September 21, 2016

Municipality recognizes volunteers

By Pat Bailey

It was an evening of giving back to those who have so selflessly been giving to their community. The occasion, the Municipality of Leamington’s 2016 Volunteer Recognition Reception on Wednesday evening, Sept. 14, at the Leamington Marina.

Among the dozens of honorees were the 2016 Citizens of the Year, Joan and Terry McSweeney.

For Joan, it was a thrilling surprise but she refused to take all the credit for the tireless efforts that led to the opening of the Hospice Erie Shores Campus in April.

“So many people gave of their time,” said Joan. “We are not alone — it took a huge number of people to make hospice possible.”

And Joan didn’t look at it as an effort — it was more for the love of the project.

“It was an absolute joy to do this,” she said, “This was our baby.”

The couple served on the hospice board and have helped design, facilitate community consultation, feasibility studies and took the lead on organizing the fundraising campaign requiring $6 million to build the 10-bed residence.

During the actual construction, Terry also served as project manager and continues to assist with landscaping, maintenance and site management.

A man of few words, Terry was obviously delighted with the recognition but said, “After 50 years of marriage, I just do what I’m told,” he laughed.

Now retired, Joan said she has the time to commit to volunteerism in the community, especially when it’s so near and dear to her heart.

But volunteering is nothing new to Joan.

She has given freely of her time for years, improving the quality of life for the entire community.

In addition to her hospice work, Joan has organized Christmas parties for the county’s children in the care of the Children’s Aid Society, volunteered with the SECC, collected clothing and household items for new Mexican Mennonite families arriving in Leamington, served on the Board of the Crisis Intervention Centre, volunteered as

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Area residents get support for addictions

South Shore Health Centre (SSHC) is hosting a grand opening on Monday, September 26 at 15 John Street in Leamington. The public is invited to visit the facility from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Meet addiction specialists (doctors, nurses, counsellors) and learn about treatment and support in the community.

“Local access to addictions services has been missing in our community,” said SSHC volunteer board chair and retired Leamington hospital executive Roberta Jarecsni. “It’s about removing barriers to recovery. South shore residents have told us that accessing services in Windsor is difficult, so we developed programs here.”

SSHC currently offers a family education and support group and weekly SMART sessions (self-management and recovery training). For people who have completed a residential treatment program, SSHC hosts a recovery support group in partnership with Westover Treatment Centres. All groups are offered at no cost.

“We know that people who choose recovery need support beyond inpatient treatment, and they need it in their own community in a timely fashion.

By developing a partnership with Westover, we were able to get this well established, 26-week program up and running with only $3,000 in donations,” said Jarecsni.

Next on the list of identified local needs, SSHC will tackle community education (prevention), individual counselling and drop-in “how to get help” advisory sessions.

Operating in donated space, Jarecsni and a small team of volunteers are working toward securing grants and ongoing funding from various foundations and government ministries.

“It’s impressive what we have been able to achieve so far,” said Jarecsni. “But we need local leaders to come together to create a safer and healthier community. Each day, more people find their way to our doors looking for the local support they need, and for us that means developing more partnerships and securing donations.”

Since May of this year, over 100 people have found their way to 15 John Street for help, and almost all have learned about the centre through word of mouth. The grand opening will serve to increase awareness in the community and to let residents know how they can help.

SSHC is a non-profit addictions centre committed to the development of an informed, inclusive and safe community. The primary service areas are Leamington, Kingsville and Wheatley. No one is turned away.

For more information visit www.southshorehealthcentre. com

Joan and Terry McSweeney were honored as Citizens of the Year at Leamington’s 2016 Volunteer Recognition Reception on Wednesday, September 14 at the marina.

As

It’s an exciting time at WFCU Credit Union. As we’ve boldly proclaimed through our rebranding in September 2015, “We’re Not A Bank. We’re Better.”

Fiscal 2015/2016 was a year of great celebration, honouring the 75 years we’ve proudly served our members in Windsor-Essex. It was also a year of many firsts, with numerous product launches and new initiatives as part of our five year strategic plan, “Success 2020: Relevant and Sustainable”.

By successfully launching numerous new products, including Quick Loans, SmarterCash: A Pay Day Alternative ALTO Savings Optimum Investments Interac® Online Payment, Auto+ Lease and Deposit Anywhere we delivered on our promise to be the best financial institution in Windsor-Essex, and beyond.

WFCU Commercial Services has grown to be the largest and most experienced team in the region. With locally-focused service, they are the best choice for business banking in Windsor-Essex. WFCU Finance & Leasing was relaunched and now offers auto leasing services across Ontario. We launched WFCU Mortgage Broker Services and WFCU Foreign Exchange Services to meet the mortgage and currency exchange needs of our members. WFCU Real Estate Corporation was created to help diversify the products and services we offer in the communities we serve.

We made numerous improvements to back-end systems to further assist in our growth, and expanded our presence outside Windsor-Essex with the introduction of Omnia Direct - the perfect way to ebank

WFCU Credit Union ended the 2016 fiscal year strong, resulting in WFCU Credit Union Members earning $19.2 million in interest on deposits and $1.4 million in dividends

Residents of Windsor-Essex continue to choose WFCU Credit Union as their financial institution of choice. This past year, membership increased by 2,092 - we now serve 36,496 members!

Our Board, Management and Staff remain committed to being better, offering our membership unmatched products and services while making the communities we serve the best place to work and live. WFCU Credit Union will continue to be a preferred financial institution in Windsor-Essex, and beyond. It is a privilege to serve our membership.

Martin D. Gillis, Martin J. Komsa, Chair, WFCU Board of Directors WFCU President & CEO

BOARD ELECTION RESULTS

the

September 13,

teer

were

of the Leamington District Secondary School’s Eco Team, with Deputy-Mayor Hilda McDonald (far left) and teacher representative Lisa Jeffery (second from left).

(Continued from Front)

an addiction research counsellor, served on the Leamington Police Services Board, served on the Parole Committee, was chairperson of the Leamington Area Family Health Team, and an acting member of the St. John’s Anglican Church Parish Council

As master of ceremonies, Deputy-Mayor Hilda McDonald couldn’t say enough about the recipients of the award, which was donated by Peter and Margaret Tombs of Royal Leamington Spa, England.

“Their efforts have bettered the lives of the young, the old, the healthy and those who are facing illness,” said McDonald of the couple.

The McSweeneys were not alone in being recognized for their volunteer efforts within the community.

The Southwestern Ontario Gleaners were presented with the Service to the Community Award.

According to McDonald, this award “is presented to an organization or deserving group of individuals whose single project brings the greatest benefit, comfort or hope to the citizens of Leamington.”

Gleaners is an interdenominational organization that provides free dehydrated soup mix and dehydrated fruit which is distributed locally, as well as to reputable relief agencies worldwide.

Gleaners makes use of unmarketable fruits and vegetables donated by growers. Volunteers cut up the produce, which is then mechanically diced, dried and packaged as soup mix or fruit snacks.

They have distributed over 1.6 million servings of their products to local schools, as well as First Nation Reserves, Haiti, Cuba, Guinea, Bosnia and Zambia.

The efforts of Leamington youth were not forgotten either.

Taking home the Youth Volunteer Award, which is presented to young people 18 and under who have participated in volunteer activities that have benefitted the community, was the Leamington District Secondary School Eco Team.

The team, which was revived in 2013 and headed up by teacher supervisor Lisa Jeffery, focused on making their fellow students more environmentally aware as their first project. They conducted energy and waste audits within the school and shared those results with the entire school.

With an incentive provided by the Greater Essex County District School Board of 25 per cent of their energy savings from January to June, the team jumped into action, labelling light switches and computers, and reminding their peers to conserve energy. The school saved enough to buy every student a stainless steel water bottle and install a water filtration station.

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Taking home the Youth Volun-

Award

members

(SUN Photo)

Municipality Volunteer Awards

(Continued from Page 2)

The following year the savings grew and the Eco Team is using those funds to build an outdoor classroom when their new school opens in 2017.

The team has expanded its focus beyond the classroom walls. They have been focusing on the harmful algal blooms and have since become partners with ERCA in the ‘Algaecation’ campaign which is focusing on raising the

awareness of the algae bloom threat in Lake Erie and helping protect the wetlands of Hillman Marsh.

The Eco Team has also teamed up with Point Pelee National Park in an effort to improve youth programming and also assisted them on plans for new facilities to be used for field trips, Eco Team retreats and camping expeditions.

Their work has been so successful that it caught the attention of reknown environmentalist David Suzuki, who paid them a visit.

But giving back to the community is nothing new in the Municipality of Leamington. Service groups, organizations and individuals have been responsible for improving the quality of life for local residents for many years and they were also recognized for their efforts.

Representatives of the Leamington District Hospital Foundation, the Leamington Goodfellows, the Leamington Horticultural Society, the Leamington Mersea Historical Society, the Leamington Lions, Leamington Minor Ball, the Leamington Triathlon Committee, the Rotary Club of Leamington, the South Essex Arts Association and Toys 4 Tots were recognized for all the work they do and treated to a barbecue dinner grilled by Leamington CAO Peter Neufeld and Rob Sharon, director of infrastructure services.

Business Excellence Award

The Leamington District Chamber of Commerce has announced the 2016 nominees in all categories for the 22nd Annual Business Excellence Awards. There are three nominees in each category.

Customer First: Best Western Plus, Edge Point Communication, McDonalds Restaurant. Sponsored by CIBC. exCellenCe in Food serviCes: Carmen’s Catering, The Gallery Restaurant, Leamington Portuguese Club. Sponsored by TD Canada Trust.

savour south essex: Aleksander Estate Winery, Sun-Brite, Taylor Fish Company. Sponsored by BMO Bank of Montreal. industrial/manuFaCturing exCellenCe: Barrineti Construction, Fort Dearborn Company, Reliant Manufacturing Solutions. Sponsored by WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation.

innovation: John Omstead - John O’s Foods, Leamington District Memorial Hospital, Piroli Group Developments. Sponsored by the Municipality of Leamington.

invest in a World Class WorkForCe: South Essex Community Council, Greg Price Enterprises - Valvoline Express Care, Zing Healthy Foods - Orangeline Farms. Sponsored by Workforce Windsor-Essex small Business exCellenCe: Explore Pelee, Bill Wuerch Plastering and Drywall, H & J Tire Tyme. Sponsored by WFCU.

Positive ProFessionals: Alycia Bento, Dr. Julie Ricci, Eva Lewis. Sponsored by RBC Royal Bank. Youth exCellenCe: Carley Brissette, Joshua Isley, Iseaonna Siliker. Sponsored by Scotiabank.

Warm WelCome: Darquin Cottage On The Lake, Leamington Arts Centre, Switzer Carty. Sponsored by Point Pelee National Park.

WelComing aCCessiBilitY aWard: Access County Community Support Services, Tim Hortons, Wendy’s Restaurant. Sponsored by Community Living Essex County.

The Sponsor’s Choice Award winner, sponsored by Libro Credit Union, and the Alf Bennie Award winner, sponsored by Blackburn Radio, will both be announced October 12 at the Business Excellence Awards Ceremony at the Leamington Portuguese Club. For more information visit www. leamingtonchamber.com

Members of the Southwestern Ontario Gleaners organization were presented with the Service to the Community Award at Wednesday evening’s 2016 Volunteer Recognition Reception at the marina.

A photographic memory

I saw an old photo of Gore Hill School’s faculty from 1972 on Facebook a couple weeks ago and the poster was asking if anyone could identify the people in the photo.

So I thought, “I can do this with my eyes closed.”

As it turns out, I couldn’t even do it with my eyes open.

Sure I got many of them, and Kim (Clark) Quick got a few as well.

As of this writing, two of those teachers still remain unidentified.

Funny how there are certain faces you just can’t place. My years at Gore Hill were some of the best years of my childhood.

Mrs. Fagan dropped in to the Leamington Post a few years ago and submitted some old Gore Hill pictures for publication. I didn’t get a chance to speak with her, but it was good to know that, at least at that time, she was well.

I also ran into Mr. Cameron about 15 years ago at a doctor’s appointment in Windsor. He immediately recognized me and we talked for a short time before we got called in to our respective appointments.

I immediately recognized the teachers that I had during my time there, from Miss Wass in Grade 1, all the way through to Mrs. Grubb in Grade 6.

Among my favourites, Mr. Cameron, who taught me in Grade 5 and also Mrs. White, our beloved music teacher.

Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Fagan, whom I had in Grades 3 and 4, were also in the photo.

I’m not sure of his status nowadays, because he was looking fairly aged at that time. I’d be surprised to hear that he’s still with us.

Mrs. Knox, my Grade 2 teacher, was the only one absent from that photo. I think she transferred to another school after my second grade year.

George Willms was principal at the time and he is likely the only member of that faculty that I still run into from time to time, usually at McDonald’s.

Mrs. Campbell was married to a distant relative of mine and was also related to NHL player Bryan Campbell, who at the time played for the Black Hawks. At least that’s what I imagined as a 10-year-old consumed by hockey and baseball.

Some of my relatives tell me that my memories might not always be accurate, but I tell it like I remember it.

So maybe the memory isn’t as good as it used to be. I certainly can attest to that with the four or five people in that Gore Hill picture that I couldn’t put a name on.

