Katelynn Pasquino, left, and Ashley Weegar support each other after their plunge at the Grimsby Polar Bear dip at Bal Harbour Beach on New Year’s Day. More than 200 souls dared to dip.
Loree - Photo
Lincoln rings in New Year
Clockwise from Right: Gayle Lucas-Roth, left, and Nancy Cing, right, chat with Dale Hatch.
Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton updates Frank Arsenault, centre, and Paul Labate on Town affairs.
Family friends from left, Stella, 10, Pina, and Sofia Machado, 4, with Sophia Colling, 6, Maria Petito-Colling and Bianca Colling, 9.
Photos By Evan Loree
Mila McCulloch, 9, and Ava Currie, 10, took avantage
By Evan Loree NewsNow
More than 200 people were crazy enough to jump into the cold waters of Lake Ontario on New Year’s Day.
Bal Harbour Beach in Grimsby was lined with veteran and firsttime daredevils shortly after Noon for the annual polar bear dip, which raised funds for McNally House Hospice this year.
Event organizer Gavin Lutz said over 16 years the annual event has raised almost $46,000 for the hospice - $5,200 this year.
People of all types and stripes were at the event.
Gary Robson of Grimsby was there for the first time after thinking about the plunge for almost 10 years.
“My wife thinks I’m crazy for doing it, but is also proud of me for
The Saunders family (L to R) dad Adam; Rex, 9; mom Sarah Solecky, and; Gracie, 9. Loree - Photo
doing it,” he said.
She wasn’t the only one.
His 13-year-old son Lucas watched from the shore cheering him on and calling himself Robson’s biggest fan.
Amanda Hendriks was also doing the dip for the first time, but said her choice was spontaneous, having decided to do it the night before.
Hendriks said she was excited, not nervous, as she was getting ready for the dip.
She and Robson both were impressed by the number of people who came out for the plunge.
Shortly after 2 p.m. the participants surged into the water, some stopping short at the waist only to retreat with icy waves at their back.
Others dove, and splashed in the waves til their clothes were waterlogged and their skin blue with cold.
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Artistic flair at Grimsby’s levee
Clockwise from Right: John Allan and Coun. Jennifer Korstanje admire some of the art at the Grimsby Public Art Gallery during the New Year’s Levee.
Gianna Gill. 3, plays peek-a-boo over brother Jr.’s shoulder as he and mom Monica work on a craft.
Mayor Jeff Jordan and Coun. Don Howe enjoy a laugh.
Volunteer Julia Meyers, 14, works on a cut-and-paste collage.
Photos By Evan Loree
GRIMSBY LEGION
233 Elizabeth St., Grimsby • 905-945-8421
Facebook: Grimsby Legion
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The West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Trees of Healthy Wishes has extended its deadline to Feb. 28.
The federal government extended the donation deadline for tax receipts due to impacts of the Canada Post strike.
“When you donate, you can share your heartfelt New Year’s wishes for family, friends, or even your healthcare providers. Your message will be proudly displayed on our Trees of Healthy Wishes,” said Pam Ellens, Foundation executive director. Call 905-945-9564 for details. Foundation’s “Trees” program gets extended
Baby Evelynne Elizabeth helps ring in New Year
Baby Evelynne Elizabeth Whalen is West Lincoln Memorial Hospital’s 2025 New Year’s Baby.
She arrived Jan. 2 at 10:20 p.m. to parents Breanne and Cody Wylie-Whalen of Dunnville - weighing in at 7 lbs.
HAT TRICK HOCKEY
• $15 Gift Card courtesy of Teddy’s Food, Fun & Spirits, Niran Pillay
• $15 Gift Card courtesy of Jordan Flowers, Elsa Dawn Vien
• $15 Gift Card courtesy of Judge & Jester, Eddie Thibault
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Top Standings
1. VanGeest, Owen ....... 749
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To celebrate, Aimee Hilson of the WLMH Foundation, presented a special “A Star is Born” package, which includes a cherished
photo shoot at Reflections in Grimsby. Gail Bartlett-Tondina, past chair, WLM Auxiliary presented a collectible WLMH newborn bear.
(L to R) Aimee Hilson of West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation, left, and Gail Bartlett-Tondina, past chair of WLM Auxiliary, right, present baby Evelynne Elizabeth Whalen and parents Breanne and Cody with gifts and momentos.
11. Hall, Keith .............. 722
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MASONRY INC.
Good News!
The Charities Directorate has extended the giving deadline for 2024 tax receipts to February 28, 2025giving you more time to make a meaningful impact! In light of this update, the WLMH Foundation is thrilled to extend our Trees of Healthy Wishes campaign to support equipping the new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital.
Share your New Year’s Wishes!
When you donate, you can share your heartfelt New Year’s wishes for family, friends, or even your healthcare providers. Your message will be proudly displayed on our Trees of Healthy Wishes, spreading hope, joy, and gratitude throughout the community.
How to Join In!
Visit wlmhfoundation.ca, call 905.945.9564 or scan the QR code below to donate and share your wish.
