FREE MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY 2017 Volume 5 Issue 2
CindyPichette.com
CANADIAN TIRE SIMCOE DELHI ♦
SIMCOE 142 Queensway East 519-426-1513
DELHI 308 James Street 519-582-2450
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A Good
Friend
As I sat on the GO Train preparing for the ride back to Aldershot, I opened the Facebook app on my phone to see what the world had been up to for the past three hours. The day itself had been
a whirlwind. We had just finished watching the Leafs and Wings Alumni game at BMO Field in Toronto and had picked up my daughter from the train station. We were all together, which doesn’t happen very often anymore. The game itself had been a Christmas present and I loved it! It was great being able to see the players I had watched as a kid, while hanging out with my grandmother on those Saturday nights, oh so long ago. There was Sittler, Salming, Tiger Williams, Lanny and Palmateer, to name a few. It was freezing cold up in those stands, but you know I didn’t care; I was a kid again (I’ve played pond and road hockey in colder weather). You could see the joy in the players’ faces. The passion was still there! Everything just felt right! It was a wonderful afternoon with my family. As I scrolled down on my phone, my finger stopped and a chill hit my body. I felt the joy of the day melt away and the corner of my eyes weep as my heart sank. A friend, David ‘Fuzz’ Stephens, had passed away. If you grew up in Port Dover you knew Fuzz as the General Manager of the Dover Diary General Store. He was a great guy who would help anyone. Before those days, Fuzz and I hung out as 10 year olds. My grandma’s house was close to his parents and somehow as kids tend to do, we became friends. Back then Fuzz was playing goal in road hockey games and if we weren’t playing hockey, we were down in the stream trying to float things out to Black Creek. He was fun, never overbearing, always friendly, and very determined. As we got a little older, ball hockey at the rink became our game. Fuzz was always my goalie, there was a comfort zone between us and we had a lot of respect for each other as players. I admired that Fuzz gave it his all and left it on the floor. There was always this quiet confidence during the game, he never lost his cool and when the game was over, it was over, win or lose. Afterwards, we enjoyed a cold one (had to, he probably lost 5-6 pounds in sweat during those games on a hot summer night) and chatted hockey, history or politics. He was one smart guy and a history discussion with him was always a learning process. At times we would swap history books, it was a connection we had outside of the rink.
Thinking back now, I do remember a couple of times that I saw Fuzz super excited. Once in a playoff ball hockey game, we were the underdogs and we pulled off a huge upset. Fuzz stood on his head that night and stole the game for us. It was his night! I will never forget the smile on his face when he lifted his mask, it was our Stanley Cup moment, and trust me we enjoyed it to its fullest! The other time was in 1993 and somehow Fuzz scored Leaf playoff tickets against the Kings. The Maple Leaf Gardens was electric that night and we were like eight year old kids yelling and cheering for the Leafs. We both had a blast!! Away from the rink there was always some kind of game to be played as well. Fuzz was a master at Risk. He would take up his stronghold and lay in wait to pounce and pick us off one at a time. That quiet intelligence and wicked sense of humour were just part of what made up his unique character. I always thought Fuzz should go to university, but he was a small town guy who just wanted to hangout with his friends. Friends. I think that says a lot. He took the time to know the people around him. I cannot remember ever hearing him say a bad thing about another person. He knew everyone in town and most everyone knew him… a kind soul! I hadn’t seen Fuzz much over the last few years and a few months ago we ran into each other at Sobeys. We shook hands and like old friends always do, our conversation picked up without a hitch (and a quick sports update). I wanted to ask about his battle with cancer but his eyes said it all. There was an anger and sadness of which I had never seen in Fuzz before. He knew what I was thinking and he quickly steered the subject away and asked how I was. He looked thin, but he was Fuzz, blue jean jacket and jeans. The second I asked how his kids were, his eyes came alive and the smile I remembered well crossed his face. He was that kid playing road hockey again while we talked about our own kids. Life seemed good! As the train rolled into Aldershot, reality came back. I thought Fuzz would have loved being at that game. Suddenly a little smile crossed my face, who was I kidding, he probably was!
