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Vol. 8 Edition 41

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Colourful sunrise in East Kent

The sun peeks over the horizon to greet a fresh December morning in Chatham-Kent. This image was captured along Kent Bridge Road.

Jake Trudell/Special to The Chatham Voice

COVID booster season is upon us

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

The unvaccinated have come late to the party, and now it’s time to focus on booster vaccinations, according to Cha-

tham-Kent’s medical officer of health.

Speaking on a conference call Dec. 16 with local media, Dr. David Colby said CK Public Health is ramping up COVID-19 vaccine injections at the John D.

Bradley Centre. He expects most of them to go into arms that have already been twice jabbed.

“It’s very hard to play catch up with the unvaccinated. They missed the bus,” Colby said. “In the

fact of the omicron issue, a third booster dose appears to be very important in conferring protection, based on early information. We’re going to concentrate on those that have already had two

doses and need a third one.”

That isn’t to say partially or unvaccinated individuals can’t book their vaccines, however.

Omicron is the latest variant of COVID-19

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that’s quickly spreading around the world.

As of Dec. 20, anyone aged 18-plus can book for a booster if it has been 90 days since their second shot.

Continued on page 4

PAGE 2

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

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News

Crafting one-of-a-kind items Hobby turns into a business for COVID layoff casualty

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

Some people might have looked at their lives in pieces, but Chatham’s Yvon Robichaud instead created Pa’s Pieces.

The business came to be after Robichaud was laid off from his job due to a lack of supply of parts and materials from China... about a month before the full force of COVID-19 hit the world.

Following on the heels of the layoff came a heart attack.

For many, they’d have been staring at the pieces of their lives that were suddenly scattered in front of them. But for Robichaud, he retooled and took inventory, opting to start his own business.

Robichaud, affectionately known to friends and family as “Pa,” hasn’t looked back.

“It’s just a lot of fun. This is a way to keep myself out of trouble. It helps to earn a few dollars too,” he said.

Pa’s Pieces essentially evolved out of a failure; a failure by Robichaud and

his wife Dava to find a kitchen upgrade to their liking.

“We shopped around and found people wanted $4,500 for a simple shelf and cupboards,” he said.

Instead, the Robichauds discovered someone in the area who was selling live-edge boards – roughcut boards with the uneven outside edge still attached.

“They had cut down a big maple tree in their backyard and had somebody slice the tree into boards. They’d made some stuff with them and the rest they didn’t need,” Robichaud explained.

“We bought three or four pieces of them.”

That led to him making a coffee bar for their kitchen and a new top for their downstairs bar. He used epoxy and more to fill in the cracks.

“We had collected some beach glass. The board had splits in the wood. I carved them all out and filled them in with beach glass.”

The project what such a hit that his wife suggested he make other items.

“The next thing you know, people are asking me to make stuff,” he said.

Having been an auto body man for years, Robichaud said using epoxy is nothing new to him. But using it with wood is certainly different.

Robichaud said he learned quickly on improving the molds for his projects, as he initially tried wood and tape, but separating the pieces from the mold was an immediate challenge.

Enter puckboard. Ro-

bichaud uses the same material that adorns the boards of hockey rinks everywhere.

Armed with much better molds, Robichaud has delivered unique items for customers.

Robichaud and his wife, who paints, showcase their work online and through the Art and Heirloom Shoppe in downtown Chatham.

“People come into the Heirloom Shoppe and see one, and they’ll say they want it in a different co-

lour and with different items in it,” Robichaud said, as every project is a bit different from the previous one.

To date, the largest items he’s made are in his own house, in the form of the coffee bar and bar top. But that could soon change.

“I have some wood drying right now. Two guys want to have a desktop made. Those will be this winter’s projects,” Robichaud said.

Also on deck is a small coffee table...with coffee

beans in the epoxy.

He’s done another project with spent shell casings rather than seashells.

“It was a custom piece I made for someone who married a military man who loves to hunt and fish on his off time,” Robichaud said. “I built a couple of stools with shell casings and fishing lures inside.”

Creativity has come fairly naturally to him during the process, but he admits the customers help as well.

serve to provide a very brief snapshot of someone’s COVID-19 status.

“If you get a negative test at 9 a.m., that probably means you didn’t transmit COVID-19 to anyone in the recent past, but you could be infectious by noon. The tests are quite accurate,” he said.

“We still think that being fully vaccinated is bet-

ter than repeated testing.

The best advice would be to make sure that all your guests are fully vaccinated – and for those over 50, I would say that’s with three doses.”

Colby made the comments during a Dec. 15 Board of Health meeting when asked about advice to those planning to gather with people outside their households over the

holidays.

He recently instituted restrictions to limit such gatherings to 10 or fewer people, down from 25.

The province mandated it across Ontario on Friday.

Colby said some health units have gone even further, down to five.

He also encouraged people to not get hung up on numbers.

“The smaller the gath-

ering, the safer it is,” he said. “We really want to see indoor gatherings as small as possible. It would be better to have two small gatherings than one larger one.”

He added the more people who gather in a group that are triple vaccinated, the safer it is, but he stressed he is not implying that you shouldn’t have kids aged 5-11 in-

volved.

After having a visit from a group of protesters to his home recently, Colby suggested people focus on safety rather than anger over size restrictions.

“Instead of saying, ‘What can I get away with,’ optimize everything within your power to keep yourself, your family and your friends safe,” he said.

Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice

Chatham’s Yvon Robichaud retired in no small part due to COVID-19, but he also found another calling, working with wood, resins and epoxy to make some colourful and very functional furniture and charcouterie boards.

Gather with fully vaxxed folks only, Colby suggests

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health has some simple advice for families gathering over the holidays in groups of 10 or fewer – ensure everyone is fully vaccinated where possible.

Dr. David Colby said while rapid tests are extremely accurate, they

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PAGE 4

90-day delay a smart call, Colby says Continued from page 1

Colby said he expects the public will line up en masse for the boosters too.

“I think we’ll be vaccinating more people in a shorter period of time than we’ve done before,” Colby said, adding he is a fan of the 90-day space between shots two and three. “The province is trying to achieve a balance of getting people a third dose sooner so we get people protected, and maximizing immune response. A three-month booster is an excellent balance.”

For now, shots doled out at the Bradley Centre will be done by appointment only, with many bookings handled through the website GetYourShotCK.ca.

Pharmacies are also providing vaccines as well.

Colby expects to grow the vaccination clinic at the Bradley Centre.

“We’re looking to expand the main area where we’d have our mass vaccinations also set up in the ballroom as well,” he said.

“For boosters, we’re putting our money on the Bradley Centre.”

Colby defended his decision to limit gatherings to 10 people for now, adding there are some public health units that dropped it to five. And on Friday, the province moved to follow suit.

“The piecemeal approach of every health unit taking its own

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News

Contributed image

Booster booking is in full swing at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre. Local pharmacies are doling out the shots as well. Everyone aged 18 and up is eligible 90 days from their second vaccination.

precautions is not as effective as a provincewide approach,” he said. “When the provincial government makes a provincewide rule, it comes down with enforcement provisions.”

The medical officer of health said the primary indicator for his decisions on altering pandemic restrictions is what is happening at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.

“Hospital capacity is probably the main variable I look at when it comes to putting on additional health restrictions. If the hospital is getting in any danger of being over capacity, then

I shall act,” he said.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have been steady, but the ICU and medical unit at the hospital have not been flooded as of yet.

According to Lori Marshall, CKHA’s president and CEO, it’s not knowing what is looming that is concerning.

“This is what is keeping me up at night – being worried about what may still be to come,” she said.

Colby also addressed the idea of travelling abroad right now.

He does not recommend it.

“At this stage, everybody should know that travelling during a wave is maybe not the best idea,” he said.

The federal government recommended against travelling

outside the country, but there is no hard and fast regulation in place.

Officials also responded to social media comments by several parents saying they plan on throwing away test kits, which the school boards sent home with elementary school kids last week.

The kits are voluntary for use and would provide parents and the boards with information on the status of the children prior to returning to class in January.

“We would be disappointed to hear of any wasted kits when so many people across the province are asking for the test kits,” John Howitt, director of education for the Lambton-Kent District School Board, said. “The rapid antigen kids are one of the ways parents can know if their kids are asymptomatic before returning to school.”

