The second half of 2021 saw the KFLA region return to a sense of normalcy as COVID-19 numbers dropped to single digits by late spring allowing the return of Napanee Express softball and some other local summer traditions. Not all staples returned however, as for a second straight year the Napanee Fair was postponed. By late summer the country headed back to the polls as Justin Trudeau called for an early election. Hastings-Lennox Addington remained under Conservative leadership, replacing the ousted Derek Sloan with Shelby Kramp-Neuman, following the lead of her father, who previously held the position at the federal level and now serves as the region’s MPP. As the year winded down, Greater Napanee was able to host the Parade of Lights for the first time since 2019. Here in the final days of 2021 the pandemic has once again dominated headlines as the KFLA region continues to post some of the highest per cent positivity per 100,000 people in the country.
July
Stacie Godin’s festive front yard was named the winner of Bath Canada Day’s 2021 Decorating Contest. She incorporated several themes from hockey, to Mounties to plenty of maple leafs into her Windermere Boulevard display. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman first announced her intentions to run in the federal election during a stop at Napanee’s Conservation Park in July. She would go on to win the riding in a landslide. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Beth Conners of the Express attempts to tag a Port Perry Angel player as she slides into second. Softball Napanee returned to the diamond in July for a short, yet extremely successful season. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Lennox and Addington OPP used their cruisers to force a dangerous driver to come to a stop on Hwy 401. Photo by OPP.
John Herzog was treated to a big surprise Monday when he learned a pallet’able art had been created to honour his late dog, Moon. A fixture in Downtown Napanee for years, Moon was well-known for his love of fetching crumpled Tim Horton’s cups. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
August
Napanee’s Cornerstone Christian Academy celebrated Grade 8 graduates Amanda Bierman, Aleah McKeown, Coulson South and Eli Wilson in style in August as each student got to ride through town as part of a convertible parade. Following an indoor ceremony at the school, the students were surprised to find the four convertibles and chauffeurs waiting for them outside to take them on a cruise to Spring Side Park.
The unique send off was a way to honour the students who endured a challenging final year. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Deke Osterhout wears the Express home run jacket after connecting on an inside-the-park home run during July’s OASA U14 Provincials, held at the Napanee Fairgrounds. The host Express would go on to capture gold at the tournament. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
The corn maze at Wynn Farms was once again a main attraction this summer, this year featuring a safari theme.
Karen Mezciems reads a tribute to her great-grandfather Richard Beard, a constable with the Napanee Police who was killed in the line of duty on Aug. 27, 1921. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Napanee Crane air lifts a 1951 Minneapolis-Moline tractor onto the roof of L&A Mutual Insurance’s new building on 76 East Street. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chats with Vanessa and Julien Gamache with wife Sophie in the background during a surprise visit in Napanee in August just days after triggering a federal election. Trudeau’s Liberals would retain their minority government, Submitted photo.
