on the 19th hole. An evening celebrating golf great, Hum-phrey Bogey, turns sour... 6 pm. April 12 – Classic Country Roads Tour 2014. From the golden age of Country music, this show is pure Classic Country! April 13 - Soldiers of Song April 25 – The Legendary Patsy Cline starring Amberley Beatty & The Sweet Dreams. April 30 – Red Skelton Tribute – Good Night and God Bless May 5 @ 8 pm & May 6 @ 2 pm - Buddy Wa-sisname & The Other Fellers May 9 – Great Balls of Fire – Jerry-Lee 2:00 & 8:00 May 10 - CDHS Jazz Band with the 24th Street Wailers - Fundraiser for Campbellford Memorial HospitalMay 23 – Hotel California -2:00 & 8:00May 24 - Up Standing Comedy Timmy Boyle. May 30 - ABBAMANIA June 6 – Teen Idols of Rock N’ Roll - Vili V 2 June 4, 5, 12, 13, 14 - Mixed Doubles 2 Star-ring SFT favourites Debbie Collins and Dean Hollin. THEATRE/LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

My Theatre Bay of Quinte Community Play-ers, Trenton Town Hall, 55 King Street, Trenton. [email protected] or Quinte West Cham-ber of Commerce 800-930-3255 or 613-392-7635 June 5-8, 13-15, & 20-21- Steel Magnolias, Written by Robert Harling. Directed by Bev Roy.

EVENTS

April 3 - Friends of the Tweed Library Writ-ers’ Series: writer Katherine Sedgwick, author of blog Meanwhile, At the Manse will talk about writing blogs and her experiences as the author of “at the manse”. Tweed Public Library, 230 Met-calf Street, Tweed. 7 pm. Donations welcome and refreshments.

April 9 – 12 – Prince Edward County Au-thors Festival. Readings by both established and new authors, panel discussions, writing workshops, a gala gathering, the 5th annual County Reads and more. For details www.pecau-thorfest.com , find the Festival on Facebook, or call Books & Co in Picton at 613-476-3037.

April 12 - Exploring Creativity in Depth One-Day Workshop For Adults: Experiential work-shop exploring the creative process for artists, teachers and anyone who wants to access their creative potential. You will use oil pastels, words and stories to discover your inner artist. No art experience necessary. Offered by the Milkweed Collective of PEC, Bloomfield Centre for Creativity, 3 Stanley St., Bloomfield. Fee $50.00 Materials included. Info and to register 613-471-1392 or [email protected]

April 22 - Hastings County Historical Society Archives Angels presents “Stories from the Archives”. The Archive Volunteers share some of the interesting stories they have found during their work at the Community Archives, illustrated with pictures and documents from the archival collections. Free public presentation- 7.30 pm, Quinte Living Centre, 370 Front Street, Belleville (north door). www.hastingshistory.ca

April 22 & 24 - Pastel Painting Workshop with Sue Vanderwey 6 to 9 pm. Offered by the Tweed and Area Arts Council, Marble Arts Church, Bridgewater Rd. Tweed. $50 plus supplies. Regis-ter at the Food Company in Tweed or email [email protected] for more information.

April 23 & 30 - Acrylic Painting Workshop with Saga Sabin, 6 – 9 pm. Offered by the Tweed and Area Arts Council, Marble Arts Church, Bridgewater Rd. Tweed. $50 plus supplies. Regis-ter at the Food Company in Tweed or email [email protected] for more information.

April 24 - Student Art Show- The BDIA once again celebrates the talent of local student art-ists. Art work to be displayed in Downtown Bel-leville windows during the month of May. www.downtownbelleville.ca

April 26 - Watercolour Painting Workshop with Sharon Bower, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Offered by the Tweed and Area Arts Council, Marble Arts Church, Bridgewater Rd. Tweed. $50 plus sup-plies. Register at the Food Company in Tweed or email [email protected] for more information. April 28 - Quinte Field Naturalist’s Annual Fundraising Dinner. Transformations - Of Man and Beaver. Local landowner, Cliff Maclean regales us with funny and interesting tales of his transformation from property owner to a steward of the land. St. Mark’s United Church, Belleville. $25 per person. Call Doug Newfield for tickets: 613/477-3066.

