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Looking for a few good men and women By Kim Goggins Craig Wood has been a Severn Township volunteer firefighter for a year and a half, but had never been in a situation to save a life through CPR until two months ago when his own father couldn’t breathe. The 85-year-old man had just been in the hospital and he was in the car with Wood when he became obviously distressed and indicated he couldn’t breathe. Wood immediately pulled the car over and performed CPR on his father on the side of the road while his wife called the paramedics. Sadly, his father didn’t make it, and Wood later learned that he had had a blood clot and there was nothing he could have done to save him. Still, he credits his firefighter training with being able to act quickly. “Without my training, I may not have known what to do. I feel sad about it but also good that I was there for my dad,” says Wood, who has been a volunteer firefighter for Severn Fire & Emergency Services for a year and a half. “I did everything I could but without the training I had here I don’t know what I would have done. I would have felt really helpless. But I knew immediately what to
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Craig Wood says being a volunteer firefighter is one of the best things he’s done.
do … and went ahead and did it.” This quick action is what is expected of firefighters and they come through every time, whether it’s responding to a medical call, a motor vehicle collision or a home engulfed in flames. These volunteers give up their personal life and oftentimes, personal safety to save lives and contain damage. It’s the intense training that every volunteer firefighter goes through that enables them to react so quickly and efficiently. The 76 firefighters that volunteer for Severn Township are a dedicated group, offering up Continued page 21
Business profile ��������������������������� 5 Santa’s Helpers ����������������������������� 7 Villager Christmas ���������������������11 Community happenings �������22
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Long lost motor a treasure to friends By Doug Cooper Recently, during a reorganizing kick, I had the opportunity to look over a collection of outboard motors that my family has accumulated over the past 75 years. Each one has its own history and each one has, at one time or another, been used to propel a boat on the Severn River between Washago and Wasdell Falls. There is one, however, that stands apart from the others and is the subject of a remarkable story. In the spring of 1934, a boat set out on the Severn River just downstream from Little Falls. There was little human habitation on the river at that time, but some cottages existed where Oakridge Drive and County Road 169 meet today. The journey down the river was uneventful as the occupants proceeded to the junction of the Black and the Severn. The current was strong in spots, as it is today in the spring, but posed no problem going with the flow. On the way back, however, the small motor had its work cut out for it and as they approached what is today referred to as ‘Diving Board Island’, the river narrowed, the current increased, and the small boat was pushed sideways. In order to correct the problem, the person driving had to react and turned the motor sharply to the extreme. No one knows for certain if the clamps holding the motor on the boat were faulty or if they were simply not tightened enough. It was
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The group of friends who found the motor almost 40 years ago are seen here, left to right: Lee Harvey, Brian Harvey, Doug Cooper and Glen Hepinstall
clear however, that when turned too sharply the motor lifted itself from the transom of the boat. Down it went into the depths. Attempts were made to dive for the motor, but the water at that location was close to 50 feet deep and the diving equipment of today was non-existent. Many passes over the spot with a large hook proved fruitless. The motor was gone. As a young child, I would often hear of the mishap as we passed over the spot, when we were giving guests a scenic tour of the river. My dad, who was present at the time the motor was lost always lamented the fact that the motor had never been recovered. As the years past, the story was forgotten until some friends and I were discussing a place to dive. We had all become involved in scuba diving and were exploring the bottom of the local lakes and rivers. A search for the long lost motor seemed like a good idea. Local residents Glen Hepinstall, Lee Harvey,
Brian Harvey and I set out on a summer day in 1980. Glen and Lee started their dive as Brian and I were getting ready. Before we had a chance to enter the water Lee and Glen returned with the motor in tow. We found some other interesting things that day, but the motor that had been on the bottom for 46 years was a highlight. The look on my father’s face, when we presented him with the motor, is still something I can picture today. Surprisingly, the motor was not, as one would expect, seized up. It turned over freely. The sheet metal gas tank was long rusted away, but the motor was in pretty good shape, considering its long stay on the bottom. Never one to step back from a mechanical challenge, dad created a new gas tank, and with a used coil from another small motor, he eventually got the old thing running. Our recovery of an old outboard motor was, Continued page 18
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Kim Goggins Publisher, Editor-in-Chief thevillager@xplornet.com Ellen Cohen Publisher, General Manager thevillagerpress@rogers.com 705-689-5398 Register for the most current Severn news – delivered regularly
