COME TO THE FAIR AND JOIN IN THE FUN

“A Tractor Life for Me in 2023” is the theme of the Bayfield Community Fair to be held this weekend, Aug. 18-20 and excitement is building for the parade that will make its way a long Main Street, after a three year absence, on Saturday at 11 a.m. (Photo by Melody Falconer-Pounder)

It’s hard to believe, but after months of planning by dedicated organizers, the Bayfield Community Fair is set to open this Friday, Aug. 18. The fairground gates will open on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and close on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 3:45 p.m., giving the community two and a half days of a traditional agricultural fair complete with homecraft exhibits, demonstrations, competitions, events, activities, and music to enjoy.

Read on for a snapshot of what fairgoers can expect to see, taste, and experience at the Fair.

The Bayfield Agricultural Society (BAS) is hosting a Fish Fry Dinner on Friday at the Bayfield Agricultural Park with continuous serving from 4:30-7 p.m. Each dinner will include two pieces of Alaska Pollock, fries, coleslaw, roll, and a dessert. For details, please visit Fish Fry Dinner.   Advance tickets can be purchased by emailing info@bayfieldfair.ca There will be a limited number of tickets available at the gate, so people are encouraged to pre-purchase to avoid disappointment.

A spectacular fireworks display will be held on Friday night at 9 p.m. in the fairgrounds.

A full parade will take place on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. on Bayfield Main Street, starting at Catherine Street, proceeding past Clan Gregor Square and along John Ave to the fairgrounds. Confirmed parade participants include local businesses, marching bands, Shriners units, dignitaries, fire trucks, vintage vehicles and more. Attendees are asked not to forget to bring non-perishable food donations for the Bayfield Area Food Bank. Volunteers will be collecting along the parade route. Also Bayfield Community  Fair volunteers will be collecting cash donations along the route to cover parade costs. For additional information, please visit  2023 Parade.

It wouldn’t be a fair without games and activities for children. Age-appropriate games and activities galore will be offered for three different age groups: Preschool, School Age, and Young Adult. Grand River Inflatables will provide endless bouncy fun for the kids on Saturday. And the ever-popular train rides will be available throughout the weekend for the little ones.

Exhibits, displays, and presentations are an important part of a country fair. People won’t want to miss the Homecraft Show in the arena, which provides a showcase for the incredibly talented exhibitors in this community – baking and canning, flowers and plants, fruits and vegetables, art and photography as well as handcrafted quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and woodworking. It’s always a feast for the eyes! The Penhale Landau will also be making a special appearance in the arena. And don’t forget the Poultry Show, which will be running all day on Saturday in the Lions’ display building behind the arena. Several special presentations will be offered in the arena over the weekend: “Flower Arranging” with Rose Odell and “Fermentation of Garden Produce” with Jorrie Flack and Sandy MacDonald, both on Saturday afternoon; and “Planting a Pollinator Garden in Your Yard” with Rhea Hamilton-Seeger on Sunday afternoon. A Robotics Demonstration is scheduled for several times on both Saturday and Sunday. Greenacre Dog Agility and Training will be making a return visit to the Fair with two demonstrations on Sunday afternoon. Please check the 2023 Schedule for the times and locations of all exhibits, displays, presentations and demonstrations.

Celebrating its 100th birthday, this beautifully maintained 1923 Ford Model “T”, five-passenger, touring coupe will be participating in this year’s Bayfield Community Fair parade to be held on the morning of Saturday, Aug. 19. (Photo by James Armstrong)

Want to know what food will be available at the Fair? The Bayfield Community Fair welcomes newcomer “Truckin Mamas on the Run”, a food truck with an extensive menu. “Naomi’s Lemonade Stand and Ice Cream” will also be there to help everyone beat the heat. Also available will be cotton candy, snow cones, bag candy, hot dogs, pop, and water. There will be lots of choices to satisfy every craving!

