Serving Lake Erie’s North Shore Friday September 9, 2016
Port Stanley Community Policing Memorial Tree
INSIDE Port Stanley Report For the past 15 years, Bruce Parker has been tagging monarch butterflies at Hawk Cliff, near Port Stanley, STORY PAGE 2
Central Elgin Trails Master Plan & 10 Year Implementation Strategy We have planted a mixture of meadow species in the former agricultural fields. As the plants grow up, this new meadow will provide habitat for Monarch Butterfly and other pollinators, as well as a range of meadow birds. STORY PAGE 2
Letters I also really like the way Port Stanley is going right now, with the reconstructed lighthouse pier, the Hofhuis Park, and other STORY PAGE 2 developments.
Ray Filewood
The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup Every year, tens of thousands of Canadians participate in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, STORY PAGE 3
Taylor Made We’ll miss splashing into Erie’s warm, inviting, sometimes too inviting, waters. STORY PAGE 4
Port Burwell Report The Dennis Farm is an example of the diversity of interesting outdoor recreational opportunities in and around Bayham for travellers looking for a unique vacation. STORY PAGE 5
Second-oldest shipwreck in the Great Lakes The sloop Washington was built on Lake Erie in Pennsylvania in 1798 and was used to transport people and goods. STORY PAGE 5
LOOK AHEAD Community Events
Page 6
Classifieds & Service Directory Page 7 Business Roladex
Pages 4 & 8
Community Policing Committee The Port Stanley Community Policing Committee was chartered in 1992. Its mandate was to assist in creating, and maintain a partnership between the community and the OPP, to assist in the identification, definition and articulation of community concerns to the OPP and or the Municipality of Central Elgin. Included in this mandate was to assist in consideration and recommending possible solutions to concerns raised. on the corner of Main Street and Bridge Street, in May of 97. This also serves as The first meetings were held in the a satellite office for the OPP. The office old Port Stanley town hall, which has is manned by volunteers, of which since been revamped and become the more are always needed, from people home of the Port Stanley Festival Thewith a few extra spare hours a week, atre. A brief relocation of the commitwho can help out. Much water has tees’ residence took place by moving to flowed down Kettle Creek since that ina store in Main Street. From there it was ception, along with the Port Stanley moved to their permanent location, in Committee gaining a well respected the basement of the medical building Ontario reputation, for not just being
Above: Ross Whalls (left) led the dedication ceremony which included other committee members seen in yellow T shirts including Central Elgin Mayor David Marr and Port Stanley Councillor Dan McNeil and members of the OPP who work closely with the Community Policing Committee. Left: To commemorate the passing of Committee member Lou Gosso, members of his family held a special dedication after the above service ended. one of the pioneer committees in Community Policing, but by its continuance of serving the community. They boast a whole litany of accomplishments for the local citizens including some of the following. Hosting a water safety programme every year at our public school. Snow bird patrols in the winter, keeping an eye on vacationing resident’s homes. Continued On Page 7
Local Resident Tests Positive for Lyme Disease Elgin St. Thomas Public Health Elgin St. Thomas Public Health is advising residents to take precautions while outdoors after receiving notification that a resident from the Municipality of Bayham has tested positive for Lyme Disease. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, also known as a deer tick. Once a tick is infected, it may transmit the Lyme Disease — causing bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, to humans through a bite. “Although the majority of ticks identified in Elgin County are dog ticks, residents should take precau-
The "classic" bull's-eye rash caused by Lyme disease does not always look like this and some of those infected may have no rash tions to protect themselves while outdoors”, says Dr. Joyce Lock, Medical Officer of Health. Elgin St. Thomas Public Health conducts surveillance activities to monitor the presence of Lyme Disease in Elgin County. Ticks that have been attached to humans can be submitted to the Health Unit for identification and, if determined to be a deer tick, will be sent for further testing for the presence of the Lyme Disease. Continued On Page 7
Page 2 • The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday September 9, 2016 to indicate this is going to change.”
PORT STANLEY REPORT
“What I tell people is ‘grow milkweed,’ ” Parker says. “If you plant milkweed, it’s not going to overtake your garden — it’s going to feed and attract monarch butterflies.” Port Stanley Village Association member Linda Easton had contacted
Andrew Hibbert
Central Elgin Trails Master Plan & 10 Year Implementation Strategy Central Elgin
A New Legion Mural with the banner head “Lest We Forget”. We asked about the mural and were told that the Legion’s Sergeant-at-Arms, Joe Young, was the main person behind the creation of the mural. Several others were involved in the painting of the mural.
J. Bruce Parker to ask when he would be tagging the monarch butterflies this year at Hawk Cliff.
In 2014 Central Elgin completed a Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update. The results of this study identified trails as one of the most significant, popular and valued resources in Central Elgin. To move this forward, the Municipality is developing a Ten Year Trails Master Plan. In May 2017, Central Elgin retained Trail planning specialists from WSP | MMM Group from Kitchener to work with municipal staff and local partners to develop the master plan. The goal of this study is to better understand and map existing trails, and create an action plan for the future development, operation and mainte-
Can you get involved? The plan is being developed for residents of Central Elgin and Municipal staff who will oversee its implementation. In order to do so, the study team needs to understand what is important to you as trails are developed and managed in Central Elgin. Here are some ways you can get involved over the course of the study. Fill out the study questionnaire @
https://research.net/r/CETMP Send an email to the study team Come to a public event in October 2016 – follow social media for updates
Tagging the Monarch Butterflies For the past 15 years, Bruce Parker has been tagging monarch butterflies at Hawk Cliff, near Port Stanley, during the annual fall migration, In the past he would normally see a monarch every 15 seconds. At times, it wasn’t uncommon for about 5,000 of the familiar orange and black insects to flutter past during a threehour period.
Bruce Parker
His reply was: Time flies and so do the Monarchs through Hawk Cliff...soon!. I will be taking up residence there once the local migration begins. You may or may not know that the Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT) There were so many monarchs, he purchased the Hawk Cliff property says, he didn’t even try to count them. and have created a parking lot, a Last year, Parker counted every meadow and have removed many insingle monarch he saw; between Sept. vasive species. I am officially there 9 and Sept. 29, he tallied just slightly during the next two weekends, and more than 800. “It’s a warning,” the TTLT have there official opening Parker says. “It’s telling us that things on the weekend of September 17th. are really bad . . . And there’s nothing Hope to see you some time over the migration season.
Andrew Hibbert & his grandson, a few year ago, out hiking. nance of trails throughout the entire Municipality of Central Elgin. Click here for more information!
