Chance email conjures memories

A chance noticing of a cc on an incoming email brought on some major flashbacks last week.

Woolsey is a name I closely associate with my grandfather (my dad’s dad) and the family home on Redan Street in Londonwhich included the magical basement.

I spent every opportunity I had in that basement as a child. It was full of hunting gear, photos, medals and ribbons won by hunting dogs over many decades. It also included a stuffed owl, a mounted head of a northern pike (and its thousands of teeth) as well as a magpie. The magpie was totally random but went back to a funny story my grandfather always told about hunting out west.

Lunch break

What would a Happening in Grimsby visit be without a snack break. Grabbing some eats were (L-R) Owen Smith, Jackson Dodds, Sarah Smith, Nathan Dodds, Maddy Reynolds and Axl Smith. McDonald - Photo

Fifty years of Grimsby soccer

When one thinks about components which build a community, service organizations, kids’ clubs and sport associations are all part of that mix - fundamental, really. Grimsby Town Youth Soccer Club hits the 50 mark this year. It is hard to imagine a community with a soccer or hockey organization these days, so even 50 years doesn’t seem that old. But taking such groups for granted is easy now, as today’s youth have all kinds of activities available to them. However, behind the scenes, there are countless volunteers who make it all happen week after week - just like when leaders such as Martin Poos and Tom Davies helped get GTYSC started back in the day. This Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Southward Park, GTYSC will host a 50-year celebration. While celebrating, don’t forget to salute the volunteers. M.W.

The Woolsey angle comes in via Gordon Woolsey. I am not sure if Gordon was my grandpa’s best friend, but he sure talked about him a lot, always part of the stories and he was a regular in one of the basement chairs when I was soaking up stories.

These two, and a regular group of about six others, were the kind of outdoorsmen who would pack up, get in a plane, fly as far north as they get, get in seaplane and be dropped off at some cabin in the middle of nowhere for two weeks at a time.

They usually ate what they caught, returning only with legendary stories.

When I saw the name Woolsey in an email, I sent off an inquiry and it turned out the person included on the message was Mr. Woolsey’s niece.

I was asked if I knew what brought those two together - for which I did not have an answer. My mother was not sure either, but we agreed it was likely the hunting dogs as Mr. Woolsey also had several.

Thinking about that brought on a whole flood of memories I had not thought of 40 years. My grandfather used to have a whole set up so he could run trials for the dogs in the back yard.

The garage had a long dog run at the back with a fenced area running all the way to the back of the property as well. They had an in-and-out door to the garage with each having their own space. it was quite a set up.

We were allowed to sit on the back step and watch the exercises going on, but had to be quiet and not move much or the younger dogs would be more easily distracted. If they didn’t keep to their work, we had to go inside.

There were excursions to trials on weekends, trips to the gun club for skeet shooting. I remember shooting skeet one time when I was 11 or so.

I hit four of five and my shoulder hurt for a week. I figured I would retire with an 80 per cent success rate. Won’t beat that.

Oddly, I carried that thinking into lotteries when they first started. I bought a $1 Lottario one time, won $5 and never bought another lottery ticket. I got my $4 from the government and I’m keeping it!

Back to memory lane, it was the outdoor activities I had not really thought about since I was a kid. The backyard, the dogs, the dog trials, the cornroasts at the trials - simply magical childhood memories. Those cornroasts...that was where I learned the trick to cooking corn-onthe-cob on an open fire. We use to submerge corn - with husk intact - in 5lb buckets filled with water overnight.

The natural airtight wrap, combined with the added moisture made for perfectly juicy cobs every time.

Until I was old enough to help with the water part, I could not figure out how it didn’t just burn when it was tossed onto open flames.

With kids today so caught up in electronics and social media, I feel sorry for those who never get a chance to experience these kinds of outings at all, let alone with a beloved family member.

I was very lucky and I appreciate that a great deal.

Dear Editor, It’s a shame your readers won’t get to appreciate the accomplishments of dozens of teens graduating from high school in your paper.

WNSS grad stance no shocker

Dear Editor, Anyone following DSBN or issues surrounding the new high school cannot be shocked by principal’s decision to cut you off where grads are concerned. The administration has had zero regard for students, parents or their experience for many years. A new school won’t change that.

Ruth Harrison, Vineland

I for one have not seen the other paper at my house in well over two years, so even if they run something, who will see it?

Regardless, press on, Mike. Proper coverage of serious matters like the WNSS soil remediation fiasco at the new school are important.

Stephen Owen Grimsby