Miss Annie Nickel, whom I didn’t have as a teacher, was also in the photo. Both of my brothers had her and her reputation as a stern, strict teacher preceded her. Funny thing, she was, I’m told, a very nice lady in her personal life, but she ran her classrooms with an iron yard stick, according to ‘Gore Hill lore.’

Ask me who played Agent 99 on Get Smart and I don’t hesitate to tell you Barbara Feldon, but there are other things I can’t seem to put a finger on.

It’s like when I pick up my guitar, I can strum a few songs that I played as a teenager, but anything that I’ve learned recently doesn’t come to me as easily, without having the music in front of me.

I understand that Miss Nickel still resides in Leamington, which is quite remarkable. I thought she was an older woman when I was a kid, but apparently she wasn’t as old as I thought she was. I hope she is doing well. She helped shape a lot of good Gore Hill people who became productive members of this society.

I suppose it’s muscle memory more than anything. Thank goodness my muscles don’t have to look at old photos.

Keep calm and remember your roots

“Keep calm and remember your roots.” This quote takes on a whole new meaning as Mark and I enter into our sixth week on the island. Typically we are here for five weeks and then off to re-provision. We have delayed our departure until the end of the seventh week and it has become quite apparent that we will be relying on our roots for the next two weeks!

While I whipped together Mamie’s homemade tomato soup with the leftovers of an open can of tomatoes, celery tops, onion and milk, Mark put together grilled tuna sandwiches. It was a great way to end the day. My Sunday morning started off well too, with breakfast made for me. Not feeling too sorry for myself any more!

Hope is a very powerful thing! I was very happy to head out in the boat with Mark and Charlie Saturday afternoon. The water was like glass and the breeze created by the motion of the boat cooled us from the heat and left the mosquitoes behind. I must admit what I was looking forward to the most was the possibility of a meal out.

We headed across the shallow bank and stopped for a swim on a sandbar midway between Little Whale and Chub Cay. Only during low tide is this sand bar exposed, and because of the fall equinox and the full moon combination it was exceptional that day. While there, we discovered a couple of sea stars, sand dollars, sea biscuits and a “sea weiner” as Arthur calls them! As the tide slowly rose, we decided to head on to Chub Cay.

Chub Cay was purchased by a Texan couple two years ago and since then a crew has worked diligently to revitalize a marina development project that was started and abandoned years earlier. New colourful guest homes, small rental cottages and a large Harbour House with a restaurant surrounded by incredible landscaping welcomed us to the marina. We docked our 16-foot whaler along side mega yachts and quickly headed to the Harbour House restaurant. Mark headed in as I waited outside with Charlie, hoping to order from a takeout menu and find a shaded place to eat.

I must admit I could have cried when Mark came out declaring that the kitchen was closed and we wouldn’t even be able to see a menu for another 45 minutes. We couldn’t wait and chance boating home in the dark, although secretly I felt the full moon would guide us. Even though it wasn’t Mark’s fault, he bore the brunt of my grumpiness. Let’s face it, who else would it be?

My saddened state didn’t last long, but long enough for me to realize how close to the surface our feelings lie. Mark anchored off a beautiful little beach on the way home, and floating in the salty water as the sun set quickly picked my spirits up.

Both of us were starving by the time we reached home.

Sunday night we had a very nice dinner, but as we were eating I told Mark that sadly if I was at home I would have thrown most of it out. He stopped chewing as I explained. I made a sweet potato casserole from potatoes that I normally would have tossed. A third of the soft, pockmarked outside layer had to be cut away to reveal the perfectly good core. Steamed, mashed and whisked with a touch of sugar, egg, milk and vanilla and then adorned with a brown sugar pecan topping, it became our early ‘thanks’ giving treat. The Brussels sprouts also had to be stripped down to their inner goodness, and after being steamed and drizzled with apple cider vinegar became a tasty side to chicken roasted with lemon, thyme and turmeric.

Monday morning we savoured a handful of blueberries, the last of our fresh fruit, on our yogurt. A small container of mandarin oranges purchased from the shop were added for excitement! We are far from starving, but I am having to get a lot more creative when making our meals.

Thankfully we have half a dozen eggs, boxed milk, evaporated cream, some celery tops, four beets, three celery roots, a handful of carrots, small bag of new potatoes, shallots, two Spanish onions, ginger root and garlic. There is lots of fresh basil, rosemary and mint in the shade house, and a tomato and pepper plant that have flowers but no fruit yet. Our freezer is stocked with some homemade granola, muffins, coffee, chicken thighs, a pork tenderloin and one portion of a steelhead trout filet.

Our compost is not being fed quite so well as I pillage and perk up our crisper food finds. While chopping celery the other day, my Mamie came to mind. She taught me (Continued on page 5)

OBITUARY

Daisy Flewelling

Daisy Ellen Flewelling, 86 years, passed away peacefully at Franklin Gardens on Thursday, September 8, 2016.

Beloved wife of the late Earl (1989). Cherished mother of William “Bill” and wife Dianne. Loving grandmother of Kyle and Jessica Flewelling, and step-grandmother of Greg and Tara Liebrock, Randy and Dana Liebrock. Great-grandmother of Sammar, Charlie, Zack, Ben and Ethan. Dear sister of Muriel Armstrong and the late Goldie Rosenfeld (1995). Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Daisy’s sweet nature touched many people with whom she came in contact over the years.

Special thanks to all those who nurtured Daisy over the last two years at Franklin Gardens.

Visiting was at the Reid Funeral Home and Reception Centre, 14 Russell St., Leamington.

A private family graveside service was held. Memorial donations may be made by cheque to Make a Wish Foundation.

Friends may send condolences or make at a memorial donation at www.reidfuneralhome.ca

Keep calm and remember your roots

(Continued from page 4)

a memorable lesson while helping her in the kitchen when I was very young. I was given the job of cleaning celery, removing the ends. The stalks were stored in recycled milk bags. I chopped off the broad end and before I had a chance to toss them with the discards, Mamie told me that unless it was rotten, nothing was tossed. The broad ends of the celery along with carrot tops and tips were saved to make soup stock.

My grandmother never had to live on an island, but she learned through the Depression and war times to respect and appreciate food. Now my freezer is lined with baggies with frozen dollops of tomato paste, jarred herbs, chopped celery and chicken bones for future soup stocks.

For Mark and I to thrive on the island, we focus on the “what is”. Things that we may have taken for granted are not readily accessible here. A haircut, a hot Timmy’s coffee, fresh produce daily from a fruit stand, ice-cream, a visit from your friend or a night out just don’t happen. Often before dinner, Mark and I play dominoes. The other night I asked him if he will continue to play dominoes with me every night when we go home? He answered, “Are you kidding?”

Not sure if that was a yes or a no, but I am learning not to get my hopes up.

OBITUARY

Andrew Pretli

Andrew Pretli, 78 years, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at Leamington District Memorial Hospital.

Beloved husband of the late Linda (1994). Loving father of Linda Vajna and husband George, Jeff Pretli and wife Jeannine. Adored grandfather of Madeline and George Vajna, and Benjamin Pretli. Dear brother of George (Margaret), Jack (Ann), Ann Davis (Adrian Carrier). Predeceased by brother John and late wife Vicky. Survived by many nieces and nephews.

Visiting was at the Reid Funeral Home & Reception Centre, 14 Russell Street, Leamington (519-326-2631) on Saturday from 2-5 p.m. and Sunday from 2-5 p.m.

Funeral Service to celebrate Andrew’s life was held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 311 Sherk St., Leamington, on Monday, September 19, 2016 at 11 a.m. Interment at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations made by cheque to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church would be appreciated.

Family and friends are invited to share their words of comfort and remembrance or make a charitable contribution at www.reidfuneralhome.ca

Who needs libraries?

Not the children that were deprived of free programs in one of the hottest summers on record.

Not the families that are trying to establish a lifelong habit of reading for their children.

Not the seniors that look forward to a friendly face that welcomes them.

Not the people in retirement homes that look forward to a visit from the library.

Not those just looking for a public place for respite from the heat. Not the families and people that make up these communities.

Three months on strike with no settlement! Essex County has a library board that doesn’t seem to understand the importance of a library. Essex County has a library board that when they have a meeting, it is closed to the public.

The taxpayer pays taxes for a full year of library service and is now 3 months short. Taxpayer refunded?

The question is: Who needs a board that cannot negotiate a contract for their community?

– Donna Hyodo, Kingsville

Nancy J. Ryersee

Mrs. Nancy J. Ryersee (nee Botham) of St. Thomas, formerly of Union and Pelee Island, passed away peacefully at her residence on Sunday, September 11, 2016, in her 77th year. Heaven has another angel.

Nancy was the beloved wife of the late William L. Ryersee (2003). Dearly loved mother of Dave Ryersee (Jan) of London, Carol Doyle (Dan) of Union, and Jeff Ryersee (Rebekah) of St. Thomas. Cherished grandmother of Marty, Miranda, Aaron, Ethan, Celeste, Caprial, Liam, D.J., Debbie, Morgan and Elliott. Loving great-grandmother of William, Edward and Benjamin. Dear sister of Barb Young (late Tom), Mary Gardner (George), Bob Botham (Dorothy), Bruce Botham (Naomi), and the late Pearl Clarke (Norm). Also fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews. An infant son died in 1968. Born in Pelee Township, ON, April 30, 1940, she was the daughter of the late John and Cora (nee McCormick) Botham.

Nancy was a retired cafeteria worker at St. Joseph’s High School, St. Thomas. She was a member of St. Hilda’s - St. Luke’s Anglican Church, St. Thomas, being a member of the Altar Guild and the Anglican Church Women’s League. She was a volunteer at the STEGH as well as at the Valleyview Home.

In keeping with Nancy’s wishes, her body has been bequeathed to medical science at Western University, London, later to rest on Pelee Island.

Relatives and friends will be received by the family at the Sifton Funeral Home, 118 Wellington St., St. Thomas (519-631-1160) on Friday, September 23 from 7-9 p.m.

A visitation will also be held at St. Hilda’s - St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 185 Elm Street, St. Thomas, on Saturday, September 24 at 12:00 p.m., followed by a service to celebrate Nancy’s life at 1:00 p.m.

Memorial donations to St. Hilda’s - St. Luke’s Anglican Church or The Lung Association (Research) gratefully acknowledged.

Luncheon supports local causes

By Bryan Jessop

Two Leamington-area organizations have ‘bean’ doing well in recent years, thanks in part to the combined efforts of local realtors.

The Leamington and Area 17th annual Poor Boy Luncheon brought just shy of 400 customers to the Roma Club on Wednesday, Sept. 14 in a fundraising gesture to support Erie Shores Hospice and Leamington Toys 4 Tots. Thanks to the sale of 387 luncheon tickets, a list of about 30 sponsors, local business supporters and funds generated through the sale of tickets for raffle prizes — also donated by area businesses — this year’s event cleared a profit of just over $9,000 to be split between the two causes.

Gold and silver sponsors of the event donated facility usage and food, while another 18 businesses, groups or individuals offered $100 as bronze sponsors. Another 15 organizations and individuals contributed to door prizes or as donors, while 15 others provided food and supplies needed to run the luncheon.

“We’re very happy with how it’s turned out and with the support we get,” said John Woelk of Leamington Century 21 Erie Shores Realty, the chairperson of the luncheon’s eight-member organization committee. “Some people don’t care for beans, but we’ve got to look at the bigger picture — this is for Hospice and Toys 4 Tots, two great causes.”

The Poor Boy Luncheon was first presented by Collins Barrow more than 20 years ago. After a hiatus of about five years, Woelk was approached by Garry Mereszak with the proposal to reintroduce the local fundraiser. The event made its comeback in 2014, hosted by the Leamington Municipal Marina. With feedback from patrons noting that the marina’s parking situation was difficult and that the facility was not within walking distance for many, organizers began seeking a new venue. Mereszak and Woelk approached the Roma Club, which was eager to get involved with the annual event, offering facilities free of charge starting in 2015.

Last year, the luncheon raised $9,872 — more than $2,300 over the $7,551 raised in 2014. The committee of eight that serves as volunteers for the fundraiser each recruits family members and friends to assist for a sum of between 40 and 50 total helpers. The same committee also organizes the Soup and Salad fundraiser in November and Chilifest in February,

both hosted by the Leamington Portuguese Club.

“It’s nice that we can depend on these people every time,” said Woelk. “They never have excuses — they’re always available to help out.”

This year’s Soup and Salad fundraiser will take place Wednesday, Nov. 30. Like the other two annual gatherings, tickets are available at the door or in advance at Leamington Century 21 Erie Shores Realty and the Portuguese Club.

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Stephanie Sweet of Realty House dishes up a helping of wieners and beans for one of about 400 guests during the 17th annual Leamington Poor Boy Luncheon Wednesday, Sept. 14 at the Roma Club. (SUN photo)

Success of summer Friday night markets overwhelming

By Pat Bailey

Kingsville’s Friday Night Markets have been extremely popular since their introduction last summer, and its final one of the season on Friday was no exception.

