Lanark, North Leeds & Grenville - Hometown News February 2021

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Vol. 8

No. 2

YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE

FEBRUARY 2021

Theresa Fritz’s Council seat declared vacant underestimate me, that'll be fun”

“

Carleton Place - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca On Tuesday Jan 26, Carleton Place council voted to declare the seat formerly held by Theresa Fritz vacant following her untimely death earlier this month.

Just shy of her 55th birthday, Theresa passed at home from heart failure. The community was shocked and the outpouring of grief was unparalleled in recent times. A memorial driveby of emergency service vehicles past the town-hall was held in the presence of the mayor and council and Theresa’s husband Scott and son Shane to honour her life and contributions to the town and its residents. Following a private funeral service on Jan 18th, the hearse and companion vehicles drove past Theresa’s home and the street was lined with young hockey players, holding their sticks high in a salute of respect. Among her many activities, Theresa was a committed supporter of minor hockey and was a member of the local executive committee.

I first met Theresa soon after her relocation to Carleton Place in 1990. We served on the board of directors for the Carleton Place Youth Centre (as it was then known) and she was an energetic, imaginative and common-sense filled asset to that organization. When crises cropped up as they sometimes do with a youth organization run by volunteers, Theresa always was the calm steady presence in the room. She listened to every viewpoint, helped to formulate a plan, steadfastly supported the solution(s) and saw things to a beneficial conclusion. Not long after, I was

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appointed to Carleton Place council (another story for another day), and Theresa was the reporter for the local newspaper and attended every meeting.

When she ran for council for the first time in 2014 she boasted she had attended more council meetings in Carleton Place and surrounding communities than anyone else on the candidates’ slate and she was right.

In those days, reporters and audience members could ask questions at committee meetings without preregistering in advance. In fact after many meetings a member of council (usually the mayor) would ask her if she had any questions.

She usually did, and while they may have been hard and pointed ones from time to time, they represented what her readers and residents needed and wanted to know and were always asked with respect. One of the most contentious issues faced by that council was the decision to disband the local police service and replace it with the OPP under a municipal contract. The issue created a deep division in the town and was the primary reason that all but one of the council of that day experienced defeat at the next election. Theresa and her editor at the time, Jeff Maguire, wrote reams on the topic and while some on council felt the coverage was biased, I found it quite the opposite. Theresa accurately and fairly covered all aspects of the matter and left her readers well informed.

I’ve included my favourite picture of Theresa with this because it really demonstrated her bravery and commitment to her family. Parents of minor hockey players were encouraged to

Facebook/HometownnewsPerth

Fresh Deli Fresh Fish

Photo credit: Facebook page.

Theresa

Fritz's

try out the position their child played, and Theresa’s son Shane was a goalie. She said she asked him for some tips on covering the net and ended the game with a new and deep appreciation of his talents. I say brave, not just because she wore a Team USA jersey, but because she was facing young strong offensive players that were taking real shots.

In one image it captured many of the attributes of Theresa that will be sorely missed and a true example of why she will never be forgotten. It’s also a perfect match to a new-age adage she posted on her Facebook homepage: ‘Underestimate me.

That’ll be fun’.

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Theresa Fritz and her son Shane Robinson. Photo Credit: Submitted

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Page Two

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POLIO VACCINATIONS - 1962

In honour of Valentine’s Day we're taking your special dedications and shout outs to the one you love. Let us know who you want to be your Valentine and we will let them know how much you love them! Send Cupid an email with the details of your message to shannon@pdgmedia.ca and let you love flow!

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Hundreds of local citizens line up in front of the Perth Town Hall in 1962 for Polio vaccinations.

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3

February 2021

community Getting bit by the grow bug

Regional - Brian Turner and Katelyn Joslin MS editorial@pdgmedia.ca

There have been few positives coming out of our pandemic experience but one that stands out is the increasing interest and practice of home gardening, especially vegetables. The number of home gardeners grew exponentially last year and so did the amount and variety of seeds, seedlings, and plants they purchased. Some analysts point to early panic buying and food supply chain disruptions as one of the causes, as more of us opted to improve our food security and sustainability, while another reason quoted is the amount of unstructured time at home. Gardening is often thought of as a relaxing pastime that allows individuals to de-stress while gaining the satisfaction and pride in the creation of nourishing items.

