Local residents appear in Seasons Retirement Communities’ recipe book

By Ron Giofu

Four local residents are featured in a recipe book published by the retirement community in which they live.

Seasons Retirement Communities has launched “Seasoned with Love,” a recipe book capturing treasured family recipes passed down through multiple generations with some of the recipes over 100-years-old.

“It’s for all of the Seasons properties in Ontario and Alberta,” explained Jenn Lauzon, fun manager at Seasons Amherstburg. “We have four residents and five recipes in total that came from our home specifically.”

There are 43 recipes featured in the book altogether, many of which were passed down through multiple generations.

The Amherstburg residents featured in the book include Elizabeth Goldman and her Swedish meatballs, Dolly Duby and her famous meat pie, Sheila Prescott and her ground beef stroganoff and two recipes from Gloria Bezaire – cabbage soup and cottage meatloaf.

Residents had approximately one month to submit recipes and Seasons head office made the decisions on which ones to put in the book.

“The whole idea behind the cookbook is that we want to celebrate the residents and their family traditions,” said Lauzon. “It was all about sharing memories.”

Each of the four residents were given five recipe books to circulate among family and friends.

“They were super excited,” said Lauzon.

Each Seasons location in Ontario and Alberta are selling the books with proceeds to a food bank of their choice with recipe books sold at Seasons Amherstburg benefitting the food bank at Amherstburg Community Services (ACS).

According to Seasons Retirement Communities, the chef at Seasons Royal Oak Village in LaSalle makes the recipes in the cookbook every Thursday night for dinner. All the residents get a chance to enjoy each other’s recipes and give the chef a tip or two while he is making them.

“It has been an amazing opportunity to make the residents feel at home and show them we value their contributions,” says Anthony Ferriolo, Chef at Seasons Royal Oak Village Retirement Community. “The meals have been a hit with the residents; the smiles on their faces say it all!”

The books are selling for a minimum donation of $10 and can be picked up from any Seasons location including Seasons Amherstburg, Seasons Belle River and Seasons Royal Oak Village which are all conveniently located in the Windsor-Essex County.

Lauzon said everything from appetizers to main courses and desserts are featured in the book, with recipes from all over the world.

“It’s pretty much a labour of love for our residents to share their traditional recipes with the community,” said Lauzon.

Two local playgrounds closed due to damage and vandalism to equipment

By Ron Giofu

A pair of local parks with recently installed playground equipment have had that equipment closed off.

Equipment in Jack Purdie Park and Briar Ridge Park have been closed temporarily due to issues with the surface that was installed underneath. While some damage to the ground material is being attributed to vandalism, director of parks, facilities, recreation and culture Heidi Baillargeon said some of the issues with the material is due to “kids being kids.”

The material has been dug up and damaged to the point to where there are trip hazards and holes. She said the playground equipment was closed to avoid damage to the base. A permanent surface is planned for when the weather improves, but it was too late in the season to install that originally when the original layer of ground material was laid.

Baillargeon said temperatures need to be above freezing for at least one week with no precipitation in the forecast.

“I know it’s not a popular decision,” she said of closing off the park equipment, “but I can’t open it if it’s not safe.” The playground equipment at Warren Mickle Park in Amherst Pointe is also off limits, due to the town stating it has surpassed its usable life span. The town held an open house regarding that park recently as Baillargeon said she wants to get a jump on the project should it remain as part of the 2023 town budget.