Thanks for ‘dropping in’ for Maple in the County

                                                                                                                                                                          -Ross Lees photo

From the top of the county, to the bottom, and many places in between, the first harvest of the season was celebrated by thousands of people visiting Maple in the County events.

Ron Hubbs answered questions and kept the fire burning in the shack.

“The first harvest of the season is the maple syrup, but the second is the people so if everybody is as busy as we are this morning, it’s going to be a great second harvest,” said Ron Hubbs, owner of Hubbs Sugarbush and Sweetwater Cabin.

A large crowd arrived at Hubbs to see two members of 424 Transport Search and Rescue Squadron from 8 Wing/CFB Trenton drop into a nearby field, by parachute. The crowd continued watching to see the Griffon helicopter land in the corn field. The jumpers and pilots visited with some members of the crowd and answered questions.

Lake Lodge No. 215 A.F. & A.M. of Ameliasburgh invited Base Commander Col. Colin Keiver and military guests and families to their 39th annual pancake breakfast and presented a plaque in appreciation.

To 8 Wing Trenton and the members of 424 Squadron. Thanks for dropping in on our 39th annual pancake breakfast. The members of Lake Lodge No 215 and the masons of Prince Edward District would like to express our deepest gratitude for the commitment you have to keeping us safe, as well as your outstanding service to our country, both inside and outside of its borders.

“For the record, I actually joined the airforce so that I didn’t have to eat outside in tents,” joked Keiver at the presentation. “But I did it today and I throughly enjoyed it.” He thanked the lodge for the honour and Ron and Janice Hubbs for hosting them all.

“It means the world for us to be here. We live in the community and our ability to get back out in to the community and give back to the community means so much to us.”

The men and women at 424 provide primary search and rescue response from Quebec City to the British Columbia/Alberta border, and from the Canada/United States border to the North Pole. The squadron also provides strategic transport all over the world bringing aid and supplies to hospitals and in humanitarian efforts and participates in all major airlift operations.

Lt.-Col Danny Poitras said it was a great privilege to “drop in” on the event. “It was a perfect day for a jump. Glad to see such a crowd, the kids really enjoyed it. Thank you. It is quiet in our world right now but it will get busy, so stay safe, don’t be our customer and enjoy your day!”

And they did.

Wagon rides through the sugarbush always popular among visitors.

No phones or video games necessary out in the sugarbush!

Masons with Lake Lodge have raised close to $100,000 for local charities over the past 39 years of serving up pancake breakfasts.

In the southern end of the County visitors were flocking to Waupoos Winery to stroll with chickens and visit newborn bunnies and goats.

Peggy Willey and Cameo Willey of Brighton were delighted to meet a newborn bunny at Waupoos Estates Winery.

Alanna Baldwin was the ambassador of the goats at Waupoos Winery and patiently told visitors all their names and ages. Here she tells Lexi about three-week-old Sophie, and her twin Siren. “That’s his name because he’s so loud,” she said.

Lilah shows Tulley where the maple syrup begins its delicious process at Waupoos Estate Winery.

Sisters Jackie Kindratiuk, Anita Adair, Cathy Marshall and Mary Ann VanDenVossenberg use the internet to guide them for fun on “sisters days” and were enjoying their finds at Waupoos Estate Winery.

Apple crepes with maple cream hit the spot for Mackenzie Pye, of Belleville, who visited the County Cider Company with her mom, Misty Kimmett, mid-way through their Maple adventure. “We have our favourites,” Misty noted, including must stops in Waupoos and at Vader’s. We always have fun. We’ve been coming for the past eight or nine years.”

A relaxing seat at the County Cider Company for the finest view of Waupoos under a sunny spring sky.

As quickly as Nancy Woods and Virginia Mitchell could prepare and cook their 1850s traditional maple themed baking, they were serving up delicious samples to the crowds moving through Macaulay House, in Picton. Samples included maple butternut squash and apple soup, potato pancakes, mulled cider, gingerbread and scones.

County handspinners Lorie Carty and Karen Lammes showed their technique at Macaulay House.

Great tastes for taking home were available at the maple themed bake sale at Macaulay House.