www.severnnewsonline.com The Villager, a Severn Township community news magazine, is an independently owned and operated publication delivered to households and businesses by the middle of each month. Our delivery area is north from the Orillia/Severn Township border to Severn Bridge and includes parts of Ramara Township. The Villager is also available in select retail shops and restaurants along the Highway 11 corridor from the north end of Orillia to Severn Bridge, including Washago. Editorial and advertising material is protected by copyright. Reproduction of any article, photograph or graphic is forbidden without the express permission of the publishers. The sentiments of our columnists do not necessarily reflect those of The Villager. The Villager’s liability to advertisers for errors is limited to the portion of the advertisement in which an error occurs and only if the error is the fault of The Villager. Advertising, editorial and community event submissions are due on the 22nd of the month for the following month’s publication. Advertising inquiries: email Ellen Cohen at thevillagerpress@rogers.com
The Villager P.O. Box 5 Washago, ON L0K 2B0 Art direction and logo design: Cathy Cleary, www.cathycleary.tel
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Letters from our readers Resident loses everything in fire My Father Mike Goguen’s house burned to the ground on Oct 2, 2013. He lost everything in his home, all his furnishings, clothing and personal belongings, including his beloved guitar collection! He had no house insurance, as he had ironically ended the service three short weeks before the fire. He is retired and bought this cottage years ago to live his retired life in peace. He was left with only the clothes on his back that he left with the morning of the fire to help my brother move. Everything was destroyed in the fire. Nothing was salvaged! Anything will help. We are trying to pull together to rebuild my father’s life. We are aiming to get him an apartment for Nov. 1 as he has been staying at the Highwayman Inn in Orillia since the fire. We were lucky enough to have donations and offers to accommodate his stay! I would like to thank Dan the Woodman for the generous gift of his time, machinery and labour to fulfill the demo of my Dad’s home. That was a huge gift and a huge blessing and our family appreciates it more than you know! Spread the word and any little thing anyone can do will help and be very much appreciated by him and our entire family. Gift cards or donations to the account we opened for his recovery with TD Canada Trust are appreciated. Thank you all so much. Account number : 0596-6511325. For more information call 416 737 3534 or email nicholemgoguen@gmail.com. Nichole Goguen
Due to our special Christmas section in the November and December issues, News in Review will not be included in The Villager. For all of your local news, visit www.severnnewsonline.com.
Letters to the editor are welcome and may be emailed to thevillager@xplornet.com. Letters may be edited.
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Blaines Automotive puts the customer first
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By Kim Goggins Mark Stein never could get his fascination with cars out of his system. As a young boy, he’d hang around his dad’s shop and when he was old enough, he worked there part time. Even after going off to college to take a graphic design program, he returned immediately, started his apprenticeship, became a technician, and never looked back. No one could blame him for returning to cars; he comes by it honestly. His dad, Blaine Stein, loves what he does and has for 43 years. “It’s never been about the money,” says Mark, who now owns and operates Blaines Automotive with his father. “If it was, he just wouldn’t be here. He’s very content. He’s the most content person I’ve ever met, which I admire.” Blaine loves the business so much, at the age of 63, he can still be found happily working away in the bays when he could be retired. He was 21 years old in 1971 when he started running the Esso gas bar and one-bay service shop on Highway 11, right where Blaines Automotive sits today. At that young age, he had no money but the company was eager to work with him and got him started. By 1979, he was able to purchase the location, put an addition on that included a convenience store, and started selling propane alongside the gas pumps. But by the mid-80s, he was open seven-days-aweek, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and it was a tough go, says Mark. “In 1985, he got out of the gas business because at that time the oil companies started to get greedy and they pulled back and pulled back (the profit). So he closed the pumps and put his focus strictly on auto repair.” At the time, Blaine was told by the gas company that he wouldn’t last a month.
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Great team: Mark Stein has been helping out his dad at Blaines Automotive since he was a kid.
Well, he sure showed them. Not only has Blaines Automotive lasted, it has exceeded expectations in every way. For more than four decades Blaine has built a reputation on trust. To him, it’s always been the most important thing and it’s the most important thing to Mark, too. “In a small town, a business couldn’t survive for 40 years if there was no trust,” explains Mark. “He’s always said, right from the word go, that customers come first. The service has to be there.” In the early years, Blaines Automotive survived by patching people’s vehicles and getting them back on the road quickly but times, along with vehicles, have changed. While they can still do quick repairs, the focus is on ongoing maintenance of the vehicle. “We never want to see your vehicle come in on the hook,” says Mark. “You don’t want it to break down so you need to be a bit proactive.” To help their customers do this, they have implemented a system where they can
pre-book appointments and send an email to remind them when it is. There is no commitment but the customer can respond to the email and book the appointment online, making it very convenient. A self-professed techno-geek, Mark is now using social media, such as Facebook and Twitter as key marketing tools for the business. Now, texting to set up an appointment instead of calling is perfectly acceptable. “We serve generations of families — grandparents, parents and now their kids — and our new demographic doesn’t like to pick up the phone. They like to text, email, Facebook,” explains Mark. “So, I offered that a couple of years ago because I like it too.” As Blaines Automotive changes with the times, it has also become a full-blown ‘tire shop’ and is the dealer for Bridgestone, Firestone and other brand-name tires. It’s just one more way they assist their customers.
