h i s i s f r e e m o n t h l y public tion. Copies re distributed by C n d Post nd for loc l pickup from L kefield to B ncroft, P ud sh, C rdiff nd Coe Hill re ion includin ll of the Apsley re .
If you don’t receive one in your m il box, you c n pick up copy t one of sever l loc l merch nts in nd round Apsley, lon the delivery routes or si n up for p id subscription! You c n c tch up on line t psleyb ckro ds.com
The Publisher, Editor or ny of the contributors to this public tion sh ll not be li ble nd ssume no responsibility for loss or d m es rel tin to, or s result of ny written m teri l or dvertisin in this public tion.
“The fin l d te to submit ds, rticles nd stories for e ch monthly issue is the fifteenth of the month prior (or sooner!)”
From The Editor’s Desk
JULY 2024
Welcome back Cottagers! I know Lake Life is pretty awesome, but we can’t wait to see you around town...with Canada Day celebrations, Sayers open again, the annual Lions Club Flea market fast approaching and a busy Library events schedule..it's an exciting time in the small but mighty town of Apsley (when you’re not busy with kids fishing derbys and marina events...)
Let’s all make some memories this summer - and don't remember to submit your best Summer Photo to the annual Backroads Photo Contest (see details page 33)
Despite the mosquitos and black flies, I’m so honoured to be living, year round in a place that almost 9,000 people escape the city to come and enjoy each summer - such a blessing to call Apsley home.
Subscriptions Advertising
The rate card is available by contacting me directly at theapsleybackroads@gmail.com or check us out online at apsleybackroads.com
To honour living life to its fullest, it’s with a sad heart I share the passing of one of our faithful contributors...Joyce Corner, (the Book Nook). What an incredible woman and I was so grateful to have had her share each month in our magazine. She is an inspiration and my wish is that everyone has the passion and courage to live as genuinely as Joyce. Take a moment to celebrate her life (page 5).
Subscriptions are available for $55.37 (HST included). 12 months, mailed right to your door.
Have a wonderful summer everyone, be brave, have fun and live passionately.
REMEMBERING JOYCE CORNER
Final Chapter...
Remarkable, incredible, strong, special, are just a few words that have been shared in describing Alison Joyce Corner, (née Baker), and they do little to truly encapsulate the life she lived. Born on May 27th, 1927, in Toronto, Joyce passed away peacefully at the age of 97 at Hospice Peterborough with loved ones by her side. After winter on the mainland, Joyce was determined to make it back to her island home on Stoney Lake, Bellevue, and she did just that. Two days before her 97th birthday, she spent the evening at Bellevue with family and her beloved golden retriever, Emma, before suffering a massive stroke.
Predeceased by her biggest fan and adoring husband Don, with whom she shared 62 years of marriage. Joyce was also a loving mother to Janice (d. John) Anderson, Gord (Brenda), Doug (Janet), and Bill (Carol); grandmother to John, Lisa, Lori, Dan, Mike (Sadie), Alison (Andrew), Joe, and April (Martin); and great grandma to Jack, Kaede, Andrea, Jocelyn, Kara, Savannah and Max. She is also predeceased by her sister Lenore (d. Bill), brother Dave (d. Joan), and survived by her sister Diane (d. Dave) Ferguson and many nieces and nephews. Joyce was the kinkeeper of her family and will be greatly missed by all.
Beyond her family, Joyce also leaves a legacy in the world of synchronized swimming (artistic swimming), a sport she started at age nine and continued to compete (and win gold medals) at international world competitions well into her 80s, with her sister and duet partner Diane. She was instrumental in the growth of the sport around the world and her illustrious career has been recognized with accolades such as an induction into the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame, the Synchro Canada Bridge Builders Award and an induction on the Ontario Artistic Swimming Wall of Honor. She co-founded the Mississauga Synchronized Swimming Club, supported the creation of the Kawartha Trent Synchro Club, judged across Canada and internationally with FINA, including at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and more. She led j u d g i n g c l i n i c s , s u p p o r t e d t h e development of new t e a m s g l o b a l l y a n d opened her doors to swimmers from around the world. She was able to travel Canada and the world for competitions
in which she both competed and judged. From Venezuela to Egypt, Russia to Australia, Malaysia to Peru, China to Newfoundland, and everywhere in between, she loved traveling. But she loved coming home to her family and Stoney Lake even more.
Joyce was also an active community member teaching aquafit until the age of 92, driving herself to Friday afternoon bridge until the fall of 2023 and contributing to the Apsley Backroads Magazine until her death.
A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held on July 7th , 2024, from 1:00-3:00pm at her favourite place, Bellevue, on Stoney Lake. Friends and family are invited to come together to celebrate her phenomenal life and share their fondest memories. If you require directions, please email joycecorner296@gmail.com.
Arrangements entrusted to HENDREN FUNERAL HOME-LAKEFIELD CHAPEL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice Peterborough or The Stony Lake Heritage Foundation. C o n d o l e n c e s a n d d o n a t i o n s m a y b e m a d e b y v i s i t i n g www.hendrenfuneralhome.com, or by calling 705 652-3355
Thank you to the teams at S u n n y b r o o k H o s p i t a l , Peterborough Regional Health
C e n t r e a n d H o s p i c e Peterborough for keeping her comfortable in her final days. Thank you also to the firefighters and first responders of North Kawartha. Joyce’s impact on her family, friends and the synchro community will be felt for generations to come, and her memory will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her.
Joyce first Leafs game at 95 they gave her a sweater with her name on it
THE BEAST
by Roy Anderson
Chapter Two
Moving to the village, was pretty well what I expected, however leaving the farm did bring sadness to my mind. You may find it hard to believe, but when I was alone on the weekends or after school, it was up to myself to find entertainment.
I began to find interest in the wildlife that ranged on the farm. It was the enjoyment after a long winter
and then spring thaw, the birds and the animals, had their young. Knowing I was leaving at the end of the school year. It was then on a Saturday I decided to go for a walk around the woods and pasture one last time. The area for reason unknown looked different. The early green spring grasses moved like ripples on a pond. The trees now in early bloom, the apple blossoms starting to turn. Mother Nature took hold and moving out the cold of winter, yet despite the emergency warmth and comfort of spring I felt uneasy.
Feeling uneasy in this surroundings was very unusual for myself, because of the time I had spent in this surrounding area to entertain myself for the last two years. I thought I knew every little or large area where to go and not to go. The one area I stumbled upon that I found very disturbing was the graveyard the farmer used to dispose of the dead livestock. That area was off my visit list. The skeletons picked clean by the scavengers, and in the spring the stench from the winter disposable was overwhelming. The area that I avoided was surrounded by a fence had seen better days. One area in the fence was a large opening and for whatever reason, the fence post was removed, leaving a large hole in the ground. Over time the hole had enlarged in diameter and dept. I knew all bout the "hole" as I called it.
The first winter on the farm, my brothers and I , at Christmas time we went looking for a Christmas tree. The "hole" and myself became acquainted.
I was the youngest of the family and it was my position or attitude to know more than my older siblings. When the three of us approached the wooded section in the area of the dead stock disposal now covered with snow. In the fifties and sixties there was snow in the winter, lots and lots of it. If you can picture in your mind the youngest of the family thinking his older brothers did not know about the livestock disposal area and in his mind he was leading them to view the remains. I should have know from the action of them. First letting me go first and second look at this it looks good. As I tried to maneuver them towards the skeleton remains. They were playing the game of letting me think I was in charge. They then pointed out a tree that I thought was too small and a cedar not a spruce. My brothers insisted I should go look at the tree and when I did, both of them walked ahead of myself and I had to runt to catch up. By now they had walked past the disposal area, and I thinking I knew the whereabouts of the hole was, I took a short cut. I suppose for an excuse I could say the entire area looked different covered in snow. However whatever excuse I could come up with would not pass.
Now just as I passed the outside of the disposal area, the last thing I expected to happen of course happened.
As I cut around the fence and outside, what I thought was beyond the "hole". The hole struck from its slumber under the snow and as it did my right foot burst thru the snow pack and my right foot and leg , not expecting the collapse, I went right to my groin and hip, while my left foot and leg on the solid ground, bent at the knee, with my left leg and knee rising level with my left eye. I was in a very awkward position to say the least.
As I spoke in Chapter One about
phobias, I just formed a new one, in my mind at the bottom of the "hole" was a creature, it was about to grab my foot and drag me completely into the hole, then thru one of its many tunnels to its lair and I would be supper.
In the position I was presently in and when all else failed, I did the most logically thing, I screamed; not your traditional scream but a hearty, loud and piercing scream, about the same level as a turbine jet. As I was about to inhale for another scream, when I felt the icy grip abound my ankle; in my mind I was gone, no hope of rescue. Done like dinner.
I suddenly felt the hood of my parka being pulled upwards, the only thing stopping my parka from being pulled off completely was the sipper and the sleeves at the arm pits snagging. I was very quickly pulled out of my predicament by the two older brothers and dumped on my back into a foot of snow. As I laid there looking up at two smirking faces, one of them spoke, "found the hole, did you?"
As I tried to reply I stammered a bit, then answered, "there is a creature living in the hole at the bottom. I felt its icy claws around my ankle."
My two brothers broke into howls of laughter, then it was pointed out that when my foot fell though the snow, the crust would pull my leggings up over my boat top and the unpacked snow would fall into the boot top forming a cold icy ring."