JANUARY 16, 2025 7-9pm
Please
OBITUARIES
CLARK, Marion Irene
It is with great sadness that the family of Marion Irene Clark announces her passing on Saturday, January 4, 2025 in her 85 th year. Marion will be dearly missed by family, friends, and her church community. Marion is survived by her beloved husband of 63 years, Greg. Marion was devoted to her family: loving mother to Tammy, Shellan (Les), Jarrod (passed away June, 2022), Chad (Makiko); cherished grandmother of Sean (Chelsea), Myles, Sarah, Joseph, Ella, Kanon, Cole and great-grandson Brixton. In addition, Marion leaves many close family members and friends in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Marion was predeceased by her parents, Carmel and John Hidinger, and her dear sister Joanne. Funeral service at Greystone United Church (formerly Fulton Stone United Church), 2906 South Grimsby Road 20, Fulton, on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 11 a.m. Arrangements entrusted to STONEHOUSE-WHITCOMB FUNERAL HOME, GRIMSBY, 905-945-2755, www.smithsfh.com
PILOT, Dario
Surrounded by his children, Dario passed away on Thursday, January 2, 2025. Dario was a devoted husband to Patricia, sharing 45 years of marriage before she passed in 2024. Caring father to Andrew (Amanda) and Amanda (Matt) and devoted Nonno to Reed, Tyler, Sawyer, Dylan, Jude and Isabelle. He will be dearly missed by countless family and friends, as he made connections everywhere he went with his vibrant personality. A private memorial will take place to honour his life.
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“Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take”
When you were born an Angel smiled
When you became a child an Angel sat on your shoulder
When you grew to be a man that Angel held your hand
And when you died all the Angels cried
Jason you were a gift from Heaven
No words we write could ever say
How much we miss you each & everyday
The times we want our phone to ring
To hear your voice on the other end
The times we wait for you to walk through our door
On Friday nights like you did before
For you our son were life to us
The song within our soul
Without you we are empty
A half that once was whole
Let the winds of love blow softly
And whisper for you to hear
We love & miss you more
As it dawns another year
Some where among the stars at night
Where Angels dance in graceful light
We will be together once again
If only in our dreams tonight
Jason, the tears in our eyes we can wipe away
The ache in our hearts will always stay
LOVE ALWAYS & FOREVER MOM & DAD
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NOTICE OF MEETINGS TO DEAL WITH 2025 OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGETS
This is to advise that the Council of the Corporation of the Township of West Lincoln has approved the following dates to deal with the 2025 Operating and Capital Budgets, which will include approval of the 2025 Water and Wastewater Rates:
Presentation of the 2025 Draft Operating and Capital Budget to be held on Monday, January 27, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
A copy of the agenda will be available on the website after 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2025.
Final Budget Meeting to be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. (if required)
A copy of the agenda will be available on the website after 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2025.
For further information, please refer to the Township’s website at www.westlincoln.ca
Keep lunacy south of the border
You know well, good reader, I always try to keep our content to ultra local.
This week, I adjust slightly in that a few things must be said when you have Oopsie The Clown - now surrounded by a bizarre collection of circus freaks - saying, “Hey, Canada would make a great 51st state.”
And no, I’m not talking about Kevin O’Leary. He can be Bozo to Trump’s Oopsie.
Sure, you will have a handful from the cementheaded crowd jumping on the annex-Canada bandwagon. Of course, you will have Elon and the bot farms working that expansive wasteland of social media to stir up the impression that there is some semblance of interest.
For my money, there is not a single redeemable thing about the U.S.
It is in such a tragic state from the top down - administration, economically, socially - I don’t want to even cross the border let alone see our nation become part of the cesspool.
Who in their right mind would want to see our health care system evaporate? Sure, there are warts, but nothing like the U.S.
A close second, if not first on the list of many, guns for everyone!! Who would want that chaos?
Guns are always an issue, when used for illegal purposes. According to Stats Can, in 2021, police reported 8,265 violent inci-
dents where a firearm was present. That figure rose eight per cent in 2022. Even having a handful of mass shootings in a year is disgusting, but they do happen.
Our friends south of the border - comparing apples to apples as closely as possible - endured nearly 500 mass shootings in 2024 alone. Same year, 21,000 gun-related murders; so neither of those figures include any other gun related crime.
So that’s health care and crime...socially, again, yes, there are hardcore rednecks among us. We have seen a lot of that mentality come to the fore of late.
Largely, Canada has been ok, but the gravitation to hate-filled rhetoric, particularly in the political realm is taking prominence.
Again, nothing like the U.S., but we are still shading that way and it’s pretty sad.
My wish on that front is that politicians would offer solutions, not name calling and diatribes. That tack
does not provide anything positive either by way of progressive thought or policy. Yes, it garners some clicks on social media and if that’s the goal, they achieve it, but social media has not done any country an ounce of good.
And I note all this while the U.S. is in its current state. When the circus is done rolling from coast to coast over the next four years let’s review and see how dire their state of affairs is.
For those who think altering the U.S. would be a good move, how about looking at making up the upper north east a Canadian province? I’ve had some publisher friends in the U.S. say Canada should annex the western seaboard of the U.S. down to California. That could make some sense - more than Canada becoming a state - but I think the borders are fine as they are, thanks.
The danger is, nobody knows what Trump will do or say, including Trump. And now, he has surrounded himself not just with enablers but many are more bananas than he is, so sky’s the limit on the crazy train. I am just glad I am north of the border.
* * * * * *
Last week I mentioned the passing of Hal Dyck of Main West Men’s Wear. To give you some idea of the institution the man wassome thought the store would be closing. It’s not.
Main West live on!
MIKE WILLISCRAFT
Delivered via Canada Post
Photos By Evan Loree
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