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Fox family as busy as bees By Kim Goggins Pastor Matt Fox walks calmly toward the screened in area at the side of his yard, not far from the raspberry bushes. It’s a hot September day — much warmer than the date on the calendar would indicate — and that means the bees will be active. His concentration is steady as he opens the gate and dozens of bees fly out and around him. “They’re pretty docile,” he says, as he reaches into one of his hives to pull a tray. He is not in his beekeeping garb that will protect him in case of a swarm, but he’s not worried. In two years, he’s only been stung once. For some reason, I’m not worried, either, and get closer to take pictures. “There’s nothing like honey right out of the hive; it’s amazing. It’s good stuff,” says Fox, and his two youngest daughters, Hannah and Leah can attest to it, adding in unison that they love honey. “The honey you get
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Green River Drive resident Pastor Matt Fox shows a tray from one of his six bee hives.
in the stores is pasteurized so all of the goodness is taken right out of it. Honey is the only stuff that has an antibacterial in it so nothing can grow in it. You can put it on a shelf and it will never go bad.” Not that it will have a chance to go bad in the Fox household where their five young children work up an appetite chasing after their chickens, doing chores and creating
adventures in the forest along the Green River. Forget the hives on the property, these kids illustrate what it is to be ‘busy as a bee’. Before I leave, Hannah and Leah give me parting gifts — a beautiful home-made picture and a bracelet made from a kit. They are the perfect hostesses, making you feel quite comfortable in their surroundings Continued page 20
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Community Policing Office to open soon – really By Kim Goggins
up the space, before an interview room could be built, and he had handed back the Christmas is going to come a little early for keys at that time. The meeting room is an Severn Township Coun. Ron Stevens when important component of the new office, he the new Community Policing Office in had said. Westshore is unveiled by the OPP. According to OPP Insp. Malcolm Quigley, signage for the office at the Highview Mall on Highway 11 North has been ordered and once it’s installed, officers will begin to use the space. “I’m hopeful that the signage will be ready (soon) so we can put a stamp on it in the community,” he said. “It’s kind of moot point without the signage.” What seemed like a straight-forward process of renovating the space hasn’t been — OPP Insp. easy. Last spring, The Villager reported that Malcolm Quigley the office would be open in the summer but due to budgeting issues, completion of an Once Council heard of the problem, more interview room was held off. At the Sept. 5 Severn Township Council money was put into the budget. The meeting, Quigley said he was told by staff renovations are now complete at a cost in the spring that the township had used up of about $6,200 and the township has its $4,000 budget on painting and cleaning supplied the furnishings.
I’m hopeful that we’ll be in there by the end of November.”
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To date, the township has also spent $8,000 in rent plus utilities for the office to sit empty for eight months. But that’s about to change says Quigley. “I’m hopeful that we’ll be in there by the end of November. The township worked very quickly to get it ready (when they discovered the problem). They did a great job.” While the office will provide a place for officers to file reports and take statements when in the area, it will not be staffed on a regular basis and Quigley stresses it will not be a full-service police station.
Got a news tip? Email details to thevillager@xplornet. com or call 705-689-5398. Photos of your group’s events are also welcome.
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Friends and family of Flossie Robinson gathered at the Washago Community Gardens on Oct. 12 to pay tribute to the founder of the Washago Garden Club, who passed away in June, 2013 at the age of 104. Seen here sitting on the bench donated by the Robinson family are Flossie’s sons Paul (left) and Bob, and daughter-in-law Shirley (wearing Flossie’s gardening hat).
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Forecasting the finches of winter By Ron Reid Canadians seem to love forecasts — predictions on stock market trends, population growth, and of course the weather to expect in the coming months. But a Toronto birder named Ron Pittaway specializes in a different form of forecasting. Each fall, he issues a winter finch forecast, telling people across Ontario what birds to expect at their feeders. Finches are a family of small birds that specialize in feeding on seeds, especially the seeds of conifer trees such as spruce, pine, and hemlock. Our most familiar finch is the American Goldfinch, which stays in this area year-round but trades its bright yellow and black summer garb for a much duller graygreen coat in winter. Most of the other finches visit in winter only, often in large swirling flocks that descend on feeders en masse. Common Redpolls are usually our most abundant winter finch, followed by Pine Siskins, which feature brown stripes and yellow wing flashes. Purple Finches travel in smaller flocks, and in urban areas the similar House Finch might also show up. Some years, we might also see Evening and Pine Grosbeaks, or even rarities such as Whitewinged Crossbills. All of these species are nomadic, travelling widely across the boreal forest. They come south into the Severn area when food supplies are limited further north. So forecasting winter finches in southern Ontario is closely linked to knowing the state of seed crops in the north, information that Ron Pittaway gathers from foresters and naturalists each fall. What will this winter bring? Pittaway’s forecast is for fairly low numbers of most finches, because seed and berry crops in the north are excellent this year. Redpolls, siskins and crossbills will mostly remain in the north to feed on a huge crop of spruce cones. Pine Grosbeaks and Purple Finches, which have been fairly common in recent winters, are also likely to mostly stay north to feed on bumper crops of mountain-ash berries. Severn Township may get some of these winter wanderers because we are close
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enough to the northern forests and have lots of natural habitats. One of the most spectacular winter finches — the large gold and white Evening Grosbeak — is also likely to make an appearance. During its breeding season, this species feeds heavily on spruce budworm caterpillars, and increasing numbers of this insect pest mean growing populations of the birds as well.
