countylive.ca year in review photos – May 2017

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Countylive is on holiday this week and will be updating at a minimum. Please enjoy exploring the site, and the year-in-review series of photographs from 2017.

Record rainfall results in flooding and downed trees. Above, the water flowed over County Road 28 (the old Picton highway in Amelisburgh). John Ferguson photo

High water levels, wind and waves bringing in debris caused Quinte Conservation to issue a “water safety statement” for boaters. Above, County crews cleaning up the shore of Wellington Beach following a storm that washed up many logs and branches, a broken up dock, a set of stairs an aluminum boat, and a tire, onto the shore. The County restricted access to, or closed, a number of docks due to high water levels and damage caused by the wind and waves.

Despite rain, cold, flooded out docks and waters much higher than normal, anglers dropped their lines in the 37th annual Kiwanis Walleye World Fishing Derby over the weekend. Above photo: Fishing with family friend Wes McTaggart, Ethan Caley shows off his 7.98lb pike after its weigh-in by Kiwanians at the Picton Marina. He won first prize in the junior category. Briar Boyce photo

More than 100 youth and their talent coaches took the stage at the Regent Theatre to present the fourth annual ROC’n Revue celebration of the Recreation Outreach Centre (ROC)’s programs and a showcase of youth talent, supported and coached by professionals in the community. The community coaches are pared with youth talent for a few months of rehearsals, then perform on stage with them. Coaches included Emily Fennell, Astrid Young, Megan Hutton, Andrew McLuhan, Chris Loane, Ben Vandergaast, Hiliary Fennell, Sam Hirst, Kim Inch, Peter Berg, Caleb Hutton, Rudolf Heijdens, Jeremy Kelly, Peter Rea, Chris Bonham-Carter and Rhonda Nolan.

More than 225 supporters of Hospice Prince Edward braved cold and rainy weather to celebrate raising approximately $29,000 during the Hike for Hospice event. That figure puts fundraising over seven years to more than $207,000 raised in the pledge-based hike for services in Prince Edward County. Above, Kathy McAlpine Terpstra, of EverFit Studios in Bloomfield, got participants warmed up for the hike.

About 60 people walked through heavy rain and cold to raise funds and awareness for The Alzheimer Society of Hastings Prince Edward. This is the first year for a combined walk – amalgamating Picton and Wellington walks into one, held at Sandbanks Provincial Park on Saturday. Walkers raised $7,000 for research and local services and another $5,000 was contributed through business sponsorships.

About 100 people concerned about school closures and drastic changes to the educational landscape made their way to West Lake for the second of 10 public consultations being held by the Ontario government to help shape the future of education in rural and remote Ontario. The message from participants was clear: The consultation is too little, too late, and there should be a moratorium on school closings and amalgamations until recommendations from the consultations are prepared later this summer, and updated data is used in any discussions. Above, Kristie Fabian, with her son Alex, shares her concerns about drastic changes to the schools with Hastings Prince Edward MPP Todd Smith.

The Pretsell Davies Thompson Benton Law U16 Boys made history winning a gold medal at the Ontario Basketball Championships in Ottawa. It’s the first ever gold medal for the County Clippers program at a provincial championship. “Overall the boys finished the season with a 17-13 record competing in the OBL East League, and tournaments in Toronto, Hamilton and Prince Edward County,” said Clippers President Rob Garden. Pictured are U16 Boys team: Back Row (L – R): Bryan Davies (coach), Logan Stark, Ghaffar Mehmood, Brodie Byford, Alex Arsenault, Joey Monroe, Joe Burley, Caleb Hugh (coach), Claire Davies (coach); Front Row (L – R) Justin Smith, Dylan Morrow, Devon Wilton, Jack MacCool, Thomas Davies and Ian Forsyth.

The Kinsmen Club of Picton members, spouses, friends and supporters helped raise more than $8,000 for various charity projects in the County during the seventh annual charity auction. The club has raised more than $120,000 with the auctions. Above, auctioneer Adam Miller gets bids on a quilt donated by Dick Pease, from the collection of his late wife, Mary, a passionate and prolific quilter.

Fire destroyed the canteen and washrooms near the ball diamond at Roblin Lake in Ameliasburgh. Prince Edward County Fire Chief Scott Manlow said the fire had been buring for awhile before they were called. All that was left was the cement blocks. The building had two washrooms, running water and electricity.

