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Mayor’s Levee presented in McGregor
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
By Ron Giofu The community had an opportunity to ring in the New Year and chat with members of town council at the same time. A “Mayor’s Levee” was held Monday evening at the Columbian Club in McGregor with approximately 20 members of the public coming to chat with town council members and administration. Mayor Michael Prue reintroduced the idea to Amherstburg and welcomed people to the event, stating he hopes it becomes an annual tradition. Prue was happy with how the levee turned out. “I know it is the first year,” said Prue. “I didn’t expect a lot of people.” The mayor hopes it will grow in future years, adding he would like to see it in other parts of the town. “It’s a chance for people to talk to members of council and get to know members of council members as people.” A Mayor’s Levee was conducted in Prue’s previous stops in East York and he wanted to bring that to Amherstburg. He said he heard about “a range of issues” including what is impacting people in their neighbourhoods, roadways and the future of the Belle Vue property. One issue Prue said he thought he would hear more about is the 2024 operating and capital budgets. Administration rolled out a draft budget with a proposed 7.13 per cent tax increase in December with town council tabling it until deliberations next week. “I thought there would be a lot of talk about the budget,” said Prue. “So far, no one has told me ‘keep my taxes down.’” In his first five budgets as a member of Amherstburg town council, Prue said administration came in with a high number and town council managed to whittle
Among those joining Mayor Michael Prue (third from left) at the Mayor’s Levee were Jon Parks, Sandra Edwards and Kathy Parks.
it down. He envisions the same process this year, but admitted it will be tougher. He noted that surrounding municipalities have been coming in with higher than normal budget increases. “This year will be much harder,” the mayor stated. According to Prue, factors include inflation, rising building costs, provincial cutbacks among others. “They all add up,” he said. “They add up to three to four per cent right there.” As of Monday night, Prue said he hasn’t spoken to town council members about the budget but believed there will be a lot of discussion during deliberations. “I’m sure there will be some changes,” he said of the 2024 budget. The fractured hip Prue suffered in a Nov. 25 fall is healing with Prue walking around the hall with the use of a cane. He said he was using a walker until about three days previous, and said he is on the mend. “The first couple of weeks were very painful,” he said. “In the last two or three weeks, things have loosened up.” Prue said he has to sit every so often as too much time on his feet causes one of his legs to swell, but he said he’s feeling better. He has been able to keep on top of local
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2 – River Town Times – Wednesday, January 10, 2024
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County well prepared to handle emergency situations By Fred Groves
Checking all the boxes and making certain everyone is prepared for an emergency is the purpose of Essex County’s Emergency Management Preparedness Plan. At the Dec. 20 regular session of Essex County council, EMS Deputy Chief Ryan Lemay pointed out that the province requires the county to send in its plan by the end of the year. “Emergency management is a managerial function charged with creating the framework to reduce vulnerability and cope with disasters,” explained Lemay. When it comes to planning for an emergency, Essex County has geographical specifics including being surrounded by water, experiencing extreme temperatures and, specifically for Amherstburg residents, proximity to a nuclear plant. The detailed report to county council includes a flood response plan which could mean ice jams or failure of dams or flood protection works. The 62-page plan with regards to the DTE Fermi Nuclear Power Plant duplicates a lot of what the Town of Amherstburg already has in place.
“It is very comforting for Amherstburg that not only are we concerned with the nuclear response at Fermi 2, but it’s also comforting you included it in your emergency plan,” said Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb. “It is in both plans, we are very confident.” In regard to a nuclear emergency, in 2016 Amherstburg amended the primary zone of concern from 23 km down to 16 km. The Town of Essex and the City of Amherstburg are designated host municipalities in case of evacuation and if there is an emergency the Province of Ontario is responsible for the overall direction and control of off-site action. First to be contacted if there is a nuclear emergency would be the County’s Community Emergency Management Co-ordinator Dan Metcalfe followed by Amherstburg’s mayor, CAO and then the Medical Officer of Health. LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche had a specific concern about extreme heat warnings and said that they are not always followed especially by those who are out on playing fields. “It seems our public doesn’t know how to handle it,” she commented. Extreme heat warnings are issued when there are
two consecutive days where the daytime temperature exceeds 31 degrees C. Meloche acknowledged that local organizations make the decisions as to whether or not the temperature is too hot to proceed. “Is there another step we can take at this level?” asked Meloche. According to Metcalfe, having certified coaches helps but he added that it is not just the severe temperature that is a concern, but storms that come up quickly as well. “Our organizations have to be up to speed so that our children are safe,” said Metcalfe. “We do a fairly good job but we can improve on it to keep people informed.” As part of the county’s annual Emergency Management Preparedness Plan that has to be submitted to the province, the county must host training exercises. According to Lemay, one was done in November in the county chambers and it was timely as far as what happened in hospitals this fall. “We have simulated a ransom and cyberattack on the County of Essex. We were able to utilize our business continuity plans,” said Lemay.
AAM Goodfellows pack and distribute 105 food baskets in 2023
Steven Desantis, Kyle Jones, Cole McGrath and Ryan Grondin from the North Star Wolves boys hockey team helped distribute Goodfellow baskets (above) while Fred Bertrand gets help packing baskets from four-year-old grandson Evander and Sue Bailey (below). Above photo submitted, below photo by Ron Giofu
The new people joined the familiar faces that turn out annually to volunteer. The 105 food baskets was similar to last year. Murray said they thought the total might be higher this year, hoping it was a good sign for the economy that it wasn’t. There were upwards of 40 people helping to volunteer with Murray stating it has been a long-standing tradition for him and many others. He started volunteering as a way to help out, brought it with him when he was a member and chief with the Amherstburg Fire Department and he has continued with it after he retired. “I’ve been doing this since I was 18-years-old,” said Murray. “I’m 76 now.”
Long-time volunteers are involving their family members, he added, including some with grandchildren now helping give back to the community.
Volunteers help pack the AAM Goodfellows baskets in late-December.
Memories of Yesterday... Photos courtesy of the Marsh Historical Collection 80 Richmond Street Amherstburg 519-736-9191 • www.marshcollection.org
By Ron Giofu The holiday season is over and over 100 people had a healthy, Christmas table thanks to a local organization. The AAM Goodfellows returned just before Christmas and distributed a total of 105 food baskets to those in need who had requested one. Volunteers of all ages were at the Columbus Community Hall Dec. 20 to pack the baskets with the morning of Dec. 21 being the distribution date.
Carts with boxes on them moved through the rows of tables with volunteers filling the boxes as they went by. The food was purchased through Sobeys with the money coming from the $16,757 that was raised through the newspaper campaign in early December. AAM Goodfellows president Rick Murray said things went well in the 2023 drive. “We got some new people helping out with the packing,” said Murray.
The tug Abner C. Harding covered in ice back in December of 1909. Owned by the Great Lakes Towing & Wrecking Co., the Harding is remembered locally for salvage operations. While moored at the Waterworks Dock, the tug would wait for a signal from a troubled vessel before venturing out to render aid. A race would often ensue between the Harding and the Trotter Wrecking Company’s tug Marion C. Trotter for the rescue job.
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 – River Town Times – 3
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“Kids in the Kitchen” the latest Bryerswood Youth Camp event By RTT Staff Children from around Windsor-Essex County had an opportunity to learn some basic cooking skills during their holiday break. “Kids in the Kitchen” was held Jan. 3 and Jan. 4 at the Bryerswood Youth Camp with volunteers and board members with the Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club (BYCOC) helping to administer the programming. Caitlin Gonneau, the secretary with the board and a volunteer, was one of a group of people presenting the camp. She said children learned to make such food as French toast, pizza, taco rolls, and turkey wraps among other items. There were 28 children at the Jan. 3 camp and 24 the next day, numbers that organizers were pleased with. “We offered programs throughout the holiday break,” said Gonneau. That is common at the Bryerswood Youth Camp, she added, noting they regularly have camps on school professional activity (PA) days, holidays and for six weeks in the summer. Upcoming camps include “Art Attack!” Jan. 19 and “Beach Bash!” Feb. 16. Both run from
Children at the “Kids in the Kitchen” camp line up for syrup on the French toast they made last Thursday. It was the second day of the two-day camp presented at the Bryerswood Youth Camp.
