August 18, 2022

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Business | 9

Kings back on the ice Elmira Sugar Kings ramp up for 2022-23 season, open scrimmage to public Friday Steve Kannon Observer Staff

Firefighters from Floradale were the first on scene at a farm on the 4th Line of Mapleton Township Aug. 13, where the blaze totally destroyed a barn. Crews from Elmira, St. Jacobs and Linwood were also called in, joined by Mapleton firefighters. Mapleton fire chief Rick Richardson said 49 cows and four horses perished. The cause was attributed to a straw cutter being used inside the structure.

Joe Merlihan

BACK TO SUMMER EVENT

THE ELMIRA SUGAR KINGS WERE back on the ice this week, ramping up for the 2022-23 season.

The team will have a decidedly different look than the one that captured top spot in the GOJHL’s Midwestern Conference with a record of 35-11-1-1. The Kings advanced through the first two rounds of the playoffs before falling to Cambridge in the third series on May 12.

Head coach Rob Collins says he’s expected just half a dozen players back from that squad.

A young team last season, the Kings will likelier be younger still in the upcoming campaign.

Fans can get a sneak preview of the shape of things to come by taking in a “White vs. Green” game Friday night at the WMC. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. The teams will be a mix of this year’s Kings and local prospects.

The match will be run like a regular game, said Collins.

“It’ll be a good opportunity for current players or future players – and guys trying to be future players – to showcase their stuff in front of the home crowd,” he said.

The team is on the road Sunday for a preseason match against the Ayr Centennials. They’ll welcome the Caledon Bombers to town on August 26 at 7:30 p.m.

“I think we’ve got returning three forwards and three defenseman, so we’re going to have a brand new group. We’re going to be younger than last year’s group, which was already a young group. We’re kinda starting from square one, and we’ll see how it goes,” the coach added.

Management is currently in the process of establishing the roster ahead of the regular season, which opens September 8 when the Kings are in Ayr. The first home game is Septemer 8.

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Page Three

If it matters to you.

It matters to us.

News tips are always welcome.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Online: observerxtra.com/tips

Election countdown

From the archives

In Woolwich’s Ward 2, incumbent Fred Redekop this week joined the fray, while incumbent Murray Martin and newcomer Paul Bolger joined two others in Ward 3. In Wellesley, Robert Caskanette stepped forward as candidate for Ward 4. There are currently no races in the township; moreover, there were no candidates at midweek for Wards 2 and 3.

The nomination deadline is Friday at 2 p.m.

First came Woolwich’s decision to close the file. Then the company’s withdrawal of its application for a gravel pit. Now residents of West Montrose can finally relax.

Capital Paving’s announcement that it would no longer seek an aggregate-extraction licence for a site near the village essentially put an end to a five-year battle.

From the Aug. 17, 2013 edition of The Observer

Taking the party to the porch ... and beyond Leah Gerber

from 1 to 5 pm on Saturday. He hopes this will be an annual event and more people across the area will join in with the fun by hosting bands on their front lawns, in their driveways, and on their porches.

There are similar porch parties in Kitchener and

Observer Staff

STEVE RICHTARITSCH OF CONESTOGO STARTED a new tradition last weekend: a Woolwich Township Porch Party.

It was an afternoon of music with his band playing on his driveway

Waterloo every year.

A porch party functions like a township-wide garage sale, but instead of homes hosting garage sales on the same afternoon, they host small parties with live music where people can come and go, travel around and partake in the fun across

the township.

Richtaritsch received the permissions needed for his event this weekend, and hopes staff will be onboard to grow the event.

“We had two years of crap, right? So, everybody wants to get out and do something and this way

you can actually see your neighbors again and have a bit of fun.”

The idea started when the band Richtaritsch plays in started using an in-ear sound system for their weekly band practice. The in-ear system greatly reduced the noise so the neighbours

couldn’t hear them as well.

“But the neighbors always said, ‘Well, that was a Tuesday night thing. Our kids would sit by your window with your kids and listen to your band practice.’

“So the one time I said → PORCH PARTY 4

Elmira Vintage Guitar Show is back on at the WMC Leah Gerber

to elaborate on.

“We like to keep it as a surprise for people when they come to the show,” he said.

The point is to give everyone who comes to the show an equal opportunity to discover great finds, said Woods. In that vein, another important rule Woods is strict about is that no one is allowed to go inside and take a peek, and they don’t publish a full list of vendors. This is so that people cannot scope out the deals ahead of time, said Woods.

If people arrive at 11 a.m. when the show opens, they have, “as good a chance as anybody else to spot that prize gem,” said Woods. He is adamant this is a feature that stays in place with the Elmira Vintage Guitar Show.

“Some people come from quite a distance to be here. So when they get here, we don’t want them to feel the show’s been undermined by someone,” he said.

He did say that some

Observer Staff

AFTER A HIATUS DUE TO the pandemic, the Elmira Vintage Guitar Show is back on at the Woolwich Memorial Centre this Sunday.

“We’re thrilled to be getting back into it,” said John Woods, the show’s organizer.

“There’s not really events like this around in Ontario,” he said.

“Usually a guitar show is affiliated with a particular music store. But since we’re not tied to just one music store, many vendors want to come.”

The result is that the event is a large draw. The last outing in 2019 saw 1,500 people come to the show, he noted.

Woods says there is something for everyone at the Elmira Vintage Guitar Show with instruments ranging in price from under a $100 for beginners to tens of thousands of dollars per piece for serious collectors. But which vendors and how many Woods did not want

→ GUITARS 4

Emma Maric, Maddy Phillips and Emma Braun took part in the fastpitch softball nationals in Saskatoon.

Bill Atwood

Three local girls part of fastpitch softball team that competed at nationals Bill Atwood Observer Staff

A GROUP OF WOOLWICH FASTPITCH softball players are celebrating the culmination of nearly a year’s worth of work that saw them place seventh in Canada at the national championships held in Saskatoon earlier this month.

Outfielder Emma Maric of Winterbourne, second base Maddy Phillips of Conestogo and right fielder Emma Braun from Elmira have played the sport together for the last five years, including this season on the UTM Bandits U15 team in Kitchener. As a team of girls born in 2008, they spent this season as the younger

team in their two-year cohort, however they will often play teams much older, including multiple U17 teams.

“I feel like at the start, when we hear that we’re playing older teams, it is pretty intimidating, because we don’t know what to expect. But once we did our thing on the field, our own thing, and

realized that they weren’t as strong teams as we thought it would be, it went pretty well,” said Phillips.

According to parent Karen Maric, being a part of the team is a yearlong commitment for the girls.

“They start in September outdoors until the weather gets bad, then → SOFTBALL 4

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SOME RECENT INCIDENTS HAVE THE Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth concerned about an increased use of what it calls “inhumane traps” against local wildlife.

Recently animal services offices have found three traps used on wildlife in Kitchener. In the first instance a black plastic Rat Snap trap was used to capture a skunk that eventually clawed its way free, but was found deceased nearby. The second was an old-style metal trap also known as Conibear, which was set up to catch a squirrel. The animal was released before police arrived; however it “almost certainly sustained severe injuries,” the organization said this week.

The third instance saw another plastic rat trap used on another skunk that officers found trying to escape under a fence.

The animal was euthanized as a result of its

injuries.

“When we see three traps in a row, trying to deter wildlife from properties that concerns us because there are much more humane ways to coexist and to deter wildlife from our properties than having to use a trap of these kinds and inflicting very severe injuries or causing death,” said Calla James, the humane society’s director of community engagement and outreach.

There are only a few specific instances in which these traps can be used, James said.

“Farmers as well as licensed trappers are some of the ones who may be able to use these traps. We do know that only qualified and licensed individuals may possess and use these body-gripping traps to capture wildlife. What we’re encouraging residents to do is understand what is legal and what is not legal. But at the same time we’re encouraging people to find humane ways to deal with wildlife

SOFTBALL: National experience expected to be a boon next season →FROM 3

they go indoors over the winter. Once the fields are open, they start practicing and they play all the way through the summer,” she explained.

Being part of nationals where the team finished with an even record of four wins and four loses was a “cool experience,” said Phillips “Saskatoon is a cool place. It was a really flat place to play, but the ball diamonds are nice. It was definitely a really cool experience to be a part of, and I’m really glad that our team was able to go,” she said.

The team had its ups and downs at the 21-team national tournament, Emma Maric said.

“But we brought ourselves back up and we’re able to compete with all the other teams. Like what Maddie said, it was a really cool experience, because it was our first time going to Saskatoon for softball, and our first time playing in the Canadian nationals to compete against other teams that we’ve never seen before in different provinces of the country,” she explained.

Just being able to get to

nationals was a big accomplishment for the team, Braun said.

“We put in the hard work to build up the team to make us a stronger team to be able to qualify for the nationals and make the cut just to be able to go.”

“They were playing against girls who were born in 2007. Their whole team is the 2008 girls, so they were the top-ranked 2008 team there. To finish seventh in their minor year was a pretty big accomplishment for these girls,” Karen said.

With tryouts for the season beginning again in September, the experience gave them a confidence boost going into the season, the girls said.

“We were the underdogs this year. To do that well, and then going into next year will be even stronger.

I have pretty good hopes for next year that we do really well,” Phillips said.

“We just have to keep the confidence up and push ourselves to be able to do it next year,” Emma Maric said.

“I have lots of high hopes for us going into next year and seeing what we can accomplish,” added Braun.

and not utilize these.”

Woolwich Township has a contract with the humane society to deal with wildlife, something they go about in a “compassionate” way, said clerk Jeff Smith.

“If there’s a dead animal or an animal’s stuck somewhere, they will get out where they can for compassionate grounds.”

The township does not offer the services themselves because it would “likely be expensive and would [require] special training,” Smith said.

Instead Smith pointed to the recommendation from the organization to find a “humane” pest control company.

“There are private companies to deal with this. I think they offer a very high level of service, whether they’re going into your attic or moving critters from your deck or something like that,” he said.

According to James, the growing population of the region means residents will need to coexist with

wildlife and we can do so “peacefully.” There are several ways to deter animals beyond removing food sources, she suggested.

“You can also ensure that they can’t get in anywhere warm, get into an attic, get into outbuildings such as sheds and garages, make sure you effectively animal-proof your home and that you have no holes where they can get in,” she advised.

James encouraged residents to contact the society with any questions they may have and refer to the wildlife resource guide found on their website.

She also emphasised the need to understand local bylaws before using traps.

“If they are not using traps appropriately or legally, they can be fined under the bylaw, depending on what the bylaw states and they may also have consequences under Ontario’s animal welfare services, as well as the Ministry of Natural Resources depending on the situation,” she said.

PORCH PARTY: Looking to extend the experience into the townships →FROM 3

‘Well, we’re going to throw a Saturday afternoon practice outside.’ And we did that and we had pretty much both Weberlyn and Musselman crescents pop over. And it was a great thing,” he said of his Conestogo neighbourhood.

And then, after playing

music at porch parties in Kitchener, he thought that Woolwich should have one too.

“So here we are,” said Richtaritsch.

Anyone interested in following up and getting involved for next year’s event can contact Richtaritsch at mrsax@rogers.com.

GUITARS: Along with sales, show offers appraisal service for owners →FROM 3

of the usual vendors will be back again including Folkway music, a company that sells high-end vintage guitars.

Woods said he has a vendor coming from Halifax, two from Quebec and patrons coming from Windsor to Montreal.

Vendors will be selling guitars, guitar parts and accessories.

One vendor will be selling violins.