Booster update The Chatham Voice

There’s a hiccup in the booster shot delivery by CK Public Health.

Officials reported on Saturday that they’ve received notice that the expected Pfizer vaccine order from the province was temporarily delayed.

As a result, until the shipment arrives, anyone aged 30 and up will receive a Moderna vaccine booster, while all residents aged 12 to 29 will receive the Pfizer vaccine as recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

Since Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are interchangeable for people 30 and older, there is no need to cancel or change your appointment, health officials said. It is more important to get a booster as soon as you can.

Should residents wish to cancel a booked appointment, they can do so online in their PerfectMind account or by completing the online cancellation form.

THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

PAGE 5

News

Wind whips up the waves on Lake Erie

Mary Beth Corcoran/Special to The Chatham Voice

Spray explodes over a break wall at a residence on Erie Shore Drive on Dec. 16 as strong southwesterly winds whipped waves into a frenzy and battered the shoreline.

Council hears about housing project

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

A new 27-unit affordable housing complex is cause for celebration.

Chatham-Kent council was expected to consider approving the $10-million development at 99 McNaughton Ave. W. in Chatham at a special meeting Dec. 20.

Ray Harper, Chatham-Kent’s director of housing services, said the new housing is a “big win” for municipality as the Canadian Mortgage

and Housing Corporation has approved almost $5 million for the project.

After HST rebates are calculated, Chatham-Kent’s portion of the build is around $3-million, which Harper said would come out of municipal reserves.

Obtaining the federal grant funding was “fantastic news,” Harper told The Voice, bringing housing to a market where it is “desperately” needed.

Getting approval under the Rapid Housing Initiative was tough, he said, as Chatham-Kent’s bid

was up against projects from across Canada.

Harper said the submission was approved on the second try after initially being rejected.

Administration is recommending that a company called BECC be awarded the building contract. It was one of three companies to respond to the bid.

The three-story gearedto-seniors development will feature seven assisted living units, along with a kitchen, laundry room, garbage and electrical room, and a meet-

Walpole police arrest 2 in raid The Chatham Voice

Police made some gains in the fight to control Walpole Island’s drug epidemic last week following the arrest of a suspected drug dealer.

A 39-year-old woman was charged with possessing what is believed to be fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, along with a sawed-off shotgun and ammunition.

The woman is facing six weapons-related charges and three counts of possession of a drug for

the purpose of trafficking.

A 34-year-old man was also charged in the investigation with failure to comply with a release order as well as a probation order.

The charges came about as the result of a joint probe by the Walpole Island Police Service and six branches of the Ontario Provincial Police, including the Lambton County Community Street Crimes Unit.

The warrant was executed on Tecumseh Road.

ing room.

The building will have fob-controlled entrances, special non-slip concrete walkways and exterior amenities featuring cedar planters and benches.

Administration is also recommending that a full-time maintenance employee be hired when the structure is complete.

If approved, construction will take place next year with an estimated occupancy date of Dec. 1, 2022. It will be located beside an existing municipally owned apartment complex.

Phone 519-351-2117 • 145 Richmond St., Chatham

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PAGE 6

Yes, Virginia

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

Opinion

Editor’s note: The following editorial is a reprint of the classic 1897 editorial from the New York Sun, a response to a letter from an eight-year-old girl questioning if Santa was real.

Virginia, your little friends are wrong.

They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see.

They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds.

All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Alas, how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias.

There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight.

The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus? You might as well not believe in fairies!

You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove?

Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus.

The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.

Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there.

Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are, unseen and unseeable, in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus? Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Advertising policy

The publisher of this newspaper, CK Media Inc., reserves the right to clarify or refuse any advertisement based on its sole discretion. The publisher reserves the right to reject, discontinue or omit any advertisement without notice or penalty to either party.

Liability for errors or non-insertion is limited to the amount paid for the cost of space occupied by the error. Claims of errors must be made prior to the next publication date.

COVID stressing health care Editor’s note: This letter is addressed to all residents of Chatham-Kent.

Editor: The leaders of the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team (CKOHT) wish to emphasize to our community that our health-care system is facing a serious strain and your help is needed.

The community numbers of COVID-19 are swiftly increasing. The weekend of Dec. 3-5 saw 55 new cases in Chatham-Kent, for example.

The health-care system in Chatham-Kent is feeling the strain caused by the increase in cases.

Chatham-Kent Health

Alliance currently has fifteen COVID-19 positive patients in hospital, and has had to modify its visitor policy, found here.

CK EMS service call volume is up five per cent, with an average of two COVID-19 positive patients being seen by EMS per day recently.

CK Public Health recently issued a letter of instruction that includes reducing the capacity of indoor social gatherings to 10 people. More information can be found online at https://ckphu. com/covid-19/.

We know our residents are tired of the pandemic.

Chatham-Kent health-care workers are also tired, and capacity and space are becoming increasingly limited. You can help our health-care system in the following ways: Remain at home when feeling unwell, follow the guidance and instructions of the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit; and remember that primary care services remain available.

If you have a health-care concern, please look to your family doctor or

nurse practitioner for early detection and care.

Get the right care at the right place.

CKOHT is comprised of health service providers across all sectors of our local health-care system, including our hospital, family health teams, community health centres, community service organizations, longterm care, and public health. On behalf of our health-care workers, we thank the residents of Chatham-Kent for their commitment to keeping our community safe.

Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team

Concert at the Capitol memorable Editor: Thanks to Mayor Caniff and municipal council for allowing The Chatham Concert Band’s annual Christmas concert to be staged at the Chatham Capitol Theatre, without taxing this show.

It was truly a great Christmas show and it also gave people in our community who might otherwise not be able to attend a function at the Capitol to see this long-awaited

gem of at theatre inside in all its glory and grandeur.

Again, thanks to all those who made this evening possible: the management, staff, volunteers of the theatre, singer Cassia

Kevany, of course the concert band members, and for the good weather conditions that made the trip to and from the theatre and the show a safe one.

Frank Doyle Chatham

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 7

Opinion

We must all start acting like adults Editor: It has often been said that behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining. Well, it seems behind all of the dark cloudiness of COVID-19 and all of its variants, there is in fact a very bright silver lining. It turns out that COVID-19 has provided the means by which to identify the adults in the room compared to those members of society who are hopelessly stuck in potty training.

A case in point: Recently

there was a very noisy, disruptive protest held in front of the home of our local medical officer of health. This is a man who has guided Chatham-Kent through a very stressful 20-odd months of fighting a virus that has killed millions of people around the world. We have, for the most part, been relatively successful in fending off this silent killer thanks largely to the caring, skill and courage of Dr. Colby. He has

Editor: Now it is time to change the rules again.

This new variant is clearly spread by the fully vaccinated since only they can travel.

We have forced and fired people who refuse to get the vaccine with the idea they are spreading it and putting others in danger of the virus. Now we know that both groups are spreading it.

So do we begin to stop fully vaccinated people from going to public events, restaurants and joining in with others?

It only seems right that we lock down everyone now that we know who is causing the spread, which has over a 90-per-cent recovery rate by people who are still able to stay at home and not have to go to the hospital.

Some think if you get the

vaccine it will prevent one from getting the virus, which is not true, but hopefully it will lessen the severity.

This government and news media has made so many people afraid of their own shadow. There are people out driving in their cars by themselves wearing a mask. Do they think they are going to infect themselves?

It appears to me the health services are doing their best but really don’t know what they are doing either. It appears to be a guessing game.

So are we going to continue to tear our communities apart over misinformation (or lack thereof) on both sides of the spectrum?

Time to blame the travel vaxxed

Merle Knutson Chatham

Inappropriate

Editor: In response to Dr. David Colby’s comments in the media about ramping up booster shot efforts, Mr. Colby stated those who aren’t vaccinated missed the bus.

His comment, to us, means to throw them under the bus.

This is dividing citizens. This is very inappropriate for the head of public health to say.

Maybe he needs another demonstration at his residence to ask for his resignation.

Clarence Rylett Chatham-Kent

provided guidance, direction and, when necessary, regulation that has protected our population from a far worse outcome had he not intervened.

It has not been fun. My wife and I have four adult children, their spouses and nine grandchildren, all of whom live

in the United States.

We have not seen any of them in person for over two years. However, unlike some in the community, we have not gone to the media or demonstrations to air our own little pity party. It is beyond our control and we have acted like grownups and

accepted it, saying to ourselves, “This too will pass.”