Teanna Lindsay, organizer of the event, and the brains behind the original night markets in Walkerville, said response to the markets was awesome. She admitted the idea evolved after realizing that many people are too busy on weekends to attend local daytime markets, so why not give night markets a try. She said she was overwhelmed by the success in Walkerville, so last year she approached Janet and Anthony Del Brocco, owners of Mettawas Station, with the idea of expanding to Kingsville.

The result was quite obvious with hundreds of visitors attending the final Friday Night Market on September 9.

LAST CHANCE!

GABRIEL IGLESIAS

#FLUFFYBREAKSEVEN TOUR

Sunday, September 25

ALICE COOPER

Sunday, October 2

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK

Friday, October 7

HOWIE MANDEL

Friday, October 21

BILLY OCEAN

Sunday, October 30

LARRY THE CABLE GUY

Saturday, November 5

MARTIN LAWRENCE

Thursday, November 10

TEARS FOR FEARS

Friday, September 30

November 13

MARIANAS TRENCH WITH SPECIAL GUEST SHAWN HOOK OPEN TO ALL AGES

November 17

KACEY MUSGRAVES

VERY KACEY CHRISTMAS TOUR OPEN TO ALL AGES Saturday, November 26

October and November shows are proud to support the Concerts for a Cure Series.

Tickets available at the Box Office, CaesarsWindsor.com, ticketmaster.ca or charge by phone 1-888-345-5885.

LIVE AT VICE ARIEL SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 |

Kingsville’s final Friday Night Market of the season, Sept. 9, was a resounding success with hundreds enjoying the entertainment, vendors and refreshments being sold by local businesses.

Alex and Anthony Del Brocco were popular Friday night, serving up pizzas hot out of the oven. Anthony is owner of the Mettawas Station restaurant in Kingsville.

Karter Stiers, 20-months-old, took in Kingsville’s Friday Night Market and found it ‘sweet’.

John Wall’s 1965 Mustang a blast from the past

John Wall of Ruthven is a proud retired Ironworker. He had three items on his bucket list: travel, find a girlfriend, and buy a classic car. He has travelled, his girlfriend is now his wife, and he recently bought a low-mileage 1965 Mustang hardtop in California.

The people in California who bought it new never sold it, and after 24 years in storage the car was passed on to their grandson. He worked on it and drove it to high school – then got married and bought a house. Time to sell the Mustang!

John’s son lives in California and worked with Honda’s racing team. John’s daughter also lives there and is married to the grandson of the original owners of the ’65 Mus-

in the in the in the in the in the

ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20

Any obstacle can be overcome if you set your mind to it, Aries. Your combination of intellect and work ethic will serve you well in the coming weeks.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Others are paying attention to you this week, Aquarius. Bounce your ideas off of other people and don’t be surprised by the positive feedback you receive.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, your energy and attentiveness are in abundance this week. Use this combination to tackle tasks you have been putting off. Offer others help if they need a hand.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

You have an uncanny ability to tune into the way people think, Cancer. You can put this skill to work at the office or use it to network and explore new business ventures for yourself.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Leo, a family member needs help getting through a tough time. You could be the first person they call on to lend a helping hand. Offer your unconditional support.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

Put your creative energy to good use this week, Virgo. Think about renovating a portion of your home or discovering a new hobby to keep you busy when things slow down.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Libra, use this week to tackle a financial project this that has been on your mind for some time. Completing this project will provide some relief.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Scorpio, you have a lot of energy and a desire to do everything to

the best of your abilities. This week that approach will serve you well in your professional life.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

Sagittarius, a request of you may require some help to be fulfilled. Trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to seek assistance if you think this requires a team effort.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, make the most of a sudden burst of energy. Apply this to both your personal and professional lives. Bring new people together in your social circle.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

A new friend is keeping you on your toes, Aquarius. Embrace this person’s joie de vivre and go with the flow. You will be glad you let your hair down.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

Pisces, keep trying to win over someone whose opinion on a particular matter contradicts your own. It just may take a little more persuasion.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

SEPTEMBER 18

James Marsden, Actor (43)

SEPTEMBER 19

Jimmy Fallon, TV Host (42)

SEPTEMBER 20

John Tavares, Athlete (26)

SEPTEMBER 21

Bill Murray, Actor (66)

SEPTEMBER 22

Tom Felton, Actor (29)

SEPTEMBER 23

Jason Alexander, Actor (57)

SEPTEMBER 24

Owen Farrell, Athlete (25)

tang. John actually did some work on the Mustang when the grandson had it, including a rebuild of the original 289 V8. The odometer read just over 39,000 miles and John wondered if that was 139,000. A man who wrote a book on Mustangs looked at the cylinder walls. There was no wear! The mileage was a true 39,000! John bought the car and trailered it back to Ontario. He installed a new interior including new steering wheel and gauges with parts from National Parts Depot in Detroit. In fact, that place was able to supply John with everything he needed to make his Mustang like new again. He installed mag wheels and B.F. Goodrich 8-inchwide tires. After removing all the hardware from the car, John took the car to the FIXX body shop in Kingsville (formerly Division Collision) where it was repainted in gleaming black, the original colour. The fellows at the shop could hardly believe their eyes at finding NO RUST anywhere on the car. Thank, you, California!

The data plate on the car is in code and John bought a booklet that translated all the info. His car was built on February 21, 1965 at the San Jose plant. It’s one of the first Mustangs to have an alternator. John also has the original bill of sale. The car cost $2,348 brand new. Many thanks to Scott Holland (“Mr. Leamington”) for introducing me to John over coffee at McDonald’s! Later that day, John took his car to Kal Tire in Leamington to check the alignment so he and his wife can start driving it.

Happy Mustang motoring!

Council receives report on changes to one-way streets

A report presented to Leamington Council Sept. 12 recommended some changes to slow down the speeders on the one-way streets between Talbot St. and Oak St. The report described the measures that can be taken. One of the big concerns is for nonmotorized use of these streets and the cross streets. The report asked for endorsement as the basis for design and construction of all-way stops on these streets, but postponed any action until after the adoption of the 2017 budget. Each intersection, if changed as the report suggests, would cost about $25,000. Council adopted the report.

John Wall with his 1965 Mustang hardtop like new again.

Three-vehicle crash sends

Leamington

man to hospital

A 69-year-old Leamington man operating a red Ford was sent to hospital with serious injuries after a 3-vehicle crash on Essex County Road 31 in Leamington September 18 at approximately 8:30 p.m.

The driver of the Ford was travelling on Essex County Road 31 near the intersection of Mersea Road 5 when it was struck by a grey GMC pickup truck that failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection.

A third vehicle, a black Ford pickup truck, being driven by a 56-year-old male from Kingsville was indirectly involved in the collision. The driver and passenger of this vehicle sustained minor injuries.

Leamington Fire Services and Windsor Essex Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were at the scene and attended to those with injuries and with the extrication of the driver of the red Ford.

A section of Essex County Road 31 was closed for several hours as the OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigators completed the investigation.

The 17-year-old driver of the GMC pickup truck, a Leamington resident, has been charged with disobeying a stop sign and stopping in the wrong place, contrary to Section 136(1) (a) of the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario. Neither he nor his passenger were injured.

Road to FolkFest presents Brother Sun in Wheatley

Road to FolkFest Concerts presents the awardwinning harmonies of the international touring trio, Brother Sun on Friday, September 23 at the Wheatley Legion, 27 Erie Street North, in Wheatley. Greg Greenway, Pat Wictor and Joe Jencks each toured as solo singer-songwriters for more than a de-

cade before forming Brother Sun. Their collective musical experience encompasses folk, roots, blues, pop, jazz, rock and a cappella singing. The band fuses them all in an explosion of musical diversity and harmony, in the finest of male singing traditions.

Brother Sun’s music and message appeal to main-

stream listeners and dedicated folkies alike, to people of widely divergent spiritual and political leanings, and fans of both contemporary and traditional music. They offer hope of people uniting to create beauty in uncertain and unsettled times.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m., show begins at 8:00 p.m. Seating is limited. The

On Golden Pond Sept. 23-25 at The Bank Theatre

at The

lationship with his

to care for Billy, the son of Chelsea’s new boyfriend, and a most unexpected relationship blooms. Performances are

Leamington ’ s Hot Spot

WINDSOR-ESSEX SWEET ADELINES invite all women and teens over 16 to com and sing a cappella harmony on Wednesday, September 21, 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Parish Hall, County Rd. 34, Maidstone. Info: 519-259-2501 or 519-733-3449 or visit www.heartofessex.com.

LEAMINGTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY meets Wednesday, Septenber 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Leamington United Church. Speaker: Jarrod from Groundskeepers. Topic: importance, construction and pleasure of garden ponds. All are welcome for an evening of horticultural friendship. Refreshments served. More info: Catherine Riediger 519-322-1551.

HEADS UP FOR HEALTHIER BRAINS. Thursday, September 22, 6:00 p.m. Unico Building, 37 Beech St., Kingsville. Free workshop to learn about dementia and Alzheimer's Disease - signs, risks, programs.

SOUTH SHORE HEALTH CENTRE (ADDICTIONS TREATMENT) GRAND OPENING Monday, September 26, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Meet addiction specialists (doctors, nurses, counsellors). Learn about treatment and support in the community. More info at www.southshorehealthcentre.com or 519-990-2530.

2ND ANNUAL SUPER ETHAN'S STEPS 2 km walk, 5 km run family event, Sunday, September 25, Seacliff Park, Leamington. Registration 9:00 a.m., 2 km walk 10:00 a.m., 5 km run 10:45 a.m. More event info at Super Ethan's Steps Facebook page. Proceeds go to Paediatric Oncology Unit at Windsor Regional Hospital.

TAKING STEPS AGAINST BREAST CANCER WALK/RUN,Sunday, September 25 at Point Pelee National Park. 1k or 5k walk and 5k or 10k run to support research related to breast cancer. All ages welcome. Registration and check-in 8:00 a.m. at Visitors Centre. Announcements and warm-up 9:40 a.m., runners and walkers start at 10:00 a.m. Info at www.cancer.ca - search "Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer". ONT. PURPLE MARTIN ASSOC. FINAL MEETING of

popular series is often sold out and tickets must be purchased in advance by calling 1-800-838-3006 or online at roadtofolkfestbrothersun. bpt.me/

The concert is a fundraising project of the Sun Parlour Folk Music Society (Kingsville Folk Music Festival and Road to FolkFest Concerts).

BANK THEATRE NOTES

ON GOLDEN POND

SEPTEMBER 23, 24 @ 7:30 PM

SEPTEMBER 25 @ 2:00 PM

Under the direction of Joel Lewsaw the Sun Parlour Players present this wonderful classic play. Tickets are $15 and available at: brownpapertickets.com, Wharram’s Jewellery, Thomson Guardian Pharmacy and Counter Effects.

DALE’S FRIDAY NIGHT COFFEE HOUSE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

DOORS OPEN @ 6:30, MUSIC STARTS @ 7:00 PM

the year, Saturday, October 1, 9:00 a.m., at Orchardview Golf Course, 1357 County Rd. 34, Ruthven. Please bring your stats for your colonies. Info: Paul 519-738-3476.

JOIN LIFE CHAIN on Sunday, October 2, 2:30 -3:30 p.m. at several locations in Essex County. Leamington at Erie & Talbot, Kingsville at Main & Division. For other locations or more information call 519-3250929 or 519-969-7555.

ESSEX COUNTY COIN CLUB SHOW & SALE, Sunday, October 2, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Riverside Sportsmen's Club, 10835 Riverside Dr. E., Windsor. Co-sponsored by Canadian Diabetes Association. Buying and selling. Admission is by freewill donation with funds raised going to Canadian Diabetes Assoc. More info at 519-819-1805.

LEAMINGTON BLOOD DONOR CLINIC at Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex, Wednesday, October 5, 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. New Donors and Walk Ins Welcome! To book an appointment, please contact us at 1-888-236-6283 / www.blood.ca / GiveBlood App

LEAMINGTON UNITED CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE. Friday, October 14 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 15 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. 9 John Street, Leamington.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEED FOR BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS WINDSOR-ESSEX from the Leamington and Kingsville area. If you believe that you can make a difference in a child’s life and can commit to a minimum of one year, for a few hours a week, check out the website and online orientation at www.bigbrothersbigsisterswe.ca.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS WINDSOR-ESSEX ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS from the Leamington area to volunteer in a group mentoring setting called On Track to Success which takes place from September to June. Info at www.bigbrothersbigsisterswe.ca/ or call 519-945-5232 ext. 23 to speak with Rose Culmone, Director of Programs.

Community Calendar is a FREE service for FREE

Come and enjoy an evening of acoustic music refreshments and Community. There is no cover charge but we do pass the hat for a free-will offering to support local Charities and the renovation of The Bank Theatre. See you there!

AN ECLECTIC CLASSICAL CONCERT

The third Off-Site Classical benefit Concert for The Bank Theatre takes place on Sunday afternoon, October 2, at 3:00 pm at Knox Presbyterian Church. Tickets are $15 and available from Wharram’s Jewellery, Thomson Guardian Pharmacy, Counter Effects and on-line at brownpapertickets.com or at the door. Come and enjoy “Jubal’s Daughters”, with Anita Leschied on the harp and Averil Spence-Clarke on the flute, 2 solos by soprano Nancy Dyck, David Light performing Renaissance music on classical guitar, a stretching of the definition of classical with “folk fiddling” by Gloria’s Strings as well as the entertaining Jason Hildebrand playing contemporary piano from a classical base.