How Will The Plan Be Developed? Published by Kettle Creek Publishing Ltd. 204 A Carlow Road Port Stanley, ON N5L 1C5 Telephone: 519.782.4563
Publisher/Editor Andrew Hibbert andrew@lebeacon.ca Advertising Linda Hibbert linda@lebeacon.ca
Letters to the Editor andrew@lebeacon.ca The Lake Erie Beacon is a community newspaper published every second Friday by Kettle Creek Publishing Ltd. Over 6000 copies are delivered by Canada Post to homes, apartments and businesses along the Elgin County north shore of Lake Erie. The Beacon is also available through Variety Stores, Restaurants, Inns and B&B’s in Dutton, West Lorne, Rodney, St. Thomas, Copenhagen and Port Stanley bringing our distribution to 7000. The Lake Erie Beacon shall not be liable for changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of advertisements or other similar material that has been included in this publication. We reserve the right to edit all submissions including letters to the editor which must be signed and include your name, address and phone number, be in good taste and follow the laws of libel and slander. Anonymous letters will not be published. Articles written by freelance writers do not necessarily reflect the views of The Lake Erie Beacon.
The Advertising Deadline is: Friday Noon Prior to Publication. Member: Member: Member: Member: Member:
Distribution Audited by CCNA Ontario Community Newspaper Association Canadian Community Newspaper Association St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce Dutton/Dunwich Chamber of Commerce Elgin Tourism Services
Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com Read Complete Issues of The Lake Erie Beacon online at: http://issuu.com
The plan is being developed between June and December 2016, and involves the following key steps: • Mapping existing trails and understanding trail users’ needs • Designing a connected and continuous system of trails • Preparing a plan and implementation strategy to guide future trail building and operation
LETTERS Dogs Off Leash I have lived in Port Stanley for 68 years. I loved the Port Stanley of my childhood, with the sound of the lighthouse fog horn, the many visiting ships of all kinds, the old boardwalk, and the grand old Stork Club. I also really like the way Port Stanley is going right now, with the reconstructed lighthouse pier, the Hofhuis Park, and other
Who To Contact… If you have any questions about the project or how to get involved please contact one of the study team representatives noted below. All information will be documented but will not be shared. The comments will become part of a public record which will be used for the sole purpose of informing this assignment. Dianne Wilson, Deputy Clerk Municipality of Central Elgin 519-631-4860 Ext 286 dwilson@centralelgin.org Jay Cranstone WSP | MMM Group E: cranstonej@mmm.ca T: (519) 743-8777 Ext. 2336
developments. I could go on, but this is simply a brief letter with a kind suggestion, and that is for the construction of a large gazebo, similar to the structure by GT’s on the main beach. This gazebo would be round, filling up the basically circular existing concrete at Glover Park, by the bridge. I feel it would supply shade for the park, and also greatly enhance the charm and appearance. It could be built with a minimum of obstruction of the view of the harbour from “That Breakfast Place” across the road. Thanks. Al Culver, Port Stanley.
The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday September 9, 2016 • Page 3
A Generous Gift Carrie Ford Campaign Assistant
The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup Andrew Hibbert Every year, tens of thousands of Canadians participate in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, presented by Loblaw Companies Limited. Jointly led by the Vancouver Aquarium and World Wildlife Federation, the Shoreline Cleanup empowers people just like you to take action against shoreline litter through cleanups. This is one of the largest direct action environmental programs in Canada and the third largest cleanup in the world. Cleanups take place across Canada from the British Columbia coast to the Atlantic coast as wall as many rivers, inland lakes and even Georgian Bay. The organization also collaborates on a global scale to prevent litter at its source. For more than 20 years, they have reported litter data to the International Coastal Cleanup. In 2015, the Canadian Cleanup group joined the Global Ghost Gear Initiative to fight derelict fishing gear. They also joined Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Alliance in 2015 to work with other NGOs (None Government Organizations) and industry leaders on collaborative solutions to marine litter. The mission of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup: to promote understanding and education about shoreline litter issues by encouraging Canadians to rehabilitate shoreline areas through cleanups.
Can’t clean this September? Not a problem, plan your cleanup in any other month that suits you. New to the Shoreline Cleanup? Interactive Site Coordinator Training and an easy to use checklist that covers all the ins and outs of hosting your very own cleanup. In the Port Glasgow area a cleanup site is located on Lake Erie in the Municipality of West Elgin. An environmental club and fishing club will clean-up the beach in Port Glasgow on either side of the pier located there. In the Rondeau area the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup this year is planned for Sunday, September 11th and they would love as many volunteers as they can get to help tackle that shoreline and give it a good clean. Please give Caitlin Sparks a call if any cottagers would like to sign up so she can start putting some groups together. The more the better! Caitlin Sparks Natural Heritage Education Leader Rondeau Provincial Park 519-674-1772 Another Shoreline Cleanup site has been suggested for Plum Point on Lake Erie but so far there are no further details. Another location of a Shoreline Cleanup was a stretch of Lake Erie shoreline east of Port Colborne at Lowbanks. Covering an area from Long beach conservation area to Mohawk Point.
The vision of the organization: a fully engaged and committed Canadian There are even cleanup in towns public keeping all Canadian shorelines and villages where there are lakes or free from litter. waterways. In London there are many Nearly 60,000 registrants cleaned cleanups including Greenway Park, the 2,000+ shorelines across Canada in Westminster Ponds the Coves, Spring2015, removing almost 180,000 kg of litbank Park and even the Sifton Bog in ter from more than 3,000 km of shoreWest London. line. In Port Stanley the Main Beach and Last year more than a third of the Little Beach are sites that are looking cleanups took place in September. for a group to take on as a cleanup While cleanups are now hosted yearproject. If you are interested go to the round, September is still one of the web site below and register your group most popular months for hosting cleanups. So if your group is interested get instructions. don't delay — schedule your cleanup On the U.S. side of Lake Erie there is soon. an annual cleanup called Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie International Coastal Need help picking a date? Cleanup. This year’s event will be held Here are some ideas to get you on September 17, 2016 from 9 a.m. started. until noon. The location is in the area • The brand new Youth Cleanup Week of Presque Isle State Park near Erie runs September 15 - 23 Pennsylvania. • International Coastal Cleanup Day For details go to the website: takes place Saturday September 17
www.shorelinecleanup.ca
On behalf of the STEGH Foundation we are thrilled to share with you a generous gift announcement for STEGH’s Great Expansion. Since 1943, family owned and operated Dowler-Karn Ltd. has generously ‘fueled’ the success of many community projects. Today, that tradition of generosity continues with a transformational gift to the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital’s Great Expansion.