September
Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP candidates (from left) James Babcock-PPC, Mike Bossio-Liberal, Shelby Kramp-Neuman-Conservative Party, Jennifer Sloan-independent and Reg Wilson-Green Party took to the stage at the Napanee Lion’s Hall in September for an all-candidates meeting, hosted by the Napanee and District Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Daly Chawick, Ashley Arnold, John Corcoran and Erik Jakobsen, all firefighters with Greater Napanee Emergency Services took steps on stair climbing equipment in full bunker gear at Napanee’s Planet Fitness on Saturday. The event, held on the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, served as a fundraiser for the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Fund. A total of 91 people, 22 of which were GNES firefighters, climbed 110 floors on the equipment to simulate the 110 floors of the World Trade Centre which meant Planet Fitness donated $3,000 to the fund. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Tim Horton’s team member Vicky Asseltine and LACGH Foundation fundraising chair Kelly Schermerhorn put the finishing touches on a batch of smile cookies. For a week in September, all proceeds from the sale of the $1 cookies purchased at any three Napanee Tim Horton’s went to the LACGH Foundation. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Napanee’s Johnny Wright picks up a loose puck in front of the Campbellford net during a September pre-season game at the SPC. Though only exhibition, the game marked the first time the Raiders were able to play in front of fans at the SPC since March 2020. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Napanee’s Cali Baldwin wears an orange shirt she designed for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Proceeds from the sale of the shirt will go towards purchasing educational material surrounding residential schools. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
October
The Napanee Raiders line up on the blue line ahead of the 2021-22 season opener, held in October at the SPC. The game marked the first regular season game played in front of fans in 19 months. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Napanee Waterfront River Pub and Terrace owners Alain Roy and Jane Adams-Roy spray champagne on the bow of the Norman Paul. The restaurant wrapped up its first unofficial season of offering boat tours onboard the 48-passenger pontoon boat. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Kevin and Monica Peddle really got into the Halloween spirit this year with a creative display outside their Thomas Street home, accentuated with a 12-foot tall skeleton. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Members of Napanee’s Cauldron Sisters perform a dance in Conservation Park in late October as part of the County of Lennox and Addington Library’s Wickedly Witchy Halloween Party. After the dance the witches read a witch-themed story to kids and then challenged the youngsters to take part in a scavenger hunt throughout the downtown. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
November
Staff picket outside L&A Interval House after walking off the job in late October. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Spawning salmon have put on an acrobatic display at the Napanee River falls in early November as they attempt to ascend the falls. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Legion Branch 137 president Kathy Gardner adds a wreath.
Insp. Scott Semple salutes after laying a wreath on behalf of the Lennox and Addington OPP during November’s Remembrance Day ceremony. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Legion Branch 137 colour party marches alongside the cenotaph during November’s Remembrance Day ceremony. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year of the 20th Century Nancy Greene Raine (left) recently paid a visit to long-time friend and fellow alpine skier Scott Finlay along with his parents Hugh and Rosemary. Greene Raine was in Montreal when she made a special trip to the Scott Finlay Acquired Brain Injury Home in Napanee. Greene Raine, a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, a three-time Olympian and five-time medalist and member of the Canadian Senate, has been a friend of the Finlay family since the 1960s. She was also among the first to visit Scott in the hospital following his skiing accident in 1978 that left him with an ABI. Submitted photo.
Olympian figure skater Kurt Browning hosted a seminar for young skaters at the SPC on Nov. 19. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
KFLA Public Health administered its first doses of COVID-19 vaccine to kids age 5-11 in November at Napanee District Secondary School. Meira Weese was among the first in line to get the jab. Submitted photo. Appointments can be made at https://www.kflaph.ca/en/healthy-living/covid-19-vaccine.aspx.
December
Santa Claus waves to the crowd during December’s Parade of Lights in Downtown Greater Napanee. After a one year hiatus the parade returned with over 70 floats aglow with Christmas lights. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Jaxon Roswell had the chance to chat with Mrs. and Mr. Claus at Erinsville’s Beaver Lake Park on Saturday. Hosted by the Tamworth and District Lion’s Club, the outdoor pictures with Santa event was also a chance for kids to purchase gifts for loved ones, to bring their letters to Santa and to drop off donations for the local food bank. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
An uprooted 65 foot tall Spruce tree at Moscow United Church Cemetery was among the many trees downed by Saturday’s wind storm. One monument was toppled but not damaged and will be reset on a new base in the Spring. Due to Divine Intervention, three other monuments were unscathed even though they were in the direct path of the fallen tree. Fortunately the branches of the tree landed around the stones and actually held the trunk of the tree high up enough to prevent any severe damage. Photo by Susan Farber.
A construction site on Ginger Street in Napanee was heavily damaged by high winds. Photo by @DChief813
Owen Hewett delivered $2,100 worth of winter clothing to Morningstar Mission executive director Kevin Alkenbrack on Monday. This marked the sixth straight year the eight-year-old Hewett has raised money for winter clothing to help those in need this winter. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.