8:30-4 p.m. Gonneau stated the camps offered at the Bryerswood Youth Camp have usually been well attended. “We’ve been selling out our camps,” she said. Students at the “Kids in the Kitchen” camp learned everything from how to crack an egg to how to make basic food
dishes, Gonneau explained. They were taught on appliances around the kitchen and got to enjoy the food they prepared. Not only were students from Amherstburg, children came from across Windsor-Essex County with Gonneau stating they had kids from as far as Belle River come in.
“We’re getting some repeat customers but we’re getting new faces as well,” said Gonneau. BYCOC president Kathi Poupard added they were looking to cap admission to the “Kids in the Kitchen” camp to 20 children per day, but increased the number of spots based on interest. Poupard added other work is being done around the Texas Road campground, including ongoing work to the cabins. She said interior work has to be completed and they are welcoming volunteers to help get the cabins ready for occupancy in the spring and summer. The BYCOC is also hosting a rib or chicken fundraiser Jan. 27 at the River Canard Knights of Columbus Hall. Doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner is at 7 p.m. with in-person and take-out options available. The cost is $27. Contact Marie Wilder 519-565-1252 or marie.wilder@ icloud.com for tickets or Mary Ann Mertens 519-988-6420 or tomarymertz@ yahoo.ca. For more information on the Bryerswood Youth Camp and its events and programs or to volunteer, visit www.bryerswood.com, e-mail info@ bryerswood.com or call 519-726-6266.
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PHOTO BY MARK RIBBLE Members of the Ruthven Apple Festival Steering Committee posed with the cheque. Back row from left, Gino DelCiancio, Jessica DeSantis, Tom Bonneau, Barry Wilson. Middle row, Tony DeSantis, Joe Colasanti, Stella Ciancio, Nick Mastronardi, Joanne DeSantis, Jana Blair, Terry Colasanti. In front, holding the cheque are Brianne Taggart and Karen Bolger.
CLEC celebrates $77,000 raised through Ruthven Apple Festival By Mark Ribble Members of the Ruthven Apple Festival Steering Committee gathered at the Kingsville Library recently to wrap up the year and talk about the 44th annual event that was held the last weekend of September. The festival, which directly benefits those supported by Community Living Essex County (CLEC), returned to its physical form after three years of virtual events due to the pandemic and attendees flocked to the festival on a perfect weekend. The festival was at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens. CLEC manager of community relations and resource development Tony DeSantis led the meeting which revealed the amount raised at this year’s Apple Festival. In an ode to days gone by, DeSantis talked about the legacy left behind by those who organized the first Apple Festivals in the early 1980s and how their dedication and hard work planted the roots for the organization and the festival for years to come. “We’re back to the days when we
gathered around a table like this and counted the money and shared stories about the festival,” he said. CLEC executive director Karen Bolger was on hand for the meeting and said she was thrilled with the 2023 festival results. “It was such a fantastic weekend,” she said. “In whatever role you played, everyone’s contributions and commitment were so valuable.” As the committee gets set to start planning the 45th Ruthven Apple Festival, they welcomed new volunteers and paid homage to those who are no longer with us, but played a big part in the festival’s history. After those poignant moments, the big cheque was revealed to show that the 44th annual Ruthven Apple Festival raised $77,000 for Community Living Essex County — the most it’s ever raised. DeSantis said that the generosity of the community shone through and the new donation entry table brought in $26,000 itself. “Very giving, very kind,” he said. “They love this festival.”
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4 – River Town Times – Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Parishioner at local church happy with recent toy drive Re: Article in Dec. 20, 2023 edition by Ron Giofu, titled, Amherstburg Firefighters Association cap successful “Stuff a Fire truck” toy drive I’d like to comment on this excellent article and exposure given during this past Christmas season. The church where I attend, annually has what they call “A White Gift Sunday” where parishioners bring either toys, adolescent gifts, or gift cards. We later give them to our “Amherstburg Firefighters Association” who then bestow all these gifts gathered in their toy drive, to needed individuals in the area. This year, I want to mention the firefighters Ericka Nolan, Mackenzie Bailey, and Cameron Arksey who took time out of their schedule to come to my church and show us their expression of appreciation. President Arksey spoke very eloquently of what this all means. As quoted from Psalms 127:3 “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.” Thank you so much for your caring compassion, and showing me what really encompasses the true meaning of Christmas. God Bless Parishioner of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian —Kathy Hay Amherstburg
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Local resident thankful for the assistance given by area garbage collectors I want to give praises to the wonderful guys who come to collect my garbage. I have been recovering from an extensive foot injury and I have received so many kindnesses from these guys. They are all amazing. Every kindness is very, very much appreciated.
They are the kind of people who look for nice things to do for someone. I wish them well and I am very thankful for good people like them. —Judi Holm-Andersen Amherstburg
Mission offers thanks for support over the holidays A message of thanks from the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission. We are so very thankful for the steady stream of donations that we have been receiving all year long, but especially during this holiday season. Everyone has stepped up to the plate this year, including local businesses, schools, churches, clubs, unions, and individual donors. There are too many to mention and we were humbled by the response. Also this year, we had more requests than ever to sponsor families with gifts for Christmas. Again, the community met every request that we had and we were able to accommodate everyone. In 2023, we were blessed to finally be able to bring back our fundraisers (golf tournament, chili dinner, Tambola) and appreciate the donations of raffle prizes, sponsorships and food to support them. This community is amazing! We would especially like to thank our volunteers for the tireless efforts they provide on a regular basis and our board of directors for their commitment to “People Helping People.”
We are proud to be able to provide a safe place for people to get basic necessities, where they can go, without judgement, to nourish their body, mind and spirit. Going into 2024 we would like to focus on the words of American author Leo Buscaglia, who once said: “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” What makes the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission different is their focus on fellowship and making people feel special each and every day. With that, I would to thank everyone who has donate to the Mission in any way and to those who partake in the Mission’s services, I thank you for your kindness and support of each other. We hope we can continue to count on the support of our community and look forward to 2024. —Tim McAllister President & the Board of Directors Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission
Taxpayer offers his own thoughts on how to reduce the budget increase
A few weeks ago my letter to the editor was published. Many have asked why I didn’t provide a solution as my letter mentioned. I really didn’t want to go down this rabbit hole but here I go. One option to lower our tax bill. If you can remember the town was in trouble in 2014. They implemented a temporary solution with the approval of two special levies: capital replacement and capital reserve, these two line items appear on our property tax bills.