In the photo, (from LtoR) Paul Jenkins, STEGH Foundation Executive Director, and Ken Monteith, Campaign Chair are joined by Walt & Barb Molinaro, John & Henrietta Karn, Dave & Linda Karn and Paul Collins, CEO & President, STEGH. We sincerely thank Dowler-Karn Ltd. and the Karn family for their continued support for OUR Hospital. If you have an opportunity to share this in an upcoming edition, we would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks To The Volunteers The gift was made by Dave and John Karn, and Barb Molinaro, the A tremendous thanks to the volunowners of Dowler Karn Ltd in honour teers and community partners who of their late parents Jack and Joyce Karn. were involved in the 3rd "It's OUR HosPlease see the attached release for pital" Golf Tournament held on Saturday, August 13th at Dutton Meadows further details. Golf Course. In the cheque presentation photo, Together, we raised $27,500 for the (from left to right) Paul Jenkins, Great Expansion - which includes STEGH Foundation Executive Direc- fundraising for a new CT Scanner. In tor, and Ken Monteith, Campaign the three years the STEGH Foundation Chair are joined by Walt & Barb Moli- has worked with the volunteers to hold naro, John & Henrietta Karn, Dave & the tournament, we have raised $62,000 Linda Karn and Paul Collins, CEO & towards STEGH’s Great Expansion … President, STEGH. What a generous community we live in!
HealthTalk Make Sure You Always Have a Plan “Bee” Warm summer nights, bountiful crops growing in the fields, children playing in the streets. Ah the world seems right. But a menace awaits — a black and yellow, swarming, stinging, flying pest. I'm talking about bees, yellow jackets and wasps. Take a trip to Clovermead Adventure Farms in Aylmer and have a look at the apiaries. You will learn about all the wonderful contributions that bees make to our ecosystem: making flowers grow and fruit trees produce and, of course, supply delicious honey. Personally, I've never had a quarrel with a bee. In most cases, except for the rare aggressive African killer bees, they really just want to be left alone. But occasionally, the world of bees and the world of man cross paths.
Steve Bond,
BScPhm, RPh, CDE Pharmacist/Manager
Advil® may be effective for pain. Sometimes a bee will leave a stinger in the skin. If this happens, wash your hands well to prevent passing on germs. Remove the stinger by sweeping a credit card or your fingernail across the little black stinger. Pulling up and out will release more of the bee's venom. Note: Hornets and wasps don't leave their stingers in a person's flesh but they are annoying nonetheless and can sting repeatedly.
Occasionally, there may be a more severe allergic reaction known as an anaphylactic reaction. In individuals who are allergic, a sting may mean extreme swelling in the eyes, face and throat. If untreated, the person may die. People with known anaphylactic reactions to stings should carry an injection device containing adrenaline or epinephBees, wasps and yellow jackets belong to a family of insects known as Hymenoptera. (Try and say that rine (i.e. an Epi-pen ® or Allerject ®). Family and close friends should also be aware of how to use five times fast!) They live in hives and are usually found in trees or under soffits or in rafters in areas these devices in case of an emergency. This medlike garages and attics. A sting will often result in a ication will help to keep airways open but is not a cure; it will provide a larger window for the indiwelt which is red, hot and painful. Basic first aid vidual to seek medical attention. involves washing and then applying a cool compress or ice pack to the area. Oral antihistamines Take care of yourself and each other. such as Benadryl ® or Reactine ® may help to reFor more information, check out our blog: duce some swelling, itch and redness. Tylenol® or
yurekpharmacy.wordpress.com
519 Talbot Street, St. Thomas 631-3330 PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION AVAILABLE CONVENIENT HOURS: Monday to Friday 9 am - 9 pm, Saturday 9 am - 6pm, Sunday 10 am - 4 pm
Page 4 • The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday September 9, 2016
TAYLOR MADE Jim Taylor Speaks Out
Don’t ignore those red flags Ah, September. When trees start to turn colour, kids go back to school and, well, Lake Erie plays host to fewer and fewer swimmers. We’ll miss splashing into Erie’s warm, inviting, sometimes too inviting, waters. And yet every year swimmers both strong and weak, young and old, are swallowed up by the smallest, and it’s said, nastiest of the Great Lakes.
So far this year the stats say the lakes have claimed 69 swimmers, one of them in Port Stanley. How does this happen? It’s easy to underestimate the power of even the smallest of the lakes. Ever ignore those red flags that dot the beach at Port Stanley when Erie turns ugly and go for a dip anyway? Of course you have. Nothing like throwing yourself into a cresting wave or trying to body-surf a big roller. Red flags? They’re for wusses and weak swimmers. Well, no they’re not. It was a lesson I was lucky enough to learn as a kid and live to tell about it. As a teenager, like most Port kids, I loved it when it was rough. Red
flags were for tourists. The bigger the waves the more fun. If you lived in what was known as the North Ward — is it still the North Ward? — and the wind was out of the south, you knew it was time to take on Erie’s challenge. You could hear its roar all the way to my front yard. Still stuck in my memory, like a fishhook in my thumb, is a particular late summer day when Erie seemed more angry than usual with breakers higher than we were and I took on a monster wave. Before you could say Davy Jones I was face down on the bottom mesmerized by the bright sun’s rays dappling the rippled sand as it rushed by beneath me and I was being dragged helplessly into deep water. And oblivion. Erie was not going to let me go. Tried to surface. No way. Needed a breath. No way. Tried not to panic. No way. I could see the rippled sand flashing by as I was being pulled and lines in the sand from my fingers as I frantically tried to stop my plunge into eternity. Port kids grow up in Erie’s waters so they don’t fear it. I didn’t panic .... OK maybe a bit. I was literally rolling on the bottom pulled by the undertow. I fought back panic and instead of struggling against Erie’s lethal grip, I let myself curl into a ball and roll toward oblivion. When my feet finally touched the sandy bottom I pushed down like my life depended on it. And it did. My head broke the surface and I took a deep gulp of Erie air. I later recalled a tale my father told me that I’ve never forgotten. It’s about a young Port boy who was swimming in the rough waters with a buddy one summer day when those same waves swallowed his friend. The boy knocked on the door of his friend’s nearby home and when Mom answered he handed her some clothes saying: “These are Jerry’s. He drownded.” I’ve always remembered that line and thought about it again when I read that five swimmers have lost their lives in Lake Erie alone this year. And the swimming season is not over yet. So when you see those red flags remember they are not an invitation to prove your courage or show off your swimming skills. They’re there to save your life. Now, about that pollution.
