GREENWOOD WINS BAYFIELD READS

Bayfield Reads slate of Defenders for 2023 were l-r: Tyler Hessel, Kristin Strang, Tina Bax, Judy Whittaker and Dave MacLaren. (Photos by Catherine Tillmann)

Bayfield Reads is a wrap for 2023!

Tina Bax and Judy Whittaker celebrate their respective wins at the 2023 Bayfield Reads event held on Sunday, March 26 at the Bayfield Town Hall. Dave McLaren (seated right) and Michael Peirce look on.

Bayfield Reads is the village’s own local version of Canada Reads – every year the CBC chooses five Canadian books each defended by a notable Canadian. The local version of the event was held on the afternoon of  Sunday, March 26. The Bayfield Town Hall was packed with avid readers and interested supporters.

Judges Abby Armstrong, Ralph Blasting and Rachael Rishworth, determined that Judy Whittaker was the winner with her defence of “Greenwood” by Michael Christie. It was a very close race but Tina Bax won the People’s Choice Award defending “Hotline” by Dimitri Nasrallah. Rounding out the list of Defenders were Dave MacLaren, Kristin Strang and Tyler Hessel who all proved to be tough to beat.

Bookseller Mike Peirce kept things moving as the Master of Ceremonies, while incredible volunteers, Tom and Deb Grasby, Carmine Davis, and Bev Quinn got people in the door, kept them hydrated, made sure they all had the ability to vote and kept the Defenders on time. A special thanks goes out to Gayle Waters who brought all these people together to ensure Bayfield had an interesting and informative event.

The folks at The Village Bookshop would like to thank all those who participated and attended. They are already looking forward to hosting this event again next year.

PANCAKE BRUNCH AND SCHILBE SUGAR BUSH TOUR THIS WEEKEND

Last held in 2019, the Pancake ‘N Sausage Brunch and Schilbe Sugar Bush Tour will take place on Saturday, Apr. 1st. This image taken at the 2016 event shows folks preparing to go on a tractor ride to the Sugar Bush. (Photo by Melody Falconer-Pounder)

This Saturday, Apr. 1st, no fooling, it will be pancake breakfast time!

Volunteers, with the Bayfield Area Food Bank (BAFB) and Trinity St. James Anglican Church, are joining together to host the 11th Pancake ‘N Sausage Brunch and Schilbe Sugar Bush Tour from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pine Lake Campground.

On the menu for brunch will be genuine Maple syrup poured over hot pancakes and sausage accompanied by coffee, tea and juice.

For those who can’t get enough of the sweet stuff Rick and Rusty Schilbe’s Maple Syrup will be available for purchase. Folks will also be able to purchase a box or two of Classic Girl Guide Cookies as members of Bayfield Guiding will be in attendance as well.

Before or after partaking in the brunch served in the Campground’s Recreation Hall, people can hop on a wagon for a short tractor ride from the campground through Rick and Rusty Schilbe’s Sugar Bush to the shanty. Once at their destination they will see first hand how Maple Syrup is produced.

Tickets will be sold at the door: $12 for adults, $6 for children under 12; and preschoolers free. All proceeds will be shared between BAFB and Trinity St James. Come and join in this celebration of community, springtime and food security.

Pine Lake Campground is located at 77794 Orchard Line, Bayfield.

COUNTDOWN ON TO ANNUAL EGG HUNT

Enthusiastic chocolate egg hunters will be let loose in the park at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 9 just as they were in this image taken at the 2022 hunt. (Photo by Melody Falconer-Pounder)

Chocolate loving youngsters need to circle Sunday, Apr. 9 on their adult’s day planners as that is the date for the Easter Egg Hunt hosted by the Bayfield Optimist Club!

Approximately four thousand molded, chocolate Easter eggs, will be tossed on the lawn in Clan Gregor Square for the annual event. Children will be invited to scramble for the eggs starting precisely at 1 p.m.

Those youngsters who participate in the event are reminded to bring a container to collect their chocolate treasures in and remember the hunt happens very quickly so be sure to be on time.