This year there will be no live music at the show, as vendors said this made it more difficult to communicate with buyers.

Another important facet is that people can come and get their guitars

appraised at the show.

Woods remembers a previous year when one guy came with his dad’s guitar that had been under a bed. It ended up being an early 1960s Stratocaster with original parts valued at about $18,000.

It was, “totally shocking for that guy,” said Woods.

“I would encourage anyone to come,” said Woods. “If they’ve never been here, come out and have a look. The guitar people, they all love it and mark it on their calendars year after year.”

The show runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the WMC. Greg Godovitz of the band Goddo will be the special guest. Admission is $10.

Thursday, August 18, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

COMMUNITY NEWS | 5

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Darryl Gingerich spends much of his spare time looking for eagles, especially in the fall and spring when their nests are easier to spot Leah Gerber against leafless trees. Inset: a photo of bald eagles taken by Gingerich.

More chances to catch an eagle in flight Local birder finding more subjects to photograph as bald eagles are making a comeback in southern Ontario, with provincial numbers to back that up Leah Gerber Observer Staff

DARRYL GINGERICH SAYS HE HAS always loved eagles. The first time he saw one in person, he was on a trip out east about 15 years ago.

“I came across some eagles out there and I started taking pictures.

From there, it’s just always been a fascinating bird for me,” he said.

Back home a few years later, “I saw one heading to church. And I was just like, I couldn’t believe that I saw one in this area and I was so excited.” That was about six years ago, he said.

“From there, I kind of started expanding, trying to do more research, trying to find out where they are, and stuff like that. And then I would be somewhere and I’d see one and I’d take a picture and be like, ‘Oh, this is awesome.’”

Over his years he’s seen them in Kitchener and Waterloo along the Grand River, in Hawkesville and Conestogo, among other places.

He believes bald eagles are possibly becoming more common in the area.

“You just see more and more around, and there’s much more nesting going on in our area. So that is increasing as well, which is really good. And (I’m)

seeing a lot of young juvenile eagles as well, which is good. That means that they’re making it past the stage of leaving the nest and learning to survive on their own, so I see them more and more.

“I’ve seen as many as six at one time.”

Lindsay Davidson, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks confirms that bald eagle populations have increased. “Generally, the population of Bald Eagles has increased significantly in Ontario over the past several decades,” he said.

“In 1973, under previous provincial species at risk legislation, the Bald Eagle was designated Endangered, indicating it faced imminent extirpation (loss) from the province.

Estimates from the 1970s suggest fewer than 10 Bald Eagle pairs remained in southern Ontario,” he said.

The bald eagle is currently classified as a species of special concern in Ontario, meaning that it is not currently endangered or threatened but could become so.

Bald eagles’ natural range is throughout northern and southern Ontario, but by the 1960s the bird was mostly wiped from its southern range due mainly to the cumulative effects of a powerful

pesticide called DDT, which caused the eagles to produce thin egg shells that would easily break.

(DDT and other chemicals like Agent Orange were produced in Elmira from the late 1940s up until 1970, with toxic waste dumped in the ground and into Canagagigue Creek.)

But bald eagle sightings could now be increasing in the area.

The popular birding website eBird reports more than 125,000 cumulative bald eagle sightings in Ontario. The Ontario Field Ornithologists website keeps track of current e-Bird sightings and locations, showing 18 bald eagle sightings south of Sudbury in the last seven days.

Paul Gains, a seasoned wildlife photographer based in Cambridge, says any speculation he has about numbers of bald eagles in the area would be subjective, but he also believes they could be more common.

“It’s not unusual to see bald eagles along the Grand River now,” he said in an email. “I know of several nests in this region.”

During the day, Gingerich works in New Hamburg making all-terrain vehicles at Ontario Drive and Gear Limited, but he gets out to look for

bald eagles as often as he can. In the spring, he says he tries to get out about three to four times a week.

During the spring or late fall when all the leaves are off the trees are the best times to go looking for bald eagles, because their nests stand out then.

Bald eagles don’t like leaves on the trees around their nests, says Gingerich. He says he has seen them pluck leaves off the branches near their nests.

“As a birdwatcher, I find I’m always looking in the sky,” said Gingerich. “I’m always looking in trees, I’m always looking up.

People are like, ‘how do you see all these birds?

How do you see this?’ And I’m like, well, what you set your mind to see is kind of what you see. So I’ve just been able to see stuff like that.”

He enjoys going through difficult areas to get the best photos he can and share them with others.

He says the best places to look for them are near any of the rivers.

“That’s usually the best place to see them, because they love fish. They’re fishers, so that’s their biggest food (source),” he said.

“I think the biggest thing is that the eagles are starting to come back in this area,” he enthused.

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 18, 2022 | 6

Opinion

When local news matters ... ... it matters where you get your local news.

Verbatim

The Monitor

“Although it’s challenging to assess the different risks facing Canada and the global economy, our modelling shows that the probability of Canada entering a recession in the coming year stands at about 50 per cent.”

If mandated to return to the office fulltime in the near future, 10% of Canadians and 12% of Americans say they would quit their job immediately; 28% of Canadians and 25% of Americans say they would return to the office, but look for another job.

Pedro Antunes, chief economist at The Conference Board of Canada, says the prospect of a recession is a coin toss.

Leger poll

Connect: observerxtra.com/staff OBSERVER EDITORIAL

Breach of board data part of a larger issue of digital privacy

I

nformation about students, as well as past and current employees, was accessed last month during a breach of the Waterloo Region District School Board’s computer system, with the organization making the incident public just last week.

The board says it has since recovered the data, and has launched an investigation.

It’s just another example of both privacy concerns and the risks of having so much information available electronically, ostensibly private or otherwise. The board incident was an illegal invasion of privacy, though the larger problem is our willingness to forego such concerns.

From your Facebook profile to your pharmacy, you dole out a whole pile of private information, often on par with what the government forces from you. As study after study has found, there’s little reason to trust any of them to keep your privacy intact.

Even in cases where there are assurances – privacy statements and policies – real protection of your data may be lacking. Government privacy agencies say it is not enough for organizations to have a privacy policy in place: they must take steps on an ongoing basis to make sure it is reflected in every aspect of their operations. There’s been little in the way of concrete action, however.

Increasingly, we’re laying ourselves bare to the world.

Facebook and other internet sites exist to harvest information, sell it to advertisers and target you with personalized ads. Tracking is the norm, as is collecting as many details as possible of what each of us does online. There’s nothing neutral about most of it: this is not just a sociology study, though, of course, it’s that too.

Leaving aside the issue of why exactly people feel compelled to post the up-to-the-second minutia of their lives, there’s a danger of what you post being used against you.

Much of what we’re compelled to provide and that which we willingly do sets the stage for a massive invasion of privacy, which is why we need ever-stricter laws to protect us against the downside.

In the bigger picture, the Internet’s increasing presence in our lives means we have to set up rules that prevents abuse of technology that can track our every movement online.

The marketing purposes behind much of what’s done today is a poor reason to allow it. The prospect of far more sinister motives means action is needed in short order. Privacy advocates recognize that fact, which is why they react so quickly to government efforts to undermine your personal liberties, including efforts to give police sweeping access to information.

As we’ve seen from other databases of information, if someone is collecting it – government or business – sooner or later it will be accidently released or hacked. The same portals that allow police, unsupervised, to snoop and spy on your online data will most certainly be accessed by others. Just think about all of your online activities – every email message, surfing history and web searches – posted on the equivalent of WikiLeaks for all to see.

There’s literally a network of companies taking, buying and selling the most intimate details of our lives. They spy on our physical and mental health, our shopping lists, our friend networks, and where we go each hour. This is done largely without our consent, or with the flimsy clearance of the end-user agreements we routinely just click on quickly as part of each new app, for instance.

In the case of the school board data breach, there were no such issues at play – consent was not part of the equation.

Instead, the focus is on how the data were left accessible, albeit illegally. Still, the incident underscores the dangers of our digitized, connected world.

What we choose to reveal is often bad enough without others trying to make it worse.

ANALYSIS OF CURRENT WORLD EVENTS

Ukraine war and a case of Mother May I?

“

This obviously does not happen because of a thrown butt,” said British Defense Minister Ben Wallace. But the Russian Ministry of Defence insisted that the explosions that destroyed at least eight warplanes at Saki Air Base in Russian-occupied Crimea on August 9 were due to “a violation of fire safety requirements.”

The implication is that some careless Russian smoker tossed away his cigarette butt and caused a fire that set off explosions. That’s hardly a testimonial to the discipline of the Russian air force’s ground crews, but it’s better than admitting that Ukrainian missiles have reached 225 km behind Russian lines to destroy a whole squadron of Russian fighters.

Moscow also claimed that no Russian aircraft had been damaged by the explosions in Crimea, although the wreckage of the destroyed fighters was clearly visible on the ‘overheads’ from satellite observations.

The Russian Defence Ministry played the same silly game in April when Ukrainian cruise missiles sank the ‘Moskva,’ the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet. It claimed that a fire had caused munitions to explode, and that the ship then sank

GWYNNE DYER

Global Outlook on World Affairs

while under tow due to “stormy seas” (although the sea was actually flat calm at the time).

And what caused that fire? Careless smokers again, presumably, because even the most damning statements about the indiscipline and incompetence of Russian sailors and airmen are preferable to an admission that the Ukrainians are really hurting Russia.

Ukraine’s Defence Ministry is having fun with this, reporting that it “cannot establish the cause of the fire [at the Russian airfield], but once again reminds of fire safety rules and a ban on smoking in unauthorized places.”

Taking responsibility for these strikes deep in Russian-controlled territory is not in Ukraine’s interest, so it’s happy for Russia to take the blame. Various anonymous defence officials in Kyiv further muddied the waters by suggesting that Ukrainian partisans were responsible, or Ukrainian special forces already operating far behind Russian front lines.

But why is it not in Ukraine’s interest to take ownership of these small but symbolically important victories?

It’s because the really decisive front in this war is how fast American and other NATO weapons systems are sent to Ukraine, and that is determined by a process that seems to be derived largely from the old children’s game of ‘Mother May I’ (also known as ‘Giant Steps’).

The opening move is quite straightforward: Kyiv asks Washington for a hundred HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems so that it can counter Russia’s huge superiority in older artillery and rocket systems and drive Moscow’s forces from Ukrainian soil.

Washington replies that it can take two giant steps and a frog hop. No, wait a minute, it replies that Ukraine can have four HIMARS systems now.

Once the crews have been trained and have demonstrated their proficiency in using the weapons, Kyiv can start the next round of the game by asking for more. This takes four weeks.

Getting into the spirit of the game, Ukraine then asks for only 20 more HIMARs, leaving the rest for later. Washington replies that it can take four baby steps and a pirouette – or rather, four more HIMARs now, but with the range still restricted to 70 km and no thermobaric ammunition (fuel-air →DYER 8

Thursday, August 18, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

OPINION | 7

Groups push for Ottawa to curb the power of Big Telecom oligopoly

T

he nationwide internet outage caused

by Rogers last month is the catalyst for a new campaign calling for Ottawa to roll back the monopoly powers of Big Telecom.

OpenMedia and Leadnow are collecting names on a petition looking for change in the highly centralized private systems that effectively overcharge Canadians but also pose a risk, as the July 8 outage demonstrated.

That a problem at Rogers not only disrupted internet and cell phone services to its customers but also had economic consequences on a wide range of businesses – Interac transfers, credit card processing and the like – underscores the need for more competition, at the very least.