The Common Redpoll is the most abundant winter finch.
Attracting winter finches is relatively easy — a hanging tube feeder with tiny holes is made to hold the black nyger seed that finches prefer. With any luck, goldfinches will soon find your feeder, and other species will follow if they are in the area. Larger finches such as Evening Grosbeaks will feed on black oilseed, so the same feeders that attract Chickadees and Blue Jays will lure them in as well. One of the most interesting features of winter finches is their irregularity; they can be abundant one winter and totally missing the next. Because of this pattern, they are known as “irruptive” species. Pittaway’s forecast predicts that 2014 will not be an irruption year; our feeders this winter will tell whether or not his predictions are right. A regular contributor to The Villager, Ron Reid is a natural heritage consultant and the co-founder and former executive director of The Couchiching Conservancy. He has written more than 30 magazine articles and co-authored three books. He lives in Washago with his wife, Janet Grand.
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Lioness receives coveted award
By Lioness Estelle Ness Welcome to the Washago Lioness column, once again. We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. This month I would like to tell you about a very special lady who just happens to have been one of our Lioness for over 27 years. Her name is Anna McDonnell. Some of you may have had her as a teacher; others may have worked with her. Some may remember her from the years of Vision Screening she did in the local schools. This program helped numerous children who had vision problems that no one knew of. Were you one of these children Anna tested? Please let us know if it helped you. Lioness Anna served the Washago Lioness Club as Secretary for over 15 years, which was a record. She was also the bulletin editor for over 20 years and received many awards for her articles. Just recently, our District A-12 Governor Chris Lewis created an award called the Shadow Award. Our Club unanimously chose Lioness Anna to receive this coveted award. Anna has never found a task too small or too large to tackle and when it comes to her club members she is always ready to lend a hand. It might be to drive someone to a doctor’s appointment or sit with them when they are hospitalized. She drives at least three Lioness to meetings and when we are hosting an event, Anna is first to put up her hand and is always on the front line helping. Lioness Anna has cast a shadow a mile long that encompasses her caring and assistance to all those that need it. We consider it a privilege to have Anna in our club. She is truly an inspiration to us all.
Lioness Anna McDonnell is always the first to help.
Advertising inquiries call 705-717-0322 or email thevillagerpress@rogers.com
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Local group will make a difference this Christmas A group of business people in Washago are setting out to give Santa a hand, this Christmas. The Washago Santa’s Helpers committee will be looking for donations of unwrapped toys, mitts, scarves and hats, as well as monetary donations to help them ensure every child on their Santa’s Helpers List has a great Christmas. The idea came to committee member Karen Barrer, while thinking about her own family’s plans for the season and realizing that some families aren’t as fortunate as others. It didn’t take long for her to recruit a group of like-minded individuals to work together to make a Christmas difference. They have been meeting weekly since early October to put their plan in place and will work with local organizations to ensure the toys go to these families. Washago Santa’s Helpers will be having
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fundraising events to purchase ageappropriate gifts to put under local Christmas trees. Watch for Santa’s Helpers donation jars at local retailers and give as generously as you can to help create smiles for all children in this community. On Friday, Nov. 29, there will be a Chili Euchre night at the Washago Community Centre to raise money. Tickets are $25 per person and includes a delicious chili dinner, a night of euchre, cash prizes and 50/50 draw. They are available at CiaoChowCiao and Simply Special Originals or by calling 705-514-1190 to book tables. Reserve your table by Nov. 27 as this will sell out fast. Participants are also asked to bring an unwrapped toy. “This needs to be a community effort,” says Barrer. “Residents can help by attending fundraising events and supporting
Get used to seeing this logo around town.
however they can.” New toys, mitts, hats and scarves — or other new items that are appropriate — are also needed to include in the gift boxes for the children of our area. They can be dropped off at CiaoChowCiao or Simply Special Originals.
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Unique food drive helps at Christmas Residents of the Westshore area will help Severn firefighters from Station 1 make Christmas a lot brighter for families in need. The 1st Annual Christmas Food ‘pickup’ will take place on Nov. 23, between 8:30 a.m. and noon. Forget about driving all the way into Orillia to make your donation to The Sharing Place Food Bank. This year, the firefighters are happy to pick up your donations and deliver them. Using the three fire trucks from Station 1, volunteer firefighters and members of the Washago Junior Lions Club will drive through the streets between Bayou Road and Shoreview Road (including Cumberland Beach, Goldstein Road and Sandcastle Estates) and pick up bags of food donations from residents who put them outside their door. Volunteer firefighter Jeff Dewetering saw how well this idea worked when he was
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a firefighter in Huntsville for eight years. Now that he’s living in Severn Township, he brought the idea up to the Firefighters Association of Station 1 and they jumped at the chance to help the community. “We’d like to start out just in this community for this year to see how it goes,” said Dewetering. “Hopefully, it will (expand) next year.” It’s a distinctive way to help the food bank, says executive director of The Sharing Place, Christine Hager. “I’m just so encouraged by the incredible creativity and the support that we do get from the community,” she said. “Christmas is a stressful time for everybody but for families in need, it’s even more stressful because they are trying to cope with financial pressures and everything that we can’t even imagine.” Approximately 15 percent of the clients
that use the Orillia food bank live in Severn, Ramara, Rama First Nation and Oro-Medonte. In December, the Sharing Place gives a Christmas Hamper in addition to the regular monthly assistance, and specific donations are needed to ensure each family gets all of the fixings for a traditional Christmas dinner and breakfast on Christmas morning. Suggested foods for donation include: canned cranberries; boxed potatoes; stuffing mix; canned ham; tuna/salmon; soup (dry mix or canned); baked beans; 100 percent juice boxes; pancake mix/ syrup; cookies; and gravy. Residents of the listed areas are asked to put the bagged donations by their front door before 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 23.