Dave Scott
Norfolk Hub, The Magazine
23 Market Street, Unit #9, Box 1501 Port Dover ON N0A 1N0 Phone: (519) 429-2567 Publishers: Dave & Monica Scott editor@norfolkhub.ca www.norfolkhub.ca Any reproduction of this publication without permission is prohibited. Opinions and comments within this publication are those of the writers and not necessarily that of Sports Norfolk or the Norfolk Hub.
IN THE
LONG
RUN By CHARLIE UPSHALL
A RUNNING PIONEER Roberta Gibb was halfway through the venerable Boston marathon of 1966. People were now aware that a
woman was running amongst the men. The crowd watching was enthusiastic and supportive. At every intersection she got more cheers. Gibb was running at a quick pace until the last few miles, when her inexperience caught up with her. She hadn’t drunk any water (there were no official aid stations until the late 1970’s) and her feet were blistered and hurting, due to the shoes she was wearing for the first time. Still, she finished 126th out of approximately 500 runners, in a very respectable time of 3:21. She felt she could have run under three hours if she had really known what she was doing. The governor of Massachusetts shook Roberta’s hand at the finish. Many reporters focussed on her. She took a taxi home to her parents’ place and there were cars parked up and down the street. They belonged to members of the press. She was talked into doing some baking for pictures. The Boston newspapers the next day had stories headlined “Hub Bride First Gal To Run Marathon” and “Blond Wife, 23, Runs Marathon”. There was still a long way to go toward equality in how women runners were viewed as compared to men. However, Sports Illustrated did report on May 2, 1966 that, “the performance should do
much to phase out the old-fashioned notion that a female is too frail for distance running.” Bobbi Gibb was the only woman again in the Boston Marathon in 1967 with a time of 3:27 and in 1968 with a 3:28. Slowly, other women began to take part and, as I outlined in my December 2016 article, in 1972 the AAU finally reversed its ban on females in long distance competitions. Roberta Gibb’s contribution is indisputable, as she was the first woman to complete the world’s most prestigious marathon, even though it was unofficial. She returned sporadically to take part over the next three decades. After that first Boston, Gibb went back to California and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She wanted to become a doctor but was rejected from entering her chosen medical school. After a divorce from a short-lived marriage, she returned to the Boston area and completed a law degree. She practised law in Massachusetts for 17 years before moving back to California. She returned to her love of science, taking a job as a research associate in a neuroscience lab. Her area of interest is searching for causes and cures for neurodegenerative diseases like ALS. At the same time, she is an artist. She creates abstract paintings and lifelike sculptures inspired by athletes. Roberta made the sculptures given to the three American qualifiers for the first women’s Olympic marathon. It took decades but Gibb was finally honoured for her pioneering persistence. In 1996, at the 100 th anniversary of the race, the BAA officially recognized her times and added her name to the plaque in Copley Square as the female winner in 1966, 1967 and 1968. She is also now a member of New England’s Sports Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2011. At that 1996 Boston Marathon, where she was officially recognized at last, she ran the race as well. I also ran Boston that year but I was not aware that Bobbi Gibb was participating or that she was being honoured. I was there as one of five qualifiers from the Georgetown Runners. We met up with a few others we knew and were blissfully unaware of Gibb being there. The most memorable thing that happened to me was stepping on a raw potato while we were out doing an easy four miler the evening before the marathon. That freak occurrence almost put me out of the race. I was unsure of what the outcome would be as I limped to the start in Hopkinton. Luckily, after a few miles my foot loosened up and I was fine.
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As I look back, how I wish I had known then what I know now. I would have been thrilled to have waited near the finish to cheer for the incredible Roberta Gibb. Roberta (Bobbi) Gibb, now in her early seventies, still tries to run one hour every day. She still loves to run.