Fair organizers have planned a full lineup of quality entertainment for this weekend. At Friday’s opening, Adam Lang will provide the evening’s entertainment with his easy-listening guitar playing and vocals. On Saturday afternoon, Erick Traplin, a very popular children’s entertainer, will be doing two high-energy, interactive shows. The Rock Revival Concert at the fairgrounds on Saturday night will feature tribute bands “Zed” and “Southern Fried”. These two bands will be performing hits from Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and more, giving everyone a chance to rock out the park after dark! For tickets to this concert, please visit: Bayfield Town Hall Events. Last, but certainly not least, the Bayfield Ukulele Society will be performing for everyone on Sunday afternoon. For exact times of all performances at the Fair, please check the 2023 Schedule linked above.

This is just a brief overview of what will be happening at the Bayfield Fair. For additional information about the Fair, please visit  Bayfield Community Fair .  The BAS extends a warm welcome to everyone in the community, as well as visitors, to: “Come to the Fair and Join in the Fun”.

TWO SUMMER EVENTS WAVED BLUE FLAG

The Municipality of Bluewater and Village of Bayfield Marina hosted a Marina Litter Clean up over the course of the morning on Saturday, July 22.

Organizers would like to offer a big thank you to those that joined. With the help of those in attendance they collected five bags of litter that included over 300 cigarette butts.

These stats were reported to: Ocean Wise to add to their national litter database to help with programing and policy.

Additionally, 30 pollution prevention kits were handed out to boaters; these included an oil absorbent sock, absorbent rags and pads, educational brochures, and a marine store canvas reusable bag.

Then in the afternoon on Thursday, July 27 the Municipality of Bluewater joined with the Bayfield Branch of the Huron County Library to present “Playful Plastics”. This program highlighted how to reuse household plastics to create fun crafts!

Playful Plastics was a huge success with a total of 39 participants from the Municipality of Bluewater Day Camp as well as the general public. Fifty-seven activity kits were distributed. These included a sun-catcher, a wind-spinner and DIY stamps.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about the Blue Flag is invited to go to the Blue Flag Program page on the Municipality of Bluewater website.

MUSICAL DOUBLE-HEADER COMING TO AGRICULTURE PARK THIS SATURDAY

ZED is one of two bands that will perform in Agriculture Park on Aug. 19. Tickets are available now! (Submitted photo)

This coming Saturday, Aug. 19, the Bayfield Town Hall Heritage Society and the Bayfield Agricultural Society are joining forces to bring a “Rock Revival” to the Bayfield Community Fair! Two bands – “ZED” and “Southern Fried” – will take over the Bayfield Fairgrounds at Agricultural Park.

ZED will bring Led Zeppelin’s rock to life as this band faithfully recreates the sound of Led Zeppelin’s studio albums to an astonishing level of accuracy while also capturing the magical aura of the Led Zeppelin live experience.

Established in 2003, Southern Fried has been stunning audiences with a true experience of Southern rock music. They have been hailed as simply the most authentic-sounding Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute anywhere! In addition to Lynyrd Skinner tunes, Southern Fried plays southern classics by such groups as the Allman Brothers, ZZ Top and more.

Tickets are $30. Fairground gates for this Rock Revival will open at 6:30 p.m. while the concert will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available now for $30. There will be a cash bar. Attendees are asked to bring their own chair.

Tickets for this double-header can be purchased: here.

“Danceland” is coming to the Bayfield Town Hall for their end of summer 2023 celebration!

This afternoon outdoor concert will begin at 4 p.m. with the grounds opening at 3:30 p.m.

The jam band is composed of Jale and Joe Ferland as well as drummer Brad Park along with guest keyboard players and bassists.The Ferlands may already be known to many locals as their Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia Band cover band, “Cherry Garcia Band” has played Bayfield Volkfest and at the River Road Brewery in the past.

Danceland is rooted in a timeless psychedelic Americana tradition, replete with fine, storyteller songcraft; sunny harmonies; lonesome pedal steel; stratospheric lead guitar passages; and a touch of Eastern mysticism. This band evolved during the pandemic when Joe began writing original tunes with additional lyric contributions provided by Jale.

