Super Ethan’s Steps Gift Giving Fundraiser has amazing response
Each year for the past few years, Charlie and Nicole Abdul-Massih of Leamington have organized a fundraiser, Super Ethan’s Steps, in honour of their son Ethan, now age 5, who was diagnosed with leukemia almost four years ago. The event is held in September and the goal is to raise funds for local charities involved with childhood cancer and to raise awareness about the disease as well.
This holiday season the couple organized Super Ethan’s Steps Gift Giving fundraiser. The family had an amazing response. Over the past few weeks, over $2,300 was raised for Super Ethan’s Steps Gift Giving and numerous gifts were donated from all over Windsor and Essex County.
The Abdul-Massih family delivered the gifts on Friday, December 15 in what they termed as “a humbling afternoon.” They were able to give each child on treatment for cancers at the Paediatric Oncology Unit at Windsor Regional Hospital a beautiful personalized gift bag filled with gifts and gift cards. They were also able to give gas gift cards to each of the families to help with some of the travelling expenses to Windsor, London and Toronto over the holidays.
A post on Super Ethan’s Steps Facebook page from the Abdul-Massih family reads, in part: “These gifts brought smiles to some superheroes’ faces who, even in those few moments that we saw them and talked with them, were facing such adversities for their young ages. We know that the generosity from everyone who contributed played a role in shedding some light on their day.”
contributed played a role in shedding some light on
It goes on to say: “From the very bottom of our hearts, thank you so much to everyone for all of their support and kindness toward this fundraiser. Being parents of a little one who has faced such struggles, we know just how greatly gifts and moments of smiles and laughter mean to families, especially over the holiday. From our family to you and yours, we wish you all the Merriest of Christmases and all the best in 2018.”
how greatly gifts and moments of smiles and laughter mean to families, especially over the holiday. From our
The family is also holding a very special event in honour of Ethan’s 6th birthday on January 13. The Abdul-Massihs will be hosting their first blood drive on Wednesday, January 3 from 1-7 p.m. at the Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex, 249 Sherk St. Visit Super Ethan’s Steps on Facebook for event details.
Ethan Abdul-Massih and his parents, Nicole and Charlie, held a holiday fundraiser which enabled them to give personalized gift bags to each child on treatment for cancers at the Paediatric Oncology Unit at Windsor Regional Hospital. They were also able to give gas gift cards to the families to help with travelling expenses to Windsor, London and Toronto over the holidays. Ethan was diagnosed with leukemia almost four years ago. In honour of his 6th birthday, his family is organizing a blood drive at the Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex on January 3 from 1-7 p.m.
Nicole and Charlie Abdul-Massih and their son Ethan, age 5, of Leamington, organized a holiday fundraiser, Super Ethan’s Steps Gift Giving. The family raised $2,300 and received numerous gifts from all over Windsor and Essex County, which were given to each child on treatment for cancer at the Paediatric Oncology Unit at Windsor Regional Hospital.
Pedestrian struck by motor vehicle Holiday free skates
The Leamington OPP are hosting a free skate at the Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex on Wednesday, December 27 at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome! Other community free skates at the Kinsmen Recreation Complex are on Friday, December 29 from 2-3 p.m., hosted by Healthy Kids Community Challenge, and Tuesday, January 2 from 6-8 p.m., sponsored by Pathway 2 Potential.
On Wednesday, December 20 around 6:45 p.m., Essex Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian on Mersea Rd. 6 near Hwy 77 in Leamington. An eastbound minivan struck a pedestrian who was walking on Mersea Rd. 6. As a result of the collision the pedestrian
was transported to an area hospital with life threatening injuries. The driver of the minivan was not injured.
Mersea Rd. 6 between Hwy 77 and Mersea Rd. 12 was closed for approximately 6 hours while OPP Traffic Collision Investigators (TCI) investigated the collision.
New Conservation Authorities Act will help build stronger environment
Conservation Authorities are pleased to see the Province take a bold step to ensure more resiliency across Ontario watersheds through the passage of Bill 139 which includes a new Conservation Authorities Act (CA Act).
The modernizing of this 1946 legislation provides the foundation for Conservation Authorities to strengthen their watershed management role and also develop a more defined role around climate change adaptation.
Through their monitoring and watershed management programs, Conservation Authorities see the growing impacts of climate change in Ontario’s watersheds on a daily basis.
This includes more frequent flooding, stressed biodiversity, and reduced water levels and flow in streams and rivers.
The Conservation Authorities Act has been under review for two years and has received input from a wide range of sectors including environment, industry, agriculture and municipalities. The modernized legislation recognizes watershed management as a key tool in helping Ontario to adapt to the impacts of issues such as rapid growth and climate change.
Some of the key changes to the Conservation Authorities Act include:
• Establishment of a service delivery review table.
• Development of a more defined role around climate change adaptation.
• Greater transparency and accountability of conservation authorities.
• Modernized funding mechanisms.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Province to develop and shape the evolving role of Conservation Authorities in managing impacts on Ontario’s natural resources, including important drinking water sources,” said Dick Hibma, Chair of Conservation Ontario. Conservation Ontario is the umbrella organization that represents Conservation Authorities.
Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities play a central role in the restoration, conservation and management of our important water and land resources and do so in partnership with many different agricultural, environmental, municipal, and other agencies.
Union Gas to decrease natural gas rates
Union Gas has received approval from the Ontario Energy Board to adjust its rates for natural gas customers effective Jan. 1, 2018.
Residential customers (average household using 2,200 m3 of natural gas a year) in Southern Ontario who purchase natural gas from Union Gas will see a decrease of about $28 a year, or about 4% of the total natural gas bill.
These rate changes mean the average annual bill for a residential household is between $783 and $1,058 depending on location (South $783, North West $946, North East $1,058). To view current rate information by postal code, visit uniongas.com/residentialrates
Customer rates are adjusted quarterly, without mark-up, to reflect changes in the market price of natural gas supplies. Union Gas is committed to improving energy efficiency and cost savings through a range of tools and education to help customers manage their energy use. For example, the Home Weatherization Program helps income-eligible cus-
County Bridge Results
Leamington Half Century Centre, Dec. 18: 1st Henry Hildebrandt and George Hildebrandt, 2nd Roger Cote and Jim Perkes, 3rd Vi Major and Pauline Mikolash, 4th Ross Mackintosh and Bill Chaplin. Bridge games are played each Monday at 12:45 p.m. Members and new members welcome.
Kingsville Bridge Club, Dec. 20: North/South1st Sandy and Joyce Gammie, 2nd Marie Ellwood and Roger Cote, 3rd Marilyn Robbins and Joyce Moran. East/West - 1st George Hildebrandt and Henry Hildebrandt, 2nd Chris Brennan and Bill Chaplin, 3rd Ron Martin and Frank Duransky. Bridge is every Wednesday at the Lions Hall in Kingsville, 7 p.m.
tomers receive free home energy upgrades. This program has helped over 9,700 Ontario households save money and energy.
Learn more about Union Gas energy savings programs at: residential - uniongas.com/savemoney; business uniongas.com/savemoneyandenergy
Union Gas Limited is a major Canadian natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario, serving about 1.5 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 400 communities across Ontario.
Birth Announcement
Friesen and fourth of Bill and Deb Manshande. And a special thank you to the Obstetrics Unit at Leamington District Memorial Hospital for the excellent care that was received.
Joe and Sarah Friesen are thrilled to announce the arrival of their daughter Hattie Grace 9 lbs 3 oz on December 17th, 2017
First grandchild of Jake and Mary
RIB’S RAMBLINGS
Mark Ribble
editorial
Ready or not, here comes
So a new year is upon us.
I guess it’s time to break out the resolutions and make all the false promises to ourselves that we’ve made in past years. That sounds pretty cynical, doesn’t it?