Rogers, Bell and Telus control far too much of the market, argues Rosa Addario of OpenMedia, the Vancouver-based civil society organization.

“It became really clear to a lot of people that when one or two companies hold so much power over our critical infrastructures, people really suffer when those systems fail,” she says of last month’s outage.

“Whether it be people left without essential connectivity, no access to emergency services, our banking system failing, these monopolies that we have over our systems are set up to bolster and support those oligopolies. Our systems support Rogers, Bell, and TELUS and do very little for people in Canada who need the connectivity.

“Because things have been built so that these companies maintain complete control over our system, they can charge as much as they want for

STEVE KANNON

Editor's Point of View

these services. That’s one of the reasons why we pay some of the most expensive prices in the world for internet and cell phone, because these companies know that we have nowhere else to go.

They know that we don’t have any options.”

Last month’s outage came at a bad time for Rogers, as the company is trying to merge with Shaw Communications.

Consumer groups are opposed to the deal, citing the loss of competition in what is already a market controlled by few.

An OpenMedia campaign against the merger notes the Rogers outage underscores the risks already evident in the system, a problem that would only get worse

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ers pay overinflated rates to line the pockets of the favoured group of producers and, most importantly, the likes of Bell and Rogers.

That reality explains why the CRTC has failed to protect Canadians from being subjected to the whims of highly-concentrated media conglomerates – we’re the most concentrated media market in the G8.

Even as the Internet plays more and more of a role in our lives – for better or worse, given the privacy concerns – the big telcos here are intent on taking control, driving up prices and blocking competition. You should be very worried about their attempts to control content and the pipeline, essentially becoming rigid and profiteering gatekeepers.

The key right now is to pressure the government

to reverse course, putting rules in place to benefit the public rather than a few big companies. Doing what’s best for Canadians has not been on the agenda.

The new OpenMedia and Leadnow campaign calls on Ottawa to explore all options to reduce the size and market power of Big Telecom, and bolster competition, choice, network resiliency, and affordability for all.

Every solution must be considered, they argue, from the government stepping in to provide universal public Internet, to structural separation of vertically-integrated Big Telecom companies, to banning competition-reducing buyouts by dominant corporations.

The first, baby step would be blocking the RogersShaw merger.

A US-style system of encouraging mobile

Waterloo Region school board investigating after decades of employee and student files accessed in breach.

Founded in 1996.

JOE MERLIHAN

if the Shaw deal was allowed to go ahead.

The organization points to the largely negative impact of the last major telecom buyout, Bell’s 2017 deal in Manitoba. It’s an example of crushing smaller providers, increasing prices and leaving consumers worse off than they were.

Where the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission is supposed to be looking after Canadians, the opposite is generally true.

OpenMedia notes the telecom industry seems to consistently make the rules at the CRTC, holding hundreds of private lobbying meetings with officials while allowing some of the world’s highest rates for internet and mobile phone service.

For years, the main goal of the CRTC has been to ensure consum-

STEVE KANNON

Editor 519-669-5790 x103

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Production Manager 519-669-5790 x109

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virtual network operators (MVNO) – companies that piggyback on existing wireless network infrastructure – would be helpful in providing more choice and lower prices for cell phones, Addario notes.

“The barriers to entering into the market in Canada is something that is a real problem here when it comes to cell phone service. We currently have laws that restrict any kind of sharing on those networks.

So in the United States, for instance, there are so many small brands that provide services at a low cost, and the reason they’re able to do so is because they have something called MVNOs,” she explains “Those are little companies that pay a fee to the big tech firms... in order to be able to use their physical infrastructure and network.

MVNOs are not allowed in Canada. We don’t have them, our current laws restrict them.”

The CRTC last year denied MVNOs the right to operate in almost all circumstances in Canada’s cell phone market.

That decision was appealed, but in April the federal government chose to uphold what OpenMedia calls the “current price-gouging system.”

OpenMedia and other consumer groups continue to push for more competition in the cell phone and internet fields dominated by Bell, Rogers and Telus, which together control more than 95 per cent of some markets.

“What our government can do in the short term are things like... stopping Rogers from buying Shaw, introducing competi→KANNON 8

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 18, 2022

8 | OPINION

Planning for the unexpected

I About 30% of Canadian students start back-to-school shopping 2-3 weeks in advance of school.

Students at private schools outperform and graduate more students from University than public school counterparts.

One-room school houses with one instructor teaching multiple grades is linked to better developed, smarter students.

The Ontario government is currently assessing bringing back this model. ↆ LAST WEEK: Truth: In the last two municipal elections (2018 and 2014) only up to 30% of positions were incumbents while 70% were new politicians. 111 new candidates were acclaimed.

Truth: For the 2022 election 59% of municipalities run ‘At Large’, 32% run ‘Ward’ and 9% use a combination of both.

Lie: Women entering politics has a long way to go before parity with men in the field. While more women did enter politics from 2014 (23%) to 2018 (27%), women are largely unrepresented in local decisionmaking. 120 women in the 2018 election were acclaimed candidates for heads of council (mayor).

You can play online by reading any online post at www.observerxtra. com. Vote for the lie and be notified if you are correct immediately.

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n the near future we will be going on a canoe camping trip. When I say we, I mean Jenn, her sister, her sister’s partner, and me. This was unexpected.

The reason it was unexpected is that a) it was Jenn’s idea, and b) Jenn once swore to me that she would never go on a canoe camping trip again.

That proclamation seemed unusual to me because Jenn and I have completed a couple of wonderful backpacking trips. Nevertheless, her answer sort of made sense.

She said that she always wants to camp in a place where she can eventually walk back to the car.

There’s no doubt canoe trips can make that more difficult. Yet, if you don’t mind wandering in the wilderness till spring, it is not impossible.

In any case, I’m overjoyed that we are going – and especially thrilled that

STEVE GALEA

Not-So-Great Outdoorsman

we have booked a campsite on a reasonably good smallmouth bass lake.

But there will be complications that I have never dealt with before.

First off, Jenn’s sister and her partner are vegans. This is not an insurmountable obstacle, since we are only gone for three days, but it will make the trip a bit more challenging. I have never had to smuggle beef jerky, sardines, several steaks and canned ham before.

Nor eat it in the dead of night in a canoe floating in the middle of the lake.

But I’m sure it can be done.

And there are plenty of YouTube videos on making sushi, too.

The real problem is that I believe I am the only one in the group who cares

about fishing. That means that I will likely catch the biggest bass of my life and have no one to show it off to. Worse still, there won’t be an envious eye in the campsite.

Oh, sure, I could canoe it around the lake holding it over my head like the Stanley Cup, but with my luck those campsites will be empty or occupied by others who also couldn’t care less.

Frankly, I don’t know what to do.

I have been on many canoe trips but have never actually been on one where I am the only angler.

Usually, I have at least one other angler with me – and typically, I can convince that guy to paddle, if I fake a shoulder injury well enough. But in this case, I will probably be paddling and fishing alone, which is fine – I do it all the time.

But this is a canoe trip, complete with portage.

And that generally means you are into waters that are less pressured and more likely to hold bigger, more gullible fish. There’s no better time to have someone paddling for you.

My biggest fear is that the group – which I already confirmed is working as a democracy – will vote to paddle around the lake and sightsee, rather than fish. And, I will have to join them – and secretly troll.

I guess all this is not the end of the world. On the bright side, we will be out in nature, enjoying what I hope will be early autumn temperatures and solitude. There will be fresh air, good conversations, a campfire, kindness, and lots of catching up.

Jenn and her sister will be happy and Kyle and I will be happy to see them being happy.

Best of all, I am sure to catch the first and biggest fish.

DYER: Russians won’t give credit to Ukrainians, who don’t want it anyway →FROM 6

explosives). And so on.

We are now in the fourth round of this game, with 16 HIMARs promised of which Ukraine has already deployed between eight and 12 on the battlefield. At this rate, Ukraine will have the hundred HIMARs it needs to expel the Russians around April of 2024.

Similar games are being played with other badly needed weapons from NATO stockpiles, like

Western-made combat aircraft, modern anti-air defence systems, and longer-range missiles for attacks like the one on Saki Air Base. This is all driven by an excess of caution about such ‘escalation’ at the White House and in the National Security Council.

Washington is right to be concerned about Russia’s reactions, but it is prone to see the Russians as dangerously excitable children. They

KANNON: Faith in government regulators is typically misplaced →FROM 7

tion into the cell phone market, and the law reform that would really allow for a market that drives innovation and competition as opposed to operate on the backs of the big three companies who have little motivation to provide any kind of innovative or affordable service because there’s nothing that is going to swoop in and take your competition away.”

The July outage of the Rogers network shone a light on the problems

targets. The simplest way is just to pretend it wasn’t their weapons that did the damage.

The same policy applies to the numerous acts of sabotage carried out in Russia by Ukrainian agents – and by a happy accident the Russians are willing to collaborate in this fiction. They’d rather blame the clumsiness, ignorance and incompetence of their own troops than give the credit to the Ukrainians.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

inherent with the status quo, prompting some initial response from Ottawa. While that’s more PR than substance, there’s never been a better time to curtail Big Telecom, make room for more competition and advocate for consumers.

Writing to your MP, the CRTC, the PMP and the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development – as well as the online petitions – can help, but we’ll still be depending on politicians and bureaucrats to do what’s right.

Exercise your freedom of expression with relevant discourse in your community.

are not. They are poker players (not chess-players) who bet over-confidently, and are now trying to bluff their way out of trouble. The Russian ruling elite, or at least most of it, remains rational.

The Ukrainians, however, have to take American anxieties into account even when they use their own weapons, some of which have been modified for extended range, on distant Russian

It’s always a good time to thank CAF members

To the Editor, They are there! You can see them in news videos helping to fight the forest fires in Newfoundland.

They were there, in Quebec, during those ice storms; in Ottawa during the 2019 floods; in British Columbia during the terrible fires; and, critically, in long-term care homes during the worst of the COVID crisis helping the elderly.

“They” are the members

of the Canadian Armed Forces faithfully serving Canadians during domestic crises.

If you know a veteran member of the Royal Canadian Legion or a serving soldier, take a moment to show your appreciation.

Youngsters can draw a poster, write a poem or a story and submit it to the Legion Remembrance Day contests; Adults can just say “Thank You.” There is no need to wait for November 11, Remembrance Day, to honour our Canadian Armed Forces.

Do it now.

Write a letter to the editor and submit it online today. observerxtra.com/letters

Richard Clausi ELMIRA

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 18, 2022 | 9

Business

Leading the way.

Shining a light on local enterprise, stoking the economic engines.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com New Business: observerxtra.com/enterprise

House sales, prices down

New WCDSB director

There were 550 residential homes sold through the MLS system of the Waterloo Region Association of Realtors in July, a decrease of 32.8% compared to July 2021.

The average sale price for all residential properties was $752,301, down 4.9% from June. The average price of a detached home was $842,241, down 7% from June.

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board this week named Tyrone Dowling as the new director of education and secretary of the board. He has 29 years’ experience as a Catholic educator, including 21 years in administration with the board. He spent the last two years as a superintendent of education with the Wellington board. Dowling replaces Loretta Notten, who is retiring.

Another gas station proposed for south end of Elmira Some concerns raised as Woolwich’s committee of adjustment approves plan for Arthur Street vacant lot Leah Gerber Observer Staff

Leah Gerber

His marinade in demand, local man opts to make a cottage industry of it Having had many requests for the recipe, Bruce Fawcett saw an opportunity agement of a friend, he decided to start selling it earlier this month.