Last March, when the pandemic’s first lockdown occurred, the slate of local seed shows had just gotten underway when Covid-19 threw a large wet blanket on such gatherings. Veteran green-thumbers have known about the benefit of sourcing seeds and seedlings from local producers versus international firms for years. With area seed sellers, the plants that supply the seeds are grown in relatively the same environment as the purchasers live in. This drastically improves the chances of success in terms of yield and sustainability. As well, any questions that a grower might have are easily answered by connecting with the seed supplier.

Seed shows, often called Seedy Saturdays or Seedy Sundays, were a great op-

portunity for an annual connection between seed suppliers and growers.

When the live shows were cancelled from March of last year onwards, many seed producers were able to create or improve their online shopping portals and sales skyrocketed due to the new demand and the increasing comfort level many consumers had with web-based purchases. Shipping seeds to consumers via postal and courier services were relatively cheap and easy and curbside pick-ups were arranged for heavier products or items that didn’t ship well (think seed potatoes or seedlings).

Fast forward to 2021 and gardeners would be best advised to get their plot plans and their orders in place early to take advantage of the best selections.

Hometown News got in touch with a local seed show organizer, Sarah MacKenzie from Westport, who expects 2021 to be another banner year for seed sales.

She added a number of reasons for the surge in interest. Gardening is a perfect activity for both single growers and those with families, especially when in isolation. There’s an abundance of internet resources to help and Eastern Ontario is a very grow-friendly environment in terms of soil and weather conditions and growing season lengths.

Seed suppliers across the country have already made plans to go virtual this year providing workshops and seminars for growers of all experience and interest levels, as well as giving online links to seed sellers. Seeds.ca is a good place to start by clicking on their event tab.

Weseedchange.org also has a listing of seed pro-

ducers across the country. Some local producers of note can be found at heritageseedandproduce. com, terraedibles.ca, urbantomato.ca, mountaingroveseed@gmail.com, theprospectmarket.weebly.com, bearrootgardens. com (as well as others). A group of seed sellers in the GTA have gotten together to create a website for their vendors at seedysaturday.ca/Toronto.

Advice for growers would be to order earlier rather than later to avoid any disappointment with varieties being sold out or delays in shipping.

The Six-Hour Canoe Smiths Falls - John Kessel editorial@pdgmedia.ca

It was like watching a scene out of the Odd Couple, but it was in Smiths Falls, in the basement of a bungalow.

Felix Unger and Oscar Maddison were not part of the script.

Just over a month ago two life-time friends decided they were bored – they had serious Covid blues. They needed a project. Jim O’Hara from Smiths Falls and John Gemmell of Perth were neighbours in Brockville at three years old. They’re now in their 70s. They’ve stayed friends since.

O’Hara had always wanted to paddle the Tay out to where it meets the Rideau Canal at Port Elmsley, but he didn’t have a boat. When he talked to staff at Andress’ Independent grocers, he found the solution.

There was a canoe kit available from the Rideau Ferry Regatta.

One hundred dollars later, the kit was in O’Hara’s basement. Hometown

News came to watch the start of the build. The canoe design is called The Six-Hour Canoe.

This is where the Odd Couple comes in. Gemmell is more of a craftsman. O’Hara, well he sort of follows instructions.

Gemmell asked what the canoe was weighted for – how many pounds it could carry. They had the instructions – 225 pounds.

Gemmell looked at his buddy and O’Hara’s immediate reply was, “Well, maybe for my grandchildren.”

It took them 18 hours to finish the build, but there was still the painting left to do. At the regatta, four teams of three or four would build four canoes.

They started on a Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and finished at 5 p.m. By Sunday they were painted and racing on Lower Rideau Lake by noon, the winner receiving a prized bottle of wine.

“Jim offered me a beer at 10 a.m. one day,” says Gemmell, at least a bit of a fitness fan, likely be-

Photo credit: John Kessel.

cause of his navy and 30 years with the Ontario Provincial Police. O’Hara worked as a grocery store manager for 37 years.

They admit, even with squabbles, “we sounded like we were married,”

For Your Information with Kathy Botham

but they had lots of fun.

However, Gemmell says he is “never” getting into the canoe.

For safety’s sake, they’re launching the canoe at the Smiths Falls splash pad this spring.