If you are like me, every New Year’s Eve you make yourself a promise to eat better, live better or love better.
I wonder how many of us actually follow through?
I don’t think the words New Year’s Resolution ever crossed my mind in my younger days.
As a kid, New Year’s Eve was something that the adults celebrated. I don’t remember seeing midnight until I was well into my teens.
House parties were really the only celebrations going on back then.
I don’t recall restaurants having New Year’s Eve parties but maybe they did. I know my parents attended more than one New Year’s party at Brown’s Hotel and also over at the I.T., which my mom affectionately referred to as ‘The Bucket’. Meanwhile the town’s other hotels did the same, although my parents were less frequent visitors to the Auto Stop and Seacliffe.
They’d come home with noisemakers and hats and I’d spend New Year’s Day sounding off with those things.
And that day was like so many others. Nothing really special. Just a regular day. Mom might throw a roast in the oven or Dad would toss a half dozen wild mallards in the roasting pan. Mashed potatoes and gravy would accompany both. There’d be football on the TV but nothing like there is today. I think there was a college bowl game on the old Zenith black and white set but that’s the extent of football we saw as kids. I remember two football players from my childhood: Joe Namath and Roman Gabriel. That was it for my football knowledge. Even with my acquisition of the Coleco Electric Football game one Christmas, I didn’t become a fan until later in life.
Often on New Year’s Day there’d be a classic movie playing on one of the four Detroit
SOS from New Zealand
An email arrived recently from Kevin Sherlock of Auckland, New Zealand:
“Hi Bill. I was born and raised in Niagara-on-the-Lake but have lived in Auckland for the past 20+ years. On a trip back to Niagara four years ago, I started researching my family tree and have been hooked ever since.
THE OLD CAR DETECTIVE
Bill Sherk
“Our family has been in the livery business – first horses, then cars – in Niagara for generations. My great-grandfather Steve Sherlock was the principal family member who saw us through the transition in ‘horse-power’ from hay to petrol.
“I have a picture of him standing next to a car and would like to know the details re year/make/model. A friend of yours in Leamington – Margaret Quick Ardiel – suggested I contact you when I posted a query on the Ontario Genealogical Society’s Facebook page.
“Can you look at the attached photo and tell me what you think?”
stations and we’d sit down for a movie.
2018
A large container of Lay’s Potato Chips and that old tin scalloped container of Philadelphia dill pickle dip would hit the spot on those lazy holidays.
I still love that dip to this day, but now they sell it in plastic tubs so no fear of slicing your thumb or forefinger on those tins anymore.
My mother was one of those “don’t shoot your eye out” kind of moms. With the chip dip it would be “don’t slice your thumb off.”
Later in the day we often would take a ride into Leamington to visit the Gows or to my Grandma Sovie’s house. Sometimes she’d have a roast or something on too. She’d sit at her big organ and belt out some tunes, usually something from her era like Moon River or Begin the Beguine.
That’s where my love of music began, listening to her play. She came from a musical family. The Stewarts were well known in this area for their musical talents and her father Charles and several of her brothers made up a large component of the Leamington Boys Concert Band.
From that small seed planted as a child, through my pre-teen years of guitar lessons, to my collaboration with my bandmates Rich Pursel, Mike Vourakes, David Wood and Michelle Jackson, my music legend grew to non-epic proportions. We enjoyed little success as a band but had a lot of fun in those days. We were later joined by Debbie Witcher, Rob Pursel, Roger DaSilva and even had Doug Tann on our drums once or twice. We played sold out shows at the Franklin Nursing Home and the aforementioned International Hotel. That’s as close as I’ll ever come to being a music star, and it was so long ago, I barely remember the chords to some of those songs.
But the seed was planted, nonetheless.
As 2018 begins to unfold before us, we can only hope that those memories keep us plugging along every day.
For me, as I promise myself to eat better and follow that promise with a butter tart chaser, my cynical side will smile and remember those New Year’s parties of days gone by.
Here’s wishing all of you a safe and happy New Year and let’s make it a better 2018.
tario license plate. A single windshield wiper indicates this car was a Standard model and not Deluxe.
The engine was a flathead six cylinder engine producing 82 horsepower at 3600 rpm. Brakes were hydraulic, putting Plymouth several years ahead of Ford, which did not go hydraulic until 1939.
The Windsor factory list price for the car in the photo was $840. Prices ranged from $740 for the 2-passenger business coupe up to $895 for the 5-passenger Deluxe 4-door touring sedan.
In addition to his First Class Auto Livery, where he rented cars as well as horses, Stephen Sherlock began a twice-daily bus service from Niagara to Queenston in 1923 so people could make connections with the trolley to visit Niagara Falls. A year later he introduced a new bus line from Niagara to Virgil to St. Catharines.
Kevin tells us the Niagara Town Clerk mentioned his great-grandfather in a reminiscence column in the Niagara Advance: “Steve Sherlock was another owner of good horses. He started in early and managed to do a good business and when the motor car put in an appearance, he added a pair of Reo cars to his Livery stock, being the first to do such a thing.”
I’m always looking for more stories. Email billtsherk@ sympatico.ca.
Kevin’s great-grandfather, Stephen Sherlock, is standing in front of a 1935 Plymouth 4-door sedan with a 1942 On-
1935 Plymouth with Kevin Sherlock’s great-grandfather. (Photo credit: Copyright ‘Sherlock Family Archive’ and Kevin Sherlock)
The 12 birds of Christmas
On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… fun bird facts! To celebrate the holidays this year, here are some interesting tidbits about 12 different birds found in Canada, some of which are featured in the 12 Days of Christmas song.
Sadly, some of these birds are at-risk species — namely the greater prairie chicken, golden-winged warbler, greater sage-grouse and piping plover.
• A Grey Partridge in a Pear Tree: The grey partridge is native to Eurasia, but was introduced to North America in the 1790s. Don’t let the song fool you: grey partridges don’t actually perch on pear trees — or any trees for that matter. Instead, they prefer to stay on the ground.
• Two Mourning Doves: Mourning doves are one of North America’s most abundant bird species, with an estimated population of 6 million in Canada. In winter, they often visit bird feeders, which in turn can attract Cooper’s hawks and other birds of prey that feed on them.
• Three Greater Prairie Chickens: Male greater prairie chickens are known for their elaborate and unusual mating dances. After gathering at communal courtship display areas, called leks, males have group “dance-offs” to attract females. Their dances consist of raising their feathers above their heads, inflating their orange throat sacs and moaning deeply.
• Four Red-Winged Blackbirds: The original 12 Days of Christmas song mentions “colly birds,” an Old English term for “blackbirds.” During the breeding season, male red-winged blackbirds, one of the most common North American blackbird species, are highly territorial, chasing away other males and attacking intruders.
• Five Golden-Winged Warblers: The goldenwinged warbler has experienced one of the largest population declines of any songbird species — around 68% between 1966 and 2014. A major cause of this has been increased mating between golden- and bluewinged warblers, resulting in hybrid offspring that are sometimes called Brewster’s and Lawrence’s warblers.
• Six Canada Geese a Laying: Canada geese are known for their distinct Vshaped flying formations. This pattern helps them to better coordinate their movements, such as when changing direction or speed.
• Seven Trumpeter Swans a Swimming: The trumpeter swan got its name from its low-pitched, trumpet-like call. Weighing between 7.7 and 12.7 kilograms, it is North America’s heaviest bird species.
• Eight Brown-Headed Cowbirds a Milking: The brown-headed cowbird is North America’s most common brood parasite. Females lay eggs in other birds’ nests instead of constructing their own. When the cowbird chicks hatch, the “foster” parents feed them at their own offspring’s expense.