However, for a noisy mob to harass a committed medical professional who is trying to preserve our health and save lives along with all of the front-line staff in EMS, clinics, doctors’ offices and hospitals who are working with him to the

Great Things are Happening

same end, is revolting.

These infantile tantrums, much like a blend of a couple of old movies – The Valley of The Dolls, and The Mouth That Roared – is a disgrace to our community. We adults in the room should not tolerate such juvenile hissy fits.

David Goldsmith Chatham

20 Merritt Ave., Chatham 519.352.5633

The Active Lifestyle Centre will be closed until Tuesday, January 4, 2022.

Exercise and Activities Chair Yoga / Yoga with Ted Monday and Tuesday 8:30am - 9:30am Cardio & Weights Monday 10:00am - 11:000am Intro to Fitness Room Thursday 9:30am - 11:00am Belly Dancing Tuesday 10:00am - 11:00am

Cards Pepper Monday and Friday 12:30pm - 3:30pm Bridge Lessons - Open Bridge Thursday 9:00am - 12:00pm Euchre Thursday 12:30pm - 3:30pm Ladies Duplicate Bridge Tuesday 12:30pm - 3:30pm

Exercise with Steve Friday 8:30am - 9:30am Essentrics Friday 11:30am - 12:30am Line Dancing Friday 10:00am - 11:00am Evening Line Dancing Wednesday 6:00pm - 9:30pm

Games and Specialty Classes Bingo Tuesday 1:00pm - 3:30pm

Cribbage Thursday 12:30pm - 3:30pm

Wood Shop General Tuesday - Friday 8:30am - 3:30pm

Carpet Bowling Tuesday 1:00pm - 3:30 pm

Tablet Classes Mon, Wed and Friday 9:00am11:30am

Social Afternoon with Jamie Wednesday 12:30pm - 3:30pm

Art Classes Wednesday 12:30pm-3:30pm

Greeting Card Making Monday and Thurs 8:30am - 3:30pm

Ladies General Woodworking Monday 8:30am - 3:30pm

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Drumming Wednesday 10:00am - 11:00am

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Billiard Room, Fitness Room Open Daily 8:30am - 3:30pm

8:30 - 3:30 daily coffee and snacks 11:30am - 1:30 daily for light lunch

Don’t Forget our Take Out Thursdays!

Thursday, January 13 Southern Fried Chicken

Pizza Panini

Served with oven roasted potato and veggies

Served with side salad and bread stix

$12.00

$12.00

Thursday, January 20 Fried Cheddar Perogies & Sausage

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Perogies served with boiled cabbage and sauerkraut

Served with chicken, bacon and creamy sauce with garlic bread.

$12.00

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Pre-Order by Wednesdays. Pick up Thursdays between 11:30am and 2:30pm. Meals are served cold, ready for heating or freezing upon pick up.

Watch the paper and our social media weekly for new and exciting classes, programs and services!

Looking for something to do; ALC has lots for you!

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 8

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

News

Very contagious omicron has a foothold

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

It’s omicron’s time now, like it or not.

That according to Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent’s chief medical officer of health.

He addressed the Board of Health on Dec. 15, stressing the latest variant of the COVID-19 virus is

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Have a very Merry Christmas!

very concerning.

Omicron was only identified as a variant of concern in late November, but it’s taking over.

Based on last weeks’ figures, Colby said the country has seen 89,000 new cases over the previous four weeks, and new cases were up by 32 per cent, while active case counts are up nearly 30 per cent.

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The good news from all the new cases is that deaths are only up one per cent, and hospitalizations up two per cent.

What Colby said he finds worrisome is that intensive care unit occupancy is up six per cent in the previous two weeks.

Chatham-Kent has the dubious honour of being one of three provincial hot spots for COVID-19 these days. Colby said along with Kingston-Frontenac and Leeds-Grenville-Lanark, Chatham-Kent is a provincial leader in level of increase in cases per capita.

What’s more, it’s getting harder to trace how some-

At this time of year we give thanks to our community partners and volunteers who have joined us in enriching the lives of older adults. It is in this spirit that we say Thank You and Best Wishes this holiday season.

Contributed image

The latest variant of the COVID-19 virus, omicron, is much more contagious and much more resistant to two doses of the vaccine, health officials said.

one got the virus.

“The most chilling stat here is that 22.5 per cent of our cases are unlinked to other known cases,” Colby said. “That indicates we have community spread that is happening outside of our contact tracing abilities.”

Omicron is forcing its way though vaccinations too.

Colby said of COVID-19 cases here since July 1, more than 63 per cent were in the unvaccinated, a figure that is dropping. About 20 per cent of infections took place in fully vaccinated. That number is rising.

“I have no doubt that is due to the spreading of the omicron variant,” he said.

The vast majority of cases that require hospitalization are in people who are unvaxxed or not fully vaccinated, however.

“Vaccinations are known to help prevent the extreme outcome of hospitalization,” Colby said.

Still, omicron blowing through vaccinations is concerning, he said, as two doses of the vaccine were shown to provide about 85-per-cent protection against delta and about 99-per-cent protection against severe outcomes from the virus.

With omicron, those numbers fluctuate, to 40-percent effective in terms of protection and about 80-90-per-cent effective against severe outcomes.

“We’re bracing for impact,” Colby said.

However, he added a booster shot looks promising in helping to protect against the virus, as preliminary data indicates this to be true, but there is not a lot of data to review at this point.

“The bottom line is that omicron can spread in double-vaccinated people. We hadn’t seen much of that with delta,” he said, adding that does not mean vaccines are worthless. “People immediately jump to the conclusion that vaccinating is no good because it can spread in vaccinated people. The vaccine is extremely effective at preventing people from having severe outcomes. This certainly does not mean that the vaccine is not worthwhile.”

Continued on page 10

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Christmas Day Service: 10:00am

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

PAGE 9

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 10

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

News

Health-care staff focusing on boosters Continued from page 8

Colby said across the province, health-care workers are being asked to focus on getting needles in arms as fast as possible.

“Everyone needs to chip in to make sure there are enough vaccinators,” he said. “We will look at doctors suspending their practices to help, dentists, firefighters, medical students, nursing students, anyone who can do this.

The priority is to get third doses into arms.”

The mutation of COVID-19 is not a unique situation.

Colby says all viruses mutate. And

My heartfelt Thanks & sincere Appreciation to Friends, Clients & Families during this Barb Phillips Special Time of Year!

Broker of Record Have a Safe & Healthy Holiday Season WHERE DREAMS COME and All the Best in the New Year 2022 HOME

BARB PHILLIPS, Real Estate Brokerage 519-359-8588 email: phillba@mnsi.net barbphillipsrealestatebrokerage.com

now, with omicron, we have a more contagious version of COVID-19.

“Already it is the dominant strain in Ontario. It is incredibly contagious. Everywhere it goes, there is explosive spread,” he said.

At the beginning of last week, less than three weeks since it was identified, omicron is responsible for 80 per cent of new COVID-19 cases in Ontario.

However, Colby said omicron is less virulent, based on studies conducted in other countries.

“But the projections are extremely worrisome due to the sheer numbers that we are talking about. Even if only half as many patients

proportionally become seriously ill, when you are dealing with such numbers of cases, there’s still the potential to overwhelm the health-care system,” Colby said.

Colby said regardless of any point in the COVID-19 time frame, some key issues remain unchanged.

“We can’t forget the importance of ways to help control the virus’ spread – physical distancing, repeated hand washing, wearing a mask and avoiding indoor gatherings,” he said. “We shouldn’t have to keep saying this at this point in time, but it’s no less important now than it was at the start of the pandemic.”

Tech upgrade for YMCA The Chatham Voice

The YMCA of Chatham-Kent is getting a technology upgrade that will create a more user-friendly experience for its patrons.

The boost comes as

part of a $149,700 Resilient Communities grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation aimed at helping Southwestern Ontario Y’s recover from COVID-19.

Including Chatham, the YMCA operates 15 health,

fitness and aquatic centres and provides children’s educational services at more than 115 sites in the region.

The organization also provides camp experiences, settlement services and language instruction.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Thank you to all my past & present clients for your continued support.

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

News

Salvage owners retire after 55 years

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

Forget Freedom 55, how about Labour of Love 86?

