phase of the Libro Centre biking trails as well as the recently-opened second
more on the story, please turn to Page 8.
Crossing guards to remain at three local intersections
By Ron Giofu
Town council received a crossing guard feasibility study update and agreed with a recommendation to maintain three locations.
The town will keep crossing guards at Richmond St. and Fryer St., Victoria St. S. and Hamilton Dr. and the Richmond path, located near 252 Richmond St. Administration was also directed to include $2,000 in the 2025 operating budget as part of an annual contribution to pay for a new study every five years. Voting in favour of the recommendation were Mayor Michael Prue, Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb, Councillor Don
McArthur, Councillor Peter Courtney and Councillor Linden Crain. Opposed were Councillor Diane Pouget and Councillor Molly Allaire.
The updated study was performed by HRYCAY Consulting Engineers Inc. (HCEI), the same firm engaged in Aug. 2018 to conduct the original crossing guard feasibility study.
A report from deputy clerk Sarah Sabihuddin, who oversees the town’s crossing guard program, stated the “implementation of, and the adherence to, the feasibility study conducted by the HCEI regarding the deployment of crossing guards has significantly mitigated a tangible and pressing risk that
the municipality had been grappling with in the past regarding this program.”
Concerns cited by administration included recruiting and retention of crossing guards, inconsistent availability and intermittent coverage, public perception and trust as well as legal and liability issues.
HCEI noted in April-May 2024, nine intersections were studied with no data being recorded on “atypical days” such as school breaks, holidays, days that precede or follow a holiday break, professional activity (PA) days or the days that precede or follow a PA day, days with special school events or days with inclement weather.
The decision to reduce the amount of crossing guard locations to three upset some people four years ago, and didn’t sit any better this year with people wanting more crossings.
Allaire questioned the times that were used during the study, with Sabihuddin stating school yards aren’t staffed until 15 minutes before the opening bell of the day. Allaire had it confirmed by the clerk’s department the cost of a crossing guard is about $10,000 each, between their salaries and associated expenses, and she believed the cost of a crossing guard is preferable to that of a study.
“I don’t agree with this,” said Allaire.
Continued on Page 4
Heritage Passport program launched by local museums and galleries
By Ron Giofu
Museums and galleries in Amherstburg have come together to attempt to boost participation and foot traffic.
A new “Heritage Passport” program has been created by the six local historical sites and galleries with participants eligible to win a prize.
Sites participating in the Heritage Passport program include Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada, the Commissariat (home to the Provincial Marine), the Amherstburg Freedom Museum, the Gibson Gallery, the Marsh Historical Collection, and the Park House Museum.
Meg Reiner, collections co-ordinator with the Marsh Historical Collection, said it is their first attempt at a passport program.
Reiner noted everyone is welcome to participate and that admission fees to each site are not required to play.
Mary-Katherine Whelan, curator/
administrator with the Amherstburg Freedom Museum, added the program is a way to increase visitation to each site that is participating.
They all have a different story to tell, Whelan stated, and the “Heritage Passport” is aimed at bringing more people into each site.
“We were inspired by other municipalities doing something similar,” said Whelan.
The program runs through July and August.
Reiner said that in order to play participants must visit each site listed on the “Heritage Passport” and answer the question provided.
Once the passport is completed, it must be dropped off at one of the participating sites by Aug. 31 for a chance to win a prize.
The question is posted near the main entrance to each of the sites.
“They are not hard questions,” said Reiner. “You can ask for help. It actually proves you came to the site and learned something about it.”
Each of the participating sites contributed an item that was put into the grand prize gift basket.
Whelan stated the sites have been promoting the program through their social media sites as well.
Passports can be picked up at the six participating sites as well as the Gordon House, the tourist information centre on Front Road North and the Essex County Library – Amherstburg Branch.
Both Whelan and Reiner said there is interest at expanding the program in future years. They could include businesses and other places of historic interest in future years.
“It’s a pilot to see how it goes this year,” said Whelan. “We hope to expand it.”
The museums and galleries hope to present more initiatives in the weeks and months ahead.
“I think we will come up with more programs in the future,” said Reiner.
“We have lots of ideas,” added Whelan.
Ribbon cut for new beauty salon at revitalized Murray St. building
By RTT Staff
The redevelopment of the property at 79 Murray St. is wrapping up and the first of two businesses has moved in. Beauty & Co. by Bretton has opened in the building, located at the southeast corner of Murray St. and Ramsay St. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held
late last month morning though the business’ grand opening was the night of Feb. 10. Owner Bretton Braakman said the business moved to its new location in January.
Braakman said she started her business with “humble beginnings” in 2017 in a spare bedroom of a condominium she had with husband James.
She began renting space in LaSalle and moved to Amherstburg two years ago where she operated out of a Murray St. location.
With her former location now due to be part of an extensive renovation, she moved to her current location. She said when they moved to Amherstburg, she knew she wanted to set up shop in the downtown area.
“I love the sense of community that is here. I’ve had tremendous support in the community which has allowed me to grow my business.”
Braakman is pleased with her new location, estimating it is twice the size of her now former location. The grand opening was an opportunity to celebrate with clients as well as family
and friends.
“I love it,” she said of the new location. “I love being in downtown Amherstburg.”
Mayor Michael Prue stated “downtown Amherstburg is booming” with multiple businesses opening. He told Braakman she is a part of it.
“I have total confidence you will make this a roaring success,” he said. In addition to beauty services such as make-up art, lash extensions, eyebrow waxing and spray tans, the business had added hair services. Hairstylist Chloe Belulis has joined Bretton at Beauty & Co. by Bretton. For more information, visit www.beautybybretton.com or call 519-671-1617.
Mary-Katherine Whelan (left) from the Amherstburg Freedom Museum and Meg Reiner from the Marsh Historical Collection show the new Heritage Passports that local museum and galleries are promoting. There are six sites in all that are part of the initiative.
A ribbon cutting was held recently at Beauty & Co. by Bretton recently. The business is located at 79 Murray St., though on the Ramsay St. side of the building. From left: executive assistant to the mayor/ CAO Viktorya Paller, Councillor Linden Crain, Mayor Michael Prue, owner Bretton Braakman, James Braakman and Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb.
Essex County’s updated Official Plan to address substantial area growth
By Fred Groves
The physical makeup of the County of Essex is changing, and it’s changing fast.
In order to accommodate the huge projected population growth, drastic adjustments are going to have to be made in order to create jobs and build housing.
The county presented its draft Official Plan recently at the McGregor Community Centre, which will map out a strategy for growth over the next few decades.
“Last time we did the growth projection, the level of growth was stagnant. Now it’s very substantial,” says County of Essex manager of planning services Rebecca Belanger.
Over the next 30 years, the population in the county is expected to increase from 199,100 to nearly 315,000 and the fastest growing segment is those 75-years-old plus. One piece of information shared at the open house indicated that between 1,000 to 1,400 housing units per year will be needed.
Housing is one of the biggest issues facing the region.
“There were no surprises,” said consultant Mary Lou Tanner of NPG Planning
Solutions. “It was figuring out a plan to find a solution for housing affordability.”
According to Belanger, finding the space to build housing is going to be a very big challenge.
“Several of the individual municipalities require additional land to accommodate the residential and employment
By Ron Giofu
Despite not being an official part of the Amherstburg Art Crawl, a local church will be highlighting artistic talents that weekend.