The name Danceland comes from Danceland Road located just south of Bayfield in the Municipality of Bluewater – those who attend the concert will be treated to such locally inspired songs as, “Daneland Road” and “Bluewater Sky”. They will also delight in performances of music by the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan, selections from the Motown era as well as a mix of Reggae. It sounds like there may be no more appropriate way to say, “Goodbye to summer!”

Tickets for Danceland at the Bayfield Town Hall are $20 each at Tickets.  Cash bar. Please bring a lawn chair.

LIVE AND SILENT AUCTIONS AN EXCITING PART OF “OFF THE WALL” FUNDRAISER

The Bayfield Centre for the Arts (BCA) second  “Off the Wall” fundraising event is less than two weeks away. It is set for Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Bayfield Town Hall.

“We invite you to light up your Saturday and be a part of this delightful summer art event!” said Leslee Squirrell, president of the BCA.

More than 45 artists answered the call to explore the theme, “Year of Land or Lakes” and the results will be open to the public for a free exhibition from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then in the evening from 4-7:30 p.m. those with tickets will have the opportunity to take home a piece of art right off the wall!

Ticket purchasers will be treated to delightful hor d’oeuvres and adult beverages (beer/wine) as well as an opportunity to bid on both live and silent auction items while waiting for their opportunity to choose a painting…off the wall.

And these auction items are sure to be quite a treat for the successful bidders.

One package includes:  two tickets to a Toronto Maple Leafs game during the 2023-24 season (centre ice – green), dinner for two at the famous Bardi’s Steak House on York Street in Toronto, and a signed Hockey Stick and photo from former Maple Leaf , Ryan O”Reilly. This auction item is valued over $1,000 and along with the signed items to a hockey fan it will be truly invaluable.

An oil painting entitled, “Colourful Huron County Fields” by Carol Finkbeiner Thomas, winner of Paint Ontario 2019, is an auction item that guests will surely be excited to bid on. Measuring 48” x 36” the painting is valued at $2,300.

An oil painting entitled, “Colourful Huron County Fields” by Carol Finkbeiner Thomas, winner of Paint Ontario 2019, is another auction item that guests will surely be excited to bid on. Measuring 48” x 36” the painting is valued at $2,300.

Other bidding opportunities will include a Chef’s Table private dinner for six at the Little Inn of Bayfield; a Hauser outdoor lantern and side table; a Kids Craft Party for six from Crichet Handmade Designs, on Catherine Street in the village; as well as gift baskets from Bayfield merchants.

There are three ticket types available for purchase: Golden Ticket, Art Lovers Ticket and Social Butterfly Ticket.

The one and only Golden Ticket is $500 and gives two guests “front of the line” access to choose their painting first from all the works available.

The cost of the Art Lovers Ticket has been set at $175 for two guests and includes one painting. They will have the opportunity to pick a single painting from the wall when their ticket is drawn at random.

Social Butterfly Tickets are available for $45 each. These tickets are for those guests who want to experience all the evening has to offer, including the food, beverages and bidding on the auction items but without the art to take home.

To purchase tickets for the BCA Off the Wall fundraising event please visit: Year of Land or Lakes Tickets.

The premier sponsor for this event is Diane Snell of Royal LePage Heartland Realty.

BAYFIELD’S FORGOTTEN FELINES CREATES DEDICATED FACEBOOK PAGE FOR ADOPTIONS

Molly and her Moppets. (Submitted photo)

Every week the volunteers at Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines encounter seemingly unimaginable challenges in protecting the cats and kittens that come into their care, one such feline family is the focus of Adopt a BFF this week.

Molly, who is practically a kitten herself, and her three little moppets were found when someone was digging a trench. Molly was scared off but her kittens were taken in and fed. People worked for three days to find Molly and her barely three week old babies were bottle-fed until that time. Once Molly was trapped she was reunited with the kittens and then they were all brought into the Rescue. One of the kittens was incredibly underweight and undersized and it turned out that two of the kittens had Bot Flies that had to be removed. These kittens are now healing, and volunteers are hopeful that they continue to do so and begin to thrive.

Anyone interested in adopting Molly or her moppets are asked to reach out to BFF through Facebook or email bayfieldsforgottenfelines@gmail.com.