• Nine Greater Sage-
Grouses Dancing: Like male greater prairie chickens, male greater sage-grouses have intricate mating dances. They inflate and deflate their throat sacs to make popping noises, throw their heads back, spread their wings and fan their tails.
• Ten American Woodcocks a Leaping: On spring nights, male American woodcocks repeatedly make buzzy “peent” calls and then fly in upward spirals to attract females. They then zigzag downward while chirping and land right near a female if one is present.
• Eleven Plovers Piping: Male piping plovers with shared territory boundaries do parallel-run displays, where one bird runs a short distance and stops, then the other runs past the first and stops. They keep doing this until they’ve run out of space, then they chase one another back to the starting point.
• Twelve Ruffed Grouses Drumming: To attract mates and defend their territories, male ruffed grouses “drum” the air by quickly flapping their wings in front of their bodies while standing on logs.
For more information, visit www.natureconservancy.ca
ON N8H 3W5 519-326-8805
DALE’S FRIDAY COFFEE HOUSE
Mark your calendars! January 26, February 23, March 23, 2018. Offsite ‘Knox Hall’ - Knox Presbyterian Church, 58 Erie St. S., Leamington. THE BANK THEATRE & COUNTY CLASSIC CHORALE FUNDRAISER
Monday, January 15 - A-1 Chinese Restaurant, 319 Erie St. S., Leamington. Join us for lunch or dinner and support the arts! $9.95 per person.
RENOVATIONS
During renovations at The Bank Theatre upcoming events will be held at offsite locations. Visit our website for updates. www.banktheatre.com
BANK THEATRE MATCHING FUND CAMPAIGN
The Municipality of Leamington will match dollar for dollar, all private and corporate donations within a 6 month deadline. Naming rights, individual and corporate giving options and information is available on our website. A canvassing campaign by The Bank Theatre volunteers has begun. To learn more visit our sponsorship pages at www.banktheatre. com
The golden-winged warbler is one of Canada’s species at risk with the largest population declines of any songbird species. (Photo by Christian Artuso)
Red-winged blackbird. (Photo by Bill Hubick)
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20
You may be operating on some false information, Aries. It’s better to get the facts before going forward in the coming days. You may end up changing directions midweek.
TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21
Taurus, if you are feeling upset because someone is getting more attention than you, you may need to focus your thoughts elsewhere. Think of what makes you special.
GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21
Your emotions may be all over the map in the coming days, Gemini. The secret is to surround yourself with people who will guide you in the right direction.
CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22
Cancer, there is a time for joking around and a time for being serious. This week you may have to lean toward the latter. Others may not share your joviality right now.
LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23
Running yourself ragged, especially early in the week, will cause all of your energy stores to fizzle out, Leo. You need to learn to pace yourself better for the long haul.
VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22
You are always one to lend a helping hand, Virgo. But now you may need to call in some favors of your own. Don’t be afraid to ask for help this week.
LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23
Libra, think financial decisions through before acting. Patience is a friend when making important financial decisions, and it’s time to take such matters more seriously.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22
Scorpio, try something outside of your wheelhouse in the coming days. You have a knack for teaching yourself new skills, and you are a fast learner.
SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21
Sagittarius, you might be seeking answers in the wrong places. Refine your parameters and look in a new direction, especially if a resolution is taking awhile.
CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20
Capricorn, if family life is taking over and tiring you out, shift your gears in another direction. You need to recharge and let your other interests take over for awhile.
AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18
Aquarius, words shared at work may have you worried you’ve burned some bridges. It’s not the case. Others still look to you for help and guidance and value your input.
PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20
It’s common to make life assessments throughout the year, Pisces. Jot down some easy changes you can make for the future.
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
DECEMBER 24
Michael Raymond-James, Actor (40) DECEMBER 25
Jimmy Buffett, Singer (71) DECEMBER 26
Kit Harrington, Actor (31) DECEMBER 27
Emilie De Ravin, Actress (36) DECEMBER 28
Seth Meyers, TV Host (44) DECEMBER 29
Jude Law, Actor (45) DECEMBER 30
Andra Day, Singer (33)
Note: answers may use American spelling
Canada’s top 10 weather stories for 2017
Environment and Climate Change Canada has released the 22nd edition of Canada's Top 10 Weather Stories: a list of extreme weather events having occurred across the country over the year. Extreme weather events demonstrate the effects of climate change.
• British Columbia's longest and most disastrous wildfire season in the province’s history. Aggressive wildfires forced 50,000 people to leave their homes. A province-wide state of emergency, the first in 15 years and the province’s longest one, began on July 7 and lasted until September 15. In total, the BC Wildfire Service reported 1,265 fires that scorched 1.2 million hectares of timber, bush and grassland (an area twice the size of Prince Edward Island), smashing the previous record for burned land by 30%. Total firefighting costs exceeded half a billion dollars and insured property losses reached close to $130 million.
• Dry and hot in the west. Southern regions between the BC Interior and the southeastern Prairies faced their driest summer in 70 years. A massive dome of heat set the stage for record-breaking summer temperatures across the Canadian West. The only positive outcome from the persistent dry heat was a reduction in mosquitoes.
• Spring flooding in Eastern Ontario and Quebec. The Quebec government claimed the spring downpour was the worst ever recorded in the province over the past 55 years. Both Ottawa and Montréal had their wettest spring in history – 400 mm or more with records dating back to the 1870s. Spring flooding occurred in hundreds of communities, forcing 4,000 people to leave their homes. In total, more than 5,000 residences were flooded, 550 roads were washed or swept away from floods or landslides, and – tragically – on May 6, two people were swept away by the swollen SainteAnne River in the Gaspé region.
• British Columbia's cold and snowy winter. While winter was mild across Canada – the 7th warmest in 70 years –BC residents west of the Rockies struggled to cope with their second coldest winter in 25 years. In early January, winter across much of BC went from mild to wild and stayed that way until two weeks before spring. What made the winter memorable was the duration, frequency and length of snowfall, as well as the amount of snow on the ground. Retailers couldn’t keep up with the demand for snow tires, snow shovels and road salt.
• Another Windsor flood: two storms of the century in a year. Less than a year after a record $153 million flood hit Windsor and Essex County, another downpour with equally heavy rains and damage flooded the same area in August. In
LEAMINGTON OPP IS HOSTING A FREE SKATE on Wednesday, December 27 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sherk Complex, 249 Sherk St., Leamington. Everyone welcome!
FREE PUBLIC SKATING SESSIONS AT WHEATLEY AREA ARENA: Dec. 28 from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.; Jan. 4 from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.; Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28 from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
STIKBOTS & QUIVER - Saturday, December 30 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Wheatley Library. Bring colouring pages to life with Quiver. Use Stikbots and friends to create stop-motion videos. You are welcome to bring your own poseable characters to add to your video.
WHEATLEY HERITAGE SOCIETY will be closed December 26 and January 2. Regular hours of operation will resume Tuesday, January 9. Wheatley Heritage Society is open Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For appointments other than normal hours contact Heather Vannieuweneburg at 226248-0382 or e-mail wheatleyheritage@gmail.com.
RUM RUNNERS ROARING 20S MUSICAL REVIEW. Join us as we take you back to the 1920s and experience the music, dancing and excitement of an evening at a speakerasy! Sunday, December 31 at the Best Western Plus Leamington. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. 5 course plated meal served at 6:30 p.m. $125 per person. Tickets available at the Best Western Plus Leamington, 566 Bevel Line Rd. 519-326-8646.
less than 48 hours, 222 mm of rain fell in southwest Windsor and 140 to 200 mm in Riverside-Tecumseh. LaSalle was hit the hardest with 125 mm of rain. Another 160 mm fell the next day. In total an incredible 285 mm fell in 32 hours. This was one of the wettest moments in Eastern Canadian history.