"Well," I answered, "it felt like a claw." That of course was all I could think of.
The snow that had falling into my boot was beginning to melt and soak my sock. As the icy cold water made its way soaking my sock, my foot began to turn cold.
After a brief discussion with the older brothers, it was decided to continue to find a Christmas tree, which I would be told after a perfect tree, they already found one, as I was floundering around with the creature in the hole.
Now on a beautiful spring day here I was strolling the farm for the last time. Like I said before about missing living on the farm, my last memory would stay with me forever.
Before going on my last walk around the farm, I decided to visit the hole one last time. Thinking I had to challenge it. Maybe a visit to the disposal area would be to complete the last visit.
As I approached the area of the "hole" a distinct whimper, although faint, upon hearing the whimper, I stopped to glance around the surrounding area, then casually moved toward the "hole", as I came closer, I froze in my tracks petrified.
Laying in the tall grass from last fall, engulfed by the winter cold, the grass was the ugly brown/grey before the spring green grew up.
Laying perfectly still was a large wolf, unknown to me at the time a female. We both stood staring at each other, her amber eyes locked on my blue eyes.
In my mind was this a stand off? The other question in my mind, simply was "should I stay or should I go?" I moved towards the hole and as I did the wolf never moved or flinched, just stared at me. When I arrived at the hole and dropped to my knees to look into it. I stared into the face of a young wolf cub. I realized probably though curiosity, had fallen into the hole and could not get out. Laying down on my stomach and reaching towards the cub, it cowered flat on the bottom of the hole, leaving my arm and hand short to be able to grab it and pull it out.
As I lay their trying to figure out how I could get it out, and by the way scared to death knowing its mother was very close. The cub suddenly stood straight with its back to myself and its paws on the opposite wall of the hole. Without thinking I grabbed the cub by the scuff of the neck and with one move stood up pulling the cub with me.
As I moved up and away from the hole, I realized why the cub had stood up. In the moment I stood up with the cub my face came within inches of the cub's mother face. So close I could have kissed her on the nose, which of course being a gentleman I didn't.
The cub being held by the scruff of the neck did not put up a argument, as I expected a fury of teeth and claws. Rather that set the cub down eventually. I held close to myself and spoke softly. After a few moments of holding the cub and with the mother, getting anxious I set the cub down in front of her. After a minute or two of silence the mother and cub walked away, after a few steps the mother stopped and looked back then with a flick of her tail both disappeared.
Before leaving the area, I entered the disposal area and retrieved a bone and I threw it in the hole, in my mind a sacrifice.
I then spent the next hour filling in the hole with rocks to prevent any other animal to become a victim. Time was becoming closer to the move and new beginnings. Would I miss the farm, in one way yes and another way no.
CROWD PLEASING FAVOURITES
By Denise Dunford and Helena McMann
Marry Me Chicken
1/3c.all-purposeflour
Salt& groundpepper
4 chicken breasts, halved horizontally, pa eddry
3 Tbsp. olive oil, plus moreifneeded
3Tbsp.unsaltedbu er
3clovesgarlic,grated
3to4sprigsfreshthyme
2Tbspbourbon (1ounce)
1c.chickenstock
3/4c.heavycream
1 / 2 c . s u n - d r i e d tomatoes,chopped
11/2oz.Parmesan,grated(about1/3cup)
Freshbasil,forgarnishandbague e,warmed,forserving
Direc ons
Step1
Place flour in a shallow bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Working with one piece at a me, coat chickeninflour.
Step2
Heat oil and bu er in a large straight-sided skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken in a single layer (working in batches and adding more oil if necessary), turning once, un l golden brown, 7 to 9 minutes. Transfertoaplate.
Step3
Add garlic and thyme to skillet. Cook, s rring, un l fragrant, 30 secondsto1minute.Addbourbonandcook,scrapingupanybitsthat have stuck to the pan, about 1 minute. Add stock and reduce heat to mediumlow.Simmerun lliquidisreducedbyhalf,2to3minutes.
Step4
Add cream and tomatoes. Cook, s rring frequently, un l mixture begins to thicken, 2 to 3 minutes. S r in Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Nestle chicken in sauce. Cover and cook un l chicken is warmed through, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve garnished with basil and bague ealongside.
8 Ingredients
Strawberry Daiquiri
Ingredients
1/2lb.freshstrawberries
1/2c.sugar
1/4c.freshlimejuice
11/2c.whiterum
11/2lb.frozenstrawberries
Limewheels,togarnish
Peach Cobbler Ingredients
Direc ons
FORTHEFILLING:
4c.slicedpeaches(about2lb.)
1/3c.granulatedsugar
2Tbsp.lemonjuice
1tsp.vanillaextract
1/2tsp.cinnamonorcardamom
1/4tsp.koshersalt
FORTHETOPPING:
11/2c.all-purposeflour
1/2c.lightbrownsugar
1/2c.granulatedsugar
1/2tsp.cinnamonorcardamom
1s cksaltedbu er,melted
TOSERVE:
Vanillaicecream
1.For the filling: Preheat the oven to 375°. S r together the sliced peaches, granulated sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon and kosher salt in a medium bowl. Pour the mixture into a 9-inch deepdishpieplateoran8-by-8-inchbakingdish.
2.For the topping: S r together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar and cinnamon in the same bowl. Add the melted bu er and s r un l the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle the topping over the peach mixture.
3. Bake un l golden brown and bubbly, about 40 minutes. Serve withvanillaicecream,ifyoulike.
Direc ons
1. Hull and slice the fresh strawberries. Place the fresh strawberries in a medium bowl; s r in the sugar and lime juice. Allow to sit covered for 30 minutes,s rringoccasionally.
2. In a blender, combine the strawberry mixture, rum, and frozen strawberries. Start the blender on low speed, then increase to high speed. Blend un l smooth,20to30seconds.
3. Pour the daiquiris into glasses and garnish with limewheels.
What’s Happening at the Library
Contributed by Kim Tucker and Lisa Mace
ThanksABunch!
A huge shout out this month to Dr. Wageman and his staff at Apsley Dental for their generous dona on towardsoursummerCuriousKidsClub.Thisgi afforded us more paint, modelling clay, and canvas tote bags for each par cipant! As well, thank you to The Grape and Wedge for dona ng a fabulous picnic backpack to serve as the grand prize for our Adult Summer Reading Challenge. Thanks also to Shirley Thomas for the muchneeded iron for the sewing workshops. We are so grateful for the support from these people, please remembertoshopandsupportlocalbusiness.
StuffySleepover!
DropoffFridayJuly5that4:30PM. PickupSaturdayJuly6th at9:30AM. Have you ever wondered what happens at the library a er it closes? Bring your stuffy(ies) to the library with a blanket and a pillow. We will all share a bed me snack and read a story to them. Then it’s lights out for the library! Come back the next morning to pick up your stuffy and see photos from our security system of what they all got up to. Kids can’t stay because we need an accurate behind the scenes look at the stuffy shenanigans! Pre-register by calling Lisa at 705-6564333oremailingl.mace@northkawarthalibrary.com
KickofftoSummerParty!
with musical guests The Coe Hill Girls. An All-Ages Event. SaturdayJuly6th10amtoNoon.
10am – Hey kids! Come and make a musical instrument with us. Get ready to head outside and make some noise!
11am to Noon – Hey everyone! Come and gather in our frontyardaswecelebratethestartofsummer.Weareso excited to welcome our neighbours, The Coe Hill Girls! Comprised of Janet Whiteway on vocals and keyboard, and Aimee O’Connor on guitar They have a diverse songbook including pop, folk, roots country, jazz, blues, and rock and roll. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy some summerfunwithus!
CuriousKidsClub!
Every Wednesday July 10th to August 21st. Ages 6 to 9: 12:30pmto2:30.Ages10andup:3:00pmto5:00pm We have taken our tradi onal summer reading program and added a nature-based twist . The result is Curious
Kids Club! With a different nature theme each week, kids can expect to be outside as much as possible for stories, games, ac vi es, and cra s The programming will be enriched throughout the summer by a couple of guests and will conclude with an end of summer pizza party. It’s going to be so much fun! Sign-up starts the week of June 24th, please watch our social media posts, scan this QR code with your phone camera to pre-register You can pickandchoosetheWednesdaysyouwanttoa endbut,pre-registra onis required.Feelfreeto contact Lisa with any ques ons at 705-656-4333or by emailingl.mace@northkawarthalibrary.com
SongsandStorieswithSharon!
EveryWednesdayJuly10thtoAugust14th. Ages1to5: 9:45amto10:05am Join re red teacher and volunteer extraordinaire, Sharon, as she combines reading stories and sing-along songs for a super fun li le ou ng to the libraryforouryoungestpatrons.Nopre-registra onrequired.
TurtleGuardians!
ADropinEventonSaturdayJuly13th betweenNoon-2:00pm.All-Ages. Don’t miss this opportunity to come and learn from The Turtle Guardians! They are bringing their LIVE turtles to town to show off and teach us about. Whileinterac ngwiththeturtlesyou willgetinforma on about iden fying turtles, their habitats, and cool facts. Come and learn how you too can best support these amazing creatures! Themed merchandise will be available forpurchasefromtheGuardians.
FinancialKnowHowforKids,Teens,andYoungAdults!