4

February 2021

community

terry o'hearn

Perth Inside Out: Local Pilots

A 3 course, prix fixe dining experience in Smiths Falls

Photo submitted by Fred Dobbie: Tay Valley Township Councillor Fred Dobbie, pictured here with his J3 Cub model aircraft.

Even though the Perth Municipal Airport dream of commercial success did not pan out, the interest in aviation here did not die altogether. Many from Perth and area became private pilots, and a few other pilots came to live in Perth from other places.

One of the best-known characters of those early days was the late George Uranick. It was reported in the Perth Courier of Oct. 22, 1970 that: “Three years ago, Sgt. George Uranick of the Perth OPP began tinkering in his basement and the final result emerged as a plane in his backyard …”

The story went on to say that in the early morning three weeks previously the plane had been towed down Gore Street to the Perth Airport.

The plane was a wooden home-built Jodel, and was known as a low-wing tail dragger. When the Perth Airport became unusable, he used farm fields or a grass strip, as the aircraft was capable of short takeoffs and landings.

Jim McGlade, who became a licensed pilot at age 17, was transferred from London OPP to Perth in 1966, and continued his flying through the Kingston Flying Club. McGlade said “the seed for flying was planted” when he took his first flight at age 12 with Gananoque’s legendary Ed Clark, who was an instructor and commercial pilot.

McGlade got a job at Gananoque airport, and he also flew with Ed Clark on the Trans Canada Pipe Line patrol. While flying the eastern leg, he was able to get a bird’s eye view of the St. Lawrence Seaway construction.

While in London, the timing and circumstances were right for McGlade to become an air observer with the OPP’s new “eye in the sky” initiative for aircraft traffic patrol of Southwestern Ontario.

After serving in Perth 1966 to 1969, McGlade was transferred to Westport Detachment, and was able to continue flying from the Kingston flying club. Although not currently licensed, he has been involved with the Rideau Lakes Flying Club in Westport for the last number of years. He has logged over 500 hours flying, and has “enjoyed every minute.”

Fred Dobbie, currently a Council member for Tay Valley Township, was a driving force behind the Perth Flying Club for many years, and inspired many others to take the training for a Private Pilot License (PPL). He started training in 1979 when the new Perth Flying Club was formed, and was able to get his license by May of 1980. The Perth club had a Cessna 172 from Carp Airport for training, which took place several days a week at the Perth Airport.

When the Perth Airport closed in 1980, Dobbie built a landing strip on the family farm north of Perth. It was a 1500-foot-long strip noted for its clear approaches, and was the home of the club until 1985. “Myself and three other pilots kept our planes there, and five of us flew from it until 1985.

Then we sold our planes and closed the strip.”

Dobbie has been the owner of two aircraft over the years - a Cessna 180 and a Cessna 140 – both of high-wing design, logging 479 hours to Ottawa, Toronto, Guelph, Peterborough, Halliburton, and all local airports around Perth and Smith Falls. “Now l fly model planes and helicopters, some being onethird scale in size, with a wing span of twelve feet”, he says, adding that: “You haven’t lived until you fly a solo in a plane.”

Ed Sherwin was a member of the OPP and a licensed private pilot when transferred to Perth in 1980. His flying interest goes back to 1975 when he and several other members were transferred to Sioux Lookout to form the North West Patrol Unit (NPWU).

“The purpose of the NWPU was to provide policing for 23 remote indigenous reservations and communities in Northern Ontario. The area patrolled extended from the Manitoba border, east to the community of Ogoki on the Albany River, and north to the community of Fort Severn on Hudson Bay.” The Aircraft that was assigned to the Unit was a De Havilland Turbo Beaver, and was capable of carrying up to seven passengers.

It was equipped with floats or wheel-skis, according to the season.

During the flights of 20 minutes to three or more hours, Sherwin was sometimes allowed to take over the controls in the co-pilot seat. He recalled that at the same time he would be handed a map of the flight path, and as a result he learned to map-read using the many lakes, rivers and landmarks. “This was a big benefit to me when I was in training to get my PPL.” Flight school started in 1976 at the Sioux Lookout Flying Club, and he completed training and written exams later that year.

He was transferred to Bancroft in 1977, and continued to fly there with the Bancroft Flying Club until 1978. Sherwin flew until 1982, and logged a total of more than 61 hours.