“Crawling Too” will be the name of the show planned for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church July 21 from 12-4 p.m. Rev. Shirley Carleton said. As she works towards her one-year anniversary at the church, she is finding out about a lot of talent in the community.
“I’ve started discovering a lot of gifts and talents that people have that you don’t see right away,” said Carleton.
Carleton said as she performs home visits, she sees paintings and other artwork only to discover the work was created by the person she is visiting or someone local they know.
“We have so much hidden talent here,” said Carleton. “We have to showcase this.”
After meeting professional artists Benjamin Lesperance, the church now holds one of his paintings. From there, the idea of the art show was created.
“That was the catalyst,” said Carleton. “We were going to show his artwork and it grew from there.”
There are at least six artists confirmed for the show with more possible as the show gets closer. Confirmed thus far are Joe Perz, Sharon Slingsby, Donna Zacharczuk, Leora Sharman, Jim Turner and Marjan Drop.
“One of the calls of the ministry is to discover, develop and encourage people,” said Carleton.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church wants to allow people to “show off their gifts” and they want to empower people and get them to recognize their own talents. Artists at the July 21 show are a combination of members of the congregation and those who are not.
“People tend to think because they can do something, it’s no big deal,” she said. “This is kind of pushing people a little bit forward.”
Helping people recognize their gifts and providing encouragement going forward is part of what they want to do at St. Andrew’s, she added.
Carleton said they hope to be part of the
growth,” noted Belanger.
When asked by the River Town Times to elaborate, she said that developers are going to have to build up.
Current data shows that Tecumseh has 91 units per hectare while Amherstburg is on the lower end of comparability at 44 units.
“That is one of the challenges. The Official Plan takes a step forward and encourages greater intensification targets.”
An Agriculture Specialty Crop Study to identify valuable lands that require additional protection to ensure they can be utilized to their fullest potential was highlighted. Also highlighted was a Complete Streets Transportation Policy and design approach that requires streets to be planned, designed and operated in order to have safe, convenient and comfortable transportation for all ages and abilities.
“Our current Official Plan dates back to 2014 so we are definitely due for a review. It’s such a comprehensive batch of work,” said Belanger.
The next step is to follow up on comments coming out of the Open House and from the seven municipalities followed by a public meeting in the fall. After that the Official Plan will be presented to county council and it also requires approval by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Anyone wishing to view the Official Plan, or make comments, can visit the County of Essex website at www.countyofessex.ca.
Amherstburg Art Crawl in 2025.
“We’d like to have this as an ongoing part of what we do here,” said Carleton.
An opportunity for children to create their own art is planned for the “Crawling Too” show, Carleton added, with Slingsby helping to co-ordinate that as well.
There is no admission charge to attend the art show, but donations are accepted. Sales of the artwork benefit the artists.
Mary Lou Tanner (left), principal planner with NPG Planning Solutions and County of Essex manager of planning services Rebecca Belanger helped guide the public through a recent open house held in McGregor regarding the county’s new Official Plan.
Rev. Shirley Carleton (left) stands with local artist Joe Perz as they announce the “Crawling Too” art show that St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is hosting July 21. The church is located at 129 Simcoe St. (at Bathurst St.) and the show runs from 12-4 p.m.
Town council votes 5-2 to maintain three crossing guard locations
Continued from Page 1
There were parents Allaire said reached out to her stating they drive their children to school rather than letting them walk, fearing for their safety. That would have impacted the numbers, she believed.
Crossing guards also teach children about how to safely cross the street, Allaire added, noting sometimes children pick up different things from people other than their parents.
There is a 15-minute parking zone in front of Ecole St.-Jean Baptiste, she added, and that has led to students jaywalking before and after school. Allaire asked if police were contacted about the report, with clerk Kevin Fox stating they were not as crossing guards are not a police service.
Fox added the Windsor Police Service –Amherstburg Detachment commanding officer Staff Sgt. Bryan Hayes was on hand to answer any questions.
Pouget said it is the job of council to protect the public, including children.
“If we don’t protect our children, we’re not doing our most important job,” said Pouget. “I think we’re being negligent in that area.”Pouget agreed with Allaire that parents are driving their children to school over safety concerns of them walking. “They drive them, that’s why you don’t
have the numbers,” said Pouget. “We have to do more to help the children. We encourage walking but how can they walk if they feel unsafe to get to school and have their parents drive them?”
Crossing guards have also reported being verbally harassed by drivers, with some drivers also driving too fast or erratically.
“If crossing guards don’t feel safe, that speaks volumes,” she said.
Courtney supported the motion, stating “the studies are there.” He believed “we all need to take responsibility for our children,” suggesting that older children assist younger children on their way to and from school.
Courtney noted traffic calming measures are in place in Windsor to help slow people down in school zones and believed that was the way to go in Amherstburg.
Crain said the engineering firm did a thorough job in looking at the intersections, adding his concerns over legal and liability should the recommendation from administration and the engineering firm not be followed. He believed the town has been proactive in dealing with concerns, such as asking police for additional patrols, presenting a public education
campaign and looking at traffic calming measures.
McArthur also supported the motion, citing they had a professional firm do a study and their results should be followed.
“I think it only makes sense given the facts and stats before us,” said McArthur.
McArthur pointed out administration’s concerns earlier in the meeting about the ability to staff a more robust program. Sabihuddin said she fields calls from crossing guards who call in sick early in the morning, adding if the crossing guard can’t call someone off the reserve list, she has to do it. There have been times she or another member of the clerk’s department have had to fill in for a shift.
Fox said while the job pays $19.10 per hour, crossing guards work two hours per day in all weather conditions for 195 days per year.
“It’s not ideal working conditions for many people,” said Fox.
McArthur said he voted in favour of the updated study due to a need for more statistics and facts. He believed there are moral and legal obligations if a crossing guard is promised at a certain location only to not have one there because of staffing issues. He added the previous council lowered the pedestrian threshold
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
from 40 pedestrians to 35 to try and justify more guards. While it would be ideal to have crossing guards at every corner, Gibb said the data provided by HCEI shows what needs to happen.
“I can’t make decisions based on emotions or heartstrings,” said Gibb. “We have to make business decisions based on the facts and what the experts have discovered.”
Prue cautioned council if it were a “no” vote on the recommendation, there would be no crossing guards at all. Pouget interjected by saying she would make a follow-up motion to hire crossing guards.
The mayor said it was his motion four years ago, when he was a councillor, that lowered the warrants. He stated if the original pedestrian warrants were to stay in place, only one location would have been staffed with crossing guards. Prue added council was open to amend the motion, including offering more pay or to further lower warrants, but nothing was raised, suggesting it’s better to amend a motion than to vote it down.
“I am not seeing it here tonight,” he said of amendments.
The $2,000 contribution to future studies will go to the plans and studies reserve.
Economic success can only be achieved with private sector investment, says reader
Without any question, we are at the end of a residential boom. It is usually followed by an increase in commercial building.
The number reported of $12 million in value is a good number. It is also misleading. The real numbers are how many residential permits have been issued.
We are running at 50 per cent less of last year’s level, indicating a slowdown in residential construction reducing residential growth from the eight per cent average.
As indicated in our financial statements of the last ten year average, deficit financing is not a good plan for
economic success. Inflation and high interest rates outside of our control will persist. Cutting spending is the only cure.
In addition to balancing our budget every year and implementing a debt reduction plan over ten years, simple accounting will show that the cost of financing our debt at current rates will double.