Because at age 86, Leo Trudell finally retired and sold the family business, Trudell Salvage in Tilbury.

For he and his wife, Liz, 77, their version of Freedom 55 is selling and retiring after 55 years running the business.

Leo’s father, Walter, started Trudell Salvage 78 years ago, in the middle of the Second World War. Liz said Walter worked in a factory and his doctor told him if he didn’t get out of there, it would ruin his health. So he bought a 25-acre farm on Queen’s Line on the eastern edge of Tilbury and took up farming, and salvage.

He set aside five acres of land for the salvage business and focused on farming the remainder, Liz said.

When she and Leo took it over,

they expanded the salvage operation to 10 acres.

“My husband worked at Rockwell until we figured he could afford to quit there,” she said.

“When he was at Rockwell, we always had about 20 people on the list where we had to pick up from.”

Most of those folks worked farms.

“We made our money selling reusable steel and farm machinery,” Liz said. “At first it was mostly farm machinery, but as the farms got bigger, we couldn’t afford to buy the big machines.”

The farm machinery mostly came from auction sales, but the steel came out of factories that no longer had any use for the materials, she added.

As the farm machinery market changed, the Trudells focused more on construction steel, Liz said. They’d purchase it in quantity, but be able to sell it off piecemeal to customers as needed.

Library offers escape fun The Chatham Voice

Chatham-Kent Public Library is offering a virtual escape room with a twist.

Participants solve a series of virtual puzzles at home and then bring a password to a CKPL branch where they unlock a box to unleash the northern lights.

Light the Night! will be available Dec. 28 to Jan. 14 at Chatham, Tilbury and Ridgetown branches and Jan. 24 to Feb. 11 at Blenheim, Dresden and Wallaceburg branches.

Participants can access the puzzles through the library’s website www. ckpl.ca, Facebook page @CKPLibrary or by registering at their local branch.

Light the Night! is a family activity geared to children aged seven and up. Contact your local library branch for more information.

Visit www.ckpl.ca to learn more.

PAGE 11

Contributed image

Liz and Leo Trudell perform the last little cleanup at Trudell Salvage, a company they ran for 55 years in Tilbury.

The couple recently sold the property and retired at the ages of 77 and 86 respectively.

Through the years and the said, ‘We don’t know where guy come out yesterday wantcountless transactions, Liz we’ll go to get our stuff,’” Liz ing something, but there’s nothsaid they only had one cheque said, as the land will no longer ing left in the yard.” be utilized for salvage. “I had a bounce.

“It was from one guy who had split with his As this year draws to a close, wife. She drained the account, and he didn’t our familia at know it,” she said.

Mamma Maria’s Ristorante The Trudells, despite looking forward to retirwant to thank our amazing ing, said they’ll miss the customers and community people.

“My husband loves to your support has been talk, so he’s really going overwhelming and to miss that,” Liz said.

Their customers will we are exicted to continue miss them as well.

“A lot of people have serving you this holiday season

and into 2022.

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 12

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

These BusinessEs Helped Raise $800 TO Christmas Greetings from our House to Yours Wishing our community and clients a Merry Christmas this holiday season and best wishes for 2022.

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 13

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 14

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

News

Shropshire to retire before budget

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

After a decade as the municipality’s top bureaucrat, Don Shropshire is retiring.

Chatham-Kent’s chief administrative officer will slip out the door before budget deliberations begin Feb. 1.

However, Shrophire

said he does not have a set escape date set, just that by the end of January, he’s done.

“I’ve made that commitment to council,” he said of lingering to help with the transition to his replacement, announced by council in mid-November as Thomas Kelly, general manager of infrastructure and engineer-

ing. But it is not known if that process has been finalized at this point.

This year will mark the first time since 2011 that Shropshire won’t be present as CAO during the annual budget process Shropshire arrived in Chatham-Kent in 2009, taking the position of general manager of community development.

Prior to that, he spent 15 years as national director of disaster management for the Red Cross.

As he headed to Chatham-Kent, Shropshire said a relative who had spent time here questioned his decision.

“They said, ‘What do you want to live in Chatham-Kent for?’ I told them that if I did my job

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right, they were going with the Red Cross was to want to come back to helpful dealing with local Chatham-Kent,” crises. he said.

“Fifteen years as Arriving in national director 2009, Shropshire of disaster manset foot into a agement for the municipality at a Red Cross – I did low point. nothing by try “There were a to prevent natulot of huge chalral disasters,” he lenges – jobs, said. “But these the economy – have been big as we were just Don Shropshire hurdles.” coming out of a Still, the issues recession,” he recalled. have helped strengthen “The automotive indus- the resolve of people in tries had gone through a Chatham-Kent. rough patch.”

“Over the past two And now, even with years, the things that we COVID’s strong grasp on have done to support one things, Shropshire said another, these are things many sectors in the econ- other communities have omy in Chatham-Kent been copying,” he said, are quite strong. pointing to the May 16th “Probably 80 per cent Miracle and The Gift efof our businesses are forts that began in Chaexperiencing their best tham-Kent and were emyears ever. Some of our ulated elsewhere. “The smaller businesses, how- level of support here ever, are not,” he said. is phenomenal. People “The biggest thing I hear come together from all about now is people can’t different sectors of the find enough of a labour community.” force.”

Shropshire said the way The population went the people of this municfrom a state of exodus ipality rally around those when Shropshire first ar- in need is something he’ll rived, to influx. never forget.

“Chatham-Kent is now “Neighbours step up being rated as a desirable and help when there is a place to live. The reality problem. People step up is people are discovering in a big way to help supwhat a great place this is port each other. That’s a to live, have a business great testament to a comand raise your families,” munity,” he said. “I see he said. “There are lots people; they care.” of opportunities, quality As for the future, Shropof life and affordability. shire said he’s at the merThere are a lot of things cy of his wife Robin and coming together.” their adult children.

That isn’t to say there ar“I am going to go wheren’t still areas of concern, ever my wife tells me to especially in health. Cha- go. But we both really entham-Kent sports high joy Chatham-Kent, and rates for diabetes and Robin will be working for heart disease, for exam- the foreseeable future,” ple. he said.

The past two years for His wife runs the Essex Shropshire have been at County Library system, times a challenge, but and her parents live in were in his wheelhouse. the Kingsville area.

The municipality has Their grown children, seen the impact of cli- however, live in Eastern mate change through Ontario and Shropshire, shoreline erosion along said one day he and RobLake Erie, COVID-19 and in may move closer. the gas leaks and exploFor now, they will resion in Wheatley. main in Chatham-Kent, Shropshire said his time enjoying its bounties.

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

PAGE 15

Life

Bright lights, but no big city

Michelle Owchar/The Chatham Voice

There seems to be an influx of outdoor Christmas decorations and lights in Chatham-Kent this year, and this home on Jane Street in Thamesville, owned by Steve and Gwen Wheeler, showcases great holiday spirit. The home boasts a light show that goes off with musical accompaniment, and onlookers are encouraged to tune in on their radios to enjoy the experience.

More recognition for hospice

The Chatham Voice

Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO) has approved Chatham-Kent Hospice for a Hospice Residence 2021-2024.

HPCO Accreditation signifies to health professionals, the public, and funders that an organization, institution or program complies with industry standards and

serves as an indicator of commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

“Working through the accreditation process allowed us to take a look

Contributed image

Jessica Smith, left, executive director for the Chatham-Kent Hospice, holds a plaque recognizing the hospice’s accreditation as a Hospice Residence 2021-2024 with Margaret Anderson, chair of the Chatham-Kent Hospice board of directors, and Hospice team members.

at our current practices, refine what was working and look for areas of improvement. This peer-review recognizes the work of our whole team to ensure the care we provide is of the highest quality, setting new standards in hospice, palliative care,” shared Jessica Smith, Chatham-Kent Hospice executive director, in a media release.

Margaret Anderson, chair of the Chatham-Kent Hospice board of directors added, “While our hospice is still relatively new, it was important to us that as we continue to look to the future, the groundwork was set to ensure superior care for our residents and their families.

Thank you to everyone at Hospice – the clinical and administrative staff, the volunteers and past hospice families who shared their experience – for working together towards this achievement.”