This has been a glimpse into the lives of a few private pilots who were influenced by the aviation bug, however there were many other pilots in Perth over the years. Next month we will look at the careers of two very successful military pilots.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please email me at: terry@pdgmedia.ca

5

February 2021

lifestyle opinion:

The latest trend to hit popular social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook now offers users a Snapchat-like option to perform their very own magic act, vanish mode.

The feature, meant for more casual conversations, allows users to set chats to automatically delete after the message is seen and the chat is closed. Messenger already had disappearing messages as part of its “secret conversation” feature, but it required several steps and setting a timer for each message to disap-

Saying it without saying it:

Shannon McLellan

the hidden message behind social media’s latest trend - vanishing messages

pear individually.

Society’s interpersonal communication is rapidly evolving, and more and more we are finding ourselves commonly sharing on social media the sort of information we may have previously only shared privately face-to-face.

As I’ve watched this feature become a common trend on the most popularly used social media apps, it’s prompted this question: If what we are sending to the person on the other side of the screen poses the thought that it should be hidden,

what does that say about the choices we are making when we hit send? What underlying message is society sending us when hiding messages is being normalized?

Social media apps lower inhibitions and barriers, making it simpler than ever to contact almost anyone who you probably would hesitate to pick up the phone and have a voice-to voice conversation with. Countless apps enable the ability to exchange provocative pictures and messages, so that it is easier than ever to maintain multiple

'virtual' and real-life relationships in secret, even more so with a simple swipe up.

Normalizing secrecy in our inbox opens the door for breakdown in our most intimate relationships, and it also has the opportunity to create harmful situations for our children. Now more than ever it is easier for children and teens to stumble into trouble online.

Kids can be exposed to bullying, unsafe content and exchange inappropriate content with others and vanish mode makes it all that much easier to

hide risky behavior. What message is social media imploding on children who are avid users of several of these social media platforms?

On the flip side, social media has allowed us a platform to create relationships that we may not have otherwise had the opportunity to create, share information, form new ways to communicate, market businesses and create a sense of community online, but where do we draw the line when it comes to the subtle message that is hiding in the shadows of our inbox?

Every drop counts – Donating blood during the Covid-19 pandemic Regional - Shannon McLellan editorial@pdgmedia.ca One thing that lockdown doesn’t prevent is a need for blood.

Every minute, a Canadian requires blood and this doesn’t stop for a global pandemic. Over the year 100,000 new donors will be needed to keep Canada's lifeline going. An average year would see more than 10,000 group appointments. Donation appointments dropped by nearly 70 percent in 2020.

Donating blood is important, now more than ever,

during this COVID-19 pandemic to help ensure blood and blood products are available to those who need it, and it is still safe to do so.

Donating blood is an active way to make a difference during the pandemic.

While planning ahead poses many challenges during these uncertain times with forever changing rules and restrictions, one thing you can plan for certain is booking a time for blood donation. Donor centres have been deemed essential and remain open throughout the pandemic. The tra-

ditional model of walk-in blood donor clinics that we are most familiar with, such as a community hall filled with bodies, have shifted to donating by appointment only. Canadian Blood Services ensures that they have guidelines in place to keep donors safe and healthy during these difficult times.

Other changes you will notice at the donation sites include mandatory masks, physical distancing, a wellness questionnaire, heightened sanitizing and cleaning before and between appointments, and

refreshments provided on the way out as they can no longer have people gathering with their refreshments after their donation.

In a phone interview with Canadian Blood Services, the organization also clarified information about mobile events happening across the region. Smiths Falls and Lanark County residents who are wishing to get out and donate close to home can do so by booking an appointment at an upcoming donor clinic by visiting blood.ca or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).

Upcoming Blood Donor Clinics: Perth: February 22, 2 pm – 7 pm March 29, 2 pm – 7 pm Civitan Club of Perth Highway 43 (Craig Street)

Smiths Falls: March 17, 1 pm – 4 pm, 5 pm – 7 pm Royal Canadian Legion Branch 95 7 Main St E

Carleton Place: March 4, 3 pm - 8 pm Carleton Place Arena 75 Neelin Street

Canadian Blood Services is also part of national clinical trials that are currently testing if COVID-19 antibodies circulating in recent COVID-19 survivors’ blood plasma is an effective treatment for patients with COVID-19, and are seeking donors who have recently recovered from the virus.

For more information, visit www.blood.ca/en/plasma/covid-19-and-convalescent-plasma.

