Belleville, ON

There comes a certain time of the year, when the light shifts and seems lower and paler in the sky, and when the crows can be seen busily flying from tree top to tree top with the great announcements they are spreading over the land, that I begin to be flooded with memories of the awakening earth.

I sense the deep roots of the tall maples opening up their pores once more and beginning to drink deeply of the thawing earth sending sweet maple sap up through their great trunks to feed the tender tips of their branches.

My mind goes back to childhood days spent in maple woods peering deeply into metal sap buckets where they hung on the trees and I recall dipping my finger into the dripping sap and tasting the clear, fresh liquid.

The memory of the awakening earth beneath my feet as evidenced by soft snow and mud patches here and there, reminds me that once again maple syrup time is upon us in southern Ontario, Canada.

Some of my fondest memories are standing in the sugar shack and smelling the sweet steam of the boiling sap mixed with the woodsmoke scent of the burning logs being fed into the old woodstove that heated the syrup pan. There's really nothing like it.
During those times, I felt one with the earth and the glory of Mother nature and all the bounty and beauty she offers up to us as part of her kingdom.

The collecting of maple sap is a late winter tradition that is over a thousand years old. Our Indigenous forefathers (for those of us who are partly descended from Native Americans) used maple sap for a special late winter drink and had developed ways to cook with it and also store it by boiling it down into crystallized sugar.

As Europeans began to colonize North America, the history of maple syrup took many turns as the white man adapted their own inventions and technology to the collecting and boiling down of maple sap.

Maple syrup time in the Quinte-Prince Edward County-Northumberland areas generally runs, depending on the weather, from late February to late March. The sap begins to run when the daytime temperatures are above freezing.

The best 'runs' are when the nights are frosty and the days are warmer and sunny.

40 Litres of maple sap are needed to make 1 Litre of maple syrup and there are mainly two types of maple trees which give sap that is suitable for making into maple syrup.
One of them, the Sugar Maple, is only found in North America. The other maple suitable for syrup production is the Black Maple.

A maple tree needs to be approximately 40 years old or at least 10 inches in diametre before it can be tapped for maple sap. (Watercolour Painting 'Maple Leaves' by Joyce Empey Smith of Belleville)

There are numerous festivals throughout Ontario during maple syrup time and two of the very best can be found right here in the Quinte region.
Warkworth, in the Trent Hills is holding it's annual Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival this weekend, March 8th and 9th.

Don't miss this memorable family event that draws thousands of visitors from near and far every year.
When visiting the festival this weekend, make sure to take in:

• Art Show and Sales
  
  
• Antiques Show and Sale
  
  
• Mini Golf (indoors)
  
  
• Pony Rides and Petting Farm
  
  
• Craft Show and Sales
  
  
• Great food served at numerous locations
  
  
• Fine village shopping~Warkworth, Ontario
  
  
• Free Shuttle Bus to the Sandy Flat Sugar Bush (admission to the Sugar Bush is $4 for adults, children are free)
  
  
• Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides through the sugar bush
  
  
• Taffy on Snow tasting
  
  
• Sap making Demonstrations and museum
  
  
• Nature Trails
  
  
• Contests~ Log sawing, three person plank race, snowshoe competition
  
  
• Entertainment with The Potter Band, Heartland Band, Step Dancers, Percy Swingers Square Dancers, Quinte Bay Cloggers, Touch of Class Cloggers
  
  
• A delicious traditional home cooked meal of piled high Pancakes, Sausages and Pure Ontario award winning maple syrup~ Adults $7, Children $3.

If you're unable to make the festival in Warkworth this weekend, at the end of March the award winning Maple in the County will be taking place in Prince Edward County.
For an awesome list of events that you can attend, make sure and check out this schedule of venues and what each is offering.

Some sites that may interest you:

OntarioMaple.com

OntarioMapleSyrup.com

Maple Syrup Recipes

Nothing can compare to pure maple syrup and Ontario is one of the best places in north america to visit during this annual event.
I hope you get to visit one of our local festivals and take home some maple syrup and other delectable maple delights to savour until maple syrup time arrives again next year!

©2008JoSmith

International Women's Day week (March 2nd-March 8th) is now upon us and the week long series of events, remembrances and re-newed commitments to bettering the lives of girls and women the world over, has begun.