They were only to be for a short period of time but our current administration believes they are now part of the base budget with no need to discuss, and this is wrong. If the 2024 budget is approved the town will have collected approximately $11,451,175 in special levies. We just finished paying our 2023 taxes, that included special levies of $1,370,849 which will remain in a cash account collecting interest until July of next year. This is when finance provides the year end results and prepares a report
where they tell council what the actual collection amounts were and recommends movement into special reserve accounts. The levies should be discontinued this year as this would provide direct relief to the taxpayers of Amherstburg. The reasons for them originally no longer exist. Our reserves are strong and financial ratios are fantastic. One reason they were put in place was to avoid issuing long term debt. Despite our town having the largest debt in the county and the Deloitte
Report telling us not to have any more debt, our administration convinced council to add another $12 million to our long-term debt. We will be paying for this until 2050. Completely opposite to what they were attempting to get accomplished. The elimination of these levies won’t hurt the town whatsoever but might allow a senior on a fixed income to have a coffee from Timmys once a week. —Rodger Hudson Amherstburg
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024 – River Town Times – 5
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Essex County residents could see a tax hike in the county levy By Fred Groves The cost of services for Essex County is going up. On Wednesday, January 10, members of county council will consider the 2024 budget which has an increase of $10,097.770 which will be added to the county levy. “Despite the uncontrollable external factors, inflationary pressures and operational considerations, administration remains confident that the current increase to the levy is manageable,” says the draft budget submitted by Melissa Ryan, director of financial services/treasurer. The impact on county residents does not have an exact percentage increase however, as written in the draft budget, $100,000 assessed value in 2023 was $515.71 which rises to $547.31, an increase of $31.60. (It should be noted that this is the county levy and not individual municipalities). Operating expenditures for Essex County in 2023 was $146,443,460 which rises to $157,169,120 which is an increase of $10,097.770. “A significant portion of the County level of expenditures are either
mandated services or legislated obligations,” says the draft budget. The budget process began in July, and in November, the county’s leadership team decided to add another step which was to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among all departments. “This inclusive process allowed everyone the opportunity to review budgets from all departments facilitating the exchange of ideas.” The 2024 budget is separated into several different departments including the Sun Parlor Home, EMS, infrastructure and planning, the library board and external commitments. One significant line that is seeing an increase is the amount which is being set aside in reserves for the New WindsorEssex Hospital Health System. At $51.2 million, that figure has nearly doubled since 2021. Waiting list for housing At the recent Essex County council meeting, the Windsor-Essex Community Housing Corporation presented its annual report. Chief Tennant Services Officer Nolan Goyette said that the Corporation, which provides housing for 12,000
seniors, children, parents and individuals, is at 96 per cent occupancy and of that, 35 per cent have lived in their current residents for 10 years or more. Specifically, there are 551 tenants in 479 units in the county, while there is a waiting list of 2,728 applicants. “Interestingly while it does make up 10 percent of our portfolio, the county actually represents less than five percent of our total tenant base,” said Goyette. The WEHC is the fourth largest social housing provider in the province and Goyette said that the units, including those in Amherstburg, range from bachelor to three-bedroom. Raise on hold for now A possible increase in Essex County Council members renumeration will have to wait for a couple of months. At the recent council meeting held in Essex on December 20, CAO Sandra Zwiers reported back to council her findings in regards to how other counties calculate the pay for their councillors. A previous motion by Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy asked that a raise of which would amount to 100 percent
increase, be looked into. Zwiers said that she did an informal investigation into cost commissioning a market study for elected officials. She said that she contacted three consultants who said they could have results between six and eight weeks at a cost no more than $7,000. “It’s nice to hear that it can be done fairly quickly and at a reasonable cost,” said Zwiers. Currently, Essex County councillors, which consists of mayors and deputy mayors of each of the seven local municipalities’, are paid an additional amount for sitting at the county level. They get an added amount of the average local councillor amount times 0.5 That formula was established back in 2008 by a citizen-drive committee. Bondy wants it upped from 0.5 to a full one percent and also have the same amount for alternative county council members. “I think it’s a great move and it’s market driven,” said Bondy of bringing in a consultant. “It’s long overdue.” The $7,000 is not in the 2024 budget but Zwiers said it can come out of reserves.
Local bank makes donation to Fighting Island Boxing Club RBC donates $1,234.10 to club By Ron Giofu A local bank has done its part to assist a local sports organization. The RBC branch in Amherstburg stepped up to help the Fighting Island Boxing Club (FIBC) with a donation of $1,234.10. Lucas Anderson, a staff member at the RBC branch and a coach with FIBC, presented the cheque to FIBC owner/coach Joe LeBlanc and coach Robert Bondy. The proceeds came from a fund at RBC, created when bank employees agreed to donate a portion of their paycheques. They decided to give back to the community and made the FIBC one of their recipients. Anderson said an $850 donation was also planned to the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission. LeBlanc said the FIBC was grateful to receive the funding. “Everything that comes into the gym stays with the kids,” said LeBlanc. Donations like the one made by RBC go into equipment purchases for the gym, LeBlanc explained. Funding to travel to competitions and stay in hotels come from money raised through bingos, he added. “We supply everything for all of the kids except their own mouthguards and hand wraps,” he said. LeBlanc emphasized the club was pleased with the donation, stating they were “flabbergasted” when they found out. “It’s pretty cool,” he said. “It’s quite nice.” The Fighting Island Boxing Club is located within the Amherstburg Community Hub at 320 Richmond St.
Robert Bondy (left) and Joe LeBlanc (right) from the Fighting Island Boxing Club accept a donation from RBC’s Lucas Anderson.
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6 – River Town Times – Wednesday, January 10, 2024
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Amherstburg Community Services (ACS) year-end review for 2023
2023 has been a truly amazing year. Our 50th Anniversary Open House was a wonderful opportunity to showcase everything ACS has accomplished in the past, how far we have come and share our goals for the future. Staff, volunteers and community partnerships made it possible to obtain our goals this past year. •16,620 Meals were prepared and delivered. •3,365 CareLink Accessible Rides were provided.
•$60,000 was given to recreational subsidy thru Pathway2Potential ACS also provided senior reassurance calls, dining in luncheons, friendly visits and other events and activities to keep everyone engaged. 200 Stuff A Stocking For A Senior were assembled and delivered, over 540 Snack and A Smile bags were delivered to local school children, over 360 items were distributed thru Coats4Kids and our food bank provided many items to families in need.
We increased our programs, services and events to keep our clients enlightened, engaged with a focus on the goal of improving the overall quality of life for residents of the four communities we serve - Amherstburg, Harrow, McGregor and LaSalle. We move into 2024 with a sense of anticipation, hopefulness and optimism. We have a great lineup of new programs, services, events and fundraising efforts, sure to please everyone.
We want to thank those individuals who have supported us with monetary donations and our community partnerships with local businesses, as without their support, we couldn’t do, what we do! We are honored to serve the community and we are excited to welcome in 2024. Sincerely, Kathy DiBartolomeo Executive Director
The House Youth Centre recaps its activities for 2023, looks ahead to 2024 Below are some 2023 Milestones for The House Youth Centre. Feb 2023: The House held its third Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) fundraiser walk that supports organizations helping those facing hurt, hunger and homelessness. The House serves as a protective measure against these situations through our various programs and services. Our community raised $43,000 for CNOY and we reached a CNOY sponsorship milestone of $14,500. Feb. 2023: The House partnered with Youth Wellness Hubs Windsor-Essex to bring free drop-in counselling on Wednesdays from 2:00pm-6:00pm for youth ages 12-25. July 2023: The House held its 21st Annual Community Cup Golf Tournament at Sutton Creek Golf Club with 122 golfers doing a shotgun start. The House reached a sponsorship milestone for this event in the amount of $13,950. Dec. 2023: The House celebrates their
$29,350 Ontario Trillium Foundation Capital Grant with the local MPP Anthony Leardi, The House Board of Directors and Deputy Mayor, Chris Gibb. The grant helped to fund their soundproofing project as well as purchase new technology and audio equipment for program enhancement. Dec. 2023: The House supports 10 local families for the holiday season thanks to a $5,000 grant from Enbridge. The House sponsored and shopped for eight families provided from The Food and Fellowship Mission and sponsored two families with a nomination application. Feb. 2024: Participate in our fourth Coldest Night of the Year by signing up today at cnoy.org/amherstburg. Funds raised go towards supporting The House Youth Centre’s programs for youth in Grade 8 and up. —Submitted by program director Morghan Shearon
Canada Day Run organizers thrilled by 2023, look forward to 2024 event
Accomplishments for The House Youth Centre in 2023 were the golf tournament (above) and the Amherstburg’s Coldest Night of the Year event (right). Submitted photos
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2023 was a thrilling year for many reasons, however a highlight was working with my husband on a huge town project. We are very proud of our accomplishment of keeping the Canada Day Run going and everyone who stepped up to volunteer and sponsor. We seriously would have not been able to pull it off without everyone who stepped up to help. Together we raised just over $18,500. All proceeds went to three local charities: Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission, Amherstburg Community Services, and Bryerswood Youth Camp. What are we excited for in 2024? Breaking that record! We are happy to announce we will be organizing the
traditional run again! I couldn’t imagine any other way to kick off Canada Day in Amherstburg! Thank you to everyone who participated and helped! Especially the residents who live along the path that turned on sprinklers, hoses or even cheered on the participants. I had so many compliments saying it was the most fun event people had ever done. Once again, our town would be nowhere without our volunteers... people who step up and keep the magic alive! I hope to see even more registered for 2024! —Molly Allaire
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024 – River Town Times – 7