ALLISON BROWN

IN CONCERT

OCTOBER 14, 8:00 PM, DOORS OPEN @ 7:30

Join local musician Allison Brown and her band The Assembly Line for an evening of Country, Folk and Roots music. Tickets ($12 advance, $15 at the door) are available from Allison at www.allisonbrown.ca, the Bank Theatre Ticket Hotline at 519-326-8805 and Counter Effects in Leamington.

Upcoming events include the comical musical production of “The Addams Family” October 20-23. Ticket info to follow.

Legion Week in full swing

Br. 324 Legion News by Jan Watson

Bonnie Evoy and Richard Howe won 7 games at Fun Darts on September 9. Tied with 4 wins were Debbie Ouellette, Garry Hope and Jim McClellan – Rosemary Duquette and Tim Moore. Velma Hope and Doug Seili won 3 games followed by Julie Reid, Arnold Seili and Larry Evoy with 2 wins. Mary Robinson, Gord Crook and Joe Pinch narrowly beat the skunk. In fact, Mary has avoided the skunk for 3 weeks! Ladies doubling out were Rosemary and Velma.

Mary Robinson, with 3, was the biggest winner at the Meat Draws that were run by Lori Gouin on September 10. Julie Reid won meat and the 50/50 draw. Other winners Jim Hall, Lori Gouin, Doug Miller, Jerry Sovie, Judy Pickle, Carol Balestrieri and John Balkwill. A team of euchre players competed in the Ladies Auxiliary Zone Tournament held in Comber on September 10. Kellie Adamson, Brenda Wallace, Sandy Simpson and Donna Corlett beat Comber in a playoff for third place. They will compete at the District level in Chatham on October 15. Way to play, ladies.

Wheatley Br. 324 would love to see you out this week during Legion Week: Appreciation Night – Thursday, come out and enjoy wine and cheese starting at 7 p.m.; Friday, Poor Boys Lunch from 11:30 to 1 p.m.; also Friday at 7:30 p.m. Fun Mixed Darts; Saturday, Meat Draws followed by Fish Fry from 5-7 p.m. Call the Branch for more information at 519-825-4161.

Please Note: The monthly Seniors Dinner scheduled to resume on September 29 has been cancelled.

Become a Coffee Break host and make a difference

The Alzheimer Society of Windsor & Essex County’s (ASWE) annual Coffee Break® fundraiser campaign is underway and continues until November 30.

This year the goal is to surpass last year’s record of 100 host sites and raise $30,000 to help support local individuals with dementia and their care partners so they are able to live well and independently for as long as possible.

“Every year the amount of individuals and families that request our services grows,” said Sally Bennett Olczak, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Windsor & Essex County. “To have counselling, support and respite programs available locally is vital to our community. We need funds to keep them active and what better way to draw attention to this need than to have this conversation over cups of coffee?”

A Coffee Break® is any social activity where hosts offer coffee in exchange for a donation to the Alzheimer Society. Coffee Break® can be customized to your friends, family or organization – your coffee break might last a few hours or a few weeks. ASWE provides the coffee, cups and lids, stir sticks, sugar, promotional materials, and even a volunteer to help out and answer questions if you’d like. All you have to do is brew!

Some Coffee Break® hosts add a bake sale, raffle, auction, or even make it a milk and cookies break for younger attendees. ASWE also offers paper coffee cup cutouts to businesses for customers to purchase and proudly display their names in support of the Society.

To become a Coffee Break host contact Sarah Overton at soverton@aswecare.com or 519-974-2220 ext. 237.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

7:30 - 10 am: Breakfast at Colasanti’s Restaurant.

9 am - 6 pm: Vendors, Children’s games and inflatable rides open.

10:30 am: Ruthven Apple Festival Parade Parade route to be located on County Road 45 & 2nd Concession in the Hamlet of Ruthven and will move northbound to Colasanti's 11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Opening Ceremonies at the festival main stage area. Includes Apple Peeling Contest and welcome from dignitaries.

12:30 - 5:30 pm: Entertainment

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

10 am - 5 pm: Vendors, children's' games and inflatable rides open.

10 am - 2 pm: Apple Festival Car Show

Located at B&S Storage (next to Colasanti’s).

Registration for those with cars starts at 9 a.m.

11:30 am - 5 pm: Entertainment

5 pm: Raffle draws (main stage area)

more information visit: www.communitylivingessex.org Call: 519-776-6483, ext. 246 or: 519-326-3287

Note: only service dogs allowed on festival grounds.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

12:30 - 1:30 pm: Visions - Pop/Rock

1:30 - 2:30 pm: Johnny and the Lawman - Classic Rock

2:30 - 3:30 pm: Belly Dance Essex 3:30 - 5:30 pm: Pianomen - Tribute to Billy Joel

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

12 - 1:00 pm: The Dale Butler Band

1 - 2 pm: Crystal Gage - Country

2 - 3 pm: Derrick Hearns & Friends (Country)

3 - 4 pm: Last Minute - Pop/Rock

4 - 5 pm: 17 North

Essex County Library: talks break down again

Bargaining talks between striking Essex County Library workers and management ended on Wednesday, September 14.

“Once again, talks failed because the library board’s sick time position has not changed since before the strike began and that was well over 80 days ago,” said Lori Wightman, unit chair for CUPE 2974. “According to the board their mandate is a directive from Essex County Council. This board is refusing to stand up for the library services or the workers that deliver these important services.

“The board knows that sick time is not an issue at the libraries and their proposed plan will cost more, yet they refuse to stand up to County Council. Essentially this is a puppet board and the strings are being pulled by Essex County,” continued Wightman.

“While County Council is clearly providing directive to the library board to achieve their own agenda, it will not be long before the people of our community will be providing a directive to their elected officials – municipal elections are two years away, and we will all remember the summer and now the fall of 2016, when council closed all 14 branches of our libraries,” concluded Wightman.

Renee Trombley, Manager of Corporate Communications and Accessibility for the County of Essex, released this statement:

“Wednesday, September 14, 2016, the Essex County Library Board returned to two days of negotiations after CUPE 2974 withdrew its unfair labour practice application. Unfortunately, the parties were unable to reach a resolution of the collective agreement.

“The Essex County Library Board has no further comment at this time.”

All 14 Essex County libraries have been closed since the strike began on June 25. The strike is entering its third month.

Super Ethan’s Steps will benefit Paediatric Oncology

The 2nd Annual Super Ethan’s Steps 2 km walk, 5 km run family event will take place on Sunday, September 25 at Seacliff Park in Leamington. The proceeds this year will be donated to the Paediatric Oncology Unit at Windsor Regional Hospital. The event also aims to bring awareness to childhood cancer as September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. All of the information regarding the event can be found on the Super Ethan’s Steps Facebook page. There will be snacks and refreshments available for purchase, activities for the kids, and raffle prizes. There will also be an information booth with related resources from various local and provincial charities and organizations who help children and their families

affected by childhood cancer. Participants can register up until the 2 km walk starts. Registration begins that morning at 9 a.m., followed by the 2 km walk at 10 a.m. and the 5 km run at 10:45 a.m.

2016-2017 roster

Hometown:

Hometown: Amherstburg, ON Date of birth: March 19, 1998

HEDRICK

NICOLAS MAINELLA

ZAK PARLETTE

PARKER JACQUES

#11

SYLVANO VALENTE

HOGAN

#13

BRAYDEN KLEMENS #20

BRODEN MELOCHE

LSCU U13 boys win league championship

On September 15 the Leamington SC United U13 boys soccer team won the league championship 2-1 versus a strong Windsor Soccer Club, capping an undefeated season. Windsor got off to a quick start scoring only two minutes into the match. It was 1-0 at the half. Once Leamington regained composure and got out all the jitters at half, accompanied by a motivating speech from the coaching staff, they were their old selves again. Keeping Windsor to just 1 shot the second half and allowing them entry was very minimal. The sleeping giant had awakened.

Leamington had no shortage of attempts on target, finding iron three times and missing the yawning net too many to count. It wasn’t until the 62nd minute when Leamington was awarded a shot from the penalty mark. The coaching staff had no hesitation having the team’s leading scorer, Marcus Tannous, go for the tie. And that he did, tucking the ball into the bottom left corner to bring the teams level.

Approaching the game’s end and with the possibility of a penalty shootout, it wasn’t until 4 minutes remaining in the match when Caleb Michaud buried the go-ahead goal. The team erupted with roars – the championship was in their grasp! The remainder of the game was the usual defensive shutdown of most opponents until the final whistle.

The boys won their kickoff cup going 5-0 and allowing 1 goal in the tournament. They were flawless in the regular season and marked a 15-0 record, scoring 96 goals and conceding only 11. Leamington continued to dominate through the playoffs eventually winning the Triple Crown playoff championship.

Throughout the season the boys competed in three tournaments. They went to the final in one, only to lose in penalty shots. With each game they improved in all aspects. Getting a taste of the Ontario Cup, a province-wide tournament, showed the team that they were not far off in challenging the best teams in Ontario.

The LSCU awards banquet is the last order of business for the team on September 30, as they set sight on tryouts for next year’s team.

Season Stats: 22 games played; 130 goals for; 12 goals against.

Leamington SC United U13 boys defeated Windsor Soccer Club 2-1 to claim the league championship. The Leamington team capped off an undefeated season. Team members are, front row, left to right: Bryden Fizer, Sebastian Tofflemire, Charbel Nohra, Marcus Tannous, Riley Andrade, Caleb Michaud, Cameron Lussier, Alex Havinga, Brett Willis. Back row: Coach Tony Omar, Jason Daraiche, Carson Mastronardi, Bram Janssen, Drake Dacosta, Noel Hodgson, Miguel Lazo, Carlos Dagloria, Cole Market, coach Joe (Gilly) Rodrigues, Adam Zylstra, coach Justin Michaud. – Submitted photo

Putting the “pro” in protest

Usually, when I hear the word “protest,” I think of civil rights movement documentaries from the 1960s, which of course was also an era big on protesting military action in nations where the chant-shouting, sign-waving participants felt their government had no business trying to influence. Starting in the 1990s, protesting became more and more widespread, as political correctness shifted into high gear and college students with little to no knowledge on the topic at hand tried to impress fellow students of the opposite sex. While in high school, I got “involved” in two of the three “protests” that I can remember taking place at LDSS. One

was a student reaction to the implementation of a certain dress code. Twenty-some-odd years later, I can’t even remember the details, although I think it had something to do with wearing shirts brandishing offensive messages, images or the promotion of alcoholic beverages.

At the time, I had a couple shirts that would have been grounds for being sent home had such legislation been enforced. One was a Molson Canadian shirt and the other a ratty old Metallica shirt with a hand sticking out of a toilet while holding a large dagger. The text accompanying the image (which the band would have used as the title of its debut album had the record company allowed it) was what would have crossed the line. Yeah, sorry, it’s also a bit too vulgar to print in the pages of a community newspaper.

Anyway, the other “protest” was a response to the school board’s decision to send students enrolled in the basic programs at LDSS to Western. Feeling that it was a massively unfair maneuver that would have been a significant inconvenience for affected fellow students, it — like the dress code issue — triggered a walkout. Everyone talked about walking out of whatever class they were in at 1 p.m. and gathering outside at the laneway that served as the entrance to the teachers’ parking lot. For the dress code “protest” only one other student and I walked out of our Man And Society class. Regarding the discontinuation of basic programming, there were a few more if memory serves me correctly (which it does more seldomly as the years go on).

didn’t “walk out” for was the one relating to speculation that the school board was going to close Kingsville District High School. It wasn’t that I didn’t care; I just didn’t think it would actually happen (and of course it didn’t). I did buy one of the t-shirts in support of KDHS, though.

Pertaining to more nationally or globally known issues, celebrities and musicians are almost EXPECTED to cause a ruckus. George Clooney and Bono more or less dedicate their lives to acting out against civil injustice, which is admirable of them. When professional athletes do the same — for whatever reason — public support isn’t usually quite as widespread. Maybe sports fans are a more conservative bunch compared to movie buffs and concert goers.

Or maybe it’s because of how professional athletes have chosen to stage their protests as of late.

On both occasions, we waited around for teachers or the principal to come bursting through the front doors demanding that we return to class. It never happened, so we kind of got bored and many of us went to Jack’s a couple doors down to play video games and foosball. No, not exactly akin to the brave soul who stood in front of a column of tanks during the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.

My friend and I (the two from our class who walked out against the dress code) were later reprimanded — well, more like lectured — for our actions and that was pretty much the end of my protesting days. The one I

By now, most have heard about the hoopla regarding the NFL players who’ve decided to either sit out or kneel during the pre-game playing of the U.S. national anthem. It’s become quite a polarizing issue. Some support these actions, explaining that they have every right to act out against reoccurring racial intolerance by whatever means they feel are necessary. Others insist that they’ve crossed a line while pointing out that police actions that have caused recent uproar were responses to criminal activity, not the colour of anyone’s skin. The three players that kneeled prior to the NFL game in Seattle defended their actions in part by explaining that kneeling is a widely accepted practice in many religions, so why all the backlash? Well, for one, the followers of most religious denominations don’t kneel while their country’s national anthem is playing. As many angered patriots have also mentioned, the Star Spangled Banner is not a theme song for the slim minority of law enforcement officers who may or may not use deadly force against individuals based on their race.