ThursdayJuly18th6:30pm.All-Ages. This informa ve workshop is for kids of all ages and their parents. It’s all the informa on you wish you’d been taught as a kid! As we all wade through these economically tough mes, this informa on is more important than ever. What is money? How do I budget? How does inves ng even work and when should I start? This workshop is being presented by Apsley local, Barbie Adams, a Financial Professional with over 22 years of experience. It is intended to provide educa onal informa on to kids and young adults so, they can grow up feeling empowered about their finances. No preregistra onisrequired.
BeginnerFungiIden fica onWorkshop!
SaturdayJuly20th10am–11:30am.
What are s nkhorns, velvet shanks, and conks? These are just a few of the diverse Ontario fungi you will encounter at this fast-paced 1.5-hour beginner fungi workshop. This informa on is being presented by Susan Chow, a mushroom enthusiast with over 25 years of experience. She is a biology lab instructor specializing in ecology, botany, fungi, herpetology, and limnology courses at Trent University. Susanwillbeginwithanoverviewofhow fungi groups are organized, and we will learn to recognizesomeofthemajorfungigroupsusinganID chart and the field guide Mushrooms of Ontario and
Eastern Canada by George Barron. Throughout the workshop, par cipants will fine-tune their iden fica on skills and learn to name mushrooms in a series of visual quizzes. We will wrap up the session by examining some collected specimens. If people are interested, we can discuss doing a fungal foray in the fall as a follow-up to this workshop. Beforecomingtotheworkshop, Pleasedownloadthe IDchartpostedon h ps://drive.google.com/file/d/1G3vvX3OIIFKZf5tx1RbOT1uQq_D9CQ Z9/view?usp=sharing to your cell phone. Feel free to bring your mushroom field guides. Copies of George Barron’s book (courtesy of Trent Biology department) will be available for you to use during the workshop.
DiscoveringDinosaurs!
Saturday July 20th 2:00pm to 3:00pm. An All-AgesEvent.
We are so lucky to be welcoming Dinosaur expert, Tim Jeffries, who has been studying and researching dinosaurs for over fourteen years. Tim himself has discovered
, Ankylosaurus, among others in the badlands of Alberta and Saskatchewan! He will be bringing his touring museum collec on to our library where we will get a crash course in fossiliza on and the art of telling rocks from bones Bring all your dinosaur ques ons and excitementforthisexpertandgetreadytohaveyourmindblown!
Kniterary
Wednesdays,3:30pm-5:00pm
This past month has been a busy one for the Kniterary group as they took kni ng to the outdoors. They started a beau ful yarn bomb on the library gazebo. If you haven’t seen it yet drop by and have a look. It’s quirky and fun and just ge ng started. Everyone in the community is invited to add their own bit of needlework such as crochet or kni ng to thispublicart.Youraddi onwillhelpittogrowinbothsizeandcharacter. You can contribute any me throughout the summer as it will con nue to be on display un l fall. In addi on, some of the group had a great me kni ng in public in front of Sayers on Interna onal Knit in Public Day, an annual event held around the world on the second Saturday in June, encouraging kni ng and crochet enthusiasts to take their cra into public spaces. It originated in 2005 as a way to promote community engagement and showcase kni ng skills outside of the home and now it is celebrated in Apsley. Outside of these adventures, Kniterary is found in the library on Wednesdays, especially the rainy ones. All are welcome to
Want to try your hand at pain ng in the outdoors? Drop intooneofourvariousplannedloca onsthissummerand giveitatry alongsideothers. Wehaveselectednumberof beau ful scenic loca ons to paint from including lakes, rapids, farms, flower gardens, old churches and marshes found in the North Kawarthas. A warm and welcoming group with members beginner to advanced Those interestedarewelcometocall705-656-4333 oremailk.tucker@northkawarthalibrary.com
AdultSummerReadingSugges ons andBookmarkChallenge
Our on-going library book club has compiled a list of summer reading sugges ons. Come into the library and choose from this diverse list they are recommending and are on display. You can also grab one of our Summer Reading Challenge Bookmarks. Once you’ve completed all 8 of the bookmark themes, bring your bookmark back with your name and phone number to be entered into a drawforanamazingsummergi prize!
ApsleyGardenClubGardenTour
WednesdayJuly31st6:00pm
721CountyRd504
The Gardening Group is taking a short road trip to an area garden.
Gardening with na ve plants is the fastest-growing segment of the hor cultural industry. If you are wondering what all the buzz about na ve plants is, join us to see that there is something we can each do to address thedeclineinbothinsectpollinatorsandbirdpopula ons, ands llhaveabeau fulgarden!
The current owners are in their third year at this loca on and have introduced over 80 species of na ve trees, shrubs and forbs. Many of these species should be in peak bloom in July and August. Around the pa o, na ve perennials have been planted using tradi onal garden design principles to determine which species are suited to the Apsley climate and soil condi ons. Addi onally, na ve species are being evaluated for resistance to deer and aesthe cs Around the woodland edge, many na ve shrubs and shade plants have been established to provide a gradual transi on to the property’s forest and Provincially Significant wetland areas. There is also a large vegetable garden that comprises both raised and tradi onal beds. Here the focus is on adding organic material to the sandy soil and mulching to retain soil moisture. At the front of the house, a mostly non-na ve shadegardenwelcomesthevisitor.
Please meet at the library at 5:30 pm so we can carpool as parking is limited. Bring some change, too, as you may see some na ve plants that you might like for your garden, and we will have a large selec on of winter sown na ve speciestransplantsavailableforsale.
LIONS COMMUNITY REPORT July
by Jim Empringham, Apsley and District Lions Club
There is no shortage of activity in our busy community with summer in full swing. Your Lions Club is busy providing service in a variety of ways.
On May 26 th our Club celebrated the 50 th anniversary of its formation. We were blessed to have a super turnout of representatives from Lions Clubs across our District, leaders from our District Lions including the former District Governor who installed our Club back in 1974, representatives from local and county governments and community members. Numerous presentations took place to recognize this special day. We hope to find good places to display these for all to see. We are proud of working to help our community become the great place it is and look forward to continuing our efforts in the years to come. We provided food services to help the Parent Council of Apsley Central PS run their first Fun Fair in late May. Congratulations to the organizers on creating such a fun experience for young and old alike.
In mid-June the Lions Club continued its support of Community Care by running the bar at the third annual Gaming Night at NKCC. It was another successful effort to maintain and increase the impact of Community Care. Thanks to all who came out for this fun evening.
Euchre night is Wednesday, July 17 beginning at 7 pm at NKCC. Admission is $2. Attendance at these night continues to be strong. Come out and join in the fun.
Congratulations to Lion Brenda Lenson for being awarded the North Kawartha Senior of the Year. Brenda is a selfless and tireless worker in our community. Besides being the Lions secretary, she helps at the Food Bank and Community Care. Brenda also participates in committees that support the growth of our community. Brenda is a worthy recipient of this award. Thank you for all you do Brenda!
The Canada Day Parade and fun day in Lions Park happened on July 1. At time of writing this article it hasn’t happened yet but all fingers are crossed for good weather and a good turn out. There will be games for the kids and music for the older set. Of course, the food booth will be providing awesome food including our famous fries. We are pleased to be able to provide a great fireworks display each year with the support of our Federal Government.
Drop offs for the Giant Annual Flea Market continue each Saturday. They will be received at Lions Park until July 6 from 9 to noon. Following that, drop offs can be made daily at the rear of the arena from July 10 to July 18 from 9 to noon. There is still time to offer gently used items. Keep Saturday, July 20 circled on your calendar. The Flea Market doors open at 8:30 am. Be sure to line up early to get a pick of the wide range of items. Remember that Sunday, July 21 from 9:00 to noon will be a bargain hunters paradise as we offer left over items for rock bottom prices. We are always looking for volunteers to assist with the set up in the 10 days prior to the sale and to help on the day of the sale. It is a great way for anyone to have a sense of support for our community. High school students can achieve community service hours towards their graduation requirement. Those wanting to volunteer should contact Lion Brenda Lenson (705-656-9254). Come on out and enjoy the rewarding fellowship of working together. Thanks to all for your support of Lions activities. The funds raised come back to our community in a wide range of ways. Individual, groups and locations in our community benefit from that support. Together we are making a difference. If you have thought about becoming a Lion please approach any Lion member for more information. We are always looking for new members and new ideas to add more energy to the Club.
SENIOR of the YEAR
Contributed by Carolyn Amyotte
Brenda Lenson
2024 is shaping up to be the year of the Lion in North Kawartha. Jim Empringham received a Ptbo County Recognition Award as Community Volunteer of the Year for all his work he does for the Lions. The Lions just celebrated their 50 th Anniversary of service in Apsley and North Kawartha and today we are here to honour a very deserving Lioness as our Senior of the Year- Brenda Lenson. One of the best-kept secrets in our community is just how much of a driving force Brenda is behind all the great work that the Apsley Lions do. Brenda has held various titles with the Lions Club over the years, and her current position is secretary. However, whatever title she holds, she is always working behind the scene to help organize their executive meetings, club meetings and dinners, Bingo nights (when they had them), Euchre nights (along with Lois), the Parades and the Canada Day Fireworks, the Annual Winter Carnival, and especially the Flea Market! She represents the Lions at the monthly local groups meeting hosted by the Library. She even writesthe Lions column in the Apsley Backroads from time to time. According to staff whenever they are organizing events or looking for Lions info, they only need to make one phone call… they call Brenda!