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Thoughtful gifts under $30 Secret Santa at the office, stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, presents for teachers — the list of ‘small’ gifts we have to get during the Christmas season tends to grow each year, but pay special attention to these suggestions under $30 and you will save money on unique items that won’t get thrown in the re-gift pile. To create ambiance and make the house smell as good as the season itself, give Johnny’s teacher or your bridge hostess a Scentsy plug-in warmer for $24. The great thing about this unit is the light bulb makes it safe and a piece of the wax scent lasts for days. While enjoying the ambiance, a glass of whiskey may be in order and Whiskey Stones by Telforma cool the golden liquid without watering it down as ice does. Made from natural soapstone, the cubes sell for $25. Whiskey glasses at the LCBO are also a nice gift idea at $4.95 each. Speaking of the LCBO, a nice bottle of wine is always an appreciated hostess gift and the folks at the Washago liquor store are extremely knowledgeable so don’t hesitate to ask them about their selection of fine wines — or whiskey for that matter (note — you will spend more than $30 for a fine bottle of whiskey). For the techies out there, Gadget Tree has a ton of items under $30, like portable mini speakers for your smart phone or tablet,
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just $10; an iPad speaker cushion that rests on your lap for $25; or a wireless flexible roll-up keyboard for $20. For a fun gift to open on Christmas Eve, buy the kids (young or old) a really cool remote control Propel RC UFO for just $15. The LED light even makes it glow in the dark. For those on your list who seemingly have everything, why not help out a worthy charity of their choice? Visit canadahelps.org.
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Gadgets that encourage activity Let’s face it; the world of electronics has made it easier than ever to put off exercise and healthy living with many of us attached to our smart phones and tablets. However, there are many electronics and simple devices that actually promote healthier living. Put these nifty gadgets under the tree and your friends and family will look forward to staying active this winter. For the health conscious – or those who want to be more health
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conscious – wristband activity calculators are a great item to provide just the motivation needed to take the stairs instead of the elevator. For about $100, the Fitbit Flex tracks steps, distance, calories burned as well as how you’ve slept. For about $50 more, the Nike Fuelband operates the same way but adds a social media component to compare and compete with friends. For those who are watching their heart health more closely, the Timex Health Touch offers a watch with a heart rate monitor for between $60 and $75. Serious runners can also use the wristband to their benefit with advanced GPS running watches that assist them in tracking distance, time, calories burned and heart rate, and has a written overview of the workout, based on the data collected. The Garmin Fenix is about $400 and is specially designed for back country (trail, mountain and ultra) runners because it contains an altimeter, barometer and compass. It also boasts a 50-hour battery life and is able to communicate with a computer through a USB cable. If fishing is the hobby, the ICE 45 by Hummingbird eliminates the guesswork of where the fish are by offering an ice fishing flasher to locate them for just about $425.
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Santa’s Picks Velocity Cycle & Ski Stocking stuffers include accessories and apparel items for cyclists and skiers. One of the largest selections in the region. Starting at under $10.00. CiaoChowCiao Gift certificates can be used for freshly made pizzas as well as the extensive daily selection of hot meals to go. Gift certificates are available for any budget. Orillia Trim & Door Choose from literally thousands of hand and power tools and accessories to suit the experienced handyman or the novice. Boxed sets of tools or accessories, ready to wrap, are popular gifts for the handyman. Jax Bootery The traditional gift of slippers never gets old. Jax
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Bootery features well-made, warm and comfortable slippers for both men and women in a wide range of sizes. Custom orders are available. Timber Mart Washago features a gift of warmth and comfort – Harman wood pellet stoves. Attractive additions to a home, they are a clean, efficient heating alternative that makes an excellent gift for your entire family. Scentsy from local resident Christine Bothman Scentsy offers a variety of fragrance products that will fill your home with amazing scents. Featured are candle warmers and wickless and flameless scented candles. La Bodega offers quality Artisan products from Mexico. They specialize in home decor items, tin and copper artwork, lighting, painted furniture, rugs and more. Featured for Christmas is a Nativity Scene that can be
viewed in their ad or on their website. The Vacuum Centre With many years of experience behind them, The Vacuum Centre confidently offers a variety of brands of quality vacuum products. Featured this season are high efficiency and light weight machines from Eureka and Electolux. Home Hardware Washago features two exclusive Home Hardware products: A ‘chiller’ that easily and quickly chills your white wine to perfection instantly; and a red wine aerator that is one of least expensive but most effective in the market.