April 29 - Monoprinting Workshop with Bob Pennycook - Offered by the Tweed and Area Arts Council, Marble Arts Church, Bridgewa-ter Rd. Tweed. $50 plus supplies. Register at the Food Company in Tweed or email [email protected] for more info. May 1 - Friends of the Tweed Library Writ-ers’ Series: feature writer Hilary MacLeod author of the Shores Mystery Series. Hilary will sign books and copies available for sale. Tweed Public Library, 230 Metcalf Street, Tweed. 7 pm. Dona-tions welcome and refreshments

May 3 - Decorative Painting Workshop with Connie Clark - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Offered by the Tweed and Area Arts Council, Marble Arts Church, Bridgewater Rd. Tweed. $50 plus supplies. Regis-

ter at the Food Company in Tweed or email [email protected] for more information. May 3 & 4 – Quinte Quilters’ Quilt Show 2014 - Guest Artist Joan RieveDisplay of Large and Small Quilts, Textile Artwork, Wearable items and Accessories, Merchant’s Mall, Scissor Sharpening and Sales, Raffle, Quilt Sales and Tea Room Quinte Quilters’ Guild, www.quintequiltersguild.ca [email protected] 613 848-8607.

May 4 - Beaver Meadow Foxhounds AN-NUAL POKER RUN – 2 hour ride on marked trails, 5 stops, all disciplines welcome, cash prizes for top 3 hands; Best costume (Single & Pairs), Best turnout(Western & English), Youngest rider 10am, Sarles Road, Stirling-Rawdon. $40 per rider ($30 if pre-paid by April 20), Lunch provided. Suzanne Ferguson, 613-395-1162, [email protected] May 17 - Quinte Tweed Master Gardeners Club Plant Sale, Annual Fundraiser with great plants, free planting advice and door prizes. Parkdale Community Centre, Birch St., Belleville. 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. [email protected] 613 968-4727

May 20 - Hastings County Historical Society presents Historian Cathie Jones speaking on “A History of the Marmora Mines”. Learn about the opening of mines in Marmora in 1820 and over 150 years of extracting iron, copper, lead, silver and even gold. 7.30 pm at the Quinte Living Centre, 370 Front Street, Belleville north www.hastingshistory.ca

May 22, 23 & 24 – Bayside Secondary School presents “A Haunting We Will Go”Norma Corwin, a successful TV producer comes to the Inn of the Three Sisters, intent on staying the night there alone, thereby fulfilling a childhood vow. As the night progresses, a variety of mysteri-ous characters come onto the scene. The mystery surmounts with spirit manifestations and murder. Tickets at the door. Doors open 6:30pm Show 7pm. www.hpedsb.on.ca – Search for Bayside Secondary School, Belleville.

May 24 - Ghost Towns & Pioneer Villages Part II - Bus Tour - Enjoy a full-day trip examin-ing early settlements from Halloway Heights, Wellman’s Corners, Cordova Mines and Marmora. Cost is $65.00 including lunch. Tickets available by calling M.L. Morgan at 613-961-7091. In the event the May 24 trip is sold out early, a second trip will be planned for Saturday, June 7. www.hastingshistory.ca

May 29 - June 1 - Plein Air Festival, Down-town Belleville - The BDIA invites you to paint “en Plein Air” during the 2nd Annual Plein Air Festival. Whether you are a participating artist or a spectator there’s something for everyone including art demonstrations. www.downtownbelleville.ca

June 8 - 3rd Annual Stirling Lions Legacy Run, 9 am, arena parking lot, Stirling, 1km, 5km or 10km. Request cash donation to the food bank. Hosted by the Stirling and District Lions Club. Pre-register at www.stirlinglions.com for a mailed form Lin 613-395-0575 or Glenn 613-395-3261 [email protected] [email protected]

June 14 & 15 - Odessa Car Show. Celebrating our 41st Year, Car Show, Flea Market, Crafts, An-tique Car Parts & More. Promoting Ford Mustang, the 50th Year Vendors wanted. Contact - Peter Scott - 613-354-9389 [email protected] ‘A Day for the Family’

June 21 -Summerlicious- Downtown Belleville - Downtown restaurants compete in this deli-cious competition by using seasonal ingredients to create their dishes. Enjoy samples and vote for your favourites. www.downtownbelleville.ca

June 28 –Crowe Lake Waterway Assoc. World Famous Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks on Crowe Lake, www.clwa.ca [email protected]

Maker of wood furniture and cabinetswww.davidinbancroft.ca

davidinbancroft carpentry

Come see me at the Bancroft Home & Cottage Show, June 6-8

www.bancroftcurlingclub.ca/home-show

TO BOOKYOUR

MARKETPLACEADVERTISEMENT

PLEASE CALL613-395-0499 m a r k e t p l a c e

AUTOMOTIVE

DEVOTIONAL

GARDEN & LANDSCAPE

GARDEN & LANDSCAPE

FASHION

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

CONTRACTOR

PROPERTY RENTAL

SPECIALTY SHOPPING

FURNITURE

Wells Ford Sales Ltd48 Belleville Rd., P.O. Box 160Stirling, Ontario K0K 3E0

Body Shop: 613-395-3378Wells Ford: 613-395-3375Toll Free: 1-800-637-5944Service: 613-395-3377