Parks and Rec Manager Gary Geraldi and former Program Coordinator Jim Elder have worked closely with Brenda on various Lions Club events at the NKCC and they both speak very highly of her. She is so pleasant, caring, cooperative and accommodating, that working with her to plan events even the more complex ones like the Flea Market is always smooth and easy.Despite everything that she does already as a Lion, Brenda still has some spare time. So what does she do? Volunteers with Community Care and the Food Bank of course!Clearly Brenda is highly motivated and has a strong ability to just get things done! She puts her whole heart into helping our community. So on behalf of Council and North Kawartha Township, I want to thank Brenda for her dedication and commitment to our community. You truly are North Kawartha’s Senior of the Year. Congratulations!
Gayle Davis, Freelance
THOUGHTS From GAYLE
The Canadian Beaver, Life Lessons in a Pond
My daughter lives on an acreage which boasts a pond. When she moved in during the winter, the pond was silent under a blanket of ice and snow. If you recall, we lost a beloved pet who sadly slipped under the ice shortly after she arrived. With the warmer weather, the pond has sprung to life. There’s something new every day to marvel at.
Jokes of the Month
by Alex McMann
During a recent visit, I noticed a strange new sight. On the roadway, at the pond’s edge, encompassing the culvert was a huge mishmash of sticks and dirt topped by one half of a log stripped of its bark. What on earth? Then it suddenly dawned on me – a beaver lodge. In the space of a week since I last visited, a beaver had constructed a new home for himself and his family over the culvert that runs between two sides of the slow-moving pond. With the current housing crisis in Ontario, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could build such sturdy accommodation that quickly!
Although threatened with extinction at one time due to the early Canadian fur trade, beavers are now plentiful, residing in ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes, streams, and adjacent wetlands. They are unique in that they share with humans the ability to modify their habitat by constructing what they need from materials readily available in their environment. Interesting fact: beavers and humans are the only two species who can fell an entire tree!
The large, semi-aquatic rodent whose scientific name is Castor Canadensis can reach an adult weight of 11 to 32kg. An herbivore, the beaver’s favourite foods are willow and birch along with other delicious offerings from the forest.
In preparation for winter, the entire beaver colony gathers food, storing it in the deep-water caches it fashions, close to the lodge. Remarkably agile swimmers, beavers have poor eyesight but excellent hearing and sense of smell. They are usually most active between dusk and dawn. Beavers can swim continuously underwater for 15 minutes before surfacing for air, equipped with valvular ears and noses that open and close to keep the water out. A third eyelid which is a transparent membrane, allows for some sight while submerged. With their thick fur, flat tail that serves as a rudder, and webbed feet, the beaver is well-equipped for its watery environment.
A much-recognized Canadian icon for hundreds of years, the beaver’s honourable likeness graces the Canadian nickel. As well, ‘beavers’ forms part of many sports team names throughout Canada. If you’re a ‘canuck’, you are more than familiar with this moniker.
Beavers are synonymous with the quality of being industrious. Observing them can teach us much about work ethic and determination. ‘Busy as a beaver’ and ‘working like a beaver’ imply an unrelenting ability to see a job through to the end - the polar opposite to the lazy, hedonistic character traits embraced by many today.
We live in a world of many marvels. Nature teaches us every day how to successfully master and move through any given circumstances with grace. Anything can be accomplished with hard work and determination. When you see one of nature’s neighbours in action, take some time to observe and learn. The lessons are all around us. The many species of this remarkable planet can teach us so much about how to thrive, survive, and manage well what we have been given.
APSLEY FIREFLY BAND
Contributed by Judith Manary
20th Anniversary Celebration
The Apsley Firefly Band will be celebra ng its 20th Anniversary with a Dinner Concert at the North Kawartha CommunityCentre,Thursday,August15th5pm ItisafundraiserfortheNorthKawarthaFOODBANK. 20 years ago Sandy Zimmerman and Joe MacNab invited 5 or 6 local musicians and a few people who wanted to learn to play, to their home. This was the beginning of what has now become a fixture in Apsley – the Apsley Firefly Band. Dr Rayes generously provided funds to purchase music and Trinity United Church donated choir gowns which were fashioned into vests for the band to wear. This began a long tradi on of doing yearly fundraisers for the church as a thank you for allowing the ever-growing band to use the church hall for rehearsals. Coffee and goodies were served to a packed house at the first concert. For the next few years, the yearly dinner concert fundraiser for the church was housed at the old CommunityCentrealwaystoselloutaudiences. During the years the band has also played for: Apsley Public School, the grand opening of the old Apsley Market, the Lion's Children's Christmas Party, Canada Day Parade, Apsley Legion's Music Fest, Relay for Life and Music in the Park in Bancro , Lang Pioneer Village, Ac vityHavenArts&Cra ShowinPeterboroughandthe Peterborough Zoo. The past 3 years we have been invited to perform as part of the Buckhorn Lions Music Fes valattheBuckhornLocks. Bring a lawn chair, come hear us 6-8 pm. Tues, August 13th
We moved our Dinner Concerts to the new North Kawartha Community Centre when it opened and are now able to accommodate our growing band and audience. From 2012 to 2019 we split the profits from the dinner between Trinity United Church and Apsley Central Public School. To assist with the prepara on, serving and cleanup involved in serving 150-200 guests, band and volunteers, we offered students from Apsley Central PS. an opportunity to earn Volunteer hours. Many of the students returned to assist even when they hadcompletedtheirrequiredhours.
We are always apprecia ve of the staff at the North Kawartha Community Centre who are always professional, cheerful and helpful from the early planning stages of an event to assis ng and guiding us in set-up,cleanupetc.
Within the guidelines of Peterborough Public Health, we con nued our rehearsals at Wilson Park during COVID
with a minimum number of members who played wearing specially designed masks for themselves as well as for their instruments and held a “Saturday in the Parking Lot” performance at the NKCC at the end of the summer
The band has been for myself and my husband Del, a wonderful experience learning to play, and we treasure the friends we have made through music. We really miss our band friends who have passed on: NancyJones,HarryKno ,BruceWynd,LaurieHendrenandPamBolton. OneoftheoriginalFirefliess llplayswiththebandwhichhasgrowninsize to a 30-piece Concert Band rehearsing at the Wilson Park Community Centre June, July and August and has musicians coming to play with us from: Chandos, Jack, Wolf, Stoney and Julian Lakes, Lakefield, Buckhorn, Bobcaygeon, Indian River, Druro-Dummer and Peterborough. During the winter months most of the band members play in the Peterborough New Horizons Bands which offers music lessons and instrument rentals to thosewishingtolearntoplayaswellasgroupsforalllevelsofplayers.
We are privileged to have co-conductors: Murray Carr and Gord Thompson. Each one brings a different style of conduc ng and musical tastes and provides us with a real variety of music to play For this year's Dinner Concert we have selected “fun” music from past performances for youtolisten,sing-alonganddanceto–“ali lesomethingforeveryone”!
A truck backed into the store to steal the safe. This sadly happened a mere two weeks a er the store completed repairs due to a prior breakin!Thees mateddamagesareapproximately$40,000.
This is not only an important community resource, but a historical building,ownedbytheHPESchoolBoard.
They are proud to share that the community has stepped up in a varietyofwaystohelpout:
• A Go Fund me account was set up and at me of print, $4375 of their$5000goalhadbeenraised.
• A yard sale took place May 18th and combined with dona ons acceptedattheCoeHillGroceryStoreover$3000wasraised
They are s ll a long way from the funds needed to help restore this space and if you feel so inclined, please reach out to Community Care, the Coe Hill Grocery Store or make a dona on to the Go Fund me account: .h ps://gofund.me/5c79842b
Contributed by Lori Brock
APSLEY LEGION BRANCH #381
Legion Elected Ofcials
Our elec on season is over and we are pleased to introduce our legion elected officials and execu ve! President:
Dylinna Brock, Vice President- Frank Pacheco, 2nd Vice President -Cinda McKeen, Sergeant of ArmsAndy Whyte,Secretary- Ren Farr. Execu ve: Mike Mills, Brenda Mills, Dan Brock, Roseann Latchford, Jon McColl, Jack Knowler and Jim Rooke We appreciate everyone who came out to vote and steppeduptovolunteerfortheseposi ons.
The Legion has been having a busy summer so far! We have seen so many new and old faces and thank each and every one of you for suppor ng your local legion branch 381! We are enjoying a six week partnership with Apsley Community Care hos ng a line dancing class. This class is currently full but we are exploring doing more in the future, if you wish to be put on the waitlist for further classes you can do sobycallingApsleyCommunityCare705-656-4589.
We are s ll looking for photos of individuals for our banner project, the list is available in last month's issue of the Backroads. Thanks to everyone who has reached out so far to provide photos and exper se onthehistoryoftheseindividuals.
FUNDRAISER at WOODY’s for COMMUNITY CARE
Contributed by Rita Marie
August 10th 12:00pm to 5:00pm at Woody’s, 328 Burleigh St, Apsley
Woody’s will be hos ng a fundraiser, in collabora on with Rita Marie, PsychicMedium,AVoiceforSpirit. Shewillbeoffering15minutesMedium/TarotReadings. Costwillbe$25.00.