“I was talking to a girlfriend of mine here in Elmira. And she’s the one that got me into selling it. She loves the recipe.

And as she put it, she’s too lazy to make it. And so she said that (I) should bottle it and sell it. So I thought about it and I talked to a couple other friends, and my sister, and this is what happened.”

Crystal McGuire is a friend of Fawcett’s. “I got

to know Bruce a number of years ago after he moved to town,” she said. “He started working at the Food Basics grocery store where I still work and we have been friends ever since. I have tried the marinade prepared by him when I was at his place, it was very good.

“I have bought a couple jars already and I’m looking forward to finding something to marinade this weekend.” → MARINADE 10

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BRUCE FAWCETT SAYS HE USED to give out his marinade recipe to customers he served when he worked as a cashier at local grocery store.

“When I worked at Food Basics, three years ago, I used to give out the recipe on business cards to my customers. And I had such positive feedback from that. That’s where the idea came from initially,” he said. “I had people coming

back and asking me for more recipes because they loved it so much.

“It made me feel awesome. People remembered me and it was a positive experience for them.

And it also sold more pork loin and actually lamb at the store.”

He says he got the recipe from a person he played Euchre with online in the US. Then he started making and serving it for friends and family. That was 15 years ago.

Then, at the encour-

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Bruce Fawcett is now marketing his Highway 85 Marinade.

ELMIRA HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR another gas station, convenience store and carwash, this one proposed for the property at the corner of Arthur Street South and Earl Martin Drive.

The property is currently zoned for that use, and the owner, Grant Castle Corp, intends to build a gas station on the vacant land. The problem is that Grant Castle Corp is looking to include a convenience store, but the area zoning allows for only one convenience store in the vicinity. A convenience store already exists across Earl Martin Drive at the Petro Canada station.

The company is asking for a minor variance adjustment in order to be able to build the convenience store.

The committee of adjustment met last week to discuss the request.

Rachel Bossie is the planner handling the file for GSP Group, the consulting company for Grant Castle Corp.

“If this site is not permitted an accessory convenience store, it would make the site a lot less functional,” she said at the meeting. “When customers stop for gas, they should be able to purchase convenience retail items on site, similar to all of the other gas stations in Elmira. So, the proposed

minor variance will allow the site to function like every other gas station in Elmira.”

Bill Scott is a nearby resident who lives nearby on South Parkwood Boulevard. He expressed concerns that the addition of another gas station will cause further traffic delays. Elmira is a target area for more growth, he says, but the region doesn’t plan to expand Arthur Street anytime soon.

“I’m more concerned about the traffic flow at the intersection and what this gas station will cause in the way of new traffic turning left and right – or north and south east and west – and the added strain that will have on that intersection,” he said.

“To put it in perspective, in the mornings, traffic can be backed up right to downtown heading south.

And it takes forever to cross Arthur Street south to head north and vice versa in the rush hour in the afternoons.”

Scott also wonders about the suitability of another gas station in that part of Elmira.

“We already have a fairly high concentration of automotive-centric businesses in less than 700 metres. And by adding this, now we’ll have three gas stations with convenience stores and four carwashes, within 700 metres.

3 Wyatt St. East

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 18, 2022

10 | B U S I N E S S

Food trends meet the back-to-school lunchbox

T

he perennial challenge of what to put into school lunches is upon caregivers everywhere. Balancing nutrition, affordability and taste is key.

But what about sustainability?

That’s what trend watchers have said over the summer. A couple of them, Innova and Spoonshot, identified regenerative agriculture and the environmental and social impact of foods as top trends for the year.

You can hardly argue with either.

This is mostly grown-up language. Depending on their age, kids would be challenged to actually say the word regenerative. But

OWEN ROBERTS

Food For Thought

from parents and teachers, they can get a handle on what it means – basically, growing food and raising livestock in ways that keep the land it comes from healthy. It helps explain all kinds of concepts, like how a well-managed farm creates its own fertilizer, and why one year you see a certain crop in a field, then the next year farmers rotate in a different crop.

I’m sure AgScape, Ontario’s excellent source for agriculture in the classroom information, is on top of that.

Kids can also learn firsthand about another trend and imperative, reducing food waste. That includes uneaten, unfinished lunches headed for the trash and onto landfills that no one wants to live nearby. Food waste is a great topic to cover this year in school, given how the cost of living (including food prices) has escalated and parents face unprecedented budgeting.

It can also lead to discussions about food banks and their role in society.

Some other trends are less obvious. They aren’t present on the farms and in the fields all around us.

For example, the trend towards sustainable seafood is usually associ-

ated with ocean fish, like tuna, a lunchbox sandwich staple. But it also includes fish closer to home, from the Great Lakes or from aquaculture operations, and opens the door for learning about how ecosystems everywhere are built on sustainability and balance.

And how about plantbased products? There’s a simmering trend that continues to hold promise and grab headlines, but only occupies a small market share and an equally small space in kids’ lunchboxes. Spoonshot says plant-based

meat has failed to catch on because it contains too many ingredients, at a time when consumers (such as the caregivers who prepare school lunches) are craving authenticity. Beef producers have jumped on that movement, noting beef has only one ingredient: beef. And chefs rave about its flexibility. So maybe that’s a trend sitting right under our noses.

Some other trends like hot and spicy foods will continue to grow as our demographic changes.

Their appearance in school lunches may be

more cultural than trendy.

The classic sandwich swap could introduce these foods to a new generation that doesn’t get them at home… and vice versa.

Kids and parents have access to more information than ever about food, such as its origins, its nutritional value, how it’s produced and the pros and cons of consuming it. That’s probably overwhelming at times and even stressful. Uncomplicate things with staples like fruit and vegetables – always nutritious, never out of style.

Notice of Intention to Pass By-Law to Amend Fees and Charges By-Law The Region of Waterloo intends to pass a By-law to amend the Fees and Charges By-law, which amends the children’s services, home child care daily rates (full fee parents).

The by-law will be considered at the Regular Council Meeting, scheduled for: Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.

Held electronically in the Council Chamber 2nd Floor, Administration Building 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener A copy of the proposed by-law will be available for review in the Council and Administrative Services Office, Region of Waterloo, 2nd Floor, 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener. If you have questions concerning the amendment, please email regionalclerk@regionofwaterloo.ca If you wish to speak at the Council meeting regarding the proposed by-law, please register as a delegation with the Region's Council and Administrative Services Division, using the Delegation form at: https://forms.regionofwaterloo.ca/Council-and-Administrative-Services/CAS/ Delegation-Registration or by calling 519-575- 4400 by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 22, 2022.

All comments and information received from individuals, stakeholder groups and agencies regarding this by-law are being collected to assist the Region of Waterloo in making a decision. Under the “Municipal Act”, personal information such as name, address, telephone number, and property location that may be included in a submission becomes part of the public record. Questions regarding the collection of this information should be referred to Council and Administrative Services.

Exhibitors put their animals through their paces at the Drayton Fair, held Aug. 5-7 at the Drayton Bill Atwood Fairgrounds. It was a return to form after the pandemic hiatus.

MARINADE: Greek-inspired recipe made it small batches → FROM 9

He calls it Bruce’s Highway 85 Marinade because, “I wanted to do an homage to Elmira.”

It’s a Greek-inspired recipe made of olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic, water and oregano.

Fawcett says he makes 12 jars at a time, and sells each 500 ml mason jar for $4.

The marinade is meant for pork, chicken and lamb. He says it’s really good for shish-kabob.

He suggests cutting up the pieces, poking them with a fork, adding them

to a ziplock bag with the marinade overnight and cooking from there.

He says each mason jar should be enough for two small batches.

Fawcett is currently collecting disability.

Making and selling his marinade is something he feels confident doing.

He doesn’t drive, and this makes collecting the ingredients a challenge.

“I’m relying on my friends and family to drive me around to pick up the supplies and I use Amazon a lot,” he said.

Anyone interested in buying Fawcett’s marinade can contact him at Tplbruce@yahoo.ca or join the Facebook group Bruce’s Highway 85 Marinade.

Thursday, August 18, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

B U S I N E S S | 11

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 18, 2022

12 | B U S I N E S S

GAS STATION: Traffic concerns raised as part of process → FROM 9

“I really am challenged to see what the justification is for Grant Castle to locate in that particular part of Elmira,” he said.

“I’m not begrudging them to open a business – if there’s a demand for it,

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obviously that justifies opening it – but in the town of Elmira, we desperately need a gas station at the north end of Elmira, on Church, where’s there’s been a lot of growth already.”

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the township’s committee of adjustment.

“I have to admit, with all due respect to staff, I don’t see this as a minor variance. I think there’s some use issues here. I understand that ... the use is allowed through the zoning bylaw, but there’s also that provision not to allow certain things within a certain radius of each other. And I’ve always been uncomfortable, even in my planning career as a planner, using the minor variance process to look at uses. So, I don’t support the application for allowing the use.”

Tim Cronin, Hans Pottkamper and Charles Zeidler, who also sit on the committee, said they felt that whether or not a gas station should be built in the area was beyond the scope of the committee.

The committee voted and passed the minor variance application. The appeal period will last until August 21.

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Thursday, August 18, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

B U S I N E S S | 13

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 18, 2022

14 | I T ' S A L L A B O U T T H E K I D S

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THE KIDS! DISCOVER LOCAL EXPERIENCES & PROGRAMS THAT ENRICH YOUR CHILDRENS’ LIVES

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 18, 2022 | 15

Arts

Read a local best seller every week.

Local stories that inspire.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Tips: observerxtra.com/tips

Mamma Mia! returns

Strummerfest is on

Drayton Entertainment last week announced that Mamma Mia! will return this fall to the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse for a limited engagement from Nov. 1-20 only.

The musical is of course packed with all the favourite ABBA hits, telling the comical tale of a mother, daughter, and three possible dads on a Greek island.

An ode to the spirit of the late, great Joe Strummer and a showcase of indie bands, Strummerfest returns to Uptown Waterloo this weekend. The festival puts the spotlight on the local music scene, including many new and younger bands and performers. Things get rolling Friday night with screenings at the Princess Cinema.

www.draytonentertainment.com

www.strummerfest.ca

The good and the bad of loving and losing Singer-songwriter Amanda Kind explores some universal themes in her latest single, ‘Love Used to Live Here’ Leah Gerber Observer Staff

LOCAL SINGER-SONGWRITER AMANDA KIND SAYS the pandemic, though hard on her and all performers, helped her examine herself and really gave a boost to her songwriting. She had the chance to experiment and explore the world of country music and is now releasing her first country music single titled, “Love Used to Live Here.”

The song is inspired by all the love stories, both good and sad, that she witnessed over the last two years.

“During the pandemic, I was noticing this trend that, you know, we’re spending all this time together with people you live in the same household with. And people were either strengthening their relationship… or honestly they were getting divorced or splitting up,” she said. “‘Love Used to Live Here’ is really about what it means to untangle your life from someone when you have a house together, and so if you’re in this relationship with someone for a long time, and you have this home together and you’ve built this life, when one person leaves that life, and somebody else is left behind in that house, so there’s all these memories of what used to be. There is this idea that love used to live here, but

Local singer-songwriter Amanda Kind just released a new single, “Love Used to Live Here.” This is Kind’s first country song and is the first released work from her upcoming country EP expected to Submitted be released next year.

it doesn’t anymore, and there’s something really complicated about that.

And so, the song kind of tackles that.”

