Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Electric car built in Toronto in 1893 THE OLD CAR DETECTIVE Bill Sherk With all the talk these days of electric cars replacing gas-powered cars, it is interesting to note that several makes of electric cars were being driven on Canadian roads over one hundred years ago. It all began in Toronto in 1893 when a British-born electrician named William Still approached patent attorney Frederick Barnard Featherstonhaugh (pronounced FENshaw) to obtain a patent for a high-efficiency battery and motor he had designed. Featherstonhaugh was a great believer in the future potential of electricity. He was so impressed with Still’s proposal, he hired the Dixon Carriage Works on Bay Street in downtown Toronto to build for him a self-propelled horseless carriage using Still’s battery and motor. The car (only one was built) was years ahead of
its time. It rode on four bicycle-type wheels with pneumatic tires to soften the bumps on the road when other early cars used wagon wheels. This new car had electric lights when most cars built 10 years later only had kerosene lights (if they had any lights at all). When the car was new, the proud owner took several nervous dignitaries on a ride around an oval track at the CNE in front of some amused spectators. It had a top speed of 15 mph and weighed
only 700 pounds. When Toronto had its first Motor Show in 1906, this car was on display there. By 1902, 40% of all cars were electric, another 40% were steam-powered, and only 20% ran on gasoline. The arrival of the electric starter in 1912 ended hand-cranking and sales of gasoline cars took off! Around 1912, Featherstonhaugh sold his car to persons or people unknown. No trace of it has yet been found. Always looking for stories. Email billtsherk@sympatico.ca
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9 CRAFTS WITH KAREN 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon at Kingsville Community Centre. Preregisration is required. Call 226-773-5830 for more info. DECEMBER 1-20 ART SOCIETY OF KINGSVILLE’S FINE ART EXHIBITION AT Carnegie Arts & Visitor Centre, 28 Division St. S., Kingsville. Show dates: December 1 to 20. Open house December 2 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Gallery hours: Sun.-Mon. 10 am-4 pm; Wed.Sat 10 am-5 pm; closed Tues. Art gallery admission is free, donations welcome. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16 BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon at Kingsville Community Centre. No appointment required. 226773-5830 for more info. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16 STROKE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Kingsville Community Centre. Lead by
Be a Santa for seniors LEAMINGTON — A Windsor-based seniors care business is holding their annual Be A Santa to a Senior event until December 8 at their Leamington and Tecumseh locations. Home Instead has been running the program for the past 11 years and it supports older adults who may be overlooked, isolated or alone during the upcoming holiday season. The program collects gifts from local donors and shares them with seniors in the community to remined them they are cherished. The gifts collected, which are often necessity items such as toiletries, clothing and blankets, make a big impact and help local area seniors combat the holiday blues. “We’ve all experienced feelings of loneliness during the pandemic, and seniors are at a particularly high risk for isolation,” said Colleen Jershy, owner of the Home Instead office
serving Windsor-Essex. “Be a Santa to a Senior shows the older adults in our community that they are valued and thought of during the holidays.” Be a Santa to a Senior relies on the generous support of the Windsor-Essex community and volunteers, as well as area businesses, non-profit organizations and retailers. This year, the Windsor office will be providing gifts to approximately 1,200 seniors in the area. Donations can include blankets, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, toiletries, Kleenex, non-slip socks, adult colouring and activity books, male pajama bottoms, bath towels and gift cards for groceries or general items. There will be drop-off area in front of Home Instead’s Leamington office at 197 Talbot Street West, Unit #208 (across from the hospital).
OPP remind drivers to slow down after multiple snow-related collisions
Community Calendar
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7 GRIEF CLASS ON SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS will be held on December 7 and 10 at the Half Century. Entire. All are welcome. There is no charge for these classes. Call 519-326-2521 to register, or call Cliff at 519-816-5449.
Southpoint Sun - 23A
stroke survivor Romina Ciotoli. Pre-registration required, contact Romina at 519-8906289. ONGOING MUSICIANS AND SINGERS WANTED at the Leamington Half Century Club to join in the weekly singalong every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Drop in if interested (160 Talbot St. E.). Call 519-326-2521 for more info. ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT SOMEONE’S DRINKING? Al-Anon Family Groups meeting information: 519-790-7739 or www. alanonwindsoressex.com
T.O.P.S. - Take Off Pounds Sensibly - Meetings are held every Tuesday evening at the Leamington Half Century Centre, 160 Talbot St. E. Weigh-in from 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. Meeting 7:00 - 7:30 p.m. First meeting is free. For more inforamtoin call Joan at 519326-2388. Everyone welcome. ERIE SHORES TOASTMASTERS Meeting online at 6:00 p.m. every other Wednesday. Develop your Communication and Leadership Skills in a positive, friendly environment. Next meeting dates are December 8 and 22. Visit a meeting and see how you like it! For more info Email: ErieShoresTM@
yahoo.com Facebook: Erie Shores Toastmasters or go to ErieShores.toastmastersclubs. org and click on Contact Us. STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH? Reach out to Hope 4 Me Peer to Peer Support Group. Virtual and in-person meetings available. Contact Tracy, Sue or Nancy at hope4mepeer@gmail.com for information about the group.
DONATE BLOOD Leamington Blood Donor Clinic - at the Leamington Lebanese Club, 447 Hwy. 77 Leamington. 1:00 - 7:00 p.m. Book ahead. Book now. Visit: blood.ca or call 1-888-236-6283. COMMUNITY TAKEOUT IS AVAILABLE at Leamington United Church, 4:00 - 5:00 pm every Monday. St. John’s Anglican Church also has takeout meals available every Wednesday from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Food is available from St. Vincent De Paul at St. Michael’s Parish 226-3407233, Salvation Army Food Bank, The warming Cross at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Food Cupboard at St. John’s Anglican church, The Bridge (ages 14-24), Food Pantry at Parkdale Variety, neighbourhood pantry at Erie South and Marlborough and the Angel Pantry at St. John’s Anglican Church. All are free. All are welcome.
To place your event in the Community Calendar Phone: 519-398-9098 Email: sun@southpointsun.ca or drop off at 194 Talbot St. E. Unit 5, Leamington
REGIONAL — With the first signs of winter, Essex County OPP responded to 13 collisions on Sat. Nov. 27 due to snow that had fallen in the area. Police have issued a reminder that in the event of a minor collision with NO injuries, and if the vehicle can still be driven, drivers should exit off the roadway to a safe location.
This reduces the risk of possible secondary collisions or injuries, as well as congestion. Once safe, assess the situation, gather all prudent information about the collision and attend the Collision Reporting Centre at the Essex County Detachment Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. with the vehicle.
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