Appointmentscanbemadeinadvanceat:
JULY 2024
CANADA DAY - Lions Club Parade, ac vi es and Fireworks at dusk, Lions Park
UNDERSTANDING STRESS and SLEEP Clinic, 1:30pm to 3:00pm,NKCC on behalf of Community Care
STUFFY Sleepover at the NK LIBRARY (Drop off 5th, 4:30pm, Pick up, July 6th 9:30am)
SUMMER kick off party at NK Library with the Coe Hill Girls 10am to Noon
Jack Lake KIDS FISHING DERBY
Chandos KIDS FISHING DERBY
TURTLE GUARDIANS - drop in event at NK Library Noon to 2:00pm
EUCHRE, support of the Lions Club $2/pp 7:00pm, NKCC
FINANCIAL KNOW HOW for KIDS/TEENS Workshop - Barbie Adams 6:30pm all ages...NK Library
Beginner FUNGI Iden fica on Workshop 10:00am - 11:30am NK Library
DISCOVERING DINOSAURS 2:00pm-3:00pm Nk Library
JULY 20th/21st LIONS ANNUAL FLEA MARKET, NKCC
Apsley GARDEN CLUB - Garden Tour 6:00pm 721 County Rd 504
Looking Ahead
AUGUST 3 - CLPOA Fire Works, Chandos Beach
AUGUST 3rd/4th Jack Lake REGATTA
AUGUST 5th CIVIC HOLIDAY
AUG 17th AMHA GOLF TOURNAMENT (AD pg 19)
AUGUST 23rd/24th COE HILL FAIR
AUGUST 25th APSLEY CAR & BIKE SHOW
SEPTEMBER 5th LABOUR DAY
SEPTEMBER 6th/ 7th CREEKSIDE MUSIC FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER 10th GOLF FORE CARE, Community Care Fundraiser
WEDNESDAYS
Kids Activities
Age 1-5 9:45am
Age 6-9 12:30pm
Age 10/up 3:00pm LIBRARY
Kniterary 3:30pm
Painting Outdoors
Adults 10:00am
See pg 10/11 for details
What’s Happening at the Rink
By Helena McMann, AMHA Board Secretary
Even though the ice is out of the arena...there are s ll many exci ng things happening around town to support two of our favourite Hockey organiza ons: Knights are holding Junior C tryouts in August (do you have what it takes!?). AMHA are hos ng a couple of fundraisers - Golf Tournament and Car Show. I’ll see you there!!
WOMEN OF NORTH KAWARTHA
by Helena McMann
The driving force and inspiration behind some of the most successful businesses’s, events and important roles, right here in our community. This column, launched March 2024, will feature one or more women, their stories and how they contribute to the very essence of why we Honour and acknowledge International Women’sDay.
BRIDGET&VICTORIA McCLUCKIE
HERmanas
By
was established in the summer of 2018 by Bridget McCluckie. From a young age, Bridget had a deep passion for design and fashion, always dreaming of beingherownboss.
The journey began when a friend expressed her frustra on with finding the perfect bikini that fla ered her body and boosted her confidence. Knowing Bridget couldsew,sheaskedhertocreateacustombikiniforher. Bridget started in her basement, cra ing each bikini individually with the customer’s choice of fabric, color,
and style. Bridget personally measured each client to ensure a perfect fit. Word of mouth spread quickly, and within just six weeks, Bridget had sold over 150 bikinis. This overwhelming response made her realize that her hobby of crea ng swimwear to help her friends feel confident could becomealegi matebusiness.
“Inspired by my Mexican heritage, I incorporated the bright and vibrant colors of my culture into my designs. A er extensive research and some trial and error, I traveled to Mexico to find manufacturers, fabric suppliers, and professional pa ern designers. Aware of the significant environmental impact of clothing manufacturing, I commi ed to ethical and sustainable prac ces. My passion extended beyond success to include inclusivity, sustainability, and crea ng something truly personal.”
Bridget began designing her own fabric and establishing a small-batch, inhouse produc on in Mexico. All her swimwear is ethically sourced and sustainably made in limited collec ons. Every scrap of fabric is reused to make scrunchies and smaller items, minimizing waste. Following a devasta ng earthquake in Mexico in 2017, which destroyed many clothing factories, Bridget was proud to provide jobs for locals who had lost their employment. Today, Bridget has a dedicated team in Mexico City, overseen by her aunt. Bridget con nues to offer custom swimwear designed and made in Canada. Bikinis By Bridget uses high-quality nylon lycra fabrics that are chlorine-resistant, seamless, and stretchy, ensuring they retain their shapewhilecontouringthebody
As the company grew, Bridget and Victoria McCluckie (sisters) opened a new loca on in co age country during the summer of 2020. This store, located at 10020 Highway 28, Apsley, ON, is a women-led business that curates elevated essen als while empowering small businesses through collabora on.
Bikinis
Bridget
Victoria (left), Bridget (right)
The name HERmanas reflects their close sisterly bond and their mutual passion for the business. With their Mexican heritage and the emphasis on "HER"tohighlightthewomen-ledaspect,thenameperfectlyencapsulates their mission. HERmanas ini ally focused on our bikinis and showcasing vendor products. Over the years, Bridget and Victoria have expanded their store, offering a wider variety of items. Bridget and Victoria carefully select each item for the bou que, crea ng a space Bridget and Victoria love and filling it with fashionable pieces that Bridget and Victoria know customers will adore. Bridget and Victoria take great pride in the clothing, spending the off-seasons finding pieces that are comfortable, meless, elegant, unique,andaffordable.
Their passion for crea vity and fashion drives them, and they feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to grow and thrive in this businesstogether
While running our store, Bikinis By Bridget has been showcased at Fashion WeekToronto2023and,morerecently,atMiamiSwimWeek2024.
Also they are excited to announce that the designs will be featured in Bri sh Vogue Summer 2024, with both Bridget and Victoria McCluckie, modelingdifferentlooksintheJulyandAugustissues. They are incredibly grateful for Apsley, where their journey began, and cherish the moments they’ve made here thus far. They are excited about whatthefutureholds!
Visitusatshophermanas.ca.
By Winston E Ralph, Bancroft, ON
POEMS By WINSTON Ontario the Best
There are green fields in Virginia here its green hills
Which give the city folk a really big thrill
People can walk in the bush looking at the trees
But be careful don’t trip and scrape your knees
The roads are winding with many different scenes
Yes its better here than any place we’ve been
All around Bancroft is an area that has it all
From a cool spring to colored leaves in the fall
The springtime is nice with the melting of the snow
So heavy clothes aren’t needed wherever you go
As the snow melts we see crocus start to bloom
And the nice weather brings other flowers soon
On some spring days the weather is very hot
But on other ones most say it sure is not
When the weather warms up more cars there are
Even though most of them never go very far
The farmers in the spring are out planting crops
They keep going until done then they can stop
Houses are kept better now than years ago
As money was scarce then this we all know
The northern part of our county is rugged as can be
While the southern is more level that we all see
There is logging and other jobs but a lot of poverty
Since this is my hometown its the only place for me
The folks are friendly and some prices may be high
So when at the store what I need is all that I buy
We may look outside and say it looks like a nice day
But by noon the weather has went the other way
There is a haze looking like a fog but its no joke
It comes from a distant forest fires great big smoke
The winters may be cold but not like years ago
As I recall seeing -40c for two weeks or so.
APSLEY MEMORIES
Historical recounts of the place we call home.
Photo/scans courtesy of April Perks
PEST-RX
CLPOA JLA
ON THE LAKES
CLPOA Fire Works Show 2024
The show will be on Saturday, August 3rd star ng around 9:30pm off of Chandos Beach. The rain date is Sunday, August 4th. See more details page 34
CLPOA Fishing Derby
The Chandos Lake Property Owners Associa on (CLPOA) is excited to host its sixth annual Kids’ Fishing Derby on Saturday July 6, 2024 at Lakeview Co ages & Marina (rain or shine). This local event offers kids from 4 to 12 years of age (with a parent or responsible adult) a fun-filled day alongwithanopportunitytocompeteforDerbyprizes. In 2023 there were approximately 85 young anglers that par cipated in this exci ng event where there were plenty of ac vi es to keep both the young and the old entertained. This year’s event plans to have a Magician, “Love Chandos Lake” table, fun entertaining displays for the kids, and of course the CLPOA BBQ with free hot dogs and pops for the kids. There will certainly be more than enough to keep the crowd happy. To finish the day off there will be an amazing prize table with a prize for every par cipant. A li le change to the event that we will only be accep ng live fish to qualify for prizes. Great catch and releaseprogramme.
We are expec ng this year’s event to be even bigger and be er than ever and will allow our children to experience thejoyofanoutdoorac vitywhileenjoyingnature,and learning about the environment. It promises to be a very exci ng day we know will create some long-las ng memories.