What does it mean to me to be a woman in Canada today? It means that I have the opportunity to earn a living that enables me to support myself and therefore not depend on a husband or partner. This enables me to be in a relationship of my choice because I choose to be, not because I have to be.

It means that I was brought up to believe that I could be anything I wanted to be, and so I chose science and then real estate, because my Father believed that women were just as intelligent and had just as many abilities to progress in life as men.

I live in a free society where, although there are still many injustices committed against women daily behind closed doors, we now have the ability and the ways and means to make our choices for ourselves and our children, particularly when we find we are living in a situation that is destructive to our spirit(s) or worse.
It means that support systems have been put in place and laws have been formulated to help women to live more peaceful and empowered lives.

The United Nations General Assembly asked all of it's members to proclaim a day for the rights of women and international peace in 1977. Canada chose March 8th and in each subsequent year, on this date, has celebrated the inroads that society has made to further empower women and has brought to light areas where still more needs to be done.

Throughout communities across Canada this week, events will take place to honour and recognize women as people, as humans with rights who are deserving of dignity and respect and as valuable members of society.

In Canada, this years theme for International Women's Week is 'Strong Women, Strong World" and in my heart I know this to be true.

I come from a long line of strong women. Women who stood up for themselves as best they could in a world that was not always conducive to independent and strong women.

I'm proud of my Mother and Stepmother and Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers and all they have accomplished as women during difficult times.

• They have paved a road for me that has given me far more choices than they ever had.
  
  
• They have taught me to value dignity and being respected for who I am.
  
  
• They have taught me that a woman can be kind and gentle and loving and at the same time stand up for what is right in the face of adversity.
  
  
• They have taught me that a woman and all people are deserving of respect and to be treated with kindness and tolerance and compassion.
  
  
• They have taught me to value my gifts and to do my best for the children and the elderly and for those who are less strong or perhaps cannot see the way.

With International Women's Week upon us, I ask you to all take time to consider the lives of the women who came before you, what they did for you and what you have learned from them.
Take time to thank them in silent prayer, for those who are no longer here, and in person for those who still are.
Let them know that their strength has made you stronger, that the way they led their lives was an example to you in being the best person you could be for yourself and your family and those who you come into contact with.

Take time to consider how society is raising young girls today and whether or not we are teaching them to be strong and have high self-esteem.

• Are we teaching them about relationships and what is right and what is not right?
  
  
• Are we guiding them to see things that may be bad signs in relationships so that they may learn while they are young and not lead the same difficult paths of so many women who have gone before them?
  
  
• Are we empowering them with skills and knowledge and encouragement to be all that they wish to be and teaching them that they have this power within their very being?
  
  
• Are we setting a good example by choosing to be in healthy relationships, ourselves? Relationships where we are respected, cherished and adored?
  
  
• Do we speak up when we see wrong doing taking place and do we step in to help a woman or child in need?

Our actions today will affect the lives of all of those women and men who will come after us well into the future. Someday our own grandchildren may be looking back and thanking us for how we lived our lives today, the choices that we made and how we taught them what is right and what is wrong in the society of man.

To celebrate and honour the women in your life this week, bring them flowers, take them for dinner, give them a hug and a note telling them how you honour who they are and what they have done for you, thank them with a smile and a word of appreciation, attend an International Women's Week/Day event or silently acknowledge all of those who have come before you and give thanks to them in your own way.

In Belleville this week:

Shawn Susan Doyle will be speaking at the Belleville Public Library on March 5th. Her presentation, called "Healing Our Spirits and Re-creating Our Lives" will include cover women's spirituality, women's rights and violence against women.
Shawn believes that "if violence is going to stop anywhere in the world, it has to stop within ourselves first". This event is free and you can reserve a seat by calling 613-962-1212 or by email at info@unac-quinte.ca.

©2008JoSmith

The continental (4 distinct seasons) climate of the Quinte area in Ontario is moderated by it's proximity to the Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario.
Belleville and region experiences warmer temperatures in the winter and slightly cooler temperatures in the summer due to these effects. In addition, the average snowfall is lower than many areas in Canada and the north eastern states of the USA.

