DECEMBER 2022 EDITION
|
ST. THOMAS, ONTARIO
Crafting: A Fun Family Trip—Right in Your Living Room Whether you’re a pro at festive crafting or a novice, the holidays are ideal for spending time with family and friends, without breaking the bank. Luckily, we have a new craft store in Downtown St. Thomas for the supplies. If you haven’t experienced crafting, you’ll find it induces the same amount of excitement as a fun trip, right in your living room! The Craft Hive carries all sorts of items and materials that are useful for crafting. “Our prices are really good compared to big box stores,” says the owner, Isabelle Nethercott. “Many people are grateful that they no longer have to travel to London for art supplies. We are here for the creative community in St. Thomas.” According to Nethercott, because they pick and choose items from different suppliers, they have many unique things that you can’t find in a chain store. “We source products for customers as well. If you’re looking for something specific, we will do our best to find it.” The Craft Hive is not here to duplicate other local businesses. “We are
here to fill in the gaps. If you want beads or yarn, I will send you to other nearby businesses.” Since The Craft Hive’s grand opening in July, they have had an assortment of customers. From high school art students, to tattoo artists, to parents shopping for birthday gifts. “Our art activity kits have been quite popular. So, we are stocking up on them for the upcoming holidays.” When you walk in through their doors, you can expect a personal experience. “We are
St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston The festive season is right around the corner! As we begin to celebrate this time of year, I encourage all St. Thomas residents to shop locally and support our downtown businesses. With so many unique gifts, you are sure to find something for everyone on your list. Even better, you can support our downtown businesses by purchasing Downtown Dollars for your friends and family to spend like cash! We have many exciting events happening in our city over the coming weeks. It was amazing to see the community spirit at the
crafters ourselves. We have tried most of the supplies in the store; so we can offer advice on the best products for your project.” Nethercott comes from a line of crafters in her family. “I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t making things. My mom used to own a crafting store on Talbot Street, so my earliest memories were going to craft shows as a kid.” “Seeing customers excited for a project they’re working on and finding out we have all the materials for it makes me happy. So many people thank us for being here.” When you’re feeling creative, visit The Craft Hive at 656 Talbot St. You can also check out their Facebook page facebook.com/ TheCraftHiveCA.
recent Downtown Pumpkin Prowl, and we saw that same spirit in families attending the Tree Lighting Celebration at City Hall. The fun continued as the annual Santa Claus Parade returned to Talbot Street. During this time of the year, let us not forget those in our community who may need something as simple as a smile or a little extra help. We are a kind and compassionate community, and I am proud to lead a city where people care deeply for one another. I know we will be inspired to reach out to others and give back, as we always do. On behalf of City Council, we wish you all a joyful and safe holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.
Those Who Create the Vibe
Donor Fatigue vs. Donor Freshness
We are getting used to the sticker shocks and can see that the price of everything has gone up — a lot. Inflation is hitting everyone, and naturally low-income households are feeling the pinch even more. community and fellow citizens: CCHC, YWCA, Social Services, Police Services, Canadian Mental Health Association, Alzheimer’s Society, Thames Valley Addiction Services.
Unfortunately, the added stress of economic pressures often results in increased smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, material deprivation, school dropouts, impaired driving charges and accidents, ER visits, physical and mental health challenges, and homelessness. If this sounds like a prelude to urge you to donate, it isn’t. Many people are experiencing donor fatigue: loss of interest or ability to donate to good causes. One current reason for donor fatigue is simply budget exhaustion. When you’re spending more money on food, gas, shelter, etc., you simply do not have enough to donate. My hat’s off to local organizations who work tirelessly to make life better for our
We all know that, through no fault of our own, we have more challenges than some other towns and cities. The good news is that in St. Thomas/ Elgin, these organizations have a unique and integrated way of uniting the efforts of volunteers and social service agencies. They have dedicated professionals sharing finite resources and knowledge to address concerns and make good inroads to resolve local issues. These professionals work in coalitions such as the following: • Elgin Mental Health & Addictions • Poverty Coalition • Housing Stability • Elgin Ontario Health Team We, the Downtown businesses, give back because there is more to life than business. We believe in being compassionate applying one’s strength to help those
in need. Because of our local roots, we support the community in which our employees and customers live, work and play. While donor fatigue is real — I wish it weren’t — we should be proud of our donor freshness: the dedication, energy and resolve of the volunteers to donate their time and talents to grassroots initiatives. For example: • Smile for Seniors delivered over 750 small Christmas gifts to people living in long-term care facilities; • Christmas Care collected food, toys, and financial donations for 1,600 children and families; and • CCHC looked after the healthcare of 4,000 vulnerable people in our community. Of course, there are many more worthwhile initiatives and indispensable local organizations. Please remember them during the upcoming holiday season. We should all be #stthomasproud because we’re resourceful and creative enough to weather any storm.
Why Not Cookies: Simple and Delicious Brenda Burge has always baked hundreds of dozens of cookies at Christmas time, but what was once a fun and delicious hobby has now been her full-time job for 12 years. Why Not Cookies Café and Ice Cream Emporium is located at 373 Talbot Street in Downtown St. Thomas, and is hard to miss as its sign is in bright green and pink colours.