AFTERSUN FIRST FILM IN INDIE SERIES

Bayfield Indie Film Series will debut its first film, “Aftersun”, at the Bayfield Town Hall on Apr. 12.

Aftersun is a beautiful and unusual coming-of-age film about a father and daughter who embark on a journey together to a Turkish seaside resort. The story is told 20 years later by Sophie as she struggles to reconcile the father she adored with the person he was. Aftersun is a film about love and loss, and making memories. It’s a film people won’t forget.

Aftersun, written and directed by Charlotte Wells, won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best First Film. The film received seven awards at the British Independent Film Awards, including Best Film. Paul Mescal (of Normal People and God’s Creatures) received a nomination for best actor at the Oscars.

Frankie Corio, who plays the young Sophie, is a first time actor, having won the part because her mother had sent her photo to a casting agent in response to an ad on Facebook looking for “tomboyish girls” between the ages of 10-12. Aftersun could be the debut of a future acting career for Frankie as she has already received nominations for Best Young Actor and Young Performer of the Year at Critics Choice Awards and Critics’ Circle Film Awards.

The film will commence at 7 p.m. with the doors to the Bayfield Town Hall opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for $12 or people can purchase a season pass, which includes three movies, at The Village Bookshop for $30.

And congratulations to Meredith Needles on winning two free passes in the Bayfield Indie Film Series Instagram contest. Stay tuned to @bayfieldindiefilmseries for more contests.

DELEGATE FROM COP27 CLIMATE CONFERENCE TO SPEAK AT EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

Alexandra Ho (Submitted photo)

Following the Ninth Annual Earth Day Hike and Village Cleanup organized by the Bayfield River Valley Trail Association for the morning of Apr 22 members are invited to an Earth Day Celebration hosted by Blue Bayfield.

Starting at 2 p.m., members of the community are invited to St. Andrew’s United Church to hear featured speaker Alexandra Ho, who was a delegate from the University of Waterloo’s Climate Institute at the COP27 Climate Conference, recently held in Egypt.

Ho is a Master of Climate Change student with a background in Psychology and English Literature. She focuses on understanding the relationships between climate change communications and behavioural choice-making as well as the impacts of climate change on mental health and psychological wellbeing, particularly among youth.

Blue Bayfield and the organizing committee are honored to have Jordan George from the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point Community to offer the land acknowledgement.

Bayfield is fortunate, not only to be home to many visual artists, but also instrumental and vocal groups, a few of whom will be highlighted at this day of music and celebration. The afternoon will begin with a performance by accomplished Bayfield artists Mary McGoldrick on piano and Danuta Wyant on cello, performing works by George Harrison and Jay Unger.

The Bayfield Ukulele Society (BUS) and the Glee Sisters that will also offer musical performances.

“The beauty of the earth is expressed through art and language in many forms and on April 22, you will hear musical sounds that honor the earth,” said Ray Letheren representing Blue Bayfield. “As our theme for the day, we have chosen the words of Chief Seattle of the Suquamish and Duwamish Native American tribes, in what is now Washington state. His statement of truth, ‘The earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth’, was written in 1854 and is more relevant today than ever before. The vocal edition that will be performed at Earth Day is an inspiring rendition of this writing.”

The MC for the afternoon will be Roz Elliott who is well known for her program on Staysh TV.

Attendees at this performance are invited to take with them white pine seeds and growing pods.

“We hope that in a few years, this day will be recalled by many when the trees mature and take their place in our ecosystem,” said Shelagh Sully, representing Blue Bayfield.

Also available at the afternoon event will be the Blue Bayfield Publication, “The Great Lakes: A Time of Reckoning”. Donations would be welcomed.

St. Andrew’s United Church is located at 6 The Square in Bayfield.

CLOSE TO ONE HUNDRED EXHIBITORS TO ATTEND BAYFIELD HOME AND LEISURE SHOW

Watson’s Home Hardware in Goderich had a cheerful spring display at the Home and Leisure Show in 2022. Close to hundred exhibitors are set to take part in the 2023 show coming up in April. (Photo by Melody Falconer-Pounder)

The annual Bayfield Lions Club Home and Leisure Show is back and better than ever! It is the event of the season for homeowners, buyers, renovators, DIYers and more! And it’s springing up fast this year. People are encouraged to mark their  calendars for Apr. 22- 23.

