2021 - THE YEAR IN REVIEW - DECEMBER

There’s no place like home for the Featherstones

For Helen and Gary Featherstone, the 97 days since the August 26 Wheatley explosion have been stressful and worrisome, but the long-time residents are grateful they have a roof over their heads.

On the afternoon of August 26, 2021, Gary was in the kitchen and Helen was sitting on the living room couch inside their home at the corner of Talbot Street and Victoria.

Gary says the boom knocked Helen off the couch and staggered him as he stood in the kitchen.

“I hope I never hear a noise like that again in my life,” he said. “It felt like it lifted the house up and dropped it back down.”

Hilarity ensues at Bank Theatre

The Bank Theatre presents A Christmas Story this weekend and next with rehearsals ongoing for a few weeks.

The Sun was invited to rehearsal on Saturday, November 27 and several classic scenes unfolded on the stage.

The play is narrated by Clinton Anderson and stars a bevy of talented local actors.

The play runs Thursday to Saturday this week at 7:30 pm with a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m., followed by identical showtimes next week, December 9 through 12.

Drive thru parade proves popular

The Leamington District Chamber of Commerce annual Santa Claus Parade delivered smiles, giggles, lights and even some snow as the drive-thru event went off without a hitch on Saturday, November 27.

The parade — held inside Point Pelee National Park — attracted over 800 vehicles full of families who got an up-close look at the 28 entries and got to say hello to Santa and Mrs. Claus at the end of the route.

Santa gives the thumbs up as he and the Mrs. prepare for the Leamington Drive-Thru Christmas Parade.

Flyers turn close contest into rout of Vipers

The battle of Essex County concluded its Leamington portion last Thursday night as the LaSalle Vipers made their third visit to the Nature Fresh Farms Complex.

With the Vipers regular goaltending duo not available, Wheatley Sharks call-up Ethan Carlone got the nod in net on this occasion. Carlone held his team in the game for two frames before the Flyers tabbed four unanswered third-period goals to win the contest 8-3 in front of a crowd of 357.

Health Units move to restrict activities again

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is pumping the brakes on indoor social gatherings as COVID-19 cases surge in the area.

The WECHU issued a letter of instruction over the weekend which will restrict indoor and outdoor gatherings going forward in an attempt to slow down the current trajectory. A similar letter of instruction was issued by the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit on Monday evening, with specific instruction for workplaces.

As of 12:01 a.m. Friday, December 10, social gatherings will be limited to 10 people inside and 25 outside.

It’s David versus Goliath in Road 7 tree fight

Almost a year after a Southpoint Sun story about losing their trees prompted a visit from Hydro One, residents along a heavily-populated section of Road 7 are still fighting the battle.

At issue are the new hydro lines and poles being installed along Road 7 from Highway 77 in a westerly direction and the effect that installation will have on many heritage trees along the way.

The new hydro poles are visible on the eastern end of Road 7, starting at Highway 77, to about a mile up the road, where Hydro One’s installation stalled a couple of years ago.

Country Christmas at Jack Miner attracts families

The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary hosted several activities for a Country Christmas themed event for the whole family this past weekend to conclude its 2021 season.

Events ranged from Christmas crafts, a visit with Santa and tree decorating, to a fun challenging maze on the property.

Kingsville musician reminisces about the ‘70s music scene

Over 50 years after his music career began, Bill Loop is still actively involved in the local music scene.

His brush with rock and roll stardom takes him all the way back to the 1972 release of Last Song by Edward Bear, a gold record single that put Edward Bear on the map and a song that Bill Loop played the bass guitar on. The song peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March of 1973, edged out only by Killing Me Softly and Dueling Banjos.

Leamington passes three per cent tax increase

After two days of presentations and deliberations, Leamington Council has passed a budget allowing for a three per cent tax increase in the municipality for 2022.

Special budget meetings took place over the course of Wednesday, December 8 and Thursday, December 9 as administration brought forward the proposed budget for next year.

Seniors Advisory Committee holds public forum

The Leamington Seniors Advisory Committee held its first public event on Wednesday, December 1 at the Half Century Centre. About 15 interested seniors attended to hear updates on what the committee is doing to make life better for seniors in Leamington.

Mayor Hilda MacDonald, who sits on the committee, was present and spoke to the visitors about making sure they voice their opinions about things affecting seniors in the municipality.

Goodfellows hampers will feed 120 families

The Leamington-Mersea Goodfellows were able to pivot and get gift cards to about 160 families last holiday season, due to COVID restrictions, but this year they are back on track with their collection and distribution to needy local families.

Last Saturday, the annual Leamington District Secondary School Grade 12 can drive took place and the students collected enough cans to jump-start the program.

Province ramping up boosters amid skyrocketing cases

Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent public health units are moving ahead with plans to ramp-up vaccination opportunities for those 18+ as the Ontario government announced last week that anyone 18 and over would be eligible for booster shots on Monday, December 20.