We have millions of debt including pension liabilities. It is wise and essential to reduce those liabilities over a period of time to a minimum starting now.
The recent decision by the public school board to levy a development
charge, adding a new revenue stream, saw no municipality appeal that decision. Some members of our council support a county levy, adding to the cost of housing, which is supporting double-dipping.
After giving themselves a pay raise of 130 per cent retroactive to Jan. 1, these fees are passed on to consumers at the worst possible time.
The numbers of new businesses relocation in our town such as Burger King, Starbucks and Dairy Queen, but they have not yet replaced Kentucky Fried Chicken. Some have relocated to a new location such as the LCBO. We are not further ahead.
Economic success can only be achieved with private sector investment. Not having made a decision on the proposed redevelopment on Belle Vue will discourage those very same people willing to invest.
In a little longer than two years, we will elect a new council, holding all member to account for having raised taxes in total 11.5 per cent in a 12-month period, not including the possibility of a higher water rate and wastewater surcharge.
I am an optimist. I believe in miracles.
—Frank Cerasa Amherstburg
Kudos for resident’s efforts to preserve the Big Creek watershed
Kudos to Mr. Greg Nemeth for his continued crusade to preserve and conserve Amherstburg’s Big Creek Watershed. He is to be applauded for his efforts. Any actions taken by Amherstburg
town council to expedite this process in our lifetime would be very much appreciated.
Laura D’Alessandro
—Larry Foley Amherstburg
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First year of “Dungeons and Dragons” club ends, players to resume in the fall
By Ron Giofu
The first year of the North Star High School “Dungeons & Dragons” club has come to a close. The club met twice per week – once for junior students and another for senior aged students – with club members gathering at lunch breaks and after school to enjoy the game. Teacher Jake Simpkins said it was a way for students to come together and play the game.
“The D&D club was started at North Star as a way to play in a safe and inclusive environment,” he said. “It is a game where you can be a wizard, a warrior, a barbarian, a cleric or a healer. There’s different classifications that you can be.”
Some students aren’t athletic or don’t want to be in such groups as student parliament and the Dungeons and Dragons club is an outlet for them to get involved and be themselves.
Simpkins said they have fun and people could come in and out of it, depending if they had other things they were involved in during points of the
school year.
Benefits of the club include having to make decisions and the consequences of those decisions.
“You can make good choices or you can make evil choices (during the game),” he said.
There are other benefits the students gained.
“The main thing we try to show is they have to work as a team,” said Simpkins. “They communicate verbally and physically. They have to work together to get through certain situations. Above all, they have to work together to solve problems.”
Ideally, a game of D&D has four to five people but Simpkins said they have had more students than anticipated in some of them. The club grew to where Grade 9 and 10 students played Monday and Grade 11 and 12 students played Friday. There were 18 students in the club in total.
Simpkins added he heard positive reviews from parents for creating a social environment for their children by starting the club.
“That’s nice to hear,” he said.
While Simpkins will be teaching at another school in the fall, he added other North Star teachers have shown interest in taking the Dungeons and Dragons team over in September.
Gibson Gallery awards winners for “Blossoms, Blooms & Buds” exhibit
Entries are judged by professional artists and monetary prizes are given for first, second, and third place, as well as a people’s choice award, which is selected by the public.
The exhibit this year consisted of twenty-three pieces that were submitted for judging.
Judging was done by Stephen Gibb, Dennis K. Smith, and Dennis White, all well established artists in the community, and was based on creativity, composition, design based on theme, presentation, and much more.
The first-place winner this year was Cathy Bellis, with a water colour painting titled ‘Lilac’.
Second place went to Barbara Cozens, for her water color titled ‘Summer Garden’.
The third-place winner was Sandra Ellis for her water color titled ‘Cherry Blossoms for Alex’.
The People’s choice award went to Michelle Pollari for her acrylic piece titled ‘Lily of the Valley’.
A reception was held at the museum following the awards ceremony.
By Donna Tuckwell
The Gibson Gallery was busy recently as artists gathered with family and friends for the Blossoms, Blooms, and Buds exhibit awards.
Lisa Bassett, board member at the museum said “each year, the exhibit is set up to coordinate with the Amherstburg Garden tour that is hosted by the Amherstburg Fort Malden Horticultural Society, and all of the artwork is based on floral, garden type of pieces.”
BR ANCH ADMINISTR ATOR
The Branch Administrator ’ s primar y function is to suppor t the office in all administrative duties. They are a reliable team member for administration, marketing, and daily functions for the Branch Manager/Financial Advisor Must be available in person Monday -Friday Par t-time or full-time hours available.
•Strong abilit y to work independently and strong at tention to detail.
•Abilit y to manage multiple priorities in a deadline driven environment.
•Abilit y to multitask and keep BM/FA on task.
•Goal and task-oriented with strong organization skills.
•Must have strong proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel & Outlook).
•Minimum 3 years in the Investment Brokerage or Financial Ser vices Industr y or min 5 years of experience in office environment as assistant.
•College Diploma or Universit y Degree or completion of some financial industr y courses.
We of fer competitive wages and quar terly bonuses.
Please email resume to: jef f.hoskins@raymondjames.ca
Their current exhibit - “A Medley of MediumsCopperfish Creations and Hidden Owl Studio” - runs through this Sunday.
The Gibson Gallery is located at 140 Richmond St. in Amherstburg. They are open daily from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call 519-736-2826 or visit www.gibsongallery.org.
The North Star Dungeons & Dragons club is looking to resume in the fall, though with a new teacher sponsor. Members of the 2023-24 club included Erin Thomson, Zoey Triolet, Dallas Goyeau, Elijah Horton, Martin Duschesne, Lucien Gaudreault and teacher Jake Simpkins. The latter is changing schools next year.
The first place winner this year was Cathy Bellis (left), with a water colour painting titled “Lilac.” The second place winner was Barbara Cozens (right), for her watercolour titled “Summer Garden.”
G.L. Heritage Brewing Co. hosting fundraiser for Bryerswood Youth Camp
Special to the RTT
A local brewery is hosting a fundraiser to assist the Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club and the campground they operate.
“A Mid-Summer FUNdraiser” is being staged at G.L. Heritage Brewing Co. July 31 from 4-10 p.m.
Proceeds from this 19+ fundraiser will Help Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club, a registered charity, make renovations so that all campers can participate fully. In particular, the activity centre washrooms and the kitchen require accessibility improvements.
The 25-acre camp on Texas Road supports the community’s youth through fun outdoor experiences and activities. The event will feature local food and local music for those who attend.
by local food truck and community advocates Nat’s Wraps & Apps. People can choose their preferred meal option when they purchase their tickets. Other non-alcoholic drinks and a cash bar available for additional beverages.
McArthur.
Udo Kiewitz, general manager at Provincial Chrysler Ltd, said they are excited to be involved with the evening.
This fundraising dinner and live music event will have 100 per cent of the proceeds going toward Bryerswood renovations. Each ticket includes a choice of G.L. Heritage craft beer, hard seltzer or non-alcoholic hop water, and a choice from five dinner options offered
Cathy Robertson, Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club (BYCOC) vice president, said the activity centre washrooms and kitchen need to undergo significant accessibility renovations so all campers of varying abilities can use the facilities. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to fully take part in the camp programs and to easily use all amenities on site. As a non-profit, we really need the help of the community to make it happen,” said Robertson.