The first verse of the song is about the time of newness when turning a house into a home with someone else with activities like painting, or putting up pictures.

Then, verse two goes into

the heartbreak of empty frames and empty rooms left behind after a person has moved out.

“Every song that you write kind of reflects something about your life.

And in this case, you know, there are many people I know that have lived this experience. And I drew from many experiences to build the lyrics,” she said.

Although Kind’s song deals with a sad theme, the song itself is upbeat and very catchy.

“Given the contents of the song, the song title makes it sound like it should be this really sad ballad about losing love,” she said. “But when I was talking to my producer about the songs, we really feel like the song also

celebrates the fact that love ever existed in the first place.

“There’s that famous quote, like it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.

And so part of the song is celebrating that.”

The pandemic has been hard on all artists, but even so, Kind found she hit a stride during the pandemic.

“Prior to the pandemic, I kind of let performing and recording go for a bit and I didn’t realize how much I missed it until the pandemic came and gave me a chance to really examine my life and look at how I was filling my time and how much I enjoy creating music.”

She ended up connecting with some country music singer songwriters over Zoom during the pandemic and began to write music with them.

“Many of us started writing songs together over Zoom and once we realized that Zoom was actually really efficient for doing songwriting, the incredible thing started to happen that we started to write with people that are in locations further away from us. So during 2020 and even in early 2021, and it continues now, I did a lot of songwriting with people all across Canada and even some people in Nashville and other parts of the states.

“So in 2021, I ended up

in a songwriting room with Carrie Demaeyer and James Downham and my producer Matt Koebel, and we ended up writing this duet called ‘We’re Okay.’

And James Downham, who is a country singer out of Stratford, released it last summer and I was the guest feature on it,” she said.

As a result of all the online activity during the pandemic, Kind estimates she has written more songs over the last two years than in the previous decade.

“I think if the pandemic had any benefit at all, it was to show us that maybe there were some barriers that we could break when it comes to connection with people who are maybe physically in a different place,” she said. “I’ve met so many people over the course of the last two years that I’ve never met in person. I have friends who I write with online that I’ve literally never met. And there are people who I think are amazing and I’m so grateful that I got to meet them during this time and somehow these doors have opened.”

That said, she is excited to be performing live again. “I am so grateful that the arts are coming back, like live entertainment is coming back in the way that it seems to be and fingers crossed that it → KIND 24

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 18, 2022 | 16

Classifieds

Seven days.

One paper.

A bestseller every week.

Phone: 519-669-5790 ext 104 Email: ads@woolwichobserver.com Job Listings: jobs.observerxtra.com

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

CARPET

I have 1000’s of yds. of NEW carpet available, starting as little as $1.00 sq.ft. Serving Ontario since 1986. For fast Shop-At-Home service visit carpetdeals.ca or call Steve at 519-900-5674

Help Wanted ELMIRA EYEWEAR IS LOOKING FOR AN Optometric Assistant/Sales Consultant. No experience necessary. 2 Days/ week. Send resume to info@elmiraeyewear. com

Word Ads Continue on page 19

Please call or email for display advertising quotes for Help Wanted, Auctions, Real Estate, Public Notices, Service Pro Directory and Obituaries.

All classified advertising is prepaid. Ads will be accepted in person, email, or phone during regular office hours. Deadline is Wednesdays by 10am. Order and pay online at: observerxtra.com/classifieds.

Family Album Notices: Order and pay for family announcement notices online at: observerxtra.com/order-family-album.

Help Wanted

Residential:

$9 per 20 words (20¢ per extra word)

Commercial:

$15 per 20 words (30¢ per extra word)

Help Wanted

Looking for an experienced, licensed

AUTO BODY TECHNICIAN AND AUTOMOTIVE PAINTER

Full time permanent Line Operator positions available at our apple processing plant in Elmira for all shifts Starting at $18/hour Shift premium + benefits

We offer a good work atmosphere, company benefits and competitive wages. Wages would be based on experience.

Please send resume to ANTH585@OUTLOOK.COM or contact Jack Anthony @ 519-291-8649

Help Wanted

Please send resume to: hr@martinsapples.com

39 Arthur St N Elmira, ON

ELMIRA STOVE FIREPLACE INSERT, GOOD condition, $50. Ron 519-669-2253.

LAWN FERTILIZER AND LAWN SEED Call George Haffner Tr u c k i n g , 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

Placing a classified ad

CARSTAR ELMIRA

For Sale

HAMMOND ORGAN $100 O.B.O. 3RD Addition Music Books Plus many more.

Includes headset, excellent shape.

519-503-1906.

Advertising

Earildale is a meat processing facility that produces a wide variety of quality fresh and smoked meat products for onsite retail and distribution to the private retail sector across Southern Ontario.

We are currently seeking a lead hand for our sausage room and general meat plant work. Duties include a combination of physical work and managing/over seeing production.

A good understanding of meat processing and proteins an asset, but will consider all qualified applicants.

This position is full time with a very competitive industry wage to the successful applicant.

JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM AS A US CROSS BORDER OWNER OPERATOR OR COMPANY DRIVER Requirements • Valid AZ License • Clean Driver Abstracts • Currently able to cross the US Border • A desire to grow and develop within a positive team culture We provide a safe and reputable work environment with a competitive wage package.

HIRING: WELDERS

F/T positions in Hawkesville (nights) & Guelph (days).

• Career development opportunity • Competitive wages with shift premium • Great benefits package • Matched pension contributions after 1 year • Supplied uniforms • $200/yr Safety Boot allowance • Modern shop with state-of-the-art equipment

AMI Attachments is a local manufacturer of world-class attachments for heavy equipment.

Join our friendly, collaborative, growing team!

APPLY TODAY! amiattachments.com/careers to apply online, Or email your resume to: careers@amiattachments.com

Help Wanted

Please contact recruiting@grandridge.ca

APPLY IN PERSON AT: 2065 Floradale Rd. RR1 Elmira.

OR CALL: 519-669-2300

Help Wanted

921 Katherine Street North West Montrose ON N0B 2V0

JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM AS A TRUCK AND TRAILER TECHNICIAN

NOW HIRING FULL TIME ROOF TRUSS ASSEMBLERS Must be team oriented, ambitious & responsible No experience required offers competitive wages, production Mar-Span bonuses and employee benefits.

Please apply with resume in person or email resume to marv@marspan.com We would like to thank all applicants, however only those selected for interview will be contacted.

7221 Side Rd. 16 Drayton, ON

We will evaluate anyone with a 310 T certification or nearly certified.

Primary responsibility is to conduct routine and preventative maintenance to an over the road fleet of Hi way trucks and trailers. Our specialized fleet provides a variety of work to keep you motivated as well as plenty of opportunities for further training if you are interested.

We provide a clean, safe, and friendly work environment with a competitive wage package.

You provide an energetic interest to use and keep developing your 310 T experience.

Please contact recruiting@grandridge.ca

WE ARE HIRING Cabinet Engineering Cabinet Sales & Design Cabinet Finisher Cabinet Install If you are interested in joining a vibrant and growing company, please send your resume to laverne@woodlandhorizon.com or call 519.638.5961 ext 104 Only those receiving an interview will be contacted.

Thursday, August 18, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

ↆ LO CA L ↆ

C L A S S I F I E D S | 17

P R O F E S S I O N A L

GENERAL SERVICES

CALL TO BOOK! TODAY.

Martin’s Nursery

MarCrest Backhoe Septic Installations · Tile Repairs Small Footings · Silo Footings

VAN, MINIBUS & WHEELCHAIR LIFT BUS TRANSPORTATION “Specializing in small group charters”

Maynard Martin

519-669-5557 Visit our website! countrymilebl.com Elmira, ON ↆ

S E RV I C E S

2512 Kressler Road RR1 St. Clements, ON N0B 2M0

Hydrangea Shrubs & Trees Shade & Flowering Trees Large selection of fruit trees HONEY FOR SALE (fruit bearing age) BEE Supplies Etc. Hedging & Windbreaks We sell a complete line of Bee Supplies; including Spruce, Pine, Cedars Extracting Equipment, jars, Shrubs, Grasses pails, Varroa mite treatments & much and Bees, Nucs, Queens. more!

ORHBS Select Queens (Weekly) C/O EMANUEL E.M. MARTIN

42661 Orangehill Road, RR#1, Wroxeter, ON

Tel. 519-699-0507

1 Concession North of Wroxeter on Belmore Line Mon. – Sat. 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Call

519-669-4964 ↆ

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

TIRE

WHERE TIRES ARE A

SPECIALTY, NOT A SIDE LINE.

Farm • Auto • Truck Industrial On-The-Farm Service 35 Howard Ave., Elmira

519-669-3232

519-669-0524 www.woolwichrentals.ca 100 Union St, Elmira, Ontario

100 SOUTH FIELD DRIVE, ELMIRA

(ELMIRA)

THOMPSON’S

Auto Tech Inc. Providing the latest technology to repair your vehicle with accuracy and confidence.

519-669-4400

HOME IMPROVEMENT

John Schaefer Painting FREE ESTIMATES Interior/exterior Painting, Wallpapering & Plaster | drywall Repairs

519-503-6033 (CELL) 519-669-2251

30 ORIOLE PKWY. E., ELMIRA

36 Hampton St., Elmira

- Design and build -

AGRICULTURAL | RESIDENTIAL FRAMING • ROOFING RENOVATIONS • EAVESTROUGHS

Driveways • Sidewalks • Curbs Patios • Finished Floors • Retaining Walls • Steps • Decorative/Stamped and Coloured Concrete www.marwilconcrete.ca

Wayne Martin | 519-504-2016

519-577-0370

darwayconstruction@icloud.com | Alma, ON

HOME IMPROVEMENT COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

ST. JACOBS

GLASS SYSTEMS INC.

INC

• Store Fronts • Thermopanes • Mirrors • Screen Repair • Replacement Windows • Shower Enclosures • Sash Repair

Randy Weber

ECRA/ESA Licence # 7000605

www.rwelectricltd.com TEL:

18 Kingfisher Dr., Elmira | 519.669.1462

AMOS R O O F I N G

1553 King St. N., St. Jacobs, ON N0B 2N0

• Residential • Commercial • Industrial

ↆ

Elmira, ON

Visit us online to see our entire rental lineup.

CLEAN • DRY • SECURE

ↆ

519-502-8262

GENERAL SERVICES

Various sizes & rates

ↆ

RK COUNTRY BUS LINES

• Specializing in residential re-roofs • Repairs • Churches A Family owned and operated business serving KW, Elmira and surrounding area for over 35 years.

WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED

CALL JAYME FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE.