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Society of St. Vincent de Paul 2023 year-in-review The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – Amherstburg conference successfully completed our 70th year of assisting the poor and needy in our community with love, respect, compassion and joy. Thanks to Father Kucharski and the parishioners of St. John the Baptist Church, the 24th annual “giving tree” project helped 35 families and 72 children receive toys and food during this difficult Christmas season. Thanks to chairperson Janice Ferguson for a job well done. The calls for assistance have risen dramatically. In 2021, we answered 264 calls involving 461 adults and 255 children. In 2023, the helpline received 420 calls for assistance with 846 adults and 350 children receiving food and vouchers as well as other forms of emergency help. There were 92 “new families” who required our assistance. This would not be possible without
the generosity of many schools, organizations and businesses. The teachers and students at Stella Maris, Amherstburg Public, École St. Jean the Baptiste, North Star and Villanova schools were very generous to have food drives which kept our shelves constantly being replenished. We also wish to acknowledge the Amherstburg Knights of Columbus for their assistance in providing numerous “fish fry” fundraiser dates so we could financially provide items such as bread, milk, eggs, etc. They also donated money to our Coats for Kids program as well as other winter wear items such as boots, gloves and scarves. Several other community groups such as the Catholic Women’s League, Fort Malden Golden Age Club and the Amherstburg Goodfellows assisted with food donations. Vincentian Bernadette O’Mahoney
was able to help eight youths in our community have a happy and safe summer camp experience at Bryerswood Youth Camp in Amherstburg. Our “Sleep Walk” fundraiser allowed us to purchase and distribute 12 beds to the needy. This was the 20th year that we could “give a bed to rest every head.” The Amherstburg SSVP are proud to say that everyone is a volunteer and 100% of the donations go to those in need. We receive no government or United Way funding. We rely on the generosity of our supporters – people like you – who hear the need and act upon it. The Vincentians have donated approximately 5,100 hours of their time in 2023 to serve everyone regardless of race, religion, gender, creed, origin of birth or age. We wish to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of past president
Sharron Bombardier, who served in that position from 2017-23. Her drive and determination to make sure that everyone in need was served with dignity and respect continued especially during the dark days of COVID. Current president John Corbett wants the community to know if there is someone who needs assistance, they can call us at our hotline at 519-9847594. He also indicated that our organization is looking for a team of strong, young individuals who can help us occasionally deliver beds or appliances as needed. They can also contact our hotline number. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul continue to follow the example of the founders by working with humility and respect as we serve the poor, bearing witness to the love of God for all people. —Submitted by Terry Hayes
Hope of St. Joseph Shelter recaps 2023, moving ahead in 2024 Thank you for your support and interest in the Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc., a registered Canadian nondenominational charity. We help victimized, destitute and vulnerable children and young adults in the city of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. The Eastern part of D.R. Congo is rich in earth minerals. The illegal trade of these minerals has created an economic war. Villages and families are experiencing violence and disruption. Many young people and children are left homeless and are fleeing to Bukavu seeking refuge. Our founder, Father Donato Lwiyando, a missionary Xaverian priest, was born in Bukavu. He served as a priest at St. John the Baptist Parish in Amherstburg from 2015-2017. Father Donato returned to Bukavu and oversees and manages the shelters. We now maintain three shelters. The children and young adults living at the shelters receive the basics: food, shelter, counseling and an education. Shelter #1 - St. Joseph accommodates up to 46 young women and children seeking safety and help. Shelter #2 - St. Mary’s houses up to 28 boys. In 2023, we were able to start rebuilding the new St. Mary’s. Eventually classrooms will be on one of the three levels. Shelter #3 - Holy Family gives pregnant girls from the streets a chance to deliver their babies safely, learn about baby care and be protected. Holy Family can accommodate up to 10 girls with babies. In 2023 we started supporting Father’s efforts to bring food to those children living on the streets. Three times a week they receive a portion of beans and rice. Donations for street children welcome. Would your family be interested? We continue to seek sponsors for children living at the shelters. For
Father Donato Lwiyando, a former priest at St. John the Baptist Church, has been helping children and youth at three shelters in the D.R. Congo since returning to his homeland in 2017. Submitted photos
a minimum of $25 monthly ($300 a year), your family can sponsor a child giving her/him an opportunity for a better life. You will receive a photo, information regarding your sponsored child and a yearly update. We issue tax receipts. In 2024, presentations to service clubs and researching grants pertaining to the charity will continue. If anyone is able to help in these areas, please contact us. In 2023, our successful giant two weekend yard sale helped raise a fraction of the funds required to manage the shelters. This yard sale will be held again in 2024 on County Road 10 at the Beneteau residence. We are collecting clean, gently used, sellable items starting in February. Please call Mary Beneteau 519-996-4800 to schedule a delivery. Volunteers for
this big event are needed. Please come and support our charity fundraiser Sunday, January 28 at Columbus Community Hall, 190 Richmond St., Amherstburg. A 5:30 p.m. self-serve meal of pasta/salad (sauce with or without meat) is on the menu. Desserts available. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Open bar. Cost is $15 adults; kids 12 and under $8. Take-out available with ticket. There will be a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and book sale. Tickets can be purchased from Jean and Larry Allen 519-817-3030; Bev Bondy 519-736-4837; Sue Deslippe 226-280-5144; Kim Bornais 519-816-8154. For more information contact charity president Larry Allen 519-736-6731 or 519-817-3030.
Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club planning more events for 2024 Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club had a fantastic 2023 and it was due to many factors. The community support of our camp through donations and volunteers helping us in many ways is nothing short of phenomenal. We have also seen tremendous growth in registrations for our programs, many of which were sold out. Our sincere thanks to the residents of the Town of Amherstburg as well as Essex County and Windsor. We saw much progress in the development of the campsite, with the installation of our four new cabins
onto their permanent sites. They were insulated, and then anchored on concrete pads. Electrical work was completed so that heat pumps can be installed. Our winter project is to do the interior finishing, so that they will be ready for rentals. Staining of the exteriors is partially finished and will continue as soon as weather permits. Although three of the cabins are sponsored, we are searching for a sponsor for the fourth cabin, with naming rights available. Stay posted for more good news in 2024, as we will be starting a new
renovation project - Phase 2 of our Activity Centre. Plans are for 2 washrooms to be updated, with one being fully accessible, and a new kitchen. Phase 1 was the installation of new windows and doors and the placement of the water line underground. One of our goals this year is to add new members to our Founders Club. The members of this ‘club’ - individuals or groups - donate $5,000 or more, and in return, they choose a ‘section’ of the camp on which their name is placed. There are many opportunities for volunteers, if you have time available
to help at Bryerswood. Yard work, interior and exterior finishing, and office work are some of the jobs. All of this could not have been accomplished without the hard work and dedication of our Operating Committee and Club Members. We extend a warm welcome to our new board of directors - Norbert Bolger, Nancy Flagler-Wilburn, Nancy Parker, Ian Phillips and Chris Renaud, who will be helping to guide us to an even better 2024. —Submitted by BYCOC president Kathi Poupard
8 – River Town Times – Wednesday, January 10, 2024
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River Canard “Chummette” Ladies Auxiliary stays busy in 2023
We are proud to announce that the Knights of Columbus “Chummette” Ladies Auxiliary to St. Joseph Council 5642 in River Canard is alive and well! We had a very busy year in 2023. The year 2023 will be remembered for the many changes that were made. We elected a new president and secretary in early September, which is when our year officially began. Our by-law committee worked to overhaul and rewrite our Aims and Purposes which were originally written almost 50 years ago! We continue to support the Knights of Columbus in River Canard by providing pie for their first Friday chicken and rib dinners. We also provided lunch for the Men’s Euchre Tournaments in September and October. Also in October, we held a potluck dinner for our membership and were honoured to award Lifetime Membership to some of our more senior ladies. Our group enjoyed an afternoon out to see a production of the Sound of Music in November at the Chrysler Theatre. Our regular membership meeting in November was well attended as we had a guest speaker from LaSalle Police Services speaking about fraud and scam prevention. 2023 ended on a positive note as we were able to meet with the McGregorettes as well as the Kaycelle’s from
Belle River to share a night of fun, something we have not been able to do since COVID. Our ladies also enjoyed a Christmas Sunday lunch provided by our executive committee. Since September our auxiliary has made generous monetary donations to Street Help in Windsor, the Stubenville Ohio Student Retreat (sponsored by St. Joseph Parish), the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association, the Giving Tree (LaSalle River Canard Family of Parishes) and the Knights of Columbus (River Canard) Children’s Christmas Party. Our meetings are held the third Tuesday of every month with the exception of July and August. We meet at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 8965 Malden Rd. in River Canard at 7 p.m. Yearly dues are $10. Any women over the age of 18 may join. Our aims are to raise funds for charitable purposes, visit the sick and bereaved, and assist and participate with Knights of Columbus activities. Our goals for 2024 are to continue the spirit of giving to various local charities and to welcome new members! Please be our guest at our first meeting of the new year, which will be held Tuesday, January 16. Come out and share in faith, friendship and fun! Alice Beneteau President – Ladies Auxiliary “Chummettes”
Chummette president Alice Beneteau presents a donation to Kim Meloche, the secretary at St. Joseph Parish. Submitted photo
Town re-aligns and re-names tourism division after staff retirement By Ron Giofu The Town of Amherstburg has renamed and realigned its tourism department after the retirement of its manager. According to a report from CAO Valerie Critchley, manager of tourism and culture Anne Rota retired Dec. 31 and that “provides the opportunity to review the structure of the division and its overall placement in the corporate organizational structure.” The tourism and culture division fell under the parks, facilities, recreation and culture (PFRC) portfolio with that having included Rota and three co-ordinators. “When a key staff member leaves an organization, it is always an opportunity to review the organizational structure and to review possible paths of succession in the organization giving consideration to the attributes of the current members of the team,” Critchley stated in her report. “Such a review serves to make the best use of the skills, experience, and institutional knowledge of internal staff members while ensuring that the organizational structure reflects the current and future needs of the corporation.”