For more informa on, please visit clpoa.ca/Fishing-Derby or contact Lynne Moore at HLynneMoore@rogers.com or 416-347-0536
Submi edbyLynneMoore
ChairCLPOAKids’FishingDerby
Jack Lake
Weekend August 3rd4th 2024
by Mayor Carolyn Amyotte, Township of North Kawartha
COUNCIL’S CORNER
Please visit for all things www.northkawartha.ca municipalinNorthKawartha. Ifyouwouldliketoreceive regular municipal updates you may also subscribe to North Kawartha's email alerts via the website as well. For those of you that are active on social media please follow me @MayorAmyotte on Facebook andTwitter It is my intent to share positive, factual and timely information about issues, events and happenings that impact our community and residents. To contact me directly, myphonenumberis(705)931-1342andmyemailis .mayor@northkawartha.ca
Here’safewthingsthathappenedinJune:
• Council welcomed Emily Fitzgerald as our new Junior Planner and EdwardHiltonasournewEconomicDevelopmentOfficer.
• We also said goodbye to our Public Works Manager Jeff Waldon. Jeff made a huge, posi ve impact on our Roads Department and we consider ourselves very fortunate to have had him and wish him the bestinthefuture
• Council also recognized our Clerk Connie Parent for 30 years of outstandingservice
• We approved an organiza onal change and split the building and planning into two departments with the hiring of a senior planner as a departmentmanager
• We were thrilled to present Brenda Lenson with the Senior of the Year award
• Council approved the newly expanded Environmental Ini a ves MunicipalGrantProgram
• Here’swhat’scomingupinAugust…
Aug13,2024-RegularMee ngofCouncil
Aug27,2024-RegularMee ngoftheLibraryBoard
Connie Parent recognized for 30 yrs of Outstanding Service with North Kawartha Township
Connie started her career with Burleigh Anstruther Township in 1994 as an Occasional Office Assistant. She became the Administra ve Assistant/Recep onist in 1996 and in 2000; she became the Clerk for North Kawartha Township. She has accumulated numerous awards, cer ficates and professional accomplishments during her tenure some of which include comple ng the Municipal Administra on Program, Employment Law and Human Resources for Municipali es, a aining an Execu ve Diploma in Municipal Management, Workplace Violence and Harassment, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabili es, and has a yellow belt in Lean SixSigma!
Connie is my first and only Clerk and is someone who I highly respect and admire. Over the years, I have o en sought her advice and direc on both personally and professionally She is one of our Township’s greatest resources. She is incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated to our organiza on and our community A consummate professional and mentor to many of us during the last 3 decades. She is one of the most tac ul people I have ever known. Several mes, I have witnessed her handle a difficult situa on or person with though ulness and care while s cking to her ethics and maintaining her integrity and pu ng that person right in theirplace.
The role of the Clerk is vital and can be extremely challenging and Connie handles it with professionalism and grace. She takes her role as a public servant very seriously. I am sure many of us has driven by the office a er hours and on weekends only to see Connie’s car in the parking lot, while she works away in her office. Elec on years are even more of a challenge as she is our Elec on Returning Officer and has been responsible for conduc ng 8 elec ons. I think our CAO Alana Solman said it best: "Connie is like the hidden gem of NK. No one will ever realize how much she has q u i et l y co nt r i b u te d to h e r community. Connie is the most fair, non-judgemental person I know She always thinks about all sides to a situa on and always strives for be erment. I learned everything I need to know from Connie. She is calm and pa ent and is an excellent mentortonotonlymebutmany." On behalf of all North Kawarthans I want to thank Connie for her service toourcommunity.Youareoneofthe greatest community assets we have and I look forward to the next 30 years!
by Rick de Haan
A Salute to the Skunk
Some mes I wonder if I'm imagining things, but why is it that the mere hint of "eau-de-skunk" wa ing through theairremindsmeofcoffee?KimandIweredrivingnorth to a co age one bright June day and somewhere along the way I began to pick up the scent of freshly ground coffee.Huh,Ithoughttomyself,whydoIsmellcoffee?
Then Kim randomly announced, "I feel like a cup of coffee,whydon'twemakeonejusta erwegetthere."
It was just a er she said this that the alluring coffee aroma started morphing into something a li le more sinister. We both realized what it is. And as we drove a li le farther, we passed a not-very-appe zing mess of black and white fur and other parts baking in the sun on the side of the road. Unfortunately that freshly brewed cup of java we were both yearning for quickly lost its appeal!
Skunks inhabit almost the en re con nent of North America.Soforthoseofuswhoenjoynature,thechances of coming in contact with a skunk is pre y good. So I've gathered together a few interes ng stories, as well as some bits of local advice on how to deal with our odorous black and white friend when things get a li le too personal.
As spring turns to summer, many will head up to their co ages to open up. It is a me of excitement for the whole family as the co age is swept, dusted, scrubbed, and polished from a long season of disuse. It's always interes ng, though, what you might find a er you open the door You may discover the place has been taken over bymorethanjustdustandspiderwebs.
Modern "co ages" are more like mansions these days and far less rus c than the older style co ages from, let's
say, 50 years ago. The edifices that are built now are on par with city dwellings when it comes to size and building codes, and as a result are far less likely to become, shall we say, "inhabited". They are not as prone to uninvitedguestslikethecabinsofoldthattastefullygracedourpicturesque shorelines. But there are s ll a few rus c cabins and co ages around where winter visitors can get in. It makes the whole experience of opening up the co age unforge able, but, let's face it, you s ll have to get rid of whatever hasse ledin.
Skunks are just one of the interes ng creatures that will some mes avail themselves of a comfy place to spend the winter, as do mice, porcupines, raccoons,andflyingsquirrels,justtonameafew.
If you have unwi ngly hosted a skunk, your first inclina on may be to quicklyclosethecabindoorandburntheplacedown.Insurancecompanies tend to frown on this idea, however, so I wouldn't suggest it. Going in there willy-nilly, armed with a broom and shooing the unwilling beast out the doorisn'tagoodideaeither Theendresultofthatmaytemptyoutoburnit down anyway. And sending the dog in to deal with the situa on is a really bad idea. It would have the same end result as the broom thing, with the addi onal burden of a having to deal with a galumphing, odoriferous, tailwagging mu that will at some point wonder why he's ed to a tree 300 feetbackintheforest.
To clear up this li le problem, if it should ever occur, I sought the expert advice of a couple of specialists on the subject of vermin and other furbearing miscreants. My neighbours down the road, Gus Mackenzie and his buddy Snuffy MacDougall were more than willing to impart their wilderness wisdom when I asked them about it. It only cost me a round of Timmie'scoffeeandhalfadozendonuts.
Fueled by the sudden infusion of caffeine, Gus excitedly laid out his surefire plan, "Here's what ya go a do, you p-toe real quiet into the cabin with a fishin' net, eh, and then grab the skunk before he gets his tail up. Then ya run out the door while he's trying to figure out what's goin' on, and fire 'im intothewoods.Kindalikeplayin'lacrosse,eh, onlywithaskunk!"
I thought his sugges on a li le risky, so I turned to Snuffy. Between mouthfulls of chocolate-glazed donut, he began to explain a fail-safe, and odourless, method that would render any cabin skunk free. He assured me thatithadworkedforhimonseveraloccasions.
"Well it's real simple," he said, "Ya go 'n buy a bag of oranges at the Foodland, eh! Then ya peel 'em and pull 'em apart and lay 'em out in a line all the way out the open door, down the steps, and into the woods. Skunks love oranges and will gobble 'em right up. When the skunk's out the door, ya close it real quick. A er that, ya go a figure out where it snuck in in the firstplace,eh,andthenfixthehole...that'srealimportant!"
I thought it was a brilliant plan! It's always nice to have friends that are willingtohelpoutandgiveyousoundadviceonjustaboutanysubject.
Well, now that we've learned how to get rid of a freeloading skunk, what do you do when your dog messes with one in the great outdoors and comes hometosharehis"experience"withyou?
I may have alluded to the following li le story about my dog Zeus in a previousar cle,butitbearsrepea nghere.
Zeus was the interes ng product of what we assumed to be a chance encounter between a love-struck hound and an Australian shepherd. He was a smart dog, and a very friendly one too. Zeus liked to make friends with everyone even cats. He tried to make friends with a porcupine once. But a er that unfortunate incident, he decided that porcupines don't make goodfriendsandwiselyavoidedthemfromthenon.
One pleasant summer morning Zeus decided to explore a field of tall grass near our place. Unfortunately he wasn't alone out there, and as fate
would have it, came face to face with what he perceived to be a funny looking black and white "cat" with a big fluffy tail. Not knowing anything about skunks, let alone that they even existed, he tried to make friends with it. Zeus, having violated the annoyed skunk's personal space, unwi ngly triggered its infamous defense mechanism. This was both an affirming and educa onal moment for Zeus. He realized very quickly that these confusing animalsdon'tmakegoodfriendseither.
The scene that ensued out on the lawn that evening must've been quite entertaining to the neighbours. Clutching a hose in one hand and an uncoopera vedogintheother,Ihoppedaboutthelawngagging,coughing, and dry-heaving at one point. The bright yellow earplugs I had shoved up my nostrils unfortunately didn't seem to block much of the smell. The acrid miasma that rose from the dog's fur like a vaporous cloud made my eyes water to the point that I could barely see. Since Zeus was terrified of water, hedodgedanddartedevery whichwaytoavoidge ngwet.Finally,a eran exhaus nghourorso,Imanagedtogetthejobdone.
By the way, the age old remedy of washing your dog in tomato juice doesn't seem to work very well, especially since only about a quarter of it endsuponthedog.Andtheideaoflatheringyourdogupwithtoothpasteis ridiculous since you'd probably need a whole case of it. Unless of course you'redealingwithachihuahua.