519-664-1202 / 519-778-6104 FAX: 519 664-2759 • 24 Hour Emergency Service

519.501.2405 | 519.698.2114 In Business since 1973 • Fully Insured

HOME IMPROVEMENT Since 1998

•Final grading •Lawn repair & complete seeding well equipped for large stoney areas •Spike Aerator/Overseeding •Natural & Interlocking Stone •Retaining Walls, Walks & Patios •Help for Top Water & Drainage issue

Murray & Daniel Shantz

ALMA, ONTARIO | PHONE: 519.846.5427

DESIGN CENTRE

• FLOORING • Custom KITCHENS • BATHROOM VANITIES • SICO Paint • Custom WINDOW BLINDS

KITCHEN, BATH & WINDOW FASHIONS

Many In-Stock or Custom Bathroom Vanities, Kitchen Cabinetry, Flooring and Tiles, Blinds, Shades, Fashion Plumbing • Our experienced personell and designer will help you work within your personal taste and budget

Call someone you can trust - your local Home Hardware Popular Brands Available

BLANCO, MAAX, MIROLAN, STEEL QUEEN www.LetUsFloorYou.ca

Hours: M-F 8:00 - 5:00 & Sat 9:00 - 3:00

Evenings By Appointment

1011 Industrial Cres. Unit #2 | TEL: 519.699.5411

22 Church St. W., Elmira Tel: 519-669-5537 or 1-844-866-5537 STORE HOURS: MON-SAT 8-6, SUN 11-4 Find and follow us on FB and Instagram

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 18, 2022

18 | C L A S S I F I E D S

ↆ R E A L

E SAT E

SELLING? CALL US FOR A FREE MARKET EVALUATION. Sue From

Alli Bauman

226-750-9332

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

suefrom17@gmail.com

Emily Minielly

3 Arthur St. S., Elmira | 519-669-5426

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

519-669-5426

519-504-6247

emilyminiellyrealestate@gmail.com

OPEN HOUSE Saturday, Aug 20th 1pm-3pm Concession 11, Moorefield

$1,299,000

$699,000

MOOREFIELD - This private 50 acre property is located on a quiet street near Teviotdale. Follow along the winding laneway through a picturesque cedar rail fence surrounded by greenery to acres of open space including a spring fed pond. You will be greeted by a bungalow and a small barn to house any animals you have or may wish to have.

This property so much more to offer a with green house/shed and a detached 30 x 40 heated and insulated shop (built in 2009) surrounded by fruit trees. The 1459 square foot bungalow has a retreat like master bedroom (added in 2008) with vaulted ceilings, in suite laundry, a propane fireplace and walk-out to the deck and hot tub! The kitchen is open to the dining room and living room, with a fireplace and loads of natural light with sliding glass doors to the front and back deck. The walk out basement has a 3 piece bathroom, rec room and office space which could be easily transformed into an in-law suite.

The deck wraps around the house to the master bedroom and connects the outdoor bar with bar fridge, hot tub (2017) and on ground pool (2019). Be prepared for all of your friends and family longing to hang out here! Hop on your off road vehicle and explore the back 40 acres of your own private bush where you will find wildlife and a mix of trees. This serine setting could be just what you have been dreaming of!

MILLBANK - Looking to escape the big city for small town living? This charming recently updated, 3-bedroom 2-bathroom bungalow is exactly that and more. Located in the quaint town of Millbank, only 30 minutes from all the big city amenities that Waterloo or Stratford have to offer. You are welcomed through the front door into a bright living room that flows into the dining and kitchen area. From the dining area, slip out through the large sliding doors to your back deck, (complete with propane hook-up), relax and enjoy your large .3 acre corner lot with mature trees, ideal for family gatherings and summer BBQ’s. Or head out to the covered front porch, perfect for enjoying morning coffee or an evening beverage. Upstairs you will find three updated bedrooms and a newly refinished bathroom. The basement with a double door walkout and large windows provides an abundance of natural light, giving a main floor feel. The basement offers just as much as the main floor, rec room, workshop, 2 piece bathroom, laundry room, large cold room, bonus (play) room, loads of space for your family and guests to enjoy. You could easily convert this space into an in-law suite.

Updates include, new LVT flooring , drywall, potlights, bathrooms, most windows, all trim and interior doors all done in 2022 as well as Furnace & A/C (2021), this house is move in ready! With an insulated garage, (new door on order), oversized shed, and ample parking, you will have tons of space to store your “toys” or entertain.

$739,900 ELMIRA - This recently built (2015) semi-detached home is located right across from the Riverside Public School and has so much appeal for both a first time home buyer to a larger family. With 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, this tastefully finished home offers a bright open concept main floor with updated powder room, large closets for storage and large sliding glass doors out to your deck. Enjoy a view of the open field behind while sipping coffee on your large deck. The upstairs offers two bedrooms and an oversized primary suite complete with walk in closet and ensuite bathroom. Head down to the finished basement (2018) and enjoy many of the custom finishes!

You will find luxury vinyl plank floors, powder room with laundry, additional pantry/storage and a little nook under the stairs. No detail was missed in this home! With convenient access to Kitchener, Waterloo and Guelph come make this beautiful property your home

ↆ LO CA L

®

$849,000

P R O F E S S I O N A L

ELMIRA - Check out this 5 Bedroom Bungalow in Birdland! This unique opportunity gives you the option of multi-generational living or a single-family dwelling...you choose! The main floor has 3 bedrooms, a fair-sized kitchen, a dining room, a living room with big bright windows overlooking the covered front porch, 4 piece bathroom, and a main floor laundry room. Walk out from the dining room to a shaded deck and relax in the yard with the view of mature trees. The open concept basement has 2 bedrooms, its own kitchen and laundry room, 4-piece bathroom, dinette area, 2 living room spaces, and lots of storage. You will be impressed with the overall open feel of this home. The doublewide, concrete driveway provides parking for 2 and the oversized single garage is perfect for the car enthusiast and is equipped with a hoist. Come and see this nicely finished and well-kept home that is sure to impress!

S E RV I C E S

ↆ GENERAL SERVICES

REALTY LTD., BROKERAGE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

519.500.1865 (Direct) 519.747.0231 (Office)

10 OFF REPLACEMENT

$

Dale R. Keller

410 Conestogo Road, Unit 210, Waterloo, ON N2L 4E2

Sales Representative

www.KellerSellsRealEstate.com | dale@kellersellsrealestate.com

Must bring coupon in or use code “repair22”

IN-STORE SERVICES

OPEN HOUSE SUN AUG. 21 1-3 pm 8590 Conc Rd 3 RR Listowel

$1,249,000 | Listowel

• Window & Screen Repairs • Glass & Plexi Cutting • Key Cutting • Knife & Scissor Sharpening

3+1 bedroom on 2.25 acres Custom features ICF construction is super efficient.

MLS 40260036. Call Dale Direct.

$1,600,000 | DYERS BAY area 200 acres, 3 bedroom farm house , small barn, and other outbuildings. Approx 70 acres workable. Mixed bush remainder. New Septic system. MLS 40262805.

Call Dale Direct.

B LO O D

Find and follow us on FB and Instagram

D O N O R

Appointments are required to ensure physical distancing.

Experience that Works www.steedandevans.ca

▪ Bale covers in stock ▪ Patio canopy repairs

Irvin Martin

trailviewmfg@gmail.com

226-584-0923

The Next Elmira Clinic:

at Lion’s Hall, Elmira Friday, August 26 2:00 - 7:00 pm

The Quality You Demand, the Service You Deserve.

Farm - Auto - Truck - Industrial and we have On-the-farm service

371 Arthur St. S. • 519-669-3232

CLM

Bus: 519-698-9930 Res: 519-698-2213

MODULAR BUILDINGS MOVING & LEASING

RR #2 Wallenstein, Ontario

2170 FLORADALE RD., FLORADALE • 519-669-2183

• Fabrics • Men's Wear • Ladies Coats • China • Glass Ware

SANYO CANADIAN 33 Industrial Dr. • 519-669-1591

Custom or Replacement Tarps & Covers!

C L I N I C

It matters to every patient across Canada. Because it’s something we can do today to help others wake up healthier tomorrow.

MACHINE WORKS INCORPORATED

• Lawnmower Blade Sharpening • Paint Colour Matching • Interior Design Consultation • Bike Repair 22 Church St. W., Elmira

Your donation matters.

Book online at blood.ca or by calling 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283)

Contact us for all your

Tel: 519-669-5537 or 1-844-866-5537 STORE HOURS: MON-SAT 8-6, SUN 11-4

For a free, no obligation, consultation on Buying or Selling, call Dale direct at 519-500-1865.

ↆ E L M I R A

PATIO DOOR SCREEN

Mon. Closed · Tues.-Fri. 8-6 · Sat. 8-5 2192 Floradale Rd. ~ Floradale, On.

(519) 669-1381

your supplier of feeds and pet food

1.800.265.6126 |

Thursday, August 18, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

ↆ R E A L

C L A S S I F I E D S | 19

E SAT E

ↆ FA M I LY

A L B U M

Obituary

In Memoriam

Death Notice BOLGER, ANN - Passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at the age of 88.

Martin, Verna K. Passed away peacefully at Hamilton General Hospital on Friday, August 12, 2022 at the age of 65. Daughter of Mrs. Edna Martin of St. Jacobs. Sister of Wayne and Viola Martin of St. Jacobs, Betty and Cleon Martin of Mount Forest, and Vera and Dennis Martin of Hawkesville. Remembered by 19 nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her father Noah E. Martin (2020).

Visitation took place on Saturday, August 13, 2022 from 2-5 and 6:30 – 8 p.m. and Sunday, August 14, 2022 from 2-6 p.m. at the home of Dennis and Vera Martin, 3567 Ament Line, Hawkesville. A family service was held at 9 a.m. on Monday, August 15, 2022 at the home of Dennis and Vera Martin, then to Conestoga Mennonite Meeting House for burial and further public service.

BRAD MARTIN

BROKERAGE

Broker of Record, MVA Residential

R.W. THUR REAL ESTATE LTD. Office: 519-669-2772 Brad Direct: 519-741-6231 | Jenna Direct: 519-760-2265 45 Arthur St. S., Elmira | www.thurrealestate.com

JENNA MARTIN Sales Representative

35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE YOU CAN RELY ON! 95 Arthur St. S., Elmira

Reduced to $549,000.00

Century home awaiting personal touches. Country kitchen, living room w/ hardwood & main flr den or dining room also w/hardwood. 3 bdrms upstairs.

Master bedroom w/walk-in closet. Unfinished cellar. Replacement gas furnace.

Detached insulated & heated double garage – ideal for the hobbyist. MLS 17 Maple St., Drayton

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It’s back to it for the Elmira Lawn Bowling Club Leah Gerber

22 Meadowlark Rd., Elmira

REGULAR ACTIVITIES ON HOLD LIKE so many other groups, the Elmira Lawn Bowling Club is back in action again. The group held a tournament last Saturday that saw 14 teams compete from across the region.

The pandemic has been hard on the club, said Susan Brooks, the organization’s past-president.

“To be quite honest, for two years, [there was] totally nothing. And then we had (people) come and bring their own bowls and bowl outside. And even now, people are extremely cautious. Visits usually happen on the porch,” she explained.

“But, I have to say, people got sick of being inside and doing nothing.

And I think that’s one of the reasons why our membership this year has gone up – people are looking for some fun things to do in a safe manner.”

The sport, akin to playing curling on a lawn, is open to everyone, says Brooks, who notes she got

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FREE MARKET EVALUATION ↆ P U Z Z L E $ / 7 ( 5 $ % / (

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we’re really pleased that we’re back.”

First place for Saturday’s tournament went to Gloria Rudney and Rob Brooks of the Elmira Lawn Bowling Club.

Second place to Peggy Wappler and Darcy Weber, also from the Elmira club.

The next tournament will be the annual ‘meat tournament’ on September 17, with the Elmira Meat Market donating cuts of meat as prizes to the winners. “It’s a very popular one,” said Brooks. “People love it.”

A members-only tournament on September 24 will finish up the season.

Anyone is invited to come out and try lawn bowling, says Brooks.

The club is located beside Park Manor Public School on Mockingbird Drive, with members meeting Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.

If it’s your first time out, come at 6:45 p.m. to get situated, says Brooks. The games start at 7 p.m. To learn more, contact Susan Brooks at 519-669-1052.

involved in the game to support her husband who had been heavily involved but saw membership dropping. She realized that the game was very similar to the game of curling, so she introduced it to the curling club.