Critchley advised the portfolio will shift from PFRC, led by director Heidi Baillargeon, to the development services department, led by director/ deputy CAO Melissa Osbourne. The CAO stated the PFRC department has four reporting divisions, “which is more than any other director in the structure.” “Of the four reporting divisions, parks, is one that continually has multiple ongoing projects and areas which require focus and attention due to its public facing nature. As we move forward, the facilities division will be taking on an even greater role in the corporation as we work through the completion of the corporate space needs study, updating the facilities assessment study and presenting council with the overall strategic plan for municipal facilities in the Town,” stated Critchley. “The recreation division is also extremely busy as the community returns to a pre-pandemic state and we look to expand much needed recreational programming for all age levels.” Critchley said tourism and culture is “a key component” of Amherstburg as it is assisting in “promoting the town, its attractions and events to residents and visitors but also in supporting and
executing local events, which assist the current business community and help to make Amherstburg an attractive place for economic development and investment.” The town is also focusing on growth and expansion of economic development, said the CAO. Critchley added Osborne was hired “with a view to growing the economic development area and in 2023, council approved the creation of the position of economic development and communications officer.” The latter position is filled by Jen Ibrahim. “As we proceed to define the town’s business retention and expansion program there is a strong likelihood that tourism efforts will overlap with the BR&E program blurring the lines between the two divisions, which currently report under two different directors,” stated Critchley. Critchley stated “it is clear that there are strong synergies between these two divisions.” Rota’s retirement “has created an opportunity to consider whether changes to support the town’s economic development direction should be examined.” “In fact, prior to 2016, tourism and culture was part of a portfolio which was
then named ‘Economic & Community Development’ and was comprised of the building, planning, tourism and economic development areas - which is the same make-up of the propose Development Services Department.” The division will be re-named the Economic Development and Tourism division and the manager position will be re-named, she added. “Over the next eight to nine months the director, along with the manager, will assess the various economic development demands and initiatives considering how all of the positions under the manager can be best utilized to achieve a more holistic approach to economic development, inclusive of the tourism activities but not exclusive to them as is currently structured,” said Critchley. The CAO added: “With any departure of a key staff member comes the opportunity to review the organizational structure of the corporation. This re-alignment supports a structure which will make the best use of current staff resources to support the tourism and culture and the economic development areas.” Council received Critchley’s report without discussion.
Pool company owner facing fraud charges for the second time The Windsor Police Service has charged the owner of a pool installation company with fraud. In September 2023, members of the Windsor Police Service’s Amherstburg Criminal Investigations Unit launched an investigation into Western Ontario Fiberglass Pools. Through the investigation, officers learned that the company’s owner allegedly accepted a $30,000 pool installation deposit in June 2023. It is further alleged the company never began work and did not return the deposit when requested. Officers arrested and charged a 63-year-old Blenheim man with one count of fraud over $5,000.
In July 2023, the accused was charged with three counts of fraud over $5,000. The Windsor Police Service Amherstburg Detachment states those charges stemmed from the suspect’s actions as owner/operator of KTPC
Pools and Concrete Resurfacing Inc. Investigators encourage anyone who has had similar experiences with Western Ontario Fiberglass Pools or KTPC Pools to contact Constable Tim McInnis at 519-736-2252, ext. 226, or the Amherstburg Criminal Investigations Unit at 519-736-2252, ext. 230. They can also contact Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.catchcrooks.com. Vehicles vs. deer A pair of accidents were recently reported involving vehicles hitting deer.
The first reported incident this year was Jan. 1. Police say a vehicle traveling in 300 block of White Cres. encountered five deer running across the road with one striking the vehicle. There were no injuries or charges to driver, police add. The second reported accident involving a deer versus a vehicle occurred Jan. 2. A vehicle travelling on County Road 20 struck a deer. According to police, there were no injuries or charges to driver in this crash either. —All information courtesy of the Windsor Police Service – Amherstburg Detachment
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 – River Town Times – 9
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Hockey for Hospice tournament surpasses fundraising record once again
The Libro Centre in Amherstburg was one of the four arenas used for the Hockey for Hospice tournament, which was held over the holidays. The tournament started in Amherstburg. In its 27th year, Hockey for Hospice raised $587,780.29 for the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County.
By Ron Giofu The Hockey for Hospice tournament returned for its 27th year and set yet another fundraising record in the process. The annual tournament was Dec. 27-29 with 125 teams utilizing four arenas. Both boys and girls house league teams from the region ranging in age from five to 14 played games in Amherstburg, Essex, LaSalle and Tecumseh over the three-day period and raised $587,780.29 in the process. The old record was $531,264, set in 2022. Tim Beaulieu, one of the co-organizers along with Paul Pietraszko and their respective families, said things went well in the 2023 tournament. “We had about the same amount of teams as last year,” said Beaulieu. The 125 teams represented just under
2,000 players, he added. All but three of the teams were from Windsor-Essex County. The tournament began as a skate-athon at the former AMA Arena and has grown to what it is today. Beaulieu said players from the early era of the tournament are returning as adults. “What we’re seeing now is kids who were players in the past are now coaches,” said Beaulieu. “They are now coming in as coaches and their kids are playing. It’s great to see.” The fundraising total exceeds the previous year on a regular basis, he noted, and while he is nervous annually wondering how the players are going to top themselves, he said they always find a way to do so. “What we’ve come to learn is that the kids don’t disappoint,” he said. “It’s astonishing what the kids are able to deliver.”
There are roughly 50-60 volunteers that help put the annual Hockey for Hospice tournament together and Beaulieu said everyone put in a lot of effort in order to make the tournament happen. “It’s a lot of work by a lot of volunteers - hundreds and hundreds of hours,” said Beaulieu. The appeal of the Hockey for Hospice tournament is that kids get to play hockey and Beaulieu noted they get to assist the Hospice of Windsor-Essex County at the same time. “I don’t know if anyone in the community hasn’t been touched by Hospice,” said Beaulieu. “It’s a worthwhile cause.” Education is another key component of the holiday tournament, with players taught every year about what Hospice does and why it is important. Beaulieu said players now can tell others about
the role of Hospice. Nancy Brockenshire, executive director of The Hospice of WindsorEssex County, said the organization is not fully funded and they want to ensure their services remain free for families who need them. Events like Hockey for Hospice help to make that happen. “We have to fund 23 beds at $150 per bed, per night,” she said. Hospice also provided in-home services to 1,245 people over the past year, she added, while 435 people resided in a Hospice residence. Players make memories and have fun during the tournament but also spread the word about the end-of-life services Hospice offers. Brockenshire said Hospice appreciates that people give back and that organizers and volunteers put in so much time to present the tournament.