"Ragtime for Sewing Time" Kettle Creek Conservation Authority This is a benefit Concert for the PAN Missions Sewing Team that goes to Nicaragua to teach women skills so they are able to support their children. Dave Hoy has performed in thousands of venues both in Canada and abroad. He is an accomplished performer and composer of music. In 1987, he and his wife, Lynn established the Good Time Music Hall, a daytime dinner theatre which attracted thousands of music lovers to performances across Ontario each year. Since then his main focus has been to work with charities helping them achieve their goals through music and having fun! He is joined by Joe Allgrove on banjo, an accomplished musician and friend; as well as, performing vocals and percussion is Randy Dawdy, a native of the St.Thomas area, who has his own band Wrif Wraf, a classic rock band. An afternoon of great music is assured! PAN Missions was founded in Guelph, in 1997, to send workers to build churches and Sunday schools, to work in hospitals, orphanages, clinics and feeding centres. They minister through building, teaching sewing
T H E LAKE ER I E B EACON
Bonnie Mudge Sales Representative
519-983-6939 Tri-County Realty Inc, Brokerage Independently Owned & Operated
Selling? Buying? Call Bonnie - Your Local Sales Rep.
bonnie@tillsonburghomes.com
The Early History of Port Stanley, The first 100 years. Available At: This new book by authors Bob Burns and Craig Cole available now at The Village Square Coffee Shop, The Lake Erie Beacon, & The PSTR Gift Shop. $25. Book size 8.5” X 11” By Heritage Port Stanley
• Siding, Soffit & Facia • Seamless Eavestrough • Vinyl Windows & Doors
Since 1963
519.631.1012
FREE ESTIMATES • CALL TODAY www.kielstra.ca
The Railway City Ragtime Band. From left: Cameron Stevens, Dave Hoy, Joe Allgrove, Bob Hughes, Art Covey. skills, kids' sports, drama, puppets and music. PAN Missions teams impact the needy by providing basic life skills and economic training, access to clean drinking water and medical care. PAN is a multi-denominational Christian mission serving many denominations in Nicaragua.....with 85% of all donations going to the programs. PAN partners with local organizations in an effort to meet the needs of Central America's poorest people. Enjoy a great afternoon of Ragtime music and help a great cause!
Pan Missions presents "Ragtime for Sewing Time", Sunday, September 25th, 2-4pm! Caso Station, 750 Talbot St. St. Thomas. Tickets $20.00 each!
R OLAD EX
BRIAN MILLER Sales Representative A portion of all sales will be donated to the Port Stanley Lioness Club
TRILAND REALTY REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE Independently Owned and Operated 808 Talbot Street St. Thomas, ON N5P 1E2 Bus: 519-633-0600 Fax: 519-631-9716 Cell: 226-376-3220 brianmiller@royallepage.ca
Port Burwell Periscope Playhouse presents …
“SENIORS of the SAHARA” A Comedy by Barbara Pease Weber by arrangement with Samuel French Preview Sept 15 at 8 pm. Sept 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 Oct 1 at 8 pm - Sept 18, 25, Oct 2 at 2 pm
Tickets $17 Call 227-271-3815 or 519-874-4026 At our new home 42 Wellington St. Port Burwell
Tic k ets on lin e www.p e r is c o p ep la yh ou s e .c a
The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday September 9, 2016 • Page 5
PORT BURWELL REPORT Allan Spicer
Local Family Featured In Ontario Farmer Doug and Sandi Dennis own 400 acres of property, including a scenic woodlot at McQuiggan Line, just outside of Port Burwell. The diverse property contains a mix of forest, ravines, ponds and farmland. Scenic vistas and a restored barn, circa 1838, and 10 miles of trails draw tourists to their guest house and 10 cabins. Ponds beckon visitors for both swimming and fishing. Bookings are solid through October. Selective harvest yields over 20,000 board feet of lumber annually. Large trees are preserved for their aesthetic value. Farm land is rented out for crop production. The Dennis property combines forestry, agriculture and agritourism. The diverse, environmentally positive approach of the Dennis family was recognized by a Carolinian Canada Conservation Award for 2009/10. Their good forestry management was highlighted. Jeff Carter, Ontario Farmer, reported on a Tillsonburg area tour of woodlots, by the South-West Woodlot Association.
tion would have been to spread Richmond pain over the entire community. We are always told that we are one community. The reality pans out differently, far too often. The Municipality of Bayham could not find a way to separate sewer bills from communities with water service and those without. The result is flat rate sewer billing. Water use is a significant cost of operating a municipal sewer system. With a flat rate, a single-person or two-person home generates the same sewer bill, despite the far higher water use by businesses and institutions. Taxes are high in rural areas, with limited services. Million dollar homes in Toronto may pay lower property tax levies than a modest home in Bayham. Yet, rural provincial and federal taxpayers are expected to kick in for urban subways and other infrastructure. There is no doubt that the Ojibwa debacle is responsible for a share of the increased tax bills in Bayham. A judgement has been made against the EMM, and control of the submarine will come to Bayham in time. To spread the blame a little, the Ojibwa was not the only white elephant costing Bayham ratepayers. The redundant medical centre in Straffordville is a case in point. Add the Community Centre quandary. The final chapter on the submarine is not yet written.
Let's start with Hydro One. In PQ, electricity delivery costs are averaged across the province. In Ontario, rural customers — homeowners and businesses — pay far higher monthly charges compared to urban fees. It is bad enough in Port Burwell. In Moosonee, annual bills can exceed $10,000 — more than some mortgage payments. If urban customers paid a little more, the rural burden could be greatly reduced. In Bayham, we have a local anomaly with our sewer and water bills. Residents in Richmond were to be tagged with astronomical bills to maintain their communal water system. Thanks to a deciding vote cast by our Ward One Councillor, Port Burwell water users have been hit with far bigger water bills. These bills will not be affordable, in particular those ratepayers on fixed income, as they escalate for the next nine years. In essence, we are paying twice for our water and Richmond water. A far more tenable solu-
Associated Press The Washington, which sank during a storm in 1803 with five people onboard, was found off Oswego in New York by a team of underwater explorers earlier this year. The second-oldest confirmed shipwreck in the Great Lakes, an American-built, Canadian-owned sloop that sank in Lake Ontario more than 200 years ago, has been found, a team of underwater explorers said this past month.
The Dennis Farm is an example of the diversity of interesting outdoor recreational opportunities in and around Bayham for travellers looking for a unique vacation that's not so far from home. While staying at the Dennis Farm, a short drive offers tours of the Sub Ojibwa, the Marine Museum, the Port Burwell Lighthouse, and a growing retail experience with unique stores such as 21 Wellington for art, Rohrs for unique offerings from glass art and crystal skulls, loose leaf tea and sterling silver jewellery to psychic readings, for The Sweet Spot for cheese, local honey, gourmet preserves and sweet treats.