Prince Edward Collegiate Institute welcomed 200 students from Pinecrest, Sophiasburgh and Queen Elizabeth elementary schools to its first Academic Olympics. Students followed a rotating agenda of break-out sessions and group activities. The Grades 6 – 8 students participated in a variety of competitions in the library lab, gymnasium, classrooms and in the upper back field, guided by more than 60 PECI students acting in leadership roles.

PECI students applauded the naming of Eric Caley as a Great Place Awards recipient. Rob Garden photo

Two Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board employees have been named ‘Great Place Awards’ recipients – the highest recognition within the board. The 16th Annual Great Place Awards recognize outstanding contributions by students, employees, parents and guardians, and community partners. Eric Caley, maintenance mechanic at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute, and Sherry Harrison, secretary at Queen Elizabeth Public School were recipients this year.

Sandbanks “dog” beach, and campers’ beach have almost disappeared.

A Flood Warning remains in effect for shorelines along the Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario in the Quinte Conservation watersheds. To date, over 54,000 sandbags have been provided to County residents as Christine McClure, Water Resources Manager at Quinte Conservation notes we could still see increasing water levels of up to 30 centimetres due to winds and wave action. Levels still need to peak before they will gradually recede over the summer.

Work under way on the Royal Hotel east wall. – Gilles Miramontes photo

Following repairs to the east wall of the Royal Hotel in Picton, the Unsafe Building Order was removed from 251 Picton Main Street and tenants of the one apartment and Coaches Pub business were allowed back into the building as of noon May 19. The order was issued April 19 after a failure in the foundation and brick wall caused a portion of the wall to buckle. The neighbouring building was deemed unsafe and tenants were required to vacate. The sidewalk will continue to be closed while construction continues. – Gilles Miramontes photo

Tallying 13,653 volunteer hours by about 80 members, the Prince Edward District Women’s Institute cheered another successful year of service through their motto “For Home and Country”. Members of the district’s six branches met in Cherry Valley for the 109th annual meeting where they also honoured long-serving members. Prince Edward District Women’s Institute Branch representatives Rosemary Istead, Kim Debryn, Dini Kempenaar, Mary Ellen Closson, (as president), Brenda DeCastris, Marlene Corfield and Susan Donly give the thumbs up for another successful year.

Glenora Ferry with a cement truck aboard acting as a ballast due to high water. John Ferguson photo

Due to high water levels, the Glenora Ferry remains on limited service, with just one ferry running every 30 minutes. No large trucks, trailers, RVs or dual wheel pick-up trucks.

The annual spring ritual known as Armdrop Drag Racing roared into a new season at Picton’s historic airport. Engines roared and tires burned as the faithful came to renew rivalries, meet friends and take it to the strip. More than 500 races were enjoyed by a record crowd.

Fundraising for Picton’s Splash Pad project spilled over the top as members of the Order of the Eastern Star made a $25,000 donation. Half of the $250,000 needed to move forward on the park was delivered in one giant splash from County businessman Michael Hymus in 2016. Since, numerous service clubs, businesses, organizations and individuals have supported and donated funds to see the project come to fruition.

Plans for a new hospital in Prince Edward County moved up another step of many to become reality. The South East LHIN Board of Directors, on Monday, approved the Stage 1A Master Program proposal from Quinte Health Care (QHC). The proposal, which builds on the pre-capital submission approved by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in January 2017, outlines service delivery and preliminary plans. That approval moves the project to the provincial government’s table for approval.

High winds and high water levels have impacted two local roads. Long Point Road is closed at civic number 6065 and Cressy Lakeside Road is restricted to local traffic only. “Waves are splashing over the road, depositing debris and causing erosion near the edge of the pavement in several areas,” said Mark Kerr, the County’s new communications and media co-ordinator. – Cheryl Anderson photo

Working with wool is an old craft with many new twists, as discovered at Prince Edward County’s first Fibre Fest. “It’s an old craft,” said mixed media fibre artist Esther Grav. “In Europe they always felted in the northern climates because they didn’t have access to anything else to make things like hats and boots and rugs.” Now felting is becoming a thing of art, she notes, as wool became finer and artists found they could be more diverse. Above, Kelly McLeod transfers her painting skills to fibre art.

429 Transport Squadron at 8 Wing CFB Trenton unveiled its commemorative tail art in honour of the 75th anniversary, as well as the 10th anniversary of the CC-177 Globemaster III in Canada. Photo by Master Corporal Shawn O’Hara, 429 Squadron.