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Kicks & Giggles ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, watch out because you are hot stuff this week. Coming off the excitement of the holidays, you’re still in the mood to socialize. The invitations to various social events will still flow. TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Hopefully you’ve made progress on the various organizational projects that you have had in mind, Taurus. Now is the time to get those resolutions moving.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, how is your to-do list coming along? If you haven’t yet gotten moving, a coming slowdown could make the perfect time to get cracking. CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, right now you may be feeling like hibernating, especially if the weather is changing. Don’t burrow under the covers just yet. Find a way to stay busy and socialize. LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, even if it seems the way to be the most productive, burning the candle at both ends is only going to make you tired and less efficient. Ask for help if you need it. VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, your innate humility means you’re often content with being behind the scenes and not in the limelight. However, this week you may want a little extra fanfare. LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, after a season of partying and letting other tasks fall by the wayside, it is time to get back to focus. You must take out your financial account records and track spending right now. SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Take an inventory of the things you want to change about yourself, Scorpio. There is always room for improvement, especially if you feel you have not been your best self lately. SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Hopefully you have met your quota of parties and social events because now is the time to take a break, Sagittarius. The invitations will cease, but that can be a good thing for you. CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 It’s often business as usual for you to burn the midnight oil, Capricorn. But scale back on those late-night interludes. That’s a recipe for burnout that can derail your bigger plans. AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, you are the zodiac’s team player, so you may have to give the troops a pep talk to get everyone working together this week. Smooth down any ruffled feathers as needed. PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 If you have any unfinished business that needs to get wrapped up, Pisces, the clock is ticking. Make a strong attempt to finish by Wednesday or Thursday. FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS JANUARY 7 - Jeremy Renner, Actor (53) JANUARY 8 - Damiano David, Singer (25) JANUARY 9 - Nina Dobrev, Actress (35) JANUARY 10 - Renee Rapp, Singer (24) JANUARY 11 - Kyle Richards, Reality Star (55) JANUARY 12 - Jeff Bezos, Entrepreneur (60) JANUARY 13 - Orlando Bloom, Actor (47)
WORD SCRAMBLE Rearrange the letters to spell something pertaining to computer cleanup. ANSWERS ON PAGE 14
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Essex County council makes history with gender parity, strategic plan By Fred Groves History was made in Essex County on December 20, 2023. Not only did county council approve its first-ever strategic plan, but around the decision-making table, gender parity. With the absence of Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue, Councillor Diane Pouget stepped in, and for Essex, Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley was replaced by Councillor Kim Verbeek. There were seven male and seven females at the meeting. “This is the first one, it’s very exciting,” said Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy about the Strategic Plan. “It’s another first as we have gender parity in our council chamber tonight which is probably the first time in history.” Essex County’s Strategic Plan was unanimously accepted, and the document contains a Vision and Mission for Essex County as well as Values and most importantly it seems, setting strategic goals and directions. “The vision has been slightly amended to reflect and incorporate residents as a focus in the vision in addition to the local communities,” said Chris Loreto from Strategy Corp, the consultants that wrote the plan. The three foundations of the new first Essex County strategic plan are: Working as Team Essex County; Growing as Leaders in Public Services Excellence; and Building a Regional Powerhouse. The County has been working on the plan since the spring and Loreto said that since the consultation with the various stakeholders, has extended the definition of Building a Regional Powerhouse. It will now include advancing truth and reconciliation and building deeper
relationships and partnerships with local First Nation communities as well as other Indigenous residents. “This plan is not just the product of a working session with Council, but with significant stakeholder consultation,” added Loreto. Loreto noted that not only were members of council, staff and administration consulted on the direction of the plan, but so were the CAO’s of each of the seven individual municipalities. Essex County CAO Sandra Zwiers thanked communications manager Don McArthur as well as Clerk Mary Birch who, when the process to develop the plan began, was the interim CAO. “This is a great night for us but it’s the start of a lot of heavy lifting. Now the real work begins,” said Zwiers. She said that a lot of work is ahead for the county’s administration team and realizes that the public will hold the county accountable. “This is only going to help us move forward as a county,” said LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche. The Strategic Plan highlighted the fact that the county is well positioned to tackle the opportunities and challenges ahead. Massive growth and development are forecasted and county leadership is proud of the ongoing collaboration with the City of Windsor. “For me, the hard work is just beginning. This will hold us accountable. This will be our performance review,” said Essex County Warden and Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald. The primary purpose of the first ever plan is to provide a clear path forward for how to create value for the county’s partners, local residents and community.
Warden wants county to evolve to be productive By Fred Groves Essex County is evolving. That was the message Warden Hilda MacDonald brought to county council at its final meeting of 2023. “We’ve completed vital infrastructure projects this year and we’ve invested in front line health care,” said MacDonald, the Mayor of Leamington. “We’ve supported affordable health care and we’ve joined in the fight against homelessness.” MacDonald cited the fact that at the recent Warden’s Luncheon, county councillors were given the opportunity to speak. Also, the manner in which councillors renumeration is determined is also changing. In 2008 a citizen-driven committee made the decision and now, heading into 2024, a third-party consultant is being engaged to help get through the process which could see a substantial increase in pay. “Time and evolution have happened and we need to move with it. I love that we are where we are and not afraid to speak up.” The past year, MacDonald’s first as the head of the Essex County government, saw significant events and issues. Back in April, hundreds of people packed into the council chambers
protesting a perceived 15-minute city concept which, in reality, was not being proposed. The meeting, which was to address the new Official Plan, was suspended and for a couple of meetings there was a heightened level of security. “I know how difficult this job can be at times,” said MacDonald. In the fall, an attempt to have all seven local municipalities come together and have a regional waste collection system was narrowly defeated. Perhaps the biggest change for Essex County was in personnel as Sandra Zwiers was elevated from treasurer to CAO. Melissa Ryan moved into the role of director of financial services/treasurer. Essex-Windsor EMS Chief Bruce Krauter retired and Justin Lammers took over. MacDonald acknowledged that change is needed and the county needs to keep being productive. She added that she is looking forward to the upcoming 2024 budget deliberations and said that “it won’t be a walk in the park.” This is the first of four years for the current siting 14-member county council. “I want to see, at the end of the four year-term, that we’ve been progressive and we’ve moved the needle forward.” As far as the budget is concerned, Essex County residents will see an increase of about $10 million to the bottom line.
Continued on Page 15
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 – River Town Times – 11
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Admirals drop weekend games to Lakeshore, Blenheim By Fred Groves After being ahead 4-2 in the second period, the Amherstburg Admirals ending up falling short 7-5 to the visiting Blenheim Blades Saturday night at the Libro Centre. Combined with an 8-3 loss to the Lakeshore Canadiens the night before, the Admirals now sit at 5-23-0-0 in the Provincial Junior Hockey League (Junior ‘C’) West Stobbs Division. Giving up 15 goals in just two games, prompted Admirals coach Beau Hunter to say after Saturday night’s contest, “in our zone, we have to worry about picking up guys, but it’s a combination of things.” Against Blenheim, the hosts got off to a great start a rookie Travis Knight scored and it was 1-1 after the first period. The second saw the Admirals build up a comfortable two-goal margin but the Blades chipped away and sent the two teams into the final period, knotted 4-4. “I was happy with the second period. I didn’t like those late two goals. I would have liked to have gone into the second period with a bit of a lead,” said Hunter. Scoring in the second period for Amherstburg were Mitch Demelo, who connected just 57 ticks into the middle frame, rookie Ryan Dufour got his fourth of the season and Connor Demelo also found the back of the net. Owen Papulkas, named the first star of the game, had three assists, including a beauty of a set up on Connor Demelo’s third period tally. Dufour, along with fellow newcomer Brett Jones and Jeremy Desbiens were very strong on the forecheck all night which resulted in the Blades turning
RTT PHOTO BY FRED GROVES Blenheims’ Justin Ewald (24) moves the puck ahead of Amherstburg’s Jeremy Desbiens. Blenheim won 7-5.
over the puck several times. “That’s one thing we’ve been working on, the forecheck. When you pressure guys, that’s what happens,” said Hunter. Zach VanBoxlel led the winners with a pair of goals, with singles from Justin Ewald, Andrew Goulet, Breck Rainey and Nick Cameron. After the game, Hunter said that the Admirals played good enough to win.