According to HPCO’s website, Chatham-Kent

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 16

News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

3rd St. Bridge reopening delayed to June The Chatham Voice

Contributed image

Shelley MacDonald, left, nominating member of 100 Women Who Care CK, and Emily Robert, executive director of the Blenheim Youth Centre, celebrate the recent donation by the women’s service club to support the youth centre.

Chatham’s downtown isn’t getting its Christmas wish as the reopening of the Third Street Bridge is being delayed to June 2022.

In the original timeline of the structure’s rehabilitation, it was hoped that at least two lanes of the bridge would be open by November 2021.

However, according to a media release from the municipality, labour and material shortages, along with high water and debris in the river Sept. 24, led to the goal not being

achieved despite the contractors best efforts.

The remaining work on the bridge is temperature sensitive, so halting winter construction was determined to be the best course of action.

Work will resume work in the spring.

Thames Street between St. Clair Street and Kent Street will be reopened while construction is paused. However, the current detours, which include the use of the Fifth Street Bridge and Lacroix Street Bridge, will remain in place throughout the winter.

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

Life

Teachers send love and toys to women’s centres The Chatham Voice

Members of the St. Clair units of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) marked the Christmas season by donating of $17,500 worth of Christmas presents to the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre and the Women’s Interval Home of Sarnia-Lambton.

The fundraiser, organized by the local OECTA units, invited Catholic teachers and education workers from the St. Clair Catholic District School Board to participate in a weeklong fundraising event.

Participants were encouraged to donate to the local women’s shelters by taking part in an array of creative fundraising activities, including “dress down” days where staff could dress in casual attire.

On the final day of the weeklong event, everyone was encouraged to wear purple in support of the shelters’ Shine a Light on Woman Abuse campaign.

“The idea for this fundraiser came directly from our teachers who noticed a need in our communities. Our teachers support families in need at Christmas every year, but this year we heard many more sto-

ries about additional needs, likely due to the pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic. We reached out to our local women’s shelters, and it was a perfect fit,” said Wayne Bechard, president of the local OECTA St. Clair Elementary Unit in a media release.

Co-organizer, Chad Coene, President of the Secondary Teachers’ Unit added, “At first, we were hoping to raise just a few thousand dollars from our own teacher-members, but the kindness and generosity started to snowball and took off and we got support from every employee group across the board – for example, our custodians, educational assistants, librarians, social workers, and administrators – they were all in.

It was a great team effort, and we were overwhelmed by the total raised. It was way beyond what we were hoping for.”

For more than 40 years, the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre and the Women’s Interval Home of Sarnia-Lambton have provided life-saving services and comfort to women and children of families in distress.

Both work to end the cycle of violence through a continuum of services and holistic approaches to help women and

Plow naming a big hit The Chatham Voice

The pundits were out in force recently, delivering some great names for a dozen snowplows in Chatham-Kent.

More than 1,000 names were submitted in the contest, and over 5,300 votes were cast.

The winner? Anita Shovel, with 436 votes.

Gordie Plow placed second with 400 votes, followed by Blizzard of Oz, Darth Blader, Pillsbury Plowboy, Sled Zepplin, Buzz Ice-Clear, Qunuk (the Inuit word for snowflake), Flurrious George, School’s Not Cancelled, Snobi One Kenobi and Sleetwood Mac. WINMAR Property Restoration is paying for the signage for the vehicles, which should be in place early in 2022.

C-K Mayor Darrin Canniff said response to the contest was great.

PAGE 17

Contributed image

Local members of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association recently collected $17,500 worth of toys to donate to the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre and the women’s Interval Home of Sarnia-Lambton. Shown here is but one vehicle load of what was collected.

children escape violence and rebuild their lives.

“At the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre, we support women and children who are facing violence by providing shelter, advocacy, counselling, and public education,” said Alicia Blair, Youth and Child Programs counselor with the C-K Women’s Centre. “The presents donated by our local Catholic teachers and education workers will provide some joy and happiness to those in need.”

Wishing all a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year

From the Folks at the Oaks 80 McNaughton Ave. Wallaceburg, ON ~ 519-627-9292

Brandy Robertson Broker of Record / Owner Cell: 519-809-4280

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May Christmas deliver the best gifts of all to you and yours this year: Peace, Love, Health, Happiness & Friendship Mayor Darrin Canniff On behalf of Chatham-Kent Council

Howard Mutual Insurance would like to wish our valued policyholders and friends a Very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year! from all the staff at Blenheim & Ridgetown offices

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 18

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

News

Warming centres open for winter The Chatham Voice

Our caring and professional staff will help you celebrate life on your terms through services that are tailored to your family’s needs.

Exceptional Service. Extraordinary Affordability.

397 McNaughton Ave. W., Chatham 519-351-4444 • lifetransitions.ca

Hope Haven is doing its part to help Chatham-Kent’s homeless come in from the cold.

The Chatham agency, located at 183 Wellington St., will again be opening its doors as a 24-hour, seven-day-aweek, winter warming centre.

The centre will be to anyone in need if an extreme cold weather event is declared by Chatham-Kent Public Health.

According to a municipal report, there are approximately 75 local residents being sheltered in emergency housing on any given night, with others waiting for a bed to become available.

Transportation can be arranged for

McDougall Line Bridge over Government Drain #1 Municipal Class Environmental Assessment

Notice of Online Public Information Centre Beginning in October 2021, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent commenced The McDougall Line Bridge Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) to evaluate rehabilitation and replacement options to address the repair needs and structural capacity limitations of the bridge.

An online Public Information Centre (PIC) is being held to present the goals and objectives, discuss alternative solutions, review the findings and environmental impacts and mitigation measures of the environmental assessment. Staff from the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and members of the consulting team have included their contact information below to receive any comments, questions, or concerns regarding the environmental assessment. The PIC Information displayed will include an outline of the planning process, an overview of the condition of the bridge, the alternatives considered, and the recommended alternative as part of the study process.

D Kh' >> >/E Z/ ' KE>/E Wh >/ /E&KZD d/KE EdZ d ͗ ���������������������������–������������������������� >K d/KE͗ ����������������������������������������������������������� For more Information, to provide comments or to be added to the mailing list, please contact: Mr. Brandon Clark Project Designer GM BluePlan Engineering Limited 235 North Centre Road, Suite 103 London ON N5X 4E7 Phone: 519.672.9403 ext. 5225 Email: Brandon.clark@gmblueplan.ca

Mr. Jason Cikatricis, C.E.T Infrastructure and Engineering Services Municipality of Chatham-Kent 315 King Street West Chatham, On N7M 5K8 Phone: 519.360.1998 Email: ckinfo@chatham-kent.ca

Information will be collected throughout the study and will be used in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments received will become part of the public record and may be included in project documentation.

people living outside Chatham’s downtown core by calling the Homeless Response Line at 519-3546228.

Other organizations are also open to providing warmth to individuals during business hours, including: Wallaceburg’s Salvation Army at 600 Lowe Ave. is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the Chatham Salvation Army at 19 Raleigh St. is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

R.O.C.K. Mission outreach is available to provide help on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The agency can be reached at 519-354-0430

ext. 205.

Chatham-Kent’s Employment and Social Services is also open at 435 Grand Ave. W., Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ashley’s Place in Tilbury at 75 Queen St. is open Tuesday to Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you are interested in volunteering or supporting the most vulnerable citizens in our community, consider donating time or money to one of the listed organizations.

If you want to help or can provide a warm space for those in need, contact Allison Ford at 519-351-8573 ext. 2256.

The Chatham Voice

nities.”

Additionally, Entegrus is providing $58,000 to organizations in St. Thomas dedicated to meeting local community needs.

Entegrus also donated to the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Foundation and the Four Counties Health Services Foundation in Newbury.

Throughout 2021 Entegrus also provided funds to Salvation Army in Chatham, Strathroy and St. Thomas; Habitat for Humanity; and to the Chatham-Kent and St. Thomas Elgin United Way. Additional 2021 support was also provided to the Chatham-Kent Children’s Treatment Centre, local food banks, and various registered charities on behalf of employees.

Donations in 2021 exceeded $445 000.

Entegrus helps power up Indwell

Entegrus, along with its shareholders, have announced the recipients of this year’s charitable donations.

Indwell, an organization that provides supportive, affordable housing, is the recipient of a $200,000 donation that will go towards the redevelopment of St. Agnes School in Chatham that will ultimately support 35-45 residents.