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Rotary weekly meeting packs a lot in By Candy Potter
Before I joined The Rotary Club of Washago I went to a few meetings to see if the club was a good fit for me; I want to give you a little peak at our weekly meetings. Every Wednesday we meet at the community centre and we mill around for a bit of fellowship, everyone is friendly and all visitors are warmly greeted by everyone. The bell signifying the start of the meeting is struck at 7:15 a.m. and our president welcomes us. Then we all join in an inspiring rendition of “Oh Canada” and we toast the queen. We eat breakfast together and to keep costs down for individual members we alternate hot and cold breakfasts. Every other week we have bacon, eggs, potatoes and French toast and on the alternate weeks we have muffins and yogurt and other ‘continental’ fair. Lots of chatter and connecting happens too. Our sergeant at arms, whose job is to bring fun, might have a joke or a bit of trivia; we share good news; and then we get down to business. Business involves a brief overview or reminder or discussion on the projects and plans we are working on. We
even manage to laugh a lot during this time, while we efficiently accomplish a lot. At 8 a.m. we have an interesting/inspiring guest speaker. For example we have heard a story teller, a marathon runner and had a tour of Camp Couchiching. The guest speakers always leave me feeling inspired. After a little more fun (our 50/50 draw) we conclude the meeting at 8:30 a.m. sharp. While the idea of a 7 a.m. meeting sounds daunting, I love that we accomplish so much, eat breakfast and then I get to get on with my day. You are always welcome to join us for a meeting, you can just show up or call me at 689-4039 or visit our websitevisitour website at www.washagorotary.ca
SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK Subaru factory-trained technicians. Call to book your appointment: 705-329-4277 385 West Street South, Orillia www.davenportsubaru.com
GARFIELD DUNLOP, MPP Simcoe North
Email: Garfield.dunlopco@pc.ola.org Website: www.garfielddunlopmpp.com
ORILLIA OFFICE: 14 Coldwater Rd. W., P.O. Box 2320, Orillia, ON L3V 6S2 Telephone: 705-326-3246 of Toll Free 1-800-304-7341 Fax: 705-326-9579 MIDLAND OFFICE: 482 Elizabeth St. Midland. ON L4R 1Z8 Telephone: 705-526-8671 Fax: 705-526-8600
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Hiring of teachers should be based on skill By Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop
Aiming for the best and the brightest in the teaching profession, Ontario PC Education Critic Lisa MacLeod has tabled a private member’s bill ending the new Liberal practice of hiring teachers based on union seniority rather than qualifications. The Liberals were warned last year by the Ontario PCs that their controversial regulation added to the Education Act was going to
give principals no choice but to hire teachers based on seniority, and that it would impact all public school boards in the province. The hiring of teachers should be based on skill, not on how long they’ve been in a classroom. A young man named Jason Trinh won the Premier’s own Teacher of the Year Award. Yet, Mr. Trinh can’t get a full-time teaching job, or even an interview, because he sits at 800th place on a seniority list containing 2,000 names. That is a system that fails both teachers and students. Liberal Education Minister Liz Sandals’ response is to launch a study into the issue. There is no study needed. This is a bad rule and it needs to go. The Ontario PCs stand with teachers, parents and students in calling on the government to repeal Regulation 274. We recently celebrated Remembrance Day. My wife Jane and I took part in a number of Remembrance Day ceremonies, services and dinners across the riding. In communities of all sizes, Canadians paid tribute to all the men and women of the armed forces who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Please take the time to thank those veterans who are still with us today.
Long lost motor a treasure to friends Continued from page 3
of course, far from earth shattering. It was just a glimpse of the past and makes us aware that there were many who have travelled these waterways for centuries before we came along. It makes us wonder what else may have been lost. The Washago area has a rich history dating back to before Europeans ever set eyes on the green waters of Lake Couchiching and the Severn River. Champlain and other explorers passed this way. Loggers moved along the shores while harvesting the white pines and of course residents and tourists continue to enjoy the waters today. So, what other interesting artifacts are waiting to be discovered? If you have a chance to explore the depths, take the opportunity. You may be surprised by what you find.