GL Heritage co-owner, Jen DesjardinsGrondin states: “Our family is happy to support such a valuable, youth-focused community asset like Bryerswood Youth Camp, and we’re proud to offer our venue for this great fundraising event as a means to further enhance the healthy experiences.”
Doors open at 4 p.m. and there will be a free-style meal service. Upon check in, people wll receive a ticket for their meal choice, as well as a drink ticket. They can eat anytime between 5-8 p.m.
Live musical entertainment from 5-9 p.m. by Don McArthur and Nancy Roy from the band, the River Rock Ramblers.
“The Ramblers have long supported Camp Bryerswood and believe the camp is an Amherstburg gem that fosters selfesteem in youth and provides them with valuable leadership and life skills,” said
“Supporting the Bryerswood camp is an important part of our employees’ outreach in the community. Provincial Chrysler is a local family-owned business and supports giving young people the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the great surroundings of Bryerswood Camp. I love the development of the camp and am excited for its future,” said Kiewitz.
Space is limited and only 125 spots are available through eventbrite.ca. Tickets are available with and without dinner included. Tickets are $20 for general admission and drink or $40 for general admission and dinner package.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite or send an e-mail to info@ bryerswood.com to buy tickets in person.
Seating will be available indoors, however if weather permits, the outdoor patio and multiple cornhole sets will be available.
Male driver faces charges after allegedly fleeing from police
A male driver faces charges including dangerous operation and flight from police following an incident reported last week.
According to the Windsor Police Service –Amherstburg Detachment, the driver was observed allegedly driving dangerously in the 800 block of Front Road South July 2. It is further alleged that the driver fled the scene when officers attempted to stop the vehicle. Through investigation, the driver was identified
and on July 3, the male was arrested and the charges were laid.
Impaired
driving charge
Officers stopped a vehicle on Malden Hill Dr. July 4 with police stating the 52-year-old male driver was arrested and an impaired driving charge laid. Police say the accused’s vehicle was impounded and the accused was later released with a future court date.
License suspension
Police issued a three-day license suspension as a result of a traffic stop July 4. A vehicle driven by a 41-year-old male was stopped on Texas Road for a driving offense with police adding the suspension was issued after he allegedly registered an “Alert” on a roadside screening device.
—All information courtesy of the Windsor Police Service – Amherstburg Detachment
At over 60% rented, River’s Edge PHASE 2 in Amherstburg is filling quick! This summer, when you rent a unit at River’s Edge PHASE 2, you will not only be entered in a draw to win some AMAZING prizes, but you will also receive a $500 Amazon gift card.*
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New Amherstburg fire chief/CEMC eager to get started
By Ron Giofu
The town’s newly hired fire chief and community emergency management coordinator (CEMC) says he is looking forward to taking on his new duties.
Michael Mio, whose hiring was announced publicly via press release last Tuesday morning, said he has been receiving congratulations and accolades both locally and provincially since his appointment was acknowledged. He learned he was the successful applicant during the last week of June.
“It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind since,” Mio told the River Town Times.
Mio pointed out he is currently an assistant chief of the fire and rescue division in Windsor, a department he has served since beginning his career in 1994.
“I was expecting to retire this year and wasn’t looking for anything else,” said Mio. He said the opportunity in Amherstburg arose and he decided to pursue it.
“Achieving the role of fire chief is an honourable one,” said Mio. As reported last week, Mio has experience as a lead evaluator and proctor for the Office of the Fire Marshall. He
also holds certifications in emergency management, incident management, Blue Card Command as well as many NFPA certifications. Additionally, he holds leadership level certifications in fire management as well as workplace mental health and wellness.
Mio believes his background in HAZMAT was to his advantage in getting the fire chief job in Amherstburg. Mio currently serves in the role of HAZMAT materials responder at the local and provincial levels. He helped develop the Ontario Fire Marshall’s Hazardous Materials Curriculum, used to train responders throughout the Province of Ontario. He serves as Team Lead for the Windsor Level 3 Provincial Hazardous Materials Response Team. Mio has also been described as “instrumental in the early development and success of the City of Windsor Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program ensuring public access to defibrillators in case of a medical emergency.”
Mio said he looks forward to reconnecting with current fire chief Bruce
Open Streets
Harrow
Montone and ensuring there is a smooth transition. Montone is scheduled to retire later this year.
“He’s got a wealth of knowledge,” Mio said of Montone. “I anticipate using as much of his knowledge as I can before he leaves.”
Noting he was a property owner in Amherstburg years ago and still comes to town frequently with his family for dinner, Mio said “Amherstburg has been one of the towns I’ve always loved.”
“The town is growing. Things are great. Keeping things going is my goal,” said Mio. “It’s a great atmosphere. The town has done a great job.”
Mio calls his new job, which takes effect Sept. 16, as exciting and he said he looks forward to meeting more people in town. He has also been the owner/operator of a small business supporting the Windsor-Essex County area for the last 30 years. He becomes the third straight fire chief to come to Amherstburg after having served in Windsor, following Montone and Al Reaume.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Michael Mio, currently an assistant chief with the Windsor Fire & Rescue Service, takes over the chief’s job in Amherstburg Sept. 16.
Open Streets Harrow was presented by the Harrow and Colchester South Chamber of Commerce June 28. Vendors, entertainment, pickleball, food trucks and more were featured during the three-hour event.
RTT PHOTOS BY RON GIOFU
Historic Amherstburg church to be featured as part of Art Crawl
By RTT Staff
The Amherstburg Art Crawl, coming July 20-21, will feature the involvement of a historic church and some modern technology.
Christ Anglican Church, located at 317 Ramsay St., will be part of this year’s event. Rev. Lisa Poultney said she reached out to a main organizer and got the church involved.
“I approached Richard Peddie because I thought that stained glass windows are art and given that Christ Church is an integral part of the historic old Amherstburg with one of the oldest buildings in town, it made sense that we be part of Art Crawl. We have been here continuously serving the community for 205 years,” said Poultney. “There will be self-guided tours of the church during Art Crawl though there will be people present to assist people and try to answer any questions they might have. People can also view the artistic images on the gravestones. Stephanie Pouget-Papak. provides tours of the cemetery with a focus on the symbols and artwork on gravestones near to Halloween.”
Parking will be available in the church’s
lot, she added. “The church parking lot is our gift to the town, as it turned out to be during Ribfest (we did not ask for any donations during Ribfest due to a change in plans). We will be offering BBQ beef hotdogs and beef and veggie hamburgers along with a drink and potato chips for sale at lunch time,” said Poultney.
Poultney added they feel the arts are important to Amherstburg and to the vibrant and healthy life of a community.
“We have encouraged the WSO (Windsor Symphony Orchestra) to come at no charge to use our space to provide concerts to the community and we are their home out in the county. We offer the parking so more people may enjoy the Art Crawl. And we are offering the history and meaning of stained glass windows in general and ours in particular, three of which date back to 1897,” she said. “Also, we have artists who belong to both the Gibson Gallery and Christ Church offering ‘en plein air’ painting in our gardens during Art Crawl.”
Christ Church would like to be involved in the Art Crawl annually.
“It has been received very well so
far by people who have heard of our participation. We feel that it is important for us, like Park House, to be an active participant in both the historic life of Amherstburg and its cultural life,” said Poultney.