Smiths Falls resident Macey Lavier, donating blood in honour of her aunt Barb Lavier. Photo courtesy of Macey Lavier.

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6

February 2021

lifestyle

Food & Drink

Beer, Wine and Spirits Brian Preston

The generational shift in demographics is revealing how people enjoy their alcoholic pleasures, and packaging has dramatically changed. Spirit and wine based ready-to-drink cocktail sales are increasing. They both posted USA sales growth close to 40% higher in a year recently with canned wine increasing by 77.5% growth and Tetra-Paks by14.6%! The same is being experienced here in Canada too.

When it comes to wine, consumers today are looking beyond the standard 750ml. bottle and opting for vino in more eco-friendly, portable and single-serve packaging. A number of factors have been driving interest in alternative wine packaging. For one thing, many of the places people go to for fun—parks, beaches, pools—do not always allow glass packaging. Lighter-weight cans and boxes are also easier to pack and transport. And as many consumers are drinking less, they prefer the convenience of a single-serve wine package vs. opening an entire 750ml. bottle.

Environmental concerns

play a role as well, as consumers become more aware of carbon footprints created by full-size wine bottles, especially when adding in their transportation from producer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer.

This means lighter-weight options like cans that are also easier to recycle. A younger consumer base looks at their products differently and using alternative packaging isn't a big thing for them. Consumer trends play into the benefit of these alternative packages for spirits and wines. One is the desire to make wine more fun and less pretentious.

Long gone are the days when wine only came in standard bottles. Modern technology has paved the way for wine to now be packaged in cans, boxes, bags and pouches. There are pros and cons to each packaging method, yet single-serve portability is a top priority among wine consumers, driving growth in the alternative packaging industry.

Aluminum cans are a popular option because they are recyclable, easy

for on-the-go consumption and offer a single-serving option for enjoying wine as well as spirits and cocktails, as has been the case for a long time with beer.

The canned wine segment is all about accessibility and portability. It’s much easier to bring a four-pack of canned wine on a hike, or to the pool or beach, than a 750-ml. glass bottle.

Canned wine made major gains last year thanks to its increasing prevalence in the market, and while convenience is king, its environmental credentials are decent too. Some 69% of drinks cans are recycled globally, compared to just 46% for glass, and cans are smaller and lighter than glass, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint during transportation.

Canned wine saw a growth curve of around 1% last year.

Wine boxes, also known as bag-in-the-box, feature an air-tight bladder inside a paperboard container. This type of packaging is cost-efficient for the manufacturer and the consumer, and it’s easy to pour and reuse for multiple wine-drinking sessions where the wine

Will that be box, can or Tetra Pak? The Travelling Sommelier | brianpreston@hotmail.com

Photo credit: tfewines.com

remains fresh. Bag-in-box packaging is closer to 20% of wine sales, up from approximately 15% a couple of years ago. Bag-in-box wine is economical, and by putting more premium wine into boxes these days, a producer’s profit margin can increase. The market has noticed a huge growth in the bag-in-box wine industry and much more demand since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic because of budget concerns and more time spent at home rather than going out to wineries and bars. Even before this, bag-in-box wine had gained significant traction among younger drinkers between the ages of 21 and 35.

The amount of time that wine stays fresh is important. Glass bottles are known

for their long shelf life and can last for decades because glass does not chemically react with the wine. Wine packaged in cans should have adequate acidity to maintain the freshness of flavors and help it last longer. There have been considerable strides in technological improvements for both oxygen control and bag films. Modern equipment now vacuums the bag to purge the oxygen and injects nitrogen before filling to keep oxygen levels at about 2%, whereas it used to be 20%! Ten years ago, consumers would often find bag-in-box wine to have inconsistent taste and quality. This has changed just as it took consumers a while to realize that screwcapped wine does not mean poor quality wine.

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Another consumer demand is a heightened focus on environmental sustainability, which can be addressed through packaging design. Tetra Paks are mostly made from recyclable materials, and some say they are eco-friendly while others say the cost of recycling is high to separate the different materials used to make them. I don't know about you but while I fully accept bag-in-box and now wine in cans, I still think Tetra Paks are for kids’ juice boxes in their school lunch bags and I refuse to drink my wine with a straw!