BFF now has a new Facebook group dedicated to adoptions known as “Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines ADOPTION Group”.

“We are working on having all of our adoptable cats and kittens in one place. You can browse easily to find your fur baby,” said Deb Penhale, representing the Rescue. “We will still have our original Facebook page with lots of helpful information, interesting articles and some just plain adorable cat stuff.”

In addition to accepting monetary donations, BFF now has an Amazon wish list. This list contains items they need for the day-to-day care of their cats and kittens as well as some truly “wish” items. Items are marked as to their priority, number needed, and many explain what their use will be. There is a wide variety of prices and BFF appreciates whatever you can supply. Items need not be purchased through Amazon, the list is merely a guideline.

To view the items on the list please visit:  BFF Wish List.

Financial donations may also be sent via E-transfer to the email listed above or mailed to P.O. Box 33, Bayfield, ON, N0M 1G0. The adoption fee is $250. Adopted cats are vetted, shots are up-to-date and they are also spayed or neutered. Adoption inquiries may also be made to the BFF’s email address above.

GATEWAY RENEWS PARTNERSHIP WITH WATERLOO SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

Present at the signing event were from l-r: Nancy Simpson, Mary Stanley, Feng Chang, Dan Stringer, Dr. Andrea Edginton, Jay McFarlan and Dr. Nancy Waite. (Submitted photo)

On Tuesday, May 16, a delegation of Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (Gateway) board members traveled to Kitchener to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding with the School of Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo.

After a review of the history and recent activities of the two organizations, a look at future collaborations and synergies led to a decision to explore specifics and methodology of advancing rural health together.

The past ten years of the partnership between Gateway and the School of Pharmacy has led to many projects, grants and research covering a wide array of health topics.

Investigating the Opioid Crisis in rural Southwestern Ontario and considering the roles and responsibilities of rural community pharmacists in methadone treatment are just two of the impactful areas of collaborative research.

It is their hope that they can continue these activities that address relevant health concerns for all rural communities.

Gateway president Gwen Devereaux said, “Over the years this relationship has been extremely productive, with many bright minds from the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy assisting Gateway CERH on projects that promote health in our rural communities.”

Dr. Andrea Edginton commented, “We are looking forward to continuing and strengthening our relationship with Gateway CERH. Supporting health initiatives together will help strengthen our rural communities and positively impact our future health-care system.”

Those attending from Gateway included: Dan Stringer, board chair; Nancy Simpson, board secretary; and Jay McFarlan, rural research chair and board member.

In attendance from the School of Pharmacy were: Hallman Director, Dr. Andrea Edginton; Professor and Associate Director, Dr. Nancy Waite; Associate Professor, Dr. Feng Chang, who is also a board member and rural research chair at Gateway; Associate Professor, Dr. Michael Beazely; and Associate Director, Advancement, Mary Stanley.

PUBLIC INPUT REQUESTED FOR NEW WATERSHED STRATEGY

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is preparing for the future of local conservation by creating a new watershed strategy. The local conservation organization is looking to the public to provide input into this plan to guide local watershed management beyond 2023.

The new strategy builds upon the work of the community to develop the Conservation Strategy (in 2011) and the work of staff to develop the previous Watershed Management Strategy in 2015.

A new Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy (WBRMS) will fulfil requirements of the “Conservation Authorities Act” (CA Act). It will also meet local needs to protect life and property from natural hazards and to manage and protect resources on a watershed basis.

Kate Monk is ABCA Projects Coordinator. She describes the new strategy as an “overarching document” that guides all of the conservation authority’s work with the watershed community.

“This Strategy goes beyond a traditional watershed planning document,” she said. “It is also a business plan for ABCA that includes financial information. It identifies opportunities to engage landowners in the work needed to address issues facing our watershed communities. It also identifies opportunities to collaborate with other organizations.”