“I think it was a combination of between defensive breakdowns, a couple of goals might have not gone in and a couple of bad penalties. You mix those all together and the score’s not going to go your way.” Rookie Joe Costea started in net and made a couple of huge break-away saves but struggled late and was replaced by Josh Courtney. The night before in Lakeshore, the Admirals kicked off the 2024 season with a loss to the province’s best team, 8-3. Mitch Demelo opened the game’s scoring and Dufour had his best offensive game of the season with a pair. Julian Gignac led the way with a hat trick for the Canadiens who led 4-1 after 20 minutes. Lakeshore, who recorded their 21st consecutive win, scored three seconds into the second period and again at 10 seconds. Last Friday night’s game was the Admirals’ first game action since Dec. 22, an 8-1 loss that was also in Lakeshore. Stefan Jacobs scored the only Amherstburg goal in the Dec. 22 game. Amherstburg sees action again Thursday night when they travel to Blenheim, and Saturday night will host the Essex 73s. Puck drop at the Libro Centre is 7:30 p.m. SLAPSHOTS… Blenheim’s Craig Spence did not dress for Saturday’s game. He was named the PJHL West Division Player of the Month for December and the team captain is amongst the league’s point leaders… Amherstburg’s Stefan Jacobs continues his point-streak which now sits at 12... Milestone for veteran blueline Jaydn Brown, who is scheduled to play his 100th game on Thursday.
Wolves boys hockey team enters 2024 looking for first victory North Star plays home game Thursday vs. Brennan By Ron Giofu The North Star Wolves boys hockey team will start the 2024 portion of their schedule still looking for their first victory. The Wolves finished the 2023 half of their WECSSAA Cullen Division schedule with an 0-3-1 record with two games right before the Christmas break. North Star played their first two home games, the first being a 3-3 tie with the Tecumseh Vista Academy Vortex Dec. 19. Two days later, they lost 7-2 on home ice to the Essex Red Raiders. Kyle Jones and Ryan Grondin scored for the Wolves versus the Red Raiders. Eddie Hickson scored four goals for Essex. Despite the loss, North Star head coach Glen Holden wasn’t disappointed
RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU
North Star’s Kyle Jones (7) scores a second period goal against Essex. The Red Raiders defeated the Wolves 7-2.
by how his team played against the Red Raiders. “We played a good half of the game,” said Holden. “We knew Essex was undefeated and the first place team.
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We knew we were going to be in for a battle.” Three AP players got into the lineup against the Red Raiders, he added, and those players had a good opportunity
to get into the game and experience high school hockey. Three Grade 12 players missed the Essex game. “We’re off to a bit of a rough start,” said Holden, acknowledging the 0-3-1 start. Holden said the holiday break would allow the Wolves to get healthy and regroup. This year’s team has roughly a half dozen Grade 12 players, a “small group” of Grade 11 players and “quite a few” Grade 9 and Grade 10 hockey players. “We’re excited about the future of North Star hockey,” said Holden. “It looks like we’ve got a young group of good players we can work with and develop.” The Wolves return from the break with a game at the Libro Centre Jan. 11 versus the Brennan Cardinals. They have a road game Jan. 18 against Lajeunesse, a home game Jan. 23 at home against the Riverside Stingers before concluding the regular season on the road in Leamington against the Cardinal Cougars. All remaining games, weather permitting, start at 3 p.m.
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Community Calendar
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10 ESSEX COUNTY FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB; Essex County Field Naturalists Club meets every second Wednesday of the month, except for November, at Ojibway Nature Center. Meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at Ojibway Center, 5200 Matchette Rd. Can an average suburban backyard become an oasis for biodiversity? Absolutely! Russ Jones will be our January 10 speaker about his “Naturalized Yard.” Starting with native plants, he has transformed what began as a typical mown lawn into a remarkably rich ecosystem, teaming with life. With the goal to inspire, come along, as Russ takes us on a photo tour of a true biodiversity hotspot, in an average suburban backyard, right here in Essex County. Come on out to hear all about his adventures across the province. All are welcome. Free to public. THURSDAY, JANUARY 11 THROWBACK THURSDAY; ACS’ Feast with Friends luncheon features meal and guitarist/ singer David Wilson. Music sponsored by Seasons Amherstburg. Cost is $9 for lunch and entertainment. Event runs from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Everyone welcome to enjoy music from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Bring a photo of yourself, if you wish. Reserve your seat by calling 519-736-5471. THURSDAY, JANUARY 18 DUELLING PIANOS EVENT; Benefits Rotary Ghana Mission. Duelling Pianos is a unique, high energy and audience interactive show. Two pianos and two musicians play, sing and entertain. Enjoy a delicious meal prepared by the chefs at the Windsor Yacht Club. Proceeds to fund water wells, medical and literacy projects in Ghana. Windsor Yacht Club is located at 9000 Riverside Dr. East in Windsor. Tickets $100, $950 for table of ten. Starts at 6 p.m. For tickets or info, call Kim Spirou at 519-551-3747 or e-mail kspirou@hotmail.ca. SATURDAY, JANUARY 20 ALL-YOU-CAN EAT PASTA FUNDRAISER; Held at Royal Canadian Legion Br. 157. Donations welcome to assist with renovations and building fund. Cost $15, choice of penne or spaghetti. Meat or marinara sauce. Check out the bake sale! Many desserts to choose from. Raffle tickets to be sold. Runs from 4-7 p.m.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 20 ESSEX COUNTY ONTARIO ANCESTORS EVENT; Essex County, Ontario Ancestors special event being held from as an in-person meet and greet from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the French Research Centre, 940 Prince Road, in Windsor. Free and open to everyone!
ticket. Tickets $15 adult; $8 child (12 and under). 50/50 raffle; silent auction; book sale. For tickets: Larry Allen 519-817-3030; Sue Deslippe 226-280-5144; Kim Bornais 519-816-8154; Bev Bondy 519-736-4837.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21 DINNER/DANCE; The Good Neighbour Club invites you to their monthly dinner/dance at 272 St. Paul St; Belle River. (Note the change to third week this month only). Featuring D. J. Kim Owens (disco theme, no laser or strobe lights but shimmering decor) with start time at 2:00pm with Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Cost $17. All members and non-members welcome. Bar is available. Reserve your tickets by Jan. 18 by calling 519-728-2138. Paying in advance is appreciated.
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 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-11:45 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. For info, call 519-736-9140 or visit www. GOLDEN AGE CLUB; The Golden Age Club, aburgmission.ca. Stop by for food, fellowship and Amherstburg’s friendship club, located at the a warm welcome. All donations welcome. 179 Richmond St. is offering social activities five days a week, $10 a year to join. There are over ACS FOOD BANK; Curbside pickup at 160 members who have fun playing euchre, Amherstburg Community Hub (320 Richmond pepper, bingo, cribbage, and bridge and St.). Runs Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-12 noon. Call doing line dancing. We also have three special 519-736-5471 for assistance. luncheons and a beautiful Christmas party. You pick which activities you want to participate in. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED; Community service Visit www.goldenagecentre.ca to see how to volunteer hours are available for high school join, participate, and learn how we support our students. Outside jobs at Bryerswood Youth community. Camp. Please contact info@bryerswood.com.
ONGOING 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.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 FEAST WITH FRIENDS TECH TALK; Presented by ACS at the Amherstburg Community Hub, 320 Richmond St., from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Discover the magic of reading online. Tech Talk with Essex County Library representative. Lunch and presentation $9. Call 519-736-5471 to reserve your seat. ESSEX COUNTY ORCHID SOCIETY MEETINGS; The Essex County Orchid Society SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 invites you to join them monthly, third Sunday of RIB/CHICKEN DINNER; Bryerswood Youth the month till May at St. Stephen’s Church Hall, Camp Optimist club hosting dinner at the River 5280 Howard Ave; 1:30 p.m. Refreshments Canard K of C Hall, 8965 Malden Road. served. New members and visitors are welcome. Proceeds benefit their camp. Dinner includes We are on Facebook! ribs or chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, roll and dessert. Cost is $27. Doors open 6 p.m., dinner 7 COLUMBUS COMMUNITY HALL EVENTS; p.m. Limited take-out available from 6-6:30 p.m. Columbus Community Hall, 190 Richmond St. Contact Marie Wilder 519-565-1252 or marie. Senior dance, 3 p.m. and dinner 5 p.m. every wilder@icloud.com or Mary Ann Mertens 519- second Tuesday of the month ($12 donation). 988-6420 or tomarymertz@yahoo.ca. Serving burgers and fries for purchase every Monday 12-2 p.m., Bingo on Thursday at 7 p.m., SUNDAY, JANUARY 28 Fish Fry on Friday (includes chicken) from 4:30PASTA FUNDRAISER; The Hope of St. Joseph 6:30 p.m., eat-in or take out. Everyone welcome. Shelter Inc. charity (supporting Father Donato Lwiyando’s good work in Bukavu, DR Congo FREE COMMUNITY MEAL; Lighthouse Church, Africa) is having a fundraiser meal on at the in conjunction with Feeding Windsor, invites the Columbus Community Hall, 190 Richmond St., public to come Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. for a Amherstburg. A 5:30 p.m. self-serve meal of free dinner. All welcome. Come meet others in pasta (sauce with or without meat), salad, bun, the community and enjoy some good food. No tea or coffee. Desserts available. Doors open registration required. Lighthouse Church is located at 4:30 p.m. Bar open. Take-out available with 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 1225. The House is located at 320 Richmond St. For details, call 519-800-8640.