The show will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.  The Lions Club pride themselves on making this event “free to the public” and although the admission is free, they gratefully accept donations to the local food bank.

Attendees are asked to remember to get their door prize ticket when they enter, then proceed to “Open Expo” located on the main floor. Those who work up an appetite strolling the booths can grab a bite at the food court upstairs as they stroll by even more exhibitors.

A highlight of this year’s show will be the display of an original Penhale Carriage. It was crafted by the late Tom Penhale of Bayfield who found international fame as the world’s foremost maker of horse-drawn wagons. Snippety the Clown will be on hand to provide free face painting for the kids while the big kids will no doubt enjoy a stroll outside to see an exhibit of fun recreational vehicles.

This is going to be one of the biggest home and leisure shows in the area, not only because it’s the only Home Show in the area, but because it’s a full show of everything needed to get ready for the Spring and Summer seasons be it home, cottage, camper or rental.

Visitors can look forward to seeing close to 100 exhibitors located upstairs and downstairs and outside of the Bayfield Community Centre and Arena, including: park models, trailers, bear chairs, home improvement, electric bikes, and even a hot tub.

“We sold out of our main floor Exhibitor booths very quickly this year,” noted Tony Van Bakel, of the Bayfield Lions Home Show Committee.  “I think it had to do with the earlier start of our marketing this year.”

For anyone interested in signing on as an Exhibitor there are two options left: upstairs booths for $350 and outdoor booths for $150.  This year, the Lions Club Committee is extra excited about a great show with some fascinating exhibitor arrangements for inside and outside the community centre and arena.

This is a great way to celebrate the warmer seasons in Bayfield, as the days will be brighter, the flowers will be starting to blossom and the buds will be popping on the trees!  The Lions invite everyone to help them welcome Spring and come on out and experience this one-of-a-kind show!

For more information visit: bayfieldlions.ca.

CANDLELIGHT WALK THIS SATURDAY

Weather permitting on Apr. 1 along the Taylor Trail in Varna, volunteers will place hundreds of candle-lit lanterns, lighting the pine forest path for the Second Annual Candlelight Memorial Walk. (Submitted photo)

The Second Annual Candlelight Memorial Walk will be held on the Taylor Trail in Varna on Saturday, Apr. 1st. The entire trail will be lit by hundreds of candle-lit lanterns, making the experience for walkers magical.

This event is being organized by volunteers from Huron Hospice and the Bayfield River Valley Trails Association (BRVTA) to raise funds for the hospice. The walk will begin at 7 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the event will be postponed until Apr. 2nd.

Participants have the opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation to light a candle in memory of a loved one. Memorial names will be read during the dedication service at 8 p.m. while participants warm up with a cup of hot chocolate. This event is suitable for all age groups and the 1 km self-guided walk is on an accessible nature trail.

All proceeds of this event will go towards nursing care at Huron Hospice. Unlike hospitals, hospices in Ontario receive only partial funding for their daily operating costs, while services are free of charge.

For more information or to donate, visit Huron Hospice events or call Roger Mather at 905 630-3571.

EXPERIMENTAL LIFESAVING TREATMENT TAKING TOLL ON RESCUE’S FINANCES

Chloe (Submitted photo)

The journey to a happy life with a forever family isn’t always smooth for many of the cats and kittens that find themselves at Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines.

Chloe is one such cat.

She was adopted on Dec. 5, 2022 and all was going well until early February when she started demonstrating signs of Feline Intestinal Peritonitis (FIP), a devastatingly fatal disease.  The veterinarian who diagnosed her recommended euthanasia. But her adopted family called BFF instead. Volunteers at the Rescue are currently working with an experimental treatment for FIP that has shown an 85 per cent survival rate and it was decided that Chloe would be a good candidate for treatment so the family returned her to the Rescue in hopes of saving her life.