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JOYCE FLEXMAN 20 YEARS! Supporting the Alzheimer Society for over
In life, everyone should give a little something back. Although no one has to do it, it helps you to sort out what you value and why; to define who you are. During my travels I often get to meet folks who are the backbone of Norfolk County. People that we see around town everyday, people who make a difference. I have always admired folks like Joyce Flexman who seem to be everywhere helping out. If you know Joyce, you know what I am talking about. She has that energy and positive outlook that just makes you feel good when you talk with her. I caught up with Joyce at the Walk for Alzheimer’s in Simcoe where she was ready to serve some delicious chilli for close to 400 people. Joyce told me a very interesting story of how she became part of the Alzheimer’s group over twenty years ago. She used to be a physiotherapist and travelled to people’s homes to help with their recoveries. One day she went to visit a house and was greeted by a woman who was franticly looking for her husband who had Alzheimer’s and had wandered off into a cornfield. The OPP were called and the search was on. It was at that point that Joyce became involved and began working with the OPP to start a wandering persons registry. From then on, Joyce has been involved with the Alzheimer Society, rising all the way to chairperson locally. During that time her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and her passion to help grew even stronger. For 20 years now Joyce has seen expansion, growth and a multitude of programs that have not only helped the patients but also the caregivers. Here is an overview from the Alzheimer Society website (www.alzhn.ca) of their programs and services. The Alzheimer Society provides information, supportive counselling, and education to individuals with dementia, their care partners, and family members in person, over the phone, by email and in discussion groups. The Alzheimer Society also provides information, education and consultation services to community organizations and local health care agencies. · Services in French · First Link · Cultural Diversity · Public Education · Caregiver Wellness Centre · Family Support · Psychogeriatric Resource · Support Groups Consultant Services · MedicAlert® · Resources and Links
Thanks Joyce for all you do to help out in the community! Keep up the great work!! Dave Scott
144 Queensway East Simcoe • 519-426-3010 • DemeyereChrysler.com
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Voices of Showtime
The
Whenever Vic Gibbons calls, you can be sure he is up to something.
So when the phone rang and I saw it was Vic’s number, I thought with a smile, here we go! Sure enough, Vic is in the process of helping organize a fundraiser for the St. James Church in Simcoe. The event is The Voices of Showtime Concert, which is being held there Saturday, March 18, at 2 p.m. Who are The Voices of Showtime? This is the information from their website (thevoicesofshowtime.com). The Voices of Showtime started singing together more than twentyfive years ago under the direction of Dr. Ray Danley. Today, these exceptional vocal and stage entertainers, under the guidance of Artistic Director Alan Ely, are dedicated to bringing joy to Canadian audiences through the passion of their beautifully-blended voices and professional, polished performance skills. Their marvellous music and lively stage antics feature the very best songs of the 40’s, 50’s & 60’s with familiar tunes performed originally by Sinatra, Paul Anka, The Platters, The Diamonds, The Four Freshmen, The Beach Boys, Nat King Cole, The Crew Cuts, Cole Porter, Glenn Miller and many more. Emcee for the afternoon event will be a long-time friend of Vic’s, none other than George Jonescu Host/ Producer of the Big Band Sunday night on Zoomer radio 740. When these two gentlemen get together they natter more than a couple of old hens, but the stories are fantastic! George, who has been in the radio business for 67 years and started out at the ripe old age of fifteen in Timmins has done it all and interviewed anyone and everyone, including Lester B
Vic Gibbons donating a Country Lane print. Pearson and the late Jean Béliveau. George chuckled as he told how Jean straightened up George’s tie before a TV interview. George said the man was pure class! Another time he was scheduled to interview Frank Sinatra, but George said their personalities didn’t really match up. When I asked George to describe Vic he summed it up perfectly, “The soul of an artist with the personality of a hockey player!” Yep, can’t argue that one! George remembered the first time, twenty years ago,
when Vic called his show. The two got to talking and the next thing George knew Vic was sending him a couple prints for a fundraiser George was helping with. When looking at Vic’s work, George felt like he could reach into the painting and peel the birch off the trees! Speaking of Vic’s prints, when you purchase a ticket for the event you will be entered into the draw to win one of two framed prints: Canada Goose, valued at $285 and Country Lane, $425 respectfully. Give the church a call today and get your tickets (519) 428-2611 or stop by Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to noon to purchase tickets.