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CO alarms are important By Dianne Kyle A carbon monoxide detector (CO detector) is a device that senses the presence of the carbon monoxide (CO) gas in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. CO detectors are designed to measure CO levels over time and sound an alarm before dangerous levels of CO accumulate, giving you adequate warning
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to safely evacuate your home. You need a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm if you have a flame-fueled device such as ranges, ovens, clothes dryers, furnaces, fireplaces, space heaters, vehicles and water heaters. Furnaces and water heaters may be sources of carbon monoxide, but if they are vented properly the carbon monoxide will escape to the outside. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those of the flu or a cold, including shortness of breath upon mild exertion, mild headaches and nausea. Higher levels of poisoning lead to dizziness, mental confusion, severe headaches, nausea and fainting upon mild exertion. It can cause unconsciousness, permanent brain damage and death. Carbon monoxide detectors are intended to protect healthy adults which means, pets, small children or an older adult may experience symptoms earlier than a younger healthy adult. Placement of a carbon monoxide detector depends on the make and model of the detector. Some plug into an outlet and some are in combination with smoke alarms and are placed on the ceiling. It is important to place the CO detector near your sleeping area and ensure each floor has one. If it activates get all members of the household to fresh air. Take note of anyone experiencing any symptoms and call 911. Do not go back into the building until the fire department has given the ‘all clear’. The average life span of a carbon monoxide detector is approximately five years. However, this could vary depending on the make and model. If your detector activates or chirps for no reason it may mean it’s time to replace it. For further information on chimney care, contact the Fire Prevention Division at 705-325-9131.
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20 Fox family as busy as bees Continued from page 6
and never ever leaving a moment’s break in conversation to make you feel awkward. I first met Matt Fox at the Ramona Fair in September. Six-year-old Leah, his youngest, held a big feathery mass in her tiny arms and was walking up to people asking them if they wanted to pet her rooster. She is adorable and well versed on the family’s chickens. The candy apple stains on her face just made her that much more endearing. Oh, she was having such a great time and I just had to take a picture. She sent me to the honey stand to get permission from her dad. When I met him, Matt told me he has been keeping bee hives for about two years after a life-long interest in the pastime. A friend of his got him into the hobby and he started with starter hives that he built himself. Hives are actually wooden boxes with drawers in them – nothing like I thought they’d look like. In September, at the end of the season, the honeycomb found inside is topped with honey but there are white caps that must be taken off with a knife. Then it goes through a spinner, either manual or electronic, to spin out the honey. On average, each hive should give you about 100 pounds of honey, Matt told me, but this summer, a bear got into one hive (apparently Winnie the Pooh isn’t the only bear that likes honey) and varroa mites got another. Add that to the fact that most of his hives were starters, he only got about 200 pounds of honey, which equals about 200 jars. While the talk amongst larger beekeepers, especially in agricultural areas, is about neonicotinoids due to insecticides used on crops, Varroa mites are Matt’s main fear. The mites are also known as ‘vampire’ mites because they’ll get on a bee’s back and suck the blood out of them. According to Matt, they’ve been around for about 20 years and are his biggest obstacle.
“In the summer it hasn’t been a problem because the bees will keep up, they preen themselves. With the (drawer) system I have, I can keep cleaning them out,” he said. “In the winter, the bees go into a ball cluster all winter long, and then the mites just pick them off … by the end of the winter, your hive’s done.” As Matt talks, we walk back to the house so he can get his beekeeper suit. He puts it on and brings out a smoker used to calm the bees. Back we go to the hives and Matt pulls out a drawer full of honeycomb and bees – lots of bees. I remind myself that bees can smell fear (or is that dogs?) and remain calm, trusting in the fact that Matt knows what he’s doing, which he does. You can find Matt’s honey — harvested right here in Washago — at Canoe Fresh Food Market and various fall fairs.
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Brent Bunker, Owner/Operator Pumping Septic & Holding Tanks Pump Replacements
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BUSINESS/CELL 705-689-5991
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21 Looking for a few good men and women Continued from page 1
15 – 20 hours per month with training and emergency responses. However, Fire Chief Eric Dowell says they need 10-12 more volunteer firefighters to complete a full complement for their four stations. The township is currently holding a recruitment campaign for men and women, ages 18 and older, who want to make a significant difference in their community. An information session will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. at the township administration office on Hurlwood Lane. There are also applications on the township’s website at www.townshipofsevern.com. The deadline to submit an application is Dec. 16, 2013. Once an individual passes the interview, shows a good driving record, clean criminal check and provides a favourable letter from their doctor, they must go through a series of agility tests that are based on different jobs within the fire service. Wood says he was not the ‘stereotypical’ person people might expect would apply for a volunteer firefighter position, but once he was accepted and started the training, he hasn’t looked back. “I had an interest in it but the training part I thought might be too hard. I wasn’t in the greatest of shape,” he says. “Definitely, I’ve gotten in better shape since I’ve been doing it. I didn’t want to let the young guys show me up.” Wood says he was also afraid of heights before he became a volunteer firefighter, but again, training got him over it. “Now, I’ll climb up the ladder and stand there, lock my legs like they teach us, and hammer and chainsaw and do whatever I need to do without holding on,” he says with a smile. “I would never have done that a year and a half ago. So, a lot of my fears have been overcome.” Medical calls like heart attacks or motor vehicle collisions make up approximately 50 percent of the work they do, but firefighters also respond to structure and grass fires, alarm calls, water rescue, hazardous spills and hydro responses. While volunteer firefighters aren’t paid for their service, they also do not have to pay for any of their training and equipment, and they receive a small honorarium based on their hours of service. “The average firefighter can make $3,000 to $6,000 per year, paid once per year right before Christmas,” says Dowell. “It’s small
compensation, it’s not going to pay their mortgage, but it will pay for the fuel in their vehicle or maintenance on their vehicle.” For Wood and the other volunteer firefighters, it’s not about the money. It’s about making a serious difference in others’ lives and in the community. “I feel good when I’ve helped someone,” says Wood. “You go home at the end of the day and can say you’ve made a difference that day … There are bad things that happen but we realize that we’re there to help.”