Rural Living Is Too Costly, But Does Not Have To Be
Second-oldest shipwreck in the Great Lakes discovered in Lake Ontario
The three-member western New York-based team said it discovered the shipwreck this summer in deep water off Oswego, in central New York. Images captured by a remotely operated vehicle confirmed it is the Washington, which sank during a storm in 1803, team member Jim Kennard said. “This one is very special. We don’t get too many like this,” said Kennard, who along with Roger Pawlowski and Roland “Chip” Stevens has found numerous wrecks in Lake Ontario and other waterways. The formation of the Municipality of Bayham did not create a community with a sufficient tax base to operate and take advantage of its potential. However, there is hope. The new owner of the coal flats may create both economic activity and generate significant tax revenue for Bayham. I had a recent conversation with the owner of the new pharmacy, opening in late September. Achmed brings a vision of community growth to Port Burwell, along with his entrepreneurial chutzpah. Businesses along Robinson St. are excited to have another partner join their ranks. There is a solution to allow individuals on fixed incomes to stay in their homes in Port Burwell. There are discussions to introduce a guaranteed annual income in Canada. There was a pilot project done in Manitoba in the late seventies. It was successful. The disadvantage of those on minimum wage compared to persons receiving social assistance would be taken care of, as well as the huge cost of administering the myriad of social programs. A guaranteed annual income would take care of the many anomalies faced by many Canadians, including rural residents.
The sloop Washington was built on Lake Erie in Pennsylvania in 1798 and was used to transport people and goods between western New York, Pennsylvania and Ontario. It was placed on skids and hauled by oxen teams across the Niagara Isthmus to Lake Ontario in 1802 after being sold to Canadian merchants. The 53-foot-long ship was carrying at least five people and a cargo of merchandise, including goods from India, when it set sail from Kingston, Ontario, for its homeport of Niagara, Ontario, on 6 November 1803. The vessel was caught in a fierce storm and sank. At least three crew members and two merchants were on the sloop. All aboard died. According to Kennard, contemporary records said portions of the cargo and pieces of the ship were found the following day on a shore near Oswego. The Washington is the oldest commercial sailing vessel found in the Great Lakes and the only sloop known to have sailed on lakes Erie and Ontario, Kennard said.
Single-masted sloops were replaced in the early 19th century by two- and three-masted schooners, which were much easier to sail, according to Carrie Sowden, archaeological director at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio, which sponsors the New York team’s explorations. Since there are no known drawings of the Washington, the sloop’s discovery will help maritime historians learn more about the design and construction of that type of sailing vessel used on the Great Lakes between the American revolution and the war of 1812, she said. “Every shipwreck offers something different that adds to our knowledge base,” Sowden said. The oldest vessel found in the Great Lakes is René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle’s ship the Griffon. The next oldest is the HMS Ontario, a British warship that sank in Lake Ontario in 1780. Kennard and another explorer found that wreck in 2008. Le Griffon
Le Griffon was constructed and launched at or near Cayuga Creek on the Niagara River as a seven-cannon, 45-ton barque. La Salle and Father Louis Hennepin set out on Le Griffon's maiden voyage on August 7, 1679 with a crew of 32, sailing across Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan through uncharted waters that only canoes had previously explored. La Salle disembarked and on September 18 sent the ship back toward Niagara. On its return trip from Green Bay, Wisconsin, it vanished with all six crew members and a load of furs. In late December 2014, treasure hunting divers Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe alerted media outlets that they believed they had found indisputable proof of Le Griffon's location. They happened upon the wreckage while searching the floor of Lake Michigan for Confederate gold.
Page 6 • The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday September 9, 2016
North Shore Community Events F E S T I V A L S
PORT STANLEY 2016
Port Stanley Community Policing Requires volunteers. To help protect your village, call 519-782-3934 or email pscp@rogers.com Port Stanley Library 782-4241 304 Bridge St. Mon, Tues, Thurs, 10 - 8:30 Fri 1 - 5, Sat 9 - 1. Children’s Programs Maker Mondays, Mondays, September 12, 19 & 26, 5:30-6:15pm. Calling all makers! Come and learn with us hands on! Please preregister. PAJAMARAMA *NEW TIME* Mondays, September 12, 19 & 26,6:30-7:15pm. Stories and songs for all ages & their caregiver Please preregister! Preschool Story Time Tuesdays, September 13, 20, 27, 10:15am-11:00am. Join us for songs, stories and crafts! Ages 0-5 and their caregiver. Please preregister. Sewing Fundamentals for Kids Thursdays, Sept. 15 & 29, October 13 & 27, 4:30- 5:30pm. Let us show you the FUNdamentals of sewing and you will make 4 easy projects! Please sign up in advance, space is limited. Ages 10+ Adult Programs & Events Card Making Monday, September 12, 10:00am-12:00pm. Create a handmade card with Jean. $8 / person please preregister, prepayment is required Itty Bitty Knitty Committee Thursday, September 15 & 29, 7:00-8:00pm Join us for an informal meeting: bring your knit or crochet project with you! Adult Book Club Tuesday, September 27, 7:00pm Join us to discuss our current title! New members are always welcome! September's Book: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng Card Embroidery Thursday, September 22, 1-3pm Sign up to learn the art of card embroidery with Jean! $5/person, preregister, prepayment is required Scrapbooking Friday, September 26, 10am-12pm $5 / person Please preregister, prepayment is required Christ Anglican Church Sunday Morning Service, 9:30 am with Eucharist. We invite all to join in worship with us. Coffee follows downstairs. Port Stanley Optimists meet the first and third Wednesday of the month, 7 pm at the Port Stanley Library. Everyone welcome. We are looking for new members. Port Stanley Lions Club FREE Diabetes Screening Clinic , Saturday Sept. 10 from 10:00am to 2:00pm in front of the Port Stanley Festival Theater. Conducted by Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacist. St. John's Presbyterian Church Tom Jeffrey Pastor. Sunday Worship 10 am followed by Fellowship Hour. The Door is always open, why not join us? St. John's Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Group, will be holding a $3 soup and sandwich lunch on Saturday, September 10, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Followed by a Homemade Baked Goodies Auction 1p.m. Please come and join us for a good lunch and yummie goodies. For information call 519-782-3971. Port Stanley United Church Service of Worship at 10:30 am followed by a time of fellowship. Come join us. We are now wheelchair friendly and barrier free. Heritage Port meet the 4th Thursday of the month at the Festival Theatre - Harbourview Room. 1:30 pm. Port Stanley the First 100 Years Book, $25 at the Lake Erie Beacon, 204-A Carlow Road, side door, 1-5 pm. All proceeds to Heritage Port. 519 782-4563. Port Stanley Village Association meets the second Thursday of the month 7- 8:30 pm at the Legion. All welcome. Al-Anon Meeting, Christ Anglican Church 7:30 pm every Friday. If there is an alcohol/drug problem of a family member or friend that is affecting you, the Alanon Family Groups may be able to help you. Port Stanley & Community 55+ Club Meets every Monday 1:30 -4 pm to play Euchre at the Port Stanley Arena. For info call 519-782-4801 (John Brenders) or 519-685-2101 (Marie Geerts). Port Stanley Legion Branch #410 Summer Hours: Mon. & Thurs., 12-7, Tues. & Fri., 12-10,Wed. 11-10. Sat. & Sun., 12-7, Port Stanley Legion Branch #410 Don’t forget the Legion offers the following: Seniors Bridge, Tues. night, Euchre:Wed. night Legion Darts Tuesday night 8 pm Men’s Darts Saturday Afternoon Meat Draws 3-5 pm Port Stanley Legion Bottle Returns Mon & Thurs- Closed, Tues, Wed., Fri, Sat 12-4 pm. Port Stanley Legion Ladies MahJongg, Fridays 1:30pm. We are looking for beginners as well. If you like to play MahJongg come on out! Port Stanley Legion Port Stanley Karaoke, Every 3rd Friday of the month, 7pm - 11pm. Come for the fun.