BOTTLE DONATIONS; The AMA Sportsmen Association continues to accept donations of empty beer and wine bottles. People who wish to donate their empties can drop them off at the rear of the club, 468 Lowes Side Road in Amherstburg. For information, 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 fund 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 519996-7364 or e-mail info@bryerswood.com. AMHERSTBURG COMMUNITY SERVICES; Located at 320 Richmond St., 519-7365471. Meals on Wheels, CareLink Accessible Transportation, Food Bank, Senior Support, Keep The Heat, Ontario Energy Support Program & much more. Please call to see how we can help!
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HOLY SPIRIT You who make me see everything and shows me the way to reach my ideals. You who gives me the divine gift to forgive and forget all that was done to me. You who are in all instances of my life with me. I want to thank You for everything and confirm once more that I never want to be separated from You no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Thank you, Holy Spirit for wishes granted. (A person may pray this prayer three consecutive days without asking for their wishes, after the third day their wish will be granted no matter how difficult it may be and promise to publish this dialogue as soon as your favour has been granted). L.G.B.
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Wolves resume volleyball season in 2024 looking to remain undefeated By Ron Giofu The North Star Wolves senior girls volleyball team ended the 2023 portion of their schedule undefeated and look to continue that in 2024. The Wolves finished the first part of the season with a 4-0 record, winning all 12 sets played in the process. That included a 25-15, 25-16 and 25-17 victory over Riverside in Amherstburg Dec. 19. “I think it’s a good way to go into the Christmas break,” said Lillian Mereszak. Mereszak said they got off to a bit of a slow start versus Riverside but “we picked it up when we needed to.” The team wants to work on its timing in relation to their hitting, she indicated, but overall they are feeling good about
how they are performing on the volleyball court. The Wolves played a lot of volleyball heading into the Christmas break and Mereszak said it was good to get some time off to rest and recover from any nagging injuries. “We’re on the right track for success,” she believed. North Star head coach Jeff Miller was happy with the win over Riverside. “We were pretty clean especially in the first set,” he said. The Wolves played good defense and were solid in transition, he added. The Stingers are a good team, he added, but North Star looked good against them. “It’s a good way for us to end off this part of our schedule,” he said. Players are playing different positions
due to injury, Miller added, noting Lily Mulder is getting used to setting and improving at it. The offense will get better as she progresses in that new role, he predicted. The junior team fell to 0-4 on the season, as they also hosted Riverside Dec. 19. They lost two of three sets, falling 13-25, 15-25 and 25-23. The two teams returned to the court Jan. 9 at St. Anne, juniors at 4 p.m. and seniors at 5:20 p.m. They return to North Star Thursday (Jan. 11) for home games with the seniors at 4 p.m. and juniors at 5:20 p.m. North Star’s Emily Beauregard (6, black jersey) hits the ball between two Riverside players during the Wolves’ win Dec. 19
Miracle League of Amherstburg launching 2024 registration By Ron Giofu The Miracle League of Amherstburg is looking for players for both its spring and fall seasons in 2024. The league is doing a formal registration this winter to try and secure its players for the upcoming year. Miracle League president Shawn Dufour said since the current board of directors took over, they had been using registration and information from the previous board. “This is our first registration as an executive,” said Dufour. The Miracle League’s website is getting
updated and is ready to accommodate the registration from players and parents. Dufour said the cost is $55 per player but that is for spring and fall seasons. The fee will include not only being placed on a team, but for a shirt, hat, bags and sweaters for the players. “It will include some Miracle League merchandise,” said Dufour. Last year, there were 160 players on nine teams and Dufour said the goal is to have at least that many players this year. Players from last year will be contacted, he added, and they want to attract new players. Players are both children and
adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. “We’re hoping to maintain (the numbers),” he said. “We can grow a little bit.” Registration will be strictly online, he said, though payment can be made either online or at the diamond the first game of the spring season. The first games of Miracle League’s 2024 spring season are May 4. “The payment doesn’t have to come right away,” said Dufour. Deadline to register is March 1. “We want to get registration out of the
way so we have time to get the uniforms,” he said. Dufour said Miracle League is “a great social event for the players and a great family atmosphere.” He said it encompasses what sports should be all about, which is the enjoyment of the game. The Miracle League of Amherstburg is the first in Canada and based out of the Libro Centre. There are eight weeks, weather permitting, in each of the spring and fall seasons with four games per day. For more information, visit www. amherstburgmiracle.com or contact Dufour at 519-995-0962.
About 100 Christmas Day meals served at the mission
The Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission served approximately 100 free turkey dinners Christmas Day. Volunteers included (from left) president Tim McAllister, vice president Zainia Brockett, Tammy Pasceri and Kim Curtis.
By Ron Giofu The Christmas spirit was alive and well at the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission. The mission presented its annual free Christmas Day turkey dinner Dec. 25 with approximately 100 meals served. Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission president Tim McAllister said that included both in-person meals and take-out orders. “I came in at 2 a.m. and prepared eight turkeys,” said McAllister. “I had a lot of volunteers show up. They helped prepare and serve the mashed potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, gravy and stuffing.” Children, including grandchildren of McAllister and his wife Violet, helped serve salad and cranberries. “It was joyous,” said McAllister. “Everyone was happy to be here. They were happy to do these things for the people.” McAllister said those who were served meals were very appreciative.
“The people are excited and I’m excited,” said McAllister. “They are excited to see we care about them and want to help them.” The entire team that helped serve the turkey dinners were thanked by McAllister. “It’s all teamwork,” he said. “It’s all volunteers. They stepped up to support me and to support the people that need help.” Volunteers also made an attempt to “beautify” the mission to help put people into the holiday spirit,
he added. McAllister said everyone did their part for the free Christmas Day turkey dinner. “I can never take credit,” he said. “I just help. People just stepped up to help a worthy cause on the greatest day of the year – Christmas Day.” For more information on the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission or to donate, call 519-7369140, visit them at 298 Victoria St. S. or check out their website at www.aburgmission.ca.
County needs to evolve: warden
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Continued from Page 10
The warden thanked county employees and county councillors for their contributions to the food drive and toy drive. “Get out and explore everything Essex County has to offer. I’m looking forward to the start of 2024 and working shoulder-to-shoulder with all of you,” she said to her fellow council members. At the final meeting of 2023, MacDonald also acknowledged that Essex County has its first ever Strategic Plan and she also said that change is for the greater good and not disruptive or “just spitting into the wind.” On a personal note, in a recent interview with AM 800 Radio, MacDonald was asked if she liked her job as Essex County Warden. “Sometimes I love it and sometimes I hate it. We are all in the same boat. We do it for how we can affect our communities and how we can make our communities a better place to live.” MacDonald added that while being the warden does have its satisfaction, sometimes arrows hit a little too close to the heart.
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Join us on social! AmherstburgTownHall Aburg_TownHall Thurs 11 Fri 12 Sat Heritage January is Committee Amherstburg Crime Meeting welcomes back Stoppers 5:30 PM TRUE FEST! Awareness Town Hall Sat. January 27 Month LAST day to 6-10PM. submit a delegation form to delegate on on January 15 Recycle
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2024 Budget Deliberation
Town Hall January 15 ~ 5-10pm January 16 ~ 9am-4pm January 17(if needed) ~ 9am-4pm
Register to Delegate
The registration deadline to the fill out the delegation form to delegate at the budget deliberations on January 15th, is Thursday, January 11, 2024 @ 4pm. 519-736-0012 • www.amherstburg.ca 271 Sandwich St. South, Amherstburg, Ontario N9V 2A5