Dave Scott
Your Indoor Air Quality Experts since 1989 www.causyncoolingheating.com • 519.428.3241 421 Unit 1, Queensway West, Simcoe
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SENIORSENSE
Knowing Our Country
On March 29, 1867 the British Parliament passed the BNA Act and Canada was formed. (BNA - British North America) At this time it was a colony of four provinces - Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Canada now had its own constitution and two official languages, French and English; New Brunswick is the only province to declare it to be bilingual. As the celebrations continue it is good to reflect on Canada and Canadians. Visitors find it hard to imagine the size of our country and Canadians both at home and abroad are said to be friendly, polite and helpful. Very complimentary! When the size of our country is questioned, it helps if our country is sketched and labelled from east to west. Also naming some border States really helps our neighbours to the south understand the size of Canada. When seniors are reviewing the history of our country, it is interesting to note that many were alive and maybe even listening and watching the media reports of some events. Here is some interesting info to know about our country. O Canada became our national anthem, on June 27, 1980 The National Anthem Act was passed, the French version was composed by Calixa Lavallee Music and words by Judge Adolphe-Basile Routhier The English translation was by Robert Stanley Weir, a Toronto school teacher The maple leaf became our official flag on February 15, 1965 Official sports are hockey and lacrosse Canadian dog breeds are Labrador Retriever, Nova Scotia Toller and the Newfoundland Rideau Hall is the residence of the Governor General 24 Sussex is the residence of the Prime Minister The last province to join Confederation was Newfoundland Labrador The Trans Canada Highway runs from St. John's, NL to Victoria, BC Responsibilities of government: defence is federal, health is provincial The Constitution Act 1982 gave Canada its independence - could now change its own laws Our country, Canada, has a unique history. This list is a small part; do enjoy adding to the list!!!
by PATGRANT
This year, 2017, is the 150th anniversary of our country!
THE NORVIEW
NEWS HOUNDS
The Norview News Hounds are pleased to showcase programming this month that is enhanced by the addition of volunteers, community members and other professionals partnering with the Activation Department. A relatively new program initiated at Norview is the Norview
Choir. The group meets every Monday morning to practice under the direction of Reverend Jeff Smith and Activation staff members, Leah and Theresa. Residents, staff and family members were treated to a Christmas concert given by the choir, who all sang so beautifully and with such poise. Reverend Smith not only spearheaded the idea for the choir, but he also contributes weekly to our Wednesday Hymn Sing program. His kindness and ever present enthusiasm make him a welcome sight to both residents and staff. Norview is very fortunate to house a satellite branch of the Norfolk County Library. There is a library staff member available Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This amenity has provided many books, movies and other reading materials to our residents for their enjoyment. New programs have also been developed through the collaboration and creative thinking of Donna (library staff member) and the Activation Department. Donna suggested utilizing a library cart for moving throughout the home and providing a “travelling cart” program where predetermined books are brought to the home area to be both viewed and discussed in a group setting. Donna’s compassion and creativity do not go unnoticed, and the residents truly embrace her eagerness for obtaining just the right written material for each person. A program that utilizes one of our community assets, the Annaleise Carr Aquatic Centre is our monthly swim program. This program is offered to the residents on the first Wednesday of each month. The Activation staff
and Therapy Department work together in determining candidates for the program and the execution of the program. The swim program not only provides exercise to the participants but also, a desirable social experience with many of the same residents participating each month. A program that has been enjoyed for many years, at Norview is Wednesday Euchre. This program has seen two volunteers by the names of Ruth and Irma, faithfully come in every other week at 10:00 a.m. to play cards. Ruth and Irma have been participating in this program since the move into the new building and prior, at the previous home. At times, there can be four tables of Euchre being played and a table of Hoss. This is a definite favourite for many of our regular card players and provides a little healthy competition and a lot of fun. The residents truly enjoy playing the game and equally enjoy both Ruth and Irma’s dedication and friendship. The Norview News Hounds feel it is so important to highlight the “many hands” that go into the development and implementation of the programs here, at Norview because it is the collaboration with staff, volunteers, residents, community members, family members and friends, which forge the best possible programming. As we so gratefully, continue to write about our programming over the months to come, we hope to continually highlight the many kind and thoughtful individuals who contribute to our residents’ happiness. Nicole Tweedie – Norview Lodge Activation Department.