PORT BRUCE 2016
1st Annual Jack Ayerst, Memorial Walk to Knock Out Pulmonary Fibrosis. September 18, Sign in 12:30. Walk starts at 1:00pm. Raffle tables and more! Email: melzie2010@live.ca or call 519-200-6185. All proceeds going towards the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.
PORT BURWELL/VIENNA 2016
Port Burwell Trinity Anglican 11:30 am Port Burwell Lighthouse Gospel Church 10:45 am Trinity Anglican Perish Hall 25 Pitt St. Port Burwell Port Burwell Legion Br. 524 Trivia on Monday evenings, start 5pm. In the club room, all welcome. Branch 524 Royal Canadian Legion, Last One August 29th, Summer Bike Night...6 - 9 pm. Live music, food, drinks on the patio. A great way to get together, meet old friends and make new ones! Order of the Eastern Star Areme Chapter #15, OES meets the first Tuesday of every month, at 7:30 pm at the Vienna Community Centre, Vienna. Otter Valley Naturalists Monthly Meeting is the second Monday of the month, 7 pm to 9 pm. Please call 519-8744028 for information.
The Lake Erie Beacon 204 A Carlow Road Port Stanley, Ontario N5L 1C5 Phone: (519) 782-4563
&
E V E N T S
Museum Bayham meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month 7pm, Municipal Office in Straffordville. Call 519 874-4135. Port Burwell - Bayham Horticultural Society, Meets Every 3rd Monday, 7 pm at the Port Burwell School, Strachan Street. For more Info 519 874-4260. Oriental Masonic Lodge meets the 4th Tuesday of the month at the Vienna Masonic Hall, 7:30 pm. New Members Welcome! Call 519 874-4135.
AYLMER 2016
Aylmer 50 + Seniors Welcome you to join them for Euchre or Bridge Every Monday 1 - 3:30 pm upstairs at Aylmer Legion Admission $2.
DUTTON 2016
Dutton & District LIONS Breakfast; Sunday, Sept. 11, in the DEN behind Dutton Dunwich Community Centre. Adults $7 with eggs, coffee, juice, bacon or sausages & pan-cakes. Serving: 9 AM till noon.
FINGAL 2016
Knox Presbyterian Church Worship 10 am. Coffee, cookies, fellowship follows: Sunday school/nursery 10 am. For info (519) 769-2157. Come and worship with a warm and friendly group of people, we are barrier free.
RODNEY 2016
Rodney Legion The first Friday of every month is our Friday Luncheon The second Sunday of the Month is our meat bingo doors open 1:30. Bingo starts at 2 Must be 19 Yrs to play The third Sunday of the month is Brunch 9 am-12pm Every Saturday meat draw Early bird 4:30pm Regular 5pm.
Elgin County Library Launches New Mobile App! Elgin County Library is pleased to announce the release of a new mobile app for IOS devices 8.0 or greater. Found within the Apple App Store, the MyLibrary! App is free to download and connects library users to Elgin County Library resources on the go. The app includes four primary features: •
ST. THOMAS 2016
PAN Missions/Dave Hoy Concert Pan Missions presents "Ragtime for Sewing Time", Sunday, September 25th, 24pm! Caso Station, 750 Talbot St., Tickets only $20. each! available at the Caso Station,OR from Sharon Jackson, Pan Missions Team Leader, 519-601-4778 OR Dave Hoy, 519631-9448.This is a benefit Concert for the PAN Missions Sewing Team that goes to Nicaragua to teach women skills so they are able to support their children.
•
SHEDDEN 2016
Shedden Library Hours: Tues. 2:30-8:30, Thurs. 2-5, Fri. 10 - 5, Sat. 2 - 5 764-2081. Special Programs & Events Raspberry PI Meets Minecraft!Saturday, September 10, Starts at 2:30pm Learn how to use our Raspberry Pi kits and play minecraft with Merrill! Ages 10+. Please preregister for this event! Children’s Programs & Events Preschool Story Time Fridays, September 16 & 30, 11:00-11:45am Join us for songs, stories & crafts! For children ages 0-5 with a caregiver. Please preregister Adult Programs & Events Rosy Travellers Tuesday, September 13 & 27, 7:008:00pm Join us for an informal knit and crochet group! Bring your project with you and share projects and patterns and learn new tips! Barn Dance SHOW at Keystone Complex. Sunday September 25th, 2:30 pm. (Doors Open At 2:00 pm. Tickets $25 Advanced only No refunds. Keystone Complex 35291 Talbot Line, Shedden. Proceeds to “New Southwold Public Library”. For tickets - contact Sharon @ 519-769-2708
SPARTA 2016
Sparta Stitchers Every Tuesday 1- 4 pm, Sparta Community Hall. We quilt, tat, knit, embroider, smock, crotchet, etc. Everyone welcome. Cost is $5. session. Come learn a new skill. Sally Martyn (519-775-2292). Qigong will run every Sunday from 1:00 till 2:30 pm. Call Christine for more information 519-775-2748. Sparta Quaker 100 Mile Harvest Dinner Wednesday, September 21st. at the Meetinghouse in Sparta. Sittings at 4.30 and 6. Adults $15, Children 6-13 $6, under 6 free, Family $42. Delicious food and music. Books, crafts and Quaker Calm Tea for sale! For tickets call 519-775-9953 or 519 633 7816.
UNION 2016
Union United Church, 6008 Stonechurch Rd., Rev. David Mitchell leads worship with Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. Everyone welcome and we are barrier free. 519631-0304 www.unionunitedchurch.ca Union Community Centre Low Impact Circuit Training 5 week session - Tuesdays from 5 - 6 p.m. - starting September 13th - call for information - 519-631-3840. Babysitting Course At the Union Community Centre, October 1st from 9 - 3 p.m. Learn about the care of babies; cooking with children; First Aid; etc Call to register by Sept . 27th - 519-631-3840 Euchre Night Course At the Union Community Centre, Friday, September 23, Doors Open at 7:00 pm Cards Begin at 7:30 pm Call Vicki for Tickets 519-631-3840
VIENNA 2016
Bayham Historical Society meets the 2nd Thursday of the month, 7:30 pm at the Vienna Community Centre. All are welcome. Call Bruce at 519 874-1822. Photographers of the Otter Valley (POV) meet the last Monday of the month, 6:30 pm, Vienna Community Centre. All are welcome. Call Bruce for details at 519 550-1822.