North American Customer Excellence Award Winner

Wells

Celebrating Life in Hastings County

Your Four Season Full Service Cottage Rental Company

(613) 332-334073 Hastings St. N., Box 1572, Bancroft, Ontario K0L 1C0

www.CottageRentals247.com • [email protected]

COTTAGE RENTALS247.COM

BOOK DESIGN FOR TABLETS

For more information visit www.tikit.ca or request quote at [email protected]

www.table-craft.com

613.439.9768 [email protected]

15796 County Rd. 2 - (Hwy. #2), Brighton, ON

Warren PriceTel (613) 392•1309Fax (613) 394•[email protected]

Renovations, Additions& New ConstructionBathroom SpecialistAdvice through ExperienceDesign • Build Services

Renovations, Additions & New Construction

Commercial Cleaning

p: 613.967.9883 c: 613.922.2135

www.cleanrite.ca [email protected]

GOLDEN BOUGH TREE FARMOPEN HOUSE

Saturday & Sunday, April 28 & 299:00am to 4:00pm

Come, browse and choose from our great selection of bare root trees

and shrubs.

END OF SEASON CLEARANCESaturday & Sunday, May 5 & 6

Great buys on over-sized & leftover trees & shrubs.

Cash Payment

900 Napanee Road, P.O. Box 5, Marlbank, ON K0K 2L0www.goldenboughtrees.ca

Providing bare root Trees & Shrubs to all of Canada for over 40 years

OPEN HOUSE April 26/27END of SEASON SALE May 3/4

900 Napanee Road, Marlbank, ON K0K 2L0www.goldenboughtrees.ca

GOLDEN BOUGH TREE FARM

• Special Occasion Dresses/Bridal• Prom/Grad Dresses• Casual/Cruise Wear• Jewellery/Accessories

6835 Hwy. #62N., Belleville613.967.1817

Monday – Friday 10 am to 5 pmSaturday 10 am to 4 pm

All your looks – Just one place!


BE SURE YOU DON’T MISS OUT

Get more Country Roads

with our digital ‘bonus’ Mid-Winter issue at

www.countryroadshastings.ca


JUST SAYINGBY SHELLEY WILDGEN

Here’s the thing about housepets. When you have too many – over two – and we do, dwell-ing in a small house over a long winter, a lot happens. No, they don’t like snow. Not one of them. Not the shaggy little Shih Tzu-cross fanged one, or the poodly schnauzer with the wool coat, or any one of the three demanding cats. No one likes snow.

So where do they go? Well, they don’t. They don’t go anywhere of note, anyway. Mostly, we all huddle together around the fireplace or the TV and exchange scowls. The cats have occa-sion to use their facilities out in the screened porch and on the rare sunny day, they will crouch and scrunch on a sun-touched railing. They’ll then do some wandering about doing whatever it is cats do under decks, but mostly they are on one side of a patio door…and more times than I’d like, it’s my side.

And that’s what a bad winter does to all of us. It forces us to get to know everyone under our roof better than we’d really like to. We cope.

After a raggedy day of trudging through knee-deep snow, warming up a frozen vehicle, then jettisoning to and from work, I am greeted by all five faces and voices at once. A cacophony of complaints heard through the door before I even open it. They want to know where I was, why I was gone and where their food is…every day…same way. There’s never a memory of the prior day; it’s as if I’ve left them for the very first time, every time. My husband tries, holding the noisiest dog to abate the other plaintiffs and sometimes that works. He says they’re happy to see me. I say they’re bitter.

Oh, did I say five faces? Now there are six. We are the proud grandparents to a 12-year-old pound puppy of questionable origins. Buddy. We purchased him for my grown daughter when she was in dire need of a sweet soul to love. She still loves him but she does it at our house. Now we have three dogs, three cats and three humans sharing our wee house by the river; not contentedly but still gratefully. I digress.

Buddy has joined the herd, with big brown eyes that melt your heart and a snide snarl if you nudge him to the other of the couch or bed.

He had a bad start so for now we forgive him, and nudge very slowly. On occasion he goes for a romp with the other pups and gets lost. We drive our road and each time we find him, in full-fledged senior moment, sorrowfully bark-ing at the wrong door. It’s okay, Buddy.