Others still — perhaps representing a majority of sorts — have no issue with protesting against civil rights violations. These others, however, would prefer to see a display of angst that does NOT disrespect an entire country. If a neighbour is playing ear-shattering music at all hours of the day, do you lash out against every homeowner on your street? I’d hope not.

Justified or not, an entire high school football team in Seattle has recently knelt during the playing of their country’s anthem. Love him or hate him, Colin Kaepernick has set off a chain reaction of sorts. It might be forgotten at some point down the road, but for the time being will exist as a hot topic within a hot topic. I doubt his decision to actually SIT during the playing of the anthem will ever put an end to social injustice. As far as spreading awareness goes, he might be on to something there. Police brutality in the U.S. is an issue that has been covered extensively within news media circles, but not so much specifically within the sports media community. If that alone was Kaepernick’s objective, then mission accomplished.

If he’s trying to narrow the social divide in America rather than widen it (I sometimes find it impossible to believe the U.S. has only had ONE civil war), well, time will tell.

BRYAN JESSOP

Jessop’s Journal

Team Purple wins 5th annual Mulligan Cup

The 5th annual two-day Mulligan Cup kicked off Saturday, September 10 at Erie Shores Golf Club. It was not decided until 10 a.m. whether or not the course would even be open because of a rain storm the night before. The game was played, however, under lift, clean and place conditions with some sand traps not playable. Twenty-four players were previously chosen by their captains – Bill Gherasim and the purple shirts against Frank Gow’s grey shirts.

Saturday play was a continuous 18-hole match with the first 9 holes being alternate shots and the second 9 best ball. By the end of day 1 the purple squad won 5 of the 6 matches: Bill Gherasim and Gord Anderson won 3 and 1 against Frank Gow and Bob Park; Dave Wilkinson and Orest Hrynewich 3 and 2 against Bob Dick and Gary McRae; Gary Alderson and Heinz Kosempel 1 up against Fred Klassen and Henry Hildebrandt; Neil Reimer and Dan McQueen 1 up on Ross Clark and Barry Miller; Bill Stackpoole and Matt Dick won 2 and 1 over Kevin Shaften and Les Young. The only grey shirts to win were Garth Dennerley and Ron Koop 4 and 3 over Tom Miehl and Wayne Quinn. Sunday was match play with 12 points available for the

PLUMBERGASMAN

taking. The purple squad won 8 matches to 4: Dave Wilkinson 1 up on Les Young; Gary Alderson 1 up on Henry Hildebrandt; Gord Anderson 6 and 5 over Garth Dennerley; Tom Miehl 3 and 2 over Bob Dick; Matt Dick 5 and 4 over Frank Gow; Heinz Kosempel 5 and 3 over Gary McRae; Bill Gherasim 2 and 1 over Fred Klassen; Orest Hrynewich 6 and 4 over Ross Clark.

For the grey shirts it was: Ron Koop 4 and 2 over Neil Reimer; Barry Miller 2 up over Dan McQueen; Bob Park 5 and 4 over Wayne Quinn; and Kevin Shaften 3 and 2 over Bill Stackpoole.

The final tally was purple shirts 13 and grey shirts 5.

The Flamingo Restaurant served a great meal for the players Sunday evening. Congrats to Gary Alderson for a fine job as host for the dinner.

It was great to see Craig Brummell of Essex Topcrop Sales Ltd. and his son attend the meal. Top Crop Sales have donated the shirts for every Mulligan Cup event. It was decided to rename the tournament the Darryl Brummell Mulligan Cup Tournament. Darryl was the inspiration behind the creation of this competition.

Ladies 18 hole golf

On Sept. 18 the ladies 18-hole golf league at Erie Shores played the first round of their two-day net championship. Thirty ladies played on a gorgeous sunny Tuesday and the best score was Paula Hudders with an impressive score of 68. Tym Brannagan and Lori Kelly were right behind with a super score of 71. Lisa Fehr, Jean Penner and Mary Hrynewich were close behind with 73.

Chip-ins were scored by Judy Butler, Diana Jones, Nancy Flynn, Carolyn Kelly, Muriel Davey, Mary Hrynewich, Linda Segedin and Carol Cornies. Mary Lappan scored two chip-ins. Way to go!

The second and deciding game is Wednesday, September 21.

Kings split weekend games

It was payback time for the Kingsville Kings Jr. ‘A’ hockey team Saturday night, Sept. 17, as they traveled to London and doubled the host Lakers 4-2.

Down 2-0 in the first period, Matyas Kasek led the way with a goal and an assist. Singles were from Andrew Baxter, Adam Kusior and David Vostarek.

Getting his second straight start in net, Justin Lalonde turned away 30 shots and was named the game’s first star.

A week earlier in their Greater Metro Junior ‘A’ Hockey League season opener, the Kings came up short 6-5 in overtime.

At home on Sunday, the Kings could not contain the aggressive Niagara Whalers and were beaten 4-2.

This penalty filed game saw Marvin Simmons and Ondres Tomek score for Kingsville.

The Purple Team defeated the Grey Team with a final tally of 13-5 to win the Mulligan Cup played Sept. 10-11 at Erie Shores. Purple Team golfers were, front left to right: Wayne Quinn, Tom Miehl, Gord Anderson, Dan McQueen, Heinz Kosempel. Back row: Orest Hyrnewich, Matt Dick, Dave Wilkinson, Bill Gherasim (captain), Neil Reimer, Bill Stackpoole, Gary Alderson. (Submitted photo)

E.S. senior men’s golf

Fifty-one senior golfers played on Beat the Pro Day on Sept. 12 at Erie Shores Golf Club.

Fifty-fifty winners were Gary McRae and Brett Madden. Closest to pin on #3 was Ed Krahn and on #16 it was Henry Hildebrandt. Longest putt on #6 was made by Bob Sutherland and on #15 Jim Jones sunk the longest.

In a game of 6-6-6 the winning team with a net total of 118 was Frank Dick, Ray Ozorio, Ed Krahn and Ron Tremblay. Second with 122 was Garth Dennerley, Tim Dobson, Dan McQueen and Guy McIntyre. Third place at 124 went to Fred Klassen, Bob Park, Brent Metz and Ed Schachoskoy. Fourth at 125 was the team of Wayne Quinn, Don Noels, Henry Hildebrandt and Ron Gagne.

On Beat the Pro Day, Ryan Peltier, the head pro, was parked at the third par 3 hole. He took his shot and every player had a chance to hit their shot closer to the hole than Ryan’s. Twelve of the 51 players managed to beat Ryan’s shot. They were Bob Park, Matt Dinchik, Matt Dick, Ron Koop, Dave Wilkinson, Ed Krahn, Tim Dobson, Richard Reive, Gord Anderson, Tom Bondy, Mike Wright and Tom Miehl. Each player got a sleeve of balls.

The low round of the day was shared by 3 golfers each scoring a fine 80. They were Ron Koop, Dave Wilkinson and Matt Dick. Two players managed to get 2 birds. They were Ed Krahn and Ron Koop. Ron Tremblay and Tim Dobson birdied #9, Tom Bondy and Gary Alderson #11, and Guy McIntyre #12. The course came out the winner this day as the scoring was up and the birdies were down.

If you have not yet signed up for next week you can do so by emailing esseniorleague@ gmail.com

RFH Novice Majors lose two

The Reid Funeral Home Novice Major ‘A’ hockey team played two games the weekend of Sept. 10-11, coming up short in both contests.

Despite great goaltending by Tomas Kniaziew and Andrew Demant the Novices couldn’t top the high-powered Belle River offense on Saturday afternoon. They kept it close for two periods, only trailing 2-0 going into the third.

Grant Symons tallied an early third-period goal with a great individual effort, and he scored again 4 minutes later to draw the team within one goal. Owen Deneau and James Sonoski had the assists on the latter marker.

Unfortunately, the Jr. Canadiens scored two of their own in the third to take the game 4-2.

On Sunday, Reid F.H. tangled with another strong squad in the LaSalle Sabres. Again, they thwarted many early attempts by the quick Sabre forwards with some strong defensive play by the Southpoint blueliners and stalwart goaltending. They took the lead midway through the first as Grant Symons scored his third of the weekend with assists going to Cole Gossmann and Ethan Barnewall.

Southpoint hung around for most of the game, keeping the score knotted at 1-1 going into the third period. Unfortunately the Sabres wouldn’t be denied and they took the victory 5-1 with some late game heroics by their skilled forwards.

Even though we couldn’t squeak out a win over the weekend, the team displayed a lot of grit and mental toughness.

Southpoint will host the Essex Ravens on Sept. 23 and travel to Tecumseh Sept. 24.

“Having lost family members to cancer and being a cancer survivor myself for 15 years now, I was no stranger to this disease. After going through the stages of grief and finally coming to acceptance as I received love and support from my family and friends, I began to notice a shift in my focus from myself to other survivors. It is this focus that continues to motivate and encourage my involvement with “Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer” to this day. This event celebrates the survivors from our community and inspires others to give back. I know that my small contributions are part of a vision much greater. We are working towards the eradication of cancer and our efforts seek to enhance the quality of life for those living with this disease. While Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer has helped other cancer patients breathe a little easier, it has also been a very rewarding experience for me”.

-Trudy Weber

& 5k

Sunday,

and 5k &10k run

25, 2016 Point Pelee National Park 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington, ON N8H 3V4 (Park entrance fee included for registered participants) Starts at the Visitors Centre. Registration & Check-in opens at 8:00 a.m. (Please come early to avoid a rush) Opening Ceremonies and warm-ups at 9:40 a.m.

Runners and walkers start at 10:00 a.m.

Sharks tie Blades in home opener

the third period, but bounced back with three goals to tie the game 4-4. (SUN Photo)

Champ bests TT senior golfers

By Bob McLean

On Tuesday, September 13, 56 participants golfed in weekly league play at Talbot Trail Golf Club. The TT senior champion, Dutchy, continued his sensational play by firing the lowest score, an outstanding 37.

In the 50-68 y division, Jerry Omstead, who just recently returned from a northern vacation, continued his marvelous play by shooting a 39. Steve Longeway had his best game when he shot an excellent 42. Two shots back with their superb 44s were John Liddell and Brian Wilkinson. Dave Overholt came in with a solid 45. Three players meriting commendable 46s were Herb Reid, Terry Scratch and Kevin Jordan.Very praiseworthy scores were achieved by the following players: Bummy 47; Dave Alexander 48; Dave Clark and Wiz 49s. Dutchy’s guest, Greg Lightfoot, had a terrific 41.

In the 69-73y division, Bob McLean’s excellent 40 gave him second place to the leader, Dutchy. Pat Hill played superbly to score an outstanding 42. Two players who achieved excellent results were Bill Ward and Mac Hyatt with their 43 and 44 results respectively. Very noteworthy 45s were achieved by Mike Getty and Larry Schmidt. Ray La Pierre and Larry Haggitt shot superb 46s. Satisfying 48s went to Richard Humber and Rick Epplett. Al Zanuttini carved out a fine 49. Wayne Humber scored a nifty 50.

In the 74-79y division, Vic Reynaert continued his terrific play by firing a scintillating 39. Long hitter Mike Wright was a mere one shot back with his excellent 40.

Joe Vertel also continued his very praiseworthy play by shooting a terrific 42. Gerald Rivait achieved a very solid 45. Paul Brown shot a fine 48. Neil Adamson is continuing to get his game back in shape and turned in a nifty 50. Other satisfying results came from Don Willan, Tom Sasso, Andy Orsini, Terry Bee, Eugene Abbruzzese, Gary Wilson and Larry Hillman.

In the 80-84y group, Gerry Becigneul took top spot with his impressive 52. He was closely followed by Carl Robinson and Fred Takaki.

The super seniors shot very well. Dave La Bonte continued his spectacular play by firing an outstanding 47. Dave Krueger fired a terrific 53 and Murray Cascadden earned a very satisfying 59.

The final league scramble will take place on Tuesday, September 27. Hopefully more of the league members will be out for the windup scramble. Groups will continue to be organized for as

long as the weather permits. To all league members who are under the weather right now – we wish you a speedy recovery.

The final league excursion will take place at the Kingsville Golf Club on Thursday, September 22. Members are really looking forward to playing the Gold and Red nines.

County Bridge Results

Leamington Half Century Centre, Sept. 12: North/South - 1st Al Morrison and Frank Duransky, 2nd Marie Ellwood and Sharon Lutz, 3rd Nina Towle and Helen Preyde. East/West - 1st Roger Cote and Jim Perkes, 2nd Cookie Mair and Don Franks, 3rd Mame Nicholson and Dave Derbyshire. Bridge games are played each Monday at 12:45 p.m. Members and new members welcome.

Kingsville Bridge Club, Sept. 14: 1st Marilyn Robbins and Elizabeth Moran, 2nd Cookie Mair and Don Franks, 3rd Al Morrison and Sue Duransky, 4th Bob Lee and Henry Hildebrandt. Bridge is every Wednesday at the Lions Hall in Kingsville, 7 p.m. Harrow Bridge Club, Thurs. Sept. 15: 1st Joyce Stewart and Buddy Ellwood, 2nd Jane

Gollmer and Ann Pascoe, 3rd Sue Barsanti and Ian Johnson, 4th Helen Jenner and Jenny Cornwall. Bridge is played Thursdays at Harrowood, 7 p.m.