WEST LORNE 2016
The Treble Makers Women’s Choir begins their 10th season! Rehearsals start Wed. Sept.21 at the WESS, 139 Graham Rd. 7-9 PM. We sing everything from Bach to Boogie and Beyond. This is a warm & welcoming group. No experience necessary, just a love for singing! We present two concerts a year and sing in area retirement homes. Ages 14 & up. Call 519-768-1717 for info.
The Lake Erie Beacon is pleased to support your local community events. We will make every effort to post promptly and accurately. If you would like to have your event posted on this page contact us at: See The
519 782-4563 or linda@lebeacon.ca
Lake Erie Beacon on facebook and www.issuu.com
the app will scan a library card, making it easy for first-time users to sign-in to the app. You will need your PIN (assigned at library registration) to complete the login. Of note: a digital version of the library card number is available in My Account and is readable by library scanners.
Vicky Swain
•
Scan Book: using this feature is a great way to see if your library has a copy of a must-read recommended by a friend. Simply scan the barcode on any book’s cover to see if it is available at the library, and in what formats. Search Catalog: this will link you to the mobile version of the library catalog. Searching the catalog and placing holds has never been easier!
•
Social Media: provides direct access to Elgin County Library’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram webpages.
The MyLibrary! App supports English, Spanish, French, and Canadian French languages. To view these languages, change the language preference setting on your device and the app will refresh with the new language change.
This new and intuitive app brings the library to your fingertips. Enjoy browsing Elgin County Library social My Account: allows the user to media, while placing a hold on a title see his/her checkouts, holds, and that has caught your eye. The MyLiprofile information. In addition, brary! App is ready for you to explore!
The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday September 9, 2016 • Page 7
Port Stanley Community Policing Memorial Tree
bazaar that helps offset office costs. Meet on a regular basis with other local Community Policing Committees, to report on activities, plus glean additional ides on how to make our community a safer better place to live in.
ing to make a difference to the safety and well being of our village and beyond.
One of those who have served on this committee was Lou Gosso. To commemorate his passing Susan GalContinued From Page 1 ley sent the following note: In attenMemorial Tree dance at the ceremony were the Home and safety seminars for residents. Bev and Ray Filewood are the only Easter Egg hunt for local children where charter members that are still active on following family members of Lou Gosso: From Edmonton - Nicole parents can also get `child fingerprint- this committee, however it was sugMathews (granddaughter) and Kerri ing’ for their children. This event also gested to recognise those who have Mathews (great granddaughter). From affords the opportunity for children to served on this committee and are no Ottawa - Dana Gosso (son), Cherie interact with uniformed OPP officers longer with us, by purchasing a `memoGosso (granddaughter), Lia Gosso with positive results. Participation in rial tree’, to be placed in Glover Park. the Dickens day parade. Yearly fundrais- These members served the community (granddaughter), Antonie, Vyncent and Louie Gosso (great grandsons); ing table at the community Christmas voluntarily, believing in the cause of trythe latter was not yet born at the time of Lou's passing, named after his great grandfather. Also, myself (daughterin-law), and Chris Jessome (grandsonin-law). From Burlington - Joan Gosso (wife), Elise Gosso (daughter), Adam Huber (grandson), Jasmine Huber (granddaughter), and John Huber (son-in-law). From St. Thomas/LonServing over 7000 Homes, Apartments, Farms & Businesses don area - Laureen (niece).
North Shore Community Classified
10 PIN BOWLING
PERCH FISH FRY
Memorial Men’s 10 Pin Bowling League
Port Bruce Ratepayers 8th Annual Lake Erie Perch Fry
Call 519 782-4402. Fun, Camaraderie, Participation, Sharing and TEAMWORK.
Adults: $25 per person, Children: $7 (10 & under) Purchase your tickets early as they go quickly! For tickets call: Linda (519) 773-2664 or Wayne (519)773-5118
“All you can eat” Lake Erie Perch FISH FRY Fries, coleslaw, baked beans and a bun!
FOR RENT Port Stanley. Looking for roommate to share condo on the beach. $1,000/mth. Call 416-389-2273 or thepathwaytowellness@gmail. com for details. FOR RENT Beach Living
Saturday, September 10th, 2016 5 - 7 p.m. Port Bruce Pavilion
Sponsored by: Port Bruce Ratepayers Association
PORT BURWELL
FARMER’S MARKET
OUTDOOR STORAGE
Grape tomatoes,kale, new potatoes, sweet and hot peppers, Zucchini. Other fruit in season. Canning tomatoes.
Outdoor Storage for Rent Located at: 66 Victoria Street, Port Burwell
Beach House -2 bedroom Artists Cottage -1 bedroom loft Both cottages incl. w/d, dishwasher, furnished Available Sept 2016-May 2017
Empire Valley Farm Market 27983 Talbot Line (hwy 3) Wallacetown, Ontario Tel 519-762-3504
www.Westharbouronthebeach.ca
Open 7 days
Make arrangements now!
M-F 9-6 Sat 9-5 Sun 12-5 See us at the Horton Farmer's Market on Saturday morning!
PORT BURWEL L
or 519 4342229
Classified Ads Work Do you have something to sell? having a yard sale? need help getting rid of junk? Our classified ads can help you with that. Call Linda 519 782-4563 or email linda@lebeacon.ca for a quote.
Let’s empty that garage and get rid of those things you no longer use! This ad would cost $15.
Call 1-289-689-8711 for further details.
North Shore SERVICE DIRECTORY
Local Resident Tests Positive for Lyme Disease Continued From Page 1 The best way to protect yourself from Lyme disease is to avoid tick bites. Ticks are often found in areas with tall grass, marshlands and bushes where they attach themselves to people who walk by. They cannot fly or jump.
Steps to avoid bites include: • Wearing long sleeves, long pants tucked into socks, and fully-closed boots or shoes when walking in grassy or wooded areas
VEZINA'S MOBILE POWER WASH
High Pressure Water Wash: Enjoy a Clean Back Yard Power Washing - Without Chemicals. Wooden & Concrete Decks, Multi Blocks, Houses and Everything Around.