Here’s what I’ve learned about cats. They don’t need the company of other cats. They barely need us, so sharing space with other cats just puts them into contemptuous little snits. I call them the ‘Itty Bitty Kitty Committee’, and that is what they are. They hold meetings, they make decisions about territory and they are al-ways voting one of their own off the island. The eldest cat, Tony, belonged to my husband when

I met him 10 years ago. The two of them were very happy before me and my parade arrived. Tony detests me. My friend, Lynn, says Tony’s sole motivation for breathing is just to outlive me. She’s right. He darts everywhere and ap-pears just as healthy at 14 as he did at four.

Louie is the mellow cat. He walks like a bar bouncer and prefers a lap, anyone’s lap, over any other household surface. Then there’s the grey cat. The Instigator. He’s huge and throws his weight around, literally. Hurling himself at every other pet in the house for no known rea-son, jumping on counters and yowling his dis-pleasure at random hours, the grey cat has one civilized habit. On the rare occasion he wants out, the grey cat positions himself in front of the TV screen and stares at us. It works.

And that’s how our winter went. Mostly, we hung on by the skin of our teeth, desperately waiting for that first thaw, knowing full well it’s all about perspective from wherever we sit. I would remember years spent in Manitoba. Winnipeggers have a savoury secret to endur-ing winter’s wrath. They don’t just cope, they thrive, and they ignore winter. Their theatres are full, their restaurants bustling and reserva-tions are required, no matter the weather. One restaurant actually sits on the ice, and so do the diners.

Oh, to be that seasonally ordered. Here in Southern Ontario we hunker down and wait it out. Harsh winters still perplex us.

Then it happened. Spring. It ripped open our little box of huddling winter survivors like the top of a Pepsi can. Up and out we bubbled. Me, to my muddy little garden. The rest of them, back and forth and back and forth in the yard like half a dozen pet pinballs. Life as we love it begins again. All memory of our p.o.w. exis-tence is fading as I type, while basking in my first sunbeam of spring. Our little river house expands to twice its size with doors open and decks swept, the fresh, warm spring light es-corting all of us into summer without a back-ward glance. All is forgiven, for now.

Winter will come again, as sure as the grey cat will jump on counters – and we won’t be ready, but we will endure.•

Dogged Determination

And that’s how

our winter went.

Mostly, we hung on

by the skin of our

teeth, desperately

waiting for that first

thaw, knowing full

well it’s all about

perspective from

wherever we sit.


www.deseronto.ca 613-396-2440 ~ /Deseronto

Come and experience Deseronto…

At the heart of the Bay of Quinte region with Prince

Edward County at its doorstep; it’s the ideal

destination for visiting, living and business.

Explore the historic downtown and uptown business district to discover a unique blend of

specialty shops, antiques/collectibles, artisans, dining, culture and entertainment.

Just a short stroll from downtown you’ll find the

picturesque waterfront and the many recreational pursuits

and amenities it brings.

urban advantages in a natural setting

Main Street • 613-396-8600www.dancingmoongallery.com

NEW LOCATION OPENING APRIL 2014

April 26 - 5 to 9 pmFundraiser for Deseronto

Public Library

Music & Refreshments

Check website for ticket info and future events supporting community groups.

We Have Something Unique For

Everyone

Dancing MoonGallery

Going to Deseronto Plan a Visit to the Gallery

362 Main StreetStore hours: Tues thru Sat 10:30 to 4:30

[email protected]

A quaint little shoppe with big personality and vibe

ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES • JEWELRY • BOOKSATTIC TREASURES • CHILDREN’S DÉCOR ACCESSORIES

INDOOR & OUTDOOR HOME DÉCOR SHABBY SEAQ ROOM (NAUTICAL THEME)

AUDREY’S ODDS & FINDS

Experience Deseronto this Spring!

The O’Connor House

ENGLISH TEA ROOM

OPEN YEAR ROUND TUES – SAT • 11 AM – 4PM

369 MAIN STREET, 613.396.1888WWW.THEOCONNORHOUSE.COM

AGCO LICENSED

Come in and relax in this little

hidden gem in Deseronto!

Homemade Fare and to-die-for

desserts.

Team Effort.For the past six years, we’ve been striving tirelessly to raise your expectations of whata dental practice should be. The secret? It’s all in our “A”-Team of Dental Professionals.

From the enthusiasm of our Office Manager Leanne, to the thoroughness of hygienists like Valerie, and the serious passion of Dr. Kevin Nedamat - our Madoc team will make sure that you and your family are in good hands.

After all, you only have one set of teeth.

Isn’t it time you raised your expectations?

Choose Wisely.

MadocDeserontoWebTwitter

613.473.2142613.396.2974steinbergdental.com@SDCDentalCentre

Valerie EmpeyRegistered Dental

HygienistMadoc

Leanne BreenOffice Manager

Madoc

Dr. Kevin NedamatDoctor Of Dental

Surgery

country roads spring 2014

Documents