The Strategy will:

• Evaluate programs and recommend future programs and services to address watershed issues facing local communities.
• Identify infrastructure needs such as stream gauges, flood forecasting and warning communications, water and erosion control projects, and major maintenance of existing projects.
• Identify future studies and knowledge needs such as subwatershed studies, inventories, research, and stormwater management plans.
• Include a business plan for delivering programs and services.
• Integrate climate change adaptation and resiliency into watershed management.
• Incorporate previous reports and studies.
• Meet the requirements of the CA Act.

The purpose of the CA Act is “…to provide for the organization and delivery of programs and services that further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources in watersheds in Ontario.”

The ABCA Board of Directors has approved release of the first part of the WBRMS document for public review. Interested people can review the first phase of the Strategy and provide feedback through a survey which includes spaces for written comments. The feedback period for the first phase of the document continues until Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. This first phase of consultation includes the mission and vision statements, strategic priorities, guiding principles for decision-making, and objectives. The Strategy includes characterization of the watershed, setting priorities and objectives, evaluating progress made through the previous strategies, identifying gaps, and creating action plans.

To learn more about the WBRMS, people can visit the: Public Consultation Page on the ABCA website. If they have questions, they can contact staff by telephone at 519 235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.

ABCA is an independent, corporate body in Southwestern Ontario on the southeast shores of Lake Huron. It is one of Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities with the mandate to ensure the conservation, restoration and responsible management of Ontario’s water, land and natural habitats through programs that balance human, environmental and economic needs.

ABCA is governed by the CA ACT and has 12 member municipalities: Adelaide Metcalfe, Bluewater, Central Huron, Huron East, Lambton Shores, Lucan Biddulph, Middlesex Centre, North Middlesex, Perth South, South Huron, West Perth, and Warwick. It has a Board of Directors of nine representatives selected by the municipalities.

The 2,440-square-kilometre area of jurisdiction is largely rural with a population of 45,000 and includes the drainage basins of the Ausable River, Bayfield River, Parkhill Creek, Mud Creek and the gullies between Tower Line in Central Huron and Grand Bend draining directly to Lake Huron.

This conservation authority proudly carries the banner of being the first conservation authority formed in Ontario.

Municipalities in the Ausable River watershed formed the former Ausable River Conservation Authority (ARCA) in 1946 to deal with serious problems of local flooding, soil erosion, habitat loss, water supply, and water quality. The jurisdiction was enlarged to include the Bayfield River drainage basin and Lake Huron shoreline watersheds in 1972 and the organization’s name was changed to Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority.

TURTLE RELEASE TEACHES PUBLIC HOW TO PROTECT SPECIES AT RISK

Thursday, Aug. 31, is the date set for the Annual Hatchling Turtle Release now in its eighth year. (Submitted photo)

On Thursday, Aug. 31, the Huron Stewardship Council (HSC), in partnership with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), is bringing back the Annual Hatchling Turtle Release for the eighth year.

This event, to release turtle hatchlings back into the wild and to show the public how to protect Ontario’s at-risk freshwater turtle species, will take place at Morrison Dam Conservation Area, 71108 Morrison Line, 2 km east of Exeter, from 1-4 p.m.

The turtle release will take place rain or shine. Admission is free but the organizers encourage donations. The afternoon will include live reptiles, family-friendly activities, educational displays, a bake sale and merchandise for sale. Proceeds from the turtle event support Ontario turtle conservation.

Sheldon Paul is a HSC Fieldwork Coordinator. He said the turtle event draws crowds every year and is a great way to educate people of all ages about the need to protect Ontario’s eight turtle species.

“It’s fun, it’s free and we look forward to seeing everyone there,” he said.

Hope Brock is ABCA Healthy Watersheds Technician. She said turtles help to control aquatic vegetation and to clean creeks and wetlands by eating algae and dead and decaying fish and other organisms. People can protect turtles, she said, by watching for turtles on roads when driving, helping them safely cross roads in the way they are headed, protecting nests from predators, and reporting turtle sightings to community monitoring projects. Enhancing turtle habitat is also vital.

“Preserving and creating habitat for turtles and other species is one of the most important things we can do to sustain our turtle species,” she said. “Planting native trees and shrubs, restoring and enhancing wetlands, and growing natural areas all help to protect turtles locally and across Ontario.”