Poultney noted stained glass windows have a 1,000 year history in the medieval cathedral churches of Western Europe. They tell stories from the life of Jesus to audiences that did not have access to the Bible either because of the preciousness of codexes or the Bible being written in Latin until the invention of the printing press. Even then most people could not read. In England, the home of the Anglican Church, stained glass windows were very popular until after Henry VIII seized the monasteries for their wealth and then as the reformation occurred and worship became much more simplified. Stained glass windows did not become popular until the mid-late 1800’s. Christ Church would have been built with clear windows which were then later replaced to honour or memorialize people in the congregation. The two earliest windows were secular windows, one purchased by the Masonic order and one purchased by the local Mariners dated to 1897. The
oldest sacred window is the one in the sanctuary over the altar of Jesus’ ascension into heaven 40 days after his resurrection, also dated to 1897.
There will also be drone coverage of the Art Crawl. Mike Chase said his business, Windsor Aerial Drone Photography, will document the event from the ground and the air. It will not be live and content will be provided to Peddie for distribution
“As our community and diversity grows, art is an important aspect to not only our town, but to all cultures and communities around the globe,” said Chase. “Art transcends languages and cultures and adds a vibe to any community. Whether it’s a mural on a plain brick wall in an alley, or sought after pieces of art in an exhibition, art serves as a cultural ambassador.”
Chase added: “As a resident for close to 20 years in Amherstburg, I believe strongly in our community and its future, and I also believe that art can and will play an integral role as the town continues to grow. With the continued success of the Art Crawl year after year, I believe that it’s still in its infancy and has a great future in our growing community.”
WEBC introduces new youth riding club in Amherstburg
By Ron Giofu
The Windsor-Essex Bike Community (WEBC) was happy with the turnout for their first youth session last week.
WEBC is offering a free mountain bike riding club for youth throughout the summer at the Libro Centre’s
Welcome to theTeam
cycling trails. The first session was last Wednesday night and they will continue every other Wednesday until October starting at 6 p.m., the next session being July 17.
The sessions are being sponsored by Essex Powerlines and the Town of Amherstburg.
James Braakman, one of the directors with WEBC, said it is a way for younger people to get out and enjoy the trails.
“As long as you have a mountain bike or a bike in working order, you are welcome to come out,” said Braakman..
Continued on Page 13
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One of the youth riders heads down the WEBC trails last Wednesday.
Amherstburg band part of entertainment at Essex Fun Fest
By Fred Groves
The 35th Essex Fun Fest was held this past weekend and once again, it had something for all ages throughout the four-day event.
Entertainment was one of the featured attractions and organizers of the town’s biggest annual festival were able to bring in both global acts as well as some very well-known local musicians.
Among those were Amherstburg’s own Harbouring Illusions which performed on the main stage Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Special head-lining guests for this year’s Fun Fest were Canadian rock legends Honeymoon Suite. Tecumseh’s Carson Janik, along with Redferrin, British Beat 66 John Thomas Band and the CIAO Band, were just a few of the other acts.
“We are proud to be on the same stage as them (Honeymoon Suite). We never thought we would go this far, this fast,” said Harbouring Illusions guitarist James Ouellette.
The band just celebrated its first anniversary as a group and are already working on their second album. When performing, they combine classic rock along with some of their originals.
“The bands we cover? I like two songs by the Black Keys and we do a Beatles song, Come Together. I am open to a lot of things,” said drummer Jerome Baldwin.
Fronting the band is Amherstburg resident Shelby Kawa who, when not teaching secondary school English, is a song writer and helped pen their latest single, Autumn Nights.
“The band started with my husband and my son and me. I wrote a bunch of songs and we started gigging and
before long we recorded,” said Kawa.
Her husband Darek Kawa plays guitar and pretty much manages the group and puts together the overall show. Their son no longer plays and recently they added talented keyboardist Dustin O’Neil.
Besides musical entertainment, this year’s Essex Fun Fest had a car show that stretched from one end of the redesigned main street to the other on Friday night.
Thursday night featured a Taylor Swift cover singer along with probably the weekend’s best attended event, the third annual Sip N’Shop mixer hosted by the Essex BIA.
Essex Energizer Skipping Team, Border City Wrestling, Four Paws Dog Show, Off Kilter Equine Entertainment, Krusher BMX Professional Stunt Team and Saturday night fireworks were all part of the fun.
Saturday morning saw the streets lined with parade watchers and later in the day former Essex Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche was honoured as the Citizen of the Year.
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The Amherstburg band “Harbouring Illusions” were among the entertainment at the Essex Fun Fest. From left: Jerome Baldwin, James Ouellette, Shelby Kawa, Dustin O’Neil, Darek Kawa.
Border City Wrestling was on hand for a special show as part of last weekend’s Essex Fun Fest.
Kicks & Giggles
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Cause of death determined for family involved in Harrow tragedy
By Ron Giofu
WORD SCRAMBLE
Rearrange the letters to spell something pertaining to summer food.
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20
Aries, you may be full of more energy than you have had in a while, helping you to sail through all of your tasks this week at a record pace. Enjoy this wave while you ride it.
TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21
Taurus, heed your body’s messages that it needs some rest right now; otherwise, you may not be up for social engagements that are on the horizon. Pisces comes into your life this week.
GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21
You cannot hang out with every person who is trying to get a piece of your time right now, Gemini. It’s likely you will need to space out socializing over a few weeks to meet with them all.
CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22
Cancer, you have been working hard to make professional progress, and it might be time to think about your next step. It could be time to take your talents elsewhere.
LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23
Leo, you are often drawn to unfamiliar experiences that can teach you something new. This week could provide a host of opportunities to try something new.
VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22
It is time to get off the fence and commit to one decision or another, Virgo. Your professional life hinges on your ability to take a path and then stick with it.
LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23
Libra, you might be tempted to accept every invitation that comes your way. However, it is better to be smart about the people with whom you associate. Use every opportunity to network.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22
Scorpio, take a look at how things should operate before you hit the floor running. You want to be strategic in how you expend your energy; otherwise, you may experience burnout.
SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21
You lean toward being one of the more passionate signs in the zodiac, Sagittarius,. That passion will be on full display this week. You’ll wear your heart on your sleeve.
CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20
Domestic issues come to the forefront, Capricorn. You’re inclined to spend time at home with loved ones. Take this time to work around the house and yard.
AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18
Aquarius, your popularity is growing and it’s time to get out there and hang with the movers and shakers. Soon even more people will learn who you are.
PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20
Strengthen your ideas with a concrete foundation, Pisces. Only then will your plan come to fruition in the right manner, leading to better success.
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
JULY 7 - Ringo Starr, Musician (84)
JULY 8 Maya Hawke, Actress (26)
JULY 9 - Courtney Love, Singer (60)
JULY 10 Sofia Vergara, Actress (52)
JULY 11 - Alessia Cara, Singer (28)
JULY 12 - Steve Howey, Actor (47)
JULY 13 - Harrison Ford, Actor (82)
Investigators from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have identified the cause of death for the four individuals in the death investigation in Harrow.
Police say postmortem examinations have determined the cause of death as gunshot wounds for 41-year-old Carly Stannard-Walsh, 13-year-old Madison Walsh and eight-year-old Hunter Walsh. The cause of death for 42-year-old Steven Walsh has been determined as a selfinflicted gunshot wound, police add.
There is no imminent threat to public safety, although the OPP reminds all members of the public to be aware of their personal safety at all times.
Members of the Essex County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) began the investigation June 20, after receiving a request to check on the well-being of a person at the home, which led to the discovery of the deceased individuals.