There are thankfully some new shampoo products on the market that seem to work quite well. My son's German shepherd recently had an adventure with a skunk, and he used one of these products on her It worked so well that the dog was allowed in the house that very night. Zeus, on the other hand, slept in the back of my truck for more than a week un l Kimcouldfinallytoleratehiminside.
I've found over the years that all my surprise encounters with skunks had happy, scent free endings. In my opinion, skunks seem to be quite peaceable with a reasonable amount of tolerance for humans, even when they're surprised by one. They just wish to be le alone to snuffle around lookingforinsects,berriesandotherediblemorsels.
One late summer evening I was standing in a field enjoying the colours of abeau fulsunset.AsIstartedwalkingbackalonganarrowtrailthroughthe tall grass, I suddenly came across a skunk in the middle of the path. There were only two or threepaces between us, and the skunk seemedas startled to see me as I was to see him. A er a moment of staring at each other, I ins nc vely leapt to the side and made my way home, taking a circuitous routethroughthegrass.
Another memorable me was when I was serving at Canadian Forces Base Trenton as a Cadet instructor. It was dark as I walked back to my quarters from the Officer's Mess a er a meet-and-greet. Just as I approached the front of Base Headquarters, and began raising my right arm to du fully salute the illuminated Canadian Flag that flapped regally on the frontlawn,amovementcaughtmyeyeonthesidewalkinfrontofme.Itwas a large skunk with its tail curled over its back. Quickly abor ng the salute, I leapt to the side and onto the lawn. In mid-leap my shoe somehow caught on the edge of the grass and I lost my balance. I stumbled, flailed wildly about, and barely managed to avoid landing in a heap in front of the flag pole. The skunk briefly looked at me, likely thinking that I was the biggest idiot he'd ever seen on the base, and then con nued on his way down the sidewalk. I glanced around to see if anyone had witnessed my li le performance, and was relieved to see that I was completely alone. Then, gathering myself up, I stood in front of the flag pole right between two spot lights and executed a perfect heavenward salute to the flag, the queen, and toallthepowersthatbe,thankfulthattheskunkwaskindenoughtonotfire hisweapon!
Graciela Del Mar Cubias
SHARED by MARJORIE
By Marjorie Wilson, Freelance Memorial Paddles
Memorial Paddles - Who do you Remember?
When you visit the Bancro North Has ngs HeritageMuseum inBancro look up as you enter the door in the foyer. You will see a great many paddles commemora ng individuals connected to this part of Ontario. In the case of my mother-in-law, for example, her full name appears along with years of her birth and death. Also included is the informa on that she was an ar st. Take the me to examine these paddles and you may learn something about the people who lived here.
To me the informa on on these paddles tell me a great deal about the community.Whowerethesepeople?Whatroledidtheyplayinmakingthis town? While we honour the most visible individuals such as mayor’s, councillors, members of various boards, business people, teachers, do not forget the importance of other, perhaps not so visible people. There were mothers raising their children, people who looked a er our roads, water and sewage systems, picked up our garbage, shop keepers. The list goes on and on. Just think how many people it takes to make a town you are proud tocallhome.
As a ma er of fact if you wish to remember someone who lived in this part ofOntariojustletthemuseumknow.Theywillbehappytohelpyouhonour thatpersonononeofthepaddles.
Followthismuseum’sac vi esontheFacebookpageoftheBancro North Has ngsHeritageMuseum.
Jim Alexander Sales Representative
613-202-1495 (cell) jim@teamalexander.ca
Contributed by Maaike Berg-Nonnekes
ABC
SENIORS
The ABC Seniors Club enjoyed a full and fun schedule last month. This seemed like a most fitting way to acknowledge and celebrate June as Seniors Month. Activities included a delicious roast beef lunch prepared by Border Town, a LiftLock Boat Cruise in Peterborough, pre-lunch entertainment by the Loop Troupe from Wilberforce as well as the usual favourites: pickleball, corn hole, shuffleboard, cards and crafts.
Roz Jones Sales Representative 905-259-6687 (cell) roz@teamalexander.ca
The summer schedule begins on July 2. Pickleball will happen on Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Coffee and muffins are available at 12:30 p.m. before cards begin at 1:00 p.m. Choose between Euchre or Canasta!
The Wednesday summer schedule stays the same as last year. After the 10:00 a.m. Community Care Exercise class, pickleball starts at 11:15 a.m. and the drop-in craft group runs from 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The Seniors Club is hosting a Euchre Tournament on Tuesday, July 9 from 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Please arrive and register before 9:30 a.m. The $15.00 entry fee includes lunch and a door prize draw ticket. Everyone is welcome! You don't have to be a member to play in the tournament.
Looking ahead to the November 2nd Annual Bazaar, raffle tickets are available for three wonderful prizes: First prize in the draw is a wool wall tapestry by Rachel Conlin, second prize is a hand-stitched double size quilt, courtesy of Merle Post, and third prize is a Fiskars pruner and a Japanese hand saw. Tickets are $2.00 each and are available at NKCC on Tuesdays and Wednesdays leading up to the event or by emailing apsleyabcseniors@gmail.com.
Stay active and stay connected throughout the summer by participating in the activities listed and other local events.
by Kathy Figueroa
POEMS by KATHY
No Money? No Problem
I need a vacation
But don’t have a car
Don’t have much money
So I can’t travel far
Once upon a time
I made a good buck
But things can happen
That change your luck
So, with the sunlight streaming
Through the window pane,
Instead of my loss
I’ll think of my gain
I’ll remember it’s good to be here
In my big easy chair
Cause sometimes it’s
Not always comfortable
In that world, out there
If at faraway places
I still want to look
I’ll just stick my nose
In a travel book
I’ll save my few dollars
To pay my bills down
If I want to feel like a tourist
I’ll wear my sunglasses
When I go shopping downtown
Maybe I’ll stop at a restaurant
To see what they’re charging for food
Then go home and make lunch
And feel in a good mood
But not before I pick up a bottle
Of suntan lotion
(If the price is within reach)
Because the fragrance
Reminds me of the ocean
And lounging on the beach
Yes, I can lounge
In my big easy chair
With no worries about sunburn
Or what swimsuit to wear
No money? No problem!
Where there’s a will there’s a way
Anyone can have a holiday
And the beauty of it is
You don’t even haveto leave home
So, on that note, I’ll end this poem ~Kathy Figueroa
“No Money? No Problem” was published on March 11, 2010, in The Bancroft Times newspaper and included in Kathy Figueroa’s book, “Paudash Poems.”
Jerusalem Daylily
“Jerusalem,” I call thee Oh, splendid flower
With countenance bright
A jewel of God’s creation Set on Earth for our delight When an example of God’s love was chosen To give men hope And banish despair
It was of you Jesus spoke Oh, lovely flower, most fair When I behold you Clothed in raiment, fine I know that you Beautiful Daylily Are a creation of the Divine
This poem was inspired by the line “Behold the lilies of the field…” from “The Sermon On The Mount,” and by the poem “Jerusalem” by William Blake.
“Jerusalem Daylily” (a poem for daylily fanatics), was first published on September 9, 2010, in The Bancroft Times newspaper.
THINK TURTLE CONSERVATION
by Kelly Wallace
What Do Turtles Get Up to in Summer?
Well,it'sJuly,andwearecoun ngdownthefinaldaysofnes ngseasonin Ontario. The turtles typically nest from mid-May to mid-July, with June being the busiest period for nes ng. Nes ng con nues into July, though, astherearealwaysafewslowpokes.
A er nes ng, turtles return to rou ne ac vi es within their natural habitat. Each species' behavior is unique and influenced by habitat and individualcharacteris cs.
The Adults: Female turtles may spend more me basking in the sun to replenish their energy reserves a er the demanding nes ng process. They also turn their sights to foraging to restore nutrients lost during egg produc onandlaying.
Male turtles roam searching for food, suitable basking sites, or mates. Some species may engage in courtship displays a er the nes ng season has concluded. Most turtle species na ve to Ontario nest only once per breeding season. However, there are excep ons depending on the species and environmental condi ons. Factors such as temperature, food availability, and the female's reproduc ve condi on can influence whether she will lay mul ple clutches of eggs in a season, as might be the casewithsomesnappingturtles.
The Juveniles: Turtles that have not yet reached the age of sexual maturity, e.g., Snapping and Blanding's turtles (17 to 20 years old), really do not need to be out of the water other than to bask. It is less likely to see juveniles crossing roads during the summer months. S ll, it does happen in response to a habitat disturbance (human or animal), food availability, theirwaterbodymayhavedriedup,ortheycouldbesimplyexploring.
The Eggs: The incuba on period for turtle nests is 60 to 90 days from the day the female turtle lays her eggs (clutch). This is a general guideline. When a nest will hatch is dependent on the turtle species, where the nest is located, the amount of sunlight, moisture, temperatures the nest is subjected to, and so much more. A warm summer can speed up the incuba on period, like a turtle's version of a fast-forward bu on. A cooler summer or erra c temperatures and weather pa erns can cause the hatchlingstobeslowershowingup,butintheend,we'reonturtle me. Male or female? The turtle's sex is determined by the temperature at which the eggs are incubated. This process is known as temperaturedependent sex determina on (TDS). For instance, if the eggs are incubated at around 31 ° Celsius, they are more likely to develop into femalehatchlings. Inthewild,environmentalcondi onsthatcauseanest to spend more me incuba ng at above 31° Celsius; being a hot summer, the nest could lean towards female hatchlings. Turtle eggs that spend more incuba on periods below 27.7° Celsius will produce more male hatchlings. The ra o of female to male hatchlings is also based on where the eggs are situated in the nest. The eggs nearer the top that get full access to the sun's warmth are more inclinedto be female.The eggs in the centre of the nest will be a mix of females and males, and the eggs nearer thebo omwillbemales.