“People just didn’t know about it. So I got in and I went to the curling club in the winter and said ‘Come on, let’s try curling on grass in the summer,’ and we got a lot of new members from the curling club that way.

“We are getting younger members who are going to work during the day and coming out and lawn bowling in the evening…

I hosted the Woolwich Community Centre camp a few weeks ago. They brought some kids over and they decided to walk over,” said Brooks. “And they just had a ball. It was laughter the whole time, so much fun.”

The club has bounced back from the pandemic, she adds.

“Our own club has come back after COVID. More people have joined in the last couple of years, and

Observer Staff

Meticulously maintained 2-storey in a family friendly subdivision. 1838 sq. ft.

Original owner has updated the home since new with quartz counter tops, flooring, furnace & air, roof shingles, garage doors, painting & decorating. Eatin kitchen w/island, formal dining room & great rm with cathedral ceiling. 3 bdrms. Master suite w/walk-in closet & 4 pc. ensuite. Mn flr 2 pc. Unspoiled basement. Sauna. Concrete driveway. Beautiful park like landscaping! MLS

BAGGED PINE SHAVINGS AGRICULTURAL SPRAY LIME, 22.5kg. bag; feed grade lime, 25kg. Delivered. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

S O L U T I O N S 3 ( 8 ( 1 6 1 6 &

& $ 8 6 $ 2 * 7 (

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KILN DRIED CORN & CORN SCREENING DELIVERED BY Einwechter. Minimum 15 ton lots.

Call George Haffner Trucking 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

OAT & PEAS FOR FORAGE COVER CROPS - CALL GEORGE Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

Pets GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPPIES READY TO GO!! HEALTHY , de-wormed , vet checked . $600.00 Reasonable offers as well as delivery will be considered. call/text 226971-2395.

RED LAB CROSS PUPS. FRIENDLY, BORN JANUARY 21. $200 o.b.o. Call 519-669-1752.

Real Estate NEWLYWED COUPLE LOOKING TO PURCHASE HOUSE IN ST. Jacobs,On.Call/Text519-496-0068

Personals SECOND STRONGEST ADDICTION? GAMBLING! *CAUSES 30% of suicides. * loses houses, loses spouses. Gamblers Anonymous meeting, Rockway Centre, 1405 King St. E., Kitchener. Mondays 7 p.m. except holidays. 519-277-0341.

Garage Sales GARAGE SALE - AUG. 20 - 8 A.M. - 12 P.M. 58 ANNA ST., Elmira. Teacher & home school books and games, household items - Tupperware, old miscellaneous items.

YARD SALE AT 20 RIVERSIDE DR W., SATURDAY AUG. 20TH late morning to early aft. paint ball items, men/women clothing shoes, and other misc items.

A

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 18, 2022 | 20

Living Here

It's about all of us.

Leading the way reporting about the people and places of home.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Report it: observerxtra.com/tips

Burn ban lifted

Seeking refuge

With the recent precipitation that has been received, the townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich have lifted the open burn ban that came into effect July 28. Officials say conditions will continue to be monitored this summer and if dry, hot weather returns, additional burn bans could be implemented without notice if warranted.

The Waterloo Region Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis (WRGR), a group of volunteers looking to help those displaced by Russian invasion, is looking for people who might be able to provide temporary accommodations for newly arrived Ukrainian families. www.wrgrassrootsresponse.ca

She turned out to be a natural at the game Bronze at national championships the latest achievement for young field hockey player Bill Atwood Observer Staff

AFTER ONLY PICKING UP THE sport three years ago, local field hockey player Jordyn MacDonald has already been identified by the national team program for a potential roster spot on their 2028 Olympic team as part of its Next Gen program.

At only 14 years of age, MacDonald, who plays forward and midfield, was scouted by the team after playing on team Ontario’s U18 B squad that picked up a bronze medal at the Field Hockey Canada National Championships held in BC earlier this month.

“At the [Next Gen] camp, they said ‘your goal should be the 2028 Olympics.’

That was pretty crazy to hear. I think everybody was a bit shocked when they said that,” MacDonald said.

Having been influenced to try the game by her aunt who is an umpire in the sport, MacDonald was naturally drawn to the game.

“I grew up playing ice hockey a lot, and soccer.

And I find it almost like a mix of those two with its own little elements in it. I just also like the community around it – there are so many great people I’ve met. That makes it even more fun,” she said.

MacDonald has always had big dreams.

“With ice hockey I [had Olympic goals]. I wanted to make it to the NHL, obviously that probably won’t happen. Sportswise, after I found field hockey, dreams definitely became almost more realistic,” she said.

Due to a scheduling conflict MacDonald was unable to try out for the provincial U16 team, so she jumped at the chance to try out for the older group.

“I said ‘why not? You know, if I make it, that’s great.” It was definitely scary. But I did know some girls from just playing with them or like seeing them on the pitch. So I started to get more comfortable once I started playing

with them,” MacDonald explained.

The national champion experience brought “a lot of laughs and a few tears,” she added.

“The first day, I was very nervous, just because I was like, ‘Oh, what if they’re really good?’ But after playing the first game, I started to settle in more, and my teammates were amazing – they helped a lot. It was all around very fun,” she explained.

The bronze medal game which ended in a 3-1 shootout win over team white from B.C. was “fairly intense, “ MacDonald said.

“I had full faith in our goalie. She’s very good.

And yeah, when we won, it was just a lot. I was so proud, and everyone ran in to celebrate.

During the season MacDonald plays for the Guelph Cobras, where she is coached by Michelle Turley.

While Turley said it’s “pretty incredible” for a 14-year-old to make the U18 team, it is a culmina-

tion of her skills and work that she has put in.

“She has excellent stick skills. We work on stick skills a ton at our practices and during COVID the one year we really weren’t able to do any drills so for that one year, we mostly worked on our stick skills.

They’re so smooth – she has exceptional stick skills and now

quickly with the Cobras; she was part of the U16 high performance development program last year.

She has now progressed to the U18 high performance team where she has also had the chance to practice with some

that we’ve been able to be in drills and opportunities to play, I’ve also seen that she’s a good passer as well,” explained Turley, who also coaches at the University of Guelph.

MacDonald has progressed

UOG players.

“It really helps because it really pushes her, but she’s never bowed down to that or anything. She accepts the challenge with a smile on her face. I mean, I think the first couple times she did it with us she was a little nervous and apprehensive,” Turley said.

MacDonald has benefitted from her coaches who all have extensive experience in the sport, her Mother Tracey added.

“Some sports, you don’t always get that because there’s so many kids, they don’t have enough coaches that have that high level of knowledge.

But she’s lucky to have those two coaches that have helped her along.

And then the coaches at the next gen program were great coaches as well,” Tracey said. → FIELD HOCKEY 21

Reducing the risk of medication errors DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My friend's father recently died from a medication error. One of his prescriptions was filled incorrectly and caused a fatal reaction.

I take multiple medications for various conditions. How can I reduce my risk for a medication error?

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▢ Mayo Clinic

Professional Clinical Health Advice

that sound alike, medications that look alike, and medical abbreviations.

Most medication errors can be prevented.

Knowledge is your best defense against medication errors.

One of the best ways to reduce your risk of a medication error is to take an active role in your health

care. Learn about the medications you take, including possible side effects. Never hesitate to ask questions or share concerns with your health care provider or pharmacist.

Medication errors can happen to anyone in any place, including your home and at your health care provider's office, as well as a hospital, pharmacy or senior living facility. Children are especially at high risk for medication errors because they typi-

cally need different drug doses than adults.

An example of a medication error is taking an over-the-counter product that contains acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, when you're already taking a prescription pain medicine that contains acetaminophen. This mistake could cause you to take more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen, putting yourself at risk of liver damage.

Another example of

a possible medication error is taking a depression medication called fluoxetine (Prozac or Sarafem) with a migraine drug called sumatriptan (Imitrex). Both medicines affect levels of a brain chemical called serotonin.

Taking them together can lead to a potentially life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. Symptoms of the dangerous drug interaction include confusion, agitation, rapid

heartbeat and increased body temperature, among others.

It is important to store medications in their original labeled containers and thoroughly read the instructions on how to take medications. Other medication errors include confusing eardrops and eyedrops, chewing non-chewable medications, cutting up pills, and taking the wrong dose.

Don’t assume chewing a → MAYO CLINIC 23

Life gets busy but also expensive.

Here’s how we help.

By looking over your vehicle every visit we are able to prioritize the work recommended soPRINTING you can be prepared AD SPOT - NON for future repairs. This minimizes surprises, allowing you time to budget and schedule for what is needed to keep your vehicle safe and reliable.

Maintaining your car and schedule

20 Oriole Parkway E., Elmira.

Tel: (519) 669-1082

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Thursday, August 18, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

L I V I N G H E R E | 21

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Now you can have tacos for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Submitted

These tacos are a tasty and filling way to start your day

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f you've never had a taco in the morning, you're missing out. This simple breakfast is fun, filling and kid-friendly.

▢ America's Test Kitchen Rigorously tested recipes that work.

Simple Breakfast Tacos ▢ 4 large eggs ▢ 1⁄8 teaspoon salt ▢ Pinch pepper

corn tortillas

▢ 1⁄2 cup tomato salsa (jarred or homemade)

▢ 1 slice bacon, cut into

▢ 1⁄4 cup shredded

▢ 1 scallion, sliced thin

▢ 1 lime, cut into

1⁄2-inch pieces

▢ 4 (6-inch) flour or 1. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, salt and pepper until well combined and uniform yellow color, about 1 minute. Set aside.

2. In a 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula until crispy, about 4 minutes.

3. Stir scallion into skillet and cook until just softened, about 1 minute.

4. Add eggs to skillet and gently stir,

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E V E N T S

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21 ▢ Concert in the Park - Every Sunday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Gibson Park in Elmira. This week Fred Lewis and Riding High will perform in the park. Bring your lawn chairs.

58 Church St. W., Elmira • 519-669-5123

Vacuum Sales, Repairs Se Service All Makes & Models

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28 ▢ Harmony in Faith Worship Service, 10 a.m. at

Gibson Park Elmira. The Elmira & District Ministerial Association is pleased to announce our plan to re-gather together as a community for Sunday morning worship in the park to praise God in song, scripture readings, a children’s story and sermon preached by Pastor Derek Osborne, Elmira Pentecostal Assembly.

Free will offerings to be given to Woolwich Community Services either in food or monetary donations. A barbecue will follow the service (a donation basket will be available for people to contribute whatever they can afford towards their meal).

▢ Season Finale for Concert in the Park. Join us for

9 Church St. E., Elmira

519-669-8362 Email: elmiravacuum@gmail.com

Quality & Service you can trust.

the last of the Elmira Sunday Concert Series from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Gibson Park, Elmira. Dianne and The Cavaliers will be performing. Bring your lawn chairs.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 ▢ Waterloo Region Newcomers and Friends Club Meeting, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free to attend at Lincoln Road Chapel, 145 Lincoln Rd., Waterloo.

Women of all ages, who are new to the area, or have experienced a lifestyle change are invited. Monthly meetings include speakers and social activities. For further info: waterloonewcomersandfriends@gmail. com

▢Senior’s Community Dining. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch, fellowship and entertainment at Calvary United Church St. Jacobs. Cost: $12. Must pre-register by noon on Sept.

1 by calling 519-664-1900.