“We work with our shareholders and community partners to determine where our support can provide the most impact,” stated Jim Hogan, president and CEO of Entegrus, said in a media release. “We are proud to be able to provide funds that will help support the housing shortages we see firsthand in our commu-

190 Stanley Ave., Chatham • www.edenvilla.ca

519.354.CARE (2273)

THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

PAGE 19

The Arts/Life

The visual art of sound waves

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

A visit with Steve Johnson would have most anyone immediately convinced he has a love of painting and music.

So it should come as no surprise that the Chatham man has found a way to blend audio and visual together.

About 15 years ago, Johnson took up painting as a hobby. He hasn’t looked back.

Over the years, he’s entered into various art competitions, including one at the Thames Art Gallery, Eye for Art in 2018. He enjoyed seeing his work hanging on the wall of the gallery, and refined his area of interest.

It’s to the point now where his subject is the visualization of sound.

That’s right, Johnson paints words.

The artist has taken to recording various famous sayings that are in the public domain and painting the sound waves.

The paintings are simple, but eye catching.

The visual sound waves of descriptive phrases are captured on canvas.

Johnson prefers vibrant backgrounds and contrasting colours in his work.

What he has done is a series of six sound-wave sayings from his own voice. Three are four-feetby-two-feet and three are a quarter the size, two-byone.

Steve Johnson, shown here with some of his paintings, is a local artist that enjoys painting the sound of your voice.

“This is me recording my own voice and painting the sound wave. We each have a unique sound wave. Every person could say these quotes and it would look different,” Johnson said. “It’s very personalized.”

He said he’s been drawn to sayings in the public domain, including “Experience is the teacher of

all things” by Julius Caesar; “Be yourself; everyone else is taken” by Oscar Wilde; and “I am not afraid...I was born to do this” by Joan of Arc. Johnson said the idea for the subject of his paintings evolved from his intention to write a speech as a member of the Toastmasters.

“I read a lot. I’m a stu-

dent of history. I stumbled up on a page of famous quotes through an online search,” he said. “I recorded them. I was going to write a speech. But with the recording program I used, I looked at the pattern afterwards and thought, ‘That’s pretty.’”

Johnson, 63, and his wife Lenda moved here from Carleton Place in 2015.

CLAC gives to hospice The Chatham Voice

The Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation benefitted from a $1,000 donation recently from CLAC. The funds come from CLAC’s Building Communities Program.

The organization was nominated

by Joseph Cabral who is a member of CLAC Local 53, employed by J.M.R. Electric Ltd. “Chatham-Kent Hospice is celebrating five years of providing compassionate, end-of-life care,” Cabral said in a media release. “This organization supports their residents and loved ones as they near end of life, which can be very difficult. Donations like this allow experienced staff and volunteers to continue to provide end-of-life care now and in the future.”

~ 24 Hour Health Care Supervision

Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice

They couldn’t be happier.

“We did a Google search.

We couldn’t believe the reasonable prices at the time in Chatham-Kent,” he said. “People are friendly and the climate is amazing.”

Johnson added the proximity to the Great Lakes is another attraction, making Chatham an excellent home base for day trips in the region.

“There’s a lot to see around here.”

May you and your family experience the timeless message of Christmas and may peace, happiness and good health be yours in the upcoming year.

~ Delicious Home Cooked Meals ~ Scheduled Activities We also offer Post Hospital/Respite Stays

Contact us at 519-354-7111 for your personal tour.

97 McFarlane Ave., Chatham • maplecityretirement.ca

Rick Nicholls, MPP Chatham-Kent-Leamington “ACCESSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE” CHATHAM OFFICE LEAMINGTON OFFICE 111 Heritage Road 115 Erie Street North Suite 100 Unit B 519-351-0510 519-326-3367 rnicholls-co@ola.org

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 20

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

Missing you at Christmas Remembering my Precious Furry Babies in Heaven

Mom,

You left us beautiful memories Your love is still our guide and though we cannot see you, we know you’re always by our side.

Merry Christmas in Heaven

D e b W hi t e Grace Couture • 1948-1995 •

October 1, 1969 - January 11, 2020 Your wings were ready, Our hearts were not.

Remembered at Christmas and always with love Aaron, Brandi & Mom

Loving and missing you mom, Jason and family

Gordie, Jasmine & Buddy

Take my tear drops and wrap them in so much unconditional love and ask the wind to carry them to all my dogs above.

Miracles are very rare, but for Christmas what one would do, to wake up Christmas morning and find all of you, standing with wagging tails by our Christmas tree. Your paw prints live forever on my heart.

Love your mommy, Lynn.

Merry Christmas at Rainbow Bridge!

In loving memory of

Thinking of you . . . In memory of my mom Ferna, dad Bert LeGroulx, son Scott Lauriston, special aunts Willma, Lucy, Inez and Letty and Uncles John, Leon and Ab Brown. To Dad Jules Foulon and others gone too soon. It’s that special time of year,we have always held so dear. Our families favourite time together,we wish we could have another. But that is not so.

All we ask for this year is a helthy life together.

Jeanine Foulon (nee LeGroulx), Dave Foulon and family

Pat Rylett

It broke our hearts to lose you, You did not go alone.

For part of us went with you, The day God called you home.

Our family chain is broken, And nothing seems the same.

But as God calls us one by one, The chain will link again.

Missing you at Christmas and always.

Love Gary and all your family!

Merry Christmas Geri In Loving Memory of My Husband

Francis W. McGivern January 19, 1947 - October 27, 2017

It’s another Christmas, without you here with me.

Although I know you are here, I wish that I could hold you and tell you how much I Love and Miss You.

Christmas Without You Although its sad to reminisce On Christmases we knew, This year I shall celebrate In memory of you.

I will put aside my sorrow With every unshed tear And concentrate on all the love We shared when you were here.

Our time together taught me What Christmas time is for, And that’s what I’ll remember Until we meet once more.

Love & Miss You Always, Laura, Shane, Jenny & family

xoxoxoxoxox All My Love as Always, Al

Harry Rivers

Marion Rivers

January 11, 1971

December 5, 1991

Mary Jane Wright

Ellwood Wright

Kim Laurie

Sonya White

August 25, 2017

November 14, 2019

August 18, 2009

Mary Castein June 3rd, 1930 - August 5th, 2009

Kevin

Bill Mom

Jim Mark

Wayne Dad

Molly

Grams A. Brian

Fred

August 16, 1990

Deb White

January 11, 2020

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal Love leaves a memory no one can steal.

Always missed by: The Rivers, White, and Laurie families

This is our 13th Christmas without you Mary, we all miss you more than ever each year.

We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when, but I know we’ll meet again some sunny day. Keep smiling through, just like you used to do. Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away.

Absence make the heart remember.

T.T.F.N. All My Love. B.

Christmas is Love.

We are spending Christmas in Heaven with Jesus this year.

Loving & Missing You All, Horne & Hebblethwaite Families above and below.

• Chatham • 459 St.Clair St., 519-351-2040

• Ridgetown • 76 Main St. E., 519-674-3141

• Blenheim • 141 Park St. 519-676-3451

www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 21

Dear readers and advertisers HELENE NORWOOD (BROWN) Aug. 30th, 1923 – Dec. 23rd, 2016

Hard to believe five years have passed!

We miss you SO much!

You were such a Wonderful Mother & Human Being!

Love You Always!

Diane & Bob

Remembering Jim Snelgrove

Merry Christmas in Heaven Dad. In heart and thought you’re always close, because memories live forever.

Love Jason and family

Precious Memories of you Both Lawrence & Doris Ivy Smith With all the celebrations and Christmas drawing near, What a lovely time we would have, if only you both were here.

We would spend so many happy hours, the way we did before.

Christmas is for loved ones, and we couldn’t miss and love you both more.

Forever in our hearts and loved

by William Smith and Family.

We’d like to use this space to express our sincerest gratitude to all our readers and advertisers.

Your support is the lifeblood of The Chatham Voice.

To our advertisers, thank you for choosing our publication as a means to spread the word about your business. You are the reason we’re able to keep providing the members of our community with the quality coverage they need and deserve.

To all of our readers who turn to us every week for the latest local news and stories, thank you for being there.

We do it all for you.

As we approach the dawn of a brand new year, our mission remains the same as ever: to give the Chatham-Kent community a voice.