NotableServices
In the summer, the turtles may seem to not be doing very much, but
naturehasitallworkedout,andduringthosemonths,the turtles are engaged in ac vi es that greatly benefit humans.O enunderappreciated,theturtle'suniquerole as janitors, decomposers, and recyclers in terrestrial and aqua c ecosystems is crucial, and we rely on it. They diligently clean waterbodies by consuming dead plants and animals, which helps prevent bacteria overgrowth, they consume and deposit seeds through their droppings, which then germinate and grow into full plants, and recycling nutrients by excre ng waste that enriches the soil and so much more. Addi onally, turtles are an important indicator species, meaning their presence or absence can reflect the health of an ecosystem. Their absence could lead to an imbalance in the ecosystem, affec ng other species and the environment's overall health. This underscores the urgencyofprotec ngthesecreaturesandtheirhabitats. So, while turtles may appear to be doing very li le, they are doing so much. This reminds us that the push to help turtles survive and thrive is not just about protec ng a single species. It's about preserving their unique ecological role and interac ons with other wildlife and their environment. These complex interac ons have ripple effects that support healthy and func oning ecosystems. Imagineanecosystemasamotorvehicle.Its performance is based on many parts working together to ensure maximum performance. These 'parts' are the different species and their interac ons in an ecosystem. As parts break down or deteriorate, the vehicle does not func on as well, and the overall performance is affected. To correct this, parts are replaced to maintain maximum performance and ensure the vehicle func ons as it should. What if there are very few or no parts available?
In an ecosystem, if one species, such as turtles, becomes unavailable or its popula on declines, it's like a crucial partofthevehiclegoingmissing.Thevehiclemays llrun, butitwon'tfunc onatitsbest.Similarly,inanecosystem, a decline in turtle popula on can disrupt the balance and healthoftheen reecosystem.
Protec ng turtles safeguards our health and well-being, underlining their crucial contribu on to maintaining a healthy ecological balance. Each of us can contribute to this balance by understanding and suppor ng turtle conserva on efforts To contact the author, e-mail thinkturtle@yahoo.com or visit the Think Turtle
C o n s e r v a o n I n i a v e w e b s i t e a t h p://www.thinkturtle.ca for more informa on about helpingturtles.
Creekside Music Festival is Back
by Sandy Del Mastro
Friday September 6th to Sunday September 8th
We are thrilled to be hos ng Creekside Music Fes val for our5thyear!
A record crowd a ended last year and it was a huge success! Many newcomers joined us along with the dedicated “Creeksiders” who have a ended every year. Wewerepleasedtoonceagainhaverepresenta onfrom ourcommunityorganiza onswhowereabletogetsome dona ons toward their cause. A huge thank you to the ApsleyLegionforalwayskeepingthegroundsme culous throughout the weekend! Thank you to all for your con nuedsupport!
Our mission for Creekside Music Fes val has always been: to create a family-friendly and inclusive weekend to bring people together in celebra on of community and music along the banks of Eels Creek. We will offer entertaining and live performances and provide space for ar sans, food vendors, local businesses and community organiza ons. We are dedicated to making a posi ve impact on our town of Apsley and surrounding communi es.Proceedswillbe donatedtolocalchari es.
Last year we were happy to donate to the JumpStart program. This year’s proceeds will go to Roter’s Reach Mental Health Awareness in memory of a dear friend.
This year promises to be an even bigger event with so many talented bands to entertain all ages. Our lineup will not disappoint! We are thrilled to announce that DWAYNE GRETZKY will be returning due to popular demand from last year! Also joining the line up will be EPIC EAGLES– a fantas c Eagles cover band. Friday and Saturday you will be entertained by Dalesy, Melissa Payne and The Hicks, The Weber Brothers, Nicholas Campbell, Tyler Cochrane, Caitlin O’Connor from Blue Hazel, Mason Moxley, Stephanie Dauncey and Double Trouble, Leverage for Mountains, Kris Barclay and more tobeannounced.
In addi on to Friday and Saturday, we will be welcoming Nephton Ridge Runners to host an Open Mic on Sunday September 8th from 11am-2pm.
To order ckets, book a camp spot or for general informa on, please visit www.creeksidemusicfes val.ca
Tickets are also available for purchase at Kemps Garage in Apsley and at Mikey D’s Fired Up Food Truck, 1km south of Apsley. You can also check us outonFacebookandInstagram@creekside_musicfes val
Hopetoseeyouthere!!
The event starts Friday September 6 th at 4pm. We are located at 10027 Hwy 28, Apsley along beau ful Eels Creek. Parking is at the North Kawartha Community Center with busing every 5-10 minutes. Camping spots for the weekendarelimited.
SATISFY YOUR APPETITE
Apsley, Big Cedar, Burleigh Falls, Chandos Lake, Coe Hill, Glen Alda, Woodview
Original Contribution By Sarah Robertson, updated by
Hunter's General Store 137 Burleigh St Tel: (705) 656-2666. Pizza,subs,snacks,breakfastsandwiches
Leslie's Food for Thought (Chandos Lake) Tel: (416 )277-6223; www.lesliesfoodforthought.com. Dock pick up/delivery. Culinary foods,homecooking.Classes,cateringandmore.
The Grape and Wedge.168 Burleigh St, Apsley (705) 499-3011; Gourmet cheeses, hot lunches, ready made food, baking, Wine & Cheeseevents.
Wally's Pub. Gilmour Bay Marina, 85 Renwick Rd, Apsley (705) 656-4694 www.gilmourbaymarina.ca. DINE IN, Licensed, Family restaurant:pizza,pooltable,BigScreenTV,pa o!
Submit your memorable moment by Aug15th to theapsley backroads @gmail.com Photo will be the September Magazine cover and the winner gets a $25 Gift Card to a local Apsley Business
Mikey D’s Fish Taco
Woody’s Smoked Brisket Sandwich
AROUND TOWN
Down the Road and Over the Fence
CELEBRATING JACK LOWN
Dec 14th 1946 - Dec 12th 2023
A reminder that the Lown Family will be hosting a Celebration of Life for Jack Lown on Sunday July 7th, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Banquet Hall of the North Kawartha Community Centre. Please join us for some light refreshments and good memories of Jack.
VINYL RECORD COLLECTIONS WANTED!!
Call or Text LUCA at 416 569 6692
Almost any kind of music but country, big bands, classical and easy listening.
Apsley & Area Folks who Graduated from Lakeeld District High School,1973-74
SAVE THE DATE!!!
50th Reunion of LAKEFIELD DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL
Graduating Class of 1973-74!!!
SEPTEMBER 28th 2024 - 2-5PM
LAKEFIELD LEGION. 10 Nicholls Street Lakefield Ontario K0L 2H0
Come out to catch up with old friends and classmates. Partners are welcome too!
EARLY RSVPS are appreciated by JULY 15th 2024
Email: 50threunionldhs@gmail.com
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! Joanne Sherin, Organizing Committee.
Campbell, David Lawrence 1953 - 2024
David was predeceased by his parents Florence and Jerome. David leaves behind his brother Wayne (Karen) and nephews Braden (Monica), Luke (Amanda), Sco (Chris na), and their children. David was a good ar st in his early years and worked for himself for many years as a laborer in landscaping,logging,andasadeliverydriverforMindenHomeHardware. PrivateFuneralArrangements
As David requested, there will be no visita on or funeral. As an expression ofsympathy,dona onstoacharityofyourchoicewouldbeappreciatedby thefamily.FuneralarrangementshavebeenentrustedtotheHALIBURTON COMMUNITYFUNERALHOME13523Hwy #118,Haliburton,Ontario( 705)457-9209.
Chandos Lake Property Owners Association Fire Works Show 2024
The Chandos Lake Property Owners Associa on is once again pu ng on our annual fireworks show. As always, the show is open to all residents of North Kawartha. The event will be held on the Civic Holiday long weekend on Saturday, August 3rd star ng around 9:30 pm off of Chandos Beach. The rain date is Sunday, August 4th. In the unlikely event the two Civic Holiday weekend dates don’t work, we will a empt to reschedule for Labour Day weekend. The show will be designed and staged by Supernova Fireworks,aPeterboroughbasedfirmwithextensiveexperienceintheregion. New this year, Chandos Beach and its parking lot will be fully open to the public for viewing the show.
Please note that parking remains prohibited on the shoulders of Highway 620. To help with offse ng the cost of the fireworks show, we are invi ng dona ons from co agers, community merchants and businesses. This year the CLPOA has appointed one person to look a er all its fundraising efforts. Please reach out to John Lovatsis at Johnlovatsis@bell.net or (416) 570-0767 to help defray the costs of this eventoranyotherCLPOAevent.Weareexcitedforanothergreatshow DerekHull