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Community Happenings Send your group’s upcoming community event to thevillager@xplornet.com.
November 16, 2013
Craft Show takes place at the Washago Community Centre between 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.
November 21, 2013
Ramara Township. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The fun takes place between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. and there will be a silent auction. Tickets can be purchased at Ramara Township Office, Ramara Centre, Hawthorne Grill, Canoe Fresh Food Market, Davenport Subaru and the Water Market.
The Annual General Meeting of the Ramara Historical Society and election of officers for 2014 will be held at the Udney Community Centre at 7 p.m. The heritage November 23, 2013 theme will be the Military Theme Display Music at the Bakery will take place inside the bakery of Canoe Fresh Food Market in and there will be light refreshments. Washago. Doors open at 7 p.m. and music November 22, 2013 starts at 8. The host band is Sassafras Trio Dish-licious.ca and Nutrinity Health are with guest performers Lead Pipe Cinch, Sue holding a Health and Wellness Fair at the Wood, Mike Martyn and George Coventry. Washago Community Centre, between 5 and 9 p.m. Admission is free and there will November 24, 2013 be speakers as well as practitioners available The 14th Annual Washago & District Lions to discuss various avenues for better health. Club Grey Cup Party and Auction will take place at the Lions Hall in Washago, November 23, 2013 beginning at 3 p.m. $30 per person, tickets Severn Township Volunteer Firefighters from include half-time snacks, prizes a spot on Station 1 will be holding a unique food ‘pick the game pool board and more. Pickup up’ between 8:30 a.m. and noon. Residents and/or rides home provided. from Bayou Road to Shoreview Road along Highway 11 (including Cumberland Beach, November 27, 2013 Goldstein Road and Sandcastle Estates) are The Township of Severn is holding a volunteer being asked to leave food donations in a firefighter information meeting at the bag outside their door. The firefighters will township administration office on Hurlwood drive by, pick up the food and deliver to The Lane, at 7 p.m. This meeting is to provide information to people who are thinking about Sharing Place Food Bank. becoming a volunteer firefighter.
November 23, 2013
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A Chili Euchre night will be held at the Washago Community Centre in support of the Santa’s Helpers project. Enjoy a chili dinner with all the fixin’s and rotating euchre night. Cost is $25/person and can be purchased at stores in Washago. Cash prizes and 50/50 draw. Cocktails start at 6 p.m. with dinner following at 6:30 and euchre to follow. Please bring an unwrapped toy for the community Santa’s Helpers Basket. To book your table, call 705-514-1190 before November 27.
November 30, 2013
A free movie night will take place at the Coldwater Community Centre, featuring Arthur Christmas. Free popcorn, door prizes and free public skate. It all starts at 7 p.m.
December 14, 2013
The theme for this year’s Santa Claus Parade in Washago is Lights, Lights, Lights and it takes place on Muskoka Street in Washago, beginning at 6 p.m. Don’t miss the amazing spectacle of dazzling lights and holiday music. After, bring the kids to visit with Santa at the Washago Community Centre and enjoy free hot chocolate and cookies.
AnnouncementS Happy 65th Gail!
Dr. Krane will be performing at ODAS Park in Orillia at a benefit dance for the Ramara Disaster Relief Committee to raise money for the flood victims in
Santa’s Helpers in Washago raised money through a charity BBQ on Oct. 18 to purchase toys to ensure the children on their list have a Merry Christmas. Join them for a fun Chili Euchre night on Nov. 29.
November 29, 2013
Over 30 people joined The Couchiching Conservancy on Oct. 20 to celebrate the official opening of the Thomas C. Agnew Nature Reserve off of Fawcett Road. The opening included a walking tour of the trails to discuss the history and unique features of the property. Pictured here (left to right) is Severn Township Coun. Jane Dunlop, Joan Berndt, Mark Bisset, Susan Campbell and Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop.
We all love you! Advertise your special occasions in The Villager from as low as $17.95.Contact us at thevillagerpress@rogers.com for complete details. Our magazine is distributed the middle of each month. The deadline is the 22nd of the month previous to your published announcement.
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NEW SIGN. SAME WINDSHIELD REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT EXPERTISE. We’re joining forces with Speedy Glass®, Canada’s leader in vehicle glass repair and replacement so you’ll get more great services like on line booking and a comprehensive national warranty. All that, and you still get the same folks you know behind the counter. Welcome to our new Speedy Glass® service centre.
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Bill Farewell
This Apple Auto Glass® location is changing to Speedy Glass®
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315 West St. S Orillia
705.325.3500 speedyglass.ca
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