Thank you, once again, for allowing that voice to be heard.

On behalf of the entire team at The Chatham Voice, we wiSh you the happiest of holiday seasons and all the best for 2022

Happy Birthday in Heaven Mom & Grandma Your Birthday is here, but you are not. We would send you a gift, but we cannot.

So we will make a wish upon a star, to carry our love to where you are.

NOTICE: The Chatham Voice will not be publishing on December 30, 2021 Our office will be closed from December 23 until January 3 at 9:15am to give our team time to spend time with their families.

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 22

Community Events Thursday, December 23, 2021: • Come join us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 11:00am – 6:00pm. The kitchen is open to serve lunch from 11:00am – 1:30pm. Come check out our complete menu. Everyone is welcome.

Thursday, December 30, 2021: • Come join us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 11:00am – 6:00pm. The kitchen is open to serve lunch from 11:00am – 1:30pm. Come check out our complete menu. Everyone is welcome.

Friday, December 24, 2021: • Come join us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 11:00am – 5:30pm. The kitchen is open to serve lunch from 11:00am – 1:30pm with daily specials. The branch will close at 5:30pm in order to let our staff enjoy Christmas with their families. Everyone welcome.

Friday, December 31, 2021: • Come join us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 11:00am – 5:30pm. The kitchen is open to serve lunch from 11:00am – 1:30pm with daily specials. The branch will close at 5:30pm in order to let our staff enjoy New Years Ever Festivities. Everyone welcome.

• Morning Breakfast Program at First Presbyterian Church (corner of Fifth St. and Wellington).

A delicious nutritious breakfast served free of charge from 9:30am-11:30am. This will be a TAKE OUT only.

Saturday, January 1, 2022: • Start your New Year with us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St., Chatham. Branch will be open from 12:00pm7:00pm with entertainment by Country Classic starting at 3:00pm. Kitchen open 2:00pm5:00pm.

Saturday, December 25, 2021: • Branch 642 Legion will be closed today. The Executives and members would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021: • Victoria Avenue United Church’s Food Shopping Card & Pantry Programs. (Please bring photo identification.) (Limited number of cards available.) Held at St. Andrew’s United Church (Memorial Garden Entrance - Wellington Street).

Every Wednesday from 9:00am to 10:30am.

COVID-19 provisions / Contact tracing in place / Masks required / Hand sanitizer provided.

Tuesday, December 28, 2021: • Come join us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 11:00am– 9:30pm. Lunch is served from 11:00am - 1:30pm.

Today’s special is spaghetti with meat sauce.

Spend the evening playing euchre or shuffleboard starting at 7:00pm. Everyone Welcome.

• Chatham-Kent Public Library is offering a virtual escape room with a twist. Participants solve a series of virtual puzzles at home and then bring a password to a CKPL branch where they will unlock a box to unleash the northern lights. Light the Night! will be available until January 14 at Chatham, Tilbury and Ridgetown branches and January 24 - February 11 at Blenheim, Dresden and Wallaceburg branches. Participants can access the puzzles through the library’s website www.ckpl.ca, Facebook page @CKPLibrary or by registering at their local branch. Light the Night! is a family activity geared to children 7 and up.

Contact your local branch for more info.

Wednesday, December 29, 2021: • Victoria Avenue United Church’s Food Shopping Card & Pantry Programs. (Please bring photo identification.) (Limited number of cards available.) Held at St. Andrew’s United Church (Memorial Garden Entrance - Wellington Street).

Every Wednesday from 9:00am to 10:30am.

COVID-19 provisions / Contact tracing in place / Masks required / Hand sanitizer provided.

• Come join us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 11:00am – 6:00pm. The kitchen is open to serve lunch from 11:00am – 1:30pm. Special of the day is Meat Loaf Dinner. Come join us for Pepper at 1:00pm and Fun Darts at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome.

Tuesday, January 4, 2022: • Come join us at The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham from 11:00am– 9:30pm. Lunch is served from 11:00am 1:30pm. Today’s special is spaghetti with meat sauce. Come play euchre at 1:00pm or spend the evening playing euchre or shuffleboard starting at 7:00pm. Everyone Welcome.

Saturday, January 8, 2022: •Morning Breakfast Program at First Presbyterian Church (corner of Fifth St. and Wellington).

A delicious nutritious breakfast served free of charge from 9:30am-11:30am. This will be a TAKE OUT only.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022: • Kent Coin Club meeting from 7:00pm-8:00pm.

Boardroom at Memorial arena, (80 Tweedsmuir Ave Chatham). Fully Vaccinated and masking required. For more info contact President Paul Robb (probb1@cogeco.ca).

Saturday, January 22, 2022: •Morning Breakfast Program at First Presbyterian Church (corner of Fifth St. and Wellington).

A delicious nutritious breakfast served free of charge from 9:30am-11:30am. This will be a TAKE OUT only.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022: • Kent Coin Club meeting from 7:00pm-8:00pm.

Boardroom at Memorial arena, (80 Tweedsmuir Ave Chatham). Fully Vaccinated and masking required. For more info contact President Paul Robb (probb1@cogeco.ca).

Wednesday, March 16, 2022: • Kent Coin Club meeting from 7:00pm-8:00pm.

Boardroom at Memorial arena, (80 Tweedsmuir Ave Chatham). Fully Vaccinated and masking required. For more info contact President Paul Robb (probb1@cogeco.ca).

Are you affected by someone else’s drinking?

Al-anon can help! Call - leave message - 519350-3462 Submit your coming events to bruce@chatham­voice.com or michelle@chathamvoice.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

Fun Stuff 63. Nocturnal hoofed animals 65. Oppositional to 66. Monetary units 67. Not on time

CLUES ACROSS 1. Chinese Muslim group 5. Alternative name 10. Resounds 12. Supporter 14. Furnishes anew 16. Beloved Hollywood alien 18. Supervises flying 19. Ballplayer’s tool 20. Coarse edible red seaweed 22. Former CIA 23. Basketball player 25. Travel necessities 26. Honey producer 27. Military analysis (abbr.)

28. Diego, Francisco, Anselmo 30. Mental sharpness and inventiveness 31. Popular Easter meal 33. Man (Spanish) 35. __ de la __ 37. Counterweights 38. Made a harsh, grating noise 40. Monetary unit 41. Commercials 42. Cool!

44. Partner to cheese 45. Expression of creative skill 48. Unit of angle 50. Transported 52. N. American people of Kansas 53. Computer game character Max 55. Moved swiftly 56. Everyone has one 57. Tin 58. A mole is one

CLUES DOWN 1. Hogshead (abbr.)

2. Misery resulting from affliction 3. Defunction European group 4. Line on a map 5. Becomes less intense 6. Back muscle 7. Frosted 8. Ethiopian town 9. Midway between south and east 10. Wipe from the record 11. In a continuous way 13. Breathe 15. Cleaning device 17. Male organ 18. Tab on a key ring 21. Criminals 23. Taxi 24. Cheer of encouragement 27. Wartime American escort carrier 29. Polish river 32. Current unit 34. Life form 35. Painful contractions 36. Glowing 39. Press against lightly 40. Melancholic 43. Something you can be under 44. Of the mind 46. E. Indian cereal grass 47. Couple 49. Sharpshoot 51. A baglike structure in a plant or animal 54. __ Blyton, children’s author 59. Human gene 60. Data mining methodology (abbr.)

61. Examines animals 62. Mineral 64. Cools your home

Sudoku 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes.

To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box.

Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box.

THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

Classifieds

Obituary

For Sale

Renovations

Barbara Diane Gehl (‘Diane’)

was a loving mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister and friend. She left this world peacefully on December 15, 2021, surrounded by her family. Diane was born to the late Barbara Anne Sanders and George Henry Manninger. Survived by her husband, James M. Easton, her daughters, Tammy, Gina (Doug), Jessica (Oliver), and his children, Shelly, Karen, Susan and John.