For over 12 years, Brenda Burge has been selling her homemade cookies, and the café has been open for 10 years. “I had a different job for many years, but it felt like
I needed a change and the café kind of fell into our laps,” says Burge, “We love being in the downtown core and the support we get locally is something we’re very grateful for.” The different kinds of cookies the café sells are championed from recipes that Brenda’s family knows and dearly loves. “We’re all about the classic chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal chocolate chip, and oatmeal raisin cookies,” Burge says, “The fanciest we get is a sugar cookie with some sprinkles on it.” Along with mouth-watering
cookies, the café is also a great spot to grab lunch as they serve soups, salads, sandwiches, and soft-serve ice cream. On a leap of faith, Brenda Burge said, “why not make a business out of something I love to do,” and started Why Not Cookies.
If you’re looking for a delicious snack or want to pick up some cookies for a holiday gathering, give Brenda a call at 519 878 6249, email her at brenda@whynotcookies.ca, visit the store at 373 Talbot Street or follow their Facebook page!
Maintaining the Vibe Jewellery That Speaks for Itself With the Holiday Season just around the corner, many people are scrambling to find gifts for family members and friends. Luckily, there is a jewellery store that has both trending and traditional pieces right in our Downtown. Purity Diamonds Jewellery & Grillz carries rings,
bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. They also have a unique specialization in grillz. “All of the jewellery is made of fine quality gold, with most of it coming from Italy,” says the owner, Mason Myrick. Although many of the pieces attract those into hip-hop culture, Myrick says they have a variety of clients from 16 to 80 years old.
me and I pass on my savings in overhead cost to my customers who are just paying for the quality of the piece.” One of the things Myrick is big on for his brand is honesty. “I want to make sure the customer gets the fairest price. I like to put myself in the customer’s shoes, so I am transparent with them. If I give someone a good deal for fine-quality jewellery, and make them feel taken care of, I am hoping they will keep coming back.” In addition to selling jewellery, Myrick also buys estate jewellery and gold. He even customizes pieces, with the option of using your old gold jewellery towards something new. Myrick stays on top of his business by following trends on social media and listening to what clients are looking for.
Myrick has been selling jewellery for three years now and moved to his Talbot location two years ago. “My prices are often less than what other jewelry stores offer because it’s just
“The best part of my job is dealing with customers and seeing them happy with their purchase. I am also very passionate about jewellery, so I love what I do,” says Myrick. Whether you’re interested in buying a present for another, or yourself, visit Purity Diamonds Jewellery and Grillz in Downtown St. Thomas at 613 Talbot Street, Unit 106. Call or text 519 878 7551 to book an appointment. You can also check out their website at puritydiamonds.ca.
As we brush off the cold winter, the snowflake decorations come down and soon we’re into the rebirth of spring and our plans blossom into the Easter Shop Hop. Moving into the warm summer months we install our flower baskets, planters, and colourful banners, and host our ever-popular Nostalgia Nights Car Show with free train rides. As the kids go back to school, our banners and flower baskets come down and the planters are packed with colourful mums. The fall ushers in our amazing Downtown Pumpkin Prowl, where 1000s of kids visit over 40 downtown merchants seeking sugary treats,
and the planter mums are replaced with colourful winter greens. The cooler weather means our LED snowflakes are installed and as the snow threatens, Santa Claus rolls into our Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration. Many shoppers flock to the Horton Christmas Market; the Optimist Santa Claus Parade rolls through our downtown; and finally Downtown Santa returns to spread even more cheer to lucky shoppers. Yes, the changing seasons bring joy and excitement to Downtown St. Thomas!
Message from DDB by Earl Taylor Chair, Downtown Development Board Weather is a great conversation starter. Many times when talking about the weather, I’ve used the line “we’re good Canadians, we can take anything”. No matter where you lived before settling in St. Thomas, I’m sure that you have quickly come to the realization that our Canadian weather constantly changes and is very unpredictable. In cases of extreme weather, I have wished I lived somewhere warmer, cooler, dryer or sunnier. But in the end, I love our ever-changing Canadian seasons. And in Downtown St. Thomas, it gives us a chance to create some exciting events.
The St. Thomas Downtown Development Board wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season.
Art and Soul What Story Will Your Tattoo Tell? Ever thought about getting a tattoo? Or getting another one? Well, winter is the best season for a new tattoo. The Art Crypt at 681 Talbot Street is mainly a cosmetic-based shop. They also offer custom, Canadian-based jewellery and art pieces you can buy. The owner, Billy Janes, has been tattooing on Talbot Street for 17 years now and opened The Art Crypt back in 2012. “We are super family oriented. We welcome everyone and their family. We even have a toddler play area in the lobby,” says secretary, Brie Janes. “We try to make everyone feel as comfortable as possible when they visit. We offer hot coffee upon arrival, free Wi-Fi, and each booth has a TV set up with Chromecast so you can watch something that calms you if you’d like.” The Art Crypt appeals to people of all ages. “When clients come in, they can expect personalization, patience, comfort, and hopefully a good laugh. Ultimately, we hope they have an unforgettable experience that keeps them coming back.”
The team at The Art Crypt participates in local activities and Downtown initiatives. “It’s important for us to stay in touch with the community to see what clients are looking for.” They also collaborate with Arthur Voaden Secondary School and educate high schoolers on health and safety tips in their field. This includes what students should look for and expect when entering a tattoo and piercing shop. “The best part about my job is knowing we have done a good job and the client is leaving happy with the work.”
Parental consent is required for conventional piercings for those under the age of 16 and tattoos for those under 18. To book an appointment, call 519 207 8287 or visit their website at www.theartcrypt.com.
& HAPPY NEW YEAR
Reith &
Associates INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED
Follow Us and Keep Up With The Downtown Vibe @Downtown Vibe
462 Talbot Street St. Thomas, ON N5P 1B9
519.631.3862
info@reithandassociates.com
Produced by St. Thomas Downtown Development Board — downtownstthomas.ca