The OPP adds the investigation by the Essex County OPP Crime Unit remains ongoing under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, with assistance from OPP Forensic Identification Services, and in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.
According to the OPP: “The initial investigation has determined that this is a case of intimate partner violence (IPV).”
The OPP states IPV is “a serious and prevalent problem” in society and encourages people experiencing it to contact police or a local Ontario Victim Services Branch.
“IPV involves the use of physical, psychological or sexual force, actual or threatened, in an intimate relationship. However, these actions are not always physical and can involve emotional and psychological abuse, economic control or coercive control. The OPP encourages anyone who is experiencing IPV to contact police or your local Ontario Victim Services branch to develop a safety plan,” the OPP states.
Any person with information regarding this investigation should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should people wish to remain anonymous, they may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
Harrow United Church is also hosting “Parenting Through Grief: Understanding Developmental Stages and Strategies to Support Children & Teens.” Due to the recent tragedy, a mental health educator and bereavement therapist will be at the church to advise parents on how to support their children through loss. It is being presented in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association. More information on that session can be found by e-mailing mhp@cmha-wecb.on.ca or by calling 519-255-7440 ext. 234.
Harrow United Church is located at 45 Munger Ave. East.
Fresh Blueberries
“Bright Lights, Black Stars” featured by Freedom Museum
By Ron Giofu
The most recent online series presented by the Amherstburg Freedom Museum had a sports theme to it.
“Bright Lights, Black Stars: Negro League Players in Canada’s Oldest Baseball League” was hosted by the museum last Thursday afternoon. Author and former baseball player Paul Allen wrote the new book and made the presentation on it, noting the many Negro League players that passed through the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL). He pointed out the contributions of those players as well as others he played with during the years.
Allen also highlighted the many other coaches and players who made a difference in his life and career as well as the IBL.
“I was fortunate enough to have played in Chatham with some really great players,” said Allen, pointing out Baseball Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins was among them.
Allen pointed out coaches he had over the years, including Jack Fairs, Joe Bechard, Willy Casanova and Bruno Casanova, the latter going
on to be a long-time arena manager in Amherstburg who now has the roadway heading into the Libro Centre named in his honour.
Part of Allen’s hour-long presentation featured a history of baseball in Canada, noting this country’s history dates back centuries. He pointed out Bud Fowler is believed to be the first Black player in professional baseball, having played as far back as 1878. Fowler once pitched a two-hit 3-0 shutout win over the London Tecumsehs.
AMBA Selects team holds car wash to fundraise for future tournaments
By Ron Giofu
The Amherstburg Minor Baseball Association (AMBA) is bringing back a select team and that team has been fundraising for future action.
The Cardinals’ 9U team was at Amherstburg Buick Chevrolet GMC last Saturday hosting a car wash and barbecue. Sammy Brush, a parent and assistant coach, said the players were selected after tryouts among the three house league 9U teams.
“This is our first select team in quite a while,” she said. “It’s sort of split between the three teams”
There are 12 players and two
alternates on the Amherstburg Cardinals 9U select team. The proceeds from events like last Saturday’s car wash/barbecue go to fund tournament fees and whatever expenses they encounter.
The team’s head coaches are Mike Matheson and Andrew Brush.
The Cardinals 9U team will play this weekend in a tournament in Forest Glade and have a second tournament Aug. 9-11 in south Windsor.
They also host a pair of games against Turtle Club from LaSalle, with a July 22 game being at Bill Wigle Park and a July 29 game at Malden Centre Park. Those two games both start at 6:15 p.m.
Among the Black players highlighted in Allen’s presentation was Harry Coursey. Allen believed Coursey was the first Black player to participate in the Intercounty Baseball League. That took place in 1926. He was also credited as being a terrific sprinter that should have qualified for the Olympics.
“He actually ran faster than two Canadian sprinters that were picked to go to the Olympics,” said Allen.
The “Glory Years” of the IBL were 1948-58, stated Allen, as there were 45 Negro League players, 45 minor pro
players and 20 former Major League Baseball players to come through the league at that time.
Other baseball players highlighted included Earl “Flat” Chase, Jeff Shelton, Goody Rosen, Barney Brown, Leonard Pigg, Bob Griffith, Stanley Glen, Sherwood Brewer and Max Manning.
Wilmer Fields was profiled, with Allen stating Fields was the most valuable player of every team he played on. Shanty Clifford was also highlighted, as was Fred Thomas, an outstanding all-around athlete from the Windsor area. The contributions of Jimmy Wilkes and Bob Thurman were also pointed out.
Allen also stated legendary Hank Aaron almost signed with the IBL when he was a young player. Larry Cunningham is believed to be the last Negro League player to come to compete in the IBL.
There were more players featured as well, as Allen went through a list of players he knew and/or played with that were stars in the Intercounty League.
The entire presentation is available on the Amherstburg Freedom Museum’s YouTube and Facebook pages.
Town to request improvements at Sandwich St. S. and Lowes Side Road
By Ron Giofu
The Town of Amherstburg will be appealing to the County of Essex for intersection improvements in the area of Sandwich St. S. and Lowes Side Road.
The motion, introduced by Councillor Diane Pouget, directs either Mayor Michael Prue or Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb to introduce a notice of motion to county council requesting a traffic calming study and the relocation of the 70 km/hr speed limit sign at Lowes and Sandwich St. S. to a point south of the five entrances to the Seasons Retirement Community, the Amherstburg Family Health Team, the Health First Pharmacy, Blue Haven Apartments and County Road 20 and Dalhousie St. intersection.
Pouget’s motion also calls for the county “to investigate the feasibility to consider a crosswalk at the Sandwich/ Lowes intersection, to accommodate residents with assisted devices, who reside at the Blue Haven Apartments, and many other residents, to cross safely for their health care needs.”
“Great idea. There’s a bend in the road there,” said Councillor Peter Courtney. “Realistically, you’ve got seniors at Seasons, you’ve got a pharmacy there. It’s safer if they want to
cross and go to Dalhousie and go back and forth.”
Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb also called it a “great idea,” stating he lives near the intersection.
“Crossing County Road 20 at that Lowes Side Road is an incredible challenge,” said Gibb. “Everything we learned from our traffic study applies to this corner. There’s nowhere else to cross County Road 20 until you get to Pickering Dr. It’s absolutely a great idea.” Gibb pointed out the next county council meeting is July 17 and they will try and get funding for the traffic light at Middle Side Road (County Road 10) and Howard Ave. (County Road 9). He suggested bringing up the Lowes Side Road issue at another meeting.
“I worry that if we are bringing up two at the same meeting, there could be some pushback from the other county councillors,” said Gibb. “I want to make sure both of them are successful.”
Councillor Don McArthur thanked Pouget for bringing up the motion, stating the speed limit portion “makes so much sense.” The issue of a crosswalk will carry a cost but it’s worth it “because that’s a crucial crossing in our active transportation network, surrounded by residential homes.”
Continued on Page 15
Author Paul Allen goes through an online presentation on “Bright Lights, Black Stars” last Thursday afternoon. It was presented by the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.
Colton Franklin, Christian Martin and Logan Masse were among the Amherstburg Cardinals 9U Select team helping at a car wash last Saturday at Amherstburg Buick GMC Chevrolet.