• Central Canada's missing summer. The seasons changed but not the jet stream, stubbornly hanging out south of the Great Lakes for weeks on end. As a result, midlatitude weather systems continually crossed the region two to three times a week. Every day had a constant and frustrating suite of cool air, and an absence of sunshine and continued warmth. Any small break in the cloud cover or occasional warm day raised false hopes that summer had finally arrived.
• A new storm of the century – no previous storm had beaten so many snowfall records in Quebec. The monster storm took five lives and left hundreds of people stranded in a multitude of accidents across the south. On one stretch of highway in Montréal, 300 people spent the night stranded in their cars.
• Summer in September. From September 22-27, over a thousand heat records fell as humidex values shot up close to or above 40, prompting a week-long stretch of heat warnings. The unusual heat across the eastern half of North America was due to a strong ridge of high pressure south of the Great Lakes that caused a large northward bulge in the jet stream.
• Newfoundland's Brier blast. In March and early April, slow-moving blizzards racked the province with some of the toughest weather in years, featuring shrieking gales, humongous snows and freezing rain. The “Brier blast” on March 11 saw wind gusts peak at a hurricane-force of 190 km/h at Bay de Verde, leaving over 70,000 residents and visitors in the dark. Winds pulled trees out of the ground, brought down traffic lights and power lines, blew away entire roofs and overturned vehicles. In some cases, strong winds ripped the second story floor off houses.
• New Brunswick's glaze storm. A long-lasting mix of rain, snow, freezing rain and ice pellets dangerously impacted portions of Quebec and Atlantic Canada during the last week of January. This led to the deaths of two people, dozens of injuries, and more than 30 individuals being sick from carbon monoxide poisoning. Power lines that were stressed by wind and heavily coated in ice, snapped. This left close to 300,000 residents in the dark and cold. Power remained off for up to 12 days as hydro grids were rebuilt.
LEAMINGTON BLOOD DONOR CLINIC at the Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex, Wednesday, January 3, 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
New donors & walk-ins welcome! To book an appointment or for additional information, please contact us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) / www.blood.ca / GiveBlood App.
LEGO - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 TO SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, all day drop-in at Wheatley Library. Get creative with the library’s bins of Lego and Duplo.
FUNG LOY KOK TAOIST TAI CHI OPEN HOUSETuesday, January 9 from 9:30 - 10:15 a.m. at St. John’s Anglican Church, 60 Erie St. N., Leamington. Demonstrations on how to improve circulation and balance, increase strength and reduce stress. Learn how to focus on the well-being of body and mind through practice of Taoist Tai Chi.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN for six-week Art Class Series for children age 9-11. Drawing, collages, water colours, art in nature, self portraits. Register at Kingsville Arena. Classes will be held at Kingsville Arena on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon, January 13 to February 17. Cost: $75.
CAREER CLOTHING IS AVAILABLE at St. John Anglican Church Angel Cupboard for anyone who requires professional clothing to attend job interviews or for starting a new position. Call 519-3263111 and leave a message for Charlotte to set up an appointment.
MATHEMATICS TUTORING FOR GR. 6-8 will be held Wednesday afternoons from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. in a classroom situation. The class will be led by retired teacher David Kolotylo who specialized in mathematics. No charge. 10 students maximum per class. Registration required. Individual tutoring available upon request. Students must bring their math notebooks, pens, pencils. For more information call 519-326-3111 and leave a message for Deacon Deborah.
JOIN CONNECTIONS EARLY YEARS FAMILY CENTRE FOR ITS 8TH ANNUAL TRIVIA NIGHT on Friday, February 2, 2018 at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 143 (1570 Marentette Ave., Windsor). Enjoy a chicken and pasta dinner, bake sale, 50/50 draw plus chances to win great door and raffle prizes. Cash bar is available. Tickets are available for $20/person. Includes dinner. Dinner and Trivia will start at 6:00 p.m. Please register online at https://tinyurl.com/connections-trivia-night-2018 or by calling Connections Early Years Family Centre at 519-252-9696.
IS ANGER INTERFERING WITH YOUR WORK AND HOME LIFE? Are you struggling with your anger? The CommUnity Partnership is offering a coping with anger group. This 8-week program is designed to give a better understanding of anger and provide positive coping strategies. Groups will run Wednesdays at Erie Shores HealthCare and are free of charge. More info: Community Partnership 226-348-4548 or email info@cupartner.ca
FREE RECOVERY PROGRAMS at South Shore Health Centre, 15 John St., Leamington: Mondays at 6:30 p.m. Westover Recovery Support; Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Women Only Recovery Support; Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Guided Meditation Group; Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. SMART; Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Recovery Support in Low German and Spanish; Fridays at 6:30 p.m. CA Group. Individual family and friends education and support to create a recovery plan call 519-990-2530 for an appointment.
IF YOU WANT TO DRINK, THAT’S YOUR BUSINESS If you want to stop, we can help. Call Alcoholics Anonymous: 519-999-1234.
THE SALVATION ARMY LEAMINGTON CC YOUTH DROP-IN CENTRE open every Tuesdsay, 6:008:00 p.m. at the church, 88 Setterington St. The centre provides a safe supervised location and use of our computer lab, movies, videogames or table tennis etc. For more info contact us at 519326-4901.
MOODS DISORDER GROUP MEETS the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Leamington District Memorial Hospital, 1st Floor. Info: Nancy at 519-971-4050 or nrkolah@sympatico.ca
SOUTHWEST OUTDOORS CLUB MEETS the second Tuesday of every month (except August) in the upstairs hall of the Wheatley Legion starting at 7:00 p.m.
Hearing Professional Makes Hearing Healthcare More Accessible with Out Clinic
Brandy Breault, Hearing Instrument Specialist at ListenUP! Canada
Brandy Breault is a Hearing Instrument Specialist from ListenUP! Canada who recognizes the need for more accessible hearing healthcare in Leamington. ListenUP! Canada has a hearing healthcare clinic at 313 Main St. E in Kingsville that is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 - 4:30, but for some in Leamington, this may be a distance to travel. So, every other Monday, Breault drives to the Leamington out clinic at the South Essex Community Council at 215 Talbot Street East to provide free, no obligation hearing tests, a broad selection of brand-name, digital hearing aids and assistive listening devices at affordable prices,tings, cleanings and repairs. These out clinic services
help those who need hearing healthcare, but are unable to travel to the nearest clinic to get the help they need.
“I basically offer the same hearing healthcare services provided at any other clinic location,” says Breault. “People may not have a driver’s license. A clinic may be too far for people to travel outside of Leamington. People may not be well enough to travel and it may be easier for loved ones to bring them to a clinic closer to home.”
While completing her Speech and Language Sciences degree at Brock University, Breault took some audiology courses that sparked her interest in the
pursue a career in audiology and obtained her Hearing Instrument Specialist diploma from Conestoga College. Breault started her student placement with ListenUP! Canada in 2014 and has been with the company ever since – helping clients treat their hearing loss and reconnect with the world around them.
Breault will be at the out clinic on Monday, January 8 th , 22 nd & February 5 th from 8:30-4:30. To book an appointment, please call 1-888-364-5419.
By Ron Giofu
Community Living Essex County (CLEC) received a nice Christmas gift a couple of weeks early.
The Ruthven Apple Festival committee presented the cheque from the Sept. 30-Oct. 1 event at Colasanti’s Tropical Garden last Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 13. When all was said and done, proceeds amounted to a record $75,000.
“This money couldn’t have come at a more perfect time,” remarked CLEC executive director Nancy Wallace-Gero. “This is absolutely fantastic. It kind of takes your breath away.”
Wallace-Gero said it is “one of the most exciting days of the year for Community Living Essex County” and that the money stays in Essex County and directly benefits those receiving supports and their families.