She is the third kitten at BFF to go through the treatment. The first two, Fig (aka Ollie) and Daisy, are both doing well.

“Daisy is almost done with her observation period with a diagnosis of cured in the wings! Fig (aka Ollie) has only four more days of injections and then will enter into the 84 day observation period. Things are looking very good for him as well,” said Penhale.

Chloe is now one month into the 84 day treatment after which the same number of days is allowed for observation.

“From coming in unable to walk, being lethargic, limp and experiencing incontinence once the treatment was started she showed some improvement within days,” said Deb Penhale, representing BFF. “She is now eating with gusto and walking with just a little wobble. She is able to run and climb and give some kitty sass. She is gaining weight and loves squeezable, pureed cat treats and lots of cuddles.”

According to Penhale, Chloe has gone from being scheduled to be euthanized to the point where you can’t really tell there’s anything wrong with her. She still has two months of treatment to go visit.

“Although we are over the moon, thrilled and excited with the results we have had with these three cats it has been very expensive and taken a toll financially on the Rescue,” said Penhale. “Anyone willing to donate to the continued medical care for Chloe, until she has done her treatment, would be very, very much appreciated.”

To learn more please contact BFF via email at bayfieldsforgottenfelines@gmail.com. The adoption fee remains at  $200 until April. Adopted cats are vetted, shots are up-to-date and they are also spayed or neutered. Not able to adopt but still want to help? Donations are always gratefully accepted and can be e-transferred to the email above.

HURON TRACT LAND TRUST CONSERVANCY WELCOMES TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS

A local land trust, permanently preserving several natural properties in an historic part of Ontario, now has two new board members.

Kerry Teske

Jessica Smeekens and Kerry Teskey are the newest members of the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy (HTLTC) Board of Directors. They fill vacancies which opened upon the retirement from the board of past members Peter Twynstra and Kim McCabe. Twynstra served on the board since the land trust’s inception in 2011 and McCabe served on the board since 2020.

“I would like to thank Peter and Kim for their years of dedicated service and I am honored to welcome Jessica and Kerry,” said Max Morden, chair of the HTLTC. “Kim and Peter provided invaluable service during a very important time as our land trust worked with local donors to permanently protect more local properties and to enhance the natural features of these properties. We are very excited that Jessica and Kerry are joining our board and we will benefit greatly from their expertise.”

Jessica Smeekens

Smeekens is a Registered Professional Forester from Thedford. She is founder of Auxsable Forestry. She also runs Thedford Native Plants, a native plant nursery, with her sister, Sarah Smeekens. She is the Vegetation Services Coordinator for the West Region of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. In her work with the Ministry, she works to transition highways from non-native species into suitable native species and to combat the ongoing spread of invasive Phragmites and other non-native species. Jessica said she loves the biodiversity and climate of southern Ontario and gets outside as often as she can in order to enjoy all four seasons. She grew up in Lambton Shores and deeply cares about local ecosystems.

Teskey grew up on his family’s farm near Orillia and he now lives in Grand Bend. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Grand Bend and he currently serves as President-Elect. He attended the University of Guelph, where he earned a degree in Agriculture with a specialization in Crop Science. During his studies, Teskey financed his education by growing and selling sweet corn on the family farm. After graduation, he spent more than 30 years working for the DuPont Company in various roles related to vegetation management and crop protection, spanning across Canada and the United States. Throughout his career, Teskey maintained a strong interest in botany and environmentalism. He and his family share a passion for the preservation of the environment and the region’s natural and historical heritage.

The current land trust board is Chair Max Morden, Grand Bend; Past Chair Roger Lewington, Bayfield; Don Farwell, Stratford; Paul Spittal, Bayfield; Philip Walden, Thedford; Steve Bowers, Brussels; Kerry Teskey, Grand Bend; Jessica Smeekens, Thedford; and Alison Lobb, of the Clinton area.