Local Business Directory
Community Calendar
THURSDAY, JULY 11
CLEC CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC; Community Living Essex County hosting annual Charity Golf Classic at Sutton Creek Golf Club in McGregor. Shotgun start at 11 a.m. Cost $150 per person, includes golf, dinner, cart rental. Door prizes, raffles. For info on registration or sponsorship, contact Tony at 519-776-6483 ext. 246, e-mail tony@communitylivingessex.org or visit www. communitylivingessex.org/events/charity-golf-classic.
SATURDAY, JULY 13
THE HOUSE GOLF TOURNAMENT; The 22nd annual Community Cup golf tournament benefits The House Youth Centre. Held at Sutton Creek Golf Course in McGregor. Shotgun start 1:30 p.m. For more information, call 519-736-6811 or visit https://linktr.ee/ thehouseyouthcentre.
SUNDAY, JULY 14
BIKE RODEO; Presented by Windsor Police Service – Amherstburg Detachment and Families First Funeral Home. Event to be held at Families First, 585 Sandwich St. S., from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Rotary Club of Amherstburg holding barbecue on site. Register for bike rodeo at www.familiesfirst.ca/bike-rodeo.
SATURDAY, JULY 20
TAMBOLA; Held at Amherstburg Food & Fellowship Mission, 298 Victoria St. S. Lots of wonderful prizes to be won. To win items, you can buy an envelope with 50 identical numbers for $2. Starts at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. For info, call 519-736-9140.
SUNDAY JULY 21
ART SHOW; Presented by St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 129 Simcoe St. Runs same weekend as the Art Crawl but as a separate event. “Crawling Too” runs 12-4 p.m. with several local artists. Kids activities. Free admission.
THURS, JULY 25-SAT, JULY 27 & THURS, AUG. 1-SAT AUG. 3
HOPE OF ST. JOSEPH YARD SALE; The huge charity yard sale is July 25, 26, 27 and Aug. 1, 2, 3 at the home of Mary and Marc Beneteau at 3560 Middle Side Road (County Road 10). It will run 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each of the six days. Items will be for sale in the driveway, barn, three tents and front yard with all proceeds going to the Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc. and the three shelters they support.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28
RAINBOW BRIDGE MEMORIAL SERVICE; Held at Windsor Chapel Funeral Home – Banwell Chapel (11677 Tecumseh Rd. E., Windsor) at 6:30 p.m. Starts with a therapy dog greeting, courtesy of St. John Ambulance. Free event, light refreshments to follow service. Everyone encouraged to bring photo of their pet who has crossed the rainbow bridge. Space is limited, RSVP by Aug. 23 by calling 519-253-7235.
ONGOING
SERVICE TIME CHANGE; Christ Anglican Church, 317 Ramsay St., is changing the times of their Sunday service. There is now one service, starting at 11 a.m. All are welcome.
DONATIONS NEEDED FOR YARD SALE/VENDOR
MARKET; Donations requested for July 27 yard sale at Encounter Church, 125 Alma St. Hosted by the church’s Encounter Jr. High and Youth groups. Donations of household items, baby & children’s items, sports items, tools and electronics, games and toys can be made. Call Pastor Daniella at 519-736-5644 ext. 703 or daniella@ encounteraburg.ca for drop-off times. No clothing please. All items must be cleaned, from a smoke-free home, and in working order. All items will be purchased by donation. There is also a BBQ.
“BOATS IN THE BURG”; Marsh Historical Collection hosting “Boats in the Burg: A River Town History” event. Exhibit open now at 80 Richmond St. through July 12. Marsh Historical Collection open Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission free, donations appreciated.
HARROW UNITED CHURCH BBQS; Held every Friday in July, from 5:30-7 p.m. Hamburger/hot dog, ice cream sandwich, chips, drink for $10. Church is located at 45 Munger Ave. East.
STROLL & ROLL WALKING GROUP; Interested in meeting new people? Moving more? Weekly walking group to meet rain or shine. Free for everyone in the community, open to all abilities. Runs Tuesdays in Navy Yard Park in Amherstburg from 10-11 a.m., July 2-Sept. 24. In Harrow Thursdays from 10-11 a.m. at Harrow Health Centre (1480 Erie St. S.) from July 11-Sept. 26. Inclement weather alternatives are Libro Centre in Amherstburg and community room in clinic in Harrow. For info, call Amherstburg Family Health Team at 519736-7770 ext. 235 or Harrow 519-738-2000 ext. 222.
AMHERSTBURG RESIDENTS FORUM; Group welcomes residents seeking solutions to town hall to join them the last Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the union hall on Pickering across from Walmart.
MIRACLE LEAGUE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS; The Miracle League of Amherstburg can use volunteers for the fall season. People can help at one game or multiple games (up to four) every Saturday, weather permitting. Great for students needing volunteer hours or adults looking to give back. For info or to sign up, visit www. amherstburgmiracle.com.
ROTARY CLUB OF AMHERSTBURG MEETINGS; Rotary meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month in the community room at ACS at 6 p.m. New members welcome. For info, e-mail rotaryclubofamherstburg@gmail.com or call Susanne at 519-990-2775.
MEALS ON WHEELS; Offered by Amherstburg Community Services (ACS). Meals on Wheels assists those who are unable to shop for food and cook meals. Also available to those recovering from illness or surgery. Healthy, delicious and affordable meals provided to residents of Amherstburg, Harrow, McGregor and LaSalle. ACS caters to dietary needs, each meal comes with soup, bread, main course and dessert. Cost $7.50 per meal. Call 519-736-5471 for details.
GOLDEN AGE CLUB; The Golden Age Club, Amherstburg’s friendship club, located at 179 Victoria St. S., offering social activities five days a week, $10 a year to join. There are over 160 members who have fun playing euchre, pepper, bingo, cribbage, mahjong and bridge and doing line dancing. Club also crochets mats from milk bags for those in need. We also have three special luncheons and a beautiful Christmas party. You pick which activities you want to participate in. Visit www. goldenagecentre.ca to see how to join, participate, and learn how we support our community.
ESSEX COUNTY ORCHID SOCIETY MEETINGS; The Essex County Orchid Society invites you to join them monthly, third Sunday of the month till May at St. Stephen’s Church Hall, 5280 Howard Ave; 1:30 p.m. Refreshments served. New members and visitors welcome. We are on Facebook!
FREE COMMUNITY MEAL; Lighthouse Church, in conjunction with Feeding Windsor, invites the public
“I think it’s a thing that’s going to grow over time,” he said.
to come Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. for a free dinner. All welcome. Come meet others in the community and enjoy some good food. No registration required. Lighthouse Church is located at 266 King St. (entrance off Gore St.).
MENTAL HEALTH & COUNSELLING SERVICES; The Youth Wellness Hub presenting mental health and counselling services at The House Youth Centre. Runs every Wednesday from 2-6 p.m. Free for people between the ages of 12-25. The House is located at 320 Richmond St. For details, call 519-800-8640.
MISSION HOURS; The Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission, 298 Victoria St. S., open from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with lunch between 12-1 p.m. Mission food bank open Mon Wed and Fri from 10 a.m.-11:45 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. For info, call 519-736-9140 or visit www.aburgmission.ca. Stop by for food, fellowship and a warm welcome. All donations welcome.
ACS FOOD BANK; Curbside pickup at Amherstburg Community Hub (320 Richmond St.). Runs MondayFriday 9 a.m.-12 noon. Call 519-736-5471 for assistance.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED; Community service volunteer hours available for high school students. Outside jobs at Bryerswood Youth Camp. Please contact info@ bryerswood.com.