“This is used to help people in our community,” said Wallace-Gero. “This will help us ensure the quality of supports we give to people in the community will continue to be the highest.”
The festival has grown tremendously over the years, Wallace-Gero added, with much of the growth stemming from word-ofmouth advertising.
Tony DeSantis, manager
of community relations and resource development with CLEC, said, “We have a lot to celebrate,” and called it a “wonderful event” to help kick off the Christmas season.
“Our organization is involved in so many different things,” said DeSantis. “We look forward to 2018 but we are closing out 2017 with a bang.”
DeSantis thanked the farmers, Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens and volunteers, noting, “We work with so many volunteers to make this event happen.” He also thanked longtime committee member Ron Hicks, who passed away earlier this year. Hicks’ wife Laverne and daughter Shannon were on hand to help present the cheque.
CLEC board president Ron Giofu offered similar thanks to all of those who helped put the festival together.
“A special thanks to our steering committee, led by our chair Terry Colasanti and the entire group, who have contributed countless hours in support of the Ruthven Apple Festival and Community Living Essex County,” said Giofu. “They put in a lot of time and effort behind the scenes to make sure this event happened
and their hard work is very much appreciated.”
Giofu also thanked corporate sponsors, volunteers and supporters, noting their contributions are “so important and greatly appreciated.”
Kingsville mayor Nelson Santos expressed pride in seeing everyone coming together annually to put on the event. He said the festival has been running 38 years and “that is something worth celebrating.”
Colasanti thanked everyone as well, but also pointed out the work of DeSantis. He said the committee has a list of tasks to do and DeSantis is the one doing a lot of them.
“Tony is on 30-40 per cent of the job list,” said Colasanti. “I think that’s pretty incredible.”
Community Living Essex County is a non-profit, charitable organization that supports over 650 people with intellectual disabilities and their families across Essex County. For more information, visit www.communitylivingessex.org or call 519776-6483. People can also “Like” them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clessexcounty or “Follow” them on Twitter at twitter.com/ clessexcounty
Concert Band
Entertains at 12 Days of Christmas Celebration
Essex Region Conservation outlines 2018 priorities
Initiating a regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, improving floodline mapping in response to a changing climate, creating over 100 acres of new habitat including an innovative wetland project and continuing to tackle phosphorus loadings in Lake Erie are just a few of the projects Essex Region Conservation has planned for the coming year.
“A robust suite of high priority projects and programs to protect and restore the natural environment of the region will be undertaken,” said Richard Wyma, ERCA’s general manager. “These include programs to increase habitat and forest cover, maintain and expand conservation areas and trails, aid our member municipalities in protecting people and infrastructure from the dangers of flooding and erosion particularly in the era of a changing climate, and to provide meaningful education and engagement opportunities for our residents.”
The 2018 budget totals $9,271,600, which includes a proposed levy contribution of $3,148,752. This represents an increase of $101,019, or $0.09 per household.
This levy funds less than 30% of its operations, placing ERCA in the bottom five of all Conservation Authorities, and well below the provincial average (approx. 45%).
Equipment rental approved for Seacliff Beach
Leamington Municipal Council has approved an agreement with Pelee Wings for the rental of non-motorized watersports equipment on a portion of Seacliff Beach for the 2018 summer season (June 30, 2018 through Sept. 15, 2018).
Councillor John Jacobs was not in agreement at the Council meeting. He said he believes the municipality should receive a nominal fee for use of the beach.
Wheatley resident wins $75,000 on scratch ticket
Douglas Malott of Wheatley has won $75,000 with Instant National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation™ (Game #2036).
“I had played a couple Instant tickets and won $3, so I went back to the store to use those winnings to get another ticket,” said Doug while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up his cheque. “And that’s when I saw the Instant National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation™ ticket. It was new and cost $3 so I thought, why not?”
Doug played his ticket at home while enjoying a coffee.
“When I realized I won, I was shocked! I couldn’t sleep that night because my mind was working overtime,” he laughed.
The 78-year-old retiree calls this win a bonus and will get something fun for himself. “I’ll be buying a new car!” he said.
The top prize in Instant National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation™ is $75,000 and odds of winning a prize are 1 in 3.61.
The winning ticket was purchased at Kim’s Convenience on Talbot Street in Wheatley.
73’s cruise past Sharks
By Bryan Jessop
Nobody in Junior C hockey needs a holiday break quite as much as the Wheatley Omstead Sharks.
A stamina testing mid December of four games in five days ended in a frustrating 7-1 loss for the Sharks at Essex Arena Tuesday, Dec. 19. As was the case the previous night at home against the Petrolia Flyers, an adverse second period and sputtering special teams proved costly for Wheatley after a promising first 20 minutes.
Anthony Cristofaro opened the scoring for Essex, beating Dylan Zelko 5:40 into the opening frame. The Sharks bounced back an even 50 seconds later however, when Alixe Saliba sent the puck past Jax DHondt after being set up by Cole Butler and Kyle Gagnon. The game winner was scored late in the period when Luke Gecse was awarded a penalty shot that eluded Zelko to bring a 2-1 score into the first intermission.
The Sharks were outshot 16-12 by the first buzzer.
Essex pocketed another four in the middle frame, starting with a William Stadder marker 12 seconds after the first faceoff. The goal resulted from a Sharks’ breakdown that allowed a two-on-one rush for the 73’s. The next two, both scored by Justin Bondy, were buried on power plays about eight minutes apart. Michael Ruttinger made it 6-1 for the second intermission as the clock ticked down to the final nine seconds. Despite offering the most goals, the second period was the most defensive overall according to the shot counter, where the 73’s established a modest 8-6 advantage.
Wheatley played a more spirited game in the third, although the offense was held to three shots while Essex mustered 13. Daniel Tonietto took over in goal for the last frame, where a shot by Riley Meyerink 14:19 into the period was the only test to defeat the relief goalkeeper.
The Sharks were outshot 37-21 overall and continued to struggle on special teams, going zero for six on the man advantage. Essex, meanwhile, was three for eight on the power play.
“We had a great first period,” said Sharks head coach Dave Wiper. “We stayed with them and our energy was good, but we suffered some bad breaks including the penalty shot. After the early breakdown in the second we started feeling sorry for our-
the coaching staff isn’t interested in breaking up the roster’s core group.
“We’re beating the bushes and entertaining offers. We’d like to make some upgrades on defense and goaltending,” Wiper noted. “We’re not going to sell the ship and start from ground zero, though. We don’t want to go that way.” Wiper explained that scoring more goals is also a priority for the Sharks, along with cutting down on fundamental errors.
“If effort alone could win games, we’d be undefeated,” he said. “In talent, we’re about seven out of 10, but our hockey IQ right now is about five out of 10 — we’re not making good decisions at all on the ice. Stupid plays at inopportune times are what’s killing us. We need accountability for these kids. We’re done rotating all four lines and six defense.”
The team’s current goal is to finish the regular season sixth in the Stobbs Division before heading into the post season.
selves. We regrouped for a decent third (period), but it was too late.”
Now into the final quarter of the regular season, the Sharks are off until Wednesday, Jan. 3, when they will travel to Wallaceburg to take on the Lakers. The road tour will continue Sunday, Jan. 7 when they take on the Blenheim Blades. Wheatley’s next home match will take place Monday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m., when the face the Mooretown Flags.
Following that first game of the new year, the Sharks will have three home games remaining, all with 7 p.m. starts against the Stobbs Division’s top three teams — Monday, Jan. 15 against Essex, Monday, Jan. 22 against the Amherstburg Admirals and Monday, Jan. 29 against the Lakeshore Canadiens.