Check out a large list of products and pricing on this LCBO website: https://hellolcbo.com/app/ answers/detail/a_id/1168/~/ lcbo-list-of-bag-in-box-andcarton-wines

7

February 2021

lifestyle

North Market;

Let's Eat unique talents combine to create a food lovers’ oasis

It really does take balanced recipes to create unforgettable dishes and Rick and Amanda Herrera of the North Market at 78 Mill Street in Almonte provide that magical mix that has kept their main street diner extremely busy, even in the midst of a pandemic. Having made a name for themselves at the Almonte Farmers Market, they took the leap in June of 2018 to open a permanent storefront location and haven’t looked back since. One step inside can help newcomers connect the dots. Shelves are filled with delicacies for both the eyes and taste buds. House-made salad dressings infused with inspired combinations such as lemon dill and raspberry clementine, maple chipotle baked beans, and in-house crafted hummus (just to name a few items of the extremely wide selection), let you know this is no ordinary cafe/bakery.

Racks full of wine, cider and craft beers you won’t find at the LCBO provide the promise that you won’t have to shop anywhere else to fill your plans for an unforgettable dinner. And the aroma from the ovens will tempt those who are suffering from the disappointment of ordinary fare.

Rick and Amanda’s educational background in

visual art serves the tenet great food must feed the eyes before satisfying and nourishing the body. This allowed them to succeed when public health restrictions that began last March shuttered many diners and restaurants. Their take-out is better than most specialty dishes at other facilities. Their breakfast tacos and sandwiches will start your day on just the right note as they’re loaded with cheese, 4-pepper sauce, and lime cream. I stopped by on a recent Sunday for some lunch sandwiches for the family, and rather than walking out with a humble midday snack, we were treated with a feast that fits in your hand. The turkey was piled high on a housebaked roll topped with sun-dried tomato mayo, cabbage, and pepperoncini. The deli meat sandwich was served with prosciutto, capicola, chevre,

Brian Turner

Photo credits: Brian Turner

arugula, pickled peach and a balsamic drizzle. The taste combinations were out of this world!

And for what Rick calls a small bakery, the selection of breads, buns, sweets, including SOURDOUGH that he rolls out every Thursday through Sunday is anything but small. They are also proud to offer one of the widest arrays of vegetarian dishes in the region. Did I mention house-made pasta? Rick and Amanda continually update and change-up their menu, partly due to a deep imagination and partly from feedback from a very

growing and loyal customer base. They’ve done pad Thai to rave reviews and one of their current offerings, falafel, is a regularly sold-out item.

You can visit North Market’s website at northmar-

ketalmonte.com and scroll through the mouth-watering menu, or call them at 613-256-2676. Their current hours are Thursday to Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, 9 am to 3 pm on Sunday and 9 am to 5 pm on Monday

for those who want to start their week with flavour.

Tip; the SOURDOUGH sells out early and is only available Thursday, Saturday, and Monday, so plan your taste adventure accordingly.

opinion: Am I the only one?

Carrie Wynne

adapt, overcome and improvise

I have always treated the new year as a fresh start.

Like God hit the reset button and gave us all a new beginning. So why is it already mid-January and I haven’t made a single goal for 2021?

There is no plan. I don’t really like it very much. It seems perfectly reasonable to make new year’s resolutions and if you are all about positive change as I am, you plan out the year. Without goals we are tossed around

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like a flag in a windstorm, right? It seems unfathomable to just see what happens. What kind of crap is that? My husband’s resolution every year is just to be better than he was the year before. I ask him to be more specific, but he says no to me every time.

Last year a global pandemic completely out of our control thrust us into this abyss that we are still trying to climb out of. It taught me that life is unpredictable.

We’ve had to learn how to adapt to new conditions, overcome challenges and improvise. That’s enough change for me.

Perhaps I should adopt my husband’s resolution too and just be better.

During covid we’re forced to turn to the people in our

homes for comfort, become more self-sacrificing, more grateful for the small pleasures and more compassionate towards ourselves and others. Maybe - just maybe - these are good things to work on too.

There is a time to tear down and a time to build back up and in the waves of change our direction is revealed.

We find meaning in a world that is chasing the wind. So, this year I will take each day as it comes, stick to my values and let whatever happens in 2021 happen.

Am I the only one?

The opinions stated in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hometown News’ management, staff or writers.

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Valentine's DAY

At Andress’ Your Independent Grocer, February is the month of hope! Hope for love and chocolates! Find all the chocolate and gifts anyone could hope for!