BOTTLE DONATIONS; The AMA Sportsmen Association accepts donations of empty beer and wine bottles. People who wish to donate empties can drop them off at the rear of the club, 468 Lowes Side Road in Amherstburg. For info, visit www.amasportsmen.com or call 519-736-5706.
FOUNDERS CLUB; Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club seeking donors to join the “Founders Club.” Donors help fund general operations of the camp. Donors with gifts of $5,000 and over become “Founders Club” members and have one square of camp property sponsored in their name. Multiple squares available. Tax receipts provided. For info, visit www.bryerswood.com, call 519-996-7364 or e-mail info@bryerswood.com.
AMHERSTBURG COMMUNITY SERVICES; Located at 320 Richmond St., 519-736-5471. Meals on Wheels, CareLink Accessible Transportation, Food Bank, Senior Support, Keep The Heat, Ontario Energy Support Program & much more. Call to see how we can help!
phase that WEBC wants to construct in the coming months with the use of donations and sponsorships.
Braakman pointed out Flow Café and Bikes will bring out “demo bikes” for young people to try out. They held a similar project as a pilot last year which drew about 45 youth with a strong turnout coming out last Wednesday. Braakman stated they expected about 20-40 youth last week.
The youth were split into two groups – beginner and experienced – and volunteers with WEBC took them through various parts of the cycling trails.
The second phase of the trails is open, he said, though an official celebration will be held this Saturday at the Libro Centre. There is a third and final
“We teach and do group rides according to ability and skill to make sure everyone is safe,” said Braakman.
Braakman added they believe it is a great way for kids to be active and to get off of their phones.
For more information on the Windsor-Essex Bike Continued from Page 8
LANDSCAPING
CLASSIFIEDS
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RENOVATIONS & REPAIRS
WITH OVER 30 YEARS of renovation and construction experience, I can ensure your project is completed professionally, correctly, and with pride. Locally owned & operated. www.renovisions.ca Steve 519-300-0961
HAIRSTYLIST CHAIR RENTAL
Hairstylist Chair rental; available. Must be available to work Saturdays. Contact Vivienne or Carol at Carol’s unisex 519 736-4400
ESTATE SALE
165 Mediterranean Ave., Amherstburg. Saturday & Sunday 10am-6pm Rain or Shine
GROOMS!
Enjoy complimentary grooming sessions from a friendly apprentice groomer. All breeds welcome. Phone or TXT Lisa 519-965-0781
“ARE YOU SAVED?”
That is the most important question you will face. Jesus Christ is the answer. Mt. Beulah Church, 246 King St., Amherstburg (519)736-4110
HELP WANTED
JOE MELOCHE FORD
- Looking for a Full Time Shuttle Driver/ Detailer please send resume to: michelle@ joemelochefordsales.com
APARTMENTS FOR RENT
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Coffee loving friends gaining fame for regular gatherings
By Ron Giofu
A local group of friends that have been getting together for coffee for the better part of the last 20 years or so have been getting some attention recently.
The group of men that gather in front of Tim Hortons during the nice weather and inside of it when the weather doesn’t co-operate have been featured on the Amherstburg Care Mongering Facebook site, with that leading to a segment on The Morning Drive with Mike Kakuk, the latter being a show on AM800.
“We started out at the old Tim Hortons. When that closed we came down here,” said Gerald Bezaire, referencing the building at Murray St. and Sandwich St. S. that is now the Town Diner.
The group had been meeting inside but during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were unable sit inside due to public health restrictions in place at the time so they moved outside. It has become a tradition for them ever since.
A group of friends that gather regularly in front of or inside the Amherstburg Tim Hortons location have been getting some fame lately. They include (clockwise from left): Richard Martin, Pat Hogan, Tom Dufour, Gerald Bezaire, John Rose, Jon Varney. Gary Deslippe, Vic Deslippe and Rick Brousseau.
“We couldn’t do it inside,” explained Jon Varney.
Numbers fluctuate of how many gather at Tim Hortons daily, with it being six to eight people on some days to well over ten on others. They joked “it all depends on whether you have a doctor’s appointment, X-ray or MRI.”
Rick Brousseau said sometimes the topics turn to classic cars and hot rods but the conversation during their roughly 90-minute daily gatherings can vary.
“We try and stay away from politics and religion,” said Bezaire.
Other men gathered there Friday were Richard Martin, Pat Hogan, Tom Dufour, John Rose, Gary Deslippe and Vic Deslippe. Not there but still credited with being part of the group were mentioned as John Oltrop, John Huver, Larry Hurst, Keith McGuire, and Royce Borrowman among others.
They have had some issues such as people complaining about the group taking up multiple parking spots, but there have been others buying them coffee and donuts.
Motion on local intersection to come up July 17 at county council
Continued from Page 11
McArthur noted he walks in the area frequently and believed the bend in the road can be dangerous.
“I think it’s a fantastic motion,” he said. “Hopefully the county sees it that way.”
Councillor Molly Allaire believe “municipal leaders should just listen to municipal leaders” and “I feel like bringing up two issues is not going to lessen their ears.”
Prue said he didn’t believe it would make much difference when it was brought up, but believed Amherstburg had more notices of motions for traffic issues than the rest of Essex County combined.
Pouget said “time is of the essence” and noted people have asked for Pouget to watch how they have to cross
that area of the street.
“It’s an accident waiting to happen,” she said. “It’s important we bring this up as quickly as possible.”
Courtney believed it could be considered an extension to a study Amherstburg has already requested.
Allaire said it should be done in July as it wouldn’t be discussed until late summer or in September otherwise.
Gibb said he was trying to be “strategic” in his request.
“My gut is telling me the day is going to come where the rest of county council is going to say no. I’m trying to be strategic with this to maximize the probability of success,” he said. “If council wants to do it at the next meeting, make that motion and we will do our best.”
Council resolved to have the motion introduced at the July county council meeting.
Obituaries
Smith, Mary Evelyn nee. Smith
April 16, 1947 – June 29, 2024
Mary Evelyn Smith died peacefully surrounded by family who adored her. Reunited with her beloved husband and sparring partner Dave Smith, with whom she shared a lifetime together.
Predeceased by her mother Helen Smith and father Bill Smith, sister Barbara and brother Rick.
She will be missed by her daughters Barb Jackson (nee. Smith), Kary Coulson and her husband Drew Coulson, son Stu Smith and wife Gina.
Mary will be lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Luke Angus, Halle Coulson (Noah Guthrie), Hanna Coulson, Brody Jackson, Camden Jackson, Charlotte and Rudy Smith. Cherished sister in law to Mary Lou Gasparini (nee. Smith) and husband Walter and their loving children. Mary will be dearly missed by her many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was a second mom to many.
Mary was a registered nurse, who graduated from Victoria Hospital School of Nursing in London, Ontario, Class of ’68. She opened her heart and home to those she loved and created lasting memories at the Smith Homestead on the 4th Concession. Her generosity and gentle heart left a lasting impact on those who knew her. Mary was adored for her endless jokes, laughter and a smile that would light up the room. Her quick wit, and zest for life will never be forgotten. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Canadian Cancer Society or Windsor Essex Humane Society.
A Celebration of Life with close family and friends, who knew Mary best, will be held on August 9th at 602 McLeod Ave, Amherstburg, Ontario. from 1-4pm. Guests are invited to bring a favorite written joke or memory to be included in her book of memories.
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