Erie Beach Hotel
Your health &
SLEEP
Some people choose to "get away" with less sleep, and this attitude is often rewarded in our society. But lack of sleep can actually make you less productive, even if you feel as though you're getting more done. And sleep deprivation can do much more than hurt your productivity - it can damage your health as well.
MICHAEL MARINI, B.Sc. Phm. Pharmacist
Sleep helps your body to repair itself. It also helps your mind absorb and "file" the day's learning. When we deprive ourselves of sleep, we notice the effects both mentally and physically. In the short term, these effects include: · fatigue · irritability · careless mistakes · difficulty concentrating · slower reaction times · increased stress These short-term effects can affect our relationships, our performance at work or school, and our ability to enjoy life. They may even increase the risk of injury and accidents at work or on the road. After only a few days of sleep deprivation, the body undergoes changes similar to "fast-forward" aging: memory loss, metabolism problems (with sugar and hormones), and poor athletic performance. If sleep deprivation continues over the long term, it increases the risk of more serious health problems, such as: · a weakened immune system · diabetes · depression · high blood pressure · obesity The good news is that you can prevent these long-term problems by recognizing the early signs that you aren't getting enough sleep, and increasing the amount of sleep you're getting until you feel well rested. But remember: the greater the "sleep debt" that you have, the longer it will take to recover.
TIPS
Do you wake up feeling refreshed, alert, and ready to meet the challenges of the day? If not, here are some tips to help you get there: · Keep regular hours. Try to go to bed and wake up around the same time every day, including weekends. · Avoid taking long naps during the day. These could make it harder to fall asleep at night. A short nap, however, is okay as long as you can sleep well during the night. · Develop a "sleep ritual." If you do the same things before you go to bed each night, it will train your body to get ready for sleep. · Take some time to relax and unwind before you go to sleep. You may try stretching, relaxation exercises, a hot shower or bath, meditation, or a glass of hot milk help you to relax and prepare for sleep. Avoid activities that may be emotionally upsetting a few hours before you go to bed. · Avoid caffeine and medications that may keep you awake (e.g., stimulants) in the evening. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if your medication may be keeping you awake. · If you are taking a diuretic (such as furosemide or hydrochlorothiazide), take it in the morning. Diuretics increase urination, and this may keep you up at night if you take them later in the day. · Avoid drinking alcohol right before bedtime. Alcohol can interrupt sleep, leading to a poor quality of sleep. · If you smoke, consider quitting. Smokers have more trouble falling asleep, and wake up more often during the night, than non-smokers. · Make your bedroom "sleep-friendly." Your room should be kept cool, dark, and quiet. If you are bothered by the noises around you, try using a pair of foam earplugs, a fan, or a white noise generator to block out the noise. · Get a comfortable mattress. If you wake up feeling stiff and sore, or if you aren't sleeping as well as you were a year ago, it may be time for a new mattress. A good mattress should gently support all points of your body and give you enough room to move freely. · Exercise regularly. This can help relieve stress and make it easier for you to sleep. Don't exercise too close to bedtime if you find this makes it harder for you to sleep. · Don't feel guilty about going to bed. Think of sleep as an investment in your health and productivity. · Avoid watching TV or reading in bed. Your bed should be reserved for sleep and intimacy. · If you are having trouble sleeping, get out of bed to read or watch TV. Return to bed when you start to feel tired. Try not to look at the clock. If you try these tips and still find that you're having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor. You may have a medical condition that is affecting your sleep. Also, check with your pharmacist to find out if the medications you are taking could be affecting your sleep.