With nine games to go, Wheatley is actively seeking trade acquisitions prior to the OHA’s January 10 deadline. Other teams have expressed interest in the Sharks’ top players, but
“We’d like to get ahead of Petrolia,” said Wiper. “We’ll need a bit of help to do that, but that’s what we’re looking at right now. If we get on a roll and play consistent, there’s no reason we can’t make a good playoff run. We’re focusing on the mistakes we make in our own end and scoring goals. Special teams are huge, too. Our penalty kill is okay, but the power play really needs to improve.”
Doug Malott of Wheatley won $75,000 on an Instant National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation™ lottery ticket that he purchased at Kim’s Convenience. He plans to purchase a new vehicle with his winnings.
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Lions sink Clippers
By Bryan Jessop
In preparation for the next edition of The Battle of the Big Cats, the Leamington Lions snapped a two game “tying streak” in WECSSAA Tier II boys hockey action.
Quickness and a steady stream of forward attacks paid dividends for the LDSS squad in a Wednesday, Dec. 20 match against the Kennedy Clippers to the tune of a convincing 6-2 victory. Mason Gow and Cameron Symons again led the offensive attack, together registering all but one of their team’s goals to help remain undefeated.
Leamington opened the scoring about four-and-a-half minutes into the first when Gow took flight from centre ice for a breakaway, firing a wrist shot past Clipper goalie Leif Erickson and into the top right corner, unassisted. Exactly two-and-a-half minutes later, Gow struck again, this time sending a wrist shot into the left side while situated just outside the crease after taking a pass from the left side corner from Jaxyn Lafeber. The second assist went to Brady Bunda.
With just over two minutes left in the first frame, Symons took as short pass by Brennan Pulley and split the defense en route to the Kennedy goal, putting a fake on Erickson before tapping an ice-level shot into the open goal.
Neither team was effective on the power play through the first two periods, although Gow completed his hat trick in the second after taking advantage of a short breakaway that started from within the visitors’ blue line. From there, he delivered another wrist shot into the right side of the mesh to widen the gap to 4-0. The Lions continued to apply pressure offensively, but would have to wait until the third stanza before making further additions to the scoreboard.
Symons notched his second of the match after taking control of the puck inside the Kennedy blue line, eluding the
defense and then switching to his backhand before flipping it over the goal line from point blank range. Assisting on the goal were Cameron Impens and Damon Palichuk. Alex Stewart pocketed the final LDSS goal, unleashing a quick wrist shot from between the tops of the faceoff circles that Erickson partially blocked with his left pad. The puck continued onward with enough momentum however to bounce into the left half of the net. Gow and Palichuk set up the sixth tally.
Matt Ciliska’s shutout bid was spoiled with just over five minutes remaining, when Magnus Erickson took hold of a rebound and from a sharp angle to the left of the Leamington net, squeezed an ice level shot over the goal line. During a power play and with an empty net, Kennedy finished the scoring with an unassisted effort by Austin Williams, who snapped a low shot through traffic and into the back of the Lions’ net. The curfew buzzer sounded before the teams could gather at centre ice before the ensuing faceoff with 1:13 showing on the clock.
“Sometimes we can capitalize on our speed and that proved to be a big positive for us today,” said Lions co-coach Tony Nurse. “Gow did an excellent job finishing the big plays and our defense was more aggressive in keeping the puck in, which created more opportunities. We’re also starting to get used to the no checking rule, although some are still adjusting.”
The win improved Leamington’s record to three wins, zero losses and two ties. The Lions’ final regular season game of 2017 was played the following day at Highbury Canco Arena Thursday, Dec. 21 against their rival Cardinal Carter Cougars, who entered the match with a 2-0-0 record in the same Tier II division. Results from the game were not available by the advanced holiday press deadline.
“I think our teams will be matched up pretty well,” said Nurse following the Kennedy game. “It should be a good battle.”
The Lions’ Cameron Symons breaks through Kennedy defensemen Gabe Johnson and Tristan Surnahhi a moment before potting a backhand goal against goalie Leif Erickson during a WECSSAA Tier II boys hockey game at Highbury Canco Arena Wednesday, Dec. 20. Symons scored twice in his team’s 6-2 victory.
Mason Gow of the Lions maneuvers with the puck behind the net of Kennedy’s Leif Erickson during a WECSSAA Tier II boys hockey game.
Homes on the range
JESSOP’S JOURNAL
Bryan Jessop
Christmas will again take its place in the rearview mirror by the time you read this, but in the hectic world of North American professional sports, the wish lists have yet to be tucked away for another year. Sure, that’s the case in part because trade deadlines have yet to arrive in certain sports. My Montreal Canadiens could certainly use a few forwards who can actually score goals (a 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators? I don’t care if the rink’s teetering back and forth on the peak of a mountain top, there’s no excuse for THAT). The Detroit Tigers? They’ve got needs of their own, but they’ve been playing Santa as of late. Justing Verlander to Houston earlier this year was enough of a gift, but it didn’t stop there. An angel on TOP of the tree is a well-known Christmas tradition, but over in La La Land, the Tigers placed one UNDER the tree via a trade involving Ian Kinsler. In exchange, Detroit is welcoming prospects Wilkel Hernandez and Troy Montgomery. Who? Exactly. That’s why they’re prospects, I suppose. There’s nothing wrong in building for the future, but while doing it, it’s pretty important to hold on to some crucial talent and experience. You don’t sell the TV to buy a new DVD player. Every team should be a meticulously constructed balance of youth and experience. Too much of the former and you’re constantly in the cellar and when the newbies DO improve noticeably, they start demanding trades to a more accomplished team — a sort of domino effect that translates into many consecutive “rebuilding” years. Too much of the latter and before you know it, your team’s in one of those “first to worst” predicaments after the veterans start retiring and/or putting their best years LONG behind them. It took a while, but that’s the habit that eventually caught up to the Red Wings.
Oh, but the wish lists hardly end with trades and contract renewals. It’s a topic that I’ve become a wee tad obsessed with lately, but the treat of franchise relocation has again reared its monstrosity of a head. A few weeks ago, I griped about the ownership of the Calgary Flames demanding the city’s taxpayers flip the bill for a new home. It reminded me of a spoiled toddler thrashing about on the living room floor, pounding his hands and feet on the floor while screaming for an expensive new toy because he’s grown tired of the old one(s).
Well, shortly after Calgary’s city council told Ken King et al to go pound salt, the Flames’ ownership explained that they’d no longer be seeking a new arena. Has your wife or girlfriend ever stared longingly at that shiny piece of jewelry through the shop window or display case and then finally said “meh, I don’t really want it?” Well, guess what? She wants it and YOU had better figure out a way to come up with the scratch to buy it or you’re in serious trouble.
Naturally, shortly after the Flames announced that they really, really wanted to replace the Saddledome, Gary Bettman piped in publically and agreed that they need a new barn… ‘cause you know, it worked NHL wonders for Hamilton and Quebec City. Sure, it’s the
UMEI senior boys basketball vs. Lamothe-Cadillac
Christian Wuerch of the Lightning sprints toward the Lamothe-Cadillac basket during a WECSSAA Tier III senior boys match at UMEI Monday, Dec. 18. The Lightning lost 53-49, bringing their record to 2-2-0. Wuerch led his team with 13 points.
oldest arena in the league, it suffered some recent flood damage and that most loathsome brother in Edmonton just got IT’S new arena last year, but Calgary’s not in an enviable economic position right now.
The “I want a new toy or ELSE!” threat/tantrum wasn’t taken too seriously initially, but since the new Houston Rockets’ owner declared that he’d be happy to welcome an NHL team into the city’s Toyota Center, relocation of the Flames is being considered a teensy weensy bit more seriously. The NBA team’s home isn’t quite brand spankin’ new, but it’s a good 20 years newer than the Saddledome. Likelihood of relocation aside, you can bet that Bettman and his fellow weasels will use Houston as a threat to Calgary taxpayers, just as Seattle was used to intimidate Glendale (Phoenix) and Saskatoon was used as leverage against the St. Louis Blues way back in the day (hey, sometimes even the most farfetched bluff isn’t easy to call someone on).