Leamington mosquito ‘B’ Lakers travel coach Jeff Thomas applies his team’s Ontario Baseball Association championship banner for the 2016 season to the Kinsmen Sports Field board along Seacliff Drive Monday, Sept. 12 as members of the team look on. The banner was the 52nd applied to the board of Leamington OBA champions, immediately following this year’s midget ‘B’ banner applied at the beginning of the month. (Submitted photo)

Braeden Allure of the Blades chases Delaney MacDonald as the Shark forward carries the puck behind the Blenheim net during the second period of Wheatley’s home and season opener Monday, Sept. 19 at Wheatley Area Arena. The home team trailed 4-1 early in

Flyers nip Vipers in home opener

By Bryan Jessop

The Leamington Flyers started their home-ice schedule for 2016-17 with a defensive barn burner, where veterans and rookies were able to work together and pull one out of the fire.

Trailing their county rival LaSalle Vipers late in the third period, the Flyers snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to post a 3-2 overtime win and climb above the .500 mark in the early stages of the new season. The first match of the season at Highbury Canco Arena was played Thursday, Sept. 15, following a 1-1 split of Showcase Weekend games between Golden Horseshoe and Midwestern opponents.

The two local teams played a fairly evenly-matched first period, although the Flyers offence wasn’t able to generate much in the way of scoring chances. The Vipers, meanwhile were on the beneficial end of all three minor penalty calls, using the second to open the scoring. From the left side of the net, Liam MacDougall beat rookie goalie Noah Hedrick with an ice-level shot that stood as the leading tally until after the second buzzer. LaSalle had outshot their hosts 8-6 after 20 minutes.

The middle stanza was the most uneventful, where the Vipers were once again treated to the only power plays. Griffin Robinson took a forward pass for a short breakaway chance roughly midway through the period, but was denied with a save off the handle of Dershahn Stewart’s stick. Leamington’s penalty kill scrambled somewhat on the Vipers’ two power plays, but at the same time kept Hedrick’s vision of the shoot-

ing lanes clear. The offensively conservative period ended with a 4-3 shots on net advantage favouring LaSalle. Leamington’s forward lines sprung to life early in the third, although the Vipers again registered a shots advantage, this time 11-9. More than 40 minutes of blocked and wide shots was finally followed by a game-tying goal in the first minute of the third, when veteran Cale Phibbs chipped a high shot into the upper left corner of the mesh from the opposite side of the net. The veteran forward potted his first of the season after circling around the back of the net. His wrap around attempt was foiled, but he managed to bury the puck with a pile-up of traffic in the crease. Assists were drawn by fellow former Wheatley Sharks Scott Florence and newcomer Dallas Maurovic. LaSalle regained its lead about five minutes later after Daniel Beaudoin released a wrist shot that sailed just beyond the reach of Hedrick’s glove. Again having to fight off two five-on-four disadvantages while LaSalle never had to put its penalty killing unit to the test, the Flyers appeared poised for a 1-2-0-0 record late in regulation. Maurovic, however, had other ideas, tying the game with an ice-level wrist shot that found the left side of the net with 76 seconds on the clock. Florence and Phibbs drew assists.

The hosts required 39 seconds of overtime to salvage a twopoint night. Carrying the puck toward the Vipers’ net, Broden Meloche led a three-on-two charge and fired a shot that beat Stewart through the five hole. The puck struck the left post and although the cheer of spectators seemed to indicate the game was over, officials waved off what many thought was a goal and allowed play to continue. The puck made its way out of the crease when defenseman Thomas Virban swooped in and tapped a shot that struck the sprawling goalkeeper’s back before bouncing over the goal line.

“I heard the goal horn, but I also saw the ref wave it off, so I crashed in on the net and took a poke at it,” Virban expalined. Brayden Klemens and Meloche were credited with assists on the winning marker. With the victory, the Flyers joined the London Nationals as the two Western squads with 2-1-0-0 records. The Vipers were two for seven on the man advantage while the Flyers played without a single power play.

“We’ve got a lot of younger guys, but they’re hard workers,” Virban said of his team. “We came out a little slow for

the first two periods of this one, but our goalie kept us in it and we came out flying in the third. It was our best period so far. This is my third and final year and I want to make the most of it. I think we can make a good playoff push this year.”

Leeamington’s head coach Tony Piroski echoed Virban’s sentiments about the first 40 minutes, but also saw positive signs from the first tilt of the season at Highbury Canco.

“We struggled a bit early, but we’ll take our bumps, learn and get better,” Piroski said. “We lost too many one-on-one battles in the first two (periods) and we can’t create chances that way. We’re young, not very big up front and we’re not as aggressive as last year, but we’ve got speed and some guys who are creative offensively.”

Despite the Vipers’ start of two losses and two overtime losses, Piroski suspects the Vipers will evolve into a formidable team this season.

“LaSalle’s got some veterans who’ve been good for the past couple years,” he explained. “They’ll be one of the teams that’s tough to beat.”

The Flyers had to start the 48-game Western Conference stretch of the season without veteran defensemen Zak Par-

lette, who received a seven-game suspension stemming from an altercation during the second Showcase Weekend game against the Elmira Sugar Kings. The home opener was also played without rookie Parker Jacques, who was sidelined with an upper body injury. He is expected to return to the line up for this week’s home game against the London Nationals.

Flyers were outshot 35-31,

Rest of the West

The Nationals doubled the

14, the

the

3-0

On

On Friday, the Flyers visited the 3-0-0-0 St. Thomas Stars. Leamington won 7-6 in overtime, supported by goals from Connor Morrison and Phibbs with two each and Josh PopeFerguson, Liam Hogan and Maurovic with one apiece. The

on

A disappointed Tyler Russell of the Vipers skates towards his bench as the Leamington Flyers celebrate an overtime goal by veteran Thomas Virban to complete their home opener at Highbury Canco Arena Thursday, Sept. 15. The win improved Leamington’s record to 2-1-0-0.

Brayden Klemens of the Flyers and Jasper Forgrave of the Vipers battle for control of the puck in the LaSalle zone during Leamington’s home opener.

The Flyers’ Dallas Maurovic protects the puck from LaSalle’s Zack Hoffman and Jarrett Tazzman during his team’s home opener at Highbury Canco Arena. (SUN photos)

with Connor Meyerink taking the win in net. The Stars were two for four on the power play while the Flyers were one for four.

Vipers 4-2 on Wednesday, Sept.

day before

St. Thomas Stars blanked the Legionnaires

in Sarnia.

Friday, the Nats beat the St. Marys Lincolns 5-3, the day before the Strathroy Rockets defeated Lambton Shores 4-1. The Chatham Maroons lost 3-2 to Sarnia

Sunday while the Lincs won 7-5 against St. Thomas.

Minor basketball group launching house league

By Bryan Jessop

Aspiring basketball players from the Leamington area who aren’t yet sure if they want to commit to a travel schedule are in luck.

Starting early next month, the Leamington Basketball Association will be revamping its instructional development program. The Leamington Basketball League — a revitalized house league system — will be introduced in various coed programs running from Oct. 5 to Nov. 30. Co-ed teams based on Grades 5 to 8 will get started on the first Wednesday of October with registration at 6:45 p.m. Games will be officiated by referees and run weekly from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and include team shirts. Other events will also be included. The season-long registration fee will be $70 per player. Like the travel series of games and practices that follow starting in December, the instructional house

BIRTHDAYS

league program will be hosted by Cardinal Carter Catholic Secondary School. House league dates of Oct. 17, 24, Nov. 7, 14, 21 and 28 will be designated for co-ed grades from 1 to 4. Registration will take place the first evening — Oct. 17 — at 6:45 p.m. at a cost of $60 per player.

Leamington Basketball Association president Rod Baeini explained that the new house league system will offer less experienced players a chance to play the sport competitively while potentially honing their skills for the travel season with the Leamington Cougars that begins in December. For others, it can also be a chance to prepare for high school basketball.

“It’s a quiet sport around here, so we’re looking for more ways to get more kids involved,” Baeini explained. “It’s a great way to get kids out there for two months.”

Turnouts for travel basketball have been low in recent years, although tryouts will take place for gradeand gender-based teams with an excessive number of players interested in joining. For the new house league system, Baeini and other executive members are hoping to attract about 100 players from various age groups.

The Leamington Cougars travel teams frequently take on opponents from Windsor and Chatham throughout the season until the Ontario Basketball Association championship tournaments take place in mid-late April. By comparison, all LBA house league games will take place at Cardinal Carter.

Last year, the Cougars formed a Grade 9 girls team, a Grade 8 boys team and a Grade 6-7 boys team. The younger of the two boys teams captured bronze in Niagara Falls for the OBA

finals among more than 100 teams while the Grade 8 boys won gold in London. Each year, host cities rotate the age and gender divisions

they host for the provincial championships.

Anyone interested in joining the Leamington Basketball Association house

Sincere thanks and gratitude to all the caregivers for our dear, late mother Suzanne Kudroch - Dr. David Bayley and the nurses & staff at Leamington Hospital. Care in her own home by Saint Elizabeth. Our special love and thanks to Nancy, Shannon, Sebastian, Madison and Genna. Many thanks to Kevin and staff at Reid Funeral Home for their heartfelt guidance. To all our friends & family for their love and support. The Kudroch Family

Kyle & Gillian Ribble along with big brother Beckett are thrilled to announce the birth of Lucca Malcolm Carl on Monday September 12/16

Weighing 8lbs 13oz and measuring 21 inches long. Proud grandparents are Mark and Debbie Ribble, Becky and Sean Harwood, Sue Canning, Mike Homer and Bernadette Guite. Also many happy aunts, uncles, great grandparents and extended family.

league system or a travel team later this autumn can contact Baeini at rbaeini@ yahoo.ca.

Members of the U13 Leamington Cougars basketball team poses for photos prior to a Windsor Express game. The players were able to take to the court before the Canadian Basketball Association game and remained to watch the Express. (Submitted photo)

FOR RENT

ERIE APARTMENTS

137 Erie St. South 2 bedroom units available. 2nd & 3rd floor. 13th month free. Available immediately. Call 519-325-8592

Ask us about our limited time “New Tenant” incentives. www.ska-apartmentrentals.com Call Mike or Kevin 519-326-8819

LEAMINGTON'S ONLY CONSIGNMENT Store.

Located at 3 Erie Street South - Come check us out! (Across from Ten Thousand Villages). Monday - Closed.

Tuesday to Thursday - 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday & Sunday - 10:00 a.m to 10:00 p.m. se21

PRINTING: BUSINESS ENVELOPES,invoices, flyers, business cards, custom print jobs, whatever your printing needs, call Jim at The Sounthpoint Sun for quick and economical service, 519-398-9098. tf

PERSONALS

MY NAME IS Marko and I'm 38. I'm looking for a nice wonderful lady to go out with and share my life with. Call 519-324-6989. se14-oc5

KINGSVILLE LEGION

BRANCH 188 - Friday Night Dinners 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Weekly Specials $14 (Ribs or Perch). Other weekly menu items $12. Karaoke every 3rd Saturday of the month 8:00 p.m. 519-7335162 (office) or 519-7339081 (bar). ja6-tf

COME CHECK OUT 2ND LEAMINGTON SCOUTING at the Leamington United Church, 9 John Street. Registration taking place during meeting times. Beaver Scouts (ages 5-7) Mondays 6:15 - 7:30 pm. Cub Scouts (ages 8-10) Tuesdays 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Scouts (ages 11-13) Tuesdays 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Venturer Scouts (ages 1417) Mondays 7:30 - 8:30 pm. For more information call 519-326-6355 or 519326-6214. au31-oc12

HAVE YOU EVER attended a Leamington After 5 dinner meeting? Come join us on Monday, October 17th at 10:00 am at Colasanti's Tropical Gardens as we celebrate 50 years of inviting women into relationship with Jesus Christ. Enjoy coffee and muffins, Shop our marketplace. Listen to our musician and speaker, Susan Baresich and share a beautiful luncheon. Tickets are $20 in advance in Leamington from Setterington's Gifts, Stitch In Time, Ten Thousand Villages and The Strand on Main in Kingsville. Affiliated with RSVP Ministries (formerly Stonecroft). se14-oc5

HOUSE FOR SALE

HOUSE FOR SALE - 5 years old, like new, in a desirable Leamington location. 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, large deck and yard, full double garage. Call 519326-7881 to view. se21-oc26

YARD SALES

YARD SALE - 72 ANFRED Street, Leamington. Saturday, September 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Household items, toys, boy's hockey skates, hockey table. se21

ITEMS FOR SALE

FURNITURE FOR SALE87 Peter Avenue, Leamington. Call 519-3989298. se21

CAR TOP CARRIERS (2) and bicycle carriers. Like new, used twice. $650 value - asking $350. Call 519-3267881. au31-se28

Armstrong Top Pack Ltd. is hiring 50 permanent, full time vegetable packers for its Leamington location to start as soon as possible. Minimum Wage to start. 44 hours per week.