Also survived by grandchildren - James, Victor (Crystal), Evan (Kennidy), Alison (Blake), Adam, Meredith, Connor and Ryan, and great grandchildren – Max, Avery and Sophia. Diane is survived by her mother, Mary Manninger, and siblings, Brian (Angie), Sally (Chris), Bill, and Michelle (Sam), and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is predeceased by her sisters Carol and Molly. Diane was very active in her earlier years with the Chatham Figure Skating Club, serving on the Board as Club President several years. She did everything from run the Club to ensuring the skating carnival props had enough glitter. Diane also worked just as hard in her logistics career beginning at Motor Wheel, and retiring from Union Gas. In her retired life, she liked to spend time in her gardens, always pruning to perfection. It was like a whole different world when entering her gardens, with big blooms and water features. Like all things in life, Diane was a fighter, whether it be in her personal life or otherwise. She fought this disease with grace and grit until the end. A woman of hope, a pillar of strength, and a legacy left behind . . There will be a private celebration of life at a later date. Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Chatham-Kent Hospice. Arrangements entrusted to Life Transitions Burial and Cremation Service Inc

J.A. Handyman & Repairs

1982 Pontiac Parisienne Coupe. 2 door, redwood, interior maple. Engine 5.0 litre, 305 4 Barrel. Power windows, tilt wheel, new headliner and original. No holes in body or floor. Price $9,800. Final, no less. Phone 519-784-3962.

Silk Cemetery Saddle Arrangements.

Everyday/ Holidays.

Ready-to-go.

Many colours available. $35.

519-354-3411

Drywall, Tiling, Trim, Flooring, Doors, Windows, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Basements, Painting,Repairs, Yard Work and More.

FREE ESTIMATES Joseph Anderson 519-359-1721 • jyashanea1989@gmail.com

Office Space OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Located in South Chatham, 392 Park Avenue East, approx 400 square feet. Office has reception area and private office-- ideal for professional services.

Great location, good parking a must to view.

Located in South Chatham, 392 Park Avenue East, approx 1,000 square feet. Two private offices, large board room / main reception with kitchen area and lots of storage. Reasonably priced, freshly painted, ground floor. Great location, a must to view.

Call Henry @ 519-437-1793 or email henryregts@gmail.com

Farm Land FARM LAND FOR RENT by Tender In the Romney / Mersea area Tec-Land Inc will be ceasing agricultural operations and is inviting interested parties to bid on single or multiple land parcels for rent. Please contact us in person, by phone, or email to receive a tender package.

Tender submissions will be received until Friday, January 14, 2022 at 2 pm. email: office@tec-land.com Tec-Land Inc. office: 519-825-7026 1305 Talbot Trail Ernie: 519-322-8837 Wheatley, Ontario Gary: 519-324-1288 N0P 2P0

Rental For Sale

SENIORS APARTMENTS

Studio or 1 Bedroom Includes: • housekeeping • laundry • meals • cable TV • phone • access to on-site pool 3 piece Sklar Peppler furniture. Chair, couch, loveseat, brown. Sklar Peppler display cabinet, sliding doors with glass, drawers, brown. Heavy duty pine kitchen table with 2 chairs and 2 benches. Dark brown. Frigidaire Gallery refrigerator, 21 cu.ft., white, 2 years old, works mint. Cherry dresser, 6 drawers, cherry night table, 2 drawers. Living room lamp tables, coffee table with opening top and 2 drawers, light pine. Heavy duty entertainment center, heavy pine, very nice shape. 519-437-0634

For a tour, call us at 519-627-9292 80 McNaughton Ave. Wallaceburg, ON This week’s answers. Puzzles on page 20.

New Members Welcome

Kent Coin Club is welcoming new members. Adults, teens and children. Call Paul 289-228-2817.

PAGE 23

Ministry Redeemer of Love Healing Ministry is a Christian outreach ministry to those struggling in society.

Our all night prayer line is midnight to 7am daily. Call 519-354-3532.

Wanted

Looking for

Wanted to Buy: A “Go Pro Hero3+ Silver” Camera or will consider other go pro models.

519-354-7241.

Wanted to Buy: Antiques, costume jewelery, gold, silver, coins, military, furniture, tools. We Buy All - Paid Cash. 519-727-8894.

OBITUARIES

John “Jack” Gleason 93, Saturday, December 11, 2021 Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

Richard “Dick’ Perrin Tuesday, December 14, 2021 Life Transitions

Tom Johnston 85,Saturday, December 11, 2021 Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

William “Bill” Robinson 68, Friday, December 10, 2021 Life Transitions

Blanche Ouellette 89, Thursday, December 16, 2021 Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

Barbara Diane Gehl Wednesday, December 15, 2021 Life Transitions

Roger “Bud” White 89, Tuesday, December 14, 2021 Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

LuAnn Yorke 54, Thursday, December 16, 2021 Life Transitions

Lisa Marie Byers 47, Thursday, December 16, 2021 Blenheim Community Funeral Home

William A. Petts “Bill” 85, Saturday, December 18, 2021 Life Transitions

John Clarence Barclay 73, Sunday, December 12, 2021 McKinlay Funeral Home

Diane L. Thompson 71, Wednesday, December 15, 2021 Nicholls Funeral Home

Doris Bedford 87, Monday, December 13, 2021 McKinlay Funeral Home

Philip Quesnel 72, Thursday, December 16 2021 Nicholls Funeral Home

Wilda Renwick 96, Wednesday, December 15, 2021 McKinlay Funeral Home

Francis “Dan” Ayers 66, Saturday, December 18, 2021 Nicholls Funeral Home

James Arthur Bedford 91, Wednesday, December 15, 2021 McKinlay Funeral Home

Bartell “Bert” Brandon 87, Wednesday, December 8, 2021 Kendrick Funeral Home

Robert Waggott 93, Wednesday, December 15, 2021 McKinlay Funeral Home

Martin Dyck 70, Thursday, December 16, 2021 Kendrick Funeral Home

Roger LeClair 76, Friday, December 17, 2021 McKinlay Funeral Home John Van Veen 59, Saturday, December 18, 2021 McKinlay Funeral Home Linda Street 78, Sunday, December 12, 2021 Life Transitions

Full obituaries can be seen at chathamvoice.com/obituaries

Generations of Families Have Placed Their Trust in . . .

156 William St., Chatham | www.peseski.com | 519.352.5120

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459 St.Clair St., Chatham • 519-351-2040 76 Main St. E., Ridgetown • 519-674-3141 141 Park St., Blenheim • 519-676-3451

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 24

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

News

COVID cops blitz businesses

The Chatham Voice

Chatham-Kent’s COVID police were out in force recently.

Provincial offences officers, in co-ordination with staff from CK Public Health and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, made spot checks at 80 local businesses to check on compliance.

They found that about 71 per cent of businesses were compliant with Reopening Ontario Act guidelines.

Over two days, personnel found 23 violations, handing out 11 charges.

Officers provided education around and enforcement of the public health requirements with regards to proof of vacci-

nation, screening requirements for both employees and patrons, mask-wearing, proper display of workplace safety plans and more.

The campaign was received positively on a local level, with many businesses willingly cooperating and eager to rectify any identified issues, Public Health offi-

cials said.

“We are very appreciative of the compliance efforts of our local business operations and the patrons who frequent them,” Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health, said in a media release.

“It is not an easy task to repeatedly pivot and to make adjustments to

how you have been conducting business at your establishments for years prior.”

CK Public Health reminds businesses and workplaces about the public health measures that are put in place to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and the necessity of remaining vigilant.

Local enforcement officers continue to monitor business adherence to the requirements of the Reopening Ontario Act. Those seeking more information or additional support in ensuring that their workplace is running as safely as possible are asked to visit www.

CKPublicHealth.com/Information-for-workplaces

Meaningful ways to keep Christ in your Christmas 1. Give God one very special gift just from you to him - Maybe your gift to God will be to forgive someone you’ve needed to forgive for a long time. Perhaps your gift will be to commit to spending time with God daily. Or maybe there is something God has asked you to give up. Make this your most important gift of the season.

2. Set aside a special time to read the Christmas story in Luke 1:5-56 through 2:1-20. - Consider reading this account with your family and discussing it together.

3. Set up a Nativity scene in your home.

4. Give a surprise gift of service to each member of your family. Jesus taught us to serve by washing the disciples feet. He also taught us that it is “more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (NIV) Giving an unexpected gift of service to members of your family demonstrates Christ-like love and service.

You might consider giving a back rub to your spouse, running an errand for your brother, or cleaning out a closet for your mother. Make it personal and meaningful and watch the blessings multiply.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, Financial Financial

and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 (KJV) Please join us this holiday as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and bring praise to His name!

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