The average low temperature in winter is -11.9 C (10.6 F) and our winters generally pass fairly quickly with an average of 291 hours of sunlight.
Oftentimes in winter we will experience a sudden thaw with a number of days reaching above 10C and into the 50s. The odd winter we experience very little snow and generally, January and February are the coldest months.
The average number of snow days is 42.

Spring like weather usually starts to occur haphazardly in March with many warm sunny days.

April is the transition period from cool winter days to very warm springlike days and we can sometimes experience a bit of both.
Our spring weather is extremely warm with temperatures often in the 70s and many people pick May to take their first swim in the areas abundant water bodies.

The Victoria Day weekend (May 17th-18th this year) is traditionally the start of our summer activities with many people camping in area campgrounds and opening their cottages for the season.

The summers in recent years have been very hot with many days reaching into the 90s although the average high temperature in the summer months is approximately 80F.

The humidity can reach fairly uncomfortable levels and we are in one of the most active thunder storm regions of north america with numerous thunder and lightning storms thoughout the warmer seasons. The storms serve to break up the humidity and bring cooler, clearer weather.

Summer is a beautiful time in the Belleville/Quinte area with an abundance of summer-time actiivities to partake of.
There are numerous marinas for boaters, many clean lakes for fishing and swimming, many provincial and private waterfront parks where the public can find excellent camping facilities and a wide array of activities to enjoy.

There are many long white sand beaches within minutes of any point in the Quinte are and the region is world renowned for Sandbanks Provincial Park, where one of the most beautiful freshwater beaches in north america can be found.

The climate is conducive to vineyards and the Prince Edward region has many beautiful wineries where thousands of tourists flock to every summer to sample the fine wines and ciders and to enjoy a gourmet feast prepared by some of the world's finest chefs.

This is an excellent area for the growth of vegetables and fruits and our strawberry season usually arrives in early June.

There are also many local farms where one can pick their own raspberries, plums, apples, pears, cherries and a wide variety of vegetables. With rainfall occuring on an average of 100 days and sunlight hours from June to August averaging 771 hours, the climate is excellent for gardening and farming.

Summer temperatures often last into October and the autumn is a wonderful time of the year to enjoy the harvest activities and the changing leaves. The region abounds in fall fairs and festivities as we welcome in the coming cooler months.

Many of the local residents travel to Florida or other southern points for January and February, however they wouldn't miss being back here for the arrival of a glorious spring where thousands of wildflowers and trees are in bloom and the air is fresh with a myriad of intoxicating scents and bird song.

This is a beautiful region and each season has a beauty specific to itself that stays in one's memory forever more.

©2008JoSmith

Winter is raging on and the Quinte Region is experiencing another snowfall as I write this.

Don't let it get you down and for heaven's sake, don't go into hibernation!
There's so much to do in this beautiful area that no one should be at a loss for a fun evening out or without an informative, lively social gathering to attend.

Week of March 1st-March 8th, 2008 The Following Events Are Free or 'Donations Accepted', As Indicated:

Loyalist College is holding it's Information Night on Thursday March 6th and all future students and their parents are invited to attend. It will run from 6:30-8:30pm in the Prince Edward Collegiate Institute (PECI) lecture room at 41 Barker Street in Picton.

Future students will be able to learn about various program options, residence facilities, new careers, services for success and get a taste for student life. Bring a list of your concerns and questions.

If you'd like to know more about this informative evening call 1-888-LOYALIST, ext. 2100

Loyalist College is within minutes of Belleville's City limits and offers an excellent post-secondary education program with 93.9% of graduates finding employment within 6 months of graduation!

On March 2nd at 1pm, Mike Nickerson will be live and in person reading from his book 'Life, Money and Illusion: Living On Earth as if We Want to Stay.' at Organic Underground. Mike is a long-time environmental activist and has published three books on sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Come out and have your books signed by Mike and then stay after the reading to discuss ways we can help protect, heal and sustain our planet for the future.

There is no cost for this event and questions will be answered following his reading. For more info call 613-967-3647

Enjoy walking and would like some company? Join the walkers at Belleville Walks!
On March 1st the group will be meeting at the playground in Zwick's Park at 9am.

If you can't make it this Saturday, be sure to check out the upcoming walking dates. Interested in walking but don't want to brave the wintry weather? Belleville and Quinte Region Walks indoors with a regular schedule too!