You should be able to lift up to 50 lbs. on a repetitive basis and be able to sort and pack fruits and vegetables in a fast paced environment.

No education or experience is required.

Apply in person from 9:00 to 5:00 at 500 County Road 18, Leamington, N8H3V5 or by email jobs@toppack.ca

GREENHOUSE WORKERS NEEDED at Ridge Farms. Duties - tomato crop work, winding, pruning, harvesting produce, packing produce, other duties as needed.

Work Conditions - repetitive tasks, bending, crouching, kneeling, standing for extended periods, hand-eye coordination, working at heights, hot humid environment, experience an asset. Wages and Hours - 40 plus hours a week including weekends, wages at Ontario minimum wage, seasonal full time. Please forward your resume by email to ridgefarms@sympatico.ca. se21-oc12

GENERAL GREENHOUSE

LABOUR - Full time and full time part time positions available. 40-48 hours per week, weekends/holidays. Physically demanding work, load lifting required, hot humid environment. Minimum wage to start. Apply by fax: 519-326-6702 or email: hriprfms@gmail.com. au17-oc19

PROPERTY / BUILDING / VEHICLE Maintenance & Inventory Control Person: Full Time Position –Electrical Experience is an asset. Mail resumes to 12 Seacliff Dr. East, Leamington, ON, N8H 2L2. se14-28

– Part Time potentially leading to full time. Resume to: 238 Talbot St. W., Leamington, ON; fax: 519326-3632 or email: grossi@grossiplumbing.ca. se14-28

LICENSED PLUMBING,

se14-28

NOW HIRING: GENERAL LABOURER

• Farm or greenhouse work experience an asset

• Picking, clipping, de-leafing, etc. lifting 30-50 lbs

Depending on seasonality, hours vary daily, 6 days per week

Ability to work independently and be part of a team.

Wage: $11.25 per hour

Contact: Mastron-hr@sunsetgrown.com

GREENHOUSE WORKERS NEEDED

Full Time Packing/Grading Staff

JOB DETAILS:

• Full-time permanent

• Monday to Saturday

• $11.25 to start with the ability to advance

• Healthcare Benefits

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Packing and grading of produce as directed by Line Leads

• Maintain product quality standards that meet product specifications

• Maintain a sanitized and organized department that meets all food safety requirements

• Respect all other employees and work in a professional manner at all times projecting a good company image

• Work in various positions at the required speed of service and with the desired sense of urgency

• Other duties as assigned

• Ability to work in the greenhouse as required

• Excellent multi-tasking skills under pressure and manual dexterity

• Ability to lift up 20 lb boxes

• Flexibility to work extended hours, including Saturdays

• Follow all policies and procedures as it relates to Human Resources, Health and Safety and Food Safety

If you possess these attributes, please forward your resume to hr@orangelinefarms.com

It is vital that you have a positive attitude, great energy, excellent attendance and punctuality.

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 $11.25 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.

Apply:

Southshore Greenhouses Inc. 1746 Seacliff Drive Kingsville, Ontario N9Y 2M6

able to sort, pack & stack produce.

• Salary: $11.40 per hour, minimum 40 hours/week including weekends and holidays.

Please email resume to: tinad@sunritegreenhouses.com or fax: 519-733-5290

• Wage: $11.40 per hour, minimum 40 hours/week.

• Repetitive tasks, standing for long periods of time, handling weight of 30 lbs. or more.

• Fast paced environment, must be able to sort, pack & stack produce.

• Cold warehouse setting.

• Experience and asset.

Please email resume to: tinad@sunritegreenhouses.com or fax: 519-733-5290

Greenhouse Labour

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Crop work, winding, pruning• Harvesting produce

• Checking quality of harvested produce

• Other duties as assigned

WORK CONDITIONS:

• Fast-paced environment• Repetitive tasks

• Standing for extended periods• Bend, crouching, kneeling

• Hand-eye coordination• Attention to detail

• Working at heights • Hot environment

WAGE AND HOURS:

• 40 plus hours a week including Saturdays

• Wage: 11.40/hour • Seasonal Full Time

Please forward your resume by email to: hr@orangelinefarms.com (627 County Rd. 14, R.R. # 5, Leamington, ON N8H 3V8)

FULL TIME OFFICE ADMINISTRATION AND DISPATCH

for Plumbing and HVAC Company

• 1-2 years experience in plumbing and HVAC required.

• Simply Accounting an asset.

• Motivated, reliable and great communication skills required.

Drop off resume to: 1 Iroquois Road, Leamington, ON or email: info@dhcmechanical.com

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Director of Finance and Business Services is responsible for the operations of the Finance and Business Services Department. In addition, the Director holds the statutory position of Treasurer. The Director is responsible for the development of the budget/budget control for the corporation, audits and all other financial matters related to the operation of the Corporation as set forth in Ontario legislation and as per the instructions set forth by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. In addition, the Director serves as Provincial Offences Act liaison and is responsible for maintaining relevant municipal insurance policies to appropriately manage risk; taxation, financial planning, tangible capital asset inventory and reporting, capital asset lifecycle planning, development charges bylaw, fees bylaw, purchasing, fiscal policy development and administration and borrowing bylaw. The Director is also responsible for implementation and review of matters related to information technology, which is applied on a corporate-wide basis. Applications must be received by: 11:59 PM, Sunday, October, 9,

HELP WANTED. - New Castle Farm/West Pointe Greenhouses/1830176 Ontario Inc. is looking for general labourers for seasonal full-time greenhouse work. $11.25/hour. Duties include harvesting, de-leafing, crop work, etc. working in hot conditions. Must have 1 year experience. Mail resume to New Castle Farm, 414 Mersea Road 3, Leamington N8H 3V5. se21-no16

PAPER HANDLERS WANTED

Essex County’s largest community newspaper press is seeking a

PRESS HELPER

to work under the direction of the Press Operator.

Job Details:

• Assist with printing job set-up on web newspaper press.

• Must be mechanically inclined.

• Must be physically fit and comfortable lifting up to 50 lbs.

• Must have steel toed boots.

• Must be willing to learn and take direction.

• Must be comfortable working in a team environment.

• Approximately 30-40 hours per week.

• Experience helpful but not required.

Please drop off resume at: Southpoint Sun Office 194 Talbot St. East, Unit 5, Leamington or email to: press@southpointsun.ca

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LEAMINGTON SOUTHPOINT SUN, THE WHEATLEY JOURNAL AND THE KINGSVILLE EXTRA

What to look for during roof inspections

Cold weather can be tough on a home, and perhaps no part of a home is more vulnerable to harsh winter weather than its roof. Fallen snow can equate to several pounds of pressure placed on a residential roof. Roofs do not often collapse under heavy snowfall. But adverse winter weather conditions can compromise roofs in other ways. Water leakage and damage to the roof’s interior are just two of the potentially problematic issues that can arise when roofs are battered by cold, blustery weather. That’s why many home improvement specialists advise homeowners to conduct roof inspections prior to the start of winter.

Refresh your space with DIY refinished wood floors

Many homeowners can conduct their own cursory roof inspections, but they may not know exactly what to look for. Key areas to inspect that may reveal some telltale signs of roof damage:

• Curled, cracked or missing shingles may prove troublesome. Inclement weather can test the strength of even the most durable roofs. Even though many roofs are designed to last up to 30 years, some may need to be replaced early, particularly when they have been exposed to harsh weather over a period of years. Individual shingles can be replaced as spot treatments, but if the damage is widespread, a new roof may be necessary.

• Attic leaks or water elsewhere might signal issues with the roof. Figure out if water inside the home is coming from the roof. Water stains do not always indicate problems with the roofing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

• Look for protective granules wearing off. If gutters are filled with the sandy granular material that coats roofing shingles, that may be a sign of an aging or damaged roof.

• Inspect flashing. Professional roofers can recognize properly installed flashing, the material that connects the roof to other parts of the house that adjoin the roof, like skylights or a chimneys. Poorly installed flashing can cause leaks. Stains that appear below chimneys or near attic windows may indicate new flashing, and not new shingles, is needed.

(NC) When floors lack luster, a space can look tired and out of date. But replacing your flooring can be costly and the decisions involved in selecting a new floor can leave your head spinning. Breathe new life into your space and enjoy the beauty of natural wood floors for years to come with a simple refinishing.

The first thing you need to do is clear the area of all furniture and wash the floors. Make sure there is no floor wax by checking in a discreet area using a cloth with paint thinner. Once the floor’s been prepped, repairing is simple with the following steps:

1. Lightly sand the surface with 180 or 220 grit sandpaper using a power sander to allow for greater product bondage. Do not remove the stain. Hand sand around trim and corners.

2. Vacuum the area to remove dust, then wipe down the surface with a tack cloth (if you have an oil-based finish) to pick up any dust left behind.

3. Apply Minwax Super Fast-Drying Polyurethane for Floors with a good quality bristle brush and lamb’s wool applicator pad. You can select the finish that works best with your space, as this product comes in gloss, semi-gloss, and satin options. Start by using the brush to cut in from any edges or trim and establish a wet edge that you can work into with the lamb’s wool applicator. Always apply thin uniform coats in the direction the boards are laid. Additional coats can be applied without sanding if done within 12 hours; two to three coats are recommended.

Keep in mind the floor will feel dry in a few hours, but remember it will not be fully cured for 30 days, so exercise caution when moving furniture on the newly-finished floor.

Tip: Remember to always plan your exits from the room — you don’t want to be trapped in a corner for hours.

• Gutters and downspouts should be in good condition. A roof is the sum of its parts, and that includes downspouts and gutters. If the gutters are clogged or damaged, they cannot direct water away from the house properly. Snow, leaves and other debris needs to be cleared from gutters to help them function at optimal capacity.

• Animals and insects can cause damage, too. It’s not just poor weather that homeowners need to consider with regard to roof damage. Boring insects and animals may cause problems with roofs as well. A roof inspection may shed light on potential pest problems. Holes or nesting materials may indicate that an animal or animals are using the attic as a shelter from the elements.

Your guide to proper tree pruning

Trees may require pruning for a variety reasons. Storms may have damaged branches, necessitating a pruning. In other instances, trees may have outgrown their yards, overpowering the landscape.

Autumn and winter, when trees largely go dormant and fallen leaves make it easier to see the branches beneath, may be prime times to prune. Pruning during the dormant period also minimizes sap loss and stress to the tree, and can help cut down on the growth of fungi. In addition, insects are less likely to be problematic during the colder months of the year.

Trimming and pruning can be handled by do-it-yourselfers if the branches are smaller and more manageable. Practice on thinner branches before moving on to thicker ones, which may require extra help. Branches may be heavy, and it takes a guided hand to ensure the branches fall in a safe manner so they do not cause damage or injury.

Branches also need to be trimmed properly to facilitate good healing. Trees will form a callus bark covering over cuts to keep out disease and decay, much as a scab forms over a person’s wound. Damaging the bark on a tree while pruning may interfere with that process, so do-it-yourselfers need to take the time to prune correctly.

According to Danny Lipford, home improvement expert and host of the radio program “Today’s Homeowner,” larger limbs may require three cuts instead of one. The first cut is a small notch in the bottom of the limb, around two to three feet from the trunk and about one-quarter of the way through. This helps prevent the bark from splitting. A relief cut is then made a few inches away from the notch cut, and goes all the way through. This removes the weight of the branch so that the final cut can be made without the branch splitting and falling. The final cut is made right where the limb extrudes from the branch collar, or the swollen bump that then forms into the tree limb. Follow the slant of the branch collar when making the cut. Smaller or thinner branches may not require the same three steps, but every effort should be made to reduce injury to the tree.

When deciding how much to prune, less is usually more. All pruning can put some level of stress on the tree and increase its vulnerability to disease and insect infestation. A good rule of thumb is to never prune more than 25 percent of the crown. According to experts at TreeHelp. com, living branches should comprise at least two-thirds the height of the tree. In some instances, the rules may need to be bent if trees are interfering with utility lines or to meet community laws. However, always prune minimally to avoid damaging the tree.

The right tools also make the job safer and easier. Use a pole pruner and lopper, rope saws, folding pruner, and a bucksaw. A chainsaw can be used in some instances, especially when pruning larger limbs. Always disinfect pruning tools after you’re done to prevent the spread of disease to other trees.

3 tips to defend your home against pests

(NC) Even with the cleanest of homes, you’re likely to face increased pest pressures during the fall season when rats, cockroaches and spiders can be a menace to your home if you don’t take preventative exclusion measures to help keep them out.

“As temperatures begin to drop, these pests are actively seeking shelter and your home is the perfect location offering food, water, and warmth,” cautions Dr. Alice Sinia, entomologist. “Rodents in particular will start looking for a warmer home once the temperature gets below 15°C.”

More than just a nuisance, rats are capable of transmitting a number of diseases and can introduce fleas and mites into your home. Even more disturbing, mice can produce up to 200 offspring within four months.

These pests contaminate food and can cause structural

damage that can be costly to repair. They can even create fire hazards by gnawing through electrical wiring. Meanwhile, cockroaches can spread bacteria to food and food preparation areas, causing food poisoning.

The following exclusion techniques are a vital first step in helping to pest-proof your home this fall. Experts offer up these tips to assess commonly overlooked entry points around your home.