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NATURE HAS A WAY of Looking After Itself
As of the time of the writing for this article, the air temperatures here in southern Ontario are in the plus degrees Celsius. In fact, even the night temperatures are not dipping below zero. If you have been on the roads in the mornings and nights you probably have experienced extremely foggy conditions. Fog is formed when the temperature difference between the air and the dew point is less than 4 degrees Fahrenheit or 2.5 degrees Celsius. The meteorological dew point is the temperature at which airborne water vapour will condense to form liquid dew. A higher dew point signifies more moisture in the air. If you enjoy outside winter activities, this has certainly not been the winter you would hope for. While we had a white Christmas, not too shortly after came mild temperatures. We are at unseasonable air temperatures currently. It is very unfortunate for those who enjoy this time outdoors, but retailers, rental agencies and manufacturers are certainly not pleased either. If you are an angler that enjoys fishing through the ice, this certainly has not been the winter season to enjoy your passion. Some lakes and ponds have had some minimal safe ice. I cannot adequately stress to be very, very cautious of ice conditions. We had snow arrive before the ice could gain considerable thickness. All the snow did was insulate that base layer. The arrival of some rain and freeze/thaw conditions has created treacherous ice on a lot of water systems. In fact, if you are a snowmobiler as well, you have experienced the many open water situations which have rendered trail closures. There has not been any way to go across open water to link one side of the trail to the other. With next to no ice, or when less than favourable ice conditions exist, anglers cannot carry out their sport. The outcome could be very low numbers of fish harvested. The consequences of this could be larger fish the following open water season and possibly more successful spawning numbers. If the warm weather conditions persist throughout the rest of the ice fishing season, this may translate into fish spawning at an earlier time and therefore not as vulnerable to be caught and possibly harvested once the applicable fish species opens for fishing. This could result into a strong year class for those species. Extreme cold, long, harsh winters can result in what is known as winterkill. I am certain most anglers who fish large bodies of water, such as Lake Erie, have seen the result of winterkill once the ice has disappeared. What exactly is WINTERKILL? Winterkill occurs when fish suffocate from a lack of dissolved oxygen. Winterkill is the most common type of fish kill. Dissolved oxygen is required not just by fish, but all other forms of aquatic life. Shallow lakes with excess amounts of aquatic vegetation and mucky bottoms are very susceptible to depleted dissolved oxygen. Sound like the Inner Long Point Bay of Lake Erie? When lots of ice and snow cover a lake, the sunlight is limited in reaching the aquatic plants. This is especially true when the ice is no longer clear. The plants then cut back on the amount of oxygen they produce. Once the plants start to die and decompose the oxygen dissolved in the water is used up for this process. If a large amount of the dissolved oxygen is used up, the fish will begin to die. Lower autumn water levels increase the likelihood and severity of winterkill. Winters with abundant and early snowfall experience serious winterkill issues. The potential of winterkill is enhanced by early ice-on and late ice-out dates. Ice cover with little or no snow cover allows light penetration at the surface to promote algae growth. At the base of the food web, algae support living organisms in the lakes, including valuable commercial and sportfish species. There are many anglers with their fingers crossed serving Lake erie Boaters that winter and lake ice will return. Let’s hope so as for over 60 years sport angling in all seasons is necessary for the outdoor economy. But I cannot stress enough to be not only cautious, but extremely so. A fish is nowhere near the value of a life.
Larry can be reached at focusonfishing@rogers.com
519-426-0653
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