The HTLTC was formed in 2011, by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, a registered Canadian charity. The land trust serves the area of the historic Huron Tract. The HTLTC is a volunteer organization with a separate board of directors and is a member of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance. The HTLTC accepts donations and bequests of land and gives people in the Huron Tract area a way to make a positive difference by helping to protect and restore land, water, and nature.

Thanks to generous public donations of land and money, the land trust protects these important nature areas: Heaman Tract (2019), near Ailsa Craig, donated by Janet Heaman in memory of Jack Heaman; Woodburne Farm (2018), near Goderich, donated by Ilse Elliott and her late husband William Elliott; Bayfield River Flats (2017), donated by Bayfield River Valley Trail Association (BRVTA) and community donors; Mayhew Tract (2015), near Holmesville, donated by the Mayhew Family, in memory of Jack and Iris Mayhew; and coming soon is the Warner Wildlife and Nature Preserve in Grand Bend, to be donated by Peter Warner and his late wife Esther.

A donation to the local land trust is a local way to leave a lasting legacy for future generations. These donations of land and/or funds help to permanently protect nature areas with local benefits such as water quality, forests and habitat, and public enjoyment and recreation. People can help to permanently protect and preserve the natural, recreational, scenic, historical, or agricultural importance of properties in the historic Huron Tract area through their donation to the land trust.

The Chair of the land trust encourages prospective donors to contact any member of the Board of Directors or to contact staff at 519 235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610. To learn more about the Conservancy, email info@htltc.ca or call 1-888-286-2610 or visit htltc.ca.

COVID-19 TESTING CLINIC CLOSING

The Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance’s COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinic (CCFCC) in Stratford will be closing at the end of the month. Those who have worked to make this clinic possible include l-r: Julie Brown, manager CCFCC; Patty Wells, RN; Ashley McCartney and Dr. Shawn Edwards. (Submitted photo)

Due to a steady decline in patient volume, the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance’s (HPHA) COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinic (CCFCC) will be closing. The last day of operation for COVID-19 testing will be Thursday, March 30 and the last day for physician assessment will be Friday, March 31.

COVID-19 Testing began in the Emergency Departments of each of HPHA’s hospital sites in March 2020. By June of 2020 a drive-thru COVID-19 Assessment Centre opened at the Stratford General Hospital. In November of the same year the Assessment Centre moved to the Stratford Rotary Complex. Physician, or clinical, assessments were introduced in October of 2021. In September of 2022, the Assessment Centre relocated to its current location at the Stratford Medical Centre – Stratford Family Health Team office.

In December 2022 the Assessment Centre became known as the CCFCC and featured an expanded clinical assessment eligibility to individuals experiencing a wide range of respiratory symptoms along with COVID-19 testing and antiviral treatment.

To date over 54,000 PCR tests and over 2,000 clinical assessments have been completed.

“The contribution this team has made to the quality of our local health system during the pandemic has been outstanding,” said President and CEO of HPHA, Andrew Williams. “As we close our CCFCC a huge thank you is extended to our community partners including the Stratford Rotary Complex, the wonderful staff at the Stratford Family Health Team, Emad Salama of PrinceRx Pharmacy for generously paying the parking fees for all the CCFCC patients and, of course, all the staff and physicians that worked tirelessly to provide this service.”

For patients seeking COVID-19 assessment, testing or antiviral treatment after March 31, 2023: contact your family doctor; or visit Ontario’s COVID-19 web page (www.ontario.ca/covid19) to find a local pharmacy who offers COVID-19 testing and treatment

Residents of Huron and Perth are encouraged to continue taking actions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses including masking in public spaces, keeping up-to-date with vaccinations, washing their hands and staying home when sick (unless seeking medical care).

For anyone who develops severe symptoms requiring medical attention, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, loss of consciousness, or confusion, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

GODERICH LIONS HOST INSPIRATIONAL TALKS

Brian O’Reilly (Submitted photo)

The Goderich Lions are thrilled to announce their upcoming series of wellness talks featuring Brian O’Reilly of Human Potential Plus. With over 40 years of experience as a high-performance life coach, O’Reilly is set to deliver a series of four insightful and inspiring talks entitled, “Creating a Caring Community”.