For more info call 613-969-8385

Classic Movie Night on March 3rd at 6:30 pm will be airing 'Twelve Angry Men'.

Classic Movie Nights are held in the Safety Village (rear of the Belleville Police Station) and an informal film discussion follows with Ed Bridle (retired film studies teacher).

There is no charge for this movie night. Come on out!

For all Writers and Writers-At-Heart, the Quinte Writers Guild will be meeting at the Wharf Street Debating Club at the corner of South Front Street and St. Paul Street in Belleville at 7:30 pm, March 4th.

You're invited to bring along your stories, articles and poems to share with a friendly and lively group of writers, readers and folks who enjoy listening to a good story or poem.

The Brown Bag Lunch at the Belleville Public Library , on March 5th at noon, will feature speaker Shawn Susan Doyle.

Shawn will be giving a presentation titled "Healing Our Spirits and Re-creating Our Lives" in honour of International Women's Day.

Admission is free however seating is limited and you are encouraged to reserve by calling 613-962-1212 or email info@unac-quinte.ca.

For some lively blues to beat those winter blues, the Bohemian Penguin (upstairs at the Penguin) will be featuring the Tim Campbell Band at The Loyal Blues Fellowship Night on March 1st.

Maddy and Larry Hope are hosting this musical evening and the doors will open at 8pm.

Donations will be accepted at the door.

Enrich your world and your life by attending one or many of these Belleville and Quinte area events!

©2008JoSmith

Genealogy has long been a fascinating interest of mine and many members of my family, both on my Mother's and on my Father's side, have done extensive research into our family's past. Searching for your roots can be both exhilarating and frustrating, all at the same time. It can lead you to far-off places, both in your mind and physically and once you are bitten by the genealogy bug, it can become an all-consuming passion.

The Prince Edward-Belleville-Quinte region was one of the first settled in Ontario with many of the first settlers, after the original native inhabitants, being the United Empire Loyalists, or those who were loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution in the late 1700s.

In such, there is an extensive trail of history in this area and a vast quantity of it has been recorded and is available to the public for research purposes.

The Quinte Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society is one place to start for the local citizen who is interested in knowing more about history and family genealogy.
Their mission is "to encourage, assist and bring together all those interested in the pursuit of family history" and they serve this mission with unending faith and dedication.

Regular meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month except for July, August and December.
Guest speakers make a presentation at each meeting and free admission is open to all.

Visitors are encouraged to attend and all those who are interested in history and geneology will find many people of similar nature to share in knowledge and kinship. Not only are the meetings intriguing and enlightening, they also serve refreshments!
The meetings are held in a variety of locations and additional meetings of a historical nature are held by other organizations on a date other than a Saturday.

Upcoming meetings:

• At 1pm on Saturday, March 15th at the Quinte West City Hall Library, will feature guest speaker Bob Dawes who will be speaking about 'Getting Your Money’s Worth (The BIG advantage of Pay-Per-View and Subscription Based Websites)'.
  
  
• On Tuesday March 11th from 1:30-2:30, the Belleville Public Library will be hosting a special meeting called 'Quinte Roots-Our Pioneers' It promises to be a good time with First Natiions music, pioneer crafts, games and displays.

Membership in the Quinte Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has numerous benefits and the cost is only $10.00 (which covers all family members who share the same address).
In addition, you must join the Ontario Genealogical Society in order to join the Quinte Branch. The cost for joining the Ontario Geneological Society is $45.00 ($25 for students) and you can join online.

The Quinte Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has compiled an extensive list of hundreds of online links of great use to those who wish to research their family roots or the history of our region. Most of the links are free and cover every website of a historical or genealogical research value in the Belleville, Quinte, Northumberland and Prince Edward regions. There are also extensive genealogical links given for Provincial, National and Worldwide research.

For those who would like to do research into their family history, did you know that access to Ancestry.com is available free of charge at the Belleville Public Library?
Computers are available free to use on an hourly basis and each member is allowed one hour daily.

With so many resources available at a low cost or no cost basis, what's stopping you from delving into your family's fascinating past? This can become an exciting family project and one which your children and other family members will greatly enjoy as stories come to light and new connections with long lost branches of the family are re-newed.

©2008JoSmith