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As if Calgary wasn’t enough, the “you need a new arena or ELSE!” ultimatum has also been delivered to Ottawa. Yup, attendance could be better and the “but the team SUCKS!” excuse doesn’t hold water for NHL teams here in the Great White North. This isn’t Arizona, Florida or North Carolina. It’s been suggested that the Canadian Tire Centre’s location is the problem rather than the arena itself. The west end of Kanata is a fair haul from downtown Ottawa, but that’s okay — Sens owner Eugene Melynk said the situation would have to become a “disaster” for him to outright relocate the team. The term “disaster” is of course open to interpretation, which means he could pull stakes if the team’s average attendance dips by another three nosebleed seats. It would be Bettman’s wildest dream come true — Calgary and Ottawa head south of the 49th to Seattle and Houston. Sure, San Diego or San Francisco would be better than Seattle because the closer you get to Mexico the less the population cares about hockey, but at least it would mean taking two more chunks out of the Canadian market. Who knows? Maybe one day the Oilers and Jets could be shipped off to Kansas City and back to Atlanta (third time’s the charm) and then there’s just the Canucks, Leafs and Habs to get rid of. Perhaps New Orleans, Albuquerque and Jackson, Mississippi could find owners and build arenas. Think of those big, fat juicy network television deals! Now THERE’S something for next year’s wish list.
RUSTY BONNIE LEE
Tai Chi for health improvement
By Eugene Ryzer
The benefit of Tai Chi practice is that it helps people regain a sense of control over their health. Health can decline quickly through acute illness, or slowly as people get older. Disability and discomfort can gradually erode ease of movement. It is a great irony that until our health is lost, we hardly notice it at all.
Movement is essential to maintaining good health. This involves not only the movement of muscles and bones, but also the coursing of blood to and from the heart, the flow of air in and out of the lungs, the transmission of electrical impulses along nerves, the propulsion of food through the intestines, and the ebb and flow that occur within each of the body’s organs.
The word “circulation” describes this omnipresent ebb and flow. Circulation refers to more than just the movement of blood through the arteries and veins. Taoist Tai Chi was developed as part of the Taoist Chinese system of health maintenance, along with techniques like chiqong, meditation, acupuncture and herbal remedies. Improving movement and circulation through the practice of Taoist Tai Chi can improve health and slow down aging.
Those who have experienced a prolonged or severe illness may find it difficult to recover fully. Illness is usually accompanied by a reduction in physical activity and results in weak or stiff muscles, tendons and ligaments. Even the supposedly normal process of aging can slowly erode strength and mobility. It is challenging to return to a previous level of activity when your joints are stiff and your strength decreased.
Taoist Tai Chi can give back hope and health by providing a gentle but powerful therapeutic tool, which works by restoring strength, flexibility and balance, thus improving movement and circulation throughout the body.
The body and mind are intertwined in many ways affecting health. To work on one without the other is to solve only part of the problem. Taoist Tai Chi is different from other disciplines because it begins with the premise that the most effective therapy is one that will improve the functioning of the entire system of body and mind. The quiet practice of Taoist Tai Chi is an efficient and enjoyable way to work on the entire body and to calm the mind’s turbulence as well at the same time.
Beginner students practicing the art of Taoist Tai Chi will usually begin to experience steady improvements in strength, balance and flexibility. The greater the effort of the student to practice the art, the more profound will be the improvements.
Taoist Tai Chi emphasizes balanced stretching and turning. It is a form of exercise that helps to relax and strengthen
Intermediate Stars take big win
The Southpoint Leamington Kinsmen Intermediate Stars tangled with the Chatham Outlaws on Sunday night, Dec. 17 in Wheatley.
The Stars were not in the Christmas spirit as they scored multiple goals in each of the three periods to secure a huge 7-0 win. Kayla Collison, Abby Gualtieri and Amber Tazzman each powered the Stars offence, scoring a four-point game. Collison scored four goals while Gualtieri and Tazzman chipped in with four assists each. Other Stars marksmen were Joline Driedger and Kelsey Babkirk with two goals.
Alyee “Show Stopper” Church was very Scrooge-like between the pipes as she took away every opportunity to secure a huge 7-0 win.
the body and mind. It is gentle and anybody can practice it, regardless of age or physical condition. With practice, the body will change gradually. Tendons and ligaments that have tightened and contracted through disuse will become more elastic; muscles will become fuller and more able to bear body weight. As strength increases, it will be possible to stretch further, and this will lead to increased flexibility. With improvements in strength and flexibility, balance and walking skill will improve.
Relaxed turning and stretching, which is common to all Taoist Tai Chi movements, allows the spine to loosen and move more freely. As the student learns to more effectively transfer his or her body weight, turning it slowly and smoothly from one foot to another, a sense of balance will develop and the joints of the arms and legs will stretch out
Bantam Stars shut out Lakeshore
The Southpoint Switzer-Carty Bantam Stars welcomed the Lakeshore Lightning to the Wheatley Arena on Sunday evening, Dec. 17 in Essex-Kent League action.
The Stars came ready to compete as they played hard and controlled the play for the entire game. The Stars scored a goal in each period en route to a dominant 3-0 win. Stephanie Wiebe, Tarez Raheb and Jaryn Harris scored the big Stars goals with assists scored by Harris (2), Wiebe, Raheb, Meagan Derksen and Kaitlynn Pickard.
Evan “Stonewall” Gualtieri absolutely shut the door in this contest as she scored a big shutout for her team to secure the win.
and move more fully.
Regardless of whether they are able to do the movements standing or sitting, most students will become aware of the subtle changes created by the practice of Taoist Tai Chi, such as greater degree of relaxation, warmer hands, stronger legs and greater endurance. The gentle turning and stretching used in Taoist Tai Chi increases circulation and improves overall mobility.
The Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi will be hosting an open house on Tuesday, January 9 from 9:30-10:15 a.m. to demonstrate how to improve circulation and balance, increase strength and reduce stress. Visitors will learn how to focus on the well-being of the body and mind through the practice of Taoist Tai Chi. The event will be at the St John’s Anglican Church, 60 Erie St. N. in Leamington.
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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS OF COUNCIL
COMMENCEMENT OF 2018 MUNICIPAL BUDGET DELIBERATIONS
TAKE NOTICE that Council of The Corporation of the Town of Kingsville will hold Special Meetings for the purpose of 2018 Municipal Budget Deliberations as follows:
Tuesday, January 16, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.;
Monday, February 5, 2018 from 12:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Grant Fund Applications); -and-
Monday, March 5, 2018 commencing at 5:00 p.m., if necessary
All meetings will be held at the Town of Kingsville Council Chambers, 2021 Division Road North, Kingsville, Ontario.
DATED at Kingsville, this 20th day of December, 2017.
J. Astrologo, Director of Corporate
The Corporation of the Town of
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND OTHERS
All claims against the Estate of Raya (Laura) Youssef, late of Leamington, who died on March 15, 2017, must be filed by February 5, 2018, with the undersigned, failing which the Estate assets will be distributed having regard only to claims than filed.
DATED at Leamington, Ontario this 15th day of December, 2017.
Raya Youssef Estate c/o Richard A. McGrath, 2-99 Talbot St. E., Leamington ON N8H 1L4
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FRESH FARMS & greenhouses
JOB OPPORTUNITY
General Labour Warehouse, Vegetable Packer
Hours var y on production
Wage: $11 60 per hour
Please fax resume to: 519-733-8059 or apply online at: www jcfreshfarms com
Have You Been Looking for the Right Opportunity? YOUR SEARCH IS OVER!
is coming to Leamington!