The turtle hatchling release event has taken place since 2016 (it was held as a virtual event in 2020 and 2021).

People attending will not be able to hold the turtles. This is to protect the animals and reduce their stress. Those attending will be able to see the turtles as they are released. The HSC staff releasing the hatchlings are trained and authorized to release them. (Organizers would like to remind the public to never release species, especially non-native species, into the wild.)

Ontario’s native freshwater turtles face many threats including habitat loss and road mortality (death by cars and other vehicles). Hundreds of turtles in Ontario are hit by cars each year in the spring, summer and autumn. These could be gravid (pregnant) females looking for a place to lay eggs, or males and females looking for new ponds and mates. People can help turtles by creating nesting habitat on their properties, stopping to help turtles cross the road in the direction they are heading (when it is safe to do so), and working with their local municipalities and communities to erect turtle crossing signs and build safe passages. People can also arrange for transport of injured turtles to the turtle hospital. People can also act to protect, create, and enhance the natural areas that provide the habitat for turtle hatchlings to eat, drink, reproduce, and grow and become the adult turtles of tomorrow.

To learn more visit: Huron Stewardship Council  and the ABCA’s Turtles Page or email the HSC at huronstewardship@gmail.com.

HURON HOSPICE BUTTERFLY RELEASE AND TELETHON CONCERT RETURN

Huron Hospice is pleased to announce the return of two of their most popular events as they were meant to be experienced. The Seventh Annual Butterfly Release will be back at Bender House and the “No Place Like Home” Telethon will be live.

The Telethon Concert is set for Saturday, Sept. 23 starting at 6:30 p.m. This year the Telethon Concert will be broadcast live from the Kingsbridge Centre. Set to perform are headliners:Amanda McClure and Tom Burke, from Seaforth; Josh Geddis, Steve Dawe and Jess Langan, from Bayfield and Clinton, and Clinton’s own Grant McMillan.

Artistic Director of the Blyth Festival, Gil Garratt and Member of Parliament, Ben Lobb, will join Huron County Coordinator of Tourism and Local Food, Alecia Anderson as celebrity emcees.

“We are pleased to have the three of them join us again. Each brings a deep understanding of Huron County and the arts scene. The fact that Alecia, Ben and Gil are making time for Huron Hospice shows how important the Hospice is for everyone across the County.” said Christopher Walker, Huron Hospice manager of Fund Development.

Walker also thanked the creative team at Faux Pop Studios in Goderich for their dedication to the event.

“Faux Pop helps us put together a wonderful show. It will be an entertaining evening,” he said.

For those who wish to attend the concert live and in-person, tickets are selling for $50 each. This ticket price includes a complimentary Concert Shuttle. Guests must reserve their shuttle seats when they buy their tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis. The event will have cash bar service and beef-on-a-bun. A vegetarian option and cookies will also be available. Goodwill donations will cover food costs.

The annual butterfly release is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 27, at 2 p.m., in the Huron Hospice Bender House garden.

“Butterflies are an important symbol of transformation for families at Huron Hospice. People gather and release butterflies each year as they remember loved ones who are no longer with them. Children marvel at the butterflies they release to begin their migration south,” said Walker.

He announced some changes to the event this year, “we always release ethically raised butterflies. We know that our pollinating friends, the butterflies and the bees, need us now more than ever. They are losing their habitat and their feeding grounds. Just as you have done in the past, you can purchase a butterfly for the commemorative release or you can do more for these remarkable butterflies. You can also buy a Butterfly Bush or a Black-eyed Susan for your garden.”

Please note these plants will be made available for planting next Spring.

Butterflies are $40 again this year. Butterfly bushes cost $35, and Black-eyed Susans are $20 and can be ordered at Butterfly Release.

Anyone who would prefer to order butterflies in-person are asked to email jilliansimmons@huronhospice.ca or Ben.Matlovich@huronhospice.ca for more information.

In case of rain, the release will be held on Monday, Aug. 28.

Huron Hospice Bender House is located at 37857 Huron Road in Clinton.