21 Industrial Dr., Elmira 519.669.2884 | martinselmira.com

Education and Treatment

Your First Step to Better Hearing

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 ▢Woolwich Gardeners Speaker Monday Sept. 19, 7

p.m.- 8:30 p.m., St. James Lutheran Church, 60 Arthur St. S., Elmira (Wyatt St. door). Janet Cox “Keeping the Peace With Weeds (Practical Advice, Biological Strategies and Some Big Ideas)”. Free-will donation for non-members. Open to the public! “Lug a Mug” for refreshments and treats.

519-669-9919 charlene@bauerhearing.com 25 Industrial Drive, Elmira

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

NANCY KOEBEL

Bus: 519.744.5433

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Email: nancy.koebel@f55f.com Individual life insurance, mortgage insurance, business insurance, employee benefits programs, critical illness insurance, disability coverage,

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▢ Senior’s Community Dining. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch, fellowship and entertainment at Linwood Community Centre.

Cost: $12. Must pre-register by noon on Sept. 23 by calling 519-664-1900.

FIELD HOCKEY: She’s now an advocate for the game

Woolwich

Tracey sees her daughter following in the footsteps of another field hockey player from Elmira, Morgan Hanley, who plays for the Virginia Commonwealth University.

“It’s been amazing to watch her progression. [How she] learned to play the sport. I was just full of pride when she was playing for Team Ontario,” she said.

Beyond continuing to get better, MacDonald’s goal is to introduce others to the sport.

“I genuinely think it’s an amazing sport. I’d love more people to find it, instead of always, I guess being pushed to the more mainstream sports like hockey, soccer and stuff like that.”

Healthy Communities

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Playtime Word of the Week

Find-A-Word

LITANY refers to a usually lengthy recitation or enumeration of something, such as a set of complaints, names, or questions.

Mini-Word

ACROSS 1. Comes to 7. ___ split 8. Stellar 9. Layers 10. Like some

DOWN 1. Discompose 2. Fritter away 3. Bone cavities 4. Fort Knox unit 5. Related

discussions

Sudoku

maternally

6. "Rabbit food" EASY

Sudoku

HARD

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 18, 2022 | 22

If your company would like to sponsor this page, please contact The Observer at 519-669-5790 ext.104 Or email donna@woolwichobserver.com

$ / 7 ( 5 $ % / (

& , 5 & 8 , 7 ( 3

$ ' $ ( * ' * 7

9 6 ( 5 9 ( 3 $ (

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THEME: LAW

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DEMUR

LEGACY

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Figure out the mystery letters to complete this eight-letter word reading clockwise or counterclockwise.

Crossword ACROSS 1. Gumbo 5. Bit 8. Facilitates 13. Casting need 14. Louse 15. 100 cm 16. Baa 17. Beast 18. Pickling liquid 19. Carries a stretcher 22. Beat badly 23. Knack 24. Admission 27. Bonkers 29. Canal sites 33. Becomes tiresome 34. Bit of color 36. Fond du ___ 37. Large amount

of work 40. "___ fallen ..."

41. British money 42. Gathering of witches 43. "Lulu" composer 45. Drone, e.g.

46. Instant 47. A pint, maybe 49. Reduce, as expenses 50. Synthetic Testosterone 58. Macronutrient

59. Dugout, for one 60. Japanese wrestling 61. Name 62. Doing nothing 63. Biblical birthright

seller 64. More cunning

65. "Casablanca" pianist 66. Fill-in

4. Sidekick 5. Close 6. Big plot 7. Big game 8. Fire remnant 9. Freshen 10. Blend

DOWN 1. Backscatter 2. Irishman: Var. 3. Backside

Join us every Sunday from 7pm - 9pm this summer for live country and bluegrass music in Elmira’s parks.

11. Coastal raptor 12. Fortuneteller 14. Place 20. Even chance 21. Symbol of authority 24. Go off script 25. Desire 26. Highland

Games pole 27. Kind of pie 28. A chip, maybe 30. Breathing 31. Deep black 32. Lilac, e.g.

34. Food sticker 35. Concert finale 38. Riot 39. Author Maugham 44. Talk rapidly and unintelligibly 46. Kind of finish 48. Doofus 49. Church song 50. "Hamlet" has five 51. Catch 52. Bohemian 53. Nile bird 54. End piece 55. Yorkshire river 56. Muslim holy man 57. Arrange, as hair

Free Sponsors:

Sunday, August 21 AD SPOT - NON PRINTING

Fred Lewis & Riding High Gibson Park, Elmira — Bring your lawn chairs.

Find timely updates: facebook.com/elmirasundayconcerts

Pass the hat freewill offering to support musicians

Thursday, August 18, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

L I V I N G H E R E | 23

Getting even more flavour out of a piece of sirloin

T

he word “sirloin” itself has a mysticism about it with the thought that the “sir” was actually a reference to great royalty!

Although when this steak is prepared properly, it certainly can have a regal appeal, the “sir” is actually derived from the French “sur” as in “above the loin.”

In comparison to the striploin or tenderloin, the sirloin is the lesser of the three from a tenderness point of view, but has the

CHEF DUFF

Recipes from the chef's table

most robust flavour.

You can often get an obscenely large chunk of sirloin, way too big for one person, which is what I recommend for this recipe.

The idea is to apply the rub generously, allow to settle in and then cook on BBQ at very high heat to seal and colour the outsides, then turn it

down low and allow it to roast slowly like you were preparing a roast beef.

Remove from the grill, one level before your desired doneness (i.e. remove at medium rare for a perfect medium steak).

Allow it to rest for a good five minutes before serving and it will continue to cook while sitting there.

Slice into thin pieces and serve. It will melt in your mouth and the cinnamon rub gives is a unique flavour that’s both spicy and robust!

Sirloin Steak with Cinnamon Spice Rub and Leek Straws ▢ 2-1⁄2 lb sirloin

▢ 1 oz kosher salt

▢ 1 tsp. cayenne

▢ 2 Tbsp. cooking oil

▢ 1⁄2 oz white pepper

▢ 1 tsp. allspice

▢ 1⁄2 cup cinnamon

▢ 1⁄4 tsp. nutmeg

▢ 1 bunch leeks

1. Rub oil all over meat and dredge with spice mixture.

2. Sear in cast iron pan on high heat or BBQ at full blast until well coloured on both sides.

3. Roast in 300F oven/ BBQ until desired doneness – about 10 minutes for medium.

4. Allow to rest for at least 5-10 minutes.

5. Meanwhile wash

and slice leeks into “julienne” strips

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MAYO CLINIC: Questions for doctors, pharmacists →FROM 20

pill is as good as swallowing it. Some medications should never be chewed, cut or crushed. Doing so can change how the body absorbs them. Ensuring an accurate dose of liquid medication is critical, so avoid using spoons in your silverware drawer versus a syringe or dose cup, both of which are available at most pharmacies.

Be proactive and review your medications regularly, especially when you start new medication.

Ask your physician or pharmacist these questions:  What is the brand or generic name of the medication?  What is the medication supposed to do?

How long will it be until I see results?  What is the dose?

How long should I take it?  What should I do if I miss a dose?  What should I do if I accidentally take more than the recommended dose?  Are there any foods, drinks, other medications or activities I should avoid while taking this medicine?

What are the possible side effects?

What should I do if they occur?  Will this new medication interfere with my other medications? If so, how?

Your health care provider can help prevent medication errors by using a computer to enter and print, or digitally send, prescriptions, instead of handwriting prescriptions. When you pick up a prescription, check that it's the one your health care provider ordered.

It also helps to save the information sheets that come with your medications.

Another way to reduce the risk of a medication error is to reconcile your medications during each visit with your health care provider. This involves comparing the list of medications your health care provider has with the list of medications you are taking, which can help avoid medication mistakes.

It is important to share this information:  The name and strength of all medications you're 

taking and when you take them, including prescriptions; herbs; vitamins; nutritional supplements; over-the-counter drugs; vaccines; and anything received intravenously, including diagnostic and contrast agents, radioactive medications, feeding tube supplements, and blood products.  Any medications that you're allergic to or that have caused problems in the past.  Whether you have any new chronic or serious health problems.  If you might be pregnant or you're trying to become pregnant.

Also, keep a current list of all your medications, including nonprescription drugs and supplements, in your wallet, purse or other safe location. Being prepared and informed are the best ways to avoid health concerns. ↆ Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit www. mayoclinic.org.

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 18, 2022

24 | T H E B A C K PA G E

Nurturing healthy relationships to rebuild the foundation

T

he pandemic brought relationships under the magnifying glass, and for some couples, the cracks started to show.

Their relationship is not what they thought it was, or what they wanted it to be.

Too much together time during lockdowns disrupted a necessary balance. Reduced shared time with other people and access to recreational activities created more opportunity for conflict.

The nature of work changed for some – working from home, change in hours, job loss, retirement – impacting family finances and acting as an additional stressor in the relationship. Changes in family roles regarding childcare or homeschooling proved difficult to navigate.

Healthy relationships can be nurtured. Putting in the time and effort can help them thrive.

A sound relationship is based on trust and commitment. It is grounded in friendship, respect, and admiration.

It is about truly knowing your partner (not just who they were when you first met, but as they changed and grew through your time together), having a positive outlook, managing conflict, having shared goals, and working

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together to make them a reality.

In a healthy relationship, there is no control or power over a partner in any way, whether it is physical, emotional, sexual, financial, or social. There is a balance of needs and partners are receptive to the other’s needs.

This does not mean that healthy relationships have no conflict. Rather, in a good relationship, partners work together and communicate well to resolve issues.

Healthy relationships demand that the individuals themselves are whole – emotionally and psychologically. As a first step to a better relationship, commit to self-care and access mental health supports if needed. These supports do not have to always be accessed jointly with your partner.

Infidelity should stop immediately. Know that broken promises and half-promises destroy trust. Commit to following through, every time.

Commit to a date night with your partner. We often put the time in at work, sports, exercise, and hobbies to reap the rewards but do not think

of doing this automatically with our partners. Having a date night prioritizes time for the couple. They are designed not just for fun, but also to learn about one another again, and to start talking and sharing again.

Also commit to a family meeting on the weekend (older children can be included). This meeting involves the practical disclosure of the things that will happen in the next week. By discussing upcoming events, duties, and responsibilities, we diminish the points of potential conflict.

Finally, do not wait until a crisis to seek help. Meeting with a professional for a check-in about your relationship and to get input from an unbiased source can be helpful. Whether as an individual or as a couple, seeking therapy can increase emotional intelligence and improve communication skills.

When we rebuild the foundation to a good relationship, we unlock the potential for great happiness.

stays that way,” she said.

“Love Used to Live Here,” is the first single from her upcoming country EP, which is expected to be released in 2023.

She had some last parting words of advice for others thinking about

creating music. “If there are people out there who want to create music, all I can say is once you give yourself permission to do that, you have no idea the kind of doors that will open for you. I can’t believe what’s happened to me over the last two years – I just feel like all

these things that I’ve kind of hoped to do and dream of doing are starting to happen for me and it’s because I gave myself permission to create.”

Kind is slated to perform in the upcoming Belmont Village Bestival arts and music festival September 16 and 17.

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ↆ This article is brought to you by Woolwich Counselling Centre. This nonprofit counselling agency creates awareness and provides education to promote emotional and mental wellness for individuals, families, businesses, and others in Woolwich and Wellesley. Check out their upcoming small group therapy sessions and workshops at www.woolwichcounselling.org.

KIND: Encouraging others to follow their musical dreams → FROM 15

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