1. Perform an exterior perimeter inspection.

This first step of protection will help you identify and block all potential points of entry. A mouse can get in an opening only 1.75 centimetres wide, while a rat can gain entry to your home in gaps as small as 2.5 centimetres.

You should inspect around the exterior of your home and even under roof tiles near rain gutters. If you

find a crack or hole that you can fit a pencil into, seal the hole with weather-resistant caulk or foam.

2. Check interior walls and floors.

Ranging between 1 and 5 centimetres in length, cockroaches are highly adaptable and most active at night. To prevent them, you’ll want to caulk and seal crevices in the walls and floors.

Be sure to repair any cracks in the plumbing as cockroaches are also known to move via sewage pipes.

3. Seal off windows and doors. Simple tactics like installing door sweeps, ensuring window screens are properly installed, and sealing off gaps around window and door frames will go a long way in preventing spiders from getting inside. While it’s rare for them to bite without being provoked, the mere sight of spiders is often distressing enough to take preventative measures.

5 tips for better raking this season

(NC) You may not love it, but raking the leaves needs to be done — at least in your front yard where the neighbours can see! Brushing up on your technique can make it easier on your body as well as your mind. “If you’re smart about how you do it, it really does make raking much easier,” offers John Ladds, operations manager at Weed Man Canada.

Ladds suggests a few easy tips to make this chore more bearable:

1. Pick your time wisely. Save raking for a day when the yard is dry and the wind is minimal.

2. Use only the best tools for the job. There’s no shortage of modern leaf removal tools available these days, including alternatives to handheld rakes such as power rakes and leaf blowers

3. Be efficient. Try making several smaller piles and dispose of each individually. Even better, try gathering them into a pile atop a plastic tarp — this makes it a cinch to drag to your compost bin or yard waste bag.

4. Remember it’s physical. Wearing gloves can prevent blisters, standing up straight helps prevent fatigue, and picking up leaves by bending with your legs can minimize backache.

5. Pull double-duty. For less dense leaf cover, or if you keep on top of it frequently, using a mulching lawn mower can take care of business fast. “Provided the clippings are small enough to not smother your lawn, mulching fall leaves can be an excellent strategy for dealing with leaf buildup and at the same time return valuable nutrients back to the soil,” explains Ladd.

Bring rich fall colours and textures indoors

(NC) With the start of new school year and more time spent inside, autumn is the perfect time to make small updates to your home’s décor. Plus, getting your home ready now will save you time down the line, letting you focus on holiday entertaining.

Fall décor features the warm colours of falling leaves and cozy accessories. Find something you love for your home with these quick tips for a seasonal update that’ll last you throughout the winter.

1. Refresh your white.

After a long summer, your bright white walls may be looking worse for wear. Get your home ready for the holidays by swapping a bright white for a soft white such as Coconut Sugar.

2. Cozy up to some comforting layers.

Take your space to the next level by integrating darker shades of navy, brown or black. Popular options include dark denim, slate, indigo and grey-blacks. This will not only add dimension to your space but it will create a cozy fall feel.

3. Embrace fall fabrics. Swap out iconic summer textiles like cool cotton and linen for luxurious velvets and thicker textures such as wool, plaid and silk that’ll warm up interiors as it gets colder outdoors.

4. Mix metals.

Pair antique or warm metals such as rose gold, soft gold and copper with raw and natural materials like wood or marble. Adding these accents to a kitchen or bathroom or swapping some hardware on furniture is an easy way to update.

5. Think matte.

This flat finish is all the rage right now — it’s soft and lends a rich feel to any finish. Art and metal accents will pop when set against at flat painted wall. Get that ultra-matte designer look with a suede finish.

Preparing your fireplace or stove for the season

Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves not only can be beautiful focal points within a home, but they also provide an additional source of heat and can be used to keep rooms or entire homes comfortable without the need for additional and potentially costly heating sources.

Just like more modern home heating systems, stoves and fireplaces need to be maintained, and that maintenance includes readying them before winter when they are used more heavily. Ensuring a fireplace or stove is in good working order helps to guarantee efficiency of use and safety during the winter months.

Open-flame heating sources carry with them certain risks. The leading factor contributing to home-heating fires is a failure to keep things clean, principally from solid-fueled heating equipment. The following are a handful of ways to stay safe as you get ready for another cozy season around the fire.

· Start with the chimney. Begin by having your chimney thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Creosote can build up inside of the chimney. Creosote is highly flammable and becomes more difficult and expensive to clean the longer it builds up inside your flue lining. In addition, animals may have created nest inside of the chimney since the last time the fireplace was used. A professional chimney sweep should be hired in this situation. He or she will be able to effectively clean the chimney in a manner that is the least messy and disruptive to residents.

· Install or check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Operational alarms are essential to preventing injury or death resulting from smoke or carbon monoxide inhalation. Such detectors are inexpensive safeguards that should be installed on every floor of the house. Batteries should be replaced every six months, and the alarms themselves should be changed every five to 10 years.

· Inspect the chimney from outdoors as well. Inspect the mortar around any bricks in the chimney and surrounding areas for cracks. If left unaddressed, these can cause dangerous fires. If there are serious cracks, a professional may need to make repairs or the chimney may need to be replaced. You also can have the chimney capped with a screen to keep animals and debris from entering.

· Inspect the damper. A damper is a valve or plate that stops or regulates the flow of air inside a chimney. It should be checked prior to the first use of a stove or fireplace so homeowners can be certain it opens and closes smoothly.

· Clear out flammable items. Move flammable items away from the front of a fireplace or stove. Be sure curtains or other home furnishings are far enough away that they will not catch fire from any errant sparks or flames.

· Order wood now. Be sure there is plenty of wood for the season. Ask a wood supplier to estimate just how much will be needed, and double-check that the wood will arrive in time for the start of the season.

5 simple ways to increase energy efficiency and savings

Fall and winter can be tough on your home and your wallet. As temperatures drop, chances are your furnace will be working overtime. This results in two things — greater energy consumption and higher heating bills. In fact, costs associated with heating and cooling a home yearround typically comprise two-thirds of the average energy bill. Try these easy DIY projects to help cut down on energy loss and expenses:

1. Replace worn weather-stripping around doors and windows. Worn weather-stripping can create drafts and let heated air out, stressing your furnace and compromising your comfort. Replacing it takes little time and is a low-cost, high-impact solution.

2. Top up or replace old insulation in your attic. A poorly insulated attic is a primary source of energy loss. Also, over time, some types of insulation can settle and compact, allowing heat to escape through gaps. Experts recommend topping up or replacing attic insulation with a dimensionally stable batt insulation. Aim for an R-value of at least R-50 or a depth of roughly 16 inches.

3. Insulate basement headers and walls. Uninsulated basement headers are common, especially in older homes. They can act as a gateway for heated air to escape. Fixing the problem is fast and easy. Simply cut insulation to fit the cavity and compress into place. Doing this throughout your basement will prevent heat loss and can potentially save hundreds of dollars each year.

4. Caulk around windows. Cracks and crevices are a source of heat loss. They can also be an entry point for water/moisture, as well as for unwelcome insects. Preventative maintenance, such as caulking, can improve energy efficiency and prevent costly repairs.

5. Change your furnace filter. Make it a point to check your furnace filter monthly, always changing it when it’s dirty. This will improve the performance and efficiency of your furnace, saving you money.

How to keep your kitchen reno headache-free

(NC) The thought of a kitchen renovation may cause your eye to twitch and your sweat to trickle. You’ve heard the horror stories — work costing more than expected, lasting too long, or not ending up the way you expected. While you can’t predict everything, there are ways to keep the road to a shiny new kitchen relatively stress-free. Robin Saxberg, principal designer at Hamilton, Ontario’s DESZA Design, advises that leaving the project to a professional may save you headaches in the long-run. “Occasionally, the client will want to do the demolition themselves either for cost-savings or for fun, which it is. However, there may be a risk of accidently damaging something important,” she reveals. “Most demos require the rental or purchase of tools, safety equipment and waste bin rental which could eliminate much of the potential savings.”

If you’re thinking of taking on the demolition yourself in hopes of saving a few bucks, look at other options. Contact your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore to see if they are able to remove your old kitchen for you. Also keep in mind that the contractor you hire usually includes this in their quote.

If you feel like you’re drowning in sawdust, Saxberg says to keep in mind that your kitchen won’t always be gutted. “Though your renovation may seem overwhelming at times, it is temporary. Any stress and chaos will pass and when the dust settles, you’ll have a beautiful, perfectly unique space that functions the way you need it to.”

In the meantime, follow her five tips for a smooth and successful kitchen reno.

1. Get everything in writing: Read and understand all contracts with designers, contractors and anyone else you hire.

2. Keep an emergency fund: Set aside around 10 per cent of your renovation budget as a contingency fund. If a pipe bursts or the electrical needs to be rewired, you won’t panic knowing you have enough to cover it.

3. Plan as much as possible: Lay out your renovation roadmap before the project begins, and don’t be afraid to ask your contractor or designer lots of questions. Placing orders before work starts will also cut down on wait time for deliveries.

4. Invest in key pieces: Putting money into a quality stone surface countertop and Canadian-made solid wood flooring will ensure your kitchen will stand the test of time.

5. Reduce, reuse, recycle: Do some good by donating your old kitchen items to a local charitable organization, like Habitat for Humanity ReStores. Many contractors also work with them. This will keep your old kitchen out of the landfill and help others in the process.

Spruce up your yard for fall

(NC) Chunky sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes and multi-coloured leaves — some things are simply quintessentially fall. Others like giving your home an outdoor face-lift may not necessarily be top of mind, but rich fall colours open up a realm of possibilities for creative yard decorations. Not just for the summer and holiday seasons, outdoor décor help create a warm and welcoming exterior.

Drawing inspiration from the season is the best place to start. A simple harvest wreath made from leaves, berries and twigs uses the gorgeous reds, oranges and browns of autumn. Accent it with a burlap bow for arustic touch.

If you want to add some farmhouse charm, repurpose household items to breathe new life into them. The opportunities are endless — an old door that used to have windows on it is the perfect way to display fall blooms in hanging flower pots. A chair missing its seat can act as a rustic flower pot stand. An old set of shelves is ideal for showing off vintage watering cans. And if you don’t have these hanging around, you can always pop by a local used furniture outlet, like Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which has been raising funds to invest in local communities for 25 years.

For added pops of colour, place pots of burgundy chrysanthemums, purple asters or ornamental cabbage along your walkway. Flowers always freshen things up, especially when the temperature starts to drop. Create a country aesthetic by placing decorative gourds and pumpkins in between the flowers. These will transition well into late autumn, and you can even repurpose the pumpkin for carving a jack-o-lantern on Halloween.

5 weekend projects to try now

Home improvement projects range from major construction overhauls like bathroom remodeling jobs to smaller renovations that may entail something as minor as painting the walls. Smaller projects can often be conquered in a typical weekend but still provide a strong sense of accomplishment. The following are five projects tailor-made for weekend warriors.

1. Improve storage in the entryway. Home entryways are the first places many people drop mail, shed their shoes and toss their keys upon arriving home. As a result, entryways can quickly be overrun with clutter. Storage solutions can include putting in a desk or hutch with baskets underneath to store umbrellas and backpacks. Or hang a coat rack and create a shoe rack to store shoes until the time comes to leave the house once again.

2. Shed new light. Add some design appeal to your home by replacing an old lighting fixture with something more modern. Such a task is relatively easy, and you need not possess the skills of a trained electrician.

3. Add molding for a finishing touch. Dress up spaces with crown molding or a decorative chair rail that goes around a room. You can even use molding to frame new or existing artwork. Find a molding style that complements the architectural style.

4. Update hardware in the bath and kitchen. Switch the handles, draw pulls and knobs on cabinetry with new hardware. The time commitment is practically nil, but you might just give rooms a whole new feel.

5. Patch and paint walls. Spend a weekend filling in holes left behind by since-removed wall hangings. If the patches dry quickly, paint over them. If not, resolve to do your patchwork one weekend and paint the ensuing weekend.

4 DIY tips to make what’s old new again

(NC) Home décor stores have great items in vivid colours and interesting shapes, but that unique custom-made look often comes with a hefty price tag. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you need to settle for drab instead of fab. Save hundreds of dollars on a new piece of accent furniture by repurposing an old favourite with some paint a healthy sense of adventure and these easy-to-follow tips.

1. Consider the piece, not colour: If you’re checking out old furniture that’s collecting dust in your basement, keep an eye out for shapes that would work for you. Changing the colour of an end table is easy, but you can’t change its bones.

2. Get out that sandpaper: If you want to paint anything that’s wood, always lightly sand it first. This allows the paint to stick better to that vintage chair or table.

3. A little detail goes a long way: Making small changes, like replacing doorknobs, can instantly freshen up any item. Get as funky as you want for just a few dollars by checking out garage sales and vintage shops for one-of-a-kind finds.

4. Think outside the box (and your own stuff): Don’t have something you can transform? Consider picking up a new-to you vintage treasure that may not need as much work as that dresser you’ve had since elementary school. There are plenty of stores that resell furniture at great prices, like Habitat for Humanity ReStores. These outlets for new and gently used items and materials even invest money back into local communities, making you feel even better about your style transformation.