Joel Vezina. Cell: 519-614-1107 519-768-1111 Email: thevez66@gmail.com
Paul F. Lépine LAW OFFICE
Serving London - Port Stanley and Surrounding Area Real Estate • Wills • Estates
Port Stanley Public School 350 Carlow Rd., Port Stanley N5L 1B6 Tel. 519-782-3983 Principal: Ms. Sheila Pinder Office Administrator: Mrs. Debbie Sutherland Hours: 9:05 a.m. -3:35 p.m.
LOOKING FOR A “FOREVER HOME”!!!
If you have questions or concerns about your files please call...
226-658-0150 Fax 519-432-6861 or Email wendy@paullepine.ca Office consultations by appointment in Port Stanley
194 Main Street Port Stanley N5L 1C4 ...By Appointment Only...
FLYERS
Did you know we can insert your flyers? Call Linda at 519 782-4563!!! Classified Ads are an inexpensive way to get things noticed. Our classifieds are $1.55 per line, based on 25 characters or spaces per line.
Call Linda at: The Lake Erie Beacon Office 204-A Carlow Road, Port Stanley, On for details
519 782-4563 Let’s do this together!
Kim
Kal
Ted
From time to time, we get calls from people who have generously been caring for the many cats who end up "dumped" in the country. Unfortunately, it becomes more than some can handle and when that person passes away, the family has to do something to remedy the situation. The call came from Fingal Line near the end of Feb. 2016. Not only was there a lot of cats, but this time, there was also a horse left on the property. We eventually took in 28 cats/kittens. One and a half year old Kim (long haired black/white), 2 1/2 year old Kal, (short haired orange/white)
and 4 1/2 year old Ted (long haired orange/white are three of the ones remaining.
Animal Aide Association 333 Talbot St. St. Thomas
Ad sponsored by
519 633-3788
Originally, terribly scared and shy, these 3 have come a long way but, tend to still be a little nervous and shy. These cats are looking for a quiet home, preferably without children. If adoption is out of the question, maybe fostering for a few months would be more suitable. If neither of these options are possible and you are still interested in helping the shelter, we can certainly take monetary donations to help with the 608 cats we have taken in so far, this year.
For All Your Cough & Cold Medication Stock up on atoma Pharmacist Approved products. Weekdays 9 am-6 pm Sat. 9 am - 3 pm Sun.- Closed FREE Local Delivery
20% Off Wednesdays for Seniors 222 Colborne Street Port Stanley 519 782-3324
Page 8 • The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday September 9, 2016
LSTAR Reports Best August Ever Local For Real Estate London and St. Thomas Association of Realtors Just one short of a thousand homes exchanged hands in August 2016, making last month the best August on record for the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®. "This has been an absolutely outstanding year for real estate in our area," says Stacey Evoy, LSTAR President. "We've seen the
best April ever, the best June ever and now the best August ever – all in 2016." 804 detached homes sold last month along with 195 condos. Year-to-Date sales are up 9.1%.
in August, slightly short of the total for last August. "You have to bear in mind that last year was the best August for St. Thomas since 2007," cautions Evoy. The average price for a home in St. Thomas Year-to-Date stands at Inventory was down 29.4%. "Supply up 3.9%. $225,317, continues tight and demand high," says Evoy. "If you're thinking of listing your The best-selling house style in home, consider the fall market." LSTAR's jurisdiction for August 2016 Sixty two homes sold in St. Thomas was the two-storey, then the bunga-
T H E L AKE ER I E BEAC ON
low, followed by ranches, then townhouse condominiums, then high rise apartment condos. The average price for a detached home Year-to-Date stood at $295,078 up 4.6%, while the average price for a condo over the same period stood at $201,393, up 6.1%. The average price of all homes sold through LSTAR's MLS® Year-to-Date stood at $277,236, up 4.8%.
R OLAD EX
Thinking of Buying or Selling a Home? Centre City Realty Inc.
Brokerage Independently owned and operated
Brenda Johnston Broker Call me Direct 519-495-4532 brenjohnston@rogers.com
519-782-5505 www.brenjohnston.com 208 Main Street Port Stanley
M U RDO M ACLE AN
519 782-5144
Pager: 1 888 504 4869 Opening & Closing Cottages
MAC PLUMBING 438-B West Edith Cavell Blvd. Port Stanley, Ontario N5L 1E8
Plumber & Gas Fitter
Kitchen & Bath Repairs, New Installations Electric Eel Drain Cleaning, Natural Gas & Propane Piping for BBQ’s, Fireplaces, Dryers & Stoves We provide complete water services, including installation of the water meter, from the road to your home.
Port Stanley’s Health Food Store & More Healthy, Eco Friendly Gift Items Available Home of Barb’s Brickle – Gift Certificates Open Mon-Sat 10am to 5pm Sun By Chance
211 Main Street Unit 2
Phone 226-658-0122
WilliamsFuneral HomeLtd. Pre-Arrangement Counselling
45 ELGIN STREET ST. THOMAS, ONTARIO N5R 3L9
1207 Talbot St. St. Thomas, ON N5P 1G8
ALLAN D. HUGHSON GARY M. HUGHSON DIAL (519) 631-0850
Tel: (519) 633-0240 Fax: (519) 633-4766
Get Your Vehicle Ready for Fall SPECIAL FREE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT SCAN
Your Local Elgin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Dealer 275 Wellington Street • St. Thomas • Ontario • N5R 2S6
Pickup or Delivery
208 Main Street Port Stanley, ONT N5L 1C3 STORE HOURS:
Offer valid at this location only.
Mon.- Fri. 10 am - 6 pm Sat. 10 am - 5 pm Sun. 11 am - 5 pm
OPEN: Mon-Fri 8-5 Sat. 8-Noon
519-633-2800
*SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY. CALL FOR DETAILS
519-782-3392
One coupon per customer. Present coupon at vehicle drop off. May not combine with other discounts or offers.
261 Talbot Street St. Thomas www.mistertransmission.com
Good Fellers Affordable Bad Ash Tree Service
Bulk or Bagged
We specialize in the removal of the dead and dying. Certified in Tree Dynamics, Integrated Risk Assessment, and Technical Tree Felling through Arborculture Canada. Over 30 years experience. Fully Insured.
36312 Talbot Line Decorative Stones & Boulders, Mulches, Sands, Gravels, Topsoils, Patio Stones & Retaining Walls, Retail Store 519-764-2617 www.sbconstruction.ca Best Product & Delivery Pricing “We are YARDS above the competition”
519-673-7293 Fingal, On. Ivan Reintsma Don MacKinnon ME Dan Vernackt ME Rob Lukasik ME Steve Todd
Residential • Commercial Installation and Service Port Stanley, Ontario
519-782-3589
Contractor Licence ECRA-ESA #7001912
12 Minute Drive Thru Oil Change Special $19.95 261 Talbot Street (West) St. Thomas
(519)-631-2117
The only local lube shop utilizing licensed techs.
★ CLIP & SAVE COUPON ★