The talks will be held every Monday evening in April and will be hosted at the Mackay Center in Goderich. Doors will open at 6:45 p.m. to allow attendees to get settled before the talks begin.

As a community organization committed to promoting wellness, the Goderich Lions are proud to offer this event free of charge to anyone interested in attending. While donations are welcome, the primary goal is to provide access to invaluable information and insights from a seasoned expert.

“We’re excited to bring Brian O’Reilly to our community,” said John Maaskant, the vice-president of the Goderich Lions. “His wealth of knowledge and experience as a high-performance life coach is exactly what many of us need during these challenging times. We’re proud to be able to offer this series of talks to everyone who wants to learn and grow.”

The Goderich Lions encourage anyone interested in attending to mark their calendars and plan to attend all four talks. With each session building upon the last, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of what it means to live a well-rounded and fulfilling life.

The session topics and dates are as follows: Apr. 3rd, “Living into Being a Good Human”;  Apr. 10, “Understanding Conditioned Unhappiness”; Apr. 17, “Reading your Own Book – The Within and Without”; Apr. 24, “The Deep Conditioning of Fear, Depression and Anger”.

For more information on the series of wellness talks, please visit the Goderich Lions’ Facebook Page.

LIGHT UP THE COMMUNITY WITH LOVE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

Hearts in the two sizes pictured, but in Neon Blue, are now available from Wuerth’s Shoes on The Square in Goderich as a fundraiser for the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital Foundation. (Submitted photo)

The Alexandra Marine & General Hospital Foundation (AMGHF) is launching a new campaign in support of their treasured healthcare team.

The AMGHF is undertaking a new fundraiser and they hope that as a community people will join with them and show their love for their frontline workers with the purchase of a ‘Hero Heart’.  The AMGHF wants to help the community recognize their Healthcare/Frontline workers in a tangible and visible form. The AMGHF knows firsthand how hard they have worked and continue to work, and they are tired.

“As we reflect on the struggles and challenges brought on by this pandemic, there is also much to be grateful for. Many thanks go out to all the staff and physicians involved in the pandemic response. Thank you to our community and partners for supporting us and each other as we navigated through this once in a lifetime global event,”  said Jimmy Trieu, CEO and president, Huron Health System. “Let us be reminded that when we work together, we can tackle challenges that come our way.  The fight continues and we are prepared to care for the most vulnerable.”

Let’s light up the community with love for them.

“We have partnered with Our Glowing Hearts and we want to see a Neon Blue Heart in as many windows as possible. The hearts can remain in your window as long as you like, all year – even better!” said Sherry Marshall, Board chair, AMGHF. “Drop by Wuerth’s Shoes downtown Goderich (142 The Square) for a look at how beautiful these hearts are, and look around the community to see how many of our local businesses and residents are joining in. Join us and light up our community with love.”

This beautifully crafted LED neon heart is dedicated to the healthcare heroes who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic. The heart is designed so that people can give it to a healthcare hero or place it in their front window to spread love to anyone passing by. Every heart comes with a baseplate and a screw for securely attaching it to the base plate. The base plate provides a sturdy base to place on a window sill. The frame is routered out of 3/4″ laminated hardwood, hand sanded, and assembled in Canada.  Each heart is unique and variations should be expected and treasured as a unique element. There are two sizes: Large – 12’x10’ and The Mini Heart – 7’x7’.

“We are so grateful for our healthcare team at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital. We have so many dedicated people at AMGH, they make it all work everyday, all day and all night. They are here for all of you,” said Kimberley Payne,  Executive director, AMGHF.  “We can show them in this beautiful, visible way how much we appreciate them. Let’s light up the community with love.”

For more information or to place an order for a Hero Heart please contact Kimberley Payne at kimberley.payne@amgh.ca or call 519 524-8508.

The AMGHF works in partnership with AMGH to ensure that quality health care is available to all residents of Huron County and neighboring communities. The AMGHF has been helping to enhance patient care and safety since 1993.