If you are interested in a franchise opportunity or in being part of our team in Leamington, please contact Kosta at 519-919-0193 FINANCING AVAILABLE - ON APPROVED CREDIT
We are seeking
GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION ASSOCIATES
• Compensation is $12.00/hr
• Monday through Friday (Occasional Saturdays)
• No education or experience required.
• Duties include hand-trimming, taking cuttings, hand harvesting, watering and cleaning of greenhouse.
Please apply at: careers@aphria.com or mail a resume to: P.O. Box 20009 269 Erie St. S., Leamington, ON N8H 3C4
GREENHOUSE WORKERS NEEDED
Employees will be required to carry out all job tasks as specified by the operation manager.
Specific duties include: Pruning, clipping, harvesting and cleaning work area. Repetitive task, standing for extended periods, hot humid conditions, comfortable working on scissor lifts, handling weights of up to 23 kg or 50 lbs, report signs of insect or disease damage.
Permanent full time weekdays including weekends $11.60 per hour. Will train the right candidate.
Must be able to work within a group or on their own. Reliable and dependable.
Must have own transportation. No education or experience required will train.
Apply:
Southshore Greenhouses Inc.
1746 Seacliff Drive
Kingsville, Ontario N9Y 2M6
GENERAL GREENHOUSE
LABOUR - Full time and full time/part time positions available. 40-48 hours per week, weekends/holidays. Wages $11.60/hours. Physically demanding work, load lifting required, hot humid environment. Duties include planting, pruning, suckering, harvesting and other duties as assigned. No experience or education required. Apply to IPR Farms Ltd. by fax 519-326-6702 or email hriprfms@gmail.com. no22-de27
PINNACLE ACRES REQUIRES Full time greenhouse general labourers. $11.60/hr 50+ hours, 7 days/ wk. Must be available Saturday & Sunday. Work site: 333 County Rd. 18, Leamington ON, rural setting, must have own transportation. Crop maintenance and harvesting, other duties as required. Must be able to lift a minimum of 40 lbs on a repetitive basis, fast paced environment, strong work ethic, punctual, reliable. Please apply via email: pinnalcejobs@hotmail.ca No experience or education required. no15-jan10
Greenhouse Worker
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Crop work, winding, pruning, harvesting
• Checking quality of harvested produce
• Other duties as assigned
WORK CONDITIONS:
• Working at heights, hot environment
WAGE AND HOURS:
E-mail, call or drop off your classified ad by Friday at 4:00 p.m. 194 Talbot St. E. Unit 5, Leamington ON N8H 1M2 Ph: 519-398-9098 Email: journal@mnsi.net or sun@mnsi.net We accept CASH, CHEQUE, DEBIT, VISA & MASTERCARD
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
At Our New Offices 203 Talbot W., Leamington 39 Maidstone, Essex
M&M FARMS LTD - Greenhouse Worker positions available. Responsibilities: crop work, winding, pruning, harvesting, checking quality of harvested produce, other duties as assigned. Work Conditions: fast-paced environment, repetitive tasks, standing for extended periods, bending, crouching, kneeling, attention to detail. working at heights, hot environment. Hours: 45+ hours a week including weekends. Wage: $11.60 per hour, seasonal, full time. No education or experience required. Must have own transportation. Please forward e-mail to mmfarms@bell.net or Fax: 519 326-8047. de6-27
• Fast-paced environment, repetitive tasks, standing for extended periods
• Bend, crouching, kneeling, hand-eye coordination, attention to detail
• 40 plus hours a week including Saturdays
• Wage: 11.60/hour, seasonal, full time
No Education Required. No Experience Required. Please forward your resume by email to: hr@orangelinefarms.com (627 County Rd. 14, R.R. # 5, Leamington, ON N8H 3V8)
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The Old Page... Clippings from the Wheatley Journal, December 1987
Council assists with the sound of Christmas
The council of the village of Wheatley became a partner in a proposal by Wheatley retail merchants to provide holiday music to the downtown area of the village. They voted to support the idea with a contribution of $400. The total cost of installing the audio equipment and the speakers located at the main intersection above the Lemon Tree is $935, with the association of business owners picking up the balance of the cost.
The installation of the music equipment came as the P.U.C. employees were installing the Christmas decorations in the downtown area last week.
Bazaar fun
The members of the Wheatley United Church held their annual bazaar on Saturday and, as usual, the event attracted a large number of shoppers looking for that “really special” Christmas gift.
At the decorations booth, three young ladies try out a novel method of displaying the wreaths that were offered for sale.
From left; Marcie Laugheed, Melissa Sallman, and Robin Knutson, display the Christmas kind of smile that brings buyers to the booth. The girls are all in the same Sunday School class and spent the day helping out at the bazaar. Organizers of the annual event rated the 1987 version “highly successful”.
Dairy Princess Visits
The grade one students at East Mersea Public School were among many who got a first hand nutrition lesson when the Ontario Dairy Princess visited the school on December 2. Andrea Lange, right, was chosen Dairy Princess a the C.N.E. in September. As grade 1 teacher Mrs. M. Johnston watches as the Dairy Princess demonstrates how tall the children, Bernice Collision and J.J. Mills, will be in the near future compared to their present height.
$1000 winner drawn
On Christmas Eve the lucky winner of a $1000 bill was David Whitesell of Wheatley. Wheatley Reeve Larry McDonald, right, drew the ticket while Kinsman Club draw supervisor Joe Pinch prepared to announce the winner.
LDSS vs. Cardinal Carter senior boys basketball
The Cougars’ Mark Jraiche prepares to shoot for two points while the Lions’ Andy Froese tries to block during the first half of a WECSSAA Tier II senior boys basketball game between the rival teams at LDSS Tuesday, Dec. 19. Cardinal Carter led 30-24 at the half en route to a 69-57 victory to stay undefeated at 2-0 while the Lions fell to 1-2.
Atom Stars lose to Wildcats
The Southpoint Community Trophy Atom Stars battled the Windsor Wildcats in EssexKent league action on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 17 in Wheatley.
The Lady Stars came out flying in the first period and scored just four minutes into the game. Taylor Insley of the Stars scored a beautiful unassisted goal to give her team the early lead.
The Wildcats stormed back in the second and third periods scoring three unanswered goals to secure a 3-1 win.
Shelby Wiebe was rock solid between the pipes for Southpoint as she made several key saves to keep her team within striking distance.
LDSS vs. Cardinal Carter junior boys basketball
Mioliel Ferrera of the Cougars races towards the Leamington key under the watch of the Lions’ Micah Egglezos and Austin Neufeld during a WECSSAA Tier II junior boys basketball match Tuesday, Dec. 19 at LDSS. The Cougars led 41-21 after three quarters and held off a Lions’ comeback drive in the fourth to win 45-35. Leamington’s record fell to 1-3 while the Cougars remained unbeaten at 3-0.
Flamingo bowling scores
The following are the Flamingo Restaurant bowling leagues scores for December 11.
Games Over 200: Claudio Sabelli 203, Dan Dalimonte 213, Al Bison 206-236, Heinz Kosempel 235, Albert Salvati 204, John Fittler 220, Gary Garnham 210-226, Aaron Dickau 202-264-237.
Series Over 550: Claudio Sabelli 575, Al Bison 632, Kevin Kosempel 566, Heinz Kosempel 605, Robert Nykyforuk 554, John Fittler 558, Willy Fittler 560, Gary Garnham 626, Aaron Dickau 703.
High Handicap Games: John Fittler 295, Al Bison 285, Aaron Dickau 283.
High Handicap Series: John Fittler 783, Al Bison 779, Gary Garnham 776.
Standings: Fittler Farms 62, Dickau Construction 61, Rhine Danube 48, S.W. Property 42